Author: Chukwu Godlove

South Africa’s nine provinces offer remarkably diverse landscapes, writes Miriam Kimvangu. Slangkop Lighthouse, Kommetjie/Quaid Lagan/Unsplash Choosing where to go can be overwhelming given the country’s variety of destinations. These towns highlight what makes their regions unique while offering visitors meaningful and accessible travel experiences. Western Cape: Kommetjie Kommetjie, located on the Cape Peninsula, is recognised for its strong coastal character and preserved natural environment. The village provides insight into the Western Cape’s ocean based lifestyle, combining scenic landscapes with a well established surfing culture. The area is particularly known for Long Beach, a wide stretch of shoreline popular for surfing,…

Wildlife encounters in South Africa are not limited to luxury lodges or long-haul trips into big game territory. Across the country, animals thrive in coastal towns, mountain parks and semi-desert landscapes, often within easy reach of major cities. These experiences offer close-up encounters with wildlife without the commitment or cost of a formal safari, making them ideal for spontaneous weekend escapes. From penguins on suburban beaches to tortoises roaming national parks, these are seven unexpected wildlife encounters you can realistically experience this weekend, writes Lee-Ann Steyn. 1. African penguins at Boulders Beach Boulders Beach/Getaway Gallery Tucked between granite boulders near…

Oliver Keohane reflects on a first-time visit to Eisenstadt, Austria, where a motoring launch became an unexpected introduction to a small city shaped by music, history and calm.  Inside Schlosspark, the expansive palace park that unfurls behind Esterházy Palace There is a distinct intimacy to Eisenstadt, and a calmness brought about by the baroque buildings and the stillness of the streets. Walking down the cobbled main road of this small Austrian city, it feels immediately explicit that this is a place that moves to the optimistic cadences of the classical composer who found his home here, and to the quiet…

Some of the most memorable wildlife encounters happen beneath a forest canopy, where birds are heard before they are seen, and patience matters more than spectacle. Across Africa and beyond, indigenous forests shelter remarkable birdlife that is often overlooked in favour of open savannahs and classic safari routes. In South Africa’s indigenous forests and further afield, rare birds thrive quietly out of sight, writes Lee-Ann Steyn. The quiet power of forest birding Forest birding demands a shift in mindset. Species are often hearForests with hidden birdlife gems you’ve never heard ofd before they are seen, and success depends on slowing…

Africa’s most powerful travel stories are not limited to game drives and tick lists. Across the continent, markets, sacred sites, cities and forests offer encounters that are deeply human, richly layered and often far removed from safari imagery. This is travel shaped by history, belief, creativity and everyday life, where connection matters more than sightings. Africa has a way of revealing itself slowly, through conversation, ritual and place, writes Lee-Ann Steyn. North Africa beyond the desert Souks of Marrakech/Arnaud 25/Wikimedia Commons Getting lost in Moroccan souks and medinas The old cities of Morocco reward curiosity rather than planning. Inside the…

Monrovia — Liberia’s Vice President, serving as President of the Senate, has called on senators to back the country’s tourism sector with decisive action and increased budgetary support. Addressing a Senate session attended by officials from the newly established Liberia Tourism Authority and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Vice President underscored the urgent need for intentional planning, sustained government funding, and strategic policy reforms to drive tourism growth. He highlighted Liberia’s significant but underutilized assets, including the historic Ducor Palace Hotel and the Hotel Africa complex, both in disrepair but with substantial economic and cultural value. The Vice President…

There are many good reasons to procrastinate booking a holiday. But not knowing if you need a visa shouldn’t be one of them. Luckily, when you travel with Rhino Africa, you’re not left to Google your way through the bureaucracy. We’ve created this no-nonsense, country-by-country visa guide for some of the most popular safari destinations in Africa (and a few island add-ons, too). So, whether you’re dreaming of game drives in the Serengeti or scuba diving in the Seychelles, you’ll know exactly what paperwork stands between you and your next big adventure. The only thing you’ll scout for is adventure, Image…

In South Africa, travel is often driven by flavour as much as landscape. In towns and cities across the country, a single dish can carry history, identity and a sense of place, turning a meal into the main reason to visit, writes Lee-Ann Steyn. When one dish becomes a destination Food tourism is often reduced to lists of restaurants or trending menus, yet some places are defined by something deeper. In these food-forward towns, a single dish or food tradition is inseparable from the community that created it. Recipes are passed down through families, ingredients are tied to the land…

A new zipline at the gateway to the Overberg is giving travellers between Cape Town and the Garden Route more than just a road trip. Screenshot from Houw Hoek Zipline (@houwhoekzipline) on Instagram Perched near the summit of Houw Hoek Pass, just over an hour from the city, a new zipline experience has launched at the historic Houw Hoek Hotel. The attraction introduces a quick but exhilarating activity that fits neatly into journeys toward Hermanus, the Overberg and beyond. The concept is simple. Arrive, gear up and fly. As reported by The Planner Guru, visitors cross a short suspension bridge…

Data from payment provider, Yoco, shows that during December 2025, Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Plettenberg Bay accounted for 67% of all international visitor payments across the country. This translates into R500 million flowing into local businesses and protecting and creating jobs, said Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, who delivered the Western Cape State of the Province Address on Wednesday. “This is a Cape Town pastry chef who gets a permanent role in a new bakery. This is a Stellenbosch wine guide who can pay off his student loan. This is a mountain bike mechanic in Plett who can make the…