Innehållsförteckning för January 2019 från Getaway

It’s a time of summer holidays, exciting travel, beach lounging and New Year’s resolutions. Many of us make wildly unrealistic promises to ourselves about the things we’ll change in the coming year. If you happen to be reading this while lying on a beach, look around you. Chances are you’ll see litter of all kinds dotting the sand. Humans have been producing rubbish since the beginning of time. Stone Age people discarded hand axes, strandlopers left piles of shellfish middens, early civilisations are marked by mounds of rubble. Most of this ancient litter was biodegradable: the planet recycled our mess for us. All that changed after World War II. The invention of plastic and the myriad products it spawned created a throwaway society. The chemical structure of most plastics renders…

The Oyster Box Take the Umhlanga turn-off from the M4. The lavish breakfast buffet is served until 10.30am on the Ocean Terrace or in the Palm Court. R450 pp, including bubbly, oysters and cured salmon. 2 Lighthouse Road, 031-514-5018 Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve Take Lagoon Drive to Breakers Resort; the parking area is next door and the gate is across the road. The reserve has a 2km boardwalk through coastal forest with sea views, bird watching and a picnic area. Free entry. 031-205-1271 Umdloti Back on the M4, take the Umdloti turn-off (M27) and down to North Beach Road – park along the beachfront. Among the eatery options along this stretch are Bel Punto for Italian food, Mundo Vido for seafood and cocktails, Sandbar for cocktails and La Casa Nostra…

Sanccob Penguin Rescue Centre Head south along the city’s beachfront on Marine Drive to Cape Recife. Feeding times are 9am and 2.45pm. Entry R40 adults, R25 kids. 041-583-1830 Schoenmakerskop Proceed along Marine Drive. For a refreshment stop on the Wild Side drive, there’s Sacramento Restaurant for coffee and cake with a sea view at 32 Marine Drive, 041-366-2312. Or, for the best gourmet milkshakes in town, head to Grass Roof, a restaurant, bakery and farm stall. At the end of Marine Drive, turn right on Victoria Drive/M18, then left into Sardinia Bay Road and right into Heron Road. Grass Roof is on the corner of Seaview Road. 041-366-2379 Maitland Beach Follow the M9 west to Seaview, and turn left on Maitland Road along the coast. Remember to pack cardboard boxes…

‘Why don’t you write up the story of the Howick monster as fact, as far as you know?’ William Hyslop said to me with a twinkle in his eye. ‘Come on, man, fan the flames and the legend takes flight. It would be wonderful for tourism. They should find that monster again.’ William was referring to the Inkanyamba, a serpent with a head like a horse that is said to live at the bottom of Howick Falls. More than six metres long, it’s believed the Inkanyamba devours those unfortunate souls who fling themselves over the falls. My insider, Rob Caskie, had taken me to chat to William, his brother John and farmer Bundy Shaw about the history of Howick. John is in his 80s and has been a doctor in…

In response to our online story about Africa’s longest suspension bridge in Mozambique, Michelle Mengel wrote: On a recent visit to the US, we drove over a 27-kilometre bridge linking Virginia Beach and Cape Charles [across Chesapeake Bay]. It was spectacular driving across the ocean while passing an oil tanker and a cruise ship. The bridge briefly tunnelled under the sea, to let ships pass, and popped up a little further down. All I could think was to take this dream back to SA: of subway trains running swiftly under our cities; of bridges connecting people; and a public-transport system of trains, trams, trolleys, buses and taxis in abundance, so that all of us can afford to go to work and get there quickly, reliably and safely, without having to…

Chokka Trail slackpacking worth R12 140 I am super-excited and so looking forward to hitting this trail with my better half. What an amazing way to spend some quality time enjoying an intense hike, followed by luxurious evenings. Oh gosh, I can’t wait! – Live Tshefu Pondo Trail slackpacking worth R15 000 What a blessing. We have recently fallen in love with hiking and the Wild Coast is on top of our bucket list. So this is beyond perfect! Thanks a million. – Mignon van Dyk Crayfish Trail slackpacking worth R16 000 I had to read your email a couple of times. This is such a dream come true. I’m eternally grateful and I can’t wait for this adventure. You guys rock! – Anda Sanda Thandana Traveller Bag worth R2…

