The year may have only just started but that beginning-of-the-year fatigue is getting real.
Is that even a thing? Whether it is or not, there’s something about the month of January that makes it feel extra long.
Could it be the extra days the December salary needs to stretch to? Or perhaps the hot summer days Mzansi continues to experience? Except many are no longer lounging in the shade but rather kickstarting their year in the office.
Whatever the cause is, you wouldn’t be blamed for already planning on how you’re going to make use of your annual leave for 2024.
A favourite pastime at the beginning of the year is to explore which days the year’s public holidays will fall on, with fingers crossed for a long weekend to look forward to.
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A prime chance comes with Easter in April, take Thursday, 28 March 2024, off and 2 and 3 April - this will give you seven days off. By taking off just four additional days from 29 April to 3 May, you can stretch the holiday into an indulgent nine-day getaway.
September also allows for lengthening a long weekend. Take leave on Monday the 23rd, before Heritage Day, to relish a relaxing five-day break of braais, sunshine and swimming. The motherload of holiday hacking happens in December. Take leave from the 13th through the 27th, and you’ll be off an astonishing 16 straight days thanks to the four consecutive public holidays.
Here’s how you can hack your calendar and make full use of the year’s holidays:
February: The season of love
While Valentine’s Day on 14 February falls on a Wednesday, the weekend of the 16th is perfect for a bae-cation with luxury living in the city or secluded getaways along the coast.
March: Human Rights Day and the beginning of Easter break
March is prime time for safaris. An escape to a game lodge in Mpumalanga or the North West gives you the opportunity to see spectacular wildlife sightings.
With Thursday, 21 March, as Human Rights Day and Good Friday on 29 March, it’s as simple as taking office days from Friday 22 March and you score a 12-day breakaway!
April: Freedom Day break
Adventure seekers can tackle diving experiences on the coast at places like the Aliwal Shoal diving experience nearby Premier Resort Cutty Sark in Scottburgh or cage diving at uShaka Marine World make for perfect experiences for adrenaline junkies.
May: Whales and wine in Hermanus
From May to September, treat yourself to an idyllic weekend getaway in Hermanus, enjoying the best land-based whale-watching in the world. When you aren’t scanning for whales or kite surfing, indulge in the region’s famed vineyards, restaurants and galleries.
June: Island time in Mozambique
June is an ideal time to trade in the winter blues for an affordable tropical getaway – think coconut palms swaying in the breeze, snorkelling, sailing and lounging on the beach. It’s Youth Day long weekend – take off Friday 14 June and get a good four days off.
July: Hiking and snow in the Drakensberg
Lace-up your boots for epic hikes and breathtaking vistas in Lesotho and the Drakensberg. Sure, it may be chilly, but for the best stargazing in the south, you can also head to the Karoo town of Sutherland – also infamous for being South Africa’s coldest spot.
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August: Wildlife flower spotting in Namaqualand
July to September is flower season in Namaqualand when the arid landscape transforms into a kaleidoscope of colour. Marvel at fields of orange, yellow and purple daisies, best explored by car.
September: Bask in the joys of spring festivals
Enjoy the best of local artistry with the Art Joburg festival and music lovers and foodies would do well to bookmark the DSTV Delicious Food and Music Festival, hosted over the Heritage Day weekend.
October: Desert solitude in Sossusvlei in Namibia
Looking for wide open spaces? Sossusvlei in Namibia beckons in October, one of the best months to experience its otherworldly dunes and starry night skies. Try a hot air balloon ride for phenomenal desert views.
November: Turtles and tranquillity
From November to February, join a turtle tour in iSimangaliso Wetland Park in KwaZulu-Natal – the only place on the continent where turtles nest. Watching the huge leatherback and loggerhead giants coming ashore under the moonlight is magical.
December: A Jozi jol
Keen on a Christmas with a difference? While most of the city’s residents head off to Durban or the Mother City, how about going against the crowds and heading to Johannesburg?
Ring in the holidays Jozi style by experiencing the vibrant music scene and markets of Maboneng and Braamfontein. Popular tourist spots such as Gold Reef City, the Apartheid Museum, Cradle of Humankind and others are also less crowded. Plus, the weather is unbeatable.
