On a bear photography tour, it’s possible to photograph the brown bears from unique photography hides in eastern Finland’s wilderness. However, there are many things to consider and prepare for so you’ll get the most out of your visit. Read the best tips from a professional wildlife photographer and a bear guide.

How Can You Photograph the Brown Bears?

The brown bears we have in Finland (Ursus Arctos) are shy creatures in general, and even though we have a healthy population density along our 1340-kilometer-long eastern border with Russia, you don’t see them 99% of the time.

You can go hiking or camping in the forest wilderness, or to pick some berries, etc., but you won’t see them. Most of the times, the bears just won’t “stumble upon you” when you are in the forest, because usually always they will smell your scent or hear your footsteps from a long distance, and they will evade you.

So, it’s impossible to take your camera, wander in the forests, and expect to see the brown bears. You won’t. That is not how bear photography works in Finland.

We also have an accurate saying: “You don’t see the bears, but the bears see you.” And that is absolutely true!

Even though you can’t see the bears while hiking in the forest, they will probably often see you. Sometimes, they may even be very close to you, less than 20 meters away, and you won’t know you are observed.

The brown bears are also masters in hiding among the forest foliage despite their big size. And they can move almost without sound. And that is surprising and impressive from an animal weighing approx. 150-300 kg, isn’t it?!

The Brown Bears of Finland Are Different From Grizzlies and Black Bears

The brown bears of Finland differ quite a lot from their relatives in North America, the grizzlies (a sub-species of the Ursus Arctos) and the black bears, who both regularly approach people. The grizzlies can sometimes be aggressive towards people.

One of the most different aspects of behavior is that the brown bears of Finland are not aggressive toward humans, nor do they deliberately approach people. They would always rather avoid facing humans.

Sometimes you can see a lot of bear tracks and feces in the forest floor. But even if they’re fresh, you seldom see the bears.

So, how can you then take photos of such an elusive creature? The answer is from a bear photography hide.

Bear Photography Hides in Finland

Because it’s so rare to see brown bears in the forests in Finland, you must go to a bear photography hide if you want to take decent photos of the bears.

There are several places in eastern Finland where you can go to specially built, small hides to photograph the bears. Most of the hides are located along the eastern border area around Kuusamo (the northernmost place), Kuhmo, and Lieksa in the provinces of Carelia and Koillismaa.

Several companies offer a bit different kinds of environments and hide buildings. Some are more comfortable, and some will only have a small space to set up your camera and wait for the bears.

Some bear photography hides are bigger, permanent wooden buildings with amenities like a dry toilet, beds, and even the possibility of making a hot cup of coffee or tea with a gas stove while watching and photographing the bears.

Then there are some more ascetic hides where there may only be a few chairs in a small space, and a bucket with a lid to “do your thing”, if need be.

The sizes of the hides will also vary from small buildings for 1-2 people to bigger buildings that may fit 15-20 people.

For bear photography purposes, I would strongly recommend getting a small hide privately for yourself. This is the way you can fully concentrate on your photography without other people possibly talking too loudly or making other distractions.

The bigger buildings with many other people are primarily intended for bear watching, even though most also have openings for cameras.

Consider the Surroundings of the Hides

The environment along the eastern border areas of Finland is mostly spruce and pine forests, dotted with birches and small lakes or ponds around. Also, vast areas are covered by different kinds of swamp lands.

It will be totally different atmosphere in your photos if the background environment is only forested areas or if there are also some water elements around.

I would suggest looking for a hide of which surroundings are variable. Including the forest and water elements in your photos will give you many options for different compositions and bring more variety into your shots.

Which Lenses Should You Take With You to a Bear Photography Tour?

Some might think the closer the bears get to the hide, the better because everyone loves those close-up portraits, right?! Wrong. That is not how it should go. It’s also a healthier model of behavior if the bears will keep their safe distance from the hides and you.

Prepare for your bear photography tour with a longer lens; then, you won’t lose any situation and will get those portrait shots, too.

I suggest having at least a 70-200mm lens, but even better is having a 100-400mm or longer lens. And the “faster” the lens (the wider the possible aperture), the better.

Other good lenses to bring would be, for example, a 24-70mm or 24-105mm. Then, you have covered all the focal lengths for good landscape and portrait shots.

But you can get beautiful photos even with a hobbyist camera with a kit lens. So, you don’t need to have a load of expensive gear to enjoy some good bear photography.

Ultimately, it’s always more about the person behind the camera than the gear itself.

Is It Guaranteed You Can See the Animals on These Bear Photography Tours?

They are wild animals, so it’s never 100% guaranteed. It’s not a zoo you are going to, after all. It’s the genuine wilderness. And the animals will always move as they please.

But how do you then see the bears? Why do they come to the proximity of these hides?

The answer is that there is some food put up for them. Otherwise, you couldn’t see the bears, as there wouldn’t be any reason for them to approach an area with some human scents around.

I fully understand how controversial this subject of “baiting” may be, especially among the more puritanical wildlife photographers and other people.

Some people are absolutely against this type of photography and argue that it’ll only make the animals too habituated to people, and that’ll cause several problems in the long term.

However, for example, almost all bird photography uses the same food offerings. So, where does the line go? Is it harmful to the animals or not?

I have to admit that I was also a bit skeptical about this hide photography some years back, before I started to work in one of the best bear photography and bear watching hides in Kuusamo, northern Finland.

During the Borealis summertime, I have been a bear guide for three years now. During this time, through my personal experience, I have learned that this can be done ethically without causing any problems to the bears or the local people.

Is Hide Photography Ethical Photography?

The key to ethical bear photography is that there won’t be too much food provided for the bears. This prevents that they could become dependent on that food. Instead, when food quantity is kept small, the brown bears will stay as wild animals who fend for themselves in nature – as they should.

The amount of food provided at the hides is like a little “snack” for the omnivorous bears. Many of the best bear photography places will use only fish scraps and don’t provide any meat.

As said, brown bears are omnivorous, but only about >30% of their diet contains meat, and the rest is plant-based. That may also be a bit surprising fact, when many people may think that the brown bears are heavy meat-eaters – on the contrary.

But all the commercial hides in Finland, whether for birds or the larger predators (bears, wolves, or wolverines), use food to get the animals in front of the hides to be seen and photographed.

The wolves and wolverines will not appear without some meat provided for them, but the brown bears do. So, if you want to go to a hide specializing in wolves or wolverines, you must be prepared for this fact.

It then depends on how the stashes of food are put into the surrounding area, will they be visible in your photos or not. The best places will position the food so that it won’t be visible, of course. But this is one aspect you should consider and probably ask from the company beforehand on how they do it.

More Ethical Photography Principles to Know

Every place is different and will do things differently. And it may be hard to decide on which place to go to. Unfortunately, all the bear photography places are not doing things ethically.

Recently, there have been a lot of public discussions about these things, and the Finnish Association of Nature Photographers has started to make official, ethical guidelines for photography hide businesses.

I hope this will effectively promote the ethical operating principles to all companies in Finland, so they would all adopt these better operating models. It will be in the best interests of the wild animals and people. But the interests of the wild animals should always come first here!

But what are some of the places doing then that is not ethical?

For example, they may put food too close to the hide buildings, maybe even less than five meters away. This again can quickly lead to the animals getting too used to humans and too strongly connecting human scent to food. And that spells only trouble on the horizon in the long term…

How this should be done then? It requires consistent adherence to two essential guidelines: 1. Not putting food closer than 20-30 meters from the hides. And 2. not putting too much food for the wild animals. The intention is not to upkeep the animals. On the contrary, it’s only meant to be a small supplement.

These guidelines also support the general safety of the animals and people alike.

How Much Does It Cost to Visit a Bear Photography Hide?

Visiting a bear photography hide is not cheap, so planning is needed to make your visit the best possible.

Usually, the prices of a bear photography tour range from a 4-hour evening session of approx. 80€ per person as a big group tour, to a whole night’s experience of approximately 300€ per person (or even more, depending, i.e., on the comfort level of the hides).

As a rule of thumb, the cheaper the tour, the less guiding is offered and the bigger the group. Some places don’t provide any guidance; you will just be alone in the hides.

But if you want to get some profound understanding and learn deeper information about the brown bears, I suggest getting a tour that involves good guidance.

A Private Guided Tour or a Group Tour?

Getting a private guide is by far the best option. It may cost you more, but you will also get so much more out of the experience! I can guarantee that, based on my personal experience. There are only a few expert bear guides in Finland, so booking one in advance is strongly recommended.

It’s a very different experience if you are in a group of 15-20 people and only hear some fragments of the things that a guide will speak (if you even have a guide) than to be with your private guide the whole time who will tell you all the bear facts and stories you want to hear and can answer all your questions. Also, if you want some practical photography tips, you must have a guide who knows wildlife photography.

So, you have a lot of choices to consider when you want to have a bear photography tour.

And, if you want the best opportunities to get great shots of the bears, wolves, or wolverines, I suggest you opt for a several-day visit and spend at least two or three days in the hide. You can also spend the night(s) in the bear photography hides.

This way, you will exponentially increase your chances of getting the photos you want. Spending only one evening or night will provide only so many photo opportunities and may leave you unsatisfied, especially since it’s not ever 100% guaranteed that you will see wild animals.

The Best Times of the Year for Bear Photography in Finland

The Borealis summertime is between approximately May and September, the most common season for bear photography and watching.

The brown bears will hibernate roughly between October and April in northern Finland. This also depends a bit on how much snow there will be, when the first snow falls, and when the snow will start melting in the Spring.

In the southern Finland their hibernation time is getting shorter as the winters have been getting warmer in recent years (but in south Finland there are no commercial bear photography hides because of the denser human populations).

However, the actual weather conditions may vary greatly depending on the year. On some years there have still been some snow on the ground in early May and still a bare ground in late October.

Weather Conditions Between May and July

Early Spring in May can still allow you to get photos of the bears on snowy grounds.

Maybe the most memorable time is around June/early July when the sun won’t set below the horizon in the northern Finland (for example, in Kuusamo area), and you will have enough light to take photos 24 hours a day. This is the magical time of the Midnight Sun.

The brown bears’ mating season is usually in June (give or take a few weeks). And this time of the year, it’s possible to get awesome fighting pictures between big male bears while they sort out their hierarchy and mating rights with the females. But during this time, the bears may move less frequently in the areas of the hides as they are more concentrated on mating than eating. Especially, less male bears are seen than later in the summer.

The best part of summer between June and July provides the most extensive light. Also, the new bear cubs are still tiny in size.

The Autumn Charm of August-September

August is also a great month, as the bears start to be fatter than in the early summer months and they are still concentrating in getting more fat under their skins, which means even better chances of seeing them.

Then, in late Autumn (very late August-September), is a season we call “ruska,” when the trees get their spectacular multicolor foliage of greens, yellows, and reds. This makes a superb background for the bear photos. The light starts to fade in August, but the bear photography tours also start earlier in the afternoon to catch the best lighting conditions.

And in late Autumn when the weather starts to get chillier, you often get great fogs above the water surfaces, adding a lot of character and depth into your photos.

So, every part of the Borealis summer has some benefits and different scenes to photograph. The variety is magnificent. It’s the beauty of the northern summer; it has like several different “mini seasons” inside itself.

It’s up to you what kind of photos you want to get and then visit at the right time accordingly.

During the whole summertime, it’s also possible to see eagles at the bear photography hides (especially in Kuusamo), as they are also interested in the fish scraps provided.

Where to Stay in Eastern and Northern Finland?

This region has hundreds of accommodation options, from basic wilderness huts to luxury cabins and SPA hotels. There are also a lot of self-catering wilderness cabins available to rent in these areas.

But you can definitely find something for every budget. I urge you to check out some of our best accommodation suggestions here.
One lovely wilderness lodge near the bear-watching place in Kuusamo, where we arrange privately guided bear photography trips, is Isokenkäisten Klubi.

Also, to get to the bear photography hides, you usually need your own transportation. The hides are in very remote areas, away from the towns and population centers, and there won’t be any public transportation to nearby areas.

Renting a car is the best choice if you don’t have your own wheels.

Sometimes taxi options may be available, but they may be so expensive (because of the long distances) that renting a car is usually more cost-effective.

But experiencing a bear photography tour is something I highly recommend when visiting Finland! I can guarantee that you’ll remember it for the rest of your life.

Seeing the “King of the Forest” in its natural habitat is a transformative experience and usually awakes a new respect towards the wilderness and its wild inhabitants.

This bear photography experience will bring you closer to nature.

*This post contains affiliate links; if you choose to use them, there won’t be any additional costs to you, but we may get a small commission, and you will help us produce more helpful content. Thank you so much!

When planning a South African safari, the first question is often: Kruger or Greater Kruger National Park? What are the key differences between the public sector of Kruger National Park and the private reserves belonging to the Greater Kruger National Park, when it comes to safari experience as a whole, price, and the authenticity? Let’s compare safaris in Greater Kruger vs. Kruger National Park – and find the best safari destination for you!

If you’re planning your first safari in South Africa, the terms might sound confusing. Thus, we’ll shed a little light into the division of Kruger National Park and Greater Kruger National Park at first, and then compare them to the surrounding fenced private reserves.

This article has been last updated in March 2024. We’ve been traveling extensively and full-time in the Southern and Eastern Africa for the last 5 years (and before that yearly on guided safaris) and have visited both Kruger National Park and the Greater Kruger several times. We’ve actually spent months inside Kruger at a time, many times. Thus we like to see ourselves fit for the argumentation and this comparison between Kruger and Greater Kruger.

What is Greater Kruger National Park and How It Differs from Kruger National Park?

Kruger National Park is one of the most famous and largest national parks in Africa. Making things a bit confusing, Kruger National Park is often separated from Greater Kruger National Park, although sometimes also the latter is called Kruger National Park.

The term Kruger National Park (KNP) means the public sector of (Greater) Kruger National Park, which is owned and run by the South African government (SANParks). Kruger National Park covers around 20 000 hectares of protected land.

Greater Kruger National Parks (GKNP) refers to the privately-owned reserves bordering the public sector of Kruger National Park in which wildlife roams freely. There are no fences between Kruger and the private reserves belonging to the Greater Kruger National Park, hence the name. These over 20 private reserves add up to 180 000 hectares to the nature reserve, making it one of the largest game reserves in the world. You could think of Greater Kruger as a buffer zone between the core area of the national park and the nearby settlements, or as an expansion of the Kruger Park.

We’ll compare the safari experience in Kruger and Greater Kruger NP in detail later on, but here are the key differences in short. You can see the same animals in Kruger and Greater Kruger, as there are no fences between the reserves.

Safari in Greater Kruger vs. Kruger National Park: The Main Differences

• Self-drives in Kruger NP vs. guided game drives in Greater Kruger NP
• Crowded wildlife sightings in Kruger NP vs. private sightings in Greater Kruger NP
• Big government-owned lodges in Kruger NP vs. exclusive private camps in Greater Kruger NP
• Affordable camping and lodges in Kruger NP vs. luxury lodges in Greater Kruger NP
• Fenced camps in Kruger NP vs. fenced and unfenced camps in Greater Kruger NP
• Game drives inside the whole Kruger National Park (20 000 hectares) vs. smaller designated game drive areas in Greater Kruger NP (depending on the reserve and your camp/lodge)

What’s the Difference Between Greater Kruger National Park and Fenced Private Reserves – and Why Greater Kruger is Better for Safari?

Greater Kruger National Park is one of the biggest game reserves in the world. With 2 million hectares – or 20 000 square kilometers – Greater Kruger National is huge and has more large mammal species than any other African national park (there are 148 mammal species in Kruger National Park).

Only in large game reserves like Greater Kruger National Park or Serengeti, you can expect to see large herds of prey animals, such as wildebeest and zebras, and huge concentration of predators, such as tens of lion prides.

There are many privately owned, smaller fenced reserves also nearby Greater Kruger National Park. The main difference between small fenced private reserves and Greater Kruger is the amount of predators: you cannot have many big cats in a small fenced reserve or your predator-prey balance would suffer (imagine a small reserve full of hungry lions and no buffalos, zebras, or impalas to keep them fed).

Why Kruger National Park & Greater Kruger are together the Number One Safari Destination in South Africa

• Regular Big 5 sightings and ease of finding wildlife (also on self-drive safaris in Kruger NP)
• Steady predator populations and huge herds of prey animals, such as buffalos, gnus, zebras, impalas and other antelopes
• Good roads inside the park (main roads in Kruger NP are tar roads, also gravel roads inside the park are well maintained; in private reserves, you’ll do game drives in camps’ 4×4 vehicles, so roads don’t matter that much)
• Easy access: Four airports with daily flights and affordable shuttle transports from nearby big cities (Johannesburg is usually the best starting point)
• The most extensive array of budget, mid-range and luxury lodges in Southern Africa
• Campsites and picnic spots all around Kruger National Park – and in GKNP you can stop anywhere for a luxury picnic in the wilderness or have a bush dinner organised by your camp
• South Africa’s largest and most important national park

10 REASONS TO CHOOSE GREATER KRUGER NATIONAL PARK VS. KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

The title tells our stance: we recommend Greater Kruger National Park over the crowded and commercial Kruger National Park – especially for the first-time safari. We’ve explored both options thoroughly during our last five years in Africa: we’ve also spent many months camping and self-driving inside Kruger National Park, and we love Kruger, but we still recommend Greater Kruger for anyone looking for the best possible safari in South Africa. Why? Well, the answer is long, so we’ll elaborate our opinion below through 10 reasons to pick Greater Kruger over Kruger National Park.

1. No Self-Drives in Greater Kruger National Park – It’s a Bliss!

Lack of self-driving tourists is one of the best selling points for private reserves of the Greater Kruger National Park. When you’ve visited Kruger National Park, you’ll understand why. The sheer volume of visitors, and especially nonchalant self-drivers breaking the rules all the time, makes visiting Kruger National park a rather chaotic and stressful experience. I’ll discuss this more in-depth in the next chapter. 

Is the Comparison of Kruger and Greater Kruger National Park All About Guided Safaris vs. Self-Drive Safaris?

Many tourists see the decision between Kruger National Park and the private reserves as choosing between self-drive or guided safari, but there’s much more in the game here.

Let’s start from the simple rules. Self-drive safaris are not allowed in the private reserves of the Greater Kruger National Park. So, if you want to do independent self-drives, Kruger National Park is your only option. In the Greater Kruger reserves, private cars are only allowed to drive between the gates and lodges.

Guided Safari in Kruger National Park – Yes, It’s Possible!

SanParks offers game drives in most of the camps in Kruger, so you can book affordable guided morning, afternoon or full-day game drives even if you’re otherwise self-driving. Please note that SanParks’ game drives are group tours and they’re usually full: depending on the number of participants, the driver guide takes a smaller safari vehicle (like Toyota Hilux) for up to 6 guests or even a big truck for up around 20 participants. Although the ranger guides are trained and qualified field guides, they are more rangers than safari guides and the level of guiding doesn’t usually match the dedication, art and craft of guiding you can find in many private game reserves. You can check out and book SanParks’ game drives in Kruger on their website here.

Also many tour operators offer guided safaris in Kruger National Park: you can book either a day trip or a multi-day safari in Kruger National Park. It’s even possible to stay outside the gates of Kruger and explore the national park on long full-day game drives.

So, you can definitely do Kruger National Park safari with a trained wildlife guide and a driver, who will make sure that you’ll see as much wildlife as possible. Sometimes a guided Kruger day tour is combined with a Greater Kruger safari itinerary, too. You can also check out our experience on 3-day guided Kruger safari here.

2. Private Wildlife Watching with Professional Guides vs. Sharing the Sightings with Many Cars Lacking the Game-Viewing Etiquette 

Private reserves of the Greater Kruger National Park limit the number of vehicles at each wildlife sighting. Many times, your car is the only one at a sighting – and there should never be more than one other car.

When professional guides are in charge, also the animals know that humans mean no harm, so they tolerate the open safari vehicles and let them approach them without changing their natural behavior. The safari experience gets better, smoother, and deeper. Wildlife photography gets easier, angles are better, and results more interesting.

The predator sightings inside Kruger National Park can be chaotic, noisy, and rather stressful (for tourists and animals alike). Unfortunately, in the public sector of Kruger National Park, many self-driving tourists don’t obey the rules and harass the animals – or other cars.

In Kruger proper, there can be easily over ten or twenty cars at one lion sighting, when you might need to wait for half an hour even to see the lion at a distance. We’ve left many lion sightings without even taking photos, as we would have needed to wait too long to get a decent shot. For a photographer, those kind of “mega sightings” turn into a nightmare: you can’t get the car properly positioned for good shots because off-roading is not allowed in Kruger NP and other cars are always on your way. You’ll only get frustrated because you miss the good frames and situations because of all the mayhem around you. Sometimes visiting Kruger feels like you’re in big zoo.

We’ve also seen outrageous attitudes, drivers shouting to each other at sightings and even hooting to get through (thus scaring off the animals), and people getting off the vehicles against the rules, causing dangerous situations. Please always adhere to the park rules and regulations and report the rule breakers (by calling to Kruger’s Emergency Call Centre, 013 735 4325).

In private reserves, self-drives are not allowed, which limits the number of cars on the roads and especially at the sightings. Many times it feels that your safari party is the only one exploring the vast wilderness. In bigger reserves or Greater Kruger, you can sometimes drive for hours without seeing other cars. That’s a proper African safari, if you ask us.

According to our experiences, wildlife sightings are always better in private reserves, as they are more serene and everyone respects the nature and animals. For us, that’s the true nature of African safari.

3. Offroading for the Best Wildlife Sightings vs. Staying on Marked Roads

Offroading is prohibited in Kruger National Park but allowed in the private reserves of Greater Kruger NP.

Offroading is a photographer’s best friend on a safari, as you can get closer to the wildlife and find the best angles to take photos (against the light, side light, backlight; facial shot, profile, action shot for a leopard descending a tree or a proper predator-prey chase; a photographer’s wish list can be endless and your guide can position the car according to your likings).

It’s also always exciting to leave the road behind to follow wildlife footprints deeper into the bush to track rhinos or big cats that you wouldn’t have been even able to see from the road. So if you see a lion with binoculars in Kruger NP, you cannot venture off-road to track it (like in Greater Kruger). In Kruger NP, you must stay on the roads and inside your vehicle.

Most lodges in private reserves use 4×4 open safari vehicles, where you can be closer to nature and its animals. The thrill of seeing the animals just beside the car without any physical boundaries never gets old!

4. Professional Safari Guides Fill You with Safari Knowledge and Can Find Animals That You Wouldn’t

A great safari guide makes all the difference, even if you’ve already been on countless African safaris like us. There’s always more to learn about wildlife behavior, little creatures, plants, even ants. Self-drives in Kruger can be epic fun, but nothing beats the educational aspect of a good guided game drive.

Professional wildlife guides are skilled in tracking down animals, which makes the safari experience much more profound. No matter how good you’d think you are in finding animals, trained safari guides are always better. We would have missed some of the best safari experiences in our lives if we had been driving in the bush on our own. And please note that by far we have been self-driving allover the national parks in Southern and Eastern Africa for the last five years!

Passionate safari guides in private reserves also love to tell you more about tracking and animal behavior, so you’ll start to see the surrounding bush in a different light. If the vervet monkeys are screaming, there might be a leopard nearby. If baboons go berserk, it’s usually a lion. Impalas and other antelopes snort when they notice a danger, be it a lion, leopard, wild dog, or hyena clan. Also zebras snort, but they also neigh and bark, different sounds signal different things. Bird warning calls reveal many many predators and some birds can also have a symbiotic relationship with them: for example, if you follow a honeyguide (bird), you might find one of our favorite predators, a honey badger!

5. Walking Safaris and Other Activities in the Wilderness

Private camps and lodges in Greater Kruger Park offer many exciting activities that are not available in Kruger NP. You can also usually also get private safaris, if you wish (in luxury lodges it can be a default not to mix guests in the same car).

Daily morning and evening game drives (also called sunrise and sunset drives) are usually included in the all-inclusive safari packages with a bush breakfast and sundowners with snacks. During the picnics, the guide will set up a table, and you can stretch your legs while enjoying the views (and sometimes distant wildlife sightings, for example, having morning coffee surrounded by a herd of elephants or zebras).

These exclusive picnic moments in the middle of wilderness make you feel like the only people inside the park. Sundowners in the bush are among the safari highlights, as you can admire passing animals with a cold drink in your hand while taking photos of the magical African sunsets.

Many camps in Greater Kruger National Park offer walking safaris that can be tailored into your interests (birds, plants, traditional bush medicines, elephants, etc), boat safaris (Olifants River in Balule Nature Reserve), visits to the nearby wildlife centers, hot air ballooning and micro flights, longer hikes, and cultural activities.

In Kruger National Park, self-drive safaris (and third-party guided safaris) are not allowed at sunrise, sunset, and after dark. The only option inside Kruger NP is to join guided sunrise, sunset, and night drives that are organized by SANParks and led by park rangers. Those drives are usually crowded, the rangers and park officials are not comparable to the guides in private reserves, and you’re not allowed to have breakfasts or sundowners out in the wilderness like in private reserves of Greater Kruger. Same goes with the walking safaris: you must book with SANParks and join their group activities. 