WHAT Far and Wide SkyLine WHERE Nyanga, Zimbabwe WHO Michelle Hardie My husband strode ahead in his full-body harness. He reminded me of a general leading his men into battle – only this time it was his wife. I walked quietly behind him listening to the clank of his metal armour, shoots of white light sparking in the afternoon sun. It was hot and still. It had been suggested by Getaway’s editor that while I was on holiday in Zim, I take a detour to the Eastern Highlands to an established outdoor education camp. Included in its multitude of adventurous, Scout-type activities (for kids and adults) is a new thriller called SkyLine. Tucked up in my harness, I would be hoisted into open air and off the edge of a…

For a holiday, I like a bit of everything – I think that’s why South Africa is so fabulous. I travel for work often. My bosses spoil me. We recently did Italy and France; last year Spain and London. I also head down to the Cape as often as I can. I absolutely loved Spain. The people are friendly, the food is incredible and I love the culture. Everything revolves around dinner, like the way I grew up. My gran taught me to cook when I was little and I was fascinated by food. Dinner was eaten together every night in the dining room. The best meal I’ve had on holiday was at this little pintxos (tapas) bar in San Sebastian, Spain, which only serves local white anchovies on crostini.…

Lanner falcons are plentiful in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park during the summer months. I knew they were hunting around the Dalkeith waterhole near Mata-Mata, so I positioned my vehicle with a good view of where most of their flight activity was taking place. There were several youngsters and as soon as one of them or an adult attempted to strike at the doves coming to drink, there was a flurry of activity. The youngsters also engaged in play fighting. For this shot, I was able to pan with them to grab a few frames, and this one turned out really well. Equipment Canon 1D Mk III, Canon EF 500mm f/4 (with 1.4x extender), ISO 640, f/8, 1/4000 sec…

Tygerberg Nature Reserve From the N1, take the M16/Jip de Jager exit. Go left into Kommissaris Street and follow the signs. It offers 360-degree views and 309 hectares of diverse flora and fauna, plus trails for walking or running. Opens at 7.30am. The entry is R16 adults, R9 kids. 021-913-5695 Durbanville Rose Garden From the N1, take the Durban Road (R302) exit. It becomes Durbanville Avenue, which passes the garden. It has more than 4 500 bushes and 500 varieties, plus a fountain, rockery, gazebo and other lovely nooks. Opens at 7am. Entrance is free. 021-948-8717 De Malle Meul Follow Jip de Jager Drive through Durbanville; it becomes St John Road. Turn into Vissershok (M48), then at the circle right into Mosselbank River Road to connect with Adderley Road (M58).…

SUMMER ✪ Find a beach and hit the waves ✪ Join the carnival atmosphere in Cape Town ✪ Go birding in the Lowveld ✪ Get price savvy in the Okavango Delta AUTUMN ✪ Explore Golden Gate at its best ✪ Climb the Drakensberg ✪ See the Cape Winelands in their scarlet livery ✪ Enjoy a more peaceful Garden Route WINTER ✪ Get to the bush, any bush ✪ Hike the Fish River Canyon ✪ Ski Southern Africa’s snow ✪ Get festive in Knysna and Grahamstown SPRING ✪ Enjoy Namaqualand’s floral extravaganza ✪ Watch whales ✪ Go camping in the Kgalagadi ✪ Tour Namibia…

