Anyone who has had to leave their tail-thumping, face-licking, eager-faced bundle of fluff behind when ostensibly going away to 'relax', knows the stress of leaving one's pet behind - it doesn't equate to a real holiday - one feels as though a vital member of the family is missing!

Pet-friendly accommodation in South Africa is rife - you don't need to look very far to find a B&B or guesthouse that is more than happy to accommodate your dog, cat, lovebirds or pet python (perhaps the python is pushing it, better leave him with a snake-loving neighbour).

Pet-friendly accommodation in South Africa appreciates that your stay is that much more satisfying when you know that your pets are happy, and the lowered anxiety you feel as a result, adds to your holiday enjoyment.

Travelling with those we love is one of life's greatest and most rewarding pleasures, and there are now pet-friendly venues throughout the country - self-catering cottages in the Breede River Valley, guest lodges just outside the Kruger National Park, chalets on the bend of a river on KwaZulu-Natal's south coast and a working farm in Ficksburg, just a few examples.