The best holiday destinations on any budget
You can still celebrate all that is festive with your family while on a budget
The end of the year comes with annual bonuses or even a 13th cheque, however, the past two years have been extraordinarily different from other years. We are currently in a global pandemic and that means, many people have either lost their jobs or have been retrenched. Ultimately the holiday season has become a difficult time for many.
You can still celebrate all that is festive with your family while on a budget. South Africa is not only rich in natural attractions but many of them can be enjoyed even when you are trying to be frugal.
Bela-Bela Region
A visit to Bela-Bela (Warmbaths) provides a unique and invigorating family experience. The town is just over an hour’s drive from Gauteng and lies on the Springbok Flats on the highway to the North.
Cullinan
About an hour and a half from Johannesburg on the R 513 lies the town of Cullinan, which has the distinction of being the location of the discovery of the world’s largest diamond.
Dullstroom
Two and a half hours drive from Johannesburg will land you in Dullstroom. Situated in the heart of the Highlands Meander, a beautiful part of Mpumalanga noted for its clear streams, lakes and breathtaking scenery.
Hartbeespoort
If you love being active in the great outdoors Hartbeespoort is the destination for you. Already one of the best inland water sports destinations in the country, there are mountain thrills, sky adventures and once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters to take you to a new adrenalin high.
Magaliesburg
The village of Magaliesburg can be reached by driving an hour or so westward from Jo’burg or Pretoria. Within a few kilometres there is a large assortment of activities to cater for all kinds of tastes.
Northern Drakensberg and Natal Midlands
Tucked away deep in the Drakensberg lies the road to a fantasy land. A short turn off Nottingham Road in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands starts the gentle climb to Cleopatra’s Mountain.
Pilanesberg National Park
Pilanesberg Game Reserve in the North West province is a two-hour drive from Johannesburg and has the added benefit of being in a malaria-free area. Families are catered for at Kwa Maritane, located in the rich and diverse game reserve and not far from of Sun City.
The Cradle of Humankind
Only 30 minutes from Johannesburg’s rush lies the origins of man’s story on Earth – four million years of history. The Cradle of Humankind is a 47 000 hectare area, 40 kilometres west of the city, among nondescript dusty koppies, a few shrubs and trees.
Waterberg
Just a two-hour drive from Johannesburg, spot the ‘Big Five’ from your safari vehicle or go game-tracking on foot. This is untamed Africa at its finest – the land of wide-open bushveld, big skies and the ever-present thorn tree.
