Text: Narina Exelby. Article from the November 2014 issue of Living and Loving Magazine.
Would you take your nine-week-old on a journey across the world? Or your four young children on a month-long road trip across South Africa? Be inspired by the families who made these trips, and more.
The Stopforths
Destination: Bali
Duration: 11 months
The kids: Ava (11 months)
When the opportunity arose for Natalie and Lee Stopforth to help start a business in Bali, the couple simply couldn’t refuse. It meant moving away from their support base which, with an 11-month-old daughter, had been very important to them; but the couple found a way to manage, and their family has thrived on the island.
“Technology is just amazing,” says Natalie. “We stay in touch with family on Skype, and I found so many blogs and online expat communities that helped to answer so many questions.”
The Stopforths did a lot of research online before they moved. “There were certainly adjustments we needed to make, but we expected that,” says Natalie. “It took a while to get used to the heat, but it was amazing to go swimming every day. The heat was also a blessing in disguise, as Ava needed very few clothes and spent a lot of time in just a nappy.”
The Stopforths lived in a small fishing village, and were overwhelmed by the kindness of the Balinese people, who adore children.
“We spent endless evenings on this amazing beach enjoying the sunset. We explored a lot, travelled, shopped, ate local cuisine, made friends, and I learnt to ski! Every weekend was a holiday!”
“Bali gave Lee, Ava and me a chance to bond,” says Natalie. “It taught us to relax and not take anything for granted. The locals live simply, and it taught us how little we actually need to be happy.”
The Augoods
Destination: Red Sea, Egypt
Duration: 10 days
The kids: Josh (seven months)
“We decided that a baby was going to have to fit into our lifestyle, not vice versa,” said Bonny Augood, a South African who now lives in England. “My husband and I didn’t want to give up on our love of the world and adventure … so we didn’t.”
When their son Josh was just seven months old, they booked a holiday, and four days later, they were on a live-aboard dive trip in Egypt.
“It was the ultimate time to go, as the sharks and the turtle migration was happening in Sharm, and we didn’t want to miss it,” says Bonny.
“I wanted Josh with me, and we were travelling with a group of close friends, who helped out with looking after Josh so that I could dive, too.”
The toughest part was that the heat affected the formula milk, which made Josh sick. And on a traditional Egyptian boat, there are no kettles, so preparing bottles was difficult. That said, the holiday was much easier than Bonny had expected. “I had dreaded it, but looking back, I just overthought things. As long as Josh was cool and had his toy and bottle, he was happy.”
Holiday motivation from Bonny Augood
• Just do it! Don’t hesitate; if you overthink it, you’ll always find an excuse not to go.
• Make a list of the essentials for you and the children. Stick to it and enjoy!
• The beauty of travelling with kids is that they’re just kids; take them on the adventure of a lifetime!
The Nottens
Destination: South Africa’s parks
Duration: 42 days
The kids: Olivia (7), Grace (5), Harriet (5), Jack (2)
One vehicle, 42 days, nine provinces, 11 500 kilometres, and four children under the age of seven … crazy parents? Not at all! They just wanted to unplug and head out into the wild for a while.
“We wanted to do something adventurous as a family, and chose to explore the wilderness regions of South Africa,” says Grant Notten, who organised the journey with his wife, Charli. “Through winter this year, we were together 24/7 for the whole trip, and had the most exceptional time; we grew even closer as a family.”
Some of the days were long (up to 10 hours on the road), and while there were some chaotic moments, time in the car was mostly fun and peaceful – and that’s not because the kids were watching DVDs; they didn’t have any gadgets. “We encouraged the kids to enjoy the experience and they found amazing ways to entertain themselves,” says Grant. “They asked us to tell them lots of stories, they found things to play with in the bush, and their imagination has definitely benefited from all of this.”
The Nottens love outdoor life, and spending 42 days camping in 27 different places around South Africa’s parks, has created very special memories for the family, from cooking on an open fire, to telling bush stories around the campfire, collecting shells, and watching stars come out at night. “The children have gained a love and respect for nature and an awareness of different cultures,” says Grant. “They’ve also started to develop an l-can-do spirit and learnt to work as a team. We’ve noticed that their confidence has grown as well.”
