{"id":9764,"date":"2019-04-17T11:29:10","date_gmt":"2019-04-17T11:29:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/AFRICAtime\/?p=9764"},"modified":"2021-09-01T10:45:48","modified_gmt":"2021-09-01T09:45:48","slug":"holidays-bring-happiness-its-a-fact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/holidays-bring-happiness-its-a-fact\/","title":{"rendered":"Holidays bring happiness &#8211; it&#8217;s a fact!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>It is a fact that holidays bring more happiness than almost anything else. I certainly believe that always having a holiday booked is a source of great joy.<\/p>\n<p>There are three stages of happiness associated with a holiday \u2013 the anticipation, researching and planning is very exciting; the enjoyment of actually being away, relaxing and visiting the places you have been looking forward to seeing; and finally, recounting and relating all the wonderful experiences you have enjoyed.<\/p>\n<p>If adventure and excitement plus witnessing magnificent animals in their natural environment are what you crave, then a safari in East or Southern Africa ticks all the boxes.<\/p>\n<p>Imagine the thrill of seeing lions prowling the savannahs, a leopard looking down on you from the branch of a tree, huge herds of elephants gathered around a waterhole; it really is the stuff of dreams.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_9768\" style=\"width: 790px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Lions.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9768\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-9768 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Lions.jpg\" alt=\"Two lions in the Masai Mara\" width=\"800\" height=\"554\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Lions.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Lions-433x300.jpg 433w, https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Lions-768x532.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-9768\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lions in the Masai Mara<\/p><\/div>\n<p>For full-on wild excitement nothing beats the wildebeest migration in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/kenya-safari\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">Kenya<\/span><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/tanzania\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">Tanzania<\/span><\/a> \u2013 when thousands upon thousands of wildebeest and zebras cross the Mara River in search of greener pastures. With the constant threat of being preyed upon by lions and crocodiles the migrating herds thunder across the land and river.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_9771\" style=\"width: 790px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Wildebeest.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9771\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-9771 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Wildebeest.jpg\" alt=\"Migrating wildebeest crossing the river\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Wildebeest.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Wildebeest-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Wildebeest-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-9771\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Wildebeest migration<\/p><\/div>\n<p>A tour around <a href=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/south_africa\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">South Africa<\/span><\/a> will reveal more than you could ever hope for. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/south_africa\/cape-town\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">Cape Town<\/span><\/a> is a buzzing, cosmopolitan city with plenty of restaurants, nightlife, shopping and amazing sightseeing \u2013 where else are you going to see penguins gathering on the beach? Wine tasting in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/south_africa\/winelands\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">Winelands<\/span><\/a> is a hugely popular way to spend a day (or two!). The stunning <a href=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/south_africa\/garden-route\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">Garden Route<\/span><\/a> unveils some truly breathtaking scenery. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/south_africa\/kwazulu-natal\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">Battlefields<\/span><\/a> are a living history lesson. The game parks, including the famous <a href=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/south_africa\/kruger-national-park\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">Kruger National Park<\/span><\/a>, will reveal an amazing amount of wildlife including the \u2018big 5\u2019. Not to be forgotten, is the chance to go whale watching, or for the brave at heart, shark cage diving.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_9770\" style=\"width: 790px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Penguins.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9770\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-9770 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Penguins.jpg\" alt=\"Penguins on Boulders Beach in South Africa\" width=\"800\" height=\"318\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Penguins.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Penguins-600x239.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Penguins-768x305.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-9770\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Penguins at Boulders Beach<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_9766\" style=\"width: 790px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/CapePoint.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9766\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-9766 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/CapePoint.jpg\" alt=\"Beautiful Cape Point in Cape Town\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/CapePoint.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/CapePoint-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/CapePoint-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-9766\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cape Point, Cape Town<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Perhaps the ultimate in wildlife viewing is gorilla trekking in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/rwanda\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">Rwanda<\/span><\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/uganda\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">Uganda<\/span><\/a>, where you can get up extremely close and spend time with these magnificent creatures whilst they go about their daily lives.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-responsive aligncenter wp-image-11173 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Gorilla.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Gorilla.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Gorilla-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Gorilla-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Gorilla-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Gorilla-184x184.jpg 184w, https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Gorilla-90x90.jpg 90w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If all that sounds a bit too much excitement for you, a beach holiday by the Indian Ocean is the perfect way to relax and shed your cares. Or for the best of both worlds, you can combine the thrill of safari with a spell of total relaxation on the beach.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/kenya\/mombasa\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">Mombasa<\/span><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/tanzania\/zanzibar-beaches\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">Zanzibar<\/span><\/a> are renowned for their stunning beaches, and they boast a fabulous selection of accommodation to suit all budgets. Here you can indulge in a host of water sports including deep-sea fishing, diving, snorkelling, jet skiing and many, many more. If it\u2019s total relaxation you seek, then you can\u2019t beat some of the fabulous spa treatments available at many of the hotels along the coast.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_9769\" style=\"width: 790px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/NyaliBeach.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9769\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-9769 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/NyaliBeach.jpg\" alt=\"Nyali Beach in Mombasa\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/NyaliBeach.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/NyaliBeach-533x300.jpg 533w, https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/NyaliBeach-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-9769\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nyali Beach, Mombasa<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Now, I think it\u2019s time for me to practice what I preach and start researching my next holiday &#8211; oh happy times!<\/p>\n<p>If we can help to spread a little happiness your way, please call Somak Holidays on 020 8423 3000 and speak to one of our lovely team members.<\/p>\n<p>Cathy Stott<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11313,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[437,13,440,121,604,11,63,395,30,24,90,1,580],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9764","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-adventure","category-botswana","category-culture","category-honeymoon","category-inspiration-africa","category-kenya","category-namibia","category-rwanda","category-south-africa","category-tanzania","category-uganda","category-uncategorized","category-wildlife-and-safari"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/gorillasmall.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9764","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9764"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9764\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11678,"href":"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9764\/revisions\/11678"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9764"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9764"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.somak.com\/inspiration\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9764"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}