Welcome to Petfriendly.co.za!

How often have you walked on a beach, in a forest or on a mountain, and thought with longing of how your dogs would just love to be there with you right now?

You imagine them running ahead, making sure the path is free of danger, sniffing every inch of this exciting new territory – and then suddenly it hits home – you left them behind!

Well, guess what? Pets are welcome!

Choose from a wide selection of hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, caravan parks, mountain cabins, self-catering cottages and secluded holiday homes, country inns, private nature reserves,  game lodges, guest farms and luxury apartments that cater to all kinds of budgets. From  the luxurious and exclusive to the rural and rustic; your dog, your cat, your bird and even your horse are all welcome!

Also featured in the book and on this site are places to walk your dogs, pet-friendly restaurants  and coffee shops, pet products and travel accessories, and pet-related services.

We all enjoy planning a family holiday, so why not plan the next one to include your best friend? Our pets are an integral part of our families and dogs especially, just like children, love nothing  more than being part of a holiday trip or family outing. If you plan things properly and take all the necessary travel precautions, your trip and your holiday will be a truly pleasurable and rewarding experience.

There is so much to see and experience in this diverse, beautiful country of ours, and now your pets  can enjoy it with you. Spend some quality time with your dog/s, taking long walks to explore new territories  together; sniffing out new smells and chasing unsuspecting seagulls for kilometres on wild, deserted beaches.

Spending time and playing with your dog/s in a different environment and away from home will add a whole new dimension to your relationship with them. Not only does their presence offer you comfort and security – it will also add to your travel adventures in many ways, often ‘opening doors’ to meeting new and interesting people.

Created through a shared passion for animals, writing, research and travel, The South African Pet-friendly  Directory is the combined effort of Sharyn Spicer and Janine Nepgen. Assuming the roles of researchers, authors and editors, these two women have used their shared and individual talents and skills to produce a unique travel guide that has proved extremely popular with pet owners.

Sharyn is a Sociology lecturer and PhD candidate at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in Cape Town.
Her research centres around the sociological variables that influence and shape attitudes and behaviour towards pets.
Sharyn is also the chairperson of TUFCAT (The UWC Feral Cat Project) – visit www.tufcat.co.za for more on the Project.

Janine is a writer and publisher.  

Other Books by Sharyn and Janine

Holistic Holidays in South Africa (published by Human & Roussouw, 2005)
The South African Child-friendly Directory (2007)

Animal Welfare
Our main animal welfare interest is the Feral Cat Project based on the UWC campus where we feed, trap & continue
to sterilise the approximately 160 feral cats living there. We have trapped and sterilised hundreds of cats over the years.
We also run an adoption programme and find homes for many of the strays that are dumped on campus. We also have a sanctuary providing a home, temporary and permanent, to numerous rescued cats and dogs.