The GREEN HEART of Europe

Slovenia's popularity as a travel destination is on the rise. Visitors are flocking to this small Central European country to experience its pristine natural beauty, thriving culinary scene and outdoor adventures.

- BELINDA MOUNTAIN

I should have listened to my father when he told me to pay more attention in geography class. Perhaps then I wouldn’t have had to peek surreptitiously at Google when my husband suggested we visit Slovenia.

This tiny European country lies just below Austria, sandwiched between Italy, Croatia and Hungary. But its location wasn’t the only thing I was hazy about. Slovenia, in fact, delivered surprises at every turn – but for brevity’s sake, I’ve narrowed its main selling points down to seven.

1 PRISTINE NATURAL BEAUTY 

We Mzansi locals like to think that when it comes to all things nature, our country has it covered. But Slovenia’s natural beauty is pristine. From the Insta-worthy emerald waters of Lake Bled (created by glacier runoff) to the fairy-tale mountain peaks of Vogel and the shores of Lake Bohinj, where tiny fish dart around your ankles, you feel like you’ve stepped into an oasis, hidden from the rest of the world. If a woman wrapped in fig leaves had to step out of the greenery and offer you a shiny apple, she wouldn’t seem at all out of place.

It’s no accident that everything is perfectly preserved. Slovenians guard their environment fiercely; in fact, it was the first country in the world to have been declared a Green Country by the international Green Destinations organisation, which scores countries on air quality, water, wildlife and business attitude towards ecology.

Even taking your paddle-board out on certain lakes requires you to pay a small fee, and while this may feel restrictive to tourists, it’s clear that this country’s citizens know its beauty is worth safeguarding.