Tranquil retreats for parents: Finding serenity amidst the bustle
Parents also need time out to relax from the daily pressures of trying to balance work and family life.
Under the circumstances, even the most put-together person would be desperate for a peaceful escape, preferably with palm trees and bottomless piña coladas involved.
If tranquillity is what you most seek from a holiday, here are some quiet destinations and places for parents looking to travel without the kids.
NamibRand Nature Reserve, Namibia
The NamibRand Nature Reserve in southern Namibia, is a private nature reserve established to help protect and conserve the unique ecology and wildlife of the southwest Namib Desert.
The reserve shares a 100km border with the Namib-Naukluft National Park in the west and is bordered in the east by the imposing Nubib Mountains.
Virtually all facets of the Namib Desert are represented in the reserve, from sand and gravel plains and stretches of savanna to mountain ranges, inselbergs and vegetated dune belts.
The reserve is one of Africa’s largest and is recognised as an International Dark Sky Reserve, making it one of the best locations for stargazing.
Where to stay? Consider the Namib Desert Lodge, Gondwana Collection Namibia, which lies at the foot of ancient fossilised dunes near the sea and desert. A stay at the lodge starts from R3 364 a night for two.
Franschhoek, South Africa
Franschhoek, a Dutch word meaning French Corner, is a tiny slice of France in the spectacular Western Cape.
The picturesque town is steeped in history that tells the story of the French Huguenots who escaped religious persecution, bringing their culture and culinary expertise to South Africa in the late 1600s.
A gourmand's dream, Franschhoek is the foodie capital of South Africa, with superb restaurants and wine estates on the menu. Franschhoek is only a short drive from Cape Town, making it an ideal choice for a day trip or weekend getaway.
Where to stay? Macaron Boutique Guest House with panoramic views of Franschhoek Mountains is perfect. A stay starts from R5 150 a night for two.
The Okavango Delta, Botswana
The Okavango Delta is a pulsing wetland. More correctly an alluvial fan, the delta coversup to 15 000km² of Kalahari Desert in northern Botswana and owes its existence to the Okavango (Kavango) River that flows from the Angolan highlands, across Namibia’s Caprivi Strip and into the harsh Kalahari Desert.
It features a labyrinth of waterways, lagoons and islands – plenty of opportunity to relax amid nature.
Where to stay? Camp Moremi, a four-star tented camp, boasts 12 expansive, modern-styled thatched safari tents.
A stay at the camp starts from $1 160 (R20 100) a person, however, SADC prices available on request.
Hluleka, Wild Coast, South Africa
The serene area includes the Hluleka Nature Reserve and the Hluleka Marine Protected Area. It is filled with enchanting ecosystems to explore, from rocky shorelines and sandy beaches to lagoons and flourishing forests.
The walking trails are like therapy for the soul, full of untouched natural beauty and interesting creatures like bushbucks and blue duikers.
Where to stay? Consider a stay at Umngazi Hotel & Spa about 20km from Port St Johns. The area offers visitors a temperate climate, long walks on unspoilt beaches, Nguni cows lazing on the beach and grazing on the rolling hillsides, colourful Xhosa huts, prolific and plentiful birdlife, delightful and friendly locals, breath-taking cliff hikes/walks and great expanses of undeveloped wilderness.
A stay at Umgazi Hotel & Spa starts from R3 890 a night for two.
La Digue Island, Seychelles
Parents looking for picture-perfect island bliss won’t be disappointed when holidaying on La Digue Island in the Seychelles. It’s home to Anse Source d’Argent, the most photographed beach in the world.
It offers barefoot, beach-bum luxury at its best, and, if you can tear yourself away from your towel, there’s lots of other gorgeous scenery to explore.
Think granite boulders and tropical vegetation – plus, the island is almost surrounded by coral reefs.
Where to stay? La Digue Island Lodge is one of the most vintage establishments of Seychelles. It is surrounded by a lush green environment and a private stretch of beach.
The lodge is in a peaceful and exotic tropical garden of coconut palms, takamaka trees, providing a cool and breezy atmosphere, that complements the natural beauty of the island. A stay at the lodge starts from R4 945 a night for two.
St Lucia, South Africa
St Lucia in KwaZulu-Natal is perfect for parents looking to explore the world-renowned iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
The park is a World Heritage Site that stretches from Kosi Bay in the north to Cape St Lucia in the south, on the Elephant Coast.
The little town of St Lucia serves as something of a tourist hub for the park and has grown substantially from the sleepy little hollow, perched below a canopy of trees, to the feeder town that is geared for domestic eco tourism today.
St Lucia is the doorway to a world of freshwater pans, lakes, mangrove and reed swamps, marshy grasslands, coastal dunes and an abundance of wildlife. The town too lies in the heart of unspoilt beauty.
Life here is laid back and peaceful, with monkeys and little duikers roaming the streets freely. It is also home to leatherback turtles, black rhinos, leopards and more than 530 species of birds, including greater and lesser flamingos.
Where to stay? Consider the St.Lucia EcoLodge Guesthouse & Ecotours. Prices start from R1 620 a night for two.