“Don’t think about travelling as a family … just do it!” encourages Grant. “It’s awesome! Look on it as an adventure, not a holiday. On holiday, you read books; on an adventure, you write one.”
Camping advice from the Nottens
• A 4×4 tent trailer makes camping a pleasure.
• Be organised with your gear. Get boxes for each category so that packing and unpacking becomes easy.
• In winter, take warm blankets and a fan heater for the tent.
• Prepare simple meals.
• Stay in SANParks, Cape Nature and KZN Wildlife reserves – their facilities are excellent (see the Nottens’ website www.out-and-about.co.za for recommendations).
The Nesbits
Destination: Roadtrip through South Africa to Mozambique
Duration: eight weeks
The kids: Sam (5)
Anita and Peter Nesbit have always loved to travel, and by the time the Cape winter hit this year, they were yearning for the open road. And so, free from formal school timetables, they and their five-year-old son, Sam, headed for the warmer climes of Mozambique.
“It was about an open road, making decisions as we went along, and cultivating that sense of adventure. Plus it was a chance to really explore and discover South Africa,” says Anita. “We wanted a family adventure, and a chance to relax.”
Anita admits that the distances they drove, and then packing and unpacking every few days, didn’t provide the relaxation they were looking for, but getting away from the routines at home and finding exquisite places to stay at, more than made up for it. And the memories of them dancing around a bonfire on the beach as the full moon rose, and watching Sam’s excitement as he saw his first elephant, will stay with them a long time.
“Travelling makes us happy,” says Anita. “We love to explore and discover together. Having a family means finding ways to do it differently – and hopefully it will instil the same wanderlust and excitement in Sam as well.”
Road-trip advice from the Nesbits
• Pack plenty of (sugar-free) snacks and drinks.
• Pack food into a box – it saves on space and it’ll be easy to find the small things.
• Take a hand-held blender – to make healthy soups that are quick and easy.
• Start early – you’ll get a few hours driving done while your little one doses.
• For those early starts, don’t forget a flask of tea or coffee for yourselves – caffeine is an essential.
The Du Toits
Destination: Norway
Duration: 13 days
The kids: Zhara (nine weeks)
When little Zhara du Toit was just nine weeks old, her parents, Johan and Zachary, packed their bags for a family holiday in Scandinavia. It’s a part of the world that Zachary had always dreamed of visiting, and so, when they were invited to a wedding in Norway, they gathered their travel documents together with lightning speed.
For 13 days, the Du Toits explored Norway, travelling by plane, car, boat and train. “The fjords were amazing, and seeing the midnight sun at the Lofoten Islands, was a highlight, as was experiencing a traditional Norwegian wedding.”
The Du Toits tried to see and do as much as possible (which is a lot during the long Scandinavian summer days), and they stayed somewhere different every night. While some parents might have been wary of the disruption to routine, the Du Toits revelled in the adventure. For Zachary, the holiday was a welcome break from the routine of breastfeeding and nappy changes, and Johan loved the opportunity to spend time with his baby girl.
“Your life doesn’t have to stop when you have a baby; you can still travel,” says Johan. “With a few small changes to accommodate your child, you can still have a lot of fun.”
Travel tips from the Du Toits
• Take a pram with a clip-on baby car seat and basket underneath. For Zhara, the pram doubled as a cot.
• Pack a breastfeeding apron. It’s far easier to breastfeed than worry about bottles and formula.
• Pack light – you’ll have to carry the pram too.
• Hire a car. It might cost more, but you have your independence and space.
• Many hotels don’t have baths, so your baby will need to join you in the shower.
Go to www.livingandloving.co.za and click on ‘Family then ‘General Articles’ for more tips on travelling with young kids.
How to be prepared
• Do research online before you travel – if you know what to expect, you’ll know what you need to pack.
• Don’t over-pack – your baby/toddler needs very little.
• Make sure you have entertainment for your kids when travelling on an aeroplane, boat or bus.
• Don’t stress – children are so adaptable, and people are generally very kind when you’re travelling with little ones.
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