We travelled across South Africa for 5 weeks in our tiny Chevy spark car. The trip was a blast, but what really made it fantastic was the freedom we had to make numerous stops along the way. The garden Route, which extends from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape to the Storms River near the Eastern Cape, was one of our preferred stretches of road on this trip.

With so much to do along the way, we chose it would be a good idea to share our preferred stops on the famous N2 garden route highway.

The garden Route
When we travelled the garden route in South Africa, we were heading from the south (Cape Town) to the north (Pretoria), so our stops noted here will follow this same itinerary.

Note: If you’re searching for accommodation, check out accommodation direct for a broad variety of choices.

Mossel Bay: first stop on The garden Route

About 400 km east of Cape town we reach our first stop on the garden Route. Mossel Bay is a port town of about 60,000 people and this was the spot where the first Europeans stepped on South African soil, an event which is commemerated at Da Gama museum Complex.

If you’re searching for sandy shores and a laid back atmosphere, Mossel Bay is a great place to spend a few days. known to have the world’s second mildest climate (next to Hawaii), you’re sure to be comfortable no matter what you’re doing here. There is a great market at Hartenbos beach and you can also take a boat to seal Island and spot these goofy creatures bathing in the morning sun.

Where to stay in Mossel Bay

Le Port Guesthouse – with outdoor pool, views of the sea, shared kitchen & more! “Exceptional” rating, 9.8/10. Click here to see the most recent price on Booking.com.

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Sundowner loft – loft house with private deck and sea views, 5 minute walk to the harbour, BBQ facilities & more! “Exceptional” rating, 9.5/10. Click here to see the most recent price on Booking.com.

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Aqua Marina Guesthouse – 10 minute walk to the beach, hearty breakfast, ocean views & more! Click here to see the most recent price on Booking.com.

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☞ Click here to see all available accommodations in Mossel Bay on Booking.com

Mossel Bay Beach
George: second stop on The garden Route

Exactly half-way between Cape town and Port Elizabeth, George is typically referred to as “The Gateway To The garden Route”. At 157,000 people, this is the largest city you’ll come across on the garden route and it’s a great place to stock up on food and gear for the rest of the trip.

George is much more than just a stock-up-stop and there is plenty to do in this city. Head to the Outeniqua railway museum and have a look if you’re into trains. If not, it’s worth hiking up 720 meters behind the museum into the Outeniqua mountains for amazing views of the city and beyond. There are other close-by hikes as well including George top or Cradock Peak. The 18 km trails start at the forestry station.

George carry museum (By: M.Uebel through WikiCommons)
Where to stay in George

Apple Cottages – self catering accommodation, patio, BBQ facilities, totally free parking & more! “Exceptional” rating, 9.6/10. Click here for the most recent price on Booking.com.

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Two Fat Owls Guesthouse – air conditioning, wi-fi, totally free parking, outdoor pool, shared kitchen & more! “Superb” rating, 9.4/10. Click here for the most recent price on Booking.com.

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Aziza Guesthouse – mountains as a backdrop, outdoor pool, peaceful area, terrace & more! “Superb” rating, 9.4/10. Click here for the most recent price on Booking.com.

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☞ Click here for all accommodations available in George on Booking.com

Wilderness: third stop on The garden Route

On your way to Wilderness, it’s worth a quick stop at Victoria Bay where, if you’re a surfer, you can catch a few waves before carrying on. even if you’re not a surfer, you may want to plan a stop here during one of the nation’s surf competitions that are often held on these shores.

In our opinion, Wilderness is one of the best stops to make and shouldn’t be missed. set between the Kaaimans River and the Goukama Nature Reserve, Wilderness is best in the heart of the garden route and it’s known for smooth seas, long beaches, natural lakes, beautiful lagoons and of course, fantastic wilderness!

There is fantastic variety of wildlife and it is the ideal location to delight in long treks, hang-gliding, paragliding, horse-riding, and some of the country’s most scenic drives. 

A cool morning In Wilderness

Where to stay in Wilderness

Sea La Vie beach house – just a 3 minute walk to the beach, BBQ facilities, onsite bar & more! “Superb” rating, 9.4/10. Click here for the most recent price on Booking.com.

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Inn2Wilderness Guesthouse – just 5 minutes from the beach, with outdoor pool, garden & more! “Superb” rating, 9.2/10. Click here for the most recent price on Booking.com.

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Wilderness Waters – 12 minute walk to the beach, lagoon and sea views and more! “Exceptional” rating 9.9/10. Click here for the most recent price on Booking.com.

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Knysna: fourth stop on The garden Route

This little town of 50,000 people is actually a great stop on the garden Route. Native land of the Khoikhoi people, Knysna made its way onto the world map around 1878 when a large gold nugget was found near Ruigtevlei. This attracted fortune seekers from all over the globe and aided in the economic growth of this tiny seaside town.

Here you can take a trip around the Knysna Lagoon, an 18 sq. km body of water which is home to at least 200 species of fish and various types of birds. connected to the Indian ocean through a turbulent channel, the lagoon is where you’ll find “The Heads” which are two massive sandstone cliffs which resemble… you guessed it, heads.

Try to time your visit to Knysna for the Oyster festival from late June to early July.

Knysna “The Heads”

Where to stay in Knysna

The Cape Days @40 On Trotter – self catering apartments, just minutes to the water, washing device and more! “Superb” rating, 9.3/10. Click here for the most recent price on Booking.com.