6. Finding the Big Five in Peace vs. “Ferrari Safaris”

Kruger National Park offers unequaled diversity of wildlife and astonishing 20.000 hectares of protected land to track the animals – there are always predators and big game somewhere. However, with so much land to cover, game drives in Kruger National Park often become “ferrari safaris”, as the guides nickname them. It means that you will spend a lot of time driving on tar roads as fast as you can to get from one sighting to another.

Guides share wildlife sightings over radio, which means that after someone has found a lion, tens of cars race with each other towards the poor lion. At the sighting, not all guides follow the rules, blocking the animals from other vehicles. Many tourists forget the rules, as well, shouting “lion, lion” or otherwise scaring off the wildlife.

Many tourists spend only one day in Kruger National Park, thus their guides try to catch the whole Big Five within 5-8 hours of a guided full-day safari. It’s quite understandable that everyone wants to see the Big 5 at least once in a lifetime, but you might not want to use your own safari days driving like a crazy from a sightings to another and only spending a couple of minutes at each sighting to push forward to the next lion. Needless to say, ferrari safaris are not a great match for a photographer and they get old really fast for any nature lover.

So, bigger is not always better. Go for the quality, choose the private reserve (check the number 2 on our list) and maybe visit Kruger on a full-day safari.

7. Costs: Is Greater Kruger Safari Always (Much) More Expensive Than Kruger National Park Safari?

We want to bust the common myth: private reserve safaris are not necessarily more expensive than self-drives or guided safaris in Kruger National Park. Of course, private reserves offer luxury safaris, but there are also affordable lodges ranging from “lower luxury” to mid-range and even budget options.

To be honest, most lodges in Greater Kruger reserves are mid-range or luxury. Still, I’d advise comparing the costs of Greater Kruger all-inclusive safari and that of Kruger National Park (which comes with a rental vehicle or separately paid guided activities twice a day).

In Kruger National Park, you pay for the daily national park entry and conservation fee, daily meals, accommodation, and guided morning and night game drives if you’re interested to see the animals at prime time when they are most active. The costs quickly add up, although the price level in public rest camps is generally lower than in private reserves.

In private reserves of the Greater Kruger National Park, most camps have all-inclusive prices that cover all the game drives (morning and afternoon game drive, the latter can be extended into a night drive, too), additional activities depending on the camp (walking safaris or cultural tours), all meals (breakfast, lunch, multi-course dinner, afternoon tea with cake or snacks, bush picnics on game drives).

How to Get the Best Price for Greater Kruger Safari?

In general, lesser-known reserves of Greater Kruger National Park offer better value for money. For example, pick Balule Nature Reserve over Sabi Sand to get a more affordable safari.

Look at the map: Kruger National Park is surrounded with small private reserves. Search online for more info about the reserves and lodges, check reviews on TripAdvisor, and ask the right questions to find out if it’s your dream safari or not (check “how to find the right safari lodge” section below).

Go off-season: high season means highest prices. Shoulder and off-seasons bring tempting offers even to well-known reserves and luxury lodges. Note that most of the camps usually call the rainy season more commercially “the green season” or summer season. It’s not a bad time to visit Kruger or Greater Kruger: landscape is beautiful, migrant birds arrive, and you can still find great wildlife sightings, too (although it’s harder to spot animals through the lush foliage).

Check out our tented camp recommendation, Sausage Tree Camp, for the best price-quality ratio in Greater Kruger!

8. Seclusion: Private Safari Camps vs. Busy SANParks Rest Camps and Lodges

SANParks operated rest camps inside Kruger National Park are crowded, noisy, and busy. The atmosphere is like a summer camp for adults. Some of the bigger rest camps are like little villages with their own filling stations, restaurants, and budget-friendly accommodation options from a campsite to tented camps, bungalows, and budget rooms.

Imagine big buses offloading crowds for coffee breaks, lunch, and dinner. Then picture hundreds of people staying in the camp through the night, either camping or in numerous bungalows, and suites, while some are partying and barbecuing and some (like us) prefer to sleep. The pools in rest camps are crowded, restaurants serve mostly bland (mainly buffet) meals, and customer service is rather tired, as are the facilities.

In private reserves, the lodges and camps are generally beautifully laid out in a tranquil setting. Many camps don’t have fences (see the next argument), which allows wildlife like elephants, zebras, impalas, and wildebeest to pass your accommodation. The whole safari experience is crafted around enjoying the wilderness and wildlife, like it should be.

9. Unfenced Camps = Wildlife in the Camps

Unfenced camps are the best part of staying in the private reserves of Greater Kruger Park: animals can roam freely through the camps. Depending on the camp and wildlife populations around it, you could see (and meet) zebras, impalas, wildebeest and other hooves, elephants, and even big cats within the camp’s boundaries.

For us, unfenced camps offer the real safari experience. It’s always thrilling to share the camp with wild animals. We’ve been stuck inside our safari tent, when a herd of elephants decided to eat just by the door, and have found fresh kills inside the camp in the morning. We’ve heard loud lion roars through the thin canvas walls of our tent after dark, and shared the excitement of tracking them on foot with a professional guide, witnessing two lions fighting over an impala kill in the middle of the camp. Afterward, we heard that the lions were right under our elevated luxury tent!

Although the idea of unfenced camp might sound scary, the private camps take the needed measures to make the unfenced safari experience safe. Usually, guides or rangers escort visitors to their tent and dinner after dark: it’s not allowed to walk outside without an escort in the evenings. Rangers patrol the camp’s boundaries, so they know where the animals are, and can alarm you well in advance to stay inside if there are dangerous animals close-by.

All SANParks-owned camps inside Kruger National Park are fenced, which is understandable, as they cater to huge masses of tourists with limited staff, and need to guarantee the security of visitors.

10. Exclusive Safari Experience in Private Reserves: What Does it Mean?

When comparing Greater Kruger Park to Kruger National Park, or any private reserves to national parks, people talk mostly about “exclusive safari experience” in private reserves. But what does that “exclusivity” really mean – and why should you invest in it?

For us, the key point is the limited number of people, camps, and cars – all discussed before. Possibility to go off-road and get better wildlife sightings are part of the exclusivity, as well.

Then comes the personal safari experience. National parks, like Kruger, cater to masses – and high level of service is not the strongest selling point in government-owned camps. In private camps, safari experience gets elevated and more personal.

Smaller groups mean better safari experience. Many private camps limit the amount of people in the vehicles so that everyone can have a good seat for wildlife viewing, whereas in Kruger National Park you could go out in a full TRUCK (yes, a truck, not a Land Cruiser).

Private camps can also group people according to their interests, so that birders can go in the same car and get a birder guide, whereas the first-timers can be grouped in one car to search for the Big Five.

Safari guides are usually better in private reserves than in national parks. Of course, things are not black and white, and that depends on individuals and camps. Generally, private camps employ highly trained professional guides from established wildlife schools and train their staff further. In many private camps, you will have both tracker/spotter and a guide – or a driver and a guide on your game drives.

When you’re staying several nights in a private reserve, your guide knows what you’ve seen and what’s left on your wish list and can tailor the game drives to your interests.

Private camps invest in little details to polish your safari experience. Imagine multi-course dinners under the blanket of stars at camp’s boma, while staring at the campfire and listening to lion roars or elephant rumblings. You might as well get a surprise bush dinner, when you are driven through the wilderness to a candle-lit setting in the middle of nowhere. At arrival, you’re greeted with a cold towel and welcome drink, and during game drives you’ll stop to enjoy drinks and snacks. There might be binoculars and wildlife books in your room, a private plunge pool, and a beautiful pool and lounge area right by the camp’s own waterhole.

Private reserve safaris can treat you with the ultimate luxuries – or they can offer just intimate safari experience with all the modern comforts, depending on your budget and likings. One thing is sure: the safari experience in Greater Kruger Park is more exclusive than in Kruger National Park. 

After this detailed comparison, your next question might be, which reserve and camp to choose within the Greater Kruger National Park. Worry no more, we have picked one luxurious yet affordable private camp inside the Greater Kruger!

Sausage Tree Safari Camp: Greater Kruger National Park Safari Perfection

If you’re looking for an affordable, yet luxurious safari experience in Greater Kruger National Park, Sausage Tree Safari Camp will exceed your expectations. Their price-quality ratio and hospitality are outstanding for a South African safari lodge located in prime Big 5 reserve.

Sausage Tree Safari Camp combines a classic South African safari with an intimate, warm atmosphere that makes you feel right at home. Their location in Balule Nature Reserve contributes to the more affordable price range than, for example, safari camps in Sabi Sands, Timbavati, or Klaserie. To their advantage, the location is perfect: in the middle of the game-rich area filled with sought-after Big 5 animals, overlooking Drakensberg mountains at distance and with no other lodges in sight.

The guides of Sausage Tree Safari Camp are among the best we’ve encountered by far in Africa. Their stylish safari tents and delicious, creative dinners give you the taste of exclusive South African luxury safari, yet their prices remain surprisingly affordable. Our favorite treat: stunning sky deck lounge and pool overlooking Sausage Tree riverbed and waterhole where animals come to drink.

Intimacy at Sausage Tree Safari Camp means that they only have 5 tents and can accommodate at maximum 10 guests at a time. Exquisite meals are social affairs around same table or campfire in the boma. You will leave with new friends and fond memories. Many guests end up returning over and over again.

Classic African Luxury Safari Tents

Each luxury safari tent in Sausage Tree Camp has a private veranda overlooking the surrounding wilderness and its animals, indoor bathtub, and a beautiful outdoor shower if you don’t like to admire the clear South African starry sky while showering. You have plenty of privacy and all the modern comforts, such as air-con, heater, and tea/coffee making facilities.

Tented camp allows you to blend in with nature and lets the sounds of wildlife lull you to sleep. Oh yes, we were so tired after a full day of game drives that we had no problems to fell asleep to the sound of not so distant lion roars. At waking up, the roars were even louder, and one guest was lucky enough to see the pride from his tent.

Sausage Tree Safari Camp is fenced, but in a seamless way, so that you can feel safe while walking around the lodge area and still see wildlife just a couple of meters away from your tent.

Sustainable Eco-Lodge

We love the sustainable attitude of Sausage Tree Camp: water waits for you in the game drive vehicles in reusable glass bottles, and you’ll be gifted a thermos mug to use during the stay (and take as a souvenir if you wish). Tents have ecofriendly air-con, and many other little things tell how they conserve nature.

Wildlife Conservation Policies of Sausage Tree Safari Camp

Sausage Tree Camp and its staff are passionate about wildlife conservation. They’ve supported several conservation organizations, such as Save the Rhino International, and are currently supporting Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit, The Bush Babies Environmental Education Program, and Daktari Bush School.

As a Sausage Tree guest, you can provide supplies to Daktari Bush School via Pack for a Purpose initiative, and a portion of each stay is donated to Daktari. We’re publishing a separate article on our visit to Daktari Bush School very soon!

Outstanding Big 5 Sightings and Tracking Experiences

With the expert guide and tracker, we were able to see the whole Big Five within just a couple of days – and without any hurry and “ferrari safari” feel. We had fantastic rhino encounters, one involving a rhino hanging out at zero distance in the back of the car, just check out the mobile shot and story below!

We witnessed lions mating several times and learned to identify many fascinating bird and insect species. We offroaded to photograph huge elephant bulls up-close. We rejoiced with nature after the first rains of the season poured upon us, crossed newly founded rivers and admired white rings of star flowers blooming all at once, and watched Southern red-billed hornbills dancing on the branches in the oxygen-rich air after the rains.

On the game drives, we learned to pick up the signs, sounds, and footprints of animals. Our guide Matthew surprised us by jumping off the car to track rhinos, and our trackers Themba and Polite did the same for the lions. They were gone with their radiophones in thick bushes for a long while, but we found them alive and were able to track the animals, as well. Speaking about going out the extra mile!

Thrilling Encounter with a Bad-Tempered Black Rhino

The half an hour we spent with three black rhinos is still among the best wildlife experiences we’ve ever had. We tracked down a black rhino female and her calf by footprints and were observing how they were reaching out to the leaves with their hooked lips and munching loudly. Suddenly, a bigger male appeared from the thickets at other side of the road, leaving us in between the rhinos (not an ideal place to be).

As the male rhino approached our car decisively, we learned that he’s known for his notorious temper, and the female was his former girlfriend who had abandoned him. Accidentally, we had landed on top of his territorial markings, so he came as close to our car as he could, sniffing vicariously. Our guide Matthew told us to remain calm no matter what would happen. Luckily, the back seats were empty, as the rhino was just a couple of centimeters away from them.

The excitement was palpable when I noticed his two beautiful horns peeking through backseats, probably just one and a half meters from me. Minutes felt long, but eventually, the rhino decided to proceed towards his ex-girlfriend and supposed baby, and I remembered to breathe again.

Spending that precious moment with those three rhinos filled us with gratitude and joy. It was a privilege to find them, as the location of rhinos should never be shared due to the poachers. So if you stumble upon rhinos in Greater Kruger, please don’t geotag your photos!

If you are still not convinced, check out the raving reviews of Sausage Tree on Booking.com. Accommodation rates in Sausage Tree Camp for 2020: R4660 (313 USD) per person sharing, including all meals and snacks and two daily game drives.

What Animals Can You See in Kruger National Park (and Greater Kruger National Park, as there are no fences)

Excellent chances to see these animals in Kruger National Park:

• Impalas (132.000-176.000 impalas, so they are pretty impossible to avoid)
• Buffalos (there are 37 000 Cape buffalos inside Kruger National Park, so you will probably bump into a buffalo herd during game drives)
• Zebras (23.000-35.000 Burchell’s zebras within KNP, so you’ll probably see many zebra herds)
• Elephants (there are 13000-14000 elephants inside Kruger National Park, so you have excellent chances to see elephants during the game drives)
• Kudus (11.000-17.000 greater kudus)
• Giraffes (6000-10.000 giraffes within KNP, it’s common to see giraffes on game drives)
• Wildebeests (6.000-13.000 blue wildebeests)
• White rhinos (half of South Africa’s rhino population lives in Kruger National Park: there are appr. 8000-12.000 white rhinos inside Kruger)
• Hyena (there are more than 5000 spotted hyenas inside Kruger National Park, and they are a common sight by the road and at a kill)
• Jackals (black-backed jackals are common, whereas side-striped are rarer)
• Lots of birds (505 bird species inside Kruger National Park)
• Vervet monkeys
• Baboons
• Mongooses
• Dassies (Rock hyrax)

Very good chances to see these animals in Kruger National Park:

• Lions (1600-1800 lions inside Kruger National Park: you will probably see lions during the game drives as guides share their locations with each other and on self-drives you will stumble on crowded sightings)
• Waterbucks (3000-8000)
• Hippos (around 3000 hippos within KNP and good chances to see some hippos in the rivers)
• Crocodiles (around 4000 crocodiles within KNP; very good chances to spot them especially on guided game drives, as the guides know their usual whereabouts: look at the river banks on self-drives)
• Warthogs (3000-6000)

You need a bit more luck to see these animals in Kruger National Park:

• Leopards (estimated 1000 leopards inside Kruger National Park: you can see a leopard with a bit of luck, especially on guided game drives, as guides share the sightings)
• Black rhinos (500-700 black rhinos inside Kruger National Park)
• Cheetahs (120 cheetahs inside Kruger National Park)
• Wild dogs (120 wild dogs inside Kruger National Park, although you have better chances to see them in the private reserves such as Sabi Sands, Timbavati, Mala Mala, and Manyeleti)
• Servals

Extremely Rare Sightings in Kruger National Park:

• Pangolins (Temmick’s Pangolin a.k.a. ground pangolin, our guide had seen one within his career; pangolins are definitely easier to see in KwaZulu Natal)
• Aardvarks (there are surprisingly many aardvarks in Kruger, but they are hard to see. The best spot within Kruger is near Pafuri gate. We saw an aardvark in one private reserve)
• Honey badgers
• Aardwolves

You can also see these species in Kruger National Park:

Eland, Roan antelope, Sable antelope, Nyala, Reedbuck, Mountain Reedbuck, Tsessebe, Oribi

Check out complete biodiversity statistics of Kruger National Park from here.

Short Introduction to the Private Reserves inside Greater Kruger National Park

The private reserves of Greater Kruger National Park vary between 11.500 and 65.000 hectares in size.

• Sabi Sands Game Reserve is the oldest private reserve in Greater Kruger: it was established even before Kruger National Park! Sabi Sands is famous for its excellent big cat sightings, especially leopards. The price level in Sabi Sands tends to be higher than in other reserves. Sabi Sands includes the reserves of Sabi Sabi, Londolozi, Singita, Lion Sands, Mala Mala, and Ulusaba. Before, the reserves allowed only their own cars, but nowadays, some share their prestigious game drive areas with others. Sabi Sands Game Reserve covers 65.000 hectares
• Klaserie is among the largest private reserves in South Africa with 60.000 hectares of protected land.
• Timbavati is known for its white lions. Timbavati covers 50.000 hectares and includes Ngala, Motswari, Tanda Tula, and Umlani game reserves.
• Balule Nature Reserve is rich with Big 5 and other wildlife thanks to the perennial Olifants River, which guarantees excellent birding. Balule covers 40.000 hectares of protected land.
• Umbabat Game Reserve borders the public sector of Kruger NP and is closest private reserve to Satara and Olifants Camps. Umbabat borders Timbavati and has also hosted a birth of two white lions. Umbabat consists of several small private reserves.
• Kapama Private Game Reserve lies between Kruger and Blyde River Valley, just 10-minute drive off Hoedspruit airport (Eastgate).
• Thornybush Game Reserve is located near Hoedspruit, and has both affordable and luxurious safari lodges. Thornybush reserve covers 14.000 hectares.
• Manyeleti is located between Kruger National Park and Timbavati. Manyeleti is owned by Mnisi tribe. Manyeleti is not as crowded as Sabi Sands or Timbavati but has also less wildlife.
• Makuya Nature Reserve is a lesser-known, small reserve in northern Limpopo, about a one-hour drive from Kruger’s northernmost Pafuri Gate. It’s one of the birding hotspots in Greater Kruger National Park.
• Letaba Game Reserve is bordering Kruger in the north, near the town of Phalaborwa. Letaba is known for elephants and buffalos, and you can see hippos and crocs by Letaba River. Letaba Reserve is welcoming day visitors to game drives in open vehicles.

Drone Photography in Kruger National Park and Private Reserves of Greater Kruger National Park

Flying drones inside Kruger National park is prohibited. Private reserves and concessions may have their own rules. Generally, drones are not allowed in any national parks, including the Greater Kruger National Park. South Africa was the first country to prohibit drone photography in national parks.

Using drones in Kruger National Park is illegal – and they’re serious about it. You can get arrested or banned for life, as this drone pilot in 2018. On top of that, you can get heavy fines, and they can also confiscate your gear.

The strict rules are based on the fact that drones disturb wild animals and other safari guests. Drones also pose a threat to rhino poaching, as the location of rhinos should remain secret.

To our knowledge, drone photography is still allowed in some private properties. Please double-check the situation from your lodge or safari company: most prohibit drones.

How to Travel to Greater Kruger and Kruger National Park

Getting to Kruger and Greater Kruger National Park is relatively easy. You can fly into four airports nearby Kruger and Greater Kruger, drive there from any other South African destination, or take a shuttle.

Flying into Kruger National Park from Cape Town, Johannesburg and Other Destinations

Kruger National Park and Greater Kruger area have daily flights from Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban.

There are four airports: Hoedspruit Airport (HDS, also called Eastgate Airport) near Hoedspruit (the main airport for visiting Kruger national park and Greater Kruger), Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMI) in Nelspruit, Phalaborwa Airport (PHW) in the north, and Shukuza Airport inside Kruger National Park.

Where to Fly for Kruger National Park and Greater Kruger?

Your next question might be, which airport to choose to access Kruger and Greater Kruger National Park. Simply choose the closest airport depending on your destination – or pick the best price if you don’t mind a longer shuttle ride to your lodge (ask for shuttle prices first, as they might be high inside the park).

Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMI) serves Sabi Sands and southern Kruger National Park. Kruger Mpumalanga Airport has straight flights from Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Livingstone (Zambia), Vilankulos (Mozambique), and many private reserves, such as Sabi Sands, Phinda, and Londolozi.

Hoedspruit Airport (Eastgate Airport) is close to the main gate of Kruger National Park together with Timbavati, Klaserie, Timbavati, Balule, Thornybush, and Kapama reserves. Hoedspruit airport has daily flights from Cape Town and Johannesburg. Check the daily schedule to Hoedspruit/Eastgate from their site.

Northernmost airport, Phalaborwa or Hendrik Van Eck Airport, has less flights, but can fit your plans if you’re visiting Balule and other northern reserves. Airlink flies into Phalaborwa from Johannesburg.

Shukuza Airport inside Kruger is your best bet if you’re looking for quick access to Kruger NP and a rental car from the airport. Airlink operates daily flight to Shukuza from Johannesburg and Cape Town. Shukuza is also the closest airport to Sabi Sands.

Most tourists fly into Hoedspruit/Eastgate Airport, as it’s the main hub, and just a 30-minute drive from Kruger’s Orpen Gate. We flew into Hoedspruit to access Balule, Klaserie, some smaller private reserves, and Kruger National Park. Most shuttles operate to and from Hoedspruit airport, so when changing lodges and camps, we were transported back to the airport, from where the next lodge picked us up.

Road Transfers and Shuttles from Johannesburg and Durban to Kruger National Park

Driving to Kruger National Park

Driving from Johannesburg to Kruger National Park is straightforward, and many tourists do it with a rental car. The closest southern gate of Kruger NP is 420-500 kilometers from Johannesburg.

Driving from Johannesburg to Kruger National Park takes 4-5 hours. If you’re driving from Johannesburg International Airport (O.R. Tambo), the drive takes 3-4 hours. These driving times are calculated without stops, so plan to spend a little longer.

If you have time, choose the longer Panorama Route for visiting Blyde River Canyon on your way!

Shuttles to Kruger National Park and the lodges of Greater Kruger National Park from Johannesburg and Durban

There are several shuttle companies covering the distance between Johannesburg and Kruger National Park. Most shuttles pick up their customers from the big hotels of Johannesburg and O.R. Tambo International Airport.

Most shuttles drop guests at the Eastgate Airport, which is a popular pickup point for lodges of Greater Kruger NP, or Hoedspruit. Private camps in Greater Kruger National Park are happy to arrange pickups from Eastgate Airport/Hoedspruit (additional charges apply). Some shuttles can take you to the most popular lodges, as well.

Shuttles from Durban to Kruger National Park are not that popular, as it’s a long ride. Fly in if you can – or rent a car.

Kruger and Greater Kruger National Park FAQ

What is the Best Time to Visit Kruger and Greater Kruger National Park?

Generally, the dry season (April to August) is the best time in Kruger National Park for game viewing. Summer months can be hot and humid.

Still, I’d say that Kruger National Park is a year-round safari destination. We visited last time in December and enjoyed excellent wildlife sightings and pleasant weather.

One word of warning, still. Avoid school holidays and public holidays, when Kruger National Park gets overly crowded with local self-driving tourists.

Do I Need Malaria Medication When Visiting Kruger National Park?

Both Kruger and Greater Kruger National Park have a slight malaria risk, but the actual risk depends on the season (rains) and the area. The highest malaria risk within Greater Kruger is in the northernmost and southernmost part of the national park. We didn’t take any malaria medication while visiting Kruger and Greater Kruger National Park, but please consult your doctor and make your own decisions.

Is Kruger National Park Fenced?

There are no fences between Kruger National Park and Greater Kruger National Park.

Technically, like all parks in South Africa, Kruger is still fenced, as the borders of Greater Kruger National Park are fenced. The wildlife in densely populated South Africa needs to be protected with fences so that they don’t enter villages and get killed. Fences also help to keep poaching in control.

Can I See the Same Animals in Kruger National Park and Greater Kruger National Park?

Yes, in theory, you can see all the same animals in Kruger and Greater Kruger NP. In practice, the Greater Kruger area is huge (2.000.000 hectares), and different species prefer different habitats.

For example, you have good chances to see wild dogs in Timbavati Game Reserve, which is also famous for its white lions (we’ve seen wild dogs and white lions also many times in Kruger National Park over the years).

We saw wild dogs in Klaserie, and the wild dog packs frequently spotted in Manyeleti and Mala Mala.

Sabi Sands Game Reserve is famous for its dense leopard population, and there the leopards are also habituated (which leads to better wildlife photos but can be questioned, too).

Many birders say Balule Game Reserve is the best for birding, especially if you’re looking to tick off some rarities, like Pel’s fishing owl. During our visit in Balule, we saw lions, rhinos, buffalos, elephants, and even a leopard.