• Peregine Farmstall, Grabouw • Padloper, Riviersonderend • Delish, Heidelberg • Boerqi Bistro @ Ruiterbos Farm Stall, Mossel Bay • Getafix Garden Café, George • Pollock’s Pizza Café, George • Beejuice Café, Wilderness • Hoekwil Country Café, Hoekwil • Timberlake Organic Village, Sedgefield • Wild Oats Market (Saturdays), Sedgefield • RiverDeck Restaurant, Buffelsbaai • Flippin’ Knys, Buffelsbaai • Totties Farm Kitchen, Rheenendal • Thyme & Again Farmstall & Bakery, Plettenberg Bay • Papa Africa Pizza, Storms River Village • Marilyn’s 60s Diner, Storms River Village…

Bundy Shaw, retired farmer ‘Other than Howick Falls, there are two equally magnificent waterfalls in the Karkloof area, the Grey Mare’s Tail and Karkloof Falls. I highly recommend both.’ Jethro Bronner, adventurer ‘Steampunk Cafe is a popular local hangout – the coffee is great and the staff are lovely.’ R103, Lions River (no phone). Sphe Dladla, reserve supervisor ‘You must go to Karkloof Farmers Market for coffee and fresh fruit (Saturdays 7–11am), and have a braai at the bottom of Howick Falls.’…

556... That’s the number of metres you’ll be above sea level on the summit of Le Morne Brabant at the southwestern tip of Mauritius. Pack walking shoes (and mozzie repellent – it’s hot and humid) for great views from this basaltic monolith, as well as a guided trail through an indigenous flora reserve and more. Pick up a copy of the February issue for four reasons to leave your beach lounger – and walk off the mega-calorie Mauritian resort buffets.…

FACEBOOK All the way from snowy Sweden to Cape Town, of course. – Ulf Hedlund Sunny and vibrant Durban. – Thabo Khanda The Waterfront in Cape Town. – Joey van Zyl TWITTER Serengeti, Tanzania. – The Real Zolani @Dr_Zolani Victoria Falls. – Angie @Angie_jeppe – xhosafrican @VinkqiK Kruger National Park. – Alicelmy @alicelmy52 The Garden Route. – Zaheerah Patel @zloonat28 INSTAGRAM If all goes well, Antwerp. – Joan Stow @joanstow…

Hit that perfect beat Musicians are busy bees in summer, gigging from J-Bay to Struisbaai, Salt Rock to Plett (see our listing online). Mossel Bay is hosting its second ‘Jazz on the Rocks’ festival, MosJazz, on De Bakke beach, with a line-up of local and international stars – here’s your chance to jive to kwassa-kwassa by Afro-Fiesta (DRC/ Angola) and Trinidadian reggae and soca beats by Choko, among others. Weekend pass R460 or R175 per day. 17–19 January. Find it on Facebook. Over in Port Elizabeth, at the stadium, get a grip on the hottest homegrown music at the Ebubeleni Festival – on Friday it’s hip-hop vs gqom, Sunday is more mainstream, while Saturday is comedy night (at the Boardwalk Casino). Tickets from R200. 28–30 December. computicket.com Shooting the breeze…

THE WORLD’S FIRST 10X OPTICAL ZOOM The Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports Lens offers an extensive range – from relatively wide angle to mega-telephoto zoom. Built with 25 elements in 19 groups, it holds a fair amount of glass and weighs 2,7kg. The image stabilisation function will help reduce camera shake but at 600mm you need a solid base. Images are sharp at both zoom extremes, with minimal achromatic aberration (coloured edges) and good tonal depth. Available from Foto Discount World in Pretoria and Orms in Cape Town for around R30 795.…

As my friend, Caelin, and I set off with our daughters through the city to get to its northern outskirts, she reminded me about that 80s phenomenon of checking out other people’s houses while on a Sunday drive. I’m not sure if this is a universal activity, but in middle-class suburban Durban it was a thing: kids and dogs panting in the back; everyone tootling around the clinker-brick suburbs, peering over fences and having a jolly time. Perhaps it still happens, or perhaps our voyeuristic aches are now more satisfied driving our iPads? Nevertheless, as we set out for Umhlanga, we decided to take the back roads, go slow and honour our inner peeping Toms along the way. Since those days, I’ve often taken this same route from central Durban…

