first time to South Africa_Travel tips and tools

First Time to South Africa – 7 Useful Travel Tips and Tools

Tracey Pictor 2 Comments

When you finally commit to sitting down and actually planning any trip for the first time, it’s rather overwhelming. When that destination is the far away land of South Africa it can seem even more so. Where to start, how to do it all in a few days, what to see, will it be safe, what to do, where to stay?

South Africa is rich in diversity, both in culture and scenery. From the beautiful views of the oceans, mountain and vineyard’s of Cape Town, the sunny beaches in Durban, the fast-paced big city of Johannesburg to the bushveld for the ultimate African experience, a safari. There is much to see and experience across the country. Here are few travel tips and tools that will make planning your first trip to South Africa a little easier.

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First Time on Safari: Everything you Need to Know

Tracey Pictor Leave a comment

Silently perched in a rugged open-air safari vehicle, as a herd of elephants casually trudge across a sandy road just a few steps ahead of you. Surrounded by the African bushveld humming with insects, the cracking branches from the trees as the elephants carve their path and the occasional grunt of an animal far out in the distance. There is nothing quite like the sights, sounds and experience of going on your first safari.

As a locally grown South African I grew up on sunshine and safari getaways – the ultimate bucket list item for most! Over the years, having gone on more game drives than I can count on my fingers and toes I have seen a lot of wildlife, and a fair share questionable tourist behaviour. It is now time to share some tips, “must dos” and “don’t you dare do’s” when embarking on your very first African safari. This will ensure you take away a truly memorable African adventure.

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Chocoholics bucket list macaroon

The Ultimate Chocoholic Bucket List

Tracey Pictor Leave a comment

Nowadays everyone seems to have a bucket list or wander list if you will. But among the many unbelievable places to see, road trips to take and experiences to have, I have a chocoholic bucket list –  chocolist! As a self-anointed chocolate connoisseur, I have made it my life’s mission to taste chocolate from around the world.

So far I have sampled bars from Japan, Thailand, Vietnam (which tastes remarkably like soy sauce), South Africa, England, Austria, Venezuela, Kazakstan (surprisingly good), Canada, USA and the Dominican Republic, among many others. But beyond my ongoing sampling of these sweet treats from around the world, there are a few key experiences any true worshipper of the cacao bean needs to tick off their bucket list.

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Blue Mountain ski resort

Can I have S’more Blue Mountain

Tracey Pictor 2 Comments

With the start of winter in Canada and 2016 rapidly coming to a close we had one last thing to tick off our 2016 bucket list – attempt to ski! We decided this would be best done at Blue Mountain, a snowball’s throw away from downtown Toronto. A low-key ski resort just outside the city that has become the place for an Ontario winter weekend getaway, to get in a few runs without having to fork out for flights or take lengthy shuttles high into the mountains.

 

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