AWOL Travel

08/06/2026

From Game Drives to Gravel Roads: The South Africa Trip Worth the Flight.
Feel the pull of the open road – pedalling hard over mountain passes, pushing through ancient forests, earning every view and rewarding yourself with an ice-cold beer or glass of sparkling wine as the dust settles at sunset.
https://awol.travel/from-game-drives-to-gravel-roads-the-south-africa-trip-worth-the-flight/

08/06/2026

17/01/2026

Resharing this update from the floods in Kruger National Park.
Rivers have burst their banks, damaging roads and bridges (including a partial collapse on the Letaba high-level bridge), and at least 8 SANParks camps have been evacuated/temporarily closed or had guests moved — including Letaba, Satara, Shingwedzi, Sirheni, Bateleur, Talamati, Mbiyamiti and Roodewal. Day visitors have been suspended while teams focus on safety and recovery.

On the wildlife side, SANParks says animals are adapting by moving to higher ground — but communities near the park are urged to be extra cautious, as crocodiles (and other wildlife) may be pushed beyond park boundaries.

WildlifeSafety

02/12/2025

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25/11/2025

Wide open space of Namibian desert

25/11/2025

Our guests are out in Namibia right now with Dave our Safari Tour Guide, soaking up the kind of desert magic you only get when a trip is built around time, space, and the right pacing. Their base in Sossusvlei is Elegant Desert Lodge – a quiet spot just far enough from the crowds, where the wide-open plains steal the show and evenings settle into that classic Namibian stillness. It’s simple, warm, and honest hospitality… the sort that makes you slow down without even trying.

Sossusvlei has been the big highlight, of course. There’s no way around it: if you want to feel this place properly, you get up before sunrise. The dunes – some of the highest on earth – shift from deep blue shadow to burnt orange in minutes. Miss that window and you miss the real show.

A few stand-out moments they’ve been raving about:
• Breaking trail up Dune 45 while the sand is still cool underfoot.
• Deadvlei at first light, where those ancient camel-thorn trees look like something out of another world.
• Heading back to the lodge for a slow brunch, dust on their boots and smiles that say it was worth the early wake-up.

This is Namibia done properly: unpolished, timeless, and quietly spectacular. If you’re ready to plan a journey that gets under your skin for all the right reasons, I’ll help you piece it together.

18/11/2025

Thinking about a safari that goes deeper than the usual safari game-drive circuit? The Kalahari has a quiet way of surprising people — wide horizons, ancient culture, and that grounding sense of space you only get out in true wilderness.

Experience hunting with the San when staying at Grassland Safari Lodge and spending time with the ind community — a raw, honest look at what the experience is really like and how to get there.

If you’re curious about adding the Central Kalahari to your Botswana journey, or you’re not sure how charter flights, road transfers, and lodge logistics all fit together, this is exactly the kind of trip we help guests plan every day.

👉 Read the full blog here: https://awol.travel/the-san-cultural-experience-in-central-kalahari-botswana/
👉 Ask AWOL Travel for safari planning advice — we’ll point you in the right direction and help you build a trip that actually works on the ground.

No fuss, no fluff. Just solid guidance from people who know how a

29/10/2025

The colours of Cape Town — Where Every Street Tells a Story

Tucked beneath Signal Hill, the Bo-Kaap is one of Cape Town’s most colourful and historic neighbourhoods. Once home to freed slaves from Malaysia, Indonesia, and East Africa, its bright homes became a symbol of freedom and identity — each one painted with pride and personality.

Wander its cobbled streets, hear the muezzin’s call, and breathe in the aroma of spices drifting from family kitchens. This is where the heart of Cape Town’s Cape Malay culture beats strongest.

For guests wanting a deeper experience, we can include a Cape Malay cooking class — learn to fold samoosas, blend spices for a perfect curry, and share a meal in a local home.

It’s a taste of Cape Town you won’t forget.