Despite now playing an engrained part, social media hasn’t been kind to travel. Increasingly, we see the world from our hand-held devices, knowing it as a pebble knows a pond when skimmed across its surface. Beauty and brilliance are reduced to ‘Five Must Sees..’, understanding, intimacy and connection diluted by a desire for digital dopamine, for social media show and tell.
Great travel isn’t ‘tick box’; it’s ‘being’, not just ‘seeing’; it’s the writing of tales to tell. Let’s try something deeper. Let’s go on a real adventure, once implausible, made possible in the now.
We’ll start in South Africa; but not on your typical safari, where the roar of lions or the flick of a leopard's tail are the highlight. No; let’s do something different -an expedition that delves deep into culture, history and spirit of the land, where wildlife plays a graceful second fiddle.
Imagine a two-week odyssey that pulls you into the heart of history, where every step echoes with the stories of those who came before. This would be a trip for the curious traveller, the one who craves more than just sights and sounds and seeks to understand the essence of a place. And what better way to start than in the culturally rich, and often overlooked, corners of the South African Cape?
The Cape is known for its striking landscapes and abundant wildlife, but it’s the region’s cultural and historical richness that truly captivates. Cape Town is a city where the past and present coexist in a vibrant tapestry of life. Here, the shadow of Table Mountain looms large, but it’s Robben Island, just a ferry ride away, that tells its most poignant tale.
Here you walk in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela, guided by former prisoners who share stories both heartbreaking and hopeful, meeting history face to face, lived and breathed in every stone and cellblock. The island stands as a stark reminder of the struggles faced during apartheid, offering a deeply moving experience that lingers long after you leave.
Beyond the well-trodden paths, discover Paternoster -a small fishing village where time moves at its slowest. Stay a while. Stroll along pristine beaches and watch the day’s catch hauled in, or simply sit and savour ocean fare at a world-renowned seaside restaurant. Paternoster is a place that invites you to pause and soak up the simplicity of life, far away from your everyday.
We fly to St. Helena on newly opened routes; to that distant bastion of Britishness, located in the middle of the South Atlantic, one of the most isolated inhabited islands on the planet, a place of preserved charm and mystique.
Its history is as rugged as its landscape. It’s where Bonaparte withered in his exile, pacing his garden, his presence still palpable. You’ll visit Longwood House, where he lived, and you’ll feel for him, ‘his field of influence, reduced to a few square metres; his fame swept far, far away his homely, but exquisite, vista the property of his captors, an ironic, gifted comfort.’ His place of burial sits nearby, a short but glorious walk away.
Its crystal, bath-warm waters teem with marine life. The island is one of the few places in the world where you can swim with whale sharks, the gentle giants of the ocean. They glide through the water with a grace that belies their size, offering a once-in-a-lifetime experience that is both humbling and exhilarating.
The island’s isolation renders life here unique from the outside world. The local population, known as ‘Saints,’ are a warm and welcoming community with a rich heritage and a visit to Jamestown, the island’s capital, feels like stepping back in time, with its Georgian architecture and narrow streets that have changed little over the centuries.
A Brief Journey Through Time
Our adventure has been brief, headlines suggesting a deeper, greater opportunity. To experience it would be an exploration of stories, culture and history that have shaped both land and people. From the sobering Robben Island to the simple pleasures of Paternoster, from the elegance of Groot Constantia to the mesmerising warmth and beauty of St. Helena, this would be a trip that would speak to the soul, going beyond the ordinary, challenging you to slow down to see our world differently. Because sometimes, the best way to discover a place is not through sight, but through stories; and our world has stories to tell that will captivate and inspire you at every turn.
Put down your phone and go.
Steppes Travel has been creating bespoke, beautiful and transformative travel experiences for over 30 years, helping clients discover extraordinary the way they want to find it. Specialists in off-the-beaten-track wildlife and cultural adventure, Steppes Travel was, in 2023, recognised by Conde Nast Traveller Magazine as one of the Top Five Specialist Tour Operators in the world.
