Tell us a little bit about your tribe and your holiday style.
We are a South African family of five – Sarah (43), Ralph (47), Jacob (17), Luke (15) and Cian (11) on a mission to explore the world. For our family, there is nothing as exciting as going somewhere new, whether it be at the other end of the world, or around the block from our home. As our kids are now all technically adults in travel terms, paying for five of everything can get quite pricy so this dictates that our holiday style is self-catering, usually via road and involving lots of camping. Although this is a bit of a challenge for our family glamper, it thoroughly delights all the men of our house.
What has been your favourite family holiday and why did you love it?
Last year we trekked across the globe to Western Canada and spent five weeks on a road trip through British Columbia and Alberta, camping in the Rockies and the Discovery Passage. We love all things nature, and were literally stunned by the natural beauty of the Canadian wilderness. You can look at photos and read stories but this won’t prepare you for the sheer magnificence of the turquoise lakes, snow-capped mountain peaks and glaciers melting in waterfalls into the verdant green forests below. It brought tears to our eyes.
What 3 destinations are top of your family travel bucket list?
Top of our list is the Seychelles – we can imagine ourselves riding bicycles with our snorkelling gear to picture perfect white sand beaches, fly fishing for massive GT and snorkelling among schools of colourful tropical fish.
When Jacob and Luke each turned 12, we celebrated with a walking trail through South Africa’s Kruger National Park, which has a minimum age of 12. This year, it is Cian’s turn and we hope to make it a hat trick three out of three.
We are also dreaming of a year-long road trip around the USA, starting in Florida, travelling West to San Diego and through Colorado and Utah, up the West Coast to Seattle and then heading East towards New York and back down the Eastern Coast.
If you had to pick one travel item that makes travelling with kids easier, what would it be? Definitely technology. Although we have a no tech rule when we reach our destinations, iPads are our best friend on long road trips and flights. It keeps the kids entertained for hours, reduces the “when are we going to get there?” nagging, and cuts the boys bickering dramatically.
What’s your best piece of family travel advice that you can share with the Our Tribe Travels community? As your kids grow up, they will start putting up resistance to family trips. Don’t listen! Push on, be enthusiastic and take every possible opportunity to get out there with your kids. Despite the hormonal sulks, travel creates joint memories that will unite and inspire your family forever. Before you know it your little ones will have girlfriends or boyfriends, they will leave school and go off to college and start their own independent lives. It happens quicker than you think possible.
For us, travelling has united our family in a magical way. We have been to so many interesting places, done amazing things and shared incredible adventures. Best of all, our blog and vlog has captured all these happy times forever.
You can read about Sarah’s adventures in her blog ‘Chasing The Rainbow’
