During the past year we have all become very familiar with the reference to the Three Ws, Wear, Wait and Wash, however with the progress of vaccinations becoming more widely available to all Americans within the next two to three weeks, isn’t it time we looked forward to a new meaning of the Three W’s?
I would like to express my thoughts on how to re-define the notoriety of the Three Ws to something with far more positive connotations – Wildlife, Winelands and Whales!
Before continuing, I do want to share that I continue to fully support the Three Ws, and hope that as the world reopens to travelers, we will all respect the need to follow the Three Ws for some time into the future, wherever we are in the World, as no-one wants to experience another year like the past we have just had!
Moving to the NEW and much more fun version of the Three Ws, I am sure many of you are aware of the incredible opportunities there are to see Wildlife in South Africa, and for those of you who enjoy a glass, or two 😊, of wine, you will have heard of the Winelands of South Africa, but are you aware that South Africa is a great destination for Whale Watching and so much more?
I appreciate that many travelers are a little wary of planning travel to South Africa in the coming months with the news media attention on the South African variant of COVID-19, however I would also recommend that you read more about how South Africa has managed the virus and review the scientific data, prior to striking South Africa off your list for the foreseeable future. It is a country with something for everyone; the adventurer, the solo traveler, the wine connoisseur, the artist, the historian, the safari lover, the gardener, and the marine life enthusiasts. Personally, I am planning to head back to South Africa in September 2021.
Wildlife – South Africa is one of Africa’s best safari destinations, offering the Big Five (lion, leopard,
buffalo, elephant and rhino) and many more in national parks and private reserves. Safaris can be enjoyed in specially converted vehicles, some designed to accommodate keen photographers with swivel seats and the opportunity to lay down to get a better shot, or on horseback or by foot with a ranger and guide close by to point out a secretary bird, or a leopard tortoise ambling along the roadside. There are a multitude of ways to enjoy your safari experience that can accommodate a variety of budgets.
Winelands – South Africa produces some incredible wines, a couple of particularly favorite varietals of
mine are the Sauvignon Blanc and the Pinotage, as I find both of these are a perfect summer wines; however there really is something for almost everyone in the wine region of the country. Traveling inland and northwards from Cape Town, you will find the Boland region, meaning “upland”, which is a brilliant wine-producing area and the best in the country. Traveling in the winelands area with the stunning mountain ranges around Stellenbosch and Franschoek is just brilliant. Imagine enjoying a delightful wine-tasting, followed by a beautiful picnic lunch in the winery grounds – are you ready to travel there now??
Whales – Perhaps not as well known, South Africa also has the Marine Big Five (whales, sharks, seals,
penguins and dolphins). In fact, it has been ranked one of the ten best destinations worldwide for whale watching. The coastal waters of the country are frequented by the southern right whales, humpback whales and bryde whales, with June to November the best time of year to see the whales. And, you really can’t miss seeing the charismatic black-footed or jackass penguins at Boulders Beach. I can recall standing there for hours just watching them go about their day, although sadly these African penguins are threatened with extinction and classified as endangered. Another great reason not to delay travel to South Africa for “the future”, as we all know what happened at the beginning of 2020 – travel halted! Please take just a couple of minutes to review this short inspirational video to give you just a tiny glimpse of the multiple options available to you in South Africa.
There truly is something for everyone to enjoy in South Africa, and I would be remiss in not mentioning lesser known provinces of the country; KwaZulu Natal, also known as KZN is the site of many great battlefields from the Boer and Zulu wars, including the Battle of Rorke’s Drift and the Drakensberg escarpment region in Mpumpalanga province provides some of the most beautiful panoramas you will find anywhere in the world, such as God’s Window.
You may not be ready to consider travel to South Africa in 2021, but availability for 2022 is already becoming challenging so don’t delay in reaching out to learn more about this incredible destination.
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