From barging at sunset to supping on canals, there are more jols on a body of water than you imagined available to city slickers
Hear the call of Africain Durban
Listening to African eagles where the uMgeni River spills into the ocean at Durban’s Blue Lagoon is pretty thrilling. In the immediate vicinity of this land-meets-sea hotspot, there are all sorts of ways to commune with nature. Folks from Durban’s Green Corridors do a range of activities where fish eagles are present, and the most popular is probably their mangrove tour at Beachwood Mangroves, at the uMngeni Estuary area. It’s a really special area in the sense that it’s just 2 km from the city centre. When you walk into those mangroves, you could be anywhere in southeast Asia – that’s the sense of a jungly world you get. Meanwhile, Blue Lagoon itself is a very vibrant, popular hangout spot for people to have picnics, parties and enjoy themselves – the mangroves are on the other side of the river, and there you can be surrounded by nature and bird calls and those fish eagles, all the while with the sound of the waves in the background. It’s an astonishing contrast to the vast city in which its found.
078 726 4890
durbangreencorridor.co.za
Go barging at sunset in Upington
If you’re longing for the sea, a sedate sunset cruise on the Orange River might be just the thing to put you in mind of the coast. Sakkie se Arkie (literally ‘Sakkie’s Little Ark’) is a little family operation offering a 90-minute trip on a double-decker raft, complete with a cash bar. Although you set off in town, you might see catfish, monkeys, eagles and other birds, too. The main ingredients for a fun time out are the lively crowd, the gentle sensation of the cruise, and the wonderful cocktails made by Sakkie’s wife. It generally only operates over weekends (R150 per person), but it can sometimes head out during the week if there are enough people interested.
082 564 5447 / 082 575 7285
arkie.co.za
Paddle the Mother City’s cool canals
It’s great for your core, it’s great for your balance (unless you have no balance, in which case it’s a useful way of getting wet)… Stand-up paddling is also a way of exploring parts of Cape Town that will seem mysterious and potentially unknown until you get out there on a board and paddle down those canals, and have a look for yourself. It’s more gliding than racing, and a relatively serene way of drifting between built- up parts of the city. You don’t really need experience and once you calmly get your float on, it’s not nearly as difficult as you might think. SUP Cape Town hires board-and-paddle kits for R220 per hour, and they have life jackets, which must be worn. They also do SUP lessons if required, included in your hour-long rental. Their store is on the canal adjacent Battery Park near the V&A Waterfront.
071 603 8388
supcapetown.co.za
Feast above a mighty chasm
The drop-away canyon views from the wooden deck of The Lookout Café, the most spectacularly located restaurant in Vic Falls, are absolutely awesome. Raging down below is the Zambezi River and if you’re watching at the right time, you will see white-water rafting crews paddling or being pushed along by the sheer force of the current. The menu is packed with international favourites as well as local specialities, and you can have a drink while you pluck up the courage to zip-line across the heady heights of the Batoka Gorge, or simply sit down for a relaxed meal. The lovely restaurant was rebuilt after a fire had destroyed the beloved original venue, and reopened shortly before lockdowns began. Now it’s in full swing once again and everything – from the classy design to the warm, efficient service – makes this essential place to visit while in Zimbabwe’s adventure capital. It’s handsome, breezy and effortlessly chic. Owned by adventure outfit Wild Horizons, there’s also a booking office right here in South Africa where you can sign up for all sorts of crazy outings – and some sane ones too.
+263 832 840 318
thelookoutcafe.com
Words by Keith Bain
Photography: Courtesy Images
