SOUTH AFRICA

So, what is it that makes this resort so unique? Well, besides the mountains, picturesque landscape and luxurious accommodation, it has to be the impeccable service provided by staff, a wide variety of outdoor activities on offer and wellness centre to rejuvenate.

Ladies be sure to pack warm and get ready for an extreme adventure or a leisurely outdoor experience. Activities include a nine-hole golf course, horse riding, fly-fishing, quad-biking, 18 guided hikes to choose from, archery, mountain bike trails plus exhilarating helicopter flights.

Imagine intimate encounters with some of Africa’s magnificent creatures as you head out into the bush on a guided game drive. But ofcourse this is not the only highlight of one of KwaZulu-Natal’s sought-after lodges, there’s an Africology Spa to look forward to where top therapists are on call to offer you and your girlfriends unique pamper sessions that are sure to rejuvenate one’s soul.

A getaway to KwaZulu-Natal is not quite complete unless you visit the Drakensberg.

You’ll be in complete awe of the lush indigenous forests and clear bergstreams that can be found near this incredible establishment, which promises to provide you and your girlfriends peace & tranquility during your stay – unless you’re keen for activities including mountain biking, trail running and more.

Here you can abseil from a height of 110m with spectacular views of the valley below. If you’re not a thrill seeker, not to worry – there’s plenty of activities to keep you occupied such as bird watching and more.

Get ready to zipline past three waterfalls along the route while the still waters below provide serenity during breaks along the way.

The Northern Cape is simply majestic, and Augrabies Falls is one of many reasons why you should visit this incredible province. Experience nature at its best – the raw power of mighty waterfalls, huge boulders that are thousands of years old and the vast wildlife that call this place home.

Round up a couple friends, take a Shot ‘Left to Mpumalanga and visit one of South Africa’s most jaw-dropping tourist attractions. If it’s not the vast scenery then it’s the tranquillity of this special place that’s sure to make you feel lucky to call this country home.

If you’re in and around Jozi’s CBD, there’s no excuse not to visit this vibrant and bustling side of town. Mabonengis renowned for its modern art galleries, eccentric sidewalk cafes, unique food markets and trendy nightclubs.

Boulders Beach, just outside Cape Town, has so much going for it you will be blown away by the beauty of the small hidden attraction. The ancient granite boulders protect it from the wind and large waves, which makes it an ideal swimming spot for children. Because it falls under the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area, the beach is always clean and safe, and it is rarely crowded.

At the beautiful Boulders Beach, you can get to know our most famous (and arguably our cutest) birds, The African penguin. You just can’t resist these waddling wonderful birds, but that’s a good thing because they need your attention.

The Bloukrans Bridge, at 216m, is the highest commercial bridge bungee jump in the world and attracts adventure seekers from all over the globe. It’s found along the scenic Garden Route, offering one of the most spectacular bungee jumps in South Africa, if not the world.

Another adrenaline option is a tour of the Bloukrans Bridge, the largest single-span, concrete-arch bridge in the world. The tour takes you along a specially-designed catwalk to the top of the arch, where you look out over the gorge to the mountains and the sea in the distance

When you think of South Africa, the incredible Kruger National Park most certainly comes to mind. Not only can you catch a glimpse of the famous Big Five, but you will find yourself surrounded by hundreds of species of birds, ancient trees, winding rivers, superb accommodation and adventure. Basically, it’s a one-stop shop for all of your wildlife dreams.

This is just a small taste of all the things you can see, hear and do in one of the world’s most-loved game parks. The Kruger National Park enjoys a great year-round sunny climate and offers all kinds of activities, from guided game drives and bush walks with an armed ranger to three-night walking trails in deep wilderness areas.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mapungubwe was once the capital of a country as large as Swaziland surrounded by over 200 small villages. Around the time of the Dark Ages of Europe, the royal court at Mapungubwe in Limpopo, was welcoming traders and men of influence from Arabia and the Far East. But it’s only in recent decades that the fascinating details of this ancient city have been uncovered.

While coming to Mapungubwe National Park to discover this fascinating ancient history for yourself is something that should feature on everyone’s bucket list, there’s so much more to Limpopo than just her history. The massive Limpopo River, the sandstone hills and the wonderful scenery are also just waiting to reveal their secrets.

