Nomadic Minds

21/07/2016

Awesome Yoga in beautiful South Africa!

"Love Yourself" Yoga Retreat
Mtunzini, 12 - 14 August, by Megan Leaker

Contact Jess Lawrie on [email protected] for more info!

18/07/2016

"What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is the difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead." - Nelson Mandela

11/07/2016

South Africa is officially the MOST beautiful country in the world.



www.nomadicminds.com

https://www.buzzfeed.com/travelguru/the-20-most-beautiful-countries-in-the-world-w9r0

I think to myself, what a beautiful world. There’s so much beauty in so many of the world’s nations. From magnificent coasts to breathtaking forests, and from savannahs to cityscapes. Here are the ...

16/06/2016

Today in South Africa we commemorate those who lost their lives in the Soweto uprising in the struggle against apartheid 40 years ago today.

“Some here overlook the good we have achieved in the years of democracy and just look at the problems,” he said. “But we have shown that our country unites to face the challenges. Everyone comes together and says we must do what we can to help and that this is the country we love.”

South Africa is an amazing place with amazing people, who together, can make this country great!



https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/16/soweto-uprising-40-years-on-hector-pieterson-image-shocked-the-world

A photo of a 12-year-old shot dead by police in 1976 travelled the globe. Now the family of the teenager who tried to save him reflect on South Africa then and now

07/06/2016

Nomadic Minds was recently privileged to organise a once in a life time trip for Hannah and John from the UK. The couple got engaged while here in SA - Africa is such a magical place!

10/05/2016

South Africa is a land of splendour and magic, of variety and majesty. The beauty of this place is in how it really has something for everyone - it has the ability to connect different people to itself.

South Africa is waiting for you.



www.nomadicminds.com

27/04/2016

Happy Freedom Day South Africa!! We have come so far and while there are many challenges to address, together we can make our country great!

02/03/2016

Proud to be part of South Africa's Rainbow Nation! What made you smile today?



www.nomadicminds.com

01/03/2016

Officially, the South African flag colours do not hold any symbolism, although they have unmistakable historical origins. Black, yellow and green are the colours of ruling ANC party. Red, white and blue are a nod to both the flags of the European colonists as well as the old Boer republics

The meaning of the South African flag design can be traced to the motto on the National Coat of Arms which reads: ‘!ke e:/xarra //ke’ which is the Khoisan language of the /Xam people, meaning ‘diverse people unite.’

The “Y” represents a convergence of diversity, which can be interpreted as the convergence of diverse elements within South African society, taking the road ahead in unity.



www.nomadicminds.com

25/02/2016

In 1991, South Africa became the first country in the world to protect the Great White Shark.

Aliwol Shoal, just half an hour from Durban, is the perfect place for natural shark interaction. Dive with Bull sharks, Spotted Ragged tooth sharks, Tiger sharks, Whale sharks, Copper sharks and the occasional Great White.

Experiencing these majestic creatures in their natural habitat is a truly humbling experience.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3RC4VOvuNE

Aliwal Dive Centre dive. Great white shark encountered on the Aliwal Shoal, Umkomaas, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

23/02/2016

Would you like to combine your holiday with a race to remember?

South Africa hosts the largest timed cycle race in the world (the Cape Argus Cycle Tour), the world’s oldest and largest ultra-marathon (the Comrades Marathon) and the world’s largest open water swimming event (the Midmar Mile).

22/02/2016

Two of the world’s most profoundly compassionate philosophies originated in South Africa

17/02/2016

Tomorrow is the start of the famous Dusi Canoe Marathon.

The Dusi Canoe Marathon was founded in 1951, and covers roughly 120km between the cities of Pietermaritzburg and Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, on the East Coast of South Africa.

It is the biggest canoeing event on the African continent, and one of the world’s most popular river marathons, attracting between 1600 and 2000 paddlers each year.

Up for a challenge? South Africa is waiting for you!

16/02/2016

Did you know that the world’s best land-based whale-watching spot is located in Hermanus in the Western Cape?

More than 300 activities include whale watching, shark cage diving in Walker Bay, abseiling, treetop tours, quad biking and a 27 hole Hermanus golf course. Discover our wine route, art route, speciality shops and pamper boutiques. Escape to nature and breathe the champagne air along our spectacular cliff paths. Meet the world’s only Whale Crier as he alerts you to the whereabouts of the whales by blowing his kelp horn. Admire the diverse floral fynbos kingdom while hiking or biking in the Fernkloof Nature Reserve or laze on one of our pristine Blue Flag beaches.