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34 On gray guest house – 700m from the water, courtyard, BBQ facilities and more! “Exceptional” rating 9.6/10. Click here for the most recent price on Booking.com.

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Bollard Bay house – alongside the Knysna River, outdoor pool, onsite bar, chic rooms & more! “Exceptional” rating 9.5/10. Click here for the most recent price on Booking.com.

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☞ Click here for all accommodation options in Knysna on Booking.com

Plettenberg Bay: fifth stop on The garden Route

Also known as “Plet”, this is our second last stop on South Africa’s garden Route. originally named Bahia Formosa (beautiful bay) by early Portuguese explorers, Plet is a great place for some wildlife safaris both on sea and on land!

The Plettenberg Bay game Reserve is an outstanding place to spot lions, rhinos, buffalo, hippos and much more. This is where having your own car will really make your trip memorable. consider a “self-drive safari” at any of the national parks and game reserves in the area and you’ll feel the hair on your neck rise when you spot a 260 kg male lion just meters from your car!

That’s Close!

For a sea safari around Plet, check out ocean Safaris and head out to sea on one of their numerous ocean friendly safaris. If you’re here for whale season (around June-July) don’t miss their Whale enjoying trip which has a whale sighting guarantee!

Although the area around Plettenberg Bay is great for animal spotting, the garden route isn’t the best place to spot wildlife. You may want to check out South Africa’s Safari Routes if you really want to spot “The big 5”. Again, we highly recommend having your own car for a safari, it’s the best way to experience the wildlife and national Parks in South Africa.

Where to stay in Plettenberg Bay

Lyell’s B&B – short walk to the beach, 5 minutes to lagoon, garden, BBQ facilities & more! “Superb” rating, 9.0/10. Click here for the most recent price on Booking.com.

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Nature’s Valley: Sixth stop on The garden Route

Our final stop and possibly the most spectacular place on the garden Route, Nature’s Valley is a popular holiday retreat nestled between the Soutrivier and the foothills of the Tsitsikamma Mountains. Nature’s Valley hasn’t always been a popular garden route stop, in fact it was practically inaccessable until Thomas Bain completed the Grootrivier Pass in 1880.

One of the most popular activities around Nature’s Valley is the world’s highest commercial natural bungee jump. At 206 meters high, jumping off the Bloukrans Bridge is sure to get your heart pumping. If you choose to keep your feet planted, there are plenty of walks and hikes in the area as well. The final section of the Otter trail is here, as well as the Salt River Cove trail and the Kalanderkloof trail (known as the 5 hour mini-otter trails).

There is also a great opportunity to see the rainforest from the canopy… if you’re brave enough to go on a zip line tour! We did one here and would highly recommend it for anybody interested in the diverse ecosystems of the rainforest.

Dariece Zip lining In Nature’s Valley

Why stop Now?

The garden route is a beautiful stretch of coastal road that is well worth exploring, but South Africa is full of picturesque drives, national parks and gleaming coastlines. There’s no reason why your South African road trip has to stop at the garden Route.

If you’re heading north from Cape Town, continue on through the amazingly diverse Wild Coast, and in the other direction keep going until you hit the very southernmost suggestion of Africa at Cape Agulhas. No matter which route you take, there’s no better place to plan a road trip than in South Africa.

For much more information on travelling through South Africa, make sure to check out these articles:

Safety suggestions For a South African road Trip

Guide To Backpacking South Africa

South African Safari: national Parks You Can Afford

Have you ever driven the garden route in South Africa? Does it look like a place you’d like to travel to?! share with us below.

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Sugar Reef is a stunning eco-luxury hotel located on the island of Bequia in St.Vincent and The Grenadines. known as both the best restaurant, and one of the best hotels on the island, Sugar Reef has made a name for itself by having lovely staff, a stunning location and a professional chef (Chef John) who cooks up delicious meals every day. The natural feel of the hotel grabs visitors as soon as they enter, with stunning drift wood furniture and local art adorning the main lobby & dining area. This is definitely one of the most unique boutique hotels we’ve ever stayed at.

Checking In

We received a very warm welcome at Sugar Reef when we arrived. even though we checked in 4 hours early, the staff kept us company while we waited for our room to be prepared and they even offered us a free breakfast, something you don’t usually get on the day you check in! Each member of staff greeted us that day, and was exceptionally friendly throughout our stay.

The manager, Judit (pronounced Yudit) also sat and chatted with us for quite a while during check in. She was genuinely interested in meeting us and she told us about many of the things to do around the hotel.

Check-in was delightfully informal and we were offered a welcome rum punch and a delicious breakfast.

Our Room

We stayed in the beach front villa and it was absolutely stunning. fashionable stone walls complimented the driftwood furniture, art and decor that is found all over the hotel. Our enormous four-poster bed was extremely comfortable, and we had a perfect sleep every night…. who wouldn’t sleep with the sound of the ocean lapping up at the front door! There was a mosquito net, but because the room was completely screened and bug-free, we didn’t have to use it for the duration of the stay. We would have liked to see a 4-poster mosquito net but because we didn’t need to use it, we weren’t too concerned.

We had a nice little patio area that looked right out to the water. The beach front rooms were steps from the sand and there was a funky hammock hanging between two palms right in front of our patio.

There are 3 beach rooms in a single building facing the ocean. Each of these rooms are the same and their front patios are separated by a small brick barrier. A higher barrier would have been a welcomed improvement, so that each deck had complete privacy from it’s neighbours. but really, with the beach straight ahead, there’s no reason to look anywhere else!

