AfriSafari

Author: S2

The Village That Stole our Hearts

by S2

Nieu-Bethesda had humble beginnings with its origins as a private farm. Eventually, the farmers expanded, and a beautiful white church was built in 1875. Now turned church town, it received its name from biblical origin, derived from John 5:2–4 and translated as ‘place of flowing water.’ An apt description for a settlement made up of locals whose water source remains strong, ensuring that life and nature around it continues to thrive.

Exploring the quaint village was like opening a treasure chest of surprises. From the interesting Owl House to all the little restaurants and coffee shops, I felt like I was uncovering a world of its own. Beautiful art and fascinating history can be found around every corner. But the most charming thing was the donkey cart tour around the village, where we experienced the lives and stories of the locals.

You can enjoy some of the various outdoor activities such as hiking, horse riding, and mountain biking. The majestic beauty of the area combined with the hospitality of its people is what left the greatest impression on us. From this tiny hamlet comes a sense of immense pride as Nieu-Bethesda holds onto its history as a unique community that always turns lemons into lemonade.
It truly was an experience that will remain etched in my memory forever.

A Day in the Bustling Town of Clarens

by S2

I understood why it is a popular tourist destination… there is something truly special about this place.

I was impressed with how much the town of Clarens has to offer. The day was spent walking through the galleries and admiring the work of the local artists. After that, I relaxed in one of the many charming cafes, watching the world pass by. But the real highlight was all the outdoor activities. Whether hiking the surrounding mountains, swimming in the nearby rivers, or enjoying a horse ride, there was no shortage of outdoor adventure!

Clarens is a beautiful town, with a great atmosphere and friendly people. I had a fantastic time there and would recommend it to anyone looking for a weekend getaway, a few days of outdoor adventures, or an extended stay of complete relaxation. Clarens is sure to exceed all your expectations.

Khaki-Veld

by S2

It is filled with sounds and smells that we know and embrace. It is ‘bossies’ and Mopani bushes and a host of other flora, filled with insects endemic to South Africa—and there are many of them that share the landscape with our prime wildlife, again we have many in the National Parks and private parks.

The Kruger and the Lowveld hold special memories for South Africans; many of us grew up going to Kruger and passing through the rich greens of the Lowveld, towns like Mbombela, eMalahleni, eMkhondo, Malalane, Barberton and Sabie.

A diverse mix of cultures integrated into ancient landscapes and heritages fills the air with the African drums calling us. And, when the sun sets, and the clouds build up over the veld, promising an electric storm, the African earth receives it gratefully—in the distance, a lion roars, announcing his territory, take heed, you’re in the Lowveld.

Roadtrip From Joburg to Knysna

by S2

Day 1:
We journeyed from our client, Africlassic Rivonia River Lodge, to Forever Resort Gariep Dam via the N1 highway. It was a beautiful evening, without any rainfall and a refreshing smell of holiday in the air. Stunning vistas presented themselves, encapsulating the wonderful atmosphere.

Day 2:
Continuing our tour, we drove to Colesberg, making a few unexpected discoveries on our way. We encountered a historically significant cemetery amongst the corn fields and, afterwards, visited Nineteen Eighty-Nine coffee shop for some refreshments in the form of a ‘Pink Unicorn Milkshake’ and traditional vetkoek. Leaving Colesberg, we followed the N9 towards Nieu-Bethesda. Our afternoon consisted of exploring the beautiful church, the Owl House Museum and some of the restaurants in the village. That night, we stayed at the Water Tower and watched the starry sky from its upper deck, feeling quite mesmerised.

Day 3:
In the morning, we continued discovering Nieu-Bethesda, while having breakfast at Boetie’s Pub restaurant section. Unexpectedly, we encountered Jacob with his donkey car and enjoyed a cheerful tour around town. He shared many stories about the town’s people, history and how he started his donkey car business with only a few rand.
Finally, we had to depart, but not before visiting the church of Graaff-Reneit and the Valley of Desolation in the surrounding Camdeboo National Park. What a beautiful sight!
We continued following the N9 towards Willowmore and spent a little time at the Willowmore Historical Guest House. The Uitkyk Kliphuisie just outside of Uniondale was our last stop for the day – an incredibly beautiful and comfortable place to stay.

Day 4:
The next morning, we set out for Knysna for two weeks of sightseeing and exploration. To stay updated, keep an eye out for our blog posts!

