Opportunities for going au naturel – ahem, we mean experiencing the outdoors and being one with nature is not always easy in the urban jungle. You need to know where to look. We’re here to help you find the best natural alternatives for a day tour, whether you’re looking for an exciting ecotour, natural remedies or just a little green respite from the city.

Trail walks and conservation in Tsitsikamma

A bucket-list destination for any traveller worth their salt is the South Coast of South Africa. This part of the country is known to have one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the world and boasts the incredible Garden Route. This is where you can find the area the Khoisan call Tsitsikamma or “place of abundant or sparkling water”. This is an idyll by any stretch of the imagination. It is also home to the Pledge Nature Reserve in Knysna where you can learn about the history and the beliefs of the San people. All aspects of traditional San life are closely connected to the natural environment and so it only makes sense that you should learn about their ways of life while you stroll along the reserve’s walking trails.

Bird watching in Soweto

There’s a birdwatcher in all of us. Don’t believe us? Then head south to Soweto on a Saturday morning and let Raymond Rampolokeng show you that bird watching is not just for the enthusiasts. In addition to making sightings of lesser-spotted birdlife (we spotted close to 35 species on our outing, less than the usual 60 plus species in summer, due to winter migration), this is the perfect chance for you to see the Soweto tower wetlands. For the hiker, it’s also an opportunity to check out the Pimville Koppies. If that’s not a two-birds-with-one-stone situation then we’re stumped.

Egoli is going green

Johannesburg, the city of gold is going green by joining the global practice of urban agriculture and green rooftops taking root across the world. Duduetsang Resane is an environmental activist who is passionate about developing communities by raising awareness about the benefits of natural ecosystems in the concrete jungle. Together with green initiatives such as the Wits-run Siyakhana Farm, she aims to nurture a closer relationship between city-dwellers and nature, promoting healthy eating and creating more green spaces in the city centre. Another star of the show is Bab’ Sihle, Siyakhana Farm’s resident herbalist who teaches visitors about the medicinal qualities of some of the herbs grown on the property. What’s more, visitors taste the teas that Bab’ Sihle brews using some of the herbs on the plot, as part of a Q&A of the health benefits of herbs.

The Rastas of Knysna

Beyond the spiritual beliefs of the Rastafarian community in Knysna, one of the most pronounced aspects of Judah Square is the power of self-organisation and community led initiatives. Although many of the residents of the small Rasta village work in town, the community has erected a crèche run by volunteers, developed home-stay bed and breakfasts and has also built a community centre. In addition to this there is a growing inclination towards small scale organic farming that some of the residents have taken up. And then of course is the ‘erb, which is a central component in the spiritual lives of Judah Square’s residents and something that village locals believe to be an integral part of their health and well being.