Other Rooms

Sugar Reef Estate is split into two separate areas. There is the restaurant and dining area, along with the three beach rooms right on the water. Up the hill and through the lush coconut plantation, there is the enormous French House, which has another 5 rooms. Each room in the French house is completely different, but all come with the charming plantation home ambience and the tasteful local dark wood furniture and decor. The views from the French house are absolutely sublime, and if you decide to stay up here, we highly recommend the Master Suite which we think is the most stunning room in the hotel and possibly on the entire Island!

The French House
The Dining

Thanks to professionally trained chef John, the food at Sugar Reef is fantastic. meals are eaten in the dining room which looks out over the dazzling beach. In the morning, the amazing breeze blows in as guests enjoy a delicious complimentary breakfast. Lunch can be served at any time, and at dinner service the dining room truly lights up. Each table is set with a single glowing candle and light dinner music is played over the speakers. even though dinner service appears to be formal, there is still the same casual atmosphere that really makes Sugar Reef special.

We tried almost everything on the menu and not once were we disappointed with the food. My personal favourite was the tuna tartar appetizer (which I ate every day) and Dariece couldn’t get enough of chef John’s mahi mahi. many people say that Sugar Reef has the best restaurant on Bequia Island and after eating here 3 meals / day, three days in a row, we can honestly say that we agree.

The Staff

These days, hotels and luxury accommodation are becoming less and less personal. Huge, sprawling structures are cropping up on beaches all over the Caribbean, some with over 100 staff! Sugar Reef is refreshingly cozy and intimate with just 12 members of staff, each one genuinely interested in their guests. This hotel prides itself on having a family feel and it definitely succeeds at giving guests a warm welcome and a comfortable stay.

 

The Amenities

There is no pool, air conditioning or spa at Sugar Reef, but these types of amenities simply wouldn’t meld with the eco-friendly, natural vibe of the hotel. What you do get here are stunning rooms, set close to the sea on a stunning plantation estate. There are plenty of walks both through the hotel grounds and up into the surrounding hillsides. One particular walk will take you to Bequia Head at the very end of the island, where you have stunning views of the other islands in the Grenadines chain.

The rooms come with daily cleanings and turn-down service, as well as endless fresh water and a complimentary breakfast. The beach in front of the hotel is stunning, but when we were there some moss had moved in and darkened the water a bit. We were told that this happens periodically but never lasts more than a couple of weeks.

They even have board games and a real espresso machine! perfect for rainy days.

Kayaks, snorkel gear and bicycles are offered to guests free of charge.

The Grounds

You can explore for hours and never even leave the hotel grounds. The estate that Sugar Reef sits on is stunning and the walk between the beach rooms and restaurant, up to the French house is terrific exercise. There are hundreds of palm trees and blossoming flower bushes all around the home ,and the drive in looks like something from a springtime post card. Sugar Reef probably sits on the most gorgeous plot of land on Bequia island.

Room Rates

Click here to book your room now!

Click here For A full list Of room Rates

2014­/2015 rate Sheet (Prices in us Dollars)

WINTER (REGULAR/WEEK­OR­MORE)

From December 20 through April 10

Beachfront, 300/260

Master Suite, 275/240

Battowia, 220/190

Secret Guests’, 175/150

Baliceaux, 175/150

Mistress’s Cottage, 150/130

RELAXED (REGULAR/WEEK­OR­MORE)

From April 11 through December 19

Beachfront, 240/210

Master Suite, 220/190

Battowia, 175/150

Secret Guests’, 140/120

Baliceaux, 140/120

Mistress’s Cottage, 120/105

Room rates do not include 10% government tax (VAT) and 10% service Charge. Rates, in us dollars, include wifi, daily maid service and continental breakfast.

Overall Opinion

We chose to stay at Sugar Reef for Dariece’s 30th birthday and we’re very happy we did. We couldn’t have asked for a more relaxing, comfortable and enjoyable stay. The staff was very attentive and they planned a special birthday cocktail and desert for Dariece. Three of the wait staff even sung a Caribbean version of happy birthday for her. We looked at every room in the hotel and each has its own character and charm. The rooms in the French house vary greatly in size and appeal, but all are clean, comfortable and well furnished. The Master Suite is by far the most stunning room in the hotel.

What really made Sugar Reef stand out was the staff. rarely do you find such kind and committed staff in this part of the world and Sugar Reef has terrific service in spades.

Sugar Reef dining area at Night
-Pros

Adult-only hotel

Great food

Beautiful property

Right on a nice beach

Excellent views from every room (beach from beach rooms, sea and jungle from French House)

Friendly staff

Nearby walks / hikes

Turtle sanctuary nearby

Very fast wi-fi (especially important for us)

Location: quiet & secluded (also a con for some people)

Very amazing decor (especially the driftwood chandeliers and mirrors)

VERY Eco-friendly

Incredibly unique

-Cons

Mosquito net should be 4-poster (but you don’t really need one anyway)

Location: The hotel is about a 45 minute walk (10 minute taxi) from town (a pro for some people)

The beach has moss a couple of weeks / year (it’s still swimmable and stunning though)

It’s very hard to leave!

Check Out Our accommodation spotlight video For Sugar Reef!

Final Impression

From the moment we checked in, until the moment we left, we were treated like pals and family and it was that unique atmosphere that really made Sugar Reef stand out for us. We became terrific pals with the manager Judit and we hope to one day return for another glorious stay. We highly recommend Sugar Reef for anyone looking for a one of a kind eco-luxury hotel in the Caribbean.

