How to pack lightly for a long trip

I spent last winter obsessed with cheap flights. For the first time in five years, I had a home to base myself in, and that meant I could take advantage of round-trip deals. It turns out, there’s a hell of a lot of them around. And who knew they would be so much cheaper than one-way flights? Not me.  I excitedly booked flights from Lisbon to Mozambique in January, to South Africa in February, and to Namibia in March, then got down to planning. And it was then that I made a discovery. The flights I’d booked to Mozambique would have me returning to Lisbon in early-February, then five days later, I’d be jumping back on a head back down to Cape Town. That seemed pretty dumb. Why not just stay in Southern Africa for an extra few days, then meet Dave in Cape Town afterwards? And who knew that when you skip an outbound flight, it invalidates the return ticket? Not me. But that’s a story for next week. I had a mu...

The ideal destination for any adventurous traveler, South Africa has so many amazing experiences on offer, from off-roading on a safari to diving with great white sharks. With its wonderful array of wildlife, beautiful beaches, divine vineyards, and magnificent mountains, there’s no doubt that this is a land of diversity. The southern tip of Africa may have left the years of apartheid behind, but much of the nation still struggles with poverty and there remains a vast disparity between wealth and race. The country offers numerous chances to learn about its tumultuous history, land and peoples, with museums and trips to Robben Island or a visit to a Township. Leave the cities behind, grab yourself some wheels, and head off on a road trip through the varied landscapes of the Garden Route. Make sure to stop off at Hermanus, known for its opportunities to spot southern right whales from the shoreline. Take a walk on the wild side in the Kruger National Park, where lions, leopards, r...

Muizenberg Beach in Cape Town Cape Town, South Africa What’s it like surfing Cape Town’s Muizenberg Beach in the winter? Not as cold as I thought it would be! My surfing road trip update from South Africa. After two weeks of intense surfing in Cape Town, I’m already seeing a huge improvement in my technique. The surfing at Muizenberg has been a lot of fun, with plenty of waves for everyone to practice on. In fact they never seem to stop! This is the reason why Muizenberg Beach is considered by many to be one of the best places in the world for learning how to surf. Warming Up with Instructors TK and Nikita Surfing At Muizenberg My surf adventure began in Cape Town, where I spent 12 days surfing on and off with instructors. We learned how to paddle into waves, proper positioning to catch them, how to pop up onto the board, correct stance, the basics of turning, and how to stay safe. The abundant practice time really helped me improve. We’d usually hav...

Magaliesberg, South Africa We’re flying! Heat from a giant 8 foot flame warms the top of my head as our multi-colored balloon effortlessly lifts off the ground and into the early morning breeze. The beautiful Magalies River Valley fully revealed itself as we rose into the sky with the sunrise. The area is only an hour North West of Johannesburg, the capital of South Africa. It’s also home to the Cradle of Humankind. A very large number of ancient ape-man fossils have been found in limestone caves dating back 3.5 million years ago. We all have quite a bit of history in this area! They are some of the oldest fossils of human ancestors ever discovered. Hot Air Balloon Experience I’d never flown in a hot air balloon before, and wasn’t quite sure what to expect. After waking up at 4am and driving to Bill Harrop’s “Original” Balloon Safari launch site, we were treated to coffee & cookies around an open fire in the darkness as our bal...

Zulu Medicine Woman South Africa Traveling to the rainbow nation really surprised me. South Africa is incredibly diverse. Friendly people and stunning landscapes inspire some powerful photography. South Africa’s landscapes are as varied as its famous wildlife. Local South Africans are generally friendly and welcoming, while modern cities like Cape Town balance out more rural areas like St. Lucia. Below you’ll discover my favorite photos after 2 months traveling through different parts of South Africa. Marvel at exotic wild animals on safari, fly over the coast in a microlight, or learn your fortune from an indigenous medicine woman. Cook home-made bread over an open fire with new friends, wander through luscious green vineyards, inhale aromatic spices at an Indian market, hunt for shooting stars deep in the bush, and share lunch with locals in a township. These are just a few experiences you can have in South Africa. Enjoy! Wildlife In South Africa Young Cheeta...