So You’re Planning a Holiday From South Africa? Yeah, Me Too. Let’s Talk.

Look, I’ve been staring at this screen for like… 30 minutes now. Not even sure how to start this without sounding dramatic — but whatever, here goes.

Or maybe I do — I just don’t want to.

Because, here’s the thing — planning a holiday? From South Africa? It’s fun until it isn’t. It’s dreamy, until reality kicks in and you realise your bank account isn’t vibing with your Pinterest board.

But damn, we need it. I mean really need it. After everything — after the long-ass power cuts, the rising petrol, the city stress, the whole circus — you sit back one day and go, “Nah man, I need a break. I deserve a break.”

And then it begins.

The Googling. The late-night tabs. The WhatsApp convos with friends who never commit. That weird guilt about wanting luxury when the economy’s a mess. But also that stubborn voice saying, "Just do it. Life’s short. You don’t wanna look back and say you only worked, stressed, and died."

So yeah, I started planning. And it turned into this messy, emotional ride.

Step One: Realising You’re Tired of Your Own Country

Listen, I love Mzansi. I do. We’ve got Table Mountain and the Drakensberg and the wild coast and vibes. But sometimes, I just wanna be somewhere else. Where the air smells unfamiliar and the food hits different and people aren’t rushing everywhere like they’re late to a funeral.

Somewhere tropical. Slow. Barefoot.

So naturally, my brain goes straight to Zanzibar. Or maybe Seychelles. Or Mauritius. Hell, I even looked at Thailand for a second. But then flights slapped me back to reality.

Thing is… I want white sand. I want that ocean that’s not playing games. And I want it without losing a kidney.

Enter: Planning from South Africa (on a Budget, With a Dream)

You know what makes planning from SA kinda unique? We’re not in Europe. Or the States. We can’t just hop on EasyJet or pay in USD like it’s nothing. We gotta hustle a little harder. Be smarter. Cut corners but still look like we didn’t.

So I started narrowing it down.

Direct flights or close enough? Check.

Visa on arrival? Yup.

South African rands not screaming for help? Hopefully.

A beach that doesn’t look like the Vaal? Please and thank you.

Zanzibar checked the boxes. I looked deeper. Found places like Kendwa and Nungwi — names I couldn’t pronounce at first but now roll off my tongue like a love song.

And this is where I really started getting emotional. 'Cause I imagined it. Not just the place, but me in the place.

Feet in sand. Hair wild. Phone off. No shoes. Drinking something cold. Skin finally catching a tan that doesn’t look like stress.

So I started plotting.

But Wait – When Is The Right Time?

Aaah, now here’s the kicker.

Timing.

I mean, it’s one thing to want a holiday. But when?

December? Peak. Expensive. Stress.

June? Mid-winter here. Kinda perfect for a beachy escape.

March? That sneaky in-between month no one talks about.

I did the digging. Compared prices. Googled, stalked blogs, asked people who’ve actually been. Eventually found this seasonal travel offers page that lowkey changed the game for me. Prices dropped like three thousand bucks just by shifting my trip by a week.

A damn week.

Also — quick tip: always look beyond weekends. Midweek departures? Cheaper. Way cheaper. And the resorts are quieter. Less chance of dealing with that one family with screaming kids and bad vibes.

Let’s Talk Accommodation – Because It’s More Than a Bed

I’ll be honest. I’m not about that 5-star, marble-bathroom, gold-tap kinda life. But I do like nice things. I like waking up and seeing the ocean before I see my phone.

And if it’s a romantic getaway? Forget it. I’m going all in.

I stumbled across some romantic Kendwa beachfront hotels and I won’t lie — I fell in love before I even booked. It’s not even about the room, sometimes. It’s the energy. You can tell when a place was built with love. Not just concrete and paint, but soul. The ones that whisper “breathe” the moment you step in.

I saw candle-lit dinners on the beach. Pool loungers that don’t wobble. Staff that don’t treat you like a number. And I thought, yeah — this is where you go to forget your name, in the best way.

Okay, But Who Are You Going With?

Let’s pause for a second. 'Cause this part… it matters.

Are you planning solo? With bae? With family? The girls? The boys?

Each version of that trip is different. Wildly different. And so is the stress.

Solo = freedom, but also you’re footing the whole bill.

Couple = romantic, but you better both agree on the vibe.

Family = God help you. Logistics. Rooms. Kids. Budgets. Chaos.

Doesn’t matter who you’re going with — the whole point is just to get the hell out, man. Breathe. Sleep in. Feel not tired for once. Even if it’s just like… three days. Whatever you can manage.

And I think we forget that. We get caught up in the “is it perfect?” and “is it Instagram-worthy?” and “what if it rains?” and “is this resort overrated?” blah blah blah.

Sometimes, it’s about stepping away from your life long enough to see it clearly.

Where To Start If You’re Just... Lost

Alright. So maybe you’re reading this and still feeling overwhelmed.

Where do you even start?

You start here → ignite your plans with us. Honestly. Don’t overthink it. You don’t need 12 tabs open and a spreadsheet. You need a direction. A guide. A real, human conversation.

Someone to tell you, “Hey. I’ve got you. Let’s build this together.”

That’s what I ended up doing. I got in touch with someone who actually gave a damn. They asked questions. They listened. They didn’t push the most expensive crap just to make commission. It felt… nice. Like I wasn’t just another email on their CRM.

And from there? Things flowed. Flights, transfers, accommodation, meals — boom. Sorted. Options laid out, prices transparent, packages real. That’s what customized Zanzibar trip plans are supposed to be. Personal. Tailored. None of that generic BS.

Some Final, Messy Thoughts

Planning a holiday is emotional, man. People think it’s just booking flights and choosing resorts — lol, I wish. It’s way deeper than that. It’s like... some quiet ache inside you that just wants out. Out of the noise. Out of the loop. You’re sitting there picturing yourself, drink in hand, feet in sand, no responsibilities — not because you’re spoiled, but because you’re damn near burnt out. And there’s that one voice going, “Bruh, you really can’t be spending this money,” but another one screaming, “You literally can’t keep going like this.”

And if you’re South African? You already know the emotional load we carry just existing daily. You need this break.

You need to wake up somewhere far.
Somewhere blue.
Somewhere that smells like coconut sunscreen and possibility.

So go on.

Plan.

Dream out loud.

Write it down. Put it on your mirror. Manifest the hell out of it.

Book the damn ticket.

Life’s calling. And this time, it doesn’t sound like your alarm clock.

You in? Cool. Let’s build it together.

From a tired human who just needed the ocean,
Saeed