Want to stay in this gorgeous place? You can book your room here!

A big thank you to Sugar Reef for hosting us during this portion of our stay on Bequia Island. As always, all reviews, thoughts and opinions remain our own. 

Disclaimer:Goats On The road is an Amazon associate and also an affiliate for some other retailers. This means we earn commissions if you click links on our blog and purchase from those retailers.

Posted: 08/02/12 | August 2nd, 2012

Before I went on my cruise, a lot of people said they wouldn’t cruise because of their poor labor practices. Cruises exploit workers, they said. I’ve heard about the long hours and low pay that most cruise workers endure, but rather than assume, I looked to my pal Wandering Earl, who for a number of years working on cruise ships as a tour director. Earl and I spoke about what it’s really like to be a member of the “crew” on a cruise ship.

Nomadic Matt: how did you end up working on a cruise ship?
Wandering Earl: Back in 2000, I met a fellow traveler who told me about his experiences working onboard cruise ships. I was intrigued by his stories of waking up one morning in Jamaica, the next morning in Barbados, and the next in Costa Rica. I also liked the idea of more travel and vacation time.

He spoke of working with hundreds of crew members from around the world, of crew parties, of free activities in every port, and of a working/living/social environment that seemed like something I wanted to experience.

After I finished teaching in Thailand, I contacted him and he put me directly in touch with a vice president he knew at carnival cruise Lines.

Tell us about your job(s) over the years. What do you do exactly?
I began as an assistant tour manager, but during my first contract, I was promoted to tour manager, a position I held for the remaining 4.5 years I worked on ships. As a tour manager, I was in charge of the tour office, which is the department that organizes land excursions for passengers in all the ports of call.

For me, my schedule involved being the first person off the ship in the morning, dispatching the tours for a few hours, enjoying some free time in port, then returning to the office in the evening, where I would continue organizing the excursions for the following ports and complete the necessary daily reports to be sent to the head office.

On days when the ship wasn’t in port, I would be in my office still communicating with the tour operators, organizing the tours for future voyages, and dealing with any number of unexpected situations that would arise.

During sea days, I would also give presentations in the main theater, where I would talk about the ports the ship was scheduled to check out and which excursions we offered. [Editor’s note: I don’t remember any of these on my cruise!]

A lot of people criticize cruise liners for their poor working conditions. have you ever felt mistreated?
Not at all. While crew members do work long hours, the staff are treated quite well. most ships these days offer very premium crew accommodation, along with several dining halls, crew bars, crew shops, Internet cafés, coffee bars, crew gyms, and party areas, all specifically for the crew.

There are language courses you can take, and even business courses and other certifications available to all crew members. There are frequent movie nights, theme parties (cruise lines organize parties for the major holidays of every nationality working onboard the ship), and plenty of other crew activities.

Out of the thousands of crew members I’ve interacted with, I’ve never heard of any major incident of a crew member being mistreated.

Have working conditions improved over the years?
Absolutely. There is simply no way in this day and age that cruise lines would be able to survive if the working conditions were poor. and with every new ship that is built, the crew areas are always improved in order to ensure that the quality of life is as high as possible, something that is important when you are working in such an enclosed environment.

There are always very specific rules in place as to how many hours every crew member can work, how much free time they must receive each week, and what their specific duties entail.

And the safety of every crew member really is a priority, at least with the three cruise lines I worked for. In my experience, the officers in command of every ship do whatever it takes to ensure that the crew members are as happy as possible.

Many people say most cruise liners hire people from developing nations because they are less likely to speak out, especially for lower-level positions. Thoughts?
In my opinion, the reason why many of the “lower” jobs are filled with people from developing nations is that the cruise lines can get away with paying them lower wages.

Most of the “lower” jobs receive very little money from the cruise lines (maybe $200–500 USD per month), with gratuities making up the rest of their salary. It would be a lot harder to convince people from the Western world to take a job for such a small base pay, but for those from developing countries, this amount is typically much more than they would earn back at home.

As for keeping crew members in control, every cruise ship I’ve worked on had a crew office that was serious about listening to crew member issues and complaints, regardless of the position they held. and crew members were encouraged to speak out about anything they felt needed to be changed, whether it pertained to work safety, improved crew facilities, salaries, or anything else.

As a result, changes were made on a regular basis, and crew members who suggested major changes that were indeed implemented were typically rewarded for voicing their concerns in the first place.

What are common misconceptions people have about life on a cruise ship?
Most of the people I meet either think that crew members work 24 hours per day for six months straight, without any time off, or they think that crew members just party all the time because such work is not really “work” at all.

But both of these are untrue.

Working on a cruise ship involves long hours for sure, but every crew member does have free time, and there are always crew activities organized to ensure that ship life involves much more than just work. Likewise, while there are crew parties organized every week or two, working on a cruise ship does involve real responsibilities, and anybody who doesn’t take their job seriously will find themselves out of a job before long.

Another misconception is that the pay onboard cruise ships is quite low. and while some positions earn a low base salary, when combined with tips, usually these crew members are earning much more than they would earn in their home countries.

Also, for other positions, such as those in the front office, tour office, or entertainment department, the salaries can be quite generous. and when you consider that crew members have very few expenses during their contracts (room and board, health insurance, flights to/from the ship, etc., are all taken care of), it is possible to save much more money during one contract than most people would save in a year or more working a job back on land.

