Fair Trade Tourism, Your Key to Responsible Travel

responsible travel: Fair Trade Tourism logoLove them or hate them, bicycles offer a unique form of transport. More efficient than walking, bicycles allow you to get from A to B faster than by foot, but simultaneously ensure that you are very much participating in life as it happens, rather than being blocked off from it in the confines of a car. This is precisely why the AWOL bicycle tours are such a success. Furthermore, they are a fine example of responsible travel and answer the question, What is Fair Trade Tourism? Continue reading

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3 Step Guide to Celebrating Youth Day in South Africa

family relaxing on youth dayLong languid weekends are what many of us worker bees live and breathe for. Luckily for us, the 16th of June promises just that – a long weekend kicking off on Friday and winding down on Monday evening. The thing is, some of us get so caught up in the holiday that we forget why Youth Day actually exists. Continue reading

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Father’s Day: Reminiscing on Travels with Dad

campfire on father's day“Catherine WHAT are you doing?” These words uttered in a bemused tone are the soundtrack to almost any travels my dad and I undertake together. And they are usually spoken as I try to assemble a tent or start a fire. The thing is, it seems my dad subscribes to the ‘my way or the highway’ mentality and I have long come to accept that no matter how adept I am at doing something, when it comes to outdoor endeavours, dad’s way is always best, at least for the sake of a harmonious relationship. Continue reading

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3 Small Nature Reserves in KwaZulu Natal

Beachwood mangrove nature reserve in kwazulu natal

Beachwood Mangrove Nature Reserve.

So we know by now that city people like to take a break from the city every now and then. To this end we have been looking into the small nature reserves around various South African cities that can be reached easily from said cities. To date we’ve looked at nature reserves in and around Cape Town and Joburg, and today, Durban, it’s your turn. Here are three nature reserves in KwaZulu Natal which are quick and easy to reach from Durban. Continue reading

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Snow Angels and Pub Food in Hogsback

Hogsback in WinterThe road was winding, and wet. All along the side of the road were tall trees dripping large dollops of water onto the road, where leaves congealed into sludgy piles as cars chugged past, carving a route through them. Beyond the narrow tree line the earth dropped away and the world was taken over by searing mountain peaks with deep, dark crevices. Continue reading

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Three of the Best Small Nature Reserves in Cape Town

Cape Town nature reservesCape Town is one of the most scenic cities in the world, surrounded by beaches, mountains and vineyards. It makes sense then that if you are in the area, you should get out and experience the natural side of Cape Town. However, given the abundance of nature reserves in and around Cape Town, we have selected 3 of the best small nature reserves in Cape Town to get you started. Continue reading

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Tips for Finding Pet Friendly Accommodation in South Africa

dog friendly accommodationAs anyone with a pet will know, within a short space of time the domestic animals in our lives become part of the family. We bond with them on an emotional level, sometimes so much so that leaving them behind while we go on holiday is unthinkable. In which case pet friendly accommodation be it dog friendly accommodation, cat friendly accommodation or both, becomes vital! Continue reading

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‘Africa is a Country’ and 6 More Misconceptions to Correct Before You Visit South Africa

Elephant in the Kruger National ParkGrowing up in the developed cities of South Africa, Cape Town and Johannesburg being prime examples, it is hard to imagine some of the things that people believe about SA. However, those not blessed with our insider knowledge have some interesting if far-fetched ideas about what actually goes on at the tip of the ‘dark continent’! It’s nothing that can’t be learned when they visit South Africa though! Here are some misconceptions that exist out there. Continue reading

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Ideas for Winter Holidays – Accommodation with Jacuzzi Facilities

accommodation with jacuzziWhen June arrives in South Africa, many of us are in need of a mid-year break and a comfy place to spend the winter holidays. Unlike in summer, outdoorsy and beach destinations are often deemed cold and unpleasant in winter. Instead we opt for cosy hideaways or as you should do, plan trips to accommodation with Jacuzzi and spa facilities. After all, a Jacuzzi is not a symbol of luxury for nothing.

For all those looking for winter holiday inspiration, we bring you The Jacuzzi! Continue reading

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How to Use Sleeping-OUT’s Advanced Search Filter

Sleeping-OUT search filterOver the years we have made lots of tweaks to the Sleeping-OUT website, constantly trying to improve your experience on our site. One of the aspects we are most proud of is our advanced search filter.

On many online accommodation directories you can expect to find a generic search field asking you for the dates of your stay, the number of people you would like to book for and where you’d like this accommodation to be. We have gone one step further. Continue reading

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