A Water Holiday

A summer holiday in South Africa absolutely must involve water of some sort.

It could be a swimming pool, where, even if it isn't warm enough to swim, you can fish for leaves with your new nets, in front of a stunning view.

Or a lagoon at low tide where you can paddle for miles and collect hermit crabs until your net is bursting.

Or a forest rock pool with peaty brown water fresh from the mountains, to cool off in after the precipitous scramble down from the ridge.

It could be a pristine beach in a Nature reserve, deserted even in the busiest holiday week of the year...

... where you can relocate sea snails into dense urban colonies as the waves wash them over the sand.

Or perhaps best of all for swimming is a calmly flowing river, brown with peaty mountain water, salty from the lagooon tide and just wide enough to make swimming the whole way across feel like an achievement, with little fish to catch in nets once more.

If you're very lucky you could have all those water experiences in one week, especially if your holiday is in Knysna, with rides on boats an added extra.

Thanks to my mother for treating us to a wonderful holiday up there. We're back now and slowly and reluctantly adjusting back to our everyday routine. I hope you had wonderful holidays too, even if of a more wintry variety for most of you!

Happy New Year!