Bucket List Item: Take a hike through the Knysna Forest

Cost: SQ
Website: http://www.knysnaforesttours.co.za/

The Knysna Forest has appealed to me ever since we had to read 'Kringe in 'n bos' at school and is still  one of our most valuable natural assets in this country.

The natural habitat comes to life as you quite down and let nature speak. We had the privilege to walk through the forest on a rainy day and that adds quite a special effect to the experience.

There is a variety of options to choose from ranging from routes that take a few hours to guided tours that take days.

Make sure that you wear comfortable shoes, take a jacket along on rainy days and also remember to take some water.

A definite must if you are ever in the area! 

A rainy day in the forest called for some jackets! 

The magic of the forest is tantalising!

Bucket List Item: Maidens Bowled Over

Cost: R500 / person
Website: http://www.caltrate.co.za/maidens-bowled-over-2013

Imagine spending a day with just ladies, dressed in white and pink, sipping on sparkling wine whilst receiving a massage and manicure ... all whilst watching the Proteas just a few metres from you.

Maidens bowled over is a special event hsoted by the Northerns Cricket Union at SuperSport Park annually during their international tests.

An event of high-standard, you will be wined and dined by shirtless waiters to your heart's content. 

This is a perfect ladies' day out and a definite must-add to your annual calendar.

A great day to spend with friends whilst supporting our
Proteas! 

A hat is a must at this dress-up event.

Massages and manicures - lots of spoils! 

You also get the opportunity to meet some of the
Proteas players as they come in to visit. 

Kick your shoes off and have a glass ... it's a day for the girls!

Bucket List Item: Attend a Craft Beer Festival

Cost: R120 / person & R5 / token
Website: http://saontap.co.za/

Another one of Jozi's best kept secrets! This event, hosted at Brightwater Commons in Randburg, is a great let-your-hair-down event. Live music and 80 different brews from 22 of South Africa's top breweries to taste and experience. 

It is advisable to go early and find yourself a spot for the day as the seats do fill up quite early. But not to worry if you can't, the luscious lawns make for a perfect lounging spot as you listen to the bands. 

Be sure not to miss out the next one and start your collection of collectible bavarian beer glasses.

The collectible glass that you get to take home.

Big screens made sure that the boys kept on smiling and
didn't miss out on any rugby action! 

This event is better enjoyed with friends.

Bucket List Item: Picnic @ Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens

Cost: Adults: R30, Pensioners & Disabled: R25, University students (with valid student cards): R25, Scholars: R12, Children under 6 yrs: Free
Website: http://www.sanbi.org/gardens/walter-sisulu

Just a 15-minute drive from our home, this true gem seems to be one of the city's best kept secrets ... or so we thought! 

Upon arrival we were searching for an empty parking bay in their massive parking lot as families were unpacking picnic baskets, chairs, balls, cricket sets ... you name it! 

At just R30 for adults and R20 for kids, you buy yourself a pristine picnic spot in nature surrounded by the well-kept gardens, the river and of-course the waterfall. 

This can easily become a spot where you can spend the day, enjoy some of their hiking trails or just lounge on the grass.

The Witpoortjie Waterfall is a great attraction.

We just had to get ourselves in a pic with
the garden's main attraction.

Families lounge on the grass and kids have
great fun in a safe environment. 

With careful planning, your picnic might be a bit more
traditional than ours, but anything will do! 

Bucket list item: Have a wine (tour) day

Cost: Approximately R30 per farm, some are free if you buy wine
Website: http://www.wineroute.co.za/

The climate in South Africa has blessed this country with one of the best environments to cultivate wine in. With every unique location of the many wine farms, you would either get mist from the ocean cooling the grapes down or the encapsulation of the mountains providing a unique character to the wine ... and so the list goes on!

I still prefer the Stellenbosch wine routes although there are many gems around the Western Cape. A safe bet is to fit in no more than 4 wine farms per day and the golden rule: Only buy wine at the first two!

The John Platter is still the best reference for wine farms but if you are not a big wine fan, starting out with the commercial farms might be a safer bet.

Happy wining!

Nougat & Sparkling Wine pairing - JC le Roux

Loved the Polka Dot Sparkling Wine at Stellenbosch Hills 

De Grendel is a great option  for the more
cultivated wine lovers

Bucket List Item: Eat 'til you drop at Muisbosskerm

Cost: R250 / head
Website: http://www.muisbosskerm.co.za/

One of my favourite dining experiences to date! Muisbosskerm is about 12km from Lamberts Bay on the West Coast of the Western Cape. With one of the most spectacular views that one can have for lunch. 

Their variety is amazing and you get everything from Calamari to snoek to fresh hake along with traditional potbrood and korreldruiwe konfyt (whole grape jam), mussels, paella and the list goes on and on.

