In an exhilarating start to 2024, LIFT, the airline dedicated to redefining the air travel experience, has proudly clinched the coveted title of "Best New Airline Brand, South Africa" for 2023 from Global Brands Magazine (GBM). This prestigious accolade underscores LIFT's unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation within the aviation industry.
Samara Karoo Reserve near Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape’s Great Karoo region is one of South Africa’s most diverse safari destinations – a landscape of space, stars and silence brought back to life by a pioneering rewilding project. Now home to the Big Five, 60 mammal species and 225 bird species, Samara provides a uniquely soulful safari for discerning visitors.
Easter is around the corner and that means plenty of South Africans are eagerly awaiting some much-needed time off and a delicious Easter lunch. With time off and food being a winning combination, there is one key ingredient missing – a stunning location. Of course, your dining room table may be a fine piece of wood, it’s got nothing on the setting that Mzansi can provide when creating your seat at the table.
In Mzansi, we have the world in one country so there are always plenty of options to recreate your seat at the table.
Accomodation in Istanbul, Turkey
Where to stay in Istanbul?
Choosing where to stay was possibly the most time consuming decision I had to make when planning the trip. I took about 2 hours to plan the itinerary and yet I spent weeks deciding where to stay! There are lots of options for accommodation and many are similar however choosing an area to stay in can be difficult.
So basically it comes down to 2 options Sultanahmet (the old city) and Beyoglu (modern Istanbul). Eminönü and Fatih fall under the old city while Beyoglu consists of Taksim, Sisli, Besiktas etc. The two areas are actually neighboring, divided only by the Golden Horn body of water and Galata bridge.
Qatar Airways, the Official Airline Partner of FIFA, concluded its FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ journey in style, presenting the medals and individual awards to Argentina after their historic 4-2 victory on penalties over 2018 champions, France. Following a thrilling month of non-stop action and entertainment, the airline operated nearly 14,000 flights, uniting the world in Qatar for the greatest sporting show on Earth.
Sunsets over the Bhosphurus with the stunning silhouette of grand mosques - that's the image in my head when I think of the city.
MSC Cruises’ April to November international cruise season offers incredible choice with 22 ships, offering 140 destinations, 40 countries and more than 50 embarkation ports
Itineraries span the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Caribbean and Japan
3 ships deployed in the Caribbean with New York City as new embarkation port, all calling at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve
More ships than ever in Eastern Mediterranean with enriched itineraries and increased capacity on 7-night cruises to the Greek Islands, Turkey and Israel
THINGS I LEARNT BEFORE TURNING 21
1. STAY IN YOUR LANE
Especially at this age it's so easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing. Your early 20s are so weird. Some people are buying cars while others are passed out drunk on the sidewalk at 4am - and what matters is that both are happy! We're all running a race that has no definite finish line. Some of us want to get married and have 2 kids, others want to travel the world and some want to become Buddhist nuns (*Uhm long story). The motto here is the 3 G's - Goals, Growing and Glowing! As long as you're doing those 3 you're okay baby girl!
2. IT'S OKAY TO CHANGE YOUR MIND
Since entering the big bad world after finishing school I've changed my mind about what I want to do SO MANY TIMES. I've dabbled in so many things, changed my mind so many times and I'm still not sure what I want out of this thing that we call life. And you know what? That's okay. It's okay not to know and it's sure as hell okay to change your mind. What I'm proud of myself for is taking the leap and trying out all these different things. If I didn't try out Mechanical Engineering back in 2015 I would have never knew how much I would hate it! That brings me to the next one.via GIPHY
3. TAKE CHANCES
My other motto lately has been - "What's the worst thing that can happen? You could die." That's it, literally the worst that can happen. And you're going to die anyway. So take that chance. It just makes it all the better knowing you tried and gave it a chance. The goal is no regrets so we have to take these chances.
