This way to the wilderness

04 July 2025 | View in browser

With the school holidays in full swing, SANParks has announced that gate quotas will once again be enforced at Kruger National Park. It's a necessary move to manage the seasonal swell of visitors, so if you're planning a day trip, it's worth booking ahead and knowing what to expect.   In other news, the Blue Crane — South Africa's striking national bird — has officially been reclassified as vulnerable. It's not just a symbolic loss. The new status reflects a worrying trend, and a call to pay closer attention to the birds, animals and wild places we often take for granted.   Still, there's no shortage of inspiration. This week, we follow Oliver Keohane into the quiet heart of the Cederberg, where he traces a route through the Wolfberg Cracks to the iconic arch above, into the kind of silence only the mountains know.    We also spotlight lesser-known desert escapes scattered across Southern Africa, where the silence is vast, the stars feel closer, and you can disconnect without giving up comfort. For travellers chasing more than just a view, we've rounded up lodges where wildlife drifts right up to your door. And if you're after something with history and heart, we've uncovered a few of South Africa's coolest old hotels — the kind of places that hold stories in their floorboards… TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter  Until next week!

Kruger enforces gate quotas during school holidays SANParks has announced that day visitor access to the Kruger National Park will be subject to strict gate quotas over the June/July school holidays. Read more

South Africa's national bird uplisted to vulnerable status South Africa's beloved Blue Crane is now officially classified as vulnerable, confirmed in the newly published Regional Red Data Book of Birds. Read more

Wolfberg Arch: Sandstone giants and a silent moment in the Cederberg   Oliver Keohane details an Easter Sunday hike through the Wolfberg Cracks and up to the iconic Wolfberg Arch in the Cederberg. Read more

Hidden desert escapes in Southern Africa you can actually visit Southern Africa is home to some of the most beautiful desert landscapes in the world, and tucked between the dunes and dry riverbeds are places to stay that offer real escape, without giving up too much comfort. Read more

Lodges where nature comes right to your door There's a rare magic in sleeping somewhere truly wild, where you might wake to a curious animal outside your window… Read more

SA's coolest old hotels you've (likely) never heard of Some are slightly faded, others lovingly restored, but all are steeped in character.   Read more

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