Day dreaming – four awesome day trips

Fortunately, weekends are never over, offering the chance to fit in a day trip to cultural, beautiful or intriguingly eccentric attractions. We all know places such as the Cape Peninsula and the Kruger National Park, but have you ever thought about taking these four equally worthy day trips?

Sani Pass

Winding through some of highest mountains in the Drakensberg, connecting South Africa with Lesotho, Sani Pass is about as awe-inspiring as our country gets. The gravel road takes countless tight hairpin turns as it climbs, with the views of the green slopes and rugged peaks getting more and more spectacular as you head further into the Mountain Kingdom. After the drive, you can reward yourself with a drink at the charismatic Sani Top Pub, the highest in Africa at 2874 metres above sea level. The outdoor deck perches on the edge of a gigantic chasm of soaring cliffs and unending views. The drive is only recommended for 4x4 vehicles, and if you don’t have one yourself then several tour operators offer guided trips. Don’t forget your passport for getting through the border post.

Soweto

An understanding of South Africa’s history wouldn’t be complete without a tour of this famous township. Various tour operators offer trips here, with MoAfrika Tours in particular boasting a good variety of options. You can expect visits to the Apartheid and Soweto Museums, a meal at a vibrant shabeen, stops at the houses of iconic South Africans such Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, and a trip to the township’s colourful cooling towers. The towers have also been turned into an adventure playground where adrenaline junkies can enjoy bungee jumping, paintballing, abseiling and a bridge swing.

Cradle of Humankind

Covering 47 000 hectares, this World Heritage Site just north-west of Johannesburg provides an extraordinary insight into the beginning of human existence on earth. It was here, in the Sterkfontein Caves, where paleontologists Robert Broom and John Robinson discovered the 2.3 million-year-old fossil of Mrs Ples. The interactive Maropeng visitor’s centre is intriguingly situated inside a large grassy hill (actually a burial mound), where you’ll browse more than 2500 m2 of exhibits and partake in an underground boat tour. Admission costs R120. For more information visit www.maropeng.co.za.

Panorama Route

While the Kruger Park normally hogs Mpumalanga’s glory, the Panorama Route is a truly breathtaking self-drive route winding along the escarpment. The 150km drive takes you from the picnic site at peaceful Mac Mac Pools, to several thunderous waterfalls, mesmerizing viewpoints such as God’s Window, the majestic Blyde River Canyon and extraordinary natural phenomena such as The Pinnacle, Three Rondawels and Bourke’s Luck Potholes. Several of these attractions require small entrance fees. Along the way, you can stop in at the perfectly preserved gold mining village of Pilgrim’s Rest. The route is conveniently situated close to the Kruger National Park and the numerous attractions of places such as Hoedspruit and Hazyview.

*This article was written by a TWNA journalist, Dale Hes for The Traveller magazine.