For all those parents with trips booked to or from South Africa during the July holidays, who were suddenly thrown into panic by the new law requiring that children (kids up to the age of 18) travel with an unabridged birth certificate…there’s good news from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). Realising the impact this new law […]

Here’s a heads-up if you’re travelling with children into or out of South Africa. There are new regulations which the Department of Home Affairs has announced will come into law on October 01, 2014. Below is advice on all you should need to know from Trace Patchin, Travel Manager at Harvey World Travel Hillcrest, and from Intergate […]

The latest South African version of “Happy”, inspired by Pharell Williams’ hit song, makes us truly HAPPY! Not only was it shot on locations all around South Africa…but the country’s legendary Sunlight brand is offering to donate R10 to the SA Ubuntu Foundation for each time this “Happy” video is shared on YouTube! The “Happy […]

Yzerfontein’s shoreline is wild and wonderful. Nestled in the Western Cape, this small harbour town – also spelt Ysterfontein – is a photographer’s paradise. Kajsa Deadrick and Helena Lorimer (whose parents rent out a beachside house in Yzerfontein) sent us these photos after their recent holidays to to the town, which is just 90 km north of […]

To celebrate CNN listing Durban as one of the Top Ten Most Underrated Cities in the World…and therefore one that tourists should book as their next holiday destination for more than just a pop-in, we’ve put together a photographic feast… Those of us who grew up in or near Durban have always known it’s South Africa’s […]

A mountain biker has uploaded a video on YouTube which shows an armed gunman in South Africa brazenly hijacking his bicycle…all caught on camera because the guman and his two accomplices didn’t realise what the GoPro camera on the biker’s helmut was (which shows how important it is to keep up with technology, no matter […]

For all the runners who trained for so many months for this special day, it may be over…but the feeling of accomplishment and pride in taking part in one of South Africa’s oldest and most legendary races will stay forever. To all those who participated in the 90 km Comrades Marathon 2014 – CONGRATULATIONS, you […]

The top three positions in the Comrades Marathon 2014 down-run, which kicked off successfully at 5.30 am this morning from Pietermaritzburg, have been won by South Africans! Bongmusa Mthembu came first in 5:28, followed by Ludwick Mamabolo (5:33) and Gift Kelehe (5:34). Zimbabwean Stephen Muzhingi came in fourth position. South African Gert Thys, who was […]

The war on rhino poaching in South Africa, particularly in the Kruger National Park, scored several successes in the last fortnight, culminating with the arrests this week of a former South African National Parks (SANParks) field Sergeant and two police constables. Hopefully these arrests will go some way towards curbing the escalating poaching figures – currently standing […]

Princess Charlene and Prince Albert are expecting their first child. The Monaco royal couple made the following short announcement on Friday 30 May: “T.S.H. the Prince and the Princess of Monaco are delighted to announce the pregnancy of H.S.H. Princess Charlène. The birth is expected at the end of the year.” This will be Princess […]

Many of us get exhausted just watching the legendary 90-km Comrades Marathon on TV…but three incredible athletes set out to run the distance of TEN Comrades Marathons in 10 consecutive days. Heartbreakingly two have had to pull out…but wow, we applaud them for their selflessness and bravery in pushing their physical boundaries to the limits to raise money […]

Last year Comrades Marathon champion Claude Moshiywa was the first South African to win an up-run in 21 years. It’s a feat which took him major dedication, perseverance and vision. Recognising the parallels between Claude’s journey and that of South Africa, Nation Builder created this inspiring video with Claude’s message to everyone. Right now it […]

South African professional surfer Jordy Smith pays it forward in this video ‘Today is Perfect’ proving he’s a champion in and out of the waves. The short online film explores the tough circumstances for many underprivileged kids in Durban and how surfing can change their lives. (Scroll down for video.) Jordy,  who’s currently ranked tenth in the 2014 […]

An urgent petition to halt mining plans that could threaten the rhinos in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi park has been set up on Avaaz, the online global campaigning community…and they need your signature. According to the petition, plans are underway to build an open-cast coal mine only 40 metres away from the game park. Conservationists, scientists and […]

Maya Angelou – poet, author, activist, playwright, historian, director, producer and actor (the list is endless) – sadly passed away this morning at the age of 86. Apart from her mountain of accolades and achievements, Maya also enjoyed a passion for dancing throughout her life, was mentor and friend to American talk show host Oprah […]

Community spirit in Ballito  is high, with a thriving online community on Facebook…and a new video celebrating just how happy they are. The beachside town on Kwa-Zulu Natal’s North Coast recently created their own version of Pharrell Williams’ hit song “Happy” (watch below). The video features the best of Ballito including many members of the community who […]

South Africans around the world are grabbing for the tissues to get them through a breathtaking new video that showcases South African scenes and scenery at its best. The new SA Tourism brand video is aimed at tourists, telling them that “when you #MeetSouthAfrica you’ll reconsider what you think you know”…but it’s many of South […]

Congratulations to Mayenzeke Shweni and Zweiliwile Hans from South Africa for coming first and second in the Individual Finals of the Blade Shearing category at the World Sheep Shearing Championships this weekend in Ireland! Together Shweni and Hans also scored a first for South Africa in the Teams Final for the same category. Jim Cully, […]

SA Tourism has launched a new video ad campaign which showcases South Africa with breathtaking cinematography…coupled with a fairly sombre message asking potential tourists to “reconsider” South Africa. The video, with a British voice-over, begins by posing the question: “what is beauty?”. After  answering with a stream of stunning visuals of SA scenes, as well as using sentences […]

Since the National Elections, many of those South Africans overseas who made a massive effort to vote have raised questions about the election process from the mysterious VEC10 form to the lack of voting stations and the distressing news for those in four cities that their votes were never even counted in the end. In a blog post […]

Bafana Bafana have left today for their Australasia tour…and they need our support! So if you’re an expat in that region, please go cheer them along on 26 May (Australia) and 30 May (New Zealand). The football team faced a major crisis in the days leading up to their departure, as many players withdrew from the […]

Here’s an interesting TED talk by an American finance executive, Mellody Hobson, imploring businessmen and citizens to make a concerted effort to not ignore race. She argues that speaking openly about race creates better businesses and a better society. Mellody happens to be one of the only two black women in the USA to chair […]

South African “lion whisperer” Kevin Richardson’s videos of him playing, wrestling and hugging lions have become famous throughout the world. But his latest one has a very stylish twist. In this video Kevin plays football with the lions whilst dressed in a very larni suit. The video, which was created for fashion house Van Gils, has […]

British Supergroup One Direction announced today that they will be touring South Africa next year. The band released a statement this morning saying “here’s a bit of a huge announcement for you. Who’s ready for ANOTHER tour in 2015? The ‘On the Road Again Tour’ to be exact! IDHQ x” Apart from South Africa, the […]

South Africa’s version of Burning Man – Afrika Burn – has become the largest, and many would say the best, of over a hundred worldwide burning events that have been inspired by the original hedonistic art festival in Reno, Nevada. Burning Man in Reno has become a popular destination for, amongst others, Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, Facebook’s […]