Durban is South Africa’s self-styled “playground” where year-round warm weather welcomes everyone to make the most of the area’s natural outdoor lifestyle. Also known as “Surf City”, Durban is renowned for its magnificent bathing and surfing beaches, which stretch along the city’s beachfront from Durban harbour in the south to the upmarket suburb of Umhlanga in the north. An expansive paved promenade offers access to the best of these beaches – the Golden Mile – where joggers, cyclists, dog owners, surfers, body boarders and walkers enjoy early-morning and late-afternoon exercise.

Adventure activities are well catered for in and around this coastal city, with deep-sea fishing charters, dolphin viewing, jet-skiing, shark-cage diving, quad biking, scuba diving, hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, boat cruises and much more readily available.

Join Capetonian outdoor lovers as they wind their way up this city landmark and neighbouring Devil’s Peak every full moon. The 45-minute walk, though steep, is easy, just a little technical when you reach the peak, where it involves some ladder climbing. But the views of the city and the sight of the moon rising over it are well worth the effort. This is a great option if you’re pushed for time yet still crave an outdoor experience.

No visit to the “Mother City” is complete without whizzing up to the top of Table Mountains (one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature) via cable car. The five-minute ride takes you to the highest point in Cape Town where the 360-degree view of the city, Cape Peninsula and its oceans is nothing short of magnificent. And if it’s your birthday – bring your ID and you’ll get a free return trip. However, if you’re feeling adventurous, you could always abseil down.

Join local resident Busi Khambule and her well-versed team at Cycle in Soweto as she leads fascinating two-wheeled historical and cultural tours in and around the Johannesburg township of Soweto. Choose from two- to eight-hour tours that cover everything from the chequered history of Soweto to a Sunday gospel tour taking in a local church service with 7,000 congregants. There’s even a bike and bungee tour where participants swing between the 100m high Orlando Cooling Towers.

Every year, many keen divers head to northern Kwazulu-Natal’s Sodwana Bay. Here, docile, pregnant ragged-tooth sharks spend about two months of every summer biding their time during gestation before heading north to Mozambique. At Sodwana, you can scuba dive with these curious sharks at various sites while surrounded by other enchanting marine life, such as rays and dolphins, as well as the colourful, well-preserved corals on display.

The Big Rush Big Swing is officially the world’s tallest swing, according to the Guinness Book of Records, sending brave-hearted souls plunging into the stadium on an 80-metre freefall. Swingers then soar in a 220-metre arc over the centre of the Moses Mabhida stadium. If that sounds too terrifying for you, why not hop in the SkyCar, which whizzes you up the the stadium in just two minutes to a 360-degree viewing platform at the top

for a 2½-hour experience of white-water tubing down the Sabie river, near Hazyview. Each person is given a gecko – a steerable inflatable – and expert advice from an accompanying guide. Class 2 rapids provide thrills and the whirlpools mean that the spills aren’t too scary. There are waterfall jumps for adventurers and some chilled floating time, too. The experience ends with a picturesque walk up out of the Sabie gorge

A day trip to the Western Cape’s Gansbaai, the home of great white shark cage diving, is an absolute must-do for any adventurer worth their salt. The format at any of the operators is generally the same – depart on a boat for a morning or afternoon dive, head for the ocean, wait for these magnificent creatures to appear and hop into a cage for the thrill of a lifetime. All equipment is provided.

The Argus as it is colloquially known is “the world’s largest timed cycle race” (up to 35,000 riders at a time) and it is certainly the most picturesque. The challenging 109km-long race (68 miles) is held in March every year and starts in Cape Town, circumnavigating the entire Cape Peninsula. Although it is a grueling event, the awesome scenery and camaraderie among the cyclists is what makes it such a hit. It’s an unbeatable and unforgettable way to explore South Africa. Special ticket entries are available for international and charity rider

For those seeking a thrill like no other, a bungee jump off the Bloukrans bridge on the beautiful Garden Route will certainly tick that box. If your knees aren’t knocking at the sight of the 216m drop from bridge to valley floor and the Bloukrans river below, they certainly will be after you’ve experienced what it’s like to jump with nothing but a giant elastic band attached to your body

The ultimate rush is stepping from the lip of Lehr’s Waterfall and swinging over the spectacular tree-clad chasm of Oribi Gorge. At 165m, the Wild Swing is the highest in the world, hurling you in a 100m arc and speeding you to 120km/h in a couple of seconds. Secure in a full-body harness, you can relish the adrenaline high in comfort and safety. You can also choose to abseil down the gorge, zip-line across it on a cable high above the tree canopy, or go white-water rafting in the churning river below