So your boss has given you time off from work or there is a mid-term break at college. Perhaps several public holidays have coincided in the middle of the week. Whatever the reason, we all get that extra luxury of taking time off from the business of life. But just because these days may fall during the week and last only a couple of days, that should not mean all there is to do is lounge at home watching TV, especially when there is a whole country out there to explore.Optima Holidays provides midweek holiday specials to several destinations throughout the country. Through the website, you can plan your break's details knowing where you will be staying and what activities will be available to you when you arrive.

You may want to spend some time enjoying the great outdoors in the Limpopo or North-west Province. Game-viewing and nature walks are the number one tourist activities in these two provinces so if you've been longing to snap some good quality photographs of a herd of buffalo or zebra, book your space at Bakubang, Bothania Hills and Mabalingwe Nature Reserve where you will be given the keys to a comfortable room fitted with beds, a bathroom, kitchen with microwave, a phone, TV with DSTV channels. Activities such as squash, adventure golf, tennis, abseiling, archery and mountain climbing are some of the ways in which you will be able to pass your time during your brief trip.

To the east of Gauteng one finds the province of Mpumalanga, where some of the most attractive natural features in the country can be found. Like you would do in the North-West or Limpopo provinces, Mpumalanga's nature reserves offer game-drives that get visitors take a closer look at the lives of the wild cats and every member of the "Big 5". The Blyde River Canyon is not to be missed; a stay at the Lowveld Lodge Resort will ensure your chance to see this brilliant feature during your stay. Self-catering cottages such as those at Mount Sheba Resort are cosy with fireplaces around which guests can huddle on chillier winter evenings. Accommodation is also available at the Ngwenya Lodge, Pine Lake Country Estate and Waterberry Hill Resort and Spa which all feature rooms with beds, bathrooms, kitchens and living areas with TVs connected to satellite channels.

You may fancy visiting a more urban location during your midweek break. Cape Town combines the natural with the urban in its own unique way. Table Mountain, the most noticeable feature in the city is a perfect place to go hiking while further down the slope, Cape Town CBD's restaurants, nightclubs, and music venues and lounges promise great nights out on the town. Beaches at Muizenberg and Camp's Bay are fantastic for swimming, yachting, scuba-diving, surfing and snorkelling during the summer. Cape Gordonia, Hastings Hall, Hermanus Beach Club and Mount Sierra resorts offer great accommodation and a variety of activities to fit the varied tastes of guests.

Nature's finest geological features are put on display in the Drakensberg where Bushmen's Nek Hotel & Spa and Champagne Lane Resort pamper guests with spa treatments. Along the Garden Route, a host of fancy resorts such as Castleton Resort, Brookes Hill Suites, Bella Vista and Beacon Island resorts found in stunning locations along the coastline. The Garden Route is South Africa's best and most expansive botanical wonder making it an excellent choice for a visit. Sift through the list of midweek holiday specials on the Optima Holidays website and plan your next weekend or couple of days off the way you should.