Author: Chukwu Godlove

South African summers are made for getting away. Grant Durr / Unsplash From buzzing inner cities to laid-back beach towns, the country offers two very different types of escape, each with its own rhythm, price point and personality. The real challenge is deciding which one suits your summer mood best. Andrew Harvard / Pexels If you’re torn between a city break and a coastal getaway, here’s how to choose the option that will leave you feeling refreshed rather than wishing you’d booked differently. Start with the pace you need right now Think about how you want to feel when your…

In Ålesund, a compact coastal city in western Norway, everything about the architecture and layout felt intuitive. Ålesund Sentrum/Miriam Kimvangu Streets were clean, signage was clear, and the waterfront felt like a shared public space rather than a strip of private development. It made me think about home, and about how many South African towns are trying to revive local tourism while still protecting their character. Ålesund’s success is built on design choices that quietly make travel easier and more enjoyable. Many of these lessons are surprisingly transferable to small towns across South Africa. Walkability that keeps people lingering One…

1. Start with a sunrise nature walk and coffee ritual Why mornings outdoors set the tone for the day There is something quietly powerful about starting your Sunday before the rest of the world wakes up. A sunrise walk allows you to experience nature at its calmest, when the air is cool, the light is soft, and the usual crowds are nowhere to be seen. Even a short walk can help you feel grounded and present before the week ahead creeps back in. How to turn it into a simple ritual Choose a nearby green space, nature reserve or quiet…

Your weekend starts here. Image used for illustrative purposes/TapticInfo/Wikimedia Commons From music festivals and live concerts to sport, outdoor cinema and cultural experiences, South Africa’s summer weekend calendar has plenty to inspire your plans from 16 to 18 January. Friday 16 January 2026 DJ Maphorisa, Kabza De Small, Xduppy & More Live in Pretoria When: Friday 16 January from 6.00pmWhere: SunBet Arena at Time Square Casino, PretoriaDetails: A high-energy live show featuring some of South Africa’s top DJs and performers. More information here The Galileo Open Air Cinema – Cape Town When: Friday 16 January, 20.30Where: Various scenic spots around…

Across Africa’s rivers, wetlands, deserts and forests, a new generation of accommodation is quietly changing how travellers experience the wild. Image used for illustrative purposes/Ato Aikins/Unsplash Floating lodges, movable cabins and modular eco units are bringing design innovation into places where nature still calls the shots. Floating lodges that move with the water Floating lodges are among the most exciting developments in eco travel. Built on buoyant platforms, these structures rest on water rather than reshaping the shoreline. In destinations like the Okavango Delta, Lake Kariba and stretches of the Zambezi River, guests can fall asleep to gentle ripples and…

Nairobi — Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano on Sunday hailed the visit by American streaming sensation iShowSpeed as a major boost for Kenya’s tourism profile, saying the influencer’s Kenya tour had given Africa a rare opportunity to tell its own story to the world. “Today we are hosting iShowSpeed, one of the greatest influencers on YouTube and in social media. We are very grateful to see that Kenyans have come out in their numbers, but this opportunity gives Africa a platform to showcase stories that [are] never told — the beauty of Africa, the people, the culture and our hospitality,”…

Summer in South Africa conjures images of sun-drenched beaches, vibrant townships, and rugged wild spaces. Nadine Venter / Unsplash While favourites like Cape Town and the Garden Route bustle with tourists every season, several provinces remain relatively quiet yet brimming with authentic summer experiences. If you’re longing for open skies, hidden gems, and cultural depth without the crowds, read on. Northern Cape: vast, wild & unhurried Wayne Dam / Unsplash Nestled in the northwest, the Northern Cape is South Africa’s largest but least populated province — and that translates into space. Lots of it. Here, summer travel isn’t about bustling…

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano welcomed the vessel on Monday, noting it is the third major cruise arrival of the 2025/26 season, following successful calls by the SH Diana and Crystal Symphony. “Today, we are thrilled to welcome the Azamara Journey and her 690 passengers to the Port of Mombasa. This visit underscores our strategy to diversify Kenya’s tourism beyond safaris, which in 2024 contributed a record Sh452.2 billion to the economy through a 140 per cent increase in sea arrivals,” Miano said. The Azamara Journey departed Port Louis, Mauritius on January 4 and has since visited Antsiranana (Diego Suarez)…

When the week feels like a rollercoaster and is constantly busy, nature has a calming way of resetting and bringing things back into balance. Green spaces and nature sounds can help lower stress levels, restore attention and gently shift your nervous system out of survival mode Here are five nature spots that feel deeply restorative after a busy week, with a strong focus on landscapes that soothe the senses and offer a genuine mental reset. Why nature feels restorative after stress Psychologists often point to attention restoration theory, which suggests that natural environments help the brain recover from mental fatigue.…

Monrovia — Liberia’s inclusion on a new United States visa suspension list has ignited intense debate across the country and within the Liberian diaspora, exposing deep frustrations, political divisions, and long-standing anxieties about the future of Liberia-U.S. relations. From social media platforms to radio talk shows and street conversations in Monrovia, Liberians have expressed a wide range of emotions, including anger, disappointment, and, in some cases, support for Washington’s decision. The United States government has announced an indefinite pause on the issuance of certain immigrant visas for nationals of seventy-five countries, including Liberia, as part of a broader reassessment of…