Beyond photos and social media posts, music has a powerful way of taking us back to moments in time and bringing special memories to life. With travel it’s no different. We all have special songs that remind us of funny memories, memorable road trip playlists or moments that simply took our breath away.
Here are some of those songs that took the Getaway team back in time to some amazing places in South Africa:
Oudtshoorn, Little Karoo
Song: ‘Closer’ by Chainsmokers
Image: Anita Froneman
My sister and I went on a road trip for her 21st birthday in 2017. One of our stops was the Chandelier Game Lodge near Oudtshoorn, where we got to meet Shorty and Sheila.These giraffe calves were rescued from certain death after Shorty’s mother injured herself and Sheila’s mother had no milk to feed her during the terrible drought. They are cared for by the lodge’s fantastic wildlife experts and guests could also give the babies their bottles at feeding times. Shorty and Shiela are free to rejoin the rest of the wild giraffe herd on the farm whenever they like. (They probably have joined them by now). Whenever I hear this song nowadays, I always think back to driving through the Karoo in my sister’s little Chevy Spark and singing along loudly! – Anita
Garden Route
Song: ‘Ventura Highway’ by America
‘Ventura Highway’ is the greatest road trip song. It reminds me of summertime and Garden Route holidays, driving to Knysna and playing this song. – Lauren
Hoedspruit & Kruger National Park
Song: ‘Holding On’ by Matthew Mole
Image: Imogen Searra
A song that stirs up a memory very close to my heart is ‘Holding On’ by Matthew Mole. In 2017 my mother and I visited the Kruger National Park. It’s our annual family holiday trip, but that year it would only be my mom and me on this trip. My dad had to fly back home to Cape Town before we left for Kruger.
My mom and I had an absolute blast that week, spending over eight hours a day inside the park, exploring and stopping for every bird we saw: luxuries we hadn’t experienced in previous years with my impatient dad.
One morning, after breakfast and a coffee at Afsaal, we decided to exit the park from Malelane Gate. It was building to 42°C and with the heat, we hadn’t seen much. The night before we’d finished watching the series, Tali’s Wedding Diaries and ‘Holding On’ started playing, so I downloaded the song on my phone. Making our way back towards the gate, with very little promise of a sighting, I decided to play some music and this song came on. We were both energised afterwards and it really makes for such a happy, road trip song. I highly recommend you add it to a playlist! – Imogen
Doolhof Wine Estate, Wellington
Song: ‘Three Little Birds (Don’t Worry About a Thing)’ by Bob Marley and the Wailers
AfriCamps at Doolhof Wine Estate. Image: Nidha Narrandes.
On my drive to AfriCamps at Doolhof Wine Estate, this song was playing in the car. It became my earworm for the duration of my stay at this incredible glamping site. I woke up to rain pouring down on the canvas, and luckily ‘everything was gonna be alright’. This is why I glamp and don’t camp! – Nidha
Ficksburg, Free State
Song: ‘I’m on My Way’ – The Proclaimers
Ionia Cherry Farm. Image: Gabrielle Jacobs
It was my first time in the Eastern Free State, and I was staying in Ficksburg for a few days, seeing what was new in the Cherry Capital of the world, and during cherry-picking season too. While there, I befriended a retired policeman named Harold at a small pub called Foxies. He started humming a tune, moving his head in time to an unknown song.
‘Meerkat!’ he suddenly exclaimed, calling over to a woman lounging across the room near a computer. ‘Play that song for us again…’ Our DJ knew exactly what he was talking about, and soon enough I recognised it too. It was ‘I’m on My Way’ by the Proclaimers. Harry and the Foxies crowd were such a down-to-earth bunch, and they were all too happy to recommend the best places to visit. – Gabby
Image: Teagan Cunniffe