4. CUT 'EM OFF
You meet A LOT of people at this age. And this is where you have to be extra selective about the people you keep close. Luckily for me I knew this from early on. However people also change, and you change. So even though they were "your people" at some point, this doesn't mean you'll feel that way after a year or 2. It's okay to cut people off. It's okay to tell them to GTFO of your life.5. LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE NO MATTER WHAT AGE YOU ARE
This is sometime I've tried to live by since school days. No matter what age or life stage you're in, make the most of it! I don't miss school - but I think I make the most of that stage in my life. Now I'm not saying you're early 20s are perfect - you're constantly tired, hungry and broke and that sucks. But we just have to make the most of it. We look pretty AF. We have minimal responsibilities. We have the world at our finger tips. We have so many opportunities knocking at our door. And best of all hangovers are still pretty much nonexistent for us. I'm going to enjoy every moment of 21, and every other age, and one day I know I'm going to look back with no regrets!
Embark on a journey through Qatar's rich cultural heritage without leaving Hamad International Airport (HIA). Qatar Duty Free proudly presents Souq Al Matar, an innovative blend of retail and dining, immersing travelers in the vibrant energy of traditional Qatari markets. Let's explore this groundbreaking concept that redefines airport experiences.
On a recent trip to Durban I spent a night at Sibaya Lodge located just next to Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom, north of Durban. With a touch of Zulu elements in the decor and style, Sibaya Lodge is a fantastic North Coast getaway that offers great value for money. It's designed to reflect the royal heritage of KwaZulu-Natal. As a KZN born and bred, I can confirm that it in fact does reflect the Natal vibe. Overlooking the Indian Ocean, I can't think of a better way to enjoy the warm KZN weather. I couldn't believe my stay was in the middle of winter!
MY VERDICT: Family-friendly bed and breakfast accommodation that reflects the feel of KZN with Sibaya Casino easily accessible
Set on one of KwaZulu-Natal’s rolling green hills, Sun International’s Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom commands a magnificent 360 degree view of the Indian Ocean and the lush subtropical vegetation surrounding the 48 hectare North Coast property.
The architecture of the property, with its casino, two hotels and entertainment area, pays contemporary homage to the proud heritage of the Zulu kingdom and its brave warriors.
Sibaya offers world class accommodation for business and holiday travel. Stay at either the 118-room Sibaya Hotel or the 36-room luxurious boutique Royal Sibaya. All rooms have sea, pool or garden facing views.
Location
Sibaya Lodge is conveniently located next to Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom in northern KZN. At a 12km drive, it's just a stones throw away from King Shaka International Airport. It's an 8 minute drive away from the hub of Umhlanga and Umhlanga beach and just 5km away from the seaside town of Umdloti. It'll take you about 25 minutes to get to central Durban and 30 minutes to Ballito.
Room, Facilities & Food
Sibaya Lodge's 118 air-conditioned rooms have sea, pool and garden views and are a spacious 28m2 with either a queen bed and sleeper couch or 2 double beds. The rooms are fairly simple with your bed, couch, TV, cupboard and tea/coffee station. It also has a large bathroom with a big, open shower (I love really spacious showers!). The room had carpets and warm lighting which made it feel homely.
In terms of facilities, the lodge has a lovely pool area as well as an outdoor gym. There's also free parking, if you drive there, and free wifi.
I had breakfast at the hotel. The breakfast hall overlooks the pool area. The breakfast selection was a standard buffet, with hot and cold breakfast options you can choose from.
Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom
For vibrant entertainment there is the casino with both smoking and non-smoking sections. Chose from the latest technology slot machines including touch-bet Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat and Poker, or opt for real Tables games.
Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom is a stones throw away and has amazing restaurants like Butcher's Block and Jewels of India, along with a variety of fast food places. You can also of course make use of the casino if that's your kind of thing, or have a go at the arcade.
