Thobeka “Thobi” Rose is a South African travel blogger and co-founder of Live Experiences, a blog Inspired by her own experiences of growing up in the city, but often travelling home to the rural regions of Kwa-Zulu Natal. Here she writes about her curiosity of how different groups of people interact in social spaces.

It is travel month and we went out and about to source some top travel tips from the one and only Jared Ruttenberg! Hippo.co.za spent some time with Cape Town-based travel journalist and content creator.

South Africa is rich in ecological and cultural diversity, and you can find almost any kind of holiday experience you can imagine throughout the country. From beaches to forests to bushveld, here are nine provincial holiday experiences worth having.

When you’re 18 years old, anything seems possible. Society considers you to be an adult and from here on out, your choices are your own. You get to decide who you want to be, what you want to do, and where you want to do it. If you or your child are thinking of taking a gap year, read these pros and cons to see if it’s the right decision for your family.

For local holidaymakers, flying is the most efficient way to get around, but it can be costly. If you’re keen to see more of SA without paying sky-high prices, here are ten secrets for finding the cheapest domestic flights around.

While not every South African will make it to Scotland to visit the Home of Golf, we are lucky that some of the world’s best courses are right here in our own country. Here is our choice of five top golf courses in South Africa in no particular order.

Travel visas can be an expensive hassle costing well over a thousand rand. Often, you’ll need to book an appointment at the nearest consulate or embassy, and before they will grant you a visa, you need to provide proof of holiday accommodation, return tickets, your financial standing, and the purpose of your visit.

Soul food right on our doorstep! Hiking is a great way to get outdoors and experience some of the best of South African nature, all while re-energising the body. South Africans are spoilt for choice as far as hiking trails go, from short and comfy beginner trails to the more challenging routes for expert hikers. A great travel adventure has all the ingredients to excite every fibre in your being while invigorating the body, mind, and soul.

We’re more than halfway through 2018 and while the summer holidays may still seem far away, some of us will be getting things in order for a trip overseas or even across the country. When you’re travelling, you’re sure to carry important information on you that must be kept safe, from your passport and air tickets, to driver’s licence and accommodation bookings. But many of us forget about the important information we keep and have access to on our devices.

Do you dream of studying between the gothic towers and green lawns of Cambridge University? Perhaps you imagine yourself working in an office with a view of New York City’s scenic skyline? Or maybe you’ve always wanted to explore the colourful underwater realm of the Great Barrier Reef.

Travelling can be an expensive endeavour, and the temptation to dip into credit becomes greater if you realise your dream trip may be unaffordable. For those who love to travel, but do not have the upfront funds to make it happen immediately and, more importantly, don’t want to get themselves into debt, lay-buy travel is the answer you’ve been looking for.

The former Portuguese colony of Mozambique, is an East African country bordered by South Africa, Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Swaziland. Surrounded by the warm, clear waters of the Indian ocean, travellers can explore this paradise from its white palm-tree filled beaches, its cluster of islands just off its southern and northern coastlines, or from a nearby nature reserve filled with local wildlife.

If you’re wanting to explore a slice of the Mediterranean, Croatia is the holiday destination for you. This Eastern European country is filled with a diverse and picturesque terrain, from clean white beaches and warm, strikingly blue waters, to lusciously green mountains and breathtaking lakes. With a rich history and architectural features reminiscent of the Roman era, this island-based Mediterranean destination offers South African travellers a Mediterranean experience second to none.

Home to the Namib, the oldest desert in the world, Namibia is a vast Southern African country that offers an abundance of outdoor adventures and tranquil escapes. As the 34th largest country in the world, Namibia also has one of the lowest populations in the world, at only 2.59 million as of 2017, emphasising its great distance between towns. With Namibia’s currency worth the same as South Africa’s, South Africans will find it a budget-friendly destination.

The East African country of Kenya is well-known for its vast wildlife, acacia trees located on enormous plains, and epic safaris encompassing the annual wildebeest migration. The country offers unrivaled views of the big five, Mount Kenya, neighbouring Tanzania’s famous Mt. Kilimanjaro, the Great Rift Valley and a sneak peak into the lives of the nomadic Maasai tribe in southern Kenya.

Research shows that business travel is becoming increasingly popular as the younger generation moves up to higher positions in the corporate world. It was found that millennials are more willing to travel for business than previous generations, with many doing so for the first time.

The second destination in our most affordable countries for South Africans to travel to series, is Bali. An island and province of Indonesia, Bali is renowned for its impressive arts sector, cultural diversity, coral reefs, tropical beaches, and active volcanoes.

A tighter budget shouldn’t hamper South Africans’ desire to travel. We can still leave the African plains to follow those moments of wanderlust and experience the wonders of the world. The truth is, there are a number of countries that offer South Africans memorable and well-deserved holiday options without costing an arm and a leg. The first on our list of affordable countries for South Africans to travel to, is Dubai.

The July holiday period will soon be upon us, and if you’re thinking of taking your friends or loved ones on a winter trip, now is the time to get it booked, if you haven’t done so already. There are plenty of destinations spread across South Africa to take your well-deserved break in, that offer activities to suit every want or need. If you’re dreaming of snuggling up next to a fireplace with a glass of red wine, looking forward to getting your fill of nature on a mountain hike, or keen to spot and photograph the wonderful varieties of flora and fauna the country has to offer, there is a destination for you.

While the rain is coming down at right angles in Cape Town, and Johannesburg locals are shivering in icy temperatures, Durbanites are still going on day trips to the beach. Such is the balmy winter weather of this central KwaZulu-Natal city, and that’s what makes it the perfect place to escape to when you just can’t take the cold anymore. So book your flights to Durban, organise a Car Rental for your arrival, and make sure you’re protected with affordable Travel Insurance so you can enjoy fun in the sun with peace of mind.

As we head into autumn, Mother Nature will be treating us to a few more weeks of extra daylight, clear skies and warm temperatures. Why not take advantage of the glorious weather and have some fun in the sun with your loved ones. If you prefer to seek excitement away from home, Travel Insurance may be all you need to ensure that your family enjoys a worry-free trip.

Travelling around the world provides you with the opportunity to experience new cultures, see incredible sights, meet new people and, most importantly, sample new food! Yes, when you travel abroad not only do you feed your mind, but your stomach gets a healthy dose of adventure too.

The festive season is almost here, which for many of us means the chance to get away and refresh ourselves at the end of a long year. But, if you’re thinking of going overseas for the holidays, the South African Rand exchange rate is unfortunately about as weak as it’s ever been. With cost cutting on everyone’s mind, we’ve compiled a guide of overseas destinations that give you a few of the best value for your Rand options from a forex point of view.

It's day five of your dream holiday abroad. You've already gone on numerous sight-seeing excursions, sampled traditional cuisine, made new friends and uploaded tons of photos to social media.

When it comes to flights to remote destinations, nothing beats chasing the sun and skipping out on all the inconveniences of winter such as cold feet, and short days.

Winter is finally here and while most of us would prefer to rather withdraw into the warm depths of a blanket, there's really no need to give this season the cold shoulder.

It’s that time of the year again and we’re all suffering from holiday fever. Days at work have become unbearably long and we’re all counting the calendar days left of the year until we’re set to go on our annual leave.

A bucket list can contain experiences, achievements or even destinations people want to have or experience before they kick the proverbial “bucket”. Some people might add things like graduating from university, buying a house or bungee jumping.