South Africa is blessed with many beautiful beaches, but for my money there are none more beautiful than those of the Transkei. But best of all, access to the area is limited to a few dirt roads leading to the resorts and if you decide to hike along the coast, you?re unlikely to see another soul. You can hike independently, camping out or utilising local accommodation, but if you want to do it in style, sign up for one of the guided hikes ? the Wild Coast Meander, Wild Coast Amble or Hole in the Wall trail and enjoy the finest Wild Coast hospitality at the resorts along the way.
You can wander for days, gathering oysters off the rocks, stopping to swim or visit local shebeens when the fancy takes, admiring the dramatic coastal landforms, the verdant vegetation and enjoying typical Transkei sights of cattle lying on the pristine golden beaches. And at the end of the day there are boat trips into the mangrove swamps, tours of inland gorges, fishing and other diversions to amuse. The Wild Coast is a magical place far removed from the ?real world?. It?s somewhere that everyone should visit once in a lifetime. www.wildcoastholidays.co.za
Chill out in the Richtersveld
If you need to get away from it all then head to the Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier National Park. Right on the border with Namibia, the spectacular mountain and desert landscape offers wilderness camping at its very best. Pitch your tent in the lee of great golden granite boulders or book one of the sites next to the river, crack open the beers and chill.
The sites are few and far between so your nearest neighbours are usually out of sight and out of mind ? you feel like you have the place to yourself. The feeling of space is incredible and you can drive around for hours admiring the weird vegetation, the quiver trees, the human-like 'halfmens' trees, welwitchia and tiny succulents; hike or bike to rocky summits; swim naked; cast a line; put a boat on the river and float down while watching the colourful kingfishers, herons and other birds through your binocs, and then sit around a glowing fire at night, braaing and enjoying the star-studded sky.
Sounds perfect? If you?re an escapist with a 4x4 or high clearance vehicle who can live without your creature comforts for a few days, it is. www.sanparks.org
We’re giving away five pairs of return tickets to any Mango destination in South Africa!
A VIP airport lounge at OR Tambo has been voted the best lounge in Africa and the Middle East.
Visitors to historic Stellenbosch can now explore the town, and winelands, by bicycle.
