People who never visited South Africa don’t always understand my endless love for this country. They don’t understand the hankering I feel to always go back there. “But you have seen it already, right? Why don’t you go and explore the mountains of Mongolia, visit Washington DC or go and smoke cigars and drive around in oldtimer cars in Havana (Cuba)?”
In this new category ’20 reasons why I love South Africa’ I will explain you in 4 blog posts – 5 reasons each time – why South Africa is the country of countries, the “Miss Universe” of all beauties, the Rolls Royce of holiday destinations, and the best feeling of all. I will try to explain why it’s a place on earth you always want to come back to, over and over again, not just to tick off your travel bucket list, but just to be there again. To feel, smell, taste, touch, hear, see and experience this country again. My home from home. “My” South Africa.
Reason 20: The people
The people of South Africa always smile. Although most of them have nothing, or very little. They’ll smile. They are super friendly, warm hearted and funny. Hard workers? No, not really. In general. Pretty lazy, yes, most of them! But what they are most definitely: sweet at heart, warm in their soul and since a few years you’ll see more and more that the new generation want to learn and work hard for their own (better) future. I love you, people of South Africa. With your boerewors, your languages, your ‘African’ logica, your friendliness, your stupid solutions, your dancing, your food and wine, and your spiritual souls. In addition to that, a few of my very very best friends live in South Africa. I miss them and love them to bits. The moments, fun, laughter and also grief we shared over 5,5 years I will never forget.
Reason 19: Table Mountain is just awesome
It’s no surprise that this iconic eye-catcher of Cape Town now is one of the World’s Nature Wonders.
Reason 18: Wine tasting like nowhere else in the world
South Africa is famous for her beautiful Winelands. A wine-tasting in South Africa is like a dream come true; the views, nature, locations, cool modern (or the opposite: very old heritage Cape Dutch) buildings, great wines, good value for money, warm hospitality, and most wineries have their own restaurant! In this country, there are vineyards everywhere. In the Cape (Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek, Wellington), near Cape Town (Durbanville, Constantia), the West Coast (Yzerfontein, Darling, Swartland), near the whales (Hermanus; the most beautiful Hemel-En-Aarde-Valley), Elgin (fantastic undiscovered and high quality wines), and even now on the Garden Route (Plettenberg Bay). If you like wine, whether you are a connoisseur or just a ‘beginner’, you will enjoy South Africa to the fullest.
Reason 17: Quality and taste of fruit and vegetables
Because of South Africa’s rich soil grounds, fruit and veggies are excellent in this country. A strawberry really tastes like a strawberry, a ripe avocado in this country needs nothing but a little sea salt, the chilli peppers are excellent and hot(!), salad, fresh herbs, lettuce everywhere, and the mangos and bananas taste just delicious. The quality of fresh fruit and vegetables is outstanding. Maybe the range of choice is a bit smaller than in Europe, but for sure the quality is better; most fresh groceries will stay nice in your pantry or fridge for a week or so! Great.
Reason 16: The South African weather
With more than 3600 hours of sun a year, the South African weather isn’t lousy. Not lousy at all. As a direct result of that, one can live basically outside, for about 8-9 months a year. The other months mornings and evenings can be chilly and sometimes it will rain (and we NEED that rain), but there are still many beautiful autumn and winter days to have braise outside, to kitesurf (with swimming suit) in the sea, to enjoy sunsets, and to do a barefoot beach walk and sushi lunch with view…..
Stay tuned…. for 15 more reasons why one can easily fall in love with South Africa
*Note: I have not been asked paid or invited to write about South Africa. It was my own idea. All images are mine.
