Revved Up with Itu Motuba
Let’s be honest, travelling is expensive.
Flights, accommodation, entertainment, etc. all so expensive. The thought of a weekend away sometimes feels like it needs spreadsheets, emotional preparation, and a minor miracle.
For many of us, travel starts feeling like one of those things reserved for people who casually book flights on a Tuesday and somehow never seem stressed about debit orders like social media influencers and reality tv stars. Meanwhile, the rest of us are calculating fuel, groceries, and whether we can emotionally survive another month before payday.
But here’s the thing about South Africans: if there is one thing we know how to do, it’s make a plan.
We have stokvels for everything. Groceries. Funerals. School uniforms. December enjoyment. Emergencies. Hair appointments. I would not be surprised if somewhere out there people even have a “soft life and brunch” stokvel. Collective saving is practically part of our DNA. So why are we not talking enough about travelling stokvels?
Because if you ask me, this might be one of the smartest ways to see the world without financially traumatizing yourself. I saw it working for my mother and her retired friends as they went to Victoria Falls last festive season. I swear that lady has more of a life than I do. So let us learn from the mamas.
A travelling stokvel is exactly what it sounds like: a group of people contributing a set amount of money every month towards travelling together. It removes the pressure of suddenly needing thousands all at once and replaces it with something far less terrifying, consistency.
And honestly? That changes everything.
Not everyone can randomly drop a huge amount of money on a spontaneous trip, and there should be no shame in that. Life is expensive. Responsibilities are real. But saving bit by bit suddenly makes travel feel possible instead of impossible. What feels overwhelming when viewed as one giant expense starts feeling manageable when broken into monthly contributions.
Before you know it, you’re no longer saying, “One day I want to travel.” You’re booking accommodation. Comparing outfits. Arguing in the group chat about itineraries and who packed too many shoes.
There’s also something psychologically comforting about saving for travel in this way. Paying for a holiday in one painful transaction can sometimes feel reckless, even when you deserve the break. But when you’ve been contributing towards it every month, the guilt disappears. You planned for this. You committed to this. You earned this.
And can we talk about the joy of group travel for a second?
Because yes, solo travel is beautiful and healing and all those aesthetic Instagram words people like to use. But travelling with your people? Yoh. Different level.
The airport gossip. The inside jokes. The dramatic debates over where to eat. The person who overpacks. The one who forgets chargers. The friend who somehow becomes tour guide despite not knowing where they are going either. Travelling with a group creates stories you laugh about for years.
And financially, it simply makes sense.
Group bookings often mean discounts. Accommodation becomes cheaper when shared. Transport costs stretch further. Suddenly, experiences that once felt inaccessible start feeling realistic. It’s soft life, yes—but strategic soft life.
Of course, let me not lie to you and pretend it’s perfect.
Money and people can get spicy sometimes.
Someone pays late. Someone wants luxury while another person wants “cheap but cute.” Somebody suggests camping and suddenly friendships are tested. Group dynamics can become chaotic very quickly if expectations are not clear.
Trust matters. Communication matters. Boundaries matter.
You need people who are genuinely committed, financially responsible, and emotionally mature enough to agree on plans without turning every decision into a civil war.
But honestly? Those are management problems, not deal-breakers.
A clear plan solves a lot. Decide upfront how much everyone contributes, where the money goes, how decisions are made, and what happens if someone suddenly disappears emotionally and financially after saying, “Guys, I’m definitely in.”
Because the bigger truth here is this: a travelling stokvel is not really about money.
It’s about access.
It’s about reminding ourselves that travel does not only belong to influencers, trust-fund babies, or people who somehow always seem to be in airports wearing matching lounge sets.
Sometimes travel belongs to ordinary people who saved R500 or R1,000 every month with friends and decided they, too, deserve beautiful experiences.
Maybe the trip starts small. A weekend away. A road trip. A neighbouring country. Maybe it grows into bigger dreams later.
But the point is—it starts.
Because sometimes, travelling isn’t about having more money.
Sometimes, it’s about having a better plan.
And in true Mzansi fashion, ons maak ‘n plan.