Bergbron Plaaskombuis & Padstal Take the Gordon Road turn-off from the N1 on to Bergbron Drive. Breakfast from R30 for a roosterbrood with egg and bacon to R68 for the full-house ‘Boerseun’. Coffee is R20. Cnr Bergbron Drive and Helderberg Road, 076-932-4333 Northcliff Ridge Eco-Park From Bergbron, take Vergesig Road, Hollywood Drive and Rockcliff Drive, which becomes Highcliff Way and Frederick Drive. Enter the park via Louie Avenue. It comprises 11 hectares of undeveloped, almost pristine nature in the suburbs, with wonderful views. Free entry. Zoo Lake Head to Beyers Naudé Drive (M5) and on to Preller Drive. Use the M20 (Gleneagles Road) to get to Greenside and on to Zoo Lake. The pool is at 57 Lower Park Drive. Open 10am to 5.45pm. Entry is R10 adults, R5 kids.…

A beautiful Sunday morning – check. Car fuelled up and camera battery charged – check. Snacks, walking shoes, towels, sunblock, hats, water – check. Kids… ‘No, leave your iPad at home.’ Growing up, one of the highlights of my week was a Sunday drive, and it is something we still like to do with our kids, even though they’re teenagers now. Port Elizabeth has so many beautiful routes around the city, but the one most suited for a Sunday drive is the Sunshine Saunter–along the Wild Side and into PE’s scenic western outskirts. Our first stop was at the Sanccob penguin rescue and rehabilitation centre at Cape Recife. Algoa Bay, and in particular St Croix Island, is home to the biggest breeding colony of African penguins in the world, but…

WAG WORLD CAR SEAT HAMMOCK R750 (double), yuppiepet.co.za  Protect your car from dog hair, sand, mud and scratches with this one-size-fits-all (125 x 160cm) seat hammock, made with hardy, waterproof canvas. It’s really just a big cushion that hooks over the front and back-seat headrests with bungee cords. The enclosure it creates should ensure Lulu stays put during the journey. It folds into the size of a picnic blanket and has a pocket for a toy. REFLECTIVE SUPERSOFT WEBBING BUNGEE RUNNING LEASH R390, dogslife.co.za This shock-absorbent leash has a belt that runners can attach to their waist or shoulder while on the move with pooch. The bungee absorbs the pull and the design frees up your hands. ULTRALITE BI-FOLD PET RAMP…

1 Blommekloof Country Cottages NEAR MOSSEL BAY Claude and Ali Coetzee have been welcoming pets to their 16-hectare farm for many years, and they’re fond of human guests too, so you’ll find fresh eggs waiting for you upon arrival. The two off-the-grid cottages (one sleeps four, the other sleeps eight) have fenced gardens and you are welcome to walk around the farm, or while away the day fishing at catch-and-release dams. Valentino happily accompanied me on walks through the vegetable gardens and fruit trees, while keeping a wary eye on the chickens and geese because he’s had a run-in with fowl before. There are cows, sheep and more, so keep your dogs on a leash if they’re not chilled around farm animals. PET POLICY Well-behaved dogs (and cats, parrots and…

GETTING THERE To get to Anvil Bay, options include a 30-minute helicopter flip from Maputo airport (from R17 000/$1 250 one way for three people) or road transfers from Maputo or Kosi Bay border post (R5 109/$370 one way for four people). Self-drive time from Kosi Bay is around 3,5 hours and 4–5 hours from Maputo – and doubles as a scenic game drive. A 4x4 is needed to get to Anvil Bay. The reserve gate closes at 5pm (4pm in winter). Kosi Bay border post is open daily from 8am to 5pm. A visa costs R700 pp ($50). Park entry fees are R135 pp (600 MZN) plus R160 (700 MZN) per vehicle. For more on the area, see peaceparks.org. STAY HERE Anvil Bay is an isolated, barefoot beach camp…