Butcher Block Sibaya
I had dinner at Butcher Block Steakhouse Sibaya during my stay. Butcher Block was absolutely exceptional and I would highly recommend. Known for its steaks I of course couldn't resist. I went for the Blue Cheese + Jalapeño steak under Butcher's Choice, while my brother ordering the Surf + Turf. Both options were incredible with the steaks having been prepared perfect Medium Rare just as requested. Can we just take a moment to appreciate perfectly executed steak? Incredible! I also indulged in a Cherry and Cranberry Wine Spritzer as well as a Blueberry Daiquiri. Of these, I would highly recommend the Blueberry Daiquiri.
For us Joburgers, Sibaya Lodge is a great option to get out of the city and enjoy the balmy KZN weather. You also won't have to spend much on your Uber as it's so close to the airport.
Foodies, get ready to mark your calendars because South Africa’s biggest culinary event is coming to town! The Mzansi Food & Drink Show is set to take place at the Kyalami Convention Centre from June 15 to 17, 2024, and promises to be an extravaganza of all things food and drink.
You betcha it’s back! LIFT has announced its third annual Golden Ticket Hunt. And who doesn’t like a good spoil? From LIFT flights - including coveted Premium seats, luxury stays at The Capital Hotels & Apartments, to vouchers up for grabs, LIFT has the "grown up" hunt covered this year.
The Walt Disney Company Africa and LIFT unveiled a co-branded celebratory aircraft livery to kick-off Disney’s biggest festive campaign to date in South Africa, “May Your Wishes Come True”.
The livery features some of the most iconic and memorable characters from Disney, MARVEL and Star WarsTM, including: Disney’s Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Moana, Black Panther, GroguTM, Elsa, Spidey. A brand new character also makes an appearance, Asha, from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ upcoming “Wish", which releases in cinemas nationwide from 22 November. The Disney inspired plane (tail number ZS-GAS) will appear in South African skies and at airports from 20 October and service routes between Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.
On board, customers can expect special Disney and LIFT surprises, as well as kiddies activity packs to make flying with little ones a breeze during the busy holiday season, with giveaways and more treats. The excitement won't stop there, because LIFT has additional surprises between 1 and 12 December for lucky travelers on select flights, as South Africans get ready for the festive season.
Fans and travellers who spot or travel on the Disney-inspired Plane can share their pics on social media, using the hashtag #DisneyandLIFT and tagging @DisneyAfrica and @LIFT__SA.
Says Christine Service, Senior Vice President and General Manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa: "To mark our 100th year anniversary (16 October 2023), The Walt Disney Company is celebrating the fans and storytellers who have sparked the joy and magic that embodies Disney over the last century. We hope that this exciting and unique collaboration with LIFT will bring delight to travellers of all ages this holiday season as we mark this milestone anniversary.”
Says Luke Roberts, General Manager, Consumer Products, Games and Publishing, The Walt Disney Company Africa; “Rolling out in stores nationwide from November, “May Your Wishes Come True” is Disney’s biggest retail campaign to date. With the holiday season approaching and “Wish” releasing in cinemas nationwide from 24 November, we are inspired by the universal truth of wishing to be together at this special time. This collaboration with LIFT truly celebrates this togetherness with families and fans.”
Says Jonathan Ayache, CEO of LIFT.: “As a beloved family brand, Disney is a perfect fit for LIFT. With our new livery, together we celebrate the love, magic and family togetherness that signals the festive season. We’re proud to link arms with Disney, through this collaboration, our hope is to ignite a sense of fun, wonder and excitement for the whole family during the upcoming season of school holidays and family celebrations.”
Customers can visit www.lift.co.za to book flights and stand a chance of flying on the #DisneyandLIFT aircraft. Travellers aboard the airline will continue to enjoy all the perks LIFT has to offer including complimentary snacks, coffee from vida e caffè and extra-friendly service from the stylish cabin crew. LIFT has flexible flight changes with unlimited penalty-free changes and no cancellation fees up to 24 hours before departure.