Have You Been on a FOOD Safari?

by S2

Together, you’ll be able to taste dishes from the most iconic and delicious regions on the continent – the south, east, and west, each representing its own distinctive palate of flavor. Along the way, you’ll get to experience the beautiful traditional recipes and discover the special spice blends of each country that gives each dish its signature flair.

The experience consists of South African delicacies, such as a Shisanyama and a variety of Potjiekos. With each bite, you’ll be able to appreciate the warmth of this vibrant country. Next, you’ll be welcomed with traditional north and east African food which blends Indian, Middle Eastern, and African cultures. This includes our Taste of Morocco prepared in their traditional tagines and Zanzibar Beach Braai which offers a wide variety of seafood. The conversation won’t only be about what’s on your plate but about where the dishes come from and how their preparation tells a story of Africa.

All throughout the journey, you’ll learn to appreciate and understand African cuisine and appreciate its powerful ability to bring us all together.

Road-Trippin’

by S2

Zanel & Shirli for Afrisafari
If you are my co-road-tripper like Zanel, letting your hair down is a long way down from the castle turret. Afrisafari will be ‘road trippin’ to find those hidden authentic little places that few people know or read about.

We want to showcase these places with Afrisafari, seeped in stories or history unique to our African space. Saffies know all about taking that road trip with our ‘padkos’. Well-prepared the night before, stopping on the side of the road has a history all of its own, precious memories we all have tucked away. That smell of a newly peeled boiled egg is pretty gross anywhere except on the side of the road with a cup of flask coffee.

While we yearn the travel to Europe or maybe that hamburger country, the USA, which ends up costing an arm, leg and an empty bank account to welcome us home—we forget what a phenomenal country is on our doorstep. So let’s pack our vetkoek and cameras; these road-trippers are in for an adventure with Afrisafari; we’re on a mission to find those unique places that are affordable and have stories to tell.

Saffie-Land

by S2

Zanel & Shirli for Afrisafari
Ask any South African what is ‘load-shedding’ or ‘car-guards’ and they’ll probably laugh and go into an explanation with humour and a touch of acid.

South Africa has warts and compromised freckles, loads of it – wrinkles we are still ironing out and tolerance levels that outshine any country on the planet. We must be one of the most resilient nations in the world to put up with what we have over the last decade. But, and a huge one, we have beauty spots everywhere between warts and all. We have a cross-pollination of people; eleven official languages and cultures stirred into a rich pot of cosmopolitan seshebo, filled with warmth, and welcomes to melt any heart.

A country filled with sunshine and smiling faces, the things we miss when visiting another continent. We can be negative and whine, but at Afrisafari, we choose to be positive; looking at that elusive silver lining, we remember what a beautiful country we live in and the privilege of sharing it with amazing creatures only found in Africa.

Come road-tripping in our Africa!

Spaced-Out

by S2

Zanel & Shirli for Afrisafari
South Africa has space, but more than the suburbs, the country areas are vast and laced with little towns, if you can call some of them that—sneeze and you might miss it and be on your way to the next. Hidden are country places, and their country cooks, charming and quaint with repurposed treasures.

Here you find bottled homemade jam and pickles, homemade loaves of bread and South African rusks. What are their stories or histories through the generations? These are the places we want to showcase and add to our Afrisafari Collection, road trips stitched from one to another that are affordable and need visitors to experience their brand of hospitality and South Africa’s generosity of spirit.

And, if you ever find yourself in the rural town of Tweebuffelsmeteenskootmorsdoodgeskietfontein, yes, it exists near Putfontein in the North West province.

Fright Night

by S2

Afrisafari – From the field
With the stench of blood—the crunching of bones and slurping between the low growls, I grasped how completely disadvantaged, as humans, we are with predators. Their senses are far more advanced than ours in the dark hours.

As a wildlife photographer, I’ve had some experiences with lions that have left me shaking in my tiny tent. On one trip, with two big males outside, I curled up, not moving a limb, realising that the thin plastic of my tent was hardly protection enough. My heart was beating, and my pillow was soaked; the more I sweated, I wondered if the lions could smell my fear. One paw swipe and my cocoon would be in shreds. I could feel the sweat running through my hair on my scalp. I had never been more scared and frozen. I lost all concept of time and have no idea how long it was before it was silent and they had moved off into the night, thankfully.

The following morning I found them at the waterhole near my camp. Where else could this happen but only in Africa?