Really? A guy in Haiti was telling me that after working eight months on a ship, his brother would bring home $5,000 USD. While that might be a lot for Haiti, it still seems like subhuman, sweatshop labor pay. how much did you make?
To bring home over $600 per month (which is more than the average salary in dozens upon dozens of countries) while having all of your expenses paid for is quite a good setup, and any crew member is always free to leave if they feel the pay isn’t worth it. That guy from Haiti can work for 5–10 years on a cruise ship, go home and live quite well, and in many cases, retire. I can’t tell you how many times fellow crew members from developing countries would show me photos of the brand new three-bedroom house, complete with a swimming pool and ocean views, that they just bought back home from their cruise ship salaries.

As for my salary, it varied depending on bonuses but was generally $3,000–4,500 per month.

What’s one of your “day from hell” stories?
This would be a tough call. maybe it was the day our ship arrived in Panama, and I found out that our tour operator had to cancel the “Panama Canal Tour” (which was the highlight of the cruise), a tour that 800 passengers had booked.

After explaining the situation to those 800 people from the stage of the ship’s theater, I then spent one hour being screamed at, being called nasty names, having fruit thrown at me, having one man spit on me, being threatened, and having one guy jump over some seats to try and attack me. and the abuse continued for the rest of the cruise.

The best day on the job was _____________.
The day I disembarked the ship in order to escort a multi-day overland tour to Jordan and Egypt.

During our 2.5-month world cruise on one particular ship, our department offered several of these extended excursions to our passengers, and each tour was to be escorted by a member of our team.

So, I enjoyed a five-star, eight-day trip through Egypt and Jordan, visiting Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum, Sharm el-Sheikh, the Sinai Desert, Cairo, and Luxor, all without having to spend a single dollar. It was definitely one of the best perks of my job.

For more about Earl, life on cruise ships, and how you can work on cruise ships, check out Earl’s phenomenal and detailed definitive book on getting a job on a cruise ship. It’s an excellent resource for anybody looking to get into the cruise industry, and it’s updated every year. Earl is the best expert I know on the subject!
 

Book Your Trip: Logistical tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a low-cost flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t forget travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never goon a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

SafetyWing (best for everyone)

Insure My trip (for those over 70)

Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Ready to book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.

hello everyone,

I wanted to share another video from a recent Nomadic Network event. this one is all about “How to Volunteer on Farms around the World.”

Have you ever wanted to spend some quality time with a goat? 

Are you the traveler who seeks authentic experiences with locals? 

Have you ever been curious about farm life, but felt out of place as a city kid? 

If so, WWOOFing may be for you!  

WWOOF, or world broad opportunities on organic Farms, is a net…

Hey! Sorry to interrupt but….

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As a member of Nomadic Matt Plus, you not only get tons of perks to make your travels less expensive but you help us keep creating the extensive travel content you love!

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We stayed for over an hour at the chocolate Hills as well as drank as much buko juice as we could. At this point, the whole countryside trip had gotten tiring as much as it was exciting. sitting in the van for hours was much more exhausting than we expected.

Our next stop was the just Butterflies Conservation center which homes a butterfly garden, a restaurant as well as more. It is Bohol’s very first butterfly livelihood breeding program aiming to safeguard the butterfly population with breeding as well as releasing as well as plant research.

The center is found in the municipality of Bilar, around 40 kilometers from the city of Tagbilaran. It is only 5 minutes from the Bilar Man-Made Forest.

We paid the P50 entrance charge as well as a trip guide ushered us with the entire experience.

The Conservation center harbors a Butterfly Garden, a vibrant landscaped garden full of flowering plants as well as of course, butterflies. Our guide stated that much more than 60 types of butterflies come to the garden.

Butterfly resting in the shade in the Butterfly Enclosure
A spider at Butterfly Garden
More informative screens about Bohol wildlife

There was likewise a Butterfly Enclosure. It was a part of the garden covered with nets. inside were much more butterflies just flying around, playing, feeding as well as breeding. They stated that over 20 types of regional butterflies were inside.

After our tour, we had our obligatory picture-taking.

The bad Traveler’s bad buddies while pseudo-meditating
My buddy Ayn on the hammock
Truth be told, the location was quite however there was nothing that sets this butterfly garden aside from those discovered in other parts of the country. I assumption when you’ve been to one butterfly garden, it’s like you’ve been to all of them. however it was okay. We understand that our P50 entrance charge would be spent in the advancement of this location as well as security of the butterfly types in Bohol.

How to get to just Butterflies Park: From the Tagbilaran airport, take a tricycle to the Bus terminal as well as board a bus to Bilar or Carmen. Ask the chauffeur or conductor to decrease you off at just Butterflies Center. If you’re taking a travel package, you may ask the trip operator to include it in your itinerary.
Entrance Fee: P50 per person

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usually we do roundups for countries, not cities. For example, we spent 30 days in Mongolia and had so lots of adventures that it was well deserving of its own wrap up. So why are we doing a city roundup?

Well, in the case of Valladolid, we had such a jam-packed 2 weeks there that we figured we must write about all of our cultural, gastronomic and nature-filled experiences in one place. There are limitless things to do in Valladolid and the fact that we stayed for two weeks proves how much this town has to offer travellers! If you are going to check out one place in the Yucatan, make it Valladolid, this is absolutely one of the best places to check out in Mexico! 

