Author: Desiree Haakonsen

We can think of no better to celebrate Madiba’s 95th birthday than by giving 67 minutes of our time to help others. It’s a small privilege for the 67 years that Nelson Mandela spent fighting for social justice and human rights in South Africa. CEO of the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, Sello Hatang, explains: […]

With the first rains of spring, the dry, dusty plains of South Africa’s “outback” are magically transformed into a carpet of colour as the Namaqualand wild flowers burst to life. Almost overnight, the normally drab semi-desert of the Northern Cape is suddenly covered in millions of cheerful flowers, which last from early August to late […]

Nestled on the tranquil banks of the Orange River, the 4-star Moonriver Guesthouse is one of those special places where the atmosphere perfectly reflects the loving personality of the people who created it. Moonriver was once the private residence of owners, Karen and Hanrie Bergh, whose generous spirits prompted them to share the peace and […]

“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” – Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to […]

I’ve lived in Gauteng and the Cape Winelands, so I can testify that as wealthy as the Gauteng Province may be, its residents are horribly underprivileged when it comes to the joy of a wine tasting experience. Of course people can buy and drink wine, but that’s pretty much where it ends. For too long […]

TripAdvisor recently embarked on a world-wide TripIndex Cities survey to discover the most expensive and affordable cities to enjoy a night out on holiday. They selected a number of cities from across the globe and calculated the cost of a couple staying 1 night in a 4-star hotel, cocktails, a 2-course dinner with a bottle […]

The Eastern Cape’s coastal Kouga region is fast becoming the new winter playground of South Africa, with a bumper selection of sports events and family fun lined up for July 2013. Holidaymakers can catch a glimpse of sporting celebrities like former world champion surfer, Mark “Occy” Occhilupo, and Comrades Marathon legend, Bruce Fordyce, who will […]

I’m a total sucker for adventure, so my bucket list grows daily with exciting things to do. One of the activities on my bucket list is a Canopy Tour®. I’ve done plenty of foofi-slides, but I have yet to glide through the treetops like Tarzan in princess mode. While it may not be as hair-raising […]