The best December staycations for the ultimate local holiday

Predictions are that for this holiday season, a staycation will prove to be an extremely attractive alternative for South Africans. Having survived the pandemic, we are now dealing with the frightening high cost of living. A staycation is not only easier on the bank balance, but there are many local experiences on offer that tick all the boxes of needs and wants which are in tune with rising travel trends. Travelwings give us the lowdown:

Hot tourism trends we love to follow:

1. Environmentally-conscious tourism: Earlier this year, the World Travel Organisation’s report on the top travel trends in Africa for 2022, revealed a growing concern for the environmental impact of tourism as opposed to over-tourism, where holidaymakers wanted to “make a positive impact on conservation and communities. It’s all about intimate and authentic experiences now.
2. “Slow tourism”: Another trend is that people are turning to “slow tourism”. They take longer trips with fewer stops and enjoy a laid back and simpler experience. The idea of luxury travel has also been re-interpreted to mean the desire to travel with purpose and enjoy meaningful experiences.

Trending, top staycations:
Let’s be honest…in SA, we are spoiled for choice:

1. For Gauteng locals, Rovos Rail or The Blue Train offers holidaymakers a return to the slow life in a luxurious and elegant manner.
2. In the Western Cape, a stay at Grootbos Forest Lodge within the carbon-negative Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, just south of Cape Town, provides stylish, contemporary accommodation, and decadent meals including made from fresh produce grown on the 2,500-hectare site.
3. Both Mpumalanga and Limpopo are similarly abundant with holiday escapes that epitomize luxury, purpose, and a return to nature, such as a stay at the Big 5 Kwafubesi Tented Safari Camp and Tanamera Lodge, on the slopes of the Sabie River.