We were lucky enough to come here during the Candelaria Festival, which took place at a enormous fair ground with events planned every day. everything from the normal carnival rides to bull fights to singing and dancing. We didn’t go to all of the events, but we did see a boxing match at an outdoor stadium!

We experienced standard Maya theatre and dance at the terrific outdoor performance of Momentos Sacrados Mayas, a need to see.

We learned how to make scrumptious Tamales the standard Maya way, in the ground! The hot tamales were fun to make and even a lot more fun to devour. eating is one of the top things to do in Mexico as a whole, sample all of the lots of incredible regional dishes during your stay. 

Casa Los Vernados is a must-see mansion. This place houses 3000 pieces of Mexican folk art, which is the greatest collection outside of a museum. daily excursions commence at 10:00am, with a suggested donation of $5.

We cycled to the nearby Oxman Cenote and Maya village of Ditznup. We spent the day swinging from a rope into the crystal clear waters and enjoying lunch with a welcoming local family.

We checked out the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, the San Servacio o Gervasio Cathedral and the San Bernandino de Siena Convent.

The San Servacio o Gervasio Cathedral lit up at night
We wandered around the local market sampling various foods and learning about goods that the Maya people have been selling for years.

Hot, Hot, hot Habanero Chili Peppers
We learned how crucial cocao is to the Maya people, and we sampled lots of organic, flavoured cocao which was not only interesting and healthy, but very delicious!

Cacao pod with seeds inside
We did shot after shot of tequila at the Mayapan Distillery, which is only a 10 minute drive outside of Valladolid. We also sampled the local Maya liquor called Xtabentun, which is sweet with strong honey and anise notes. Food and tequila excursions are one of the best things to do in Puerto Vallarta as well. 

We checked out the Zaci Cenote which is actually in the middle of town. The water was clear and refreshing and the place was filled with local people enjoying a dip in the fresh water. Cenotes are found all over the Yucatan. Cooling off in one of them is a highlight and one of the best things to do in Playa del Carmen and Tulum as well. 

We celebrated Valentine’s Day with a wonderful Italian meal at cafe Italia. We shared an appetizer of brie cheese with prosciutto and olives stuffed with garlic and chili. For dinner, Nick chose fettucine alfredo and I went with the penne with rose sauce. For dessert, we had the best tiramasu we’ve ever had. It was perfectly creamy, moist and oh so amazing. Of course, we also polished off a bottle of red wine.

Amazing Tiramisu, with a special presentation

Rio Lagartos is a sensational Nature Reserve only 104 kms away. We hopped on a boat and cruised through the thick mangroves spotting Flamingos, Crocodiles, Puffer Fish and about 10 other species of birds.

Visiting our first ancient Maya site of Ek Balam was a substantial highlight. There are lots of a lot more sites in the area, but we’re saving them for later. There are so lots of amazing, ancient sites to see in Mexico. Don’t miss a check out to Teotihuacan, one of the top things to do in Mexico City. 

It worked out that fellow travel bloggers, Dan & Casey from A Cruising Couple, would be stopping in Valladolid for a couple of days and we were able to finally meet them in person! virtual pals became real friends. The 4 of us did what we all take pleasure in most: talking about web sites & travel, eating incredible Mexican food and drinking margaritas and beers. I think we’ll all need to be rolled out of this country when we leave!

We finally got to meet Dan & Casey!Valladolid has so much to offer in the form of culture, cuisine, nature and archeological sites. There are lots of things to do ideal in the city, and just as lots of things that are just a short drive away. even just wandering around the small lanes, checking out tortillerias and getting fruit from the side-of-the-road vendors makes for a terrific day.

We highly recommend making this pastel coloured town your base for doing some exploring around the Yucatan, you won’t be disappointed.

 

What do you think? could you spend two weeks in this city?! share with us below.

Disclaimer:Goats On The road is an Amazon associate and also an affiliate for some other retailers. This indicates we earn commissions if you click links on our blog and purchase from those retailers.

A young boy as well as a young woman lit candles as they stood in the middle of the candle racks. They then closed their eyes, stated a silent prayer, walked towards the series of pews that filled the nave of the basilica, as well as joined their parents who were both deep in prayers of their own. The bad Traveler is not truly a religious person however it was heartwarming to see bit youngsters costs high quality time with their parents.

The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is the center of Catholic belief in Batangas City, the province’s capital. It is not difficult at all to reach this location as anyone in Batangas understands where it is as well as exactly how to get there. It was almost dusk when we shown up as well as although we were really planning on paying this church a go to the next morning, we decided to step into this tranquil spiritual haven after seeing the heavy clouds endangering to shower the city.

WHAT’S covered IN THIS GUIDE?

Facade as well as Interior
History of Batangas Basilica
Top hotels as well as Resorts in BatangasSearch for more Batangas Accommodations!

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Facade as well as Interior

Old trees surround the  basilica, which stands just across the city’s central park, Plaza Mabini. Its facade is simple — smooth as well as beige with four cornered columns as well as tall, narrow windows. next to it is a huge three-layered bell tower with the base of each layer fringed by balusters. On the other side is the Basilica Pastoral Center.

It is what’s inside that makes it more interesting. just like most basilicas, the nave is huge, full of carefully aligned pews for the congregation. The benches lie below chandeliers hanging from the church’s extremely high ceiling as well as are fenced by huge arches, the sides of which had wall fans for the comfort of the people inside. One end of the transept shelters candle racks as well as statues of saints as well as angels all confined in a beautifully balustraded corner.

