By the end of November, matric exams will be over and thousands of school leavers across the country will be looking for ways to mark the occasion.
For some, that means piling into Ballito or Plettenberg Bay for the legendary Rage festivals. Think packed dance floors, DJs, holiday accommodation bursting at the seams, shuttles, Ubers and nights that roll straight into sunrise.
But while Rage is iconic, it’s not necessarily for everyone. If you (or your newly fledged matriculant) are more into base jumping than bass thumping, or if sticky dance floors just aren’t your vibe, the team at Flight Centre South Africa has a few ideas:
Adrenaline & Wilderness
For those who would rather hear the call of the wild, the Drakensberg offers up the Tugela Falls, camping under endless skies, or a zipline canopy tour. It is equal parts adrenaline rush and “wow, South Africa is ridiculously beautiful.”
Antoinette Turner, General Manager of Flight Centre South Africa, says: “We are seeing more young travellers pick adventure over parties. For many, a multi-day hike with friends, a surf adventure to Jeffrey’s Bay, or exploring the Drakensberg feels just as much of a rite-of-passage as does Rage. And it sets the tone for a lifetime of travel.”
Chic & Chill
From tram tours in Franschhoek to cycling tours in Stellenbosch, consider heading to the Cape Winelands. Round up your tribe, rent a self-catering villa, braai by the pool, and ease your way into adulthood. Bonus: your Instagram grid will look like a magazine spread.
Party with a Twist
For those who would like the beach-vibe party, but without the chaotic “where did my friends go” energy, Turner suggests looking at all-inclusive options – either a cruise from Durban or a Mauritius resort holiday – where parents can spoil their children with a post-matric travel experience – but ensure budgets are locked in before they go.
Turner notes: “Cruises and island packages are popular with matric families. They give you that party energy but in a more inclusive, structured way. Parents love the peace of mind, but for students it is still about sun, fun and freedom.”
Big Adventure Energy
Matric vac does not have to mean staying close. If you’ve got wanderlust in your veins and some holiday money to spend, consider rand-friendly destinations like Thailand and Vietnam. Think tuk-tuks, temples, night markets and beaches. Street food that costs less than a crème soda back home and sunsets you will remember forever. Plus, the chance to explore and make new friends at vibey youth hostels.
Or what about backpacking across Europe?Yes, it is still a thing. Hostels (easily booked through sites like Hostelworld), Eurail passes (with student and youth discounts), and waking up in a new city every other day. This is the vac for the ones who want to roll into first-year varsity already telling stories that begin with “So, when I was in Prague…”
Local Legends
Not everything has to be bougie or bucket list. Sometimes the best vac is right here at home. Rent a holiday home on the Garden Route (split the costs, cook together, spend your days on the beach), head to the South Coast of KZN, or come to Cape Town for a few days of sunshine on Clifton Fourth Beach.
At the end of the day, vac is about celebrating freedom, friendship, and the fact that you survived twelve years of school. However you choose to mark that moment, make it your own.
As Turner sums it up: “The best vac is the one you will still be laughing about ten years later. That is the beauty of youth travel. You are not just celebrating the end of school. You are opening the door to a lifetime of adventure.”
So, what is it going to be? The mosh pit, the mountain, or the mango smoothie in Phuket? Your move.
