It’s 2 o’clock on a Thursday afternoon and Durban’s beachfront is all colour and action, the sunlight startlingly bright. People look happy, relaxed and on holiday.

The much-awaited ‘deep snowfalls’ finally arrived in the Eastern Cape this past weekend. I could see the white-capped mountain peaks from my office window, which made all regular work immediately redundant.

Thinking of Durban, or Durbs as us South Africans refer to the seaside city affectionately, has always brought back happy holiday memories for me. The city has always been a December favourite for South Africans, and after the 2010 FIFA World Cup two years ago, it’s received a lot more attention from international visitors.

Several weeks ago, I got the chance to visit the Wonder Cave. Situated just an hour outside Johannesburg, the cave is located inside the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve in the Cradle of Humankind.

Discover lots of fun activities at Hermanus Forest Adventures, including go-karting. You’ll feel like a rally driver in no time.

If you’re thinking about coming to South Africa to try out adventure activities, you’ll need somewhere to stay. Here are a few of the backpacker establishments that regularly host adventure travellers.

If you want to experience proper backpacking in South Africa, you must experience the magic of the Transkei, far from the stresses of the modern world.

The Bush Babies Monkey Sanctuary at Hartbeespoort Dam in the Magaliesberg mountains gives former captive and pet monkeys a new chance of life in a pristine forest environment.

Every morning in Durban, surfers, body boarders, swimmers and paddlers enter the waters of the Indian Ocean as soon as the sun rises, most often without wetsuits. At the same time, shirtless runners pound the promenade, joined by cyclists, walkers and skaters.