Category: Adventure

If the gloomy weather is getting you down, then right about now you’re probably in need of a pick-me-up. So what better way to warm the cockles of your heart and banish the winter chill, than by enjoying some winter romance? Daytime Dates: Animal lovers will love a trip to theses 15 Animal Sanctuaries around […]

I once thought that Swellendam was just another sleepy little dorpie – one that only woke up once a year for the Berry Festival and barely cranked open an eyelid for the holiday season road trippers that zoomed between Cape Town and the Garden Route. I was wrong! While everyday life in a small town […]

If there is a recipe for creating a lifelong bond between people, it is to ship them off to Swellendam and ply them with copious amounts of decadent food and wine. Although the recent #swellenblog tourism campaign had plenty of adventure and a dash of good natured tomfoolery thrown into the mix, we quickly discovered […]

It is almost time for the annual Knysna Oyster Festival and its medley of marinated, pickled, and spiced molluscs! This year it will take place from 1 – 10 July 2016, and will continue its legacy of being one of the top sporting and lifestyle festivals in South Africa. Tourists and residents who visit the […]

Everyone who is anyone has heard of the Big Five. The 5 glorious wild animals that roam the savannah and bring tourists from all over the world to the African continent. But why does the term refer specifically to the lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard? Well, the term “Big Five” was coined by big […]

Whether you’re a summer or winter baby, there are just some things that are better in winter. Yes, you summer lovers can have your beaches and cocktails, but we’ll take our scarves, cuddles, fireplaces, and movie nights. Here are some activities that really are better during the winter months (May to August) in South Africa: […]

South Africa has 9 National Botanical Gardens, managed by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. The focus of the gardens is to conserve and preserve South Africa’s unique indigenous plants and promote environmental interest. These gardens are fantastic for day outings and picnics, and we’d highly encourage a visit:   1. Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, […]

I have a confession. I’ve driven the N2 past Swellendam more than once where my only desire to stop was determined by my either my petrol gauge or my bladder. Swellendam was little more than a “distance to” marker, a gaping hole on the map to holiday havens like Wilderness and Knysna. And as the […]