15/02/2016

Nomadic Minds Travel is proud to partner with Medina Yoga to present to you "A Place in the Shade Yoga" Weekend Away in Mtunzini, South Africa

06/01/2016

Welcome to KwaZulu Natal John and Hannah. This is a different type of Africa to what you have already experienced - take in our culture, wildlife and heritage. We are honoured to be part of your journey in South Africa

01/01/2016

5 more sleeps until our next guests will be swimming in this private plunge pool overlooking the wild African bush

26/12/2015

Welcome to Cape Town Hannah & John! Let today be the start of an incredible journey filled with new experiences, epic sunsets and magical moments

20/12/2015

Merry Christmas from Sunny South Africa! Christmas here is a Summer celebration filled with family, cold beverages and beaches!

May your Christmas be a Merry one and we hope to see you in South Africa in 2016 :)

15/12/2015

Grateful for this awesome mention in Modern Luxury Brides Magazine :) thanks to an amazing couple whose Honeymoon I planned in South Africa a few months ago

08/12/2015

I am beyond grateful for the high calibre of humans that my energy attracts. And without further adieu, here Shane speaks about his AFRICAN HONEYMOON experiences organised by Nomadic Minds.

www.nomadicminds.com

Shane: "My wife and I planned our honeymoon to South Africa with the intent of it being the trip of a lifetime. As a young girl, my wife had fallen in love with the notion of a safari life, truly wild animals, the bush, and wide-open expanses. Every bit of Africa had called to
her soul and begged her to go experience a life she was unaware of.

As wandering travelers with a penchant for new experiences, I was all the more ready to be her willing sidekick and embark on a journey that would take us half way across the world and out of our comfort zones. Our typical travel fashion is to work from recommendations from friends and family who have visited before.

Months before our trip, we realized that with no previous experience in Africa, we were a bit ill-equipped to plan the trip ourselves from afar despite endorsements for some wonderful places. We had grandiose ideas of how much we could accomplish in our two weeks there, however we lacked any functioning knowledge of how it would all be tied together. Enter Jess.

We were referred to Jess at the behest of a friend who had shared some worldly travels together and knew she was the stuff of magic. We contacted her and in short order realized that magic was just the beginning of what Jess was able to do.

As with anything new when you can’t be face to face with someone, it can be a challenge to evaluate the intentions and quality of the person with whom you’re dealing. Jess put any hesitations to rest with her ability to communicate and get to the
core of what we were hoping to experience during out trip.

She took the time to get to know us through phone calls and middle of the night Skype sessions, emailed regularly whenever an update was made, and presented all our options in a format that made understanding the complexities of visiting multiple places
and experiences seem manageable and enjoyable.

Leading to the day of our arrival, Jess made sure no stone was left unturned. Ensuring we had all proper visas, travel connections, contact information so we were ready to go the moment we arrived.

Speaking to the entirety of trip would require a novel in and of itself for one to truly grasp the depth to which Jess provided a life changing experience from the moment we arrived to the minute we left. At no point did we want for anything that she couldn’t provide at a moments notice.

Every accommodation was aware of any nutritional choices we made, she consistently arrived 15 minutes early, she was present and available whenever we needed her and quietly at arms reach when we didn’t.

As a specific example, we finished a particular game drive at a wonderful reserve. Jess arrived to transfer us to the next destination 4 hours away. The car was stocked with handmade lunch, fresh pressed juice that morning, snacks, reading materials, games (in case we were bored with the scenery), and blankets and pillows should we require a nap. Three hours into the journey we discovered we had left our passports in the safe at the reserve. Without batting an eye, Jess delivered us to our destination, helped us settle in, and then proceeded to drive back and forth that afternoon to recover our passports by hand. This is the quality of service and attention Jess offers. It was also her birthday, which we learned later.

We cannot recommend her enough for her ability to plan for even the most minute of details, be an open book for the needs and desires of anyone with whom she is working, and handle it all with effortless class and distinction. She is perhaps the most prepared
and knowledgeable planner we have experienced and made our trip unforgettable.

