As a previous visitor to South Africa, I have enjoyed Cape Town, Sun City and Madikwe Game Reserve, but this trip allowed me to see new parts and new experiences. Pre-Covid, we sold many holidays to South Africa, and we are now noticing it is coming back on the radar.

I had preconceived ideas of Johannesburg, but now my eyes have been opened to a cosmopolitan city that, while it may have challenges, it has a lot to offer. Like many cities in the world, it’s the area you stay in that matters. We got to enjoy great atmospheres in exceptional restaurants, lovely culture and history, but also gained an understanding after visiting the Apartheid Museum how differently and unfairly the way people were treated.

There are many hidden gems: from Congolese cafes to Sanctuary Mandela, a former home of president Nelson Mandela in Houghton. This is now a boutique hotel with a fine-dining restaurant, and so different from his Soweto home, which has been turned into a museum. It’s still a thought-provoking place for learning about his importance and the injustices he suffered. There were dishes on the menu that Mandiba (Mandela) had enjoyed himself. We were treated like guests rather than customers here. It’s full of history, photos and artefacts, and each room has a name that relates to different parts of his life. 

In Soweto, we went to the Mandela Museum, where we got to understand his history, and learn about members of his family and how his incarceration affected them. The tour guides and people we met along the way are very passionate about their heritage and how things are improving and changing for the better.

A fun escapade was our visit to the Rosebank Sunday Market in Johannesburg. Every Sunday, a level of a multi-storey car park is transformed into a vibrant market with lots of arts and crafts. There was a ladies’ cooperative where we all managed to spend some money and come away with hand-made dresses.

Once we left Johannesburg, the hotel that made the biggest impression was the Walkersons Hotel and Spa, just outside of Dullstroom, because you are transported to a lovely Scottish estate. Wood fires, antique furniture, and little touches like teapots and electric blankets are twinned with views of private lakes and woodlands. You can go horse riding, take hiking trips around the lakes, known for their fly fishing, or relax in the hotel, where there’s a spa. 

Another of the wonderful experiences was the Panorama Route and the jaw-dropping views. There are different stop-off points to appreciate them: Blyde River Canyon, where we saw the Three Rondavels with stunning scenery; and also Lisbon Falls and Berlin Falls. We went to Graskop Gorge, with The Big Swing, where you drop 70 metres in three seconds. 

Four of us dared to do the Big Swing. You literally fall backwards into the deep gorge below and free-fall until the end of the rope tugs, then you just gently swing. I’m sure our screams could be heard from 20 miles away. It was scary but such a rush, I’m so glad I did it.

We stayed in a hotel along this route, Angels View, which looked down on the canyons; the view was called “God’s Window” to describe the immense view before you. My top tip would be this, finish the trip at the Angels View hotel to appreciate scenery, before travelling to Kruger. It’s incredible to just relax and unwind, I will be ensuring all my clients experience this.

Previously, I’ve been to Madikwe Game Reserve, an amazing inauguration into safari. At Abelana Private Game Reserve we didn’t see another vehicle during our game drives, different to Madikwe, so every encounter with the animals felt very intimate and natural. We were able to sit and enjoy, rather than rushing to take turns. 

We were lucky enough to see lions, a cheetah mum and her cubs, elephants, giraffe, hippopotamus and crocodile. There was even a colony of monkeys at our lodge, which could be observed by the pool. My favourite animal encounter was the lions. We turned a corner and a pride of lions was lazily waiting for us. It looked like they had recently eaten and vaguely lifted their heads to acknowledge us and then drifted off to sleep again. 

Abelana employed staff from the local community and our ranger, Duncan, was from the neighbouring village. By interacting with these local staff, it felt like we were contributing to the community and the villages that we had driven past. 

We had fantastic food throughout our time in South Africa: from the Congolese cafe with the best toasties and the Garden Shed in Graskop with the ostrich burger to Abelana where we had delicious lamb shank.

The best part was getting into places that locals would enjoy, rather than just dining in hotels and visiting shopping malls. Experiencing the culture in this way was invaluable and authentic. We never felt uncomfortable or unsafe anywhere, although we travelled with a guide who took us to the right areas of town. I would definitely recommend taxis at night time, and have some common sense about what you are wearing and carrying, as you would in most major cities. 

This fam trip has taught me that South Africa is a multifaceted country, and it was great to discover a lesser-known part. I would highly recommend adding a few nights at Johannesburg, rather than flying through. Stop and take a moment to get the full South African experience.