I am originally from the Free State, South Africa and when our December holidays were with my mom we would head down to Cape Town and enjoy the beach and mountains. I recall one trip we went camping and took a long way home and stayed at various campsites for a few days at a time. One campsite was right on a beachfront. We became experts at putting up our camp so that when we arrived we had finished and were off to the beach before a family that had arrived before us were even done. We got to see the dolphins playing as they swam by.

I recall one trip we went on with a friend of my moms and her daughter to the Port Alfred area. We visit a pineapple farm in Bathurst, that had this massive pineapple structure, a touch pen and a cart ride. We stayed with a family friend and there was a crazy toucan who kept flying into the window; we all thought it might break it. We went to the beach down there and my brother scaring us all with the crabs.

I have had many more happy holiday experiences with my mom and siblings.

My dad, I recall took us to the Mac Mac river, where we tubed the river rapids, and watched the stars at night and cloud formations during the day. The river was icy cold and we didn’t care.

We also went on a family trip (his side) to Kruger National Park. Where we spend days swimming in the pool and watching for game below with binoculars. Went on night drives, where we saw scorpions and how they light up. Day game drives where we got to see lions playing a game with a stick and losing it in a watering hole that was the domain of the hippos and so one climbed a tree to get another stick. Where we learnt and saw that hippos as they poo chop it up into tiny bits with their tales, what a sight to see for little children; it made us roar with laughter. Where an elephant mock charged us and more.

Moving into my teen years where my mom remarried and we moved down to Cape Town. Hikes up table mountain and days at the beach. Then a few years on a joined a crew running an activity camp for the scouts in the Cederberg. I helped run it four adventures in a row. Where I fell in love with the Cederberg and its rugged terrain. Making me come back time again and again.

Camping with friends along rivers and fishing (catch and release), along beaches and in the mountains.

Hikes with my mom and hounds, so many wonderful adventures.

My love for Nature just grew and grew. It pains me to see how she is treated. How people can just litter without a second thought to her other children (fur, feather, leaf and scaled, etc.) I volunteered at the SPCA wildlife centre for a while. Even joined the Wild Firefighting as a volunteer as so many people set off wildfires each year desecrating so much wildlife in the process, fynbos and animals. The SPCA had two tortoises that got stuck in a wildfire, they were burnt black, feet raw and unable to walk; poor souls. They had a grass snake come in after being stoned by some teenagers. A Caracal was being rehomed after being abandoned by someone who had it as a house cat. And so many more others.

My husband and I volunteered at a dog shelter as well. So many abandoned and abused dogs.

My husband and I have relocated to the UK (his home) with our fur babies (Jojo died Dec 31, 2023) and are living in a caravan and looking to tour the UK, Scotland, Ireland and hopefully the Isle of Man as well before purchasing a Narrowboat.

Here are too many more adventures that hopefully inspire you to find some family outdoor adventures too that foster a love for nature in all of you as it has me!