All the reserves within Greater Kruger National Park are Big 5 game reserves, meaning it’s possible to see elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos, and rhinos in any of the reserves.

What’s the Best Private Reserve in South Africa?

Ok, we might be biased, and as you’ve noticed, this article is about Greater Kruger National Park. Balule Nature Reserve and Klaserie are currently our favorite private reserves within Greater Kruger area. In Klaserie, we stayed at a very affordable luxury camp called Baobab Ridge, which we loved! Here you can check out the accommodation options in Klaserie ranging from upper mid-range to luxury camps.

Choosing the best private reserve for your safari is, of course, a matter of taste. However, I’d recommend starting from the private reserves of Greater Kruger National Park just for the variety and concentration of wildlife. In Greater Kruger National Park, you can experience the authentic South African safari and see as many animals as it’s possible within just a couple of days.

Whether you’d choose Kruger or Greater Kruger National Park for your next safari, when it comes to wildlife, you won’t be disappointed!

Your trip to Namibia won’t be complete without these unmissable and fun things to do in Swakopmund! We’ll list the most exciting sights within the old town of Swakopmund, locals’ favorite restaurants and coffee houses, best viewpoints for those iconic Swakopmund photos, best spots for watching seals and flamingos, quirky shops and craft markets together with the best guided tours to the ocean and the desert surrounding Swakopmund!

Why You MUST Visit Swakopmund?

Firstly, you must include Swakopmund in your Namibian itinerary: it’s the number one beach holiday destination and undeniable adventure capital of Namibia with no shortage of adrenaline-fueled things to do both in the desert and the sea.

Getting there is easy almost anywhere else in Namibia, so if you’re spending at least a week in Namibia, Swakopmund is a must-see destination – there’s no city quite like it anywhere else in the world. Think of German architecture and culture mixed with vibrant African flare, natural wonders combined to the treats of the city break.

Swakopmund’s location is incredible and promises otherworldly views. The city is sandwiched between the red dunes of Namib desert – the oldest desert in the world – and the raging, blue Atlantic Ocean. The hostile but stunning Skeleton Coast starts from its northern borders.

Swakopmund is a small city by its size and population but has a huge heart and no shortage of exciting things to do and see that will keep you entertained for weeks. We spent two months scouting for the best activities and sights in Swakopmund to compile this ultimate list of unmissable things to do in Swakopmund. Let’s start the countdown!

FREE THINGS TO DO IN SWAKOPMUND – COVERING THE MOST POPULAR SIGHTS, DON’T MISS THESE!

Best things in life are free – same goes with Swakopmund! Luckily, you don’t have to spend tremendous amounts of money to experience the best of Swakopmund. Walking around the old town with a camera is free, so we’ll start with the must-see sights inside Swakopmund’s charming old town.

1. Photograph the Iconic Swakopmund Lighthouse

Our city walk starts from Swakopmund’s most famous landmarks: Lighthouse and the Mole. Both mark the foundation of the city.

The red-and-white lighthouse towers upon Swakopmund’s roofs and colors the most iconic photographs of Swakopmund. As it’s visible from afar in this low-rise city, it’s the easiest attraction to find and a convenient starting point for your Swakopmund old city exploration.

Lighthouse is among the most photographed sights in Swakopmund: it’s pictured in postcards, magazine articles, and art. To get the best angles, shoot the lighthouse from the Mole (when it looms upon the Mole area) or behind the state house (when you’ll get a classic shot with the garden and state house in front of the Lighthouse).

Swakopmund Lighthouse: History & Facts

Swakopmund Lighthouse was built in 1902-1903 and it’s still in operation as a navigational aid for ships heading to Walvis Bay.

The first lighthouse in Swakopmund was merely a beacon at the tip of the Mole. It was washed away within the first months, leading to the construction of the current Lighthouse.

First structure of the Swakopmund Lighthouse was 16 meters high, but it was raised to the current height of 28 meters already in 1910-1911. The light can be seen from 33 kilometers away from the sea.

2. Hang Around Swakopmund Mole (for the Views and Fun)

The seawall called Mole seems to be a cultural center of Swakopmund: it’s where both locals and tourists hang around during the days.

Grab an ice cream and sit on the colorful benches overlooking the beach with locals, watching kids – and dogs – swim and play. Eat lunch or dinner in some of the best restaurants in Swakopmund, all terraces have nice ocean views and usually a lovely breeze.

The sandy Palm Beach sheltered by the Mole is also the best place to swim in Swakopmund, so let’s move on to the next activity!

Short History of Swakopmund Mole

Mole is first breakwater in Swakopmund, built by the first German settlers in 1899. Within five years, the strong Benguela current swept so much sand into it that harbor entrance was closed and the current Palm Beach was formed. A better jetty was built a bit further (check the activity no 4, the Jetty of Swakopmund)

3. Swim in the Atlantic – The Coolest Thing To Do in Swakop!

Swimming in the Atlantic with local kids is literally the coolest thing you can do in Swakopmund. Thanks to the cold Benguela current, the water remains chilly throughout the year.

If you don’t dare to dip in, at least soak in the sun with locals and tourists. Palm Beach by the Mole is the most tropical place in Swakopmund. As it’s virtually the only sheltered cove in Swakopmund, it’s the best place to swim, as well.

The best beaches in Swakopmund

• Palm Beach by the Mole (for swimming)
• Tiger Reef (for barefoot day or night out, swimming possible)
• The long sandy beach south of Platz am Meer (for long beach walks, picnics, and hanging out with locals; there are also braai facilities)

4. Stroll Along the Jetty of Swakopmund – For Pictures of Swakopmund’s Skyline Against the Desert

Another major landmark in Swakopmund, the Jetty is a must-see – and a fun place to visit. Getting there is easy on foot, bike, or car. If you’re walking or biking and coming from the Mole, just continue south by the seaside promenade until you reach the long pier: that’s the famous Jetty!

Jetty is a popular spot among locals for afternoon and evening strolls, so expect to meet families, dogs, and lovers at the pier. It’s among the best places in Swakopmund to watch sunset over the Atlantic!

Don’t forget your camera! Over 200 meters’ long Jetty offers an interesting angle to the cityscape of Swakopmund and the surrounding desert. Furious waves often reach the wooden planks and spits salty water on careless wanderers, so be alert if your camera is not splash-proof.

At the end of the jetty, you can find a lovely restaurant called Jetty 1905. It’s among the best restaurants in Swakopmund (check activity x for more info) and has the widest panoramic views to the Atlantic. Tip: reserve your table well in advance to get the best spots by the window.

Short History of Swakopmund Jetty

Shortly after the Mole was built, the harbor of Swakopmund got busy. There was an urgent need to quickly off-load cargo ships and passengers, which were anchored off the shore.

The original wooden Jetty was hastily constructed within five months between 1904 and 1905, and widened and extended a couple of years later. Wooden structure was slowly eaten by the elements and the marine borer worm. Construction of a 640-meter long steel jetty started in 1912, but the war disturbed the plans and left the jetty in one third of the planned length.

Although it was a popular strolling and fishing spot for both locals and visitors, the corroded jetty was considered unsafe for pedestrians from 1983 onwards, until it was restored to its former glory and re-opened in 2006. Read the full history here: jetty1905.com

5. Stroll on Seaside Promenade Through Municipal Gardens of Swakopmund (Don’t Forget Your Camera)

Stunning seaside promenade is among our favorite places to visit in Swakopmund. You can bike or walk by the beach for almost 5 kilometers between the southernmost point, Tiger Reef (check things to do 10 & 31) and Platz Am Meer mall in the north (the best mall in Swakopmund, check activity 28 for more details).

Every weekend locals venture out to the seaside promenade to eat from the food truck parked in the middle of the hike (there are also food stalls nearby Aquarium if you don’t want to walk further from the center), walk their dogs and take kids to the beach.

Among the houses lining the coastal road you can find perfect examples of German architecture, some even imitating Alpine architecture. The seaside promenade takes you through palm-tree lined Municipal Gardens, where you can admire many coastal plants and spot small birds.

The beach garden walkways have amazing views of the Atlantic and when you get closer to Platz Am Meer, you can admire the silhouette of Swakopmund’s center over the long sandy beach, with desert looming in the background. Municipal Gardens is one of the best places in Swakopmund to take those iconic photographs of Swakopmund skyline!

EXPLORE THE GERMAN ARCHITECTURE IN SWAKOPMUND

Swakopmund feels like a little German town whisked into desert by African coast – that’s a weird mix! Spend at least a couple of hours exploring the German roots of Swakopmund and getting to know the history of this unique coastal town. Track down some of Swakopmund’s colonial buildings listed below – it’s easy as most of them will be along your sightseeing route anyway.

6. Visit Woermann House Tower for Panorama Over Swakopmund

Woermann House is among the most famous German-style colonial buildings in Swakopmund. It was built in 1905 for HQ of a trading company and later used as school dormitory and a hostel for merchants and sailors. It was declared as a national monument in the 70s. Nowadays it houses a public library and Swakopmund Arts Association.

Tip: pay a small fee to climb to Woermann House’s tower, called Damara Tower. It’s where early settlers spotted approaching boats and ox carts – and offers the same stunning panorama to the vast Atlantic Ocean and Namib Desert also for the modern day visitors. The tower has also served as a navigation point, as it’s visible far from the sea.

7. Stroll Pass Höhenzollern Haus – Camera Needed!

You cannot avoid seeing bombastic Höhenzollern Haus while strolling in the central Swakopmund. Höhenzollern Building is among the most photographed buildings in Swakopmund. Deservingly so, as it’s an unique example of neo-baroque, Victorian architecture in Namibia.

Look up for a classic Greek Atlas figure holding the world on his shoulders. There are also angels and lions in the frieze of Höhenzollern Building.

Höhenzollern Haus was built in 1905-1906 by Hermann Dietz as a hotel for German aristocrats, but served also as a brothel. Nowadays it’s divided into private apartments. Höhenzollern was declared as a national monument in the 80s.

8. Find More German Architecture in Swakopmund (Happens by Accident)

Even if you aren’t architecture buff, the German-style buildings in Swakopmund entice you to take photos. The best news: you don’t need to search for German architecture in Swakopmund. It’s enough just to walk around the old city and stumble upon stunning buildings.

Some of the most important colonial buildings include:

• Alte Kaserne (“the old barracks”; stunning fort-like architecture, similar to Namutoni Fort in Etosha National Park, address: )
• Deutsche Africa Bank Building (nowadays Bank Windhoek)
• Deutsche Evangelican Church (designed by Otto Erlt)
• State House (“Kaiserliches Bezirksgericht”, nowadays a summer residence of President of Namibia, address Daniel Tjongarero St)
• Old Court (“Altes Amtsgericht”, designed by Otto Erlt, address: in corner of Garnison and Bahnhof St)
• Prinzessin Rupprecht-Heim (originally military hospital)
• Otavi-Bahn Building (originally historical railway station, nowadays Living Desert Snake Park)
• Alte Gefänglis (Old Prison, check out thing to do #58 under bizarre treats)

9. Stay in Swakopmund Hotel (Old Railway Station) for Ultimate Colonial Architecture Immersion

After all sightseeing, there’s one final treat for baroque architecture lovers: book a room in Swakopmund Hotel, the Old Bahnhof (Railway Station) of Swakopmund!

Almost all rooms overlook a beautiful pool area. Check out the best rates for Swakopmund Hotel here.

Short History of Swakopmund Hotel (Old Railway Station)

Swakopmund’s old railway station (Bahnhof Swakopmund) was built in 1901. Swakopmund railway station was the starting point of the first railway line in German South West Africa.

Bahnhof Swakopmund was built by Imperial Railway Authority (Kaiserliche Eisenbahn Verwaltung) and designed by German architect Wilhelm Sander, who has also designed three castles in Windhoek – Heinitzburg, Schwerinsburg and Sanderburg – and Swakopmund Lighthouse.

The beautiful building had an unfortunate faith: Windhoek–Swakopmund railway line was closed already in 1910.

Nowadays, the working train station is outside the old center.

FUN THINGS TO DO IN SWAKOPMUND

In Swakopmund, the oldest desert in the world rolls into the Atlantic, which is teeming with seals, dolphins, and whales. There are tons of fun things to do centered around the dunes and the marine life, but let’s start from the city itself.

10. Rent a Bike and Explore Swakopmund on Wheels (BONUS: Stunning Seaside Promenade From Start to Finish!)

Swakopmund is like Amsterdam: everyone has a bike! The best way to get around Swakopmund is by bike.

The city is flat (unlike Windhoek, which rolling hills and high temps make biking too strenuous for most), traffic is rather calm (compared to Windhoek or other African cities), and weather rarely too hot for pleasant rides. As distances are short, biking is usually also faster than driving.

Bike rentals vary between city bikes, mountain bikes, and fat bikes. If you stick to the marked paths, mountain bike is well enough – although fat bikes allow you to have some fun in the sand.

Start your day out by exploring 5-kilometer long seaside promenade, where a concrete biking path swirls through the sand and lovely city gardens. Be ready to get your share of the spray of the Atlantic, if you choose the path closest to the waves (that’s fun if you ask me!).

With bike, it’s easy to cover the whole seaside promenade from Tiger Reef (check point x) to Platz Am Meer (check point x) and see the city center by zigzagging the streets and stopping by all the main sights within one day. Thus, you can cover all the sights mentioned here on an adventurous one-day bike itinerary in Swakopmund and save the rest of your days for tours exploring the surrounding areas.

Tip from a fellow traveler: It’s safe to leave your bike locked anywhere in the center when you’re enjoying a cup of coffee or shopping. Official car and bike guards patrol the center and will also look after your bike – it’s kind to give them a couple of dollars as a courtesy.

11. Find the Best Ice Cream in Swakopmund

As this one is a matter of taste, I can only offer you tips on where to head.

Ankerplatz inside the old Swakopmund, nearby Woermann House and just off Sam Nujoma Avenue, is the best place to start. It’s also probably the most atmospheric little square in Swakopmund, so take out your camera and pick a table from the shadow. Browse the selection of Ice & Spice Cafe: they have more than 50 flavors of homemade ice cream. It’s the best ice cream in Swakopmund if you ask me!

Many locals swear by Raith’s Deli, Gelateria and Bakery on Tobias Hainyeko (between Slowtown Coffee Shop and Brauhaus Arcade) – they are said to have also the best brötchens in Swakopmund.

Check also the ice cream kiosks in the Mole area: Café Mole and Swakopmund Museum Café.

12. Visit the Highest Dune in Namibia – and the World! – called Dune 7

You read right, the highest dune in Namibia is conveniently nearby Swakopmund! Many tourists don’t even don’t this, as Sossusvlei is (deservingly) more famous for its red sand dunes. However, the highest dune in Sossusvlei, called Big Daddy, loses by 58 meters to Dune 7.

With the height of 383 meters (or 1256 foot), Dune 7 is the highest dune in the world.

You can visit Dune 7 independently if you have a rental car: climbing Dune 7 is free! Getting there with a car is easy, as Dune 7 is just off C14, only 6 km from Walvis Bay and 37 kilometers from Swakopmund. There’s a parking and picnic area (search “Dune 7 picnic area” in Google Maps).

There are a restaurant and adventure tour outlets at the spot: Quad Bike Rental and Dune 7 Adventures. They sell a gazillion of desert tours, from quad biking to sand surfing and dune driving (in a monster bus).

As dunes are stunning, we encourage you to visit also the famous Big Daddy, which is watching over Deadvlei pan (check out section x for more detailed suggestion).

If you don’t have own wheels, check out the desert tour recommendations below.

13. Go Biking or Quad Biking in the Namib Desert

Biking in the middle of the red dunes is an unforgettable, adrenaline filled experience and a must-do when visiting Swakopmund! Depending on your preferences, you can choose either a fat biking or quad biking tour in the Namib Desert.

This quad biking tour includes transport from Swakopmund and you can choose between 1-hour, 1.5-hour, and 2-hour quad bike adventure. You can expect to ride past a lot of smaller and bigger dunes on all tours.

This affordable 2-hour desert bike tour takes you up and down dunes for more than 10 kilometers! Biking in the desert is both fun and ecological, and offers splendid photo opportunies.

14. Sandboard the Dunes of Namib Desert

Sandboarding in the Namib Desert is epic fun! It’s might be even more exhilaring than volcano boarding that we tried in Nicaragua.

The dunes are just 10-minute drive away from Swakopmund, so there’s no reason to skip the crazy desert activities (just choose the best adrenaline level for you, even biking is fun).

This sandboarding tour is excellent for both experienced and first-time (sand) surfers. You can choose easy or more challenging dunes – if you’re a first-timer, you can even lie down on the board. Tour includes transport from Swakopmund and a light lunch.

15. Skydive upon Swakopmund

Swakopmund is the adventure capital of Namibia and offers many daring airborne activities, as well. Sky diving the all-time favorite of all adventure junkies!

Thanks to breathtaking views over the Namib Desert, Atlantic and the little coastal town, Swakopmund is one of the top three skydiving locations in the world!

Check out this tandem skydiving tour for the ultimate thrills. The tour includes a tandem skydiving from 11.000 feet with an experienced and qualified instructor, transfers from your Swakopmund hotel and a video of your skydive adventure.

16. Kayak Among the Seals and Dolphins of Pelican Point

Pelican Point near Walvis Bay is the best place for kayaking nearby Swakopmund. Paddling in-between a huge Cape fur seal colony and dolphins is an activity that you’ll never forget! Sightings are guaranteed, as Pelican Point has staggering 50.000 Cape fur seals.

This guided tour includes both kayaking in Pelican Point and a scenic 4×4 drive through the Namib desert to the famous Sandwich Harbor.

17. Ocean Cruises for Spotting Dolphins, Whales, Turtles, and Seals

When visiting the charming little towns of Atlantic Coast of Namibia, be it Swakopmund or Luderitz, don’t skip the ocean cruises for spotting marine life!

Many tourists think that when they visit Pelican Point (activity 16) or Cape Cross Seal Colony (activity 38), they’ve “seen enough”, but the cruise is something totally different.

On day cruises from Swakopmund, it’s possible to find dolphins, whales, leatherback turtles on top of all the marine life and birds that you will see when passing Pelican Point from the sea.

Whale season in Swakopmund runs from July to November, when you can spot both Humpback whales and Southern right whales – or even Gray whales and Pygmy right whales if you’re lucky. Bottlenose, Dusky and Heaviside’s Dolphins populate the same waters with gigantic and playful Mola Molas aka sunfish. Mola Molas can weight up to one ton: they are known as the heaviest bony fish in the world and classified as vulnerable.

This affordable half-day luxury cruise takes you out to the Atlantic to find the “Marine Big Five” for 3,5 hours and includes snacks, coffee, fresh oysters, and bubbly. Pick between morning or afternoon departure from Walvis Bay Waterfront (30 minutes from Swakopmund by car/taxi/shuttle).

“Marine Big 5” cruises offer also excellent birding. You can expect to see pelicans, Kelp and Hartlaub gulls and Cape Cormorants.

18. Go Surfing or Fishing with Locals

Both surfing and fishing are big in Swakop – just pick your favorite. Fishing with friendly locals is free and fun if you find the right dudes by the beach promenade.

Swakopmund is an interesting surfing location for experienced surfers, as the climate is hard and the waves heavy, views to the desert are otherworldly, and the chilly Benguela current poses its own challenges. Element Riders offers introductory surfing courses in both Swakopmund and Luderitz.

19. Golf in the Desert in Rössmund – with Springboks!

Rössmund is a world-famous golf course in the middle of desert – one of the five existing full green fairway desert courses in the world!

This full 72 par golf course offers tough challenges, like inversion of grass fairways dispersed throughout the sand (instead of sand traps in the grass) and springbok footprints harassing your lie. Oh yes, you will be golfing in the middle of free-roaming springbok herds – an experience that’s only possible Namibia!

You can also stay in the oasis by booking a room in the attached Rössmund Lodge that overlooks the golf course and its springbok herds. Check their best rates here.

Another lovely option is Paradise at Rössmund Golf Estate Swakopmund, nearby fully equipped beautiful 2-bedroom apartment that is perfect for families. Check their best rates from here.

20. Visit Tropic of Capricorn Crossing

If you’re visiting Sossusvlei from Swakopmund, don’t forget to take photos of crossing the Tropic of Capricorn! The famous circle of latitude is marked with signs on the both sides of the road between Walvis Bay and Sossusvlei.

Tropic of Capricorn signs are on C14 road, approximately one-hour drive from Solitaire on the way to Walvis Bay and further to Swakopmund.

BEST MUSEUMS AND CULTURAL THINGS TO DO IN SWAKOPMUND

21. Visit Swakopmund Museum

Swakopmund Museum in the Mole is the most renown museum in the city. It offers an introduction to the nature, people, and cultures of Namibia.

It’s the largest private museum in Namibia, run by the Scientific Society of Swakopmund. It’s also a popular venue for interesting scientific talks, movie screenings, and workshops.

Entrance fee: N30 for adults, N25 for students and pensioners.

22. Visit Kristall Galerie for the Biggest Crystal in the World – And Shopping Gemstones

In Kristall Galerie, you can marvel semi-precious stones, including the biggest quartz crystal formation in the world. That famous crystal dates back to 500 million years and weighs more than 14.000 kg. The museum shop sells gemstones.

23. Browse Namibian Art in Fine Art Gallery & Swakopmund Arts Association

For Namibian art, visit Fine Art Gallery (the main street) and Swakopmund Arts Association (Woermann House).

24. Take a Township Tour in Mondesa

Explore one of the biggest townships in Namibia called Mondesa on a guided half-day tour. Mondesa on the outskirts of Swakopmund was created during the apartheid era to segregate black people and further divide them into ethnic areas within the township.

Visiting Mondesa gives you a deeper understanding of Namibian history and people: it’s also a fun day out in a colorful setting! This guided Mondesa tour takes you into the homes, schools, and kindergartens of Nama, Damara and Herero tribes. You will enjoy a local meal, music performance, and visit community projects.

If you don’t have a chance to visit Katutura in Windhoek, don’t skip visiting Mondesa while you’re in Swakopmund! It’s also possible to drive independently through Mondesa to get a glimpse if you’re short on time, but that way you miss all the interactions with locals.

BEST PLACES TO SHOP SOUVENIRS IN SWAKOPMUND

If you’re short on time and not into souvenir shopping in general, visit at least City Street Market. If you like shopping, Brauhaus Arcade is the best place to start.

25. Buy Your Postcards and Find Quirky Books in Swakopmund Museum Shop

Support the amazing work of Scientific Society of Swakopmund by shopping your postcards and souvenir books in their museum shop. We’ve found interesting books from there, many about wildlife conservation and cultural history. Pop in to browse the selection on your visit in the Mule area, even if you’re not visiting the museum.

26. Shop Souvenirs and Books in Brauhaus Arcade – With Lovely Photo Opportunities

Brauhaus Arcade looks always good in photos and is an interesting place to visit thanks to its small café, nice bookshop and several small shops. Of course, it’s where you’ll find Swakopmund Brauhaus, as well.

Expect to find safari hats and clothes, leather goods, postcards and books, plush toys, creative souvenir ideas and arts and crafts.

27. Browse City Street Market Near the Mole for Traditional Souvenirs and Gifts

Buying souvenirs from the city street market is a brilliant way to support indigenous. You can find Swakopmund’s widest collection of indigenous crafts just behind Lighthouse Restaurant and Swakopmund Museum nearby the Mole (it’s on your way to the Mole from the center).

28. Shop Everything Else You Need in Platz Am Meer – the Best Shopping Center in Swakopmund

The best place for shopping anything else in Swakopmund is Platz Am Meer shopping center.

There you can find the best grocery stores and many special shops:

• Checkers for cheap prices and wide selection of groceries
• Woolworths for the best quality fruits and vegetables and imported goodies
• Clicks and Dischem for cosmetics and pharmacy
• Cape Union Mart for outdoor wear
• A couple of sport stores and a camping equipment store

BEST THINGS TO DO IN SWAKOPMUND FOR FOODIES: TRY THESE DISHES!

Whereas Namibian cuisine is usually all about game meat, in Swakopmund it’s all about fresh and beautifully cooked seafood.

Good news for vegetarians: Swakopmund treats you much better than Windhoek or any other place in Namibia! You can find vegan sushi, vegetarian burgers, and many other options on top of the usual suspects – pizza and pasta.

29. Taste the Famous Fresh Oysters of Namibia

If you haven’t been in Luderitz yet, taste the world-famous Namibian oysters in Swakopmund! They can be found in most seaside restaurants and are best eaten as raw, seasoned with lemon and pepper (and maybe a bit of tabasco).

Boat tours from Walvis Bay serve freshest oysters on board with bubbly – a perfect day out! The secret behind Namibian oysters seems to be the cold Benguela current, which loads the water with oxygen and plankton. Thanks to Benguela, Namibian oyesters can be harvested within eight months, whereas French oysters take three years to grow.

