12 Truths About Growing Up in South Africa

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Children in the sea | © Counselling / Pixabay

If you’re a millennial, get ready for a nostalgic trip down memory lane. From much-loved brands that no longer exist to our favorite, and often cringe-worthy, television shows, here are 12 truths about growing up in South Africa.

Conversation starters all originated from Chappie wrappers

Chappies bubblegum will always bring up fond memories for any South African. Remember how you tried to spot your favorite flavor’s color, whether banana or grape, through the wrapper before buying? Everyone had a favorite and the best part was reading the facts on the back of the wrapper—pretty much every fun fact you knew was thanks to Chappies.

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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
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1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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Fresca was the drink of choice and is missed to this day

No millennial will ever understand why the green goodness of Fresca was taken off the market. The slogan definitely got it right as “nothing tastes like Fresca.”

Soda floats were the ultimate treat

Whether you preferred a Coke or creme soda float, this was the ultimate treat. Simply add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to your favorite soda and voila, happiness in a glass. Although normally enjoyed as a dessert, a soda float was even better if you could have it with dinner.

Binge watching YoTv and Ktv was standard

You knew at exactly which time each show started and also watched the reruns on weekends. Television was different back then, no recording and Netflix in case you missed an episode, so each day you’d plant yourself in front of the television and soak in all the shows you so dearly loved.

The toll-gate goodie bags on road trips were fascinating

South African families drive far when going away on holidays, especially those from Gauteng. When stopping at toll-booths those plastic bags filled with maps, a newspaper, and more often than not, candy, was what got you through hours of sitting in a car. And, even better, when Easter or Christmas came around, they included themed candy.

Everyone had a favorite Gladiator

Even though the adventure game show only ran from 1999 to 2001, the program had a cult following and to this day the opening line “ARE YOU READY!” is remembered. Everyone had a favorite, from Granite to Fire, and, if you spotted a contestant in the grocery store (which happened quite often) you just had to follow them around.

The kid in the Sasol “Glug Glug” ad pulled on everyone’s heartstrings

The ad, featuring a young boy whose toy car speeds off after being filled up with Sasol’s Super 100, became somewhat iconic in South African advertisement history and watching it so many years after it first aired brings back tons of memories. It comes as no surprise that the ad, created in 1991, was voted the country’s most loved ad in a study by agency Millward Brown.

Noot vir Noot was the worst and most entertaining show at the same time

Whether you loved or hated it, it’s impossible to forget Johan Stemmet’s colorful undercoats. Running from 1991 to 2016, Noot vir Noot was South Africa’s longest-running game show and had a large following of mainly Afrikaan viewers.

Riaan Cruywagen’s hair never changed

Newsreader Riaan Cruywagen graced South African television screens since 1975 and until his final SABC 2 broadcast in 2012, he somehow managed to keep his hairstyle unchanged. South Africans returned to their living rooms each evening to watch the news with this familiar face.

The Carte Blanche jingle indicated the end of your weekend

There’s no doubt why Carte Blanche has the high ratings it does—it’s cutting-edge journalism at its best. As a child though, the notorious jingle meant only one thing: Sunday evening had arrived, and with it, the end of a much-too-short weekend.

Road tripping is part of almost every holiday

South African summers are meant for spending days on the beach and swimming in the ocean, regardless of how cold the water is. Those who aren’t lucky enough to live by the seaside flock to coastal holiday destinations each year. This means loading the car and heading off on a long road trip. Whether traveling to KwaZulu-Natal, the Western, or Eastern Cape, families often spend an evening in a remote town halfway to the end destination, which added to the excitement.

Mxit was the only way to communicate

Mxit was a free messaging platform similar to WhatsApp, and if you had a mobile phone between 2007 and 2015, chances are you had the app downloaded and ready to go. With over seven million active subscribers, there really was no other way to communicate.

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Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

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