Start exploring close to home

I love travelling, whether it’s just an hour’s drive Nelspruit to visit head office or have lunch with friends or the five-hour journey to visit the folks in Limpopo.

I’ve been going on road trips since I was very young, since my family is spread all over the country. I still remember my mom or dad waking us up in the dark, bundling us into the car and then waking up to new and exciting scenery.

Ever since I moved to the Onderberg a few months ago, I’d maintained that the road between Nelspruit and Komatipoort feels like a holiday road. Probably because the only other time I’d travelled on it, we’d been heading to Shelly Beach for a two-week holiday.

When I got into my car on Friday to go visit a successful entrepreneur past Mangweni, I knew I’d be driving through unfamiliar territory for about an hour. I jokingly called it a road trip and had Google Maps at the ready to guide me to the correct destination. What I didn’t expect was to enjoy it as much as I had.

Despite the number of Stop-and-Go’s due to roadworks, traffic wasn’t that bad and I used the waiting time to sing along to great songs or check  my Whatsapp.

I got to see some amazing scenery: mountains, sugar cane, bush and township; and observe what life is like in Tonga and surrounds.

The travelling and landscape made me very nostalgic and I briefly considered going home to pack after the interview and surprising my parents with a visit (enjoying five hours’ drive through the Lowveld, Bushbuckridge, the Bushveld and into citrus country).

Actually getting to my destination distracted me for a while. I almost drove into Naas and had to make a u-turn before I found the farm.

After a great interview with an inspiring and motivated lady, I headed back home and decided that I definitely need to go on more road trips, especially around the Lowveld. We have some amazing spots perfect for day visits and so often we overlook them or are “too busy” to properly enjoy them.

Make time to explore the area you live in. Share your experience with others. It inspires others with travellers’ spirits.