30. Order Sailor’s Lunch in Ocean Cellar

Hands down our favorite lunch in Swakopmund, the dish called Sailor’s Lunch is a bargain. For NAD85 (USD5) you’ll get a delicious filet of hake with calamari rigs, chips, salad, and chili or tartar sauce.

Affordable lunch specials are available every day until 4PM. A la carte menu is available throughout the day with many choices for fresh fish, sushi, and, of course, delicious Namibian oysters.

31. Go Barefoot in Tiger Reef – With Fish & Chips or Calamari

If sun is out on Sunday, everyone in Swakopmund gathers to the southern edge of the city to dine out in Tiger Reef. Bike or walk there by the shore with locals before dipping toes in the sand and watching the waves lap right beside your table.

Simple meals, such as grilled calamari or fish’n’chips, are ordered from the bar. The brave ones (including dogs) take a swim on the long sand beach.

32. Book a Romantic Dinner in Swakopmund’s Jetty 1905

If I’d have to recommend a dinner spot to crown a one-day itinerary in Swakopmund, Jetty 11905 would be my pick for the unrivalled ocean views. Book as early as you can to get the best table by the window and schedule the dinner around sunset hour.

33. Sundowners and Fresh Fish with a View in Tug, Unique Boat Restaurant

Tug is among our favorite restaurants in Swakopmund for atmospheric sundowners and dinner with a view. It’s casual yet special.

Start with a sundowner on the terrace overlooking the Atlantic and Swakopmund Jetty, feeling like you’re onboard a tug boat – because you are! Oil-fired Daniel Hugo tug boat, built in Scotland, found its last resting place in Swakopmund and was turned into lovely marine-themed restaurant.

The Tug Restaurant specializes in local, sustainable and fresh fish. Also great vegetarian options are available (although we miss their excellent veggie burger that was dropped from the latest menu). Reservations are recommended for the inner cabin (window tables have amazing views), although we’ve been always lucky to find a table; no reservations are taken for the terrace or bar.

34. Sample Freshly Made Sushi in Yokohama

As a newcomer in Swakopmund’s restaurant scene, Yokohama has fortified its place quickly. In our opinion, it’s the best place in Swakopmund to feast on sushi. Everything is made to order, right under your eyes.

They have a wide menu and affordable special offers. Salmon platter (for two) is our all-time favorite.

Bonus points: Yokohama raises money to local animal charity, Have a Heart Namibia. Gotta love these guys!

Getting overwhelmed? Worry no more, we got you covered! If you have only day day in Swakopmund, eat lunch in Ocean Cellar and dinner in Tug. If you have two days, spend lunchtime sampling the sushi platters of Yokohama and book a table in Jetty 1905 for dinner.

If you’re looking for more options, check out the Wreck, Lighthouse Restaurant in the Mole and Fish Deli in the center.

BEST THINGS TO DO NEAR SWAKOPMUND FOR NATURE LOVERS

35. See the Flamingos of Walvis Bay Lagoon

It’s easy to visit the flamingos of Walvis Bay independently from Swakopmund either with your rental car or a taxi. Drive takes approximately 30 minutes.

Plan to arrive at Walvis Bay Lagoon early, preferably at 7AM, to see the flamingos up-close. Early mornings are the best time to photograph flamingos without a long lens.

36. Visit Swakopmund Salt Pans for Birding – And Surreal Views for Instagram

Swakopmund Saltworks lie just 7 km’s (4 miles) north of Swakopmund, in an area aptly called Mile 4. Salt was produced in the pans from 1933 to 1952.

Nowadays the northern guano platform of Swakopmund Salt Pans is an excellent spot for birding. The platform has supported 700.000 Cape Cormorants and can support many other water birds, such as flamingos, African oystercatchers; Chestnut-Banded Plovers and migratory Common Terns.

If you’re not into birding, Swakopmund Salt Pans offer excellent photo opportunities for Instagram-worthy pink water pictures. Imagine pink water of the salt pans meeting the Atlantic and desert. Check out some stunning aerial photographs of Swakopmund Saltworks for inspiration from here.

37. Visit Walvis Bay Island Rock for More Cormorants

Similar guano platform has been built over Bird Island, which lies between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. This Walvis Bay Bird Rock dates back to the 1930s and is visible only at low tide.

About 99% of visiting birds are Cape Cormorants, but also Great White Pelicans, Crowned Cormorants, and White-Breasted Cormorants breed there. Walvis Bay Bird Island is known as the world’s largest White-Breasted Cormorant colony.

38. Visit Cape Cross Seal Colony – the Largest Cape Fur Seal Colony in the World

If you want to see seals independently (without cruise and 4×4), Cape Cross Seal Colony is the best place for you.

Cape Cross is Namibia’s biggest seal colony – and the best place to photograph seals. It’s much easier to photograph seals while you can walk close to them and search for the best angle compared to photographing seals from a boat. Of course, both have their pros and cons, and here you cannot take pictures of swimming seals like from the boat (if you’re lucky).

There are fences, which are meant to protect the seals from visitors, but the seals don’t seem to mind the fences, as they are constantly at the visitors’ side, meaning that you can get nice closeups. Please just be considerate as with any wildlife: don’t approach a seal which doesn’t like it – and don’t go too close.

Visiting Cape Cross independently from Swakopmund requires 1,5 hours’ drive on both ways (approximately 130 km). It’s easy to combine a short loop to Cape Cross on your way from Swakopmund to Etosha National Park (unless you’re driving through Skeleton Coast, then it’ll be on your route naturally).

If you don’t have a rental car, consider taking this guided tour to Pelican Point (near Walvis Bay) to see the seals. The tour includes 4×4 drive in deep sand to Pelican Point from Walvis Bay (hotel pickups from Swakopmund can be arranged). In Pelican Point, you’ll have enough time to photograph the seals and birds and see the historic lighthouse and the ruins of the old jetty.

39. Find Oryx and Other Desert Adapted Animals (Independently or On Tour)

If you have your own wheels, it’s easy to make a day trip to the Namib Desert from Swakopmund. On top of dunes and arid landscapes, you can expect to see oryx (gemsbok), springbok, and other desert adapted animals. There are also excellent guided desert tours which show you the many odd desert creatures, which are hard to see without a guide.

40. Find Welwitschia Plants Near Swakopmund

You can quite easily see smaller Welwitschia mirabilis plants while driving to Swakopmund from other Namibian destinations through the Namib Desert. Endeamic to Namibia and Southern Angola, this modestly looking but huge (diameter up to 30 meters) desert plant can survive decades, even centuries, in arid conditions.

Still, the best place to find and admire them is Welwitschia Plain, approximately 1-hour drive from Swakopmund. Welwitschia Plain has one 1500-year old plant and several others populating the same quiet desert area.

Bizarre fact: Welwitschia mirabilis decorates National Coat of Arms of Namibia.

If you don’t have a rental car, this Welwitschia tour is an excellent option. The 4-hour tour takes you to the Namib Desert (national park permit included), Moon Landscape (see activity 42), and Welwitschia Drive. You can choose between morning of afternoon departure.

41. Visit the Lichen Fields Near Swakopmund

Explore another beautiful natural wonder, lichen covered stones by the beach. You can find lichen even in Swakopmund.

The best place to see an array of lichen is called lichen fields, which can be found north of Swakopmund, near Hentiesbaai. Excellent lichen plains can be found also on Welwitschia Drive (on your way from Swakopmund to the Welwitchia Plain). These gray and black lichen fields were featured in the film called “The Private Life of Plants” by David Attenborough and the BBC.

42. Explore the Moon Landscape of Namib Desert from Swakopmund

Moon Landscape is nearby the above mentioned lichen fields and Welwitschia Drive, and can be explored either independently or with a guided tour. Expect dramatic scenery that has invoked the name “badlands”: deep valleys and narrow gorges carved by the Swakop River millions of years ago.

You find the “Moon Landscape” by driving C28 from Swakopmund, then turn to the Welwitchia Drive after entering Namib-Naukluft National Park.

Note that you need a permit to explore Moon Landscape, as it’s inside Namib-Naukluft National Park. Permits can be obtained at Ministry of Environment and Tourism offices in Swakopmund and Windhoek (open Monday-Friday 8AM-1PM and 2PM-5PM, Saturday-Sunday and public holidays 8AM-1PM).

43. Take a Sandwich Harbor Tour

If you have more than two days in Swakopmund, we highly recommend investing in Sandwich Harbor tour – you won’t be disappointed! It’s where the ancient dunes of Namib Desert roll into the Atlantic. There are no settlements, nothing but nature at its roughest. Pure beauty, I’d say.

Sandwich Harbor used to be restricted area and it’s still a conservation area, which is accessible only with a guided tour. The harbor that the name is implying was established in the 15^th century by Portuguese sailors; nowadays it’s eaten by the sand and sea. Unique desert landscapes, excellent birding, and exciting 4×4 tours are the best reasons to visit Sandwich Harbor.

We recommend this guided full-day Sandwich Harbor tour from Swakopmund. Tour takes you up and down dunes to Sandwich Lagoon (weather permitting) in off-road vehicle. The tour stops by Walvis Bay Lagoon to marvel the flamingos and Salt Works to photograph the beautiful salt pans. Tour includes a lunch and drinks, transport to and from Swakopmund, and park permits. It’s possible to see seals and other wildlife as you drive through Dorob National Park and by the shore.

If you’d like to do a self-drive to Sandwich Harbor and have your own rental vehicle, check out this tour!  Self-drives to Sandwich Harbor are only allowed as part of a guided tour, as it’s still restricted area. The tour includes briefing, two-way radios and recovery equipment.

44. Visit Spitzkoppe, “the Matterhorn of Namibia”

Although we’d recommend spending at least one night in Spitzkoppe, you can visit the rocky mountains – or the Matterhorn of Namibia – from Swakopmund in just one day.

It’s easy to drive from Swakopmund to Spitzkoppe if you have a rental car – and you can visit x shipwreck on your way.

Check out this guided Spitzkoppe tour if you don’t have your own wheels (tour includes transport from Swakopmund and Walvis Bay).

45. Visit Sossusvlei and Deadvlei Pan

Although Sossusvlei and Deadvlei can be visited from Swakopmund on a long day trip, they deserve a couple of days on their own. We’ll be covering the mysterious dead trees of Deadvlei pan and the vast dune landscapes of Sossusvei in another article very soon – stay tuned!

Plan to spend at least two nights in Sossusvlei, as you will need a half day for visiting Deadvlei and the highest dune of Namibia, Big Daddy. Climbing Dune 45 can be done on your way to Deadvlei.

46. Get Fueled in the Best Coffee Shops of Swakopmund

Swakopmund treats coffee geeks well – much better than Windhoek. There are two excellent roasteries, whose beans are available throughout Namibia, both originally from Swakopmund: Two Beards Coffee and Slowtown Coffee Roasters. Visit both if you have time!

Slowtown is the easiest to tick off, as they have two cafes right in the center of Swakopmund. The main joint is conveniently at the corner of Daniel Tjongarero and Tobias Hainyeko Streets, so you will pass it while strolling through the center (open Mon-Fri 8AM-4.30PM and Sat 8.30AM-12.30PM). It has a nice terrace for people watching and lots of tables indoors for working (but no wifi).

Smaller Slowtown Roastery Café has a lovely courtyard setting on Swakop Street, near the beach promenade (Swakop St 15, open Mon-Fri 8AM-4PM). Slowtown serves good quality beans and caters to several brewing methods.

Slowtown is the first artisan roastery in Swakopmund – and in Namibia. They have several cafes in capital, as well, which makes Slowtown the best coffee shop in Windhoek (and unfortunately the only third-wave coffee shop in Windhoek).

Reaching a bit more experimental Two Beards Coffee requires a short drive (or bike/taxi trip) from the center, but their Two Beards and a Saint Gourmet Bar & Bistro is a true oasis for coffee lovers in Namibia. They know their beans and brewing methods, turning up beautiful tasting experiences.

Wide courtyard has tables in the sun and shadow and two-storey industrial-chic coffee shop invites you to stay longer than planned with tasty food and a wide list of artisan-roasted single-origin Arabica beans to choose from.

While you’re in the area, be sure to pop in Namib Dunes Brewery and Stillhouse Distillery in the same Eastern Concepts complex (see the next alcohol-fueled things to do).

BEST THINGS TO DO IN SWAKOPMUND FOR BEER & GIN LOVERS

47. Taste Namibian Craft Beer in Namib Dunes Brewery

Namib Dunes is our favorite craft brewery in Namibia. All their beers are unfiltered and unpasteurized. Pale ale is our favorite.

Craft beer culture is still a new thing in Namibia: Swakopmund-born Namib Dunes is the country’s largest independent craft brewery. You can get their beer already in many lodges and restaurants around Namibia, but the brewery is of course the best place for true tasting sessions!

48. Taste Namibian Craft Gin in Stillhouse Atlantic Craft Distillery

Following the footsteps of South Africa, Namibia has learned the art of distilling some excellent small-batch craft gins. Gin tasting in Stillhouse Atlantic Craft Distillery opens your taste buds for different aromas of the famous Namibian gin. Stillhouse is located conveniently next to Namib Dunes Brewery.

49. Taste Our Favorite Namibian Gin in Copper & Coal Distillery (Walvis Bay)

Our favorite Namibian gin, oak-barrel rested Devil’s Claw version of Desolate Gin, is produced by craft distillery from Walvis Bay. You can organize gin tastings at Copper & Coal Distillery – or just pop in to buy their liquid gold.

50. Visit Bavarian Brewery Pub in Namibia: Swakopmund Brauhaus

Taste more German beers in Swakopmund Brauhaus! Atmospheric Bavarian-style brewery cum pub setting in the middle of a picturesque shopping arcade that’s named after it (Brauhaus Arcade) makes you believe that you’re somewhere in Germany.

51. Grab a Tasting Platter at in Swakopmund Brewing Company / Brewer & Butcher

Swakopmund Brewing Company has a lovely terrace in the Mole: order a tasting platter and sip in-house brewed German-style beers while gazing at the Atlantic and Palm Beach. If you like meat, pair the beers with adjoining Brewer & Butcher’s meat-heavy menu. You can also take a microbrewery tour here.

52. Find the Best Terrace in Swakopmund

Once again – this one is a matter of taste and we urge you to explore the terraces of Swakopmund to find your own favorites. If it’s chilly, most terraces have heaters and plankets.

Without further ado, here are our terrace picks all around the town:

• Bar Zonder Naam: The best terrace in Swakopmund if you don’t need ocean view. Frequently live music. Cozy atmosphere (outside and inside). The best craft gin selection in Swakopmund and creative gin cocktails with garnished ice cubes; a great craft beer and wine selection (it’s called a wine bar for a reason).
• The Tug for sundowners right by the famous Jetty and Atlantic rollers
• Two Beards Coffee Roastery for coffee and lunch amidst tropical courtyard – excellent spot for digital nomads to catch up with work
• Ocean Cellar for lunch or dinner with view over the Palm Beach
• Brewer & Butcher / Swakopmund Brewing Company for a German beer with those Palm Beach views

53. Late Night Cold Ones in Kücki’s Pub

Kücki’s Pub is a local legend, it’s the number one small-town local pub in Swakopmund. Go there for the cold ones (don’t expect craft beer or gin) or honest pub grub. Kücki’s Pub is never empty and atmosphere is always welcoming!

BEST THINGS TO DO IN SWAKOPMUND FOR FAMILIES

54. Visit Swakopmund’s Aquarium: National Marine Aquarium of Namibia

You cannot miss Swakopmund’s Aquarium while strolling through the beach promenade. Pop in for a quick introduction to the marine life of Atlantic – especially if you don’t have time for a cruise!

Swakopmund’s Aquarium is the only one of its kind in Namibia. You can see sharks, sting rays, turtles, and many more fascinating Atlantic fish species.

Practical tips for visiting Swakopmund’s Aquarium:

• Be sure to visit during the feeding time (daily at 3PM). If you can, schedule your aquarium visit for Tuesday, Saturday, or Sunday when feeding is done by the divers.
• The coolest thing is a huge tank with a long tunnel, which gives the feeling that you’re surrounded with the scary beasts of the ocean.
• Don’t forget to visit upstairs, as well, to see the upper part of the fish tank. There are less crowds!

Opening times of Swakopmund Aquarium:
Tuesday-Sunday 10AM-4PM
CLOSED ON MONDAYS

55. Visit Living Desert Snake Park

Swakopmund’s Living Desert Snake Park is among family favorites in Namibia. It has 60 resident snakes (both venomous and invenomous) complimented with some chameleons, agamas, scorpions and other creatures.

Reptiles are frequently abandoned at their doorstep, including exotic, rare, and smuggled species. Please note that we haven’t personally visited Living Desert Snake Park but have heard about their good reputation.

56. Ride Camels or Horses in Swakop River Valley

Swakopmund Camel Farm offers short camel rides along Swakop River Valley for kids and adults alike (20 minutes for kids 100NAD/$6 and for adults 200NAD/$12).

Please note that we haven’t personally vetted the site, but locals have told us that it’s a reputable family business. Swakopmund Camel Farm is 12 km out of the city.

You can also go ride horses along Swakop River Valley. The stables of Okakambe Horse Trails are nearby the camel farm, also 12 km away from Swakopmund. Short rides span from one to three hours; also 15-minute pony rides are available for the kids (160NAD per 15 minutes). Long rides can take you to the stunning desert sceneries, where you can also spot wildlife if you’re lucky.

BEST GUIDED TOURS IN SWAKOPMUND

BEST DAY TRIPS FROM SWAKOPMUND

• Cape Cross Seal Colony and Skeleton Coast
• Spitzkoppe’s Rocky Mountains
• Pelican Pay for Cape Cross Seals, and Birds
• Cruise for Spotting Seals, Dolphins, Whales, and Birds
• Dune 7: The Highest Dune in the World
• Sossusvlei Desert and Deadvlei Pan
• Namib Desert: Welwitschia Plants, Desert Animals, and Moon Landscape
• Walvis Bay Lagoon for Flamingos
• 4×4 Tour to the Sandwich Harbor

BEST ADRENALINE ACTIVITIES IN SWAKOPMUND

• Sandboarding
• Quad Bike Tours in the Desert
• Skydiving upon the Namib Desert
• Horseback Riding in the Swakop River Valley
• 4×4 Self-Drive to Sandwich Harbor
• Surfing in the Atlantic (only for experienced surfers)

BIZARRE TOURS & SIGHTS IN SWAKOPMUND

57. Hunt Down Mad Max Filming Locations in Swakopmund and Around Namib Desert

Oh yes, “Mad Max: Fury Road” was filmed in Namibia, although it wasn’t planned so. The first Mad Max movies were all filmed in Australia, but before filming of Fury Road, rains turned the Outback green and flowery, bringing the filming crew to ever arid – post-apocalypse dystopia friendly – Namib Desert.

The scene where Imperator Furiosa’s (Charlize Theron) war rig fell apart was filmed on the salt pans near Walvis Bay called Paaltjies.

Blanky Flats near Henties Bay marks the filming location for the epic armada chase rides through the desert. You can go off-roading through the same desert landscape if you wish, although 4×4 vehicle is required.

The rest of the epic action scenes were filmed in Namib-Naukluft National Park (the canyon sceneries can be found near Welwischia drive) and Spitzkoppe. It’s easy to recognize the rocky silhouette of Spitzkoppe in the movie, and it was the location for some of the basecamps.

Wanna hang out in Swakopmund like Mad Max crew? Book a dinner table from Wreck!

Hungry for hunting down more filming locations? Namib Desert has set scenes also for The Mummy (starring Tom Cruise).

58. Check out Filming Locations of “2001: A Space Odyssey” and “10.000BC” in Spitzkoppe

A Space Odyssey’s “The Dawn of Man” opening sequence was filmed in Spitzkoppe, although most of the 1968 film was produced in the studios of UK.

Also Roland Emmerich’s 10,000 BC was filmed in Namib Desert and Spitzkoppe.

59. See the Old Prison (Alte Gefängnis) for the Chills

From outside, you wouldn’t believe that this impressive, ornamental colonial-era building was constructed and used as a prison. Guess what? It still houses a prison!

The Old Prison was built in 1909 and claimed as a national monument in the 70s. You can see similarities with the Old Court, which was built by the same German architect Otto Erlt. It might be the most beautiful prison building in the world!

For some odd reason, we love to visit old prisons when possible: check out our report of the famous Patarei Prison in Estonia here.

Please note that Alte Gefängnis is a working prison, so you don’t really want to get inside.

Address: Alte Gefänglis, Garoeb Street, Swakopmund (slightly off the old city)

60. Visit Old German Cemetery

Another quirky favorite of ours: cemeteries! Historical and old cemeteries are the best. If you have time, pop by the Swakop River to see the Old German Cemetery, dating back to the colonial era.

61. Photograph Skeleton Coast’s Shipwrecks (Nearest to Swakopmund)

Notorious Skeleton Coast proves its name in form of decaying shipwrecks that are peppered along the coastline north of Swakopmund. Zeila shipwreck nearby Hentiesbay is the easiest one to visit from Swakopmund: just drive north C34 from Swakopmund almost to Hentiesbay.

The photogenic Zeila wreck is visible from the road, appr. 14 kilometers before Hentiesbay. As many other wrecks, Zeila hosts Cape cormorants and other birds, making it even more enticing sight for photographers. There’s a fake skeleton in sand at the site and always a couple of locals selling crafts.

Zeila makes a welcoming break if you’re driving through Skeleton Coast or from Swakopmund to Spitzkoppe or Damaraland. We’ve visited the site trice: it’s a nice stop for photographers.

BONUS: WHAT NOT TO DO IN SWAKOPMUND: SKIP THESE SIGHTS

61. Visit Uranium Mine

Whereas visiting uranium mines is not quite on our list, it’s possible to visit Rössing Uranium Mine in Swakopmund. Tours are organized by Swakopmund Scientific Society on first Friday every month.

Uranium was first discovered in the Namib desert in 1928, and the country’s first uranium mine Rössing Uranium was launched in 1976. Nowadays, Rössing produces 4% of world’s uranium oxide. Namibian government is one of its shareholders.

Please note that we don’t support mining, as it affects environment and the health of the miners. We haven’t and wouldn’t visit the mine ourselves.

62. Questionable Colonial Monuments in Swakopmund

Due to the colonial history, there are some questionable monuments in Swakopmund – and in Namibia – that represent colonialism and racial oppression.

The Marine Memorial (Marine Denkmal) in Swakopmund is an unfortunate example of these remnants of colonialism. It’s a statue of two German soldiers, one with a rifle in hand and another fallen, built in 1908 as a monument of Germany’s suppression of Namibia’s Herero and Nama people under colonial rule.

Between 1904 and 1908, the German Empire killed appr. 80% of Herero and half of Nama people in the Herero wars. The bloody period is also better called the first genocide of the 20^th century or Herero and Nama genocide. Here’s an interesting article about Herero and Nama genocide and its aftermath.

How to Get to Swakopmund

Getting From Windhoek to Swakopmund & From Swakopmund to Windhoek

Most tourists travel to Swakopmund from Windhoek, the capital of Namibia.

Driving is the most popular way to get from Windhoek to Swakopmund, and it offers stunning sceneries. If you’re planning to rent a car in Namibia, you’re probably driving from Windhoek to Swakopmund. Many tourists and business travelers opt to fly, but we’ll describe below why it’s not necessarily the best idea.

Getting from Windhoek to Swakopmund by a Car or Shuttle

The drive between Windhoek and Swakopmund takes around 3,5-4,5 hours depending on traffic, weather, and your car. Bizarre fact: Namibians like to calculate distances rather in hours than in kilometers.

Shuttles between Windhoek and Swakopmund are a convenient, affordable, and ecological way to cut the distance (compared to flying). We’ve used several shuttle companies for the Windhoek-Swakopmund leg, and can only recommend Swakopmund-based Welwitchia Shuttle Service. http://welwitschiashuttle.com/ Luckily, they are also among the cheapest shuttles that you can be between Swakopmund and Windhoek.

Getting from Windhoek to Swakopmund by Plane

Flying from Windhoek to Swakopmund is an easy option in theory. AirNamibia has one daily flight between Windhoek and Walvis Bay (Swakopmund doesn’t have its own airport). The flight takes only 40 minutes and offers beautiful sceneries.

We’ve done it twice for the speed but would recommend to think twice before booking. Getting to the international airport in Windhoek (Hosea Kutako) takes time (reserve at least one hour and prepare to pay at least 300NAD per person one-way for the taxi). Same thing goes with the taxi or shuttle from Walvis Bay airport to Swakopmund. Add at least 2-hour waiting time at the airport and frequently delayed flights. Thus, driving (or a shuttle) can be quicker and more hassle-free option between Windhoek and Swakopmund than flying.

In theory, you can also take a train between Windhoek and Swakopmund, but it would be even slower than driving.

