Our South Africa Trip
We visited Durban this year for our Summer Holiday (their Winter). It's worth mentioning at this point that my husband is from Durban which is one of the main reasons we visit. I know lots of people choose to visit Cape Town as it really is quite beautiful and with a direct flight from London and only 1 hour time difference it makes a great destination. We decided to fly with Emirates which meant a stopover in Dubai. Dubai is not a city that I have been particularly interested in seeing as I am more a cobbled street kind of girl but I knew it would be fascinating and it's a little like Vegas, surely everyone who has the opportunity should try and see it.
Dubai is a city of many contrasts — where futuristic skyscrapers rise beside traditional souks, and the desert meets the sea. A sea which is basically like a warm bath during Summer. Not as pleasant as you might thing. At 47 degrees there is also alot of time spent in doors in various air conditioned buildings which isn't really my vibe. We were able to get up very early to swim but even by 8am you were starting to think someone had inadvertently pointed a hairdryer in your face on the hottest setting. We visited the glittering Burj Khalifa, swam at Atlantis water park, experienced the bustling souks and drunk a faire few cocktails. I actually enjoyed riding their version of the tube, a little tip I got was to the upper class tickets which are not that different in price to the standard but you get the incredible views has you go through the journey. I do love how efficient Dubai is, even when you don't need help their are so many people working, plus camera equipment is much more reasonable so that's a reason to go there in itself especially if you don't fancy flying to China.
Here are some pics from the Dubai leg of the journey. So after 3 days we started back on our journey to Durban, South Africa.
We took a 3-hour trip from the airport to a Zebra Hills, an amazing set of lodges on the Manyoni Private Game Reserve. We had our own guide Marcel who completely made the trip, even though this is already a very special game reserve and all the guides were love, he just made it that bit more special for and took us all over on the search for the Big 5. I actually think the search for these animals is as fun as the finding them and when you don't find them in that time then it just reinforces why you visit there and not ever a Zoo. Highlights have to be the Pangolin and the tiger cubs. Incredible, just incredible.
After our 3 days (we could def have done 4). We headed off to the Oyster Box, a gorgeously traditional hotel overlooking the iconic Umhlanga Lighthouse and the warm Indian Ocean, it offers sweeping coastal views and direct access to the beach. It's within walking distance of the vibrant Umhlanga Village. But watch out for the monkeys. I woke up from an afternoon nap and there was one sitting right opposite me on the chair having stolen the cookie gifts that had been left for us by the hotel. And a mention must go to the breakfast, never have I seen or had a breakfast quite like it.
After two very lovely nights at this hotel we moved to an Airbnb online Belitto on Zimbali Estate.
Zimbali Estate is a natural and contemporary coastal forest residential estate. We found via Airbnb a house that can sleep up to 8 (we are only 4) for just £180 per night (not pp may I add). This is the difference of visiting somewhere like Africa over America. The food and accommodation are so much more reasonable. Plus if you visit in their Winter (on average 20-25 degrees) it's cheaper than visiting at the busy time of their Summer. You get a golf buggy to drive around on to visit the various pools and lodges. You could stay in the hotel or at Zimbali lodge, we found the house we stayed at via Airbnb. Let's just say the children's rooms felt like they were in a different postcode it was so big. It made my landing at home seem like an airing cupboard which sounds very ungrateful but I do still love my landing as it's mine.
Well that's it for the run down of our holiday. I haven't touched on the extra bits we did outside of staying at those gorgeous places and going on a game reserve, so may be I will do that at some point soon is.
