Umzumbe / South Africa

This was our first stop coming from Durban, heading toward Cape Town. We stayed at Mantis and Moon, renting their most luxury offering, a tree house (complete with bath tub!). This is the ultimate backpacker spot, feels like it is built from found wood and trinkets left by travelers, with no local tree harmed in the process. From above, you probably wouldn’t be able to see the little shacks or tree houses tucked in. There is a kitchen, hot tub, tiny pool with a questionable slide, and family-style meals are offered for a few bucks at night. They offer surfboard rentals, yoga, and daily adventure outings. We had our own boards, so just walked five minutes down to Umzumbe Beach, which has a shark net and also a protected little saltwater rock pool for kids. Around the corner, past all the fishermen is Shark Alley, which does not have a shark net.

At a glance…

• Stay at Mantis and Moon in a treehouse.
• Visit Oribi Gorge and go for a hike. We didn’t make it, but heard it’s beautiful.
• Eat in their restaurant or grab groceries 5 minutes away at Pick n Pay.
• Tips – 3/2 is ideal here.