Helpful Tips for Visiting Swakopmund

• Pack warm layers for chilly nights, especially during the winter months (April to October)
• Pack a rain jacket (Swakopmund can be foggy and rainy like London)
• Check all the available activities, sights and day tours from Swakopmund before deciding how many days you will spend in Swakopmund. Many tourists reserve too short time for visiting Swakopmund and don’t have enough time for all the exciting day trips!
• If you stay just one day in Swakopmund, it’s hard to squeeze in a day tour, unless you skip some of the main sights in the city (or rent a bike and prepare to have a hectic day: check out our suggested one day itinerary at the beginning of this article)
• Book your accommodation from the center (unless you have bikes to explore the city as locals or a rental car)

Swakopmund Facts

Swakopmund is fourth biggest city in Namibia, after Windhoek, Rundu, and nearby Walvis Bay. It’s a capital of Erongo district.

Swakopmund’s population hovers just under 45 000.

Swakopmund FAQ

What Does Swakopmund Mean?

The word Swakopmund means “mouth of Swakop” in German, referring to the fact that Swakop River flows to the Atlantic at the southern point of the city.

Name “Swakop” is adapted from the indegenous languages of Damara and Nama, where it was called Tsoaxaub.

Bizarre fact: “tsoa” means opening or anus and “xaub” means excrement. Tsoaxaub describes the muddy discharge that the river releases to the Atlantic during the rainy season. The first adaption of the Nama word was “Swachaub”, which was turned into Swakopmund in 1896, when the district was declared independent.

How Old is Swakopmund?

Swakopmund was founded in 1892 as the main harbor of German South West Africa, as a competitor to British owned Walvis Bay.

Who Founded Swakopmund and Who Were the First Settlers?

The founder was German Schutztruppe captain Curt von François. The first settlers were 120 German soldiers and 40 civilians.

Which is the Best Time to Visit Swakopmund?

Always! Swakopmund is a year-round destination.

Summer months (November to April) are the best time to visit Swakopmund if you enjoy pleasant summer weather with the highest day temperatures from 23C to 30C. December, January and February are the hottest months in Swakopmund.

Winter months (May to October) are the best time for wildlife watching in Namibia and thus popular tourist season. Winter brings relatively cold weather to desert and the cities on Atlantic coast (Swakopmund and Luderitz). During winter, daily high temperatures in Swakopmund hover around 20C and the night temperatures can drop under 10C.

In our opinion, Swakopmund is at its best during Namibian summer months, when temperatures are warmer and you can (almost) comfortably plunge into the Atlantic to cool off!

We fell in love with Swakopmund so badly that we extended our supposed vacation into 2-month stay – and ended up returning twice! Swakopmund has so many exciting sights, activities, and things to do for all travelers, that we recommend to double your planned stay. If you have visited this lovely coastal town, please let us know in the comments your favorite things to do in Swakopmund!

Helsinki Christmas Market is the oldest and largest holiday market in the Finnish capital, and has been listed among the best Christmas markets in Europe. During the last years, Helsinki has turned into a magical Christmas destination with no shortage of festive things to do, from Christmas saunas to ice skating and other winter activities. To crown it all, Helsinki is full of smaller and lesser-visited Christmas markets to explore and get your Yule spirits high! What could be a better place to meet Santa Claus than his home country!

The Best Christmas Market in Helsinki: Helsinki Christmas Market, Senate Square (a.k.a. ”Tuomaan Markkinat”)

Conde Nast Traveler, The Guardian, and Evening Standard have all ranked Helsinki Christmas Market among the best Christmas markets in Europe. It’s hands down our favorite holiday market in Helsinki, and the oldest and biggest Christmas market in the Finnish capital.

What makes Helsinki Christmas Market So Unique?

Conde Nast Traveler praises the perfect mix of old and new: from traditional Christmas delicacies and carols to trendy street eats and quirky happenings. Count in holiday outfit contest for dogs, circus, karaoke, and many free events during December.

The Guardian calls Helsinki Christmas Market “the fairytale festivities”. The setting in the historic Senate Square, by Helsinki’s official Christmas street, is fabulous indeed. Wooden huts are framed by the traditional Christmas lights of Aleksanterinkatu and four stunning neoclassical buildings designed by Carl Ludwig Engel: the cathedral of Helsinki, the Government Palace, the National Library of Finland, and the main building of the University of Helsinki.

Picture light snowfall upon the wooden huts during the long blue hour of Finnish winter and fairytale-lit traditional carousel in the middle of the market. This Christmas market waves its magic wand over the center of Helsinki – and behold, everything is softer and Christmassy!

The Food, Drinks, Gifts, and Crafts of Helsinki Christmas Market

You can find almost everything for the festive season in Helsinki Christmas Market: traditional, high-quality handicrafts and Christmas ornaments, Finnish design gifts, hand-made candles, and Christmas delicacies. If you still don’t have traditional woolen mittens or socks, you’ll find them here. If you haven’t yet tasted Finnish take on mulled wine called glögi, sample through different variations while you’re browsing through more than a hundred wooden huts (last year glögi came in 10 different infusions from spruce sprout to apple).

Shop organic Christmas delicacies, wild honey and wild game products, Karelian pies, mustard, sausages, dry meat, smoked fish and gravlax, cinnamon buns, Christmas cakes, artisan chocolate, or fudge. At least, take advantage of the free samples throughout the market. Tasting tip: the fudge stands are our favorites, but I wouldn’t resist the chocolate stands either.

Many legendary Finnish restaurants and street food chains have their own stands at Helsinki Christmas Market. Food options vary from traditional Christmas food to contemporary street eats, from sausages to creative vegan dishes.

There’s also an atmospheric heated café bar serving Finnish Christmas beers, wine, snacks, cakes, and traditional ginger cookies. It has become our new Christmas tradition to sit down behind the glass windows to observe the Christmas Market and its old-fashioned merry-go-round. We love the fact that nowadays you can sip high-quality craft beers and wines while watching the winter wonderland of urban Helsinki.

The Traditional Carousel of Helsinki Christmas Market

Beautiful, traditional carousel in the heart of Helsinki Christmas Market steals the show. Kids love the free rides on wooden horses, and also adults are welcome to take a ride. Carousel is the perfect spot for those Christmassy Instagram images from Finland, whether you’d fancy a photogenic ride or just a stunning picture of the carousel, Christmas market huts, and the white Helsinki Cathedral in the background.

After a couple of years of rehearsal, I’m proud to say that Helsinki Christmas Market is finally the most beautiful Christmas Market in Finland. The unique setting in Senate Square, in the shadow of the white cathedral and around the statue of Emperor Alexander II, is part of its spell. People from Turku probably disagree, as Turku’s traditional Old Great Square Christmas Market is probably the most famous Christmas market in Finland – Finnish Declaration of Christmas Peace has been done at Turku since 13th century.

Helsinki Christmas Market is called Tuomaan Markkinat in Finnish (St. Thomas Market), and it’s held in Senate Square, in the center and historic area of Helsinki. Helsinki Christmas Market is usually open 6.-22.12. from Tuesday to Friday 11 AM t o 8 PM and Saturday to Sunday from 10 AM to 8 PM (please check this year’s specific opening times from their website). Helsinki Christmas Market is unfortunately usually closed on Mondays.

Santa Claus visits Helsinki Christmas Market on weekends. 

Address: Senate Square, Aleksanterinkatu (in the center of Helsinki)
Official website: tuomaanmarkkinat.fi

Vanhan Joulutori Christmas Market

Vanhan Joulutori is a cozy Christmas market held at Old Student House (Vanha Ylioppilastalo). It’s the best market in town for buying Christmas ornaments and artisan gifts. Café serves Finnish mulled wine (glögi), snacks, and even lunch.

Address: Mannerheimintie 3 (in the center of Helsinki) 

Ornamo Design Joulu: Design Christmas Market at Helsinki Cable Factory

Three-day design Christmas Market at Helsinki Cable Factory showcases Finnish design, fashion, and ceramic art in early December.

Address: Kaapelitehdas, Tallberginkatu 1 

Korjaamon Joulumarkkinat (Korjaamo Xmas Market)

The official Christmas Market season kick-off, Korjaamo’s Xmas market, is held in the old tram hall of Korjaamo Culture Factory in in early December.

Address: Töölönkatu 51

Teurastamo Christmas Market

One of the locals’ favorite, Teurastamo Christmas Market, has been growing each year and will no doubt break its records again this year. Old slaughterhouse (teurastamo in Finnish) is a creative urban space with lots of artisan food makers, from a pasta factory to craft chocolate, ice cream, and coffee. Thus, this merry holiday market offers a delicious mix of food and craft stalls, combined with fun events, music, and workshops.

Teurastamo Christmas market is open usually for one weekend only in mid-December.

Suomenlinna Fortress: Christmas at the Fortress

Our favorite from the smaller-scale Christmas events is the festivities in Suomenlinna fortress island, just 10-minute ferry ride from the center of Helsinki (South Harbor). Also museums and galleries have special Christmas program and themes, and local artists are selling their crafts – plenty of lovely gift ideas there, as well. Please check out their opening times, as they vary each year.

The first weekend of December marks the magical point in celebrations, as the Christmas trees of Suomenlinna are lit and the fun festive activity called Trail of the Fortress Gnome is launched for kids. Suomenlinna Toy Museum stays open whole Christmas season, except December 23-25.

What About Helsinki’s International Christmas Market?

Helsinki’s traditional take on Central European Christmas Markets is called International Christmas Market. We hope this huge holiday market will make a comeback in 2024!

Christmas time in Helsinki: Where to Go & What to Do

For foreigners, it’s not that easy to navigate in Helsinki during the Christmas time. As a Finn who’s originally from Helsinki, I share with you both the traditional things to do in Helsinki at Christmas and some of the best winter activities that fit perfectly for Christmastime.

Good news: most shops stay open during Christmas time, excluding Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. I’ll list the usual opening hours and other practicalities of Christmas time at the end of this article.

TRADIONAL CHRISTMAS THINGS TO DO IN HELSINKI

1. Drink Glögi, Finnish Mulled Wine

If you survived visiting Helsinki’s Christmas markets without tasting glögi, you still must do it! The original Finnish glögi is made with alcohol-free, spiced juice with vodka. 

Nowadays, we have also the “real mulled wine”, made from wine – and to keep things simple, it’s called glögi, as well!  

Finnish glögi is garnished with almonds for good luck and raisins.

2. Eat ”Pipari”, Finnish Christmas Gingerbread Cookies

Finnish gingerbread is the best in the world (I might be biased) – taste traditionally spiced up Finnish gingerbread called “pipari” and judge yourself.

3. Sample Finnish Craft Beers – Yes, We Do Have Christmas Brews!

Craft beer culture is getting bigger each year in Helsinki. Head to some of the best craft beer pubs in Helsinki to sample Finnish Christmas brews. Here are our favorites:

•  Kaisla: craft beer pub in Kaisaniemi, pretty near the main railway station. They have one of the best craft beer selections in town – both Finnish and foreign beers.
•  Pien Shop & Bar: a pleasant newcomer in Ateneuminkuja (behind Ateneum museum). Originally a craft beer bottle shop, this little pub has both amazing Finnish craft beer selection and atmosphere.
•  Bier-Bier: Slightly off the center, but near Esplanadi. Lovely setting in an old bank hall and a great, although changing selection. 
•  Teerenpeli: Finnish brewery pub in Kamppi, opposite the big Kamppi shopping center.

4. Celebrate St Lucia’s Day in Helsinki (13th of December)

If you happen to be in Helsinki on the 13th of December, go to see St Lucia’s Day celebrations in Helsinki Cathedral and Helsinki Christmas Market (Senate Square). 

St Lucia’s Day is a Scandinavian tradition, celebrated especially among Swedish speaking Finns. It’s a celebration of light during the darkest period of the year (a.k.a “kaamos” when sun doesn’t rise at all in Finnish Lapland). St Lucia (St Lucy) was a young Christian martyr who was killed in 304 by Romans. She was among the earliest Christian martyrs.

St Lucia’s Day is traditionally celebrated in schools and churches. The biggest celebration in Finland takes place in Helsinki Cathedral, from where a procession of white-clad girls with candles in their hands and heads descent down to the Senate Square. 

Similar St Lucia processions are done all over Finland. When we were kids, our schools had Lucia processions each year. Nowadays the majority of the celebrations are in the churches and town squares.

5. Go to Sauna: Christmas Sauna is an Old Finnish Tradition

If you haven’t been in sauna yet, now you can’t avoid it anymore! Christmas sauna is ancient Finnish tradition, which meant been both spiritual and physical purification.  

Helsinki has a wide range of public saunas if you can handle being naked with others. Some of the best traditional, wood-fired public saunas are Kotiharjun Sauna and Sauna Arla, which both date back to the 1920s. Although I must admit that both of them are a bit spartan for most of the tourists, but still Anthony Bourdain visited Arla and took a cupping session there! 

More tourist-friendly and spa-like saunas include Löyly and Allas Sea Pool: you can dip into the chilly Baltic Sea in both! 

If you want more privacy, rent an apartment with a sauna! It’s said that Finland has 3,2 million saunas (fact by Finnish sauna society) – and we only have under 6 million people! We used to have a sauna in our apartment in Helsinki and used it many times a week. 

Also, many hotel rooms come with a private sauna – or you can book a private sauna per hour in hotels or spas.

WINTERY THINGS TO DO IN HELSINKI FOR COUPLES

6. Ice Skating in Rautatientori (Central Square by the main railway station) 

Ice skating is both relatively new and ancient winter thing to do in Helsinki. In the past, people went skating on the Baltic Sea. Nowadays, we have a beautiful ice skating ring in the middle of the city center, which has made ice skating the favorite winter activity among tourists. Even locals love it!  

CHRISTMAS THINGS TO DO IN HELSINKI FOR FAMILIES

7. Meet Santa Claus – He’s From Finland!

You can meet and greet the real Finnish Santa Claus at Helsinki Christmas Market and many of the shopping centers during December. Did you know that Santa Claus is originally from Finland, and lives in Lapland? His ancient home is at Korvatunturi fell, although he can now be met all year round in Santa Claus Village in Arctic Circle (nearby Rovaniemi).

8. Marvel the Christmas Window of Stockmann

For decades, seeing the “Christmas Window” of Stockmann Department store has been among the winter highlights for kids. I still remember the excitement of seeing it the first time each December when I was a kid. The old-school Christmas display changes every year, but it usually includes Santa with his sleigh and many moving characters.

9. Share the Christmas time with the Animals of Korkeasaari Zoo

Whereas many sights in Helsinki are closed on Christmas Day, Korkeasaari Zoo stays open – although not even many Finns know that! In Christmas, Korkeasaari Zoo usually stays open on every day during the Christmas time, also on Christmas Eve.

For example, European bison stay outside in the snow in winter, among many other animals (brown bears are still hibernating in December). Check out the opening times and daily feeding times on Korkeasaari Zoo’s website. 

We don’t usually recommend visiting zoos, but visiting Korkeasaari is a pleasant and educational experience, and they do valuable conservation work.

10. Christmas Shopping in Helsinki: Best Shopping Centers, Department Stores, Boutiques, and Shops

Firstly, check out the boutiques and quirky shops in Torikorttelit nearby Senate Square and Helsinki Christmas Market. In Torikorttelit you can find everything from Finnish fashion and design to Lapland-style knives, old-time toys, traditional linen home textiles, and rare vinyls. 

Then, move on to the shops on Aleksanterinkatu, the official Christmas Street in Helsinki- and one of the best streets for shopping. Pop in Kluuvi Shopping Centre and Kämp Galleria Mall. The brand shops on Aleksanterinkatu include the famous Minna Parikka flagship store and Marimekko brand store.  

End your Aleksanterinkatu shopping spree in Stockmann, the largest department store in Scandinavia. If you love books, visit the adjacent Akateeminen Kirjakauppa (Academic Bookstore) for the biggest book selection in Helsinki.  

Walk through nearby Esplanadi Street for Finnish design shopping, there you can find, for example, Kalevala Koru jewelry, Aarikka, and Artek brand stores.

The best department stores in Helsinki include above mentioned Stockmann and Sokos in Mannerheiminkatu: add the latter to your Helsinki itinerary, as well. The best shopping centers are nowadays Kamppi (the biggest and newest one) and its nearby Forum, along with above mentioned Kluuvi and Kämp Galleria.

Christmas in Helsinki, Finland: Checklist for Opening Times and Practicalities

What are the Christmas Opening Hours in Helsinki?

Nowadays, Finnish shops and grocery stores are allowed to decide their opening hours independently. Unlike before, many grocery stores in Helsinki stay open all holidays.  

Traditionally, shops in Finland have been open on Christmas Eve until 12 PM and closed on Christmas Day. Most shops have reopened their doors on Boxing Day. 

Be prepared for the fact that most shops and restaurants in Helsinki are closed on Christmas Day. 

Christmas in Helsinki FAQ

Where I Can See Santa Claus in Helsinki?

You can meet Santa Claus every day in December in Helsinki’s Christmas markets and department stores and malls all around the city. Helsinki Christmas Market is among the best places to greet Santa Claus.

Is there snow in Helsinki at Christmas?

Yes, usually, we have white Christmas in Helsinki. The first snow arrives in Southern Finland usually during November or December the latest, wrapping the capital city in a white fairytale gown.

We’ll add more Christmas markets and Christmassy things to do for 2024 as soon as the events are announced. Please let us know if you’re favorite Christmas market or event is missing in the comments below. We’d love to extend this article into the ultimate guide of spending Christmas in Helsinki with all the Christmas markets and things to do around the city.

If you’re planning to explore the Colombian Amazonas, base yourself in Leticia and Puerto Narino for the best Amazon tours. Organize your Amazon adventures at the spot with local guides to help the local economy and support the indigenous tribes of the Amazon. Added bonus: you’ll get the most authentic Amazon experience!

Independent Amazon Tour is Cheaper and More Fun!

We prefer to venture off-the-beaten-path and plan our tours independently: Colombian Amazon was no exception. Follow our steps: fly in the border town Leticia in the Colombian Amazon and take a public ferry with locals to a tiny Amazonian ecovillage called Puerto Narino. From there, it’s easy to organize all kind of Amazon tours directly with local guides.

You’ll score both much cheaper Amazon tours and more authentic experience by staying in an indigenous village instead of a jungle resort. In Puerto Narino, you can stay in a nice hotel but at the same time make friends with indigenous people in the riverfront and small village restaurants!

Why are the Amazon Tours in Colombia Better Than Amazon Tours in Brazil and Peru?

Brazilian and Peruvian Amazon suffers from mass tourism, while Colombian Amazonas remains much more authentic.

Why? If you’re on a vacation in Colombia, it’s much harder and also slightly more expensive to get to the Amazon than from Brazil or Peru. Whereas you can take a ferry from Manaus (Brazil) or Iquitos (Peru) to the Amazon, you need to fly through Bogota to Leticia from all Colombian destinations. So, adding Amazon tours to itinerary in Colombia is not as popular as in Brazil and Peru.

Can You Do Colombian Amazon Tours From Brazil or Peru?

Want to hear a secret? Surprisingly, if you’re on holiday in Brazil or Peru and want to tour the less-crowded Amazon behind the Colombian border, it’s super easy! The border towns of all three countries (Colombia, Peru, Brazil) are clustered together in an area called Tres Fronteras (Spanish for Three Frontiers). This means that you can easily walk from country to another – just like walking through suburbs.

How to Do Amazon Day Tours From Colombia to Brazil and Peru

It doesn’t really matter in which country you start your Amazon adventure, as crossing borders is easy. You can even do Amazon day trips in certain areas without any border formalities, visas or passport stamps (from Colombian side all the way to Brazilian town called Benjamin Constant, generally within 80 km radius from Leticia).

TIP: If you’re doing a multi-day Amazon tour, remember to get your exit stamp to avoid borders problems. Check also whether you need a visa to enter Brazil (some nationalities need it; not for a day tour in Tabatinga but for longer stays).

Planning Amazon Tours: Step-By-Step Guide to the Colombian Amazonas

First, check out the flight schedule to the Amazon. If you’re staying in Colombia before your Amazon adventure, check the flights between Bogota and the only Colombian town with an airport in the Amazon, Leticia. If you’re coming from Brasil, check the flights or ferries into Tabatinga, the Brasilian counterpart of Leticia. From Peru, you should take a ferry from Iquitos to Isla Santa Rosa. If you’re coming from Colombia, flying in Leticia is the only option to get to the Amazonas.

How Many Days You Need in Leticia

Plan on spending at least two nights in Leticia before taking multiday Amazon tour, and preferably one day after your Amazon adventure. That way you can leave your heavy luggage to your hotel or hostel and take just a day backpack to the jungle trip. Many hotels also lend rubber boots so that you don’t need to buy or carry your own.

Beware Fake Amazon Tours in Leticia

One tip and word of warning for booking Amazon tours in Leticia: streets are full of opportunistic “guides” selling false tours. If you decide to skip Puerto Narino and make Leticia your base in the Amazon, we recommend booking the day trips through your accommodation or at least getting their approval for your chosen tour company or guide.

Take enough time to find an ethical, environmentally friendly, and safe tour operator. We can recommend booking Amazon day tours through the charming Amazon B&B Hotel, where we stayed.

Why We Chose Independent Amazon Trip to Puerto Narino

After chatting with several tour companies, checking their backgrounds and reviews from TripAdvisor, we decided to take an independent ferry trip to Puerto Narino and take Amazon day tours while staying in Puerto Narino. It’s a way cheaper option to explore the rainforest than Amazon tour packages and gives you the freedom to choose your guides in person.

We also found out that there were more than a handful of shady players doing tours in Colombian, Brazilian, and Peruvian Amazon, including guides who mistreat animals for the sake of a show for the tourists. Also, many jungle lodges seemed a rip off in terms of price and quality. Most rainforest lodges within one-day boat trip from Leticia (or Tabatinga or Isla Santa Rosa) are extremely basic and in a pretty rundown condition.

Organize Amazon Tours from Leticia 

It’s easy to arrange Amazon hikes and boat trips at the spot in Leticia, and the town has some quirky sights to keep you entertained. To get orientated, stay at least a couple of nights in Leticia eating your way through the Amazonian cuisine and taking day tours to the Amazon.

From Leticia, you can visit nearby natural reserves either on day trips or multi-day rainforest expeditions. You can also go kayaking or birding, and visit indigenous communities. Check out our article about all the fun things to do in Leticia – including different day trips to the surrounding Amazon! You might end up staying longer than you planned!

Book Your Independent Amazon Tours in Puerto Narino

I should add an exclamation mark in the title: we highly recommend that you book Amazon tours directly with local fishermen in Puerto Narino. We contacted several tour companies while planning our Amazonas adventures, but all of them fell short somehow – and the others hooked you up with the same local fishermen.

When you settle the price straight with the locals, it’s cheaper for you and the money goes straight to the pockets of your guide. All our indigenous guides were amazing: although they spoke Spanish and maybe a couple of words English, we understood each other well enough.

Best Tours in Colombian Amazon (From Leticia & Puerto Narino) 

We’ll list below examples of the most exciting tours in the Colombian Amazon to give you inspiration. Check out our things to do in Leticia article for full details!

• Short Amazon day hikes and night walks in Tanimboca Nature Reserve, Chacara da Coruja Reserve, and Reserva Natural Omagua
• Tarapoto Lake tour with pink and gray dolphins and walking trees (from Leticia or Puerto Narino)
• Monkey Island Tour (Isla de Los Micos)
• Zip-line and canopy tour in Reserva Natural Tanimboca
• Boat and fishing tours in Marasha Nature Reserve (Peru)
• Amazon night safaris (by boat or boat trips with short walks)
• Rio Yavari Amazon safari (day trip or overnight tour)
• Sacambu Lake dolphin tours
• Canopy tour in Omagua Reserve
• Kayak tours in Yahuarcaca Lakes
• Birding tours in the Amazon proper and its tributaries
• See the waterlilies in Victoria Regia Nature Reserve
• Visit the indigenous tribes and villages of the Amazon
• Jungle Survival Tours

Best Amazon Tours From Manaus, Brazil

I know, I’ve been hyping the Amazon tours from the Colombian side during the whole article. If your journey takes you to Manaus, you can, of course, book interesting Amazon tours starting from Manaus. The key for Brazilian Amazon tours is to have enough time to get out of the beaten path.

If you’re lucky to have one week for the Amazon tours and would like to sleep in a hammock learning some valuable jungle skills, consider this 6-Day Amazon Jungle Survival Experience starting and ending in Manaus. This tour ventures deep in the rainforest, unlike many others, showing you the real treats of the Amazon.

If you have 2 to 4 days for the Amazon tour from Manaus, check out these affordable tour packages in Anaconda Lodge, which take you off the beaten path but offer basic facilities in the jungle.

If you’re looking for an Amazon day tour from Manaus, check out this boat tour.

How to Choose Ethical Amazon Tours 

Unfortunately, many Amazon tours include unethical animal interactions, for example capturing alligators or caimans for the fun of tourists. Please read the tour description online before booking or ask enough questions from the tour company to make sure that the guides won’t harass wildlife.

