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Crawford's Beach Lodge, set adjacent to the beach in Chintsa East on the magical Wild Coast, offers rustic accommodation, gourmet dining and a world of activities for travellers looking for fun, sun and relaxation away from the madding crowds. Located in unspoilt wilderness overlooking the warm Indian Ocean, the family run beach resort is suitably designed around the contours of the coastal dunes on which it resides. Most of the 30 units, as well as the communal area, feature ocean views...

Read more at www.nightjartravel.com/accommodation/crawford’s-beach-lodge

(GPS coordinates: -32.826911, 28.118583)

 

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Mkomazi River Rafting

The Umkomaas has a fearsome reputation among whitewater enthusiasts. The largest river on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal, it runs almost 300 kilometres from its source just south of Giant’s Castle in the Drakensberg to its mouth into the Indian Ocean at the town of Umkomaas. The river is susceptible to flooding due to unpredictable weather patterns higher up in the catchment area and the steep valley that houses the river. This fast run-off makes the river quite temperamental for commercial rafting trips, so it is best experienced during the wet summer months from November to April. However, a recent travel article voted it the best continuous section of white water in South Africa, so it is a must-visit for the adventure-minded...

(GPS coordinates: -29.896299, 30.061802)

Read more at www.nightjartravel.com/rafting-kayaking/mkomazi-river-rafting-i

 

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Induna Adventures MTB Trails

The Sabie Valley (between Sabie and Hazyview) boasts world-class mountain-bike trails. All the ingredients for real mountain biking are found here, seemingly endless downhills, gruelling climbs, fast rollers and technical problems that will rattle your teeth. The purpose-built Induna single track is well designed and very scenic and features anything from river crossings to serious downhills. Induna Adventures is also home to the Big Induna MTB Race that takes place annually. A network of trails includes the tough yellow trail, a route characterised by snaking trails next to the Sabie and Mac-Mac rivers under the canopy of indigenous trees.  A magnificent cascading waterfall along the way makes it a must-do. Duration depends on your level of fitness, but plan to spend about two hours in the saddle…

(GPS coordinates: -25.031838, 31.025125)

Read more at www.nightjartravel.com/mountain-biking/induna-adventures-mtb-trails

 

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Maboneng  

You would never guess that in the heart of Hillbrow you would find a world filled with thriving businesses, trendy markets, delicious coffee shops, museums and creative spaces. The Maboneng Precinct in Johannesburg has taken me and, I’m pretty sure, the rest of South Africa by surprise by emerging as one of the favourite places to go to when visiting Jozi. The atmosphere is tangible with the excitement of this new urban development and the experience of Maboneng satisfies all the senses. The food from the Neighbourgoods Market, the sounds of colleagues and friends chatting on their lunch breaks, the taste of Origin coffee, the feeling of community and finally the visual. Maboneng is a space of collaboration, of development, of integration and of creativity and this is evident no matter where you look – in the people, in the businesses and in the design. Watch out Cape Town and Durban – Jozi has brought the party!

- Daniella Toscano

 

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Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research 

The Bernard Price Institute (BPI) for Palaeontological Research is part of the school of Geosciences at the University of the Witwatersrand. It collects, conserves, and interprets African fossils. If you dig dinosaurs, then you must visit their James Kitching Gallery museum. The museum is filled to the brim with all sorts of fascinating old bones and fossils and, would you believe it, a couple of live dinosaurs named Fang and Fred. Okay, Fang and Fred aren’t really ‘live’, but they are among several life-size animated reconstructions of fossils that make the museum such a cool place to learn about South Africa’s rich fossil heritage... 

(GPS coordinates: -26.189761, 28.0321

Read more at www.nightjartravel.com/cultural/bernard-price-institute-palaeontological...

 

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Grand Dédale Country House, located on a wine estate at the foot of the Bainskloof Pass, invites its guests to an exclusive brand of elegant country house living with understated luxury, discreet service, superb cuisine, and complete privacy amidst a beautiful winelands setting. The Doolhof Wine Estate, 6km from Wellington, is set on 380 hectares of vineyard, forest and fynbos, surrounded by three dramatic mountain ranges. The Kromme River runs through the estate and is a major natural attraction. Rooms reflect the Cape Dutch elegance of the buildings while offering premium 21st century comforts...

Read more at www.nightjartravel.com/accommodation/grand-dedale-country-house

(GPS coordinates: -33.626784, 19.083333)

 

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Seven Dams Conservancy Trail

Just to the north of ‘The City of Roses’ CBD you’ll find a protected area of 86ha on the edge of the urban spread. Four distinctive habitats exist here, from woody shrub land, grassland and wetlands to the unique Bloemfontein Karroid shrub land. The veld, dams and koppies are home to a variety of small mammals and 120 species of birds, as well as some interesting archaeological sites. The Seven Dams conservancy is great for trail running, mountain biking, walking the dog, or just chilling with the family on an afternoon picnic. A network of jeep tracks, rocky single tracks and forest paths traverse the varying vegetation biomes. Terrain ranges from flat gravel cruises to technical running along testing and rugged terrain…

(GPS coordinates: -29.074899, 26.217795)

Read more at www.nightjartravel.com/trail-running/seven-dams-conservancy-trail