EDITOR Iga Motylska editor @ travelupdate. co. za
DESIGN AND LAYOUT Stacey Storbeck Nel indiodesign @ mweb. co. za
COPY EDITOR Charles Thompson
CONTRIBUTORS Allison Foat, Dawn Jorgensen, Jo Kromberg, Lesley Stones, Linda Markovina, Nicola Jenvey, Nonsindiso Qwabe, Rachel Moncrieff-Robinson
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MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT Mariska Wolmarans mariska @ travelupdate. co. za
PUBLISHED BY Travel Update Media House. Registration number 2015 / 195314 / 07
PUBLISHING EDITOR AND CEO Mohamed Nagdy ceo @ travelupdate. co. za
Copyright Travel Update Media House, all rights reserved. The views expressed in this publication is not necessarily those of the publisher. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information and reports in the magazine, the publisher does not accept any responsibility whatsoever for any errors or omissions, or for any effects resulting therefrom. No part of this publication may be used or reproduced in any form whatsoever without the written consent of the publisher.
EDITOR’ S LETTER
School’ s out! It’ s time to practise the art of switching off, simply being and spending quality time with those close to you. There’ s no better time for a family holiday or a road trip with friends than the end of the year. Leave your laptop at home and switch off your phone. Go somewhere that makes your heart happy and rejuvenates your soul – you’ ll need it for the year ahead.
We ask South African travel bloggers and writers for recommendations on where you should travel in 2017 in our Travel Trends feature( page 12). Adventure through the Indian island of Reunion on a road trip( page 22) or relax at a resort on neighbouring Mauritius( page 28). These pages will also take you to Rwanda, Zambia, Croatia and Abu Dhabi.
Read our Savvy Traveller article( page 18) about how to stop being a slacktivist and how to contribute change, even if it’ s from your armchair. Soapbox( page 55) looks at the plight of the great white shark, while our Hot Topic feature( page 58) delves into Africa’ s hotel sector and whether its being disrupted by Airbnb.
In this issue, our quarterly Pan-African Health Tourism Digest, found at the back of the magazine, features advice on what to do if you fall ill abroad, discusses the rise of surgery safaris in Africa and investigates how KwaZulu-Natal is becoming a research hub for TB and HIV / AIDS. We want to hear from you. Tweet(@ travelupdatersa) or email us( editor @ travelupdate. co. za) about your next holiday or which countries you’ d like to read about in future issues. Bon Voyage!
Quaff champagne as you enjoy what some describe as the closest thing to heaven known to man – the magical“ experience” of lazily drifting with the wind in a hot air balloon on a fascinating aerial sightseeing flight over the majestic Magaliesbergs, in the World Heritage Cradle of Humankind, on South Africa’ s largest and most experienced balloon air service.
TEL( 011) 705-3201 CELL 083 443 2661 / 2 WEB www. balloon. co. za FAX( 011) 705-3203 EMAIL update @ balloon. co. za BEE Compliant- 100 % PRL