For a very reasonable price, you can also ad some oysters to your menu. For just R50, you can even get half a crayfish tail!

If you're a lover of seafood, this is a definite must!

Location, location, location!

Lunch being prepped!

Just one of my many plates of food ...

Oysters by the dozen

Bucket List Item: Visit the Kruger National Park and Surrounding Areas

Cost: Approx R4000 / person for a 3-day stay
Websites:
http://www.thornhillsafarilodge.com/
http://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/

For our first wedding anniversary, we opted to go to the Lowveld as this part of the country is quite pleasant around May every year - not too hot, not too cold and the grass has started to lie down for winter making the animals easier to spot.

We stayed about 40km away from the Kruger Orphen Gate, making it easy to go for a daytrip and be at the gate quite early. Gates open at 05:30 daily and you can get a map showing you the different routes through the park as well as distances and approximate travel times. Gates close between 17:30 and 18:30 so be sure to take this into consideration when planning your route as they are quite strict with their times. You do however have to stay within your car unless signage indicates that you can get out at certain spots.

We were first timers in the Kruger and found all facilities, staff and maps very helpful and easy to use. We also opted for a game drive with our lodge to spot some animals that we missed in the Kruger and got to know the animals a bit closer.

The area also has a lot to offer and the roadside stalls made for a quick shopping stop. Be sure to also take some pics of the glorious Baobab trees! 

This tall creature tried it's best to get a drink.

Spotted some Springbucks at our lodge.

What a treat spotting this gentle giant in the Kruger!

On our game drive, we got to see at
least one member of the cat family

One of my insane moments - kissing Jessica the Hippo.
Won't do this again though! 

The Baobab tree ...
still amazed every time we see it!

Shopping on the road side - these wooden bowls
are amazing for salads, chips - anything! 

Bucket List Item: Walk with elephants

Cost: R855 / person

Website: http://www.knysnaelephantpark.co.za/

We went to the garden route for our honeymoon and behaved like typical tourists, grabbing every tourist opportunity this beautiful part of our country has to offer.

Whilst driving from the Tsitsikamma to Knysna one day, we passed the Knysna Elephant Park and decided that we wanted to have a look-see. A great facility where animals are cared for and safely introduced to their fans. In the spur of the moment, we bought passes to walk with elephants - Jandré being very cautious.

The staff were terrific guiding us and letting us know exactly what the do's and don'ts are. What an experience to be walking alongside these magnificent creatures! 

The Knysna Elephant Park also offers elephant backrides, sunrise or sunset safaris, sundowners with elephants as well as sleepover with elephants.

What a precious photo!

Jandré kept the beautiful creatures at arms length.

Visitors get the opportunity to feed the animals over a rail

Bucket List Item: Visit the Emperor's Palace Garden of Lights

Cost: Free
Website: http://www.emperorspalace.co.za/peermont/content/en/emperors/emperors-entertainment?oid=53547&sn=Detail+Resort&pid=39241 

Every year around the Christmas Holidays, Emperor's Palace put up the Garden of Lights. This free exhibition is such a treat for old and young alike - carrying you away to a fairyland that you might have dreamed of as a little kid. 

They open the gates at around 19h00 and you can stroll around until 22h00. We were just as enthralled as the younger kids, if not more! 

A note though, the early January days are most probably a better option as the traffic is very high over the December period. You tend to miss some of the lights if the foot traffic is too much.

Just one section of the garden.

The massive Christmas tree.

They even had a Santa chair - Jandre was chuffed

Elves in front of Santa's Toy Company add to the experience

Welcomed by friendly staff! 

Bucket List Item: Watch a show from Madame Zingara

Bucket List Item: Watch a show from Madame Zingara

Cost: R550 per ticket + drinks and spending

Website: http://theatreofdreams.madamezingara.com/ 

Even if you are no theater nut or don't usually like going to watch live shows, this is a simply must-do if you ever get the opportunity. The Madame Zingara experience takes you to a surreal world where you experience the arts, divine food, meet interesting characters and simply forget about the real world for a couple of hours. This showgroup tours between Johannesburg, Durban & Cape Town and stay at each venue for about 6 months - usually every night is solidly booked.

Myself and Jandre have now been to watch 2 of these shows. The first "Love Magic Tour" was as a date night for the two of us and we had such great fun. For our second visit to their "Theatre of Dreams" show, we booked a table of 8 and took six friends along - and it was even beter. I don't quite know how they come up with constant new ideas but the fact is, every time was sublimely unique.

This will stay on our bucketlist every year.

The Table Arrangements

 

They offered face painting at the Theatre of Dreams

The decor at Madame Zingara is out of this world! 

The food is to die for! Look at the Hors d'oeuvres!