What to Pack for Amazon Tours & What to Wear

Here’s a list of essentials for your Amazonas adventure:

• lightweight clothes for the hot and sticky weather: preferably t-shirts, tops, shorts/skirt, and long-sleeve shirts and convertibles or lightweight long pants for covering up for bugs, snakes, and other creatures
• waterproof hiking shoes or even rubber boots (you can find the latter in Leticia: the jungle is muddy)
• raincoat or another kind of rain cover, we also had waterproof pants
• long socks (for avoiding bugs and leeches)
• bug repellent (you can find it in Leticia)
• sunscreen
• day backpack for day trips and hikes
• torch

Where to Stay in Leticia, Colombia

We loved our stay in Amazon B&B, which is constantly listed as the best hotel in Leticia. Their rooms offer affordable yet chic accommodation. Bungalows with own verandas and hammocks are the most luxurious option. Breakfast is great, and the leafy garden soothes your senses in the middle of this mildly chaotic jungle town of Leticia.

Where to Stay in Puerto Narino, Colombia

We stayed in lovely Wayra Selva, which was recommended for us by our Colombian friends. It’s hands down the best hotel in town and still super affordable. We loved the view from our own little terrace. The room was clean and location excellent.

Where to Eat in Leticia & Puerto Narino

Eating out is also an exciting activity in the Amazon! In Leticia, we loved to dine at El Santo Angel’s terrace in the center, sampling casabes (local pizzas) and fresh fish. Tierras Amazonicas has rave reviews, but for us, El Santo Angel was the clear winner.

Restaurants in Puerto Narino are traditional and modest, but food can still be delicious. Try Las Margaritas by the football field (it’s where most tourists go) and the grill restaurant by the riverfront: we preferred eating with the locals in the latter. Also, the street food stalls in Puerto Narino offer tasty snacks. 

How to Get to Leticia & Puerto Narino, Colombia

If you’re coming from the rest of Colombia, the only way to get to Leticia, the capital of the Colombian Amazon, is by plane. Check our tips for finding cheap internal flights in Colombia.

All Amazon tours include boat transfers from Leticia. If you’re planning an independent Amazon tour and visiting Puerto Narino ecovillage, take a public boat from Leticia to Puerto Narino (2 hours). Book your tickets the day before to secure seats.

Have you been in the Colombian Amazon? Did you plan your Amazon visit independently? If you took guided Amazon tours, which were your favorites?

Balule Nature Reserve is a Big Five safari destination within Greater Kruger National Park, yet pleasantly remote and off-the-beaten-path. There are no fences between Balule and Kruger: wildlife is the same, but in Balule the safari experience remains more sublime. As Balule is a relatively new private reserve, there a just a dozen of lodges.

Get the Taste of Balule’s Private Wildlife Sightings

In Balule Reserve, you’ll have more private wildlife encounters than in Kruger National Park and many of the other reserves with the Greater Kruger. Self-drives are not allowed in Balule, and as there are just a handful of lodges, vehicles are few. Unlike in Kruger, you don’t have to compete over animal sightings with other tourists – and your guide can drive off-road closer to the wildlife.

What Wildlife Can You See in Balule Nature Reserve?

Game drives unwrap the exceptional and varied biodiversity of Balule. While bouncing on gravel roads over steep little hills and passing majestic rocky outcrops, keep an eye out for jackal families hunting, elephant herds and giraffes peeking out of the bush, lions resting in the shadows and leopards lurking in the koppies.

In flat lowveld woodland, elephants are pushing down mopane trees and warthogs trotting away with offspring in tow. Balule also hosts some rare species, such as honey badgers.

Olifants River pierces Balule Nature Reserve, providing a steady crocodile and hippo population and attracting herds of elephants, giraffes, buffalos, and waterbucks for a drink – especially during the dry season (June–August). Thanks to the perennial Olifants River, Balule has impressive birding.

What wildlife did we see in Balule Nature Reserve? Black rhinos, herds of elephants and buffalos, several jackal families with tiny puppies, lions mating, freshly born impalas, kudus, zebras, giraffes, different species of vultures, and a myriad of other birds. We didn’t manage to see leopards this time, but it was just bad luck, as the rainy season had just started and all animals were slightly harder to see than usually. Still, that’s a pretty impressive list for five days of game drives!

All photos in this post by Piritta.

Balule Nature Reserve Vs. Other Private Reserves in Greater Kruger National Park

Sabi Sand, Klaserie, and Timbavati are far more famous private reserves within the Greater Kruger National Park than Balule. We hadn’t even heard about this off-the-beaten-path reserve, which promised already that there wouldn’t be as many tourists around. That’s the main reason why we chose a safari in Balule Reserve – and you should do the same.

As a rising safari destination, Balule Nature Reserve has more affordable safari packages than other private reserves within the Greater Kruger National Park. Compared to Sabi Sand and Timbavati, Balule has also better budget and mid-range accommodation options.

Don’t get us wrong: we still encourage you to visit Klaserie, Timbavati, and other areas in the Greater Kruger National Park. All private reserves are unique and offer amazing and private wildlife sightings if you choose your lodge wisely. We loved our visit Klaserie and will write a separate story about it, featuring stunning leopard and wild dog sightings (there we had the luck!).

Still, if you need to pick just one place to stay in the Greater Kruger National Park, I’d recommend safari in Balule Nature Reserve. I’ll discuss the big and beautiful “why” in details in the chapters below.

10 REASONS TO CHOOSE BALULE NATURE RESERVE

1. Balule Nature Reserve is An Affordable Safari Destination

Compared to Klaserie and Timbavati, safaris in Balule Nature Reserve are more affordable. That means that you’ll get a better luxury or middle-range lodge for the same price – and there are some attractive budget-friendly options, as well (which are hard to find in Klaserie and Timbavati). The price-quality ratio in Balule Nature Reserve is simply better than in the more famous parts of Greater Kruger National Park.

2. See the Big Five in South Africa – Without Crowds

The Big Five – Lions, Elephants, Buffalos, Rhinos, and Leopards – is the bucket list for every safari-goer. As there are no fences between Balule and Kruger National Park, the Big Five roam freely in the area.

Many private reserves within the Greater Kruger National Park market themselves as the best place to see the Big Five in South Africa. In my opinion, choosing the best private reserve for you is a matter of taste. Take into consideration also other factors, which are discussed here. If you want to experience game drives without other vehicles around and appreciate private wildlife encounters, Balule Nature Reserve is hard to beat.

After countless of game drives, we don’t see ticking off animals as the ultimate safari goal, but it’s always exciting to observe big game in their natural habitat – and spot also new species outside the famed Big Five. In Balule, lack of other tourists makes game drives feel like a personal discovery.

3. Versatile Landscapes and Eco-system of Balule Nature Reserve

On game drives in Balule Nature Reserve, the landscapes keep changing quickly unlike elsewhere in the Greater Kruger National Park. The conserved area called Balule Reserve spans over 7.000.000 acres of woodland lowveld, which flora and fauna are among the most complex within Greater Kruger National Park.

4. Walking Safaris by Olifants River: Always Something to See!

Walking safaris in Balule Reserve usually pop by Olifants River, which invites animals to drink and makes wildlife spotting a lot easier. As a perennial river, Olifants offer relatively easy hippo and crocodile sightings, which makes walking safaris more rewarding.

We’ve been on many walking safaris and learned to accept the fact that you might not see any big game even after 3 hours walk in the bush. If there’s a river teeming with hippos and crocs nearby, you are almost guaranteed to see these animals relatively close by. In Balule Reserve, we were also lucky to observe elephants at a short distance. 

5. Birding by Balule’s Olifants River

Olifants River offers impressive birding with 250 recorded species. Thus, Balule Nature Reserve is one of the best places in South Africa for birding and bird photography.

Raptors and weavers are easily spotted at the riverfront. One of our favorite birds, the stunning lilac breasted roller, arrived last year in the Greater Kruger at the same time with us.

6. Off the Beaten Path Safaris in Grietjie Nature Reserve (Within Balule Game Reserve)  

World-famous Kruger National Park is more crowded than you could imagine, which was disappointing for us. In the remote corners of Greater Kruger National Park, it’s still possible to do game drives without seeing any other vehicles.

Grietjie Nature Reserve at the northern tip of Balule is just that unspoiled wilderness area that every safari-goer is dreaming about. Game drives unwrap the exceptional and varied biodiversity. While bouncing on gravel roads over steep little hills and by majestic rocky outcrops, keep an eye out for the elephants pushing down mopane trees, warthogs trotting away with offspring in tow, and big cats hiding in the shadows.

Grietjie Nature Reserve hosts some rare species, such as honey badgers, and has impressive birding with 280 recorded species. On our first game drive in Grietjie Reserve, we didn’t see any other vehicles.

To be able to experience Grietje Reserve, choose a lodge that has permission to do game drives there (such as Baluleni Safari Lodge).

7. Rising Eco-Tourism Safari Destination in Greater Kruger National Park

Many of the private reserves surrounding Kruger National Park are marketed as eco-tourism destinations. With eco-friendly lodges and sustainable practices, Balule is a lesser-known rising star.

Choose a nature-friendly safari lodge in Balule, which supports local conservation efforts and acts conservation-mindedly towards visiting wildlife. Check out chapter nine for our detailed recommendation.

8. The Winning Combination: Balule Game Reserve With Day Safaris in Kruger National Park

If you have only 3-5 days for a South African safari, combine Balule Game Reserve with a full-day safari in Kruger National Park. Thus, you get the taste of game drives in one of the largest – and most famous – game reserves in Africa.

It’s astonishing how much animals you can see within just one day in Kruger National Park. But it’s equally mind-boggling how many other vehicles and tourists you will see. We have visited many of the best national parks in Africa, such as Serengeti and Masai Mara, and weren’t still prepared to how commercial Kruger National Park is nowadays. For many safari tourists, it’s enough to visit Kruger National Park on a full-day tour, after which they can spend the rest of their safari in more pristine private reserves within the Greater Kruger area.

There are currently only two safari companies within Balule Reserve, which have a license to organize Kruger day safaris in open vehicles – and Baluleni Safari Lodge one of them. We tried them both, and state whole-heartedly that the guides, safari vehicles, and the level of service of Baluleni are unrivaled.

9. Baluleni Safari Lodge: Hidden Gem in Balule Nature Reserve 

For us, picking the right safari lodges in Balule Nature Reserve made all the difference. If you’re searching for affordable and authentic South African safari experience, you cannot go wrong with Baluleni Safari Lodge.

Baluleni combines old-world South African hospitality with the ultimate attention to details, pushing the boundaries of a conventional safari lodge. The value of their safari packages is outstanding – and the level of service unheard-of in this price range.

Remote Boutique Lodge in the Wilderness of Balule Reserve

Firstly, the location of Baluleni is ideal for those seeking tranquil safari experience away from the crowds. Baluleni lies by the bank of Olifants River, at the end of long and winding little gravel road that climbs over bushy hills and descends to the valley with a dry river bed. We used to see many animals just by their private road.

When we arrived, a fresh impala kill awaited at the center of their well-manicured garden, posing intriguing questions of what had happened there in the night before. You will stay in the middle of the wilderness, in the Big Five area. There are no fences around the property – and that makes every moment exciting. You can see anything from your tent, chalet, or lunch table.

Baluleni Safari Lodge has only five chalets and two safari tents overlooking the riverine landscape. This creates a sense of seclusion and intimacy.

Heartfelt Safari Experience

In Baluleni Safari Lodge, you are treated as both a VIP guest and a family member. That’s a rare skill, which only a few safari lodges that we’ve visited have mastered (and usually, the successful ones have charged ten times more than Baluleni).

The atmosphere is casual, dinners are among the best we’ve had in South Africa, and service is always heartfelt. The owners, Elke and Evert, connect with each guest and share their stories over dinners like old friends. The safari experience is effortless and delightful at each moment.

Your days just flow in Baluleni, from morning game drives with bush coffee breaks to multi-course breakfasts, chilling at the pool with visiting elephants, spontaneous river walks to spot hippos with the owners, to casual lunches at the restaurant and evening game drives in the bush. I’ll address the most magical part, boma dinners, and stargazing, in a separate chapter below.

Everything is smooth and easy for the guests thanks to the invisible but extremely efficient mode of operation. Even the reservation process is smooth: no other lodge has ever provided me with as quick, helpful, and in-depth email answers as Baluleni.

Good Wildlife Conservation Policies

Still, we appreciate most of Baluleni’s true conservation-mindedness. When elephants raid their beautiful garden, they watch lovingly the precious creatures and tell guests how they are taking care of the ecosystem – not destroying their garden but helping the bush and other creatures. Like Evert puts it, elephants have been designed to keep bush open and help it to fight against erosion.

The owners take an open stand against wildlife interactions, which are unfortunately widely available in the Greater Kruger and Hoedspruit area. Elke and Evert are among the most good-hearted and animal-loving persons we’ve ever met. We even saw how they talked over guests who were interested in doing elephant interaction at the end of their safari.

What animals can you see in Baluleni Safari Lodge?

Baluleni’s resident elephants are getting famous thanks to continuous Facebook updates. We were lucky to witness a rare event of warthog eating an impala at the yard while having our first lunch. We saw baboons, warthogs, and impalas crossing the yard on every day of our stay.

The chalets are at the bank of Olifants River, meaning that you might share the pathways with hippos. They’ve had big cats on the property, as well. We listened to the lion roars while savoring multicourse dinner at the outdoor boma.

Balule Nature Reserve is the Big Five area, and Baluleni Safari Lodge doesn’t have fences. So, you can encounter any wild animal at the lodge but fear no more. After dark, guides escort you to the chalets and tents.

Rare Treat: Honey Badger Eating a Scorpion at Baluleni Safari Lodge

Yes, it’s disturbing and among the “to die for” wildlife encounters which have happened at the property of Baluleni Safari Lodge. We still cannot believe that the death-defying honey badger can eat venomous snakes and scorpions! It gets even weirder with these badass creatures, as they use the venom to boost their immune system: think of it as a venom vaccine. Check out the video below (courtesy of Elke Van Eeden/Baluleni Safari Lodge) for the rarely seen, incredible encounter!

10. Boma Dinners and Stargazing in Balule Nature Reserve

South Africa and Namibia offer the best stargazing spots in Africa. The distant corners of Balule Nature Reserve are far away from the light pollution of modern civilization. Even the nearby towns are small and as the lodges are few, the night skies lit up with bright constellations. We’ve experienced better stargazing only in Namibia.

The most memorable boma dinners of our Greater Kruger safari tour were in Baluleni Safari Lodge. Nothing beats listening nearby lion roars under a blanket of stars, around the dancing flames. In Baluleni, the campfires are even more magical than usual, as Evert’s secret recipe keeps fiery blue flames flickering through the night. Elephants are frequent guests in Baluleni’s boma dinners, peeking their trunks across the wooden enclosure (called boma in Swahili), which is designed to protect the camp.

Best Times to Visit Balule Nature Reserve (For Safaris & Wildlife Watching)

Balule Nature Reserve can be visited year-round. Each season has its pros and cons. Generally, wildlife watching is excellent throughout the year in the Greater Kruger National Park.

Dry season (from May to September) is officially the best timing for wildlife watching in Balule Reserve and the Greater Kruger National Park as a whole. It’s winter time in South Africa, which translates into pleasant weather in otherwise hot Kruger area with virtually no rain. Visibility is better than in summer months due to thinner vegetation. Bring a jacket for early morning game drives.

Summer months (October to April) mark the wet season in Balule and the Greater Kruger National Park. The rain patterns have varied during the last years (it’s been the worst drought in the history of Kruger National Park), so the division isn’t that clear anymore. Summertime brings lush vegetation and baby animals.

We loved our visit to Balule Reserve last December, at the beginning of the rainy season. We witnessed the first rains: how bush candles burst in white and purple flowers, stunning migratory birds returned, impalas gave birth, and tons of baby animals posed for our cameras. We felt privileged to see how quickly the first rains transformed the barren scenery into a fragrant flower garden.

How to Get to Balule Nature Reserve

Getting to the Balule Nature Reserve is easy. Most tourists take a shuttle or internal flight to Hoedspruit. Balule Reserve lodges can pick you up from the airport or shuttle drop off locations. Depending on your lodge, some shuttle companies even offer door-to-door rides.

Johannesburg to Balule Nature Reserve (Through Hoedspruit)

Daily shuttles from Johannesburg to Hoedspruit take around 6 hours and cost around R500-1000. There are morning and afternoon shuttles available.

Flying is the most convenient and scenic way to travel from Johannesburg to Hoedspruit. The flight takes around one hour.

A rental car allows you to take the Panorama Route on your way from Johannesburg to Hoedspruit (highly recommendable if you have time). Also some safari companies offer transfers through Panorama Route and Blyde River Canyon, which makes the long journey more rewarding.

Driving from Johannesburg to Hoedspruit (450km) takes around 5 hours without breaks. Add 0,5–1 hour more for reaching your lodge in Balule Nature Reserve, depending on the location.

Durban to Balule Nature Reserve (Through Hoedspruit)

Durban is 10 hours drive from Hoedspruit. Unless you have your own car and can split the journey in half, I’d recommend flying between Durban and Hoedspruit. You can also fly to Johannesburg and take a shuttle to Hoedspruit.

Cape Town to Balule Nature Reserve (Through Hoedspruit)

Fly from Cape Town to Hoedspruit and negotiate a pick-up service from your Balule Nature Reserve lodge.

Have you been on a safari or in the Greater Kruger National Park? Would you pick Balule Reserve for your next safari destination? Please share your thoughts in the comments below. Our visit in Balule Nature Reserve was hosted by Baluleni Safari Lodge but, as always, all opinions remain our own.

While exploring the laidback Caribbean coast of Colombia, be sure to check out these fun activities and things to do in Cartagena! We list the best places to eat and drink, the coolest day tours, the must-see sights and quirky attractions within the walled city and up-and-coming Getsemani. Let’s get the party started!

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1. Stroll Through Muelle Turistico to the Clock Tower and Main Gate of the Old City

Find your way to Muelle Turistico, a boulevard leading to the Old Cartagena from the new city where you learn to say “no” to overly enthusiastic street vendors.

Walk towards the yellow clock tower called Torre de Reloj, which marks the main entrance to the Old City of Cartagena. The clock tower is the first stop for taking those iconic photos of Cartagena – and a starting point for getting lost in the maze of old alleyways! 

2. Get Lost in the Streets of Old Cartagena de Indias (Independent Walking Tour)

Undeniably the best thing to do in Cartagena is to roam the cobbled streets of Old Town aimlessly. Getting lost is a part of the experience, so just walk through the main gate and forget the map.

Let the Old City unfold by itself, one alley at a time. Pop in galleries, cafés, bars, and quirky shops. Don’t worry about finding the best spots quite yet, we’ll get to that later. Just breath in the atmosphere, take photos, and enjoy the colorful colonial city vibes!

3. Get Orientated on a Walking Tour Around the Old City

After your independent walking tour, you’ve already passed by many of the major sights of the walled city. Now it’s time to deepen the experience!

Join one of the walking tours and follow a local guide for a couple of hours. Be amazed by the history and little details that slipped your attention. Knowledgeable local guides make all the difference: forget the guidebooks.

There are excellent free walking tours of Cartagena but remember that you’re always supposed to tip anyway. Tours are available in English and Spanish, and there are also bike and Segway tours. If you wish to book in advance, check out this walking tour.

4. Explore Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas (San Felipe Castle)

Spanish fortress called Castillo de San Felipe is the most famous sight of Cartagena and shouldn’t be missed. Looming over the city, it’s luckily hard to miss. Take a short walk past Getsemani to the root of San Lazaro hill and climb up to explore the walls and dark tunnels of this 1600th-century castle.

The views across the harbor of Cartagena are photogenic – Don’t forget your camera!

5. Take a Boat to Tierrabomba Island for Photo Opportunities

The short local boat trip to nearby Tierrabomba Island is an exciting activity in itself. Enjoy fantastic photo opportunities as the boat leaves Cartagena behind. This a local way to travel – fun and cheap!

Finding the right boat is an adventure in itself. Follow the pier from Muelle Turistico and ask from locals where to find a water taxi to Bocachica (a small village on Tierrabomba).

6. Visit Fuerte de San Fernando de Bocachica (Fort San Fernando)

San Fernando fort is our favorite sight in Cartagena. Take a boat to Tierrabomba (check out the previous activity) and hire a guide from the tiny port of Bocachica when you arrive in Tierrabomba. Your guide will walk you through the village telling about the strategic meaning and history of San Fernando Castle, which used to guard the entrance to Cartagena.

Plan to explore the fortress at least for an hour: Visit vaults that served as food storage, chapel, gunpowder storage, artillery, and officer’s barracks. Climb up to the roof to photograph the view towards Cartagena and Bocachica village through the cannons. Some of the vaults are pitch-black and have bats: take a flashlight.

The 18^th-century Spanish fort has also served as a prison. Your guide will pour amazing stories from the eventful history – I won’t spoil the fun here!

7. Get Sun-Toasted with Locals and Sip Tropical Drinks at Beaches of Tierrabomba

The best beaches on Tierrabomba are at the northern tip of the island and they’re all cleaner and less crowded than the mainland beaches of Cartagena. We recommend the gorgeous Bomba Beach, which overlooks the skyscrapers of Bocagrande.

You can also stay overnight in Tierrabomba: we recommend Blue Apple Beach House and Hotel Fenix Beach Cartagena. Bombastic Hostel is your best bet for a lower price and gets raving reviews.

Tips for visiting the beaches of Tierrabomba: Beware boat scams and fake guides selling the tours at the port. Tourists report scams where they are sold all-inclusive beach packages but in reality, the price includes only one-way boat trip and everything else is charged separately at a hefty price.

We recommend booking a legit day tour or visiting Tierrabomba independently. You can take the water taxi from Muelle Turistico to Bocachica and visit San Fernando fort (check out the previous activity) and haggle a cheap mototaxi ride from Bocachica to the northern beaches of Tierrabomba. From there, book a boat back to Cartagena (your guide will help to do it at a local price).

8. Visit El Totumo to Bath in a Mud Volcano

Visiting Totumo Volcano is among the most fun things to do in Cartagena – slightly weird and intimidating, yet hilarious and even healthy! Climb a staircase to the top of a volcano cone and descend the ladder to take that sulfur-smelling mud bath with other enthusiasts.

It’s easiest and cheapest to visit El Totumo mud volcano on a guided tour which includes 1-hour transfers from Cartagena – unless you have your own wheels.

9. Spend Evening at Plaza de la Trinidad and Walk Around Getsemani Neighborhood

Plaza de la Trinidad is one of the best places in Cartagena to spend a relaxed evening. Grab a beer, lemonade, or cheap street eats from the street vendors and sit at the stairs of Iglesia de la Trinidad, beautiful church in the center of the square. There are usually street performances or at least kids playing around. Lovely terraces are perfect for early evening drinks or beer and

Walking around colorful Getsemani neighborhood is the second best thing to do in Cartagena, if you ask me, right after getting lost in the walled city. Getsemani feels authentic and fresh after the walled city, it’s hipster and cool, but still local and not too crowded.

10. Photograph Street Art in Getsemani

If you’re into street art like us, Getsemani area won’t let you down. Murals are plentiful, colorful, and varied. You can find the best spots independently by just walking around Getsemani, although there are also guided street art tours.

Tip: Go in the morning, preferably on Sunday, to beat the crowds and see most of the murals when the shops are closed.

11. Find the Best Café in Cartagena

Drinking premium Colombian coffee in Cartagena was so high on our wish list that we ended up touring the most cafes in town and listing the best coffee shops in Cartagena.

I’ll encourage you to try at least two different cafes during your holiday in Cartagena. Tiny Café San Alberto in the walled city has the best coffee in Cartagena if you ask me. The other highly recommended coffee house is Café del Mural in Getsemani. Check our coffee house list for the full caffeine dose!

12. Find the Best Cocktails in Cartagena

The coolest thing to do in Cartagena must be searching for the best cocktail in town. The cocktail scene in Cartagena is quite astonishing for its size, making it an excellent weekend destination.

Because finding the best cocktails is usually a matter of taste, this activity requires pleasant legwork from a terrace and bar to another. The best cocktail bars are in the Old City and Getsemani.

Alquimico translates into Alchemy and lives up to its name, whisking together just the right ingredients inside a stunning colonial mansion. From their “sensory experiments” menu, try at least Inquisition: in-house ginger rhum with rose salt, lime, and syrup. Doors open at 6PM and crowd gets wilder near the midnight.

For rhum cocktails, head to El Arsenal or legendary Café Havana if you’re planning salsa all night long (both in Getsemani). Cafe Havana is Cartagenian institution and famous for hosting celebrities, such as Hillary Clinton (doors open at 9PM, live bands start around 11PM). For speakeasy vibes inside the walled city, find El Baron.

Whatever you choose, don’t forget to taste the Espresso Martini or Boundless Russian in Boundless Mezcal Café which offers both kick-ass specialty coffee and cocktails.

13. Walk upon the Walls of Cartagena

Take a romantic stroll on the walls of Cartagena. Begin at the Plaza de las Bovedas.

