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South Africa Field Trip: St. Lucia and a Cultural Tour Gone Wrong

Our Southern Africa embed Jill Nawrocki recently ducked out of Namibia for a field trip to South Africa.

Our final destination before crossing the border into rural Swaziland was the resort town of St. Lucia. Another volunteer had called it one of the most beautiful places on earth, and Coast to Coast said the village was seated at the heart of a World Heritage Site, amidst five different ecosystems. It sounded promising, and when we read that crocodiles, monkeys and even hippos roamed the streets, we knew it was a place that deserved a closer look.

While the "resort" part of the town was pretty desolate (again, we reasoned, because it was off season) Bib's International Backpackers (our hostel of choice) was busy with travelers from all over the world. In addition to your average dorm-style rooms and self-catering accommodations (all for about R100, or $12, a night), Bib's offers travelers a laundry list of tours, safaris and outdoor escapes to insure visitors experience all that St. Lucia has to offer.

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South Africa Field Trip: Port St. Johns

Our Southern Africa embed Jill Nawrocki recently ducked out of Namibia for a field trip to South Africa.

While most of our three week adventure involved visiting developed towns and seeing famous sites, our stop in Port St. Johns offered a taste of the African wilderness the Wild Coast is known for.

Amapondo, our rugged hostel with a hippie vibe, was nearly 100 kilometers from the Baz Bus drop off in Umtata. And while most would loathe the idea of getting back into a car after hours in transit, the drive through the Transkei Region proved one of the most beautiful and scenic in all of South Africa. The landscape was rolling hills and deep valleys, and subsistence farms and traditional housing dotted the countryside.

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South Africa Field Trip: Jeffreys Bay

Our Southern Africa embed Jill Nawrocki recently ducked out of Namibia for a field trip to South Africa.

From Hermanus it was on to Jeffreys Bay, surf capitol of--we were told--the world.

Something about the way the waves break in this seaside town make for some of the best boarding on any coast in any country. The breaks are better, one guy on a surfing world tour told us, because they go on for longer than anywhere else. (Those in the know call them Super Tubes.)

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South Africa Field Trip: Hermanus

Our Southern Africa embed Jill Nawrocki recently ducked out of Namibia for a field trip to South Africa.

A mere hour east of Cape Town, Hermanus has become one of the biggest destinations for adventure travelers to the coast. Yet this unassuming town, set on high rocky cliffs with quiet streets and traditional craft markets, is also the perfect place to unwind after a week of urban bliss.

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South Africa Field Trip: Baz Bus

Our Southern Africa embed Jill Nawrocki recently ducked out of Namibia for a field trip to South Africa.

Sure, renting a car offers a lot of freedom, but it also invites headaches and hassle. Plus, when you're traveling alone (or, like me, with just one other person) the cost of the vehicle--let alone the fuel--can be prohibitive. Luckily South Africa has an answer: Baz Bus.

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South Africa Field Trip: Wine Tours

Our Southern Africa embed Jill Nawrocki recently ducked out of Namibia for a field trip to South Africa.

Namibia is home to a handful of lagers and just one brand of wine, so I was excited to tour some of South Africa's vineyards and sample what the country had to offer. Kev--the go-to guy at our hostel for all things Cape Town--suggested Easy Rider Wine Tours.

At just R350 ($43) for a full-day trip to four different vineyards, including a delicious restaurant lunch, it was well within our budget. And plus, it sounded like a lot of fun.

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South Africa Field Trip: A Cape Peninsula Tour

Our Southern Africa embed Jill Nawrocki recently ducked out of Namibia for a field trip to South Africa.

We learned our lesson the hard way on the trip to Table Mountain, so when it came time to voyage out to the Cape of Good Hope, we weren't taking any chances. Our de facto tour guide Kev booked us two seats on the Baz Bus tour for R435 ($53) each. The deluxe minibus runs daily tours that include all of the Cape Peninsula highlights, as well as hiking and biking--in case we didn't already get our outdoor fill.

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South Africa Field Trip: Table Mountain

Our Southern Africa embed Jill Nawrocki recently ducked out of Namibia for a field trip to South Africa.

Cape Town may be the second largest city in South Africa, but despite the crowded streets, killer cuisine and unique shops there's still a huge scene for outdoorsy types.

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South Africa Field Trip: Cape Town Basics

Our Southern Africa embed Jill Nawrocki recently ducked out of Namibia for a field trip to South Africa.

Being on a budget can really narrow down your choices. But luckily, Cape Town is a big city with lots of options when it comes to accommodations and dining. (Even for those who are broke!)

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South Africa Field Trip: A Coast-to-Coast Guide

Our Southern Africa embed Jill Nawrocki recently ducked out of Namibia for a field trip to South Africa.

They say the best things in life are free, and if you're traveling across South Africa's coast and looking for the definitive guide to lodging, dining and adventure, that couldn't be more true. That's because our bible for the three-week adventure along the Garden Route and into Swaziland wasn't a Lonely Planet South Africa or even (dare I say?) Jaunted.

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