The Dome
Perfectly arranged pews at the nave
Children illumination candles
Color is almost absent inside the basilica. Its interiors are predominantly gray. Of program there are still other colors however they are pale, which is not a poor thing. It is really stunning. It’s gray, yes, however not dull. There are vivid as well as elaborate paintings on some parts of the walls while striking patterns covered the ceiling as well as the floor.

History of Batangas Basilica

The church on the site had been rebuilt a number of times since the building of the very first church in 1581 under Augustinian Pastor father Diego Mojica. Twenty years after the very first church was built, in 1601, the foundation for the second church was made however the church itself was built from 1682 to 1721. The second church, however, was demolished 179 years later for the third church, the increase of which was made possible with the efforts of father Pedro Cuesta. On February 13, 1948, Pope Pius XII granted the church a Basilica status.

Bright, vibrant balloons!
The Basilica’s lack of color is something that was refreshing for me since most of the churches I had visited before had its interiors heavily painted by colorful, vibrant pictures as well as patterns. To me, that’s what makes it stand out as well as provides it character.

Outside the church was a lady selling balloons. These bit air-filled joys beamed with color as well as sparkle, a stark contrast. A household of three emerged from the church as well as the father bought one for his infant daughter. The bit woman smiled. The parents smiled. I did, too.

Top hotels as well as Resorts in Batangas

According to Agoda evaluation scores.

Acuaverde beach resort & hotel Inc. inspect rates & Availability! ✅

Virgin beach Resort. inspect rates & Availability! ✅

NDN Grand Hotel. inspect rates & Availability! ✅

Palm beach Resort. inspect rates & Availability! ✅

Cintai – Coritos garden Hotel. inspect rates & Availability! ✅

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Kenya as well as Tanzania have some fantastic safari choices for east Africa as well as have destinations I have long wished to visit. I’m not alone. many of you have asked about these locations too. So I invited mark Wiens of Migrationology to share his experience as well as tips on exactly how to travel around this region, see animals, as well as not spend a ton of money!

Few activities make it to the top of container listings like safaris. It’s an experience sought after by people all around the world, a when in a lifetime possibility to find deal with to deal with with our planet’s most majestic as well as gorgeous animals.

An African safari is a thrilling possibility to see wild animals going about their everyday lives in their natural habitat, which is why they’re one of the most prominent activities on the continent.

East Africa (specifically Kenya as well as Tanzania) has a big range of national parks that offer adventurous chances to see wildlife up close.

A great deal of research study as well as planning goes into getting a safari completely arranged, choosing what game reserve to visit, as well as discovering transportation as well as accommodation.

The market is not normally well fit to long-lasting travelers on a tight budget. The east African safari generally caters to high-end tourists who want a quick vacation as well as choose to pre-book an all-inclusive bundle trip without believing as well much about the cost.

Fortunately, there are a number of methods to save money on an African safari. In this post, I’ll show you exactly how to plan an incredible safari in east Africa without breaking the bank!

Table of Contents

Package Tours: whatever You requirement to Know

How to do a diy Safari

3 things to understand about Safaris

7 Safari Tips

Frequently Asked concerns on Safaris

 

Package Tours

There are countless business that offer safari bundles for tourists who desire to sit back as well as refrain from doing any type of planning. These safari tours are extremely practical as well as are worth the money if you don’t have the time to research study or if you want to prevent prospective hassles.

High-end bundle offers offer one cost as well as generally cover whatever from pickup to drop-off (even from the airport), including food, fees, transportation, as well as lodging. Be prepared to spend around $200–$500 USD each day for a bundle safari. They aren’t cheap!

With a bundle tour company, you can either join a group with a pre-made itinerary (a fantastic choice for solo travelers), or you can personalize a safari bundle with an itinerary to your liking (this choice works finest if you are already traveling with a group).

Two excellent resources for more info on safari tours are the Kenya association of tour Operators, which is much better understood as KATO, as well as the Tanzania association of tour Operators. Both organizations aim to promote as well as provide credibility to the safari business that preserve a high level of service as well as a fantastic value-to-price ratio. You can discover a listing of business there.

Do-It-Yourself Safari

It’s possible to do a safari on your own, however it’s a great deal more work. Here’s exactly how you can organize your own safari:

Rent your own vehicle
Nearly all game parks enable you to drive your own vehicle. This opens up chances for saving some money, in addition to enabling for more versatility in doing precisely what you want. You can lease a vehicle as well as drive yourself or lease a vehicle with a full-time driver included (this usually costs an additional $20–30/day).

A five-seat SUV can be rented for $75–200 per day, depending upon the type of vehicle. The company, for security reasons, needs a specific itinerary that details where you plan on going, the number of passengers, as well as the length of time you mean to lease the vehicle.

Accommodation
There are many lodges, hotels, as well as high-end camp choices to select from, depending upon the park you choose. hotel spaces requirement to be booked a few weeks in advance, particularly during peak season. rates begin at $80 USD as well as go up from there.

If you’re an adventurous traveler who likes to be close to nature as well as can handle the howls of animals at night, camping is a fantastic affordable option. In Kenya, the primary national parks that offer camping choices are Hell’s entrance national Park, Tsavo East, Mt. Kenya national Park, Lake Nakuru, Amboseli, as well as Aberdare national Park.

Permits are necessary as well as can be arranged at the Kenya wildlife service office in Nairobi before heading out. The expense for camping is around $25 USD per adult per night.