She is also a wealth of cultural and historical knowledge. We had endless questions about wildlife, industry, government and history to which she truly seemed please to inform us about.

If you have decided that South Africa is your destination of choice (and it should be), whether you’re a seasoned traveler or leaving home for the first time, Jess will provide an exceptional experience that accommodates any level of travel your heart desires."

06/12/2015

Planning your next golfing trip? For the golf enthusiast, South Africa boasts the ideal climate for spending time out on the fairways under the bright African sun, and golfers here are blessed for choice.

SA has diverse selection of courses to suit all abilities and give you what you want from your holiday. Why not pair up your golf holiday with a safari or time on the coast? SA has something for everyone :)

www.nomadicminds.com

:)

04/12/2015

It is with great honour and appreciation that I post up a review from Kianne about her AFRICAN HONEYMOON facilitated by Jess of Nomadic Minds. (stay tuned for her husband's review next week!)**

Kianne : "We travel very frequently and have never used a travel planner, relying heavily on recommendations and research. But planning our dream honeymoon to South Africa was challenging, especially while planning a wedding.

A good friend recommended Jess, who volunteered to review our travel to make sure we were on the right track. She explained that our iternary was extremely stressful and full of travel days, plus wasn’t environmentally consicous. On her own, within hours she had developed the most individualized, detailed and comprehensive alternative schedule I could have imagined. We were hooked. She then introduced Nomadic Minds Travel.

She communicated with me over the next several months asking for every nuisance of what we liked and didn’t like. She would send us videos she took in the bush, pictures of food we would be enjoying, and videos of the sunsets. She wanted to know EXACTLY what we like to eat. We don’t eat dairy but when we travel, we never request a change in food.

I didn’t think anything could compare to our blissful elopement to France. Enter Jess. Picked up from the airport, taken to stores to get things we forgot, tailored food to our preferences, private honeymoon sweet in the bush, personal guided hikes through the Drakensberg and sleeping in caves, wine tasting (holy cow), private picnics, sunset crocodile and hippo cruise, luxury tents, new born rhinos, elephant hers. At one location, we left our passports, she drove back 4 hours round trip on her birthday to get them for us. No trip we have ever taken compares.

The trip was so magical and life changing that we came home and changed our entire outlook on life. I quit my job as a lawyer and I am pursuing a more authentic and fulfilled life. We are also researching how we can live in South Africa. There is magic and romance in the bush, thanks to Jess."

03/12/2015

Did you know, the Cango Caves, near Oudtshoorn, is the World’s longest underground cave sequence. Just a few hours from Cape Town this is a blow your mind day out!

01/12/2015

Did you know that South Africa has the oldest meteor scar in the WORLD, at the Vredefort Dome, outside Johannesburg

Two billion years ago a meteorite 10km in diameter hit the earth creating an enormous impact crater.

The meteorite, larger than Table Mountain, caused a thousand-megaton blast of energy.

Vredefort is far older than the Chixculub structure in Mexico which, with an age of 65-million years, is the site of the impact that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs.

25/11/2015

What an awesome video showing off the beautiful city of Durban! Where the weather is always good, the sea always warm and the people always happy :)

Durban's coastline, beaches, culture, proximity to nature and friendliness make it a one of a kind place!

Filmed over the past 2 Years this is an Aerial and Time-lapse showcase of the City we Love. The city we call home. DURBAN Song: Shark (Illenium ...

16/11/2015

Famous for it's resident ragged toothed sharks, Aliwol Shoal is an exciting place to dive. With it's incredible diversity and changing currents, it attracts an awesome array of marine life.

Tiger sharks, Zambezi's and even the occasional Great White will join you for a bubble blowing session here!

12/11/2015

Are you a scuba diver looking for an adventure beyond your wildest dreams? South Africa is home to pristine diving, warm water and crazy under water adventures.

Sodwana Bay, north of Durban, is where the the coelacanth - a pre-historic fish once thought to be extinct and now known as "the living fossil" has be rediscovered.

And just south of Durban is home to Jacque Cousteau's favourite reef IN THE WHOLE WORLD.

Need we say more? :)

10/11/2015

Experiencing Zulu culture is a must when visiting South Africa. And Zulu dancing, with every dance based on a particular situation is an energetic and thrilling experience. Get up and join in! :) Feel the rhythm of Africa in your soul!