The walls of Cartagena surround the Old City and stretch for seven miles and are dotted with fortifications and bastions. Walls were built to protect the city from pirate attacks. Construction began in the 16^th century and took almost 200 years.

Tips for visiting the walls of Cartagena: As there’s no shade from the sun, remember a hat and sunscreen. The best time is, of course, the sunset or sunrise. Don’t forget your camera! 

14. Watch a Sunset at Café del Mar – on the Wall of Cartagena!

Finish off your walk on the walls in Café del Mar, a cool bar on the walls of Cartagena. It’s the best place in the Old City to watch the sunset while sipping a tropical cocktail. The chill terrace of Café del Mar is popular among locals and tourists alike: get there well before sunset hour to get a seat!

15. Find the Best Ceviche and Sushi in Cartagena

You’re on the Caribbean coast, so eat fresh fish! Cartagena’s restaurant scene offers something for everyone: there are good steak restaurants and decent ethnic restaurants, but seafood is the star here.

La Cevicheria has been recommended for years as the best spot for, you guessed it, ceviche. Same goes with Senor Toro considering steaks (if you yearn for that option).

Nowadays there are a dozen sushi restaurants in Cartagena: Masaki Sushi Wok, Tabetai Sushi Bar, and Kokoa Sushi Wok are some of the best. Pick Peru Fusion for a sushi dinner date (also other creative dishes on the menu). 

16. Unwind in Book-Store Café

Abaco Café y Libros in the walled city combines coffee and books – who could possibly resist it? Abaco is a pleasant spot to take a break from the heat and shop your Gabriel Garcia Marquez copy. High ceilings are tapered with books from floor to the roof for some extra points from this bookworm.

17. Paddle Board, Kayak, Kitesurf, or Paraglide for Views to Cartagena

Stand-up paddleboarding lets you see Cartagena from yet another viewpoint. It’s fun and relaxed watersport that doesn’t require previous experience. Just rent a board and enjoy the sun!

Paragliding and kitesurfing are available for brave souls, as well as kayak rentals. LED-lighted Paddleboard Tour is among the best things to do in Cartagena at the sunset!

Check all the exciting watersport activities in Cartagena from here and airborne activities (including helicopter tours) from here.

18. Visit Famous Playa Blanca – Best White Sand Beach in Cartagena

Many people claim that Playa Blanca is the best beach in Cartagena – some even list it among the most beautiful beaches in Colombia. What you should know before planning a beach day is that Playa Blanca is not in Cartagena: going there takes 30-40 minutes by boat. It’s easiest to book a tour including boat transfers, although you can also haggle a taxi or use public transport to reach Baru peninsula (around two hours by bus and mototaxi combination or one hour by car).

Expect white sand and turquoise ocean, but be prepared to crowds and hawkers, especially during weekends. Plan to have a beach lunch at Play Blanca: fresh fish with coconut rice.

We recommend this full-day tour to Playa Blanca.

Tip: If you would like to have the beautiful, but often overcrowded Playa Blanca all by yourself, stay overnight! Tours leave at 4PM the latest, so the evenings are laidback. The only con: accommodation options are basic.

19. Take a Day Trip to Rosario Islands to Snorkel (Islas Rosario)

Searching for a tropical paradise in Cartagena? Take a day trip to Rosario Islands to snorkel in crystal-clear waters and unwind at Caribbean island retreat with a drink in your hand. Rosario and San Bernando Corals National Park is blessed with the largest and most diverse coral reef on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. The protected area includes Rosario Archipelago (Tesoro and Rosario Islands) and San Bernando Archipelago (Mangle and Maravilla Islands). In short, Corales del Rosario y de San Bernardo National Natural Park is the best place to snorkel near Cartagena de Indias.

Here’s the best Rosario Islands tour that we could find. Note that this tour includes catamaran trip from Cartagena to Rosario, unlike many other tours, which have a long bus transfer to Baru and just short boat trip to Rosario. Tour also includes non-alcoholic drinks, lunch, snorkeling equipment, and national park fees.

If you’d like to visit both Playa Blanca and Rosario Islands, this full-day tour is our favorite.

20. Drink Fresh Coconut Juice – Or Coconut Lemonade

Nothing beats a fresh, young coconut in a hot afternoon! Look for young, green coconuts for the best coconut water.

Coconut water is nature’s own sports drink, which keeps you hydrated on those hot summer days in Cartagena. Coconut water has more potassium than artificial sports drinks and loads of other healthy electrolytes and nutrients.

Tip for coconut lovers: Try also local coconut lemonade, which is sold in street stalls and almost all restaurants and cafes in Cartagena.

 21. Eat Street Food

Cartagena is a perfect place to sample Colombian street food. Grab cheese arepas and empanadas (pastries) from street carts, taste local lemonades, patacones (fried plantains), tamales (boiled yucca or taro wrapped in leaves), and all that good South American flair. Cartagena is a melting pot of cuisines, as it used to be the main port of Colombia.

Feel free to find the best stands by trial and error or take this awesome street food tour!

Foodie tips: Plaza San Diego in the Old City has the best arepas in town. Cartagena has the best patacones (fried plantains) in Colombia: they are double-fried and made with garlic. We recommend eating ceviche only in restaurants to avoid stomach issues.

22. Hop on Chiva, Colombian Party Bus

Whether you’d like to make new traveler friends or just dance crazily on a colorful wooden bus, hop on a Chiva bus! It’s among the craziest things to do for tourists: loud and tacky, but also rather cheap way to see the city and drink more than you should.

Afternoon tours take you to the main tourist attractions: think of hop on hop off tours with crazy local flair. Night tours include live music on board, open bar (aguardiente or rum), light snacks, and nightclub cover.

Chiva tours last 3-4 hours and can be booked through your accommodation or nearby Torre del Reloj.

23. Dance the Night Away in Salsa Bars of Cartagena 

Follow the beats and locals to find the best salsa spot in Cartagena. If you’d like actually to learn the art of salsa dancing, book a salsa bar hopping tour!

23. Dance the Night Away in Salsa Bars of Cartagena

Follow the beats and locals to find the best salsa spot in Cartagena. If you’d like actually to learn the art of salsa dancing, book a salsa bar hopping tour! 

24. Visit Tayrona National Park

Don’t miss Tayrona National Park when you’re in Cartagena! It’s among the most beautiful national parks in Colombia, with palm-fringed sand coves and hiking paths through lush rainforest.

You can rent a horse and gallop through the rainforest to the best beach, Cabo San Juan del Guia, or just walk leisurely and stop to snorkel and swim wherever you please. Check out our complete guide on visiting Tayrona National Park.

Although it’s possible to visit Tayrona National Park on a day trip from Cartagena, we’d recommend staying one night in Santa Marta area, closer to Tayrona National Park, to make the most of your visit.

Day trips from Cartagena to Tayrona National Park leave well before sunrise and return late. Day trips from Santa Marta to Tayrona are more convenient and allow more time in the park. It’s also possible – and rewarding – to visit Tayrona independently and stay overnight: check out our article for further tips.

25. Visit Inquisitor’s Palace (Palacio de la Inquisicion)

The headquarters of Spanish Inquisition in the Americas was in Cartagena. The castle-like colonial façade and Baroque entrance at the leafy Plaza de Bolivar hides a horrendous torture palace of Inquisition.

You can visit the House of Dungeons, where heretics were left to wait for their fate and see many torture tools, which were used to obtain confessions. During more than 800 trials, no-one was declared innocent.

Inquisitor’s Palace is among the most beautiful colonial buildings in Cartagena. Inquisitor’s guillotine stands in the beautiful yard reminding about the macabre past.

26. Climb to Convent of Santa Cruz de la Popa for the Best Views Over Cartagena

Visit a small nunnery for a raven’s view of Cartagena. Haggle a taxi to Convent of Santa Cruz de la Popa to pay respects to the patron saint of the city, la Virgen de la Candelaria and photograph the best view over Cartagena. I wouldn’t recommend the steep and rather uninteresting climb, because the weather is hot in Cartagena.

This 4-hour historic tour visits the main sights of Cartagena and La Popa Monastery – extremely convenient way to tour Cartagena if you’re short on time!

27. Take a Day Trip to Minca Mountain village

Tranquil Minca is a world apart from the bustle of Cartagena. Set in the lap of Sierra Nevada Mountains, Minca offers splendid sceneries and cooler climate than Cartagena. Go hiking, birding, or mountain biking, visit coffee and cacao farms, plunge into waterfalls and mountain streams, or just relax in cool hipster cafés that line the tiny main street of Minca.

28. Feed Pigeons with Locals at Plaza de Bolivar

Plaza de Bolivar is a haven from the sun and crowds inside the Old Town of Cartagena. It’s shaded by trees, soundtracked by four fountains, overlooked by Palace of the Inquisition.

Unlike its more popular counterparts, Plaza Bolivar is filled with local couples and families and doesn’t feel touristy, although it’s right at the center of the walled city. There are usually free seats left: linger awhile over a fruit bowl, ice cream or cup of coffee before continuing your walking tour through the Old City. Blend in by buying corn to feed the pigeons.

29. Grab a Fruit Salad From the Iconic Palenquera

Buy a fruit salad from palenqueras, widely smiling fruit sellers clad in colorful dresses. In a matter of seconds, these ladies chop a tropical feast on the bowl. The first palenqueras wait just outside the Clock Tower Monument.

Palenqueras of Cartagena have become cultural icons of Colombia. Taking photos requires a couple of dollars, but if you buy fruits, the photo opportunity is usually included in the deal.

Tip from a fellow traveler: Unfortunately, men sell better fruits from weary wooden carts.

30. Rub “La Gorda Gertrudis” (famous Botero sculpture) for good luck

Medellin and Bogota are famous for their Botero sculptures, but there’s one curvy beauty in Cartagena, as well.

Find your way to Plaza Santo Domingo in the Old Town and look for a huge bronze statue of a naked woman. Do as the Colombians: Rub La Gordita Gertrudis on the breasts or bum to guarantee good luck in love!

31. Visit the Gold Museum (Museo del Oro Zenu)

Almost all gold stolen from the Incas left South America through Cartagena. Even if you’ve visited the gold museum in Bogota, the small Cartagena Gold Museum might be worth a short visit to admire gold and pottery from Zenu people. The Gold Museum of Cartagena is practically located in the walled city, so it’s on your walking route anyway.

32. Find Your Favorite Church in Cartagena’s Old City 

The yellow tower and terracotta dome of Cartagena’s cathedral colors the iconic – and most photographed – street views of the Old City. Officially, it’s called the Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria.

The oldest church in Cartagena, Convent of Santo Domingo (Convento de Santo Domingo) is one of the favorites of visiting tourists. The atmospheric Plaza Santo Domingo has numerous terraces for al-fresco dining.

San Pedro Claver church and convent, aptly located in the Plaza de San Pedro Claver, is the among the most famous churches in Cartagena. The remains of Saint Peter Claver, a monk who defended the slaves of Cartagena, lie below the altar.  San Pedro Claver’s impressive baroque façade is hard to miss when you stroll in the old city of Cartagena.

The building works of all three above listed beautiful churches started already during the 16^th century. The old city of Cartagena is also full of lesser-known, quirky churches: Go find your own favorite!

33. Taste Local Candies at Plaza de Los Coches (Portal de Los Dulces)

Plaza de Los Coches (Square of Cars) is right by the Clock Tower. The name comes from a tradition to park cars by the candy stalls that populate the arcaded walkway below the gorgeous colonial balconies.

Portal de Los Dulces is still a good place to sample traditional Colombian sweets, pastries, and confectionary. You can also buy gift boxes of artisan sweets. 

34. Shop in Bazurto Market (Central Market of Cartagena)

Mercado Bazurto is loud and colorful. Go there for cheap street eats, crafts, fresh fruits and meat (unfortunately, also turtles are on offer). Bazurto Market is best visited on a guided tour and this tour is our favorite!

35. Visit Rafael Nunez House in Cartagena de Indias

Visiting Rafael Nunez’s House is an interesting cultural activity. It’s home to Colombian president, author, and journalist Rafael Wenceslao Nunez Moledo. Colombia’s constitution was signed at Rafael Nunez House in 1886. The house showcases 19th-century Colombian architecture and design.

Bizarre fact: Nunez is mentioned in “Love at the time of Cholera” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

36.  Cartagena’s Less-Visited Colonial Fort: San Sebastian del Pastelillo

Fort San Sebastian del Pastelillo marks the spot of Fort del Boqueron, the first fort in Cartagena. Nowadays, Fort San Sebastian del Pastelillo houses now a fish restaurant Club de Pesca.

It’s a perfect example of a colonial fortress and well worth visiting even if you’ve visited San Felipe Castle and Fort San Fernando. San Sebastian del Pastelillo is said to be the world’s largest colonial fortress built by the Spanish.

37. Swim in Castillogrande and Watch Sunset at Bocagrande Beach

Let’s get it straight: Bocagrande beach, Playa de Bocagrande, isn’t tropical paradise. It’s touristy, noisy, and dirty. But it’s also central, easy to visit, and the longest beach in Cartagena – and a good spot to watch the sunset.

Castillogrande is the best beach on Bocagrande peninsula: head there for an afternoon swim. It’s much more tranquil and clean than Bocagrande beach.

38. Visit La Boquilla, a Local Fishing Village – Go Fishing With Locals or Make Your Own Coconut Souvenirs!

While the fishing village of La Boquilla is well off-the-beaten-path, visiting can be a welcome change from the bustle of Cartagena. The village has so lovely beach that it’s lined with expensive condos and frequented by rich Colombians: check the next activity for beach hopping.

If you’re interested in fishing we recommend this fishing tour where you visit two lagoons and learn local fishing ropes using fish line, nets, and traps.

If you’re into cultural immersions, book Coconut Workshop and learn to make souvenirs from coconuts at a beach restaurant with “coconut ladies”. 

39. Beach Hop at Manzanilla del Mar (Near La Boquilla Village)

The area surrounding La Boquilla fishing village is called Manzanillo del Mar. It’s a popular beach hopping destination for locals: join the fun and search your favorite cove!

If you’re not into guided tours (check the previous and next activities), you can just take a taxi from Cartagena (30-minute ride) and enjoy a relaxed beach day at 3-kilometers long Playa Boquilla, where you can book kite surfing, canoeing or other activities. More tranquil coves can be found by walking or taking short taxi trips, but even Playa Boquilla feels serene after Cartagena. 

40. Canoe Through Mangroves

La Boquilla fishing village (check previous activity) is also a starting point for mangrove canoe trips into Cienaga de la Virgen mangroves.

To avoid extra hassle, book your trip in advance: this 3-hour tour includes taxi transfers and canoe trip with local English speaking fishermen.

41. Find Gabriel Garcia Marquez House in Cartagena Old City

If you’re into literature, finding Casa de Gabriel Garcia Marquez in the Old City is one off must-dos in Cartagena. It’s a private house nowadays but I still enjoyed tracking it down and seeing where Gabo used to live and write.

Where to Stay in Cartagena 

We stayed in Getsemani for the best price-quality ratio. Getsemani is just 5-minute walk from the Old City of Cartagena; it’s a pleasant area to walk around, dine and grab evening drinks – and feels much calmer than the tourist-filled Old City.

We stayed in Allure Chocolat Hotel By Karisma: a nice and affordable 4-star boutique hotel in Getsemani. Their Price-quality ratio was excellent for Cartagena, where hotels are pricier than in the rest of Colombia. If you’d like to invest slightly more, I’d recommend Tcherassi Hotel + Spa.

Check out all the hotels with reviews in Cartagena de Indias from here.

If you’re planning a trip around Colombia, check here our article about the best affordable boutique hotels in Colombia.

How to Get to Cartagena, Colombia (By Air, Road, and Sea)

Cartagena de Indias is one of the most popular places in Colombia, thus getting to Cartagena is easy by both air and road.

If you’re short on time and flying in Colombia, consider looking international flights to Cartagena instead of Bogota. Cartagena is just 2,5 flight away from Miami, for example.

Getting to Cartagena by Air: Cheap Flights Within Colombia

Most tourists pick return flights to Bogota, Colombia’s capital. And most tourists craft an itinerary where they either drive or take a tiring bus trip to Cartagena. Before choosing that option, check our tips for booking cheap internal flights in Colombia.

Flights to Cartagena from Bogota and Medellin are cheap and short. Flying is our favorite way of getting around Colombia’s mountainous terrain. You can book one-way ticket from Bogota to Cartagena for as low as $20!

Getting to Cartagena by Road: Rent a Car

Driving is relatively safe in Colombia; thus you can rent a car in Bogota’s airport and drive to Cartagena and other destinations at your leisure. Don’t plan to do it overnight, though.

The distance between Bogota and Cartagena is 1050 kilometers, and the drive can take anything between 10-20 hours. There are many lovely spots by the route, so consider splitting the journey if your schedule allows.

The distance between Medellin and Cartagena is a bit more than 600 kilometers, and the drive takes around 12 hours. Even locals avoid driving the mountain roads, as they are unpredictable. I’d recommend flying, especially if you’re short on time and can find affordable flight tickets (please check out our flight hacks in a separate article).

Getting to Cartagena by Bus from Bogota

Bus travel is relatively hassle-free and safe in Colombia. Downside: it’s painstakingly slow, and distances are enormous.

While it’s possible to take a bus from Bogota to Cartagena, you might not want to take the trip: it takes around 20 hours for the bus to crawl from Bogota to Cartagena. Consider flying or modify your itinerary so that you can split the bus trips. Also, the price of a bus ticket can be almost the same as the cheapest flight ticket.

Getting to Cartagena by Bus from Medellin

The same goes with buses from Medellin: although the trip is shorter, it’s still long and tiring. Night bus from Medellin to Cartagena takes around 13-15 hours.

Getting to Cartagena from Santa Marta (By Bus or Shuttle)

If you’re already on the Caribbean Coast, bus travel is easy and distances at least a bit shorter. Still, we preferred a shuttle between Santa Marta and Cartagena. Bus trip between Cartagena and Santa Marta takes around 5-6 hours. Door-to-door shuttles are just a tad more expensive, much easier and more comfortable – and usually 1-2 hours faster.

Have you been to Cartagena de Indias? Please share with us your favorite activities, restaurants, tours, and things to do in Cartagena!

Are three days enough for a safari in Kruger National Park in South Africa? It certainly is a short time to see all the vast park has to offer in wildlife and sceneries, but if you are short on time, it may be just enough if you know beforehand what you can expect on a 3-day Kruger safari. 


On a 3-day safari in Kruger, you will have a busy schedule depending on which side of the park’s boundaries you are staying. You can choose would you want to spend one or two days on game drives inside Kruger National Park and one day on the iconic Panorama Route. And you can also leave the Panorama Route off the schedule if you like, but it will offer a nicely different experience.

The Panorama Route Is One of the Highlights of South Africa

The Panorama Route is a classic car route in South Africa. It guides you through various, beautiful attractions such as the Blyde River Canyon, God’s Window, and the Bourke’s Luck Potholes.

You’ll go through some small towns like Graskop, where you should stop for legendary Harrie’s Pancakes, to have a taste of these said-to-be-delicious pancakes. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to make a pitstop here, but maybe next time.

The Bourke’s Luck Potholes are impressive formations of nature and a place you should definitely visit.

But the most spectacular sight is the Blyde River Canyon, which may be the world’s largest “green canyon.” Blyde River Canyon is the world’s third largest canyon which on a clear day offers kilometers of magnificent views over this nature’s wonder.

You can see all the main attractions of the Panorama Route in a day, but if you have more time, spend it – you will enjoy the sceneries even more.

Seeing the Iconic Safari Animals: The Big 5 on a Kruger Park Safari

The classic “Big Five” animals are the elephant, rhino, leopard, lion, and the buffalo. But would you guess which one of them is the most dangerous? I’ll give you a hint: it’s not the lion! If you don’t know, take your guess and I will tell you the correct answer at the end of this post.

Seeing any one of these animals in the wild is exhilarating and even addicting experience. When you are sitting on an open vehicle, and the animals can be only a few meters away from you, you will feel the excitement in your spine.

But don’t worry, you won’t be in any danger. The animals can’t see individual people; they only see the vehicle and its shape. But this is why you will always have to comply with the rules: never reach outside of your car to take pictures, etc.! Then it can get dangerous, the animals will then see you and not the vehicle, and you may become a target. So, always listen to your guide!

What is Enough Time for Kruger National Park Safari?

You could spend an endless amount of time on a Kruger Park safari if you have the time and money. Every day is different and every day will be a surprise on what you will see and what you will experience. When you only have three days for your Kruger National Park safari, you have to accept that what you will see will be much down to luck. 3-day Kruger safari is a short one, indeed, but it will always be better than not going at all and missing out on the opportunity to see wild animals.

However, I cannot guarantee that you’ll see lions, rhinos, elephants, or other big game animals on any specific game drive. They are called game drives for a reason – its always like a game to go out and trying to find wild animals in their natural habitat. I’ve been on game drives on which I’ve seen all of the Big Five and a whole lot more on one game drive only and then on ones which I haven’t seen much at all.

The safari guides will communicate through two-way radios and inform each other when and where they see the big game animals. But the distances are so vast in Kruger National Park that even that won’t guarantee that your guide will, for example, go after lions if they’re too far away from where you are.

But don’t let that discourage you! Kruger National Park is an icon, and it’s always worth the visit – even if you will have only one day at the park. The main roads are paved, and it’ll be easy to drive around. Off-roading is prohibited, but you wouldn’t even need to do that. You can see animals just at the side of the road sometimes.

Private Game Reserves in Greater Kruger Area or Just Kruger National Park Itself?

An area called the Greater Kruger surrounds the Kruger National Park. It’s formed by private game reserves like Klaserie, Timbavati, Balule, and such, and there are some grand private game lodges with excellent game viewing available.

These safari lodges range from budget-friendly to quite expensive, and you are not allowed to drive yourself inside the private reserves so the lodges will provide all the game drives, too. The guides are not allowed to cross borders to another private game reserve’s area, so you’re restricted to the one area on which you’re staying. This has some pros and cons.

We were able to see, for example, two honey badgers and one aardvark at one evening in one private game reserve! Aardvarks are extremely rare to see – even our guide who had worked for several years in that reserve hadn’t seen one before.

Then on another occasion, we saw a few wild dogs, but only as a short glimpse because they crossed the road which marked the border between two different private reserves and we couldn’t cross the border and follow them to the other side.

However, if you have the opportunity, visit both a private game reserve and the Kruger National Park itself. They are quite different worlds, and you will have an excellent overview of the area and its wildlife.

Our 3-Day Kruger Safari Experience

We had an action-packed and extremely informative 3-day Kruger National Park safari with Shinzelle Safaris. They have a lovely place to stay in Hazyview, and the drive to the gates of Kruger National Park took no more than about 45 minutes.

We also had the privilege to get a private safari, Niina and I had the car all by ourselves. When our Kruger Park safari day was at hand, it started at the first lights of the day when we headed straight towards the Kruger National Park. Even though we’ve been on many safaris already during recent years, every time, we are still as excited as if it were our first time.

Having A Good Guide On Your Kruger Safari is Vital

Kyro, our guide, had an extensive knowledge ranging from the millipedes and flora to the elephants and the environment in general and he eagerly shared his experience and expertise with us during our Kruger Park safari.

He told us things which we hadn’t ever heard before and his guiding style was remarkably different from the majority of safari guides with whom we’ve been on game drives before. His approach to guiding makes sure that you will get a very comprehensive safari experience.

As to borrow Kyro’s words, he doesn’t like to do “Ferrari safaris” – a term which is said about a game drive on which the guide takes the guests from one big game sighting to another, no matter how far they are apart, driving very fast as they go.

Some people will like that, as their priority is, for example, only to see the big cats like lions, leopards, and such. But then you will miss all the other, smaller animals and the environment which are also all worth to see.

Of course, you will always have the possibility to tell your guide what you’d like to see and do. It’s also a matter of your preference, especially if you have your private guide and vehicle.

But I’d like to suggest that at least sometime, let the guide show his or her professional skills and you will get a thorough and authentic experience of the bushveld. The bush is, after all, so much more than just the lions, rhinos, and elephants. However, if some of the Big Five is only a reasonable way away, you’ll drive to see them anyway.

What Wildlife Do We Saw on Our 3-Day Kruger Safari?

On our game drive day in the Kruger National Park, we saw lions on a kill, numerous elephants eating and bathing, along with countless different antelopes, and other small mammals. I had many photo opportunities, particularly of elephants which I especially love observing.

And after our exciting day, just before the gates of the Kruger National Park closed at 5.30pm, we drove back to the peaceful location of the Windmill Country Retreat in Hazyview to eat a three-course candlelight dinner while watching small dik-diks walk just in front of our porch. Doesn’t that sound like an ideal day or what?!

