There comes a point every St Francis winter when you wake up, look at another week of wind and cold water and think: later for this jol. This piece explains how to escape, even for just a few days.
The nice thing about living at the bottom of Africa is that escaping winter does not require a military operation. A few hours on an aeroplane can replace beanies, jerseys and weather forecasts with warm water, room service and the sort of climate that reminds you why humans invented holidays in the first place. Better still, some of the most interesting destinations sit right on our doorstep, scattered across the Indian Ocean like convenient excuses to avoid another cold front.
Mauritius Knows What It Is
Some destinations spend decades reinventing themselves. Mauritius has never felt the need.
The island understands its role perfectly. People arrive tired, slightly overworked and carrying more stress than they realise. A few days later they find themselves eating long lunches, reading books they brought six months ago and wondering why they don’t travel more often. The beaches are excellent, the service is generally polished and the entire operation runs with the quiet confidence of a place that has been hosting visitors for a very long time.
That is not to say Mauritius lacks substance. Drive inland and the scenery changes quickly. Mountain peaks rise unexpectedly from the landscape, roads wind through sugar cane fields and small villages offer a glimpse of life beyond the resorts. Still, there is no shame in spending most of the trip horizontal beside a pool. Mauritius has accommodated that approach for generations.
Bali Has Grown Up
Many South Africans still talk about Bali as though it were a backpacker destination populated entirely by gap-year students and Australians on scooters.
That Bali still exists. However, another version has emerged alongside it. Over the last decade the island has become one of the most sophisticated tourism destinations in Asia. Exceptional villas, private chefs, wellness retreats and carefully curated travel experiences have become part of everyday life. More importantly, much of it remains surprisingly affordable when compared to equivalent experiences elsewhere.
There is also a practical consideration. Airlines have adjusted routes and pricing repeatedly over the past year and travellers willing to keep an eye on fares have occasionally found remarkable value through Dubai. Those opportunities come and go, but they are worth paying attention to.
Reunion Refuses To Behave Like A Typical Island
Reunion is one of the most overlooked destinations within easy reach of South Africa.
Part of the reason may be that it refuses to fit neatly into any category. It is tropical, but also mountainous. It is French, but unmistakably Indian Ocean. One morning might begin beside the sea. By afternoon you could be standing on the rim of a volcano staring into a landscape that looks as though it belongs on another planet.
Reunion may be the only tropical island where sitting beside a heated pool all afternoon can be legitimately classified as sensible risk management. The island’s sharks are famous enough that many visitors happily exchange ocean swims for French lunches, volcanic scenery, excellent wine and the sort of comfortable resort chair that encourages long periods of reflection. Or non-reflection, depending on what you’ve packed for the trip.
It is also French, which means nudism is the norm and people are often naked on beaches and around pools, but nobody honestly cares one little bit about someone’s extra skin in the sun.
Zanzibar Lives By Its Own Rules
Some places seem permanently in a hurry. Zanzibar is not one of them.
The island moves at a pace that feels increasingly rare. Stone Town remains one of the most fascinating urban environments on the East African coast, with narrow alleyways, carved doors and enough history to keep curious travellers occupied for days. Beyond the town, long beaches and warm water create an environment that encourages people to stop checking their phones every ten minutes.
After a few days in Zanzibar, the urgency of normal life starts to look slightly ridiculous. Meetings, deadlines and inboxes continue to exist, but they feel very far away.
Mozambique Rewards Effort
Mozambique asks a little more of travellers than some destinations. In return, it often gives more back.
Parts of the coastline still feel wonderfully untouched. Roads are not always perfect. Plans occasionally change. Things sometimes happen on Mozambique time. Yet those small inconveniences are also part of the appeal. The country retains a sense of authenticity that has disappeared from many heavily developed tourism markets.
For South Africans, Mozambique offers something increasingly valuable: space. Space on the beach. Space in the water. Space to think. In a world where almost everything feels crowded, that alone can justify the airfare.
How To Escape
One of the great myths of travel is that you need weeks away to justify leaving.
Most people don’t.
Five days can be enough to reset the clock. A few mornings without alarms, several afternoons without obligations and a handful of dinners that do not involve discussing work can work wonders. The trick is leaving before another month disappears while you are still talking about doing it.
St Francis will still be here when you get back.
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