In Tanzania, campsites are offered at choose game parks as well as are finest booked in advance. camping is permitted in Selous game Reserve at two designated areas: Beho Beho Bridge as well as Lake Tangalala. personal camping costs around $20 USD per night per person as well as must be arranged either in Dar Es Salaam city center before going to the park, or at Matambwe or Mtemere entry stations at the Selous reserve.

Planning Your Safari: things to Know

National park entrance fees
Fees for national parks are charged by the day. a few of the smaller parks, like Nairobi national Park (Kenya) at $40 USD per day, or Mikumi (Tanzania) at $30 USD per day, are less costly options.

Other more famous parks like Maasai Mara (Kenya), Serengeti (Tanzania), or Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania), can expense upwards of $60 USD per day, depending upon whether it’s high or low season. If you’re driving your own vehicle, there are separate vehicle charges as well, frequently at $30–40 USD per day.

The time of year matters
Dry season (June–October) is usually the very best time of the year to see wildlife, however it’s likewise the most costly as well as busiest time of year. You requirement to choose what works finest for your routine as well as your money. If you can, think about going on a safari just before high season kicks in.

Good guides go a long way
Your safari guide will attempt to show you the east African huge 5: lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, as well as rhinos. However, there are many other big-ticket animals that are incredible to see, including cheetahs, hyenas, hippos, giraffes, jackals, crocodiles, as well as scores of antelope as well as gazelle.

Usually, your driver will double as your guide. It can be difficult to discover a great guide, however browse around for a driver as well as verify that he has a cunning eye for spotting wildlife.

To do this, discover an experienced driver with an official tour guide license. You can likewise browse KATO as well as TATO (mentioned above) for suggested guides that are experienced at discovering wildlife. Unofficially, people from the Maasai tribe are understood for their incredible animal-tracking skills.

7 tips for going on Safari in east Africa

To assist you make the most out of your next safari in east Africa, right here are some important tips:

Charge your camera – Make sure you have a fully-charged camera, in addition to a spare battery as well as additional SD cards. You don’t want to miss that perfect shot!

Bring motion-sickness pills – Bouncing around in a jeep all the time can make some people nauseous. If you get vehicle ill easily, prepare accordingly.

Find an honest driver – All as well often, safari drivers will try to get as well close to the animals, which disturbs them as well as normalizes get in touch with with humans. book your safari with an honest business that is concerned with the animal welfare.

Buy travel insurance coverage – While the chances of something going wrong are slim, it never hurts to be prepared!

Prepare for dust – It can get dirty in your vehicle as you bounce along the dirt roads. Bring sun glasses to cover your eyes as well as a bandanna or scarf for your face.

Dress in layers – The mornings on safari can be awesome (especially if you’re starting early) so bring a sweatshirt or light jacket.

Bring lots of water – Your guide and/or driver will likely have water as well as food for you, however bring additional won’t hurt. pack a water bottle in addition to some snacks, just in case.

African Safari FAQ

How much do you tip a safari guide?
Generally speaking, you’ll want to tip between $5-10 USD each day for your guide as well as driver (more if they were excellent, as well as less if it was just a half-day trip).

Which safari is much better Kenya or Tanzania?
Both countries offer incredible experiences, so there is no wrong answer. Kenya is frequently a bit cheaper, however you can discover incredible game drives in both countries.

What should I wear on safari in Kenya?
It’s likely going to get warm, so gown for the season. You’ll be in a vehicle most of the day so gown for comfort. Make sure to bring a sweatshirt or light jacket as it can get awesome in the mornings when you’re just starting out. Also, bring a hat an sunscreen.

Is Tanzania risk-free for tourists?
Yep! Tanzania is rather safe. As long as you method typical sense, you won’t run into any type of trouble.

What injections do you requirement for Tanzania as well as Kenya?
It’s suggested that you have shots for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, cholera, yellow fever, polio, as well as MMR (measles, mumps, as well as rubella). When visiting Tanzania, you’ll be needed to show proof of a yellow fever vaccination if you’re showing up from a country with a danger of the illness (so, for example, if you’re visiting Tanzania from Kenya, you’ll want to make sure you have proof of your vaccination).

***
There’s always something interesting to experience on a safari in east Africa. If you can make the most of your east African safari by doing some pre-planning, you’ll have the experience of your life!

Yes, a safari isn’t the most affordable activity — however it is a when in a lifetime possibility to see a few of the most incredible wildlife as well as landscapes in the world. By complying with the tips as well as advice above you’ll be able to make the most out of your next safari in east African — all while saving some money too!

Mark Wiens is an African-raised cultural travel enthusiast as well as street-food connoisseur who likes to check out the regional side of travel. He shares his adventures on Migrationology.

Book Your trip to Africa: Logistical tips as well as Tricks
Book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner or Momondo to discover a inexpensive flight. They are my two preferred browse engines since they browse websites as well as airlines around the globe so you always understand no stone is left unturned. begin with Skyscanner very first though since they have the biggest reach!

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest stock as well as finest deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, utilize Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses as well as inexpensive hotels.

Don’t fail to remember travel Insurance
Travel insurance coverage will protect you against illness, injury, theft, as well as cancellations. It’s comprehensive security in situation anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to utilize it many times in the past. My preferred business that offer the very best service as well as value are:

Safety Wing (for everybody below 70)

Insure My trip (for those over 70)

Medjet (for extra repatriation coverage)

Looking for the very best business to save money With?
Check out my resource page for the very best business to utilize when you travel. I listing all the ones I utilize to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.