We had the privilege to visit at the Windmill Country Retreat in December 2018 with Shinzelle Safaris, and after our visit, the several, brand new cottages with magnificent views have been completed. So, do yourself a favor and book your relaxing stay with them. You will get excellent value for your money. The service was also friendly and impeccable. Our experience with the Shinzelle Safaris was overall excellent and unique. And most of all, your Kruger National Park safari will be an expert-level experience.

And last, but not least, I promised to answer the question which animal of the Big 5 is the most dangerous. It is the buffalo! Did you know that?

*We were hosted on a 3-day Kruger Safari by Shinzelle Safaris, though all our opinions expressed in this post are totally our own, honest experiences. 

The best honeymoon destinations in the Philippines range from luxurious private paradise islands to affordable beach getaways and mountain adventures. Think clear blue waters for diving or snorkeling and long, powdery beaches. Or disconnect from the world and breathe in fresh, crisp mountain air. How about hitting up hip bars in a buzzing city? Whatever are your specs for honeymoon destination, you can’t go wrong with the Philippines.

Best Islands in Asia For Honeymooners

With over 7,000 islands to its name, the Philippines has risen to honeymoon bucket lists in recent years. This tropical country is best known for its amazing beaches with three of its islands named the best in Asia by Conde Nast Travel and Travel + Leisure.

Nature Lover’s Dream Honeymoon

With a vastly diverse landscape and topography, the Philippines is any nature lover’s dream destination. What’s more romantic than watching a splendid sunset lounging on a white sand beach or overlooking the mountains?

Honeymoon Destinations in the Philippines Fit All Budgets

Add affordable prices (mostly) everywhere in the country, and the Philippines is a perfect choice for any honeymoon – for any budget!

Wondering where to celebrate your newly-wedded bliss? If you’re looking to cuddle up with your new husband or wife, here are some of the best honeymoon destinations in the Philippines.

All pictures in this post are from Pixabay (free license).

EL NIDO, PALAWAN

Famous Luxury Resorts for Honeymooners

There’s no denying it: Palawan is the pride and joy of the Philippines for honeymooners. Hailed for many years as one of the country’s most beautiful islands, Palawan is a favorite for locals and travelers. Its crystal blue waters are home to thriving corals and reefs surrounded by limestone cliffs and deserted islets.

Honeymoon in El Nido’s Private Islands

El Nido, in particular, is a dream destination for a luxury honeymoon. The town is located at the tip Palawan and known for some of the most luxurious resorts in the country.

Most of these resorts are perched on their own private islands, ensuring utmost luxury for their guests. Back in town, many hotels and AirBnB’s have created budget accommodations for all kinds of travelers.

Island Hopping Honeymoon in El Nido

Island hopping around El Nido is a breathtaking way to celebrate a honeymoon. There are several packages to choose from, each one highlighting different locations in El Nido.

Public island hopping tours come at a standard rate. Most resorts also offer private and exclusive tours on speedboats and yachts for couples who simply want to spend the most time with each other. You can be as private or as social as you can be in El Nido.

Swim your way through El Nido’s lagoons, cave pools, and marine sanctuaries, and enjoy lunch or dinner picnics on one of the many paradise islands. If you pick El Nido for your honeymoon destination, breathtaking sceneries are guaranteed.

Best Lodges for Luxury, Mid-Range and Budget Honeymoon in El Nido, Palawan

You can check all the best accommodation options available in el Nido from here.

There are great options for all the different budget ranges.

BUSUANGA, PALAWAN

Serene Honeymoon Destination for Diving and Snorkeling

Another town in Palawan is Busuanga, found two hours away from the more popular Coron town. While Coron is an amazing destination in itself, Busuanga is far more quiet, far more private, and far more luxurious.

Snorkeling and Diving Honeymoon in Busuanga

If you’re a couple who dives, then you’ve hit the jackpot: just a few kilometers from the bay area are the best Japanese shipwrecks sunk during World War II. Honeymoon in Busuanga Bay allows you to spend every day snorkeling, diving, or simply enjoying each other’s company in the comfort of cliffside resorts.

Other Things to Do in Busuanga

You can also book speedboat rides to neighboring islands, or even set up private dinners or picnics by the shore. However, Busuanga is a very sleepy and quiet town, and there isn’t much to explore outside of your resort when night comes.

Honeymoon in Busuanga is for couples who want to be blown away by thriving marine life and a wealth of islands in the day and spend the rest of the night in each other’s loving company.

Getting to Busuanga, Philippines

Flying into the airport at Coron from Manila, Busuanga Bay is an hour’s drive in the opposite direction from the more crowded Coron Town. Around the bay is a collection of high-end resorts that share sunset views and blue waters.

Best Lodges for Luxury, Mid-Range and Budget Honeymoon in Busuanga, Palawan

Grab your favorites from here.

AMANPULO, PALAWAN

Ultimate Luxury Honeymoon in Palawan

Amanpulo’s list of visitors includes Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Beyonce, and many of the Philippines’ biggest stars and politicians. Without a doubt, Amanpulo is among the best luxurious honeymoon destinations in the Philippines.

Exclusive Luxury Destination for Honeymooners

Considered as the most VIP luxury island in the Philippines, Amanpulo is only reachable via private plane from Manila. This 1.5-mile long paradise exudes opulence and exclusivity in every sense of the word.

Secluded Casitas with Direct Beach Access

Amanpulo offers forty “casitas” for honeymooners and private villas for sale for the super wealthy. Each casita has direct beach access, an outdoor shower, private deck with hammocks, gargantuan bathtub, and a designated “guest assistant” that will be on your beck and call throughout your stay.

With so much pampering to be done in individual casitas, it’s not uncommon to spend their days in their own patches of beach with barely any other guests in sight.

The Best Things to Do in Amanpulo

However, thrill seekers won’t be left hanging. A myriad of water activities include snorkeling trips, windsurfing, paddle boarding, and diving. Monitor lizards also inhabit the island, which are common all over Palawan. They’re pretty harmless, but if they make you squirm, then couples can simply drive themselves around in their private buggy. Relax in the lounge pool, treetop spa, or go for a game of tennis at the clubhouse.

BATANES, PHILIPPINES

Off the Beaten Path Honeymoon in the Philippines

Batanes is not a common choice for many travelers, but a destination that will surely take your breath away. Batanes is the Philippines’ northernmost province and gives a completely different perspective of what the country looks like as an island country. It’s the best honeymoon destination for those who would like to venture off the beaten path.

Mountainous Islands for Drastic Views

Batanes is composed of 10 islands scattered over the Luzon Strait, all of which formed from volcanic origins. Unlike many other islands in the Philippines, Batanes is hilly and mountainous with viewpoints miles above the waves crashing into cliffs.

From Sand Beaches to Rocky Coastline

The coves and beaches of Batanes are truly unique. While it still boasts of white and cream sand beaches, you’ll find beaches covered with pebbles, rocky coasts and ridges, and many hidden coves.

Nature Loving Couple’s Dream Destination

The diverse shoreline makes Batanes an exciting destination for both land- and sea-lovers. At the very least, the landscapes in the province are surreal with a very long list of viewpoints for panoramic views of mountain, sky, and sea. It has a very countryside feel, and couples are sure to get some real quality time discovering the wonders of the province.

Couples will surely find a trip to Batanes to be memorable and different from anywhere else they can visit in the Philippines. With vast meadows and staggering peaks, it’s also a great time for couples to be alone with nature and just breathe in the beauty of Batanes.

BORACAY

Philippines Island Honeymoon For All Budgets

Boracay is in every “best of” Philippines list, and for a good reason. It should be also dubbed as the best honeymoon destination for budget travelers.

After Boracay’s rehabilitation in 2018, the island has shed its previous reputation of being a party island filled with crowds of people. Now, it’s the very picture of island paradise – powdery white sand, bright blue waters, and splendid sunsets.

From Luxury to Budget Honeymoon in the Philippines

For honeymooners, Boracay is a great place to relax and unwind. Luxury resorts are lined along the beach or tucked in the forested center of the island. There are beachfront accommodations for every budget as well. There are also many spas on the island from luxury to budget, and even on lounge chairs right on the shore.

Best Things to Do in Boracay

Life in Boracay is very chill, but there are many activities that couples can enjoy together that can be taken right out of a romantic movie. There’s horseback riding on the beach, parasailing over the water, or even a helicopter ride to take in the view of the whole island from above.

Banaue

Adventurous Honeymoon in the Philippines

Banaue isn’t your typical sunset-by-the-beach kind of honeymoon. A good 10 hours from Manila, Banaue first gained popularity for the rice terraces created by indigenous tribes decades ago. Now, Banaue has become a nature-lovers dream destination.

For an adventurous honeymoon in the Philippines, head to the mountains and be awed by the lushness of Banaue.

Affordable and Authentic Honeymoon Destination

With barely any luxury resorts, couples can cozy up in small hostels run by locals, unlike most of the resorts anywhere else in the country that are run by expats. Life in Banaue is very simple and gives visitors a great way to disconnect from the rest of the world and immerse themselves in the beauty of nature.

Best Things to Do in Banaue

Local culture reigns supreme in Banaue, with many of the adventures centered around life up in the mountains. Go through village walks, paddy tours, or treacherous hikes – there’s something for every level of adventurer.

CEBU

Honeymoon in the Philippines with Beaches, Nightlife, Food, and Festivals

Cebu is one of our favorite honeymoon destinations in the Philippines. Honeymoon in Cebu offers a mix of metropolitan and island life plus some of the best cuisines you’ll find in the country at only a fraction of the cost in Manila.

From Luxury Honeymoon to Affordable Honeymoon Options

There are many municipalities in Cebu, most of which have been developed for tourism giving travelers a great selection of luxury and budget accommodations, fantastic beaches, and even better tours.

The most high-end resorts are found in Mactan, while municipalities along the coastline of Cebu have a mix of international hotels and local accommodations.

Things to Do in Cebu, the Philippines

Honeymooners can start their trip in Mactan or Cebu City to enjoy the city abuzz with events, festivals, and a happening nightlife. There’s an endless list of great restaurants in with awesome viewpoints for a romantic dinner.

After life in the city, couples can head off to the many fantastic beaches in Cebu. Snorkelers and divers will enjoy the rich marine life in the many reefs around the province. Every kind of water activity imaginable is possible in Cebu, or simply sit back, relax, and enjoy the blue waters of the Cebu province.

Philippines – Honeymooner’s Dream Destination

For honeymooners, peace, quiet, and quality time are important in picking a place to mark their new life together. In the Philippines, the serenity of honeymoon destinations can be spiced up with exciting activities from snorkeling, diving, and adrenaline activities like parasailing to horseback riding and hiking.

The list of must-see destinations in the Philippines is long. Even if you pick one honeymoon destination out of this list, you’ll and get a taste of the beauty and magic of the Philippines.

We’ve started a new expat life in Africa in last October, which has been nothing like we expected: historic highs and lows, struggles with bureaucracy, amazing wildlife sightings spiced with health issues, and getting used to the rhythm of Africa. Thus, we decided to share our (mis)adventures and lessons learned with a recap series from South Africa and Namibia.

From a Bitter Start in Johannesburg to Happy Safari Days in Kruger

Warning: this will be a rant. We’re positive people and consciously practice gratitude. Still, we can’t escape the fact that our first weeks in South Africa were an honest struggle. We didn’t like Johannesburg, at all. It wasn’t the South African expat life that we had dreamed about for so long.

It took me three weeks to learn to love Johannesburg, and Piritta hasn’t still warmed up a bit. It has never taken more than a week to like a destination. But more about that later.

A promise: this rant has still a happy ending. Our 16-day safari in Kruger was filled with fantastic animal sightings, and we scored some rare species that we’ve always wanted to see, like a honey badger and an aardvark!

Our 2,5-month stay in South Africa was closed with spending Christmas with an adorable Alaskan Malamute in Simon’s Town: it included a housesitting disaster, as well, but was generally sweet time walking in the mountains and watching penguins.

To balance our twisted relationship with Johannesburg, we loved Cape Town from the moment we saw Table Mountain. We spent a couple of happy days in Cape Town before and after our house-sitting gig in December. While we wouldn’t be excited to live as expats in Johannesburg, we would love to spend more time in the Cape Area next fall!

South African Visa Problems and Change of Plans

We were supposed to stay in South Africa for 4-6 months but realized that we couldn’t renew our tourist visas. We had also planned to get our driving licenses in South Africa, but it wasn’t possible with a tourist visa. So we had to change plans.

How I Get Tourist Visa Extension in South Africa?

Nowadays, South Africa gives only one-time 90-day tourist visas as a default, and there’s no way that you could prolong that tourist visa at the spot. The only option would be to return to your to home country and apply for a new tourist visa, but even then you might be turned down. People tell different stories about tourist visa extension processes, and the decision is always down to the individual border officer.’

However, there are some companies who can assist you with applying for a visa extension when you’re already in the country, but we’ve heard that even then it’s not guaranteed that you’ll get the extension. And the companies’ services are pretty expensive.

Can Digital Nomads Get a Work Visa in South Africa?

In case you’re wondering the other options for digital nomads, you cannot apply for a work visa without a South African employer, who would need to send you an invitation letter. Thus, South Africa is not a good option for self-employed digital nomads, who cannot get work visas.

As a tourist, you can generally enter South Africa only for those 90 days within one year. How strict! So we’re planning to return in October/November 2019 for an epic 1-2-month road trip. We just have to get driver’s licenses first here in Namibia – and buy a car! 

Travel Disappointments in Maboneng, Johannesburg

We landed in Johannesburg in mid-October with an Airbnb-booking for two weeks. We had read about the hip inner-city suburb called Maboneng, which is also safe for tourists, so we decided to make it our first base in South Africa.

I had heard great things about Maboneng and was slightly disappointed with what we saw. These travel disappointments are a rare thing for me, as I usually like every destination already at the arrival.

Don’t get me wrong: Maboneng is a perfect sample of urban renewal and filled with great restaurants and nightclubs, world-class street art scene, fashion boutiques, and weekend markets. In the upcoming weeks, we’ll write another article about all the cool things you can do in Maboneng and surrounding Johannesburg.

Getting back to my rant: Maboneng is also an extremely tiny area and cramped with tourists, beggars, opportunistic pickpockets, noisy and drunken crowds, and pushy street vendors. I mean, the whole area is like 200 meters point 400 meters. Inside that area, you can walk rather safely as a tourist (even when talking on the phone or carrying a camera, although that’s not really recommended by the restaurant owners and locals).

Maboneng is a cool urban slice if you’re just spending one afternoon in Johannesburg. But after two days, we felt like prisoners. Maboneng was a way too small for us to live in for even two weeks – and we had planned to stay there for almost three months! It isn’t safe to walk outside the heavily patrolled Maboneng area (remember that tiny swatch), but I’ll get back to that later.

Weather in Johannesburg October to November: From Cold Nights to Perfect Summer Vibes

We were waiting for sunny summer days in Johannesburg, but in 2018 summer was late, and the whole October was chilly in South Africa. Usually, in October Johannesburg sees pleasant day temperatures from 18 to 24 C (64-75F), although night temperatures can fall near 10C (52F).

When we arrived, night temps were hovering around 4C and days were well below the twenties, although mostly sunny. Nothing to complain when you come from Finland other than our Airbnb apartment was freezing during the nights, which brought a persistent 2-week flu for both of us.

Imagine old factory building with leaking, single-glazed windows and balcony doors with 5 cm gaps between them and the floor. Nice natural ventilation system, but not very practical for freezing winter nights (temps were around winter averages for the first days of our stay). Old brick walls and cement floors are perfect for keeping hot summer weather out, but leave the apartments cold in winter.

We had a communication breakdown with our Airbnb host, who wasn’t willing to offer us a heater or wouldn’t allow us to buy a heater for keeping ourselves warm (electricity is expensive in South Africa). So, for the first night, we booked a hotel. Second night brought that terrible flu. On the fourth day, the host luckily lent us his gas heater, which solved the problem.

Weather in Johannesburg changed rapidly in November. We embraced the sun and hot days nearing 35C and were entertained by beautiful afternoon thunderstorms. It was the perfect African summer weather that we had been waiting for! Let’s open the next challenge.

Living Like Locals in Maboneng’s Rocket Factory

We were staying in the old rocket factory of Maboneng. The whole building is renovated into urban cool industrial flats. The location is perfect for a short holiday in Johannesburg, as the center of Maboneng (Main Street) is just a 2-min walk away.

Still, Rocket Factory lies slightly further from the noisiest night clubs and crowds partying at the streets of Maboneng every weekend. We needed earplugs only when the adjacent night club had bigger party nights.

After getting that gas heater, we liked the place. Our apartment had decent wifi, complimentary Netflix, ergonomic bed, working table and bar table (I always prefer the latter), espresso machine, plenty of hot water, and a balcony. Amazing health juice joint and the best sushi bar in Johannesburg were just 2-3-minute walk away, several nice lunch spots and the best café in Maboneng took 5 minutes to reach (I’ll list all those places in our upcoming article). What else could a digital nomad wish for!

Well, the balance to last. After one week’s stay, we got an early reminder of Africa. Rocket Factory lost all electricity and running water for a couple of days. Suddenly, we didn’t have wifi, lights, flushing toilet, or even water to wash our hands. The smell got soon disgusting, as it was summer already. We were lucky to check-in a nice hotel again but felt sorry for the locals.

Although the communication with our Airbnb hosts was terrible, after a couple of days we managed to get a refund, as we ended our stay due to the electricity and water shortage. Of course, it wasn’t their fault. The whole building was off the grid. We’re still grateful that they let us go.

Load Sheddings in South Africa

This accidental electricity shortage introduced us to the South African load sheddings, which are a completely different thing but equally annoying.

Load sheddings are scheduled electricity downtimes, which are driving South Africans mad. Country’s biggest electricity supplier Escom has a monopoly status, which it uses to save resources (money) to bribe regional officers, especially before Christmas time. In November and December, load sheddings (electricity blackouts) were almost daily and some times there were even several (and long) downtimes within one day.

Escom states that load sheddings secure the electricity supply and protect the power system from a total blackout. Locals disagree. You can read more about load sheddings here.

Where to Stay in Maboneng: Hallmark House Hotel and Apartments

In November, we rented Airbnb studio from Hallmark House. It’s a flagship hotel and residential building in Maboneng – and the only real 4-star hotel in Maboneng. For luxurious standard and deluxe rooms, we ended up paying just $30-60 per night through amazing deals on booking.com: check the current deals for your travel dates here!

We stayed in three different rooms in Hallmark House before renting a flat and loved them all! Most rooms have huge balconies overlooking the skyscrapers of Johannesburg, decorated with swinging chairs. Rooms are stylish, the beds are amazing, wifi is strong, breakfast is varied, and prices are super affordable compared to the other 4-star hotels in Johannesburg CBD. We’d definitely stay in Hallmark House every time we’ll visit Johannesburg.

The best thing: the rooftop terrace of Hallmark House has terrific views of the Johannesburg CBD area. We loved the rooftop gym (free for hotel guests and residents of Hallmark House) and used to do our Krav Maga trainings there. There’s enough space for training martial arts, yoga, or anything else on top of using the gym equipment. There’s also a rooftop spa, and they’re building a rooftop restaurant.

Is It Safe to Stay in Hallmark House, Maboneng?

Hallmark House is slightly further north from Maboneng, where its owner, property development company Propertuity, initially started to renovate old industrial buildings. Thus, the area surrounding Hallmark House is still not safe, although it’s merely 500 meters to the center of Maboneng.

Hallmark House Hotel offers a free shuttle service to Maboneng. The hotel itself feels extremely safe with 24/7 security. Apartments have a biometric fingerprint security system.

Propertuity is slowly taking over more buildings between Hallmark House and Maboneng, so in future also these streets will be patrolled and it would be possible to walk around freely. Luckily, Uber is affordable and easy to use, so we shuttled between the malls, sights, Maboneng, and Hallmark House almost daily with Uber drivers. We’ll list the best malls and sights in our upcoming Johannesburg article.

Healing Pneumonia in South Africa With Herbs, Mushrooms, and (Il)Legal Drugs

My condition was pretty bad for our first month in Johannesburg. I had pneumonia and declined to use corticosteroids to heal it, as I hate them. I tried to biohack my pneumonia away with my usual supplements, but they were not helping this time.

Luckily, I found a great herbalist in Johannesburg, who recommended me some traditional African herbs: Sutherlandia and Pelargonium. The latter is an African version of Pelargonium flower. I took them every two or three hours together with licorice root to heal my collapsed cortisol levels. I also took oxygen supplement many times a day and dropped my morning coffee to soothe my body with slight diet changes, as well (I had dropped also alcohol earlier, as it made me cough more). Within a couple of days, I felt slightly better already.

After four weeks, the symptoms got back, as my body got too used to these herbal supplements. I had to do some radical changes recommended by my herbalist. I changed the herbs to cordyceps, a weird Chinese medicinal mushroom, which I usually carry in powder format while traveling. I also started taking a couple of drops of FECO oil before going to sleep.

FECO translates into full extract cannabis oil. It was my first time using any cannabis oil, and I thought about it long and hard. I saw it as my last resort before giving up and starting corticosteroids.

Using FECO oil is legal in South Africa, but I still had to bought it under the counter. Due to high THC content, FECO oil is illegal in my home country, Finland, and in Namibia, where we were supposed to continue later. That made me anxious, but I’m happy that I had the courage to give it a try.

The new combination calmed my system so that I could sleep well again, which made the biggest difference in healing. Within one month, I felt almost normal, although breathing was still a bit difficult. Within two months, just before Christmas, I was completely healthy again and able to drop both FECO and that weird Chinese mushroom, cordyceps.

Many people have asked how cannabis oil feels. I never got high or felt intoxicated (what a disappointment) and just stopped using it when I felt healthy again. It made me a little bit drowsy sometimes, so falling to sleep was easier. When I woke up, I felt energized.

Long story short: I’ve biohacked harsh pneumonia before and use a lot of herbal remedies, so with a skilled herbalist I felt safe. I cannot recommend this to others, though. Please do not try this at home (or in Africa).

16-Day Safari in Greater Kruger National Park

The highlight of our time in South Africa – and the whole year – was an epic 16-day safari in the Greater Kruger National Park. I’ll keep it short here, as we will pour many articles about Kruger National Park shortly.

We were extremely fortunate to see honey badgers, an aardvark, and African wild dogs for the first time in our lives. All those elusive species had been on our wish list for many years, and we had traveled through five African countries without seeing a glimpse of them.

We did a 6-day safari with one tour company, staying at a beautiful tented camp with a private plunge pool and touring Kruger National Park, Greater Kruger, and a couple of nearby private reserves. That was when we saw two honey badgers and an aardvark within half an hour on one evening game drive. Aardvarks are so rare that even many rangers have never seen one.

Then we explored Balule Nature Reserve for six days staying in two separate camps at the different sides of the reserve. We photographed herds of elephants, witnessed lions mating, and observed many rhinos up-close: one male came so close to the back of our car that the people sitting at the back could have touched it (luckily no-one was sitting there, as that particular rhino was known for his temper).

We managed to see the wild dogs in Klaserie Private Reserve, where we stayed for two nights before exploring Kruger National Park again on a full-day safari. We finished off with Panorama tour: a gorgeous sightseeing route, which visits Blyde River Canyon, world’s third largest canyon, together with several breathtaking viewpoints and waterfalls.

A promise: All these destinations will be covered in separate articles very soon!

Christmas Time in Simon’s Town and Cape Town: Sightseeing and House-Sitting

To keep up the good flow, we spent a couple of lovely days in Cape Town visiting Table Mountain, Robben Island, and other famous sights – it was our first visit in the Cape Area. We feasted with amazing vegetarian food, hung out in cool cafes, and gulped down craft gin cocktails and craft beers (I was healthy – I could drink alcohol again!). We’ll list all our favorite spots in a separate article.

We had been waiting for our Christmas house-sitting gig for many months; it was one of the reasons that had brought us to South Africa. Just two days before the start, we heard that our host had messed up and double-booked us and another couple.

I don’t want to go into details here, but maybe I’ll write more about our house-sitting experiences later; we’ve also had amazing stays. In the end, this case turned out just fine and we were the only ones staying with the beautiful Alaskan Malamute girl.

We spent eight happy days walking in the mountains and beaches with our new furry friend – and watching penguins together. Oh yes, she was totally blasé about the penguins. Our favorite evening walk went through (free!) penguin beach (we’ll list our favorite spots in Simonstown in a separate article).

New Adventures in Namibia: 2-Week Road Trip, Driving School, and Volunteering

We left South Africa behind at the end of December to spend New Year in Namibia, where we are currently. A lot has happened since, but I’ll wrap our (mis)adventures in Namibia into another recap. We’ve just returned from a mindblowing 2-week road trip to craft another happy ending. Tomorrow we’ll embark on another adventure, volunteering in the wildlife rehabilitation center and taking care of pangolins!

Stay tuned for more African expat life hits and misses, driving school mishaps, lovely dogs and a kitty cat doppelganger, bureaucracy, wildlife, and chasing the dreams! Follow us on Facebook for real-time updates and Instagram for Piritta’s gorgeous wildlife pics. See you in the wild!