IT’S time to kick off the throws of winter and get out there and travel.
September marks the start of spring and it is the month of change with plenty to look forward to in the world of travel.
It’s Tourism Month and Heritage Month, providing South Africans with plenty of excuses to explore the country.
As temperatures start to peak, so too will travel with many looking forward to the opportunity to enjoy outdoor living again.
Mzansi is the land of plenty and each province provides a spectacular show on what spring travel is all about. If you’re looking for inspiration on where to go and what to do, here is your guide on spring travel.
Enjoy food and wine in Plettenberg Bay
A premier holiday destination, Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape has everything from sweeping golden beaches, the iconic Robberg Peninsula, intriguing lagoons and estuaries, to towering indigenous forests and unpolluted rivers, vineyards and wine estates.
The best reason to visit this coastal town is for its food and wine offerings. Step into spring and tantalise your palate with fresh food and crisp wine. Visit Bramon Boutique Wine Estate and Restaurant for a food and wine adventure.
The wine estate in the mountainous region of the The Crags was the first estate to pioneer vineyards in the Plettenberg Bay area.
The previously family-run estate pushed the boundaries of wine-making with their award-winning, non-traditional and traditional Méthode Cap Classique bubblies and still wines, collecting national and international awards.
Bramon paved the way for a new “Sparkling Wine Route”, and offers wide range of activities from wine-tasting to enjoying a lunch at the estate’s ever-popular restaurant set in the vineyards which overlook the Tsitsikamma Mountains.
You can sample 3 wines for R80 a person or 5 wines for R120 a person.
Explore the Namaqualand Flower Route, Northern Cape
Spring is all about transformation and new beginnings. The blooming of colourful flowers in the Namaqualand region of the Northern Cape symbolises the beauty of the new season.
The phenomenon takes place from early August to the end of September with Namaqualand daisies and more than 3 500 other floral species emerging in spring to offer one of the world’s greatest flower shows.
The Namaqualand Flower Route lies roughly 5 hours north of Cape Town. The real flower show belongs to a series of drives that centre on the towns of Garies, Springbok, Kamieskroon and Port Nolloth, way up the N7.
Included in the wild flower route are the Richtersveld National Park, Goegap Nature Reserve, and Skilpad Wild Flower Reserve. When on the route, take in the sites and don’t forget to bring your camera.
Outdoor living and hiking at Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Free State
Golden Gate Highlands National Park on the rolling foothills of the Maluti Mountains of the north eastern Free State is the best destination for outdoor living and exploration.
Think hiking, horse riding, and camping. Some hikes take only an hour, others longer, and there’s an overnight trail for the fit and adventurous.
However, whichever you choose, the hiking trails of Golden Gate Highlands National Park are fun, gloriously scenic and very accessible.
If you have time, then try the 28km Ribbok Overnight Trail, on which you'll encounter some of the park’s highest peaks, plus lots of game including black wildebeest, springbok and zebra. You can also spot the endangered bearded vulture, as well as Verreaux’s (black) eagles.
For day visitors, consider an overnight stay at Glen Reenen Rest Camp in a campsite or a cosy rondavel.
If you prefer more home comforts, try the Golden Gate Hotel, encircled by sandstone hills and looking as if it had come directly from the Swiss Alps. The entry fee into the park is R67 for an adult and accommodation starts at R317 a night per person.
Wellness retreat at Woodlands Spa in Muldersdrift, Gauteng
Johannesburg is known as the city of hustle and city life can get draining. To recharge and heal your mid-year fatigue, consider a wellness retreat in Muldersdrift on the outskirts of Johannesburg.
Muldersdrift, part of the West Rand District Municipality, is an attractive rural area between Johannesburg and the Magaliesberg mountains and is also situated on the Crocodile River in the Kromdraai Valley on the edge of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site.
The town is easily accessed from the N14 highway and provides a relaxed, pleasant getaway from the Johannesburg’s hectic urban vibe.
Situated on the banks of the Crocodile river in the heart of rural Muldersdrift, Woodlands Spa is the perfect setting to escape the busy city life. The spa has a variety of wellness retreat packages including a two-day Recharge Retreat package.
The package includes a stay, breakfast, lunch and dinner, yoga, hydro and massage therapy starting at R2 900 a person sharing.
Beach into spring at Umdloti, KwaZulu-Natal
North of Durban lies the small seaside town of Umdloti nestled among indigenous forests and rolling sugar cane fields. The beach resort town is close to Umhlanga and Ballito and boasts stellar holiday attraction status.
The town is also part of the dolphin coast of KZN due to common dolphin sightings. Umdloti is famous for having some of the most beautiful beaches in the province. Umdloti Beach is enclosed with vernacular sub-tropical flora.
Umdloti Beach also boasts natural rock pools which are completely safe to swim in. If you are lucky enough, you will get to see majestic pods of dolphins in the morning and during spring, July to November, you might even see a few whales.
The beach is an aquatic animal lover’s dream and is the perfect place for travellers looking for a serene, more quiet beach.