Travelling with Pets   

Pet-friendly travel is our favourite type of local travel. And we’ve got the best waggly tailed travel buddy to share it with. Here’s how we do it.

This is Moose, the Travelling Mouse. At least that’s our nickname for him. He’s not really a moose. Or a mouse for that matter. He’s our lovable, well-travelled dog, and he’s been on more South African local getaways than some people.

Moose loves a good, outdoorsy holiday as much as we do and we absolutely adore having him with us whenever possible. And travelling with pets is absolutely possible. Especially short-stay local getaways. We’ve travelled with him since he was a pup and will actively search for pet friendly accommodation, particularly when yearning for a quick weekend away close to home in KZN.

He’s run on Wild Coast beaches at Mtentu River Lodge, negotiated snow in the Underberg and taken a liking to fireside sleeping in a farm cottage there. He’s rock-hopped along rivers and navigated through forests. He’s been a beach bum at Zinkwazi and run free on the quiet beaches of KZN’s South Coast. He’s  reveled in discovering the coastline at Kenton-on-Sea in the Eastern Cape and explored the Midlands often too.

Yip, he could give you a tip or two on an easy-going South African getaway.

Talking Pet Friendly Travel on Twitter

Last week I excitedly co-hosted the #TravelChatSA Twitter chat session on the topic “Travelling with Pets.”

All South African participants tweeted merrily about pet-friendly accommodation recommendations, the pros and cons of taking your furry friends away and many funny and cute pictures of pets in the act of holidaying were shared.

Here are some of my tweets which give an overview of our personal experience with travelling with our pooch:

Q1: Have you ever travelled with your pet? If yes- how was it? If not – why not?? via @travelopulent #TravelChatSA (19h00)

7:02pm · 9 Sep 2015

A1 YES! All the time! We love it!  We joke that our staffie-child must be the best travelled pet around #TravelChatSA

Q2: What are the positives and negatives when travelling with pets? via @patrycjaOo #TravelChatSA (19h15)

7:17pm · 9 Sep 2015

A2: Positives are happy holiday activities like beach walks & dam swims & outdoors adventuring together #TravelChatSA

7:18pm · 9 Sep 2015

A2: Negatives to travelling with a pooch: nature reserves & National Parks are usually off limits to pets #TravelChatSA

Q3: Do you know any pet-friendly accommodation in South Africa? via @AnksW23 #TavelChatSA (19h30)

7:32pm · 9 Sep 2015

A3: Lots! We usually look for pet friendly accommodation as a priority when planning a getaway. #TravelChatSA

7:33pm · 9 Sep 2015

A3: Great local accommodation booking sites with pet friendly options: @SafariNowSA & @wheretostaycoza #TravelChatSA

7:34pm · 9 Sep 2015

A3: An amazing pet friendly spot we’ve been to is Solitude in the KZN Midlands. http://bit.ly/1iumSoX #TravelChatSA

7:35pm · 9 Sep 2015

A3 Most of the pet friendly ones are small, homely, private owner run spots. Self-catering cottages, farm stays etc. Just ask! #TravelChatSA

Q4: Do you think travels are as exciting for the animals as for their human “mates”? How can one take the need of pets into consideration? via @travellingdeon #TravelChatSA (19h45)

7:47pm · 9 Sep 2015

A4: Look at this happy face! Yip, he loves a getaway as much as we love having him with us. ALOT! #TravelChatSA

BONUS Q5: Let’s brag about our pets – share some pictures of your furry friends via @TravelChatSA #TravelChatSA (19h55)

7:57pm · 9 Sep 2015

A5 Moose: our well-travelled fur baby. #TravelChatSA

See more of the discussion around pet-friendly travelling in South Africa by searching for the #TravelChat SA on Twitter and scrolling through the recent chat results.

Follow me too for more about Moose the travelling Mouse’s adventures: @BushbabyBlog.

Here’s to many more waggly tailed holidays.