Innehållsförteckning för January 2017 från go!

Slow and steady wins the race My father-in-law Anton Jansen (79) recently drove his 48-year-old Mercedes-Benz 280S from Pretoria to Melkbosstrand near Cape Town. His grandson Johan had asked if he could use the Merc for his matric ball and grandpa was happy to oblige. Anton drove with another grandson, also called Anton (20), who took this picture about 25 km south of Beaufort West. A considerate truck driver flashed his lights and Anton Snr thought there might be a speed trap ahead, but then he saw this tortoise slowly making its way across the road. Mr Tortoise didn’t make it to the matric ball, but the Merc got Johan and his date there on time. Two days later the two Antons returned to Pretoria at a stately 70 miles…

The Europa was built in 1911 and was originally used as a lightship (basically a floating lighthouse) on the river Elbe in Germany. In 1994, she was restored and turned into a barque (a three-masted sailing vessel) and repurposed for special training. These days the Europa sails around the world, visiting Antarctica every year during the summer months. Guests become crew members and participate in sailing activities like steering the ship and helping with rigging and lookout duties. The Antarctica voyage begins in Ushuaia, Argentina. From there, the ship sails through the Beagle Channel, around Cape Horn and across the Drake Passage to the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. Jimbo Smith is one of South Africa’s best rock climbers and this is one of the most difficult climbing…

What is it? It’s a fast, narrow current just below the surface that flows rapidly away from the coast, formed when water on the shore rushes back to deeper water. What to look out for: • Water in the surf zone that’s a different colour to the surrounding water. • A break in the incoming wave pattern. • Seaweed or debris moving out to sea through the surf zone . • Turbulent or choppy water in the surf zone. I see one! That’s great. Go find another place to swim! And only go into the water when there are lifeguards on duty. Where are rip currents found ? Any beach in South Africa, depending on the conditions on the day. Be aware and chat to the lifeguards if you’re unsure. What if I get…

READER STORY SAM BASCH Home town: Pretoria Occupation: Freelance writer Not many tourists are aware that ancient waterways still wind through the southern parts of the UK, dating from an era before proper roads were built. My wife Anna and I recently visited our son Alwyn, who lives in England. We wanted to do a fun but affordable activity with him and his British girlfriend Lisa, so we booked a four-day boat cruise on the Thames and its canals. You pilot the boat yourself and you also sleep on board. You make slow progress – like cycling or walking – which allows you to experience so much more of the countryside. DAY 1 Learning the ropes At the town of Benson, about 77 km east of London, we stepped aboard…

The winners and finalists of the 52nd Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition were announced at the Natural History Museum in London late last year. Tim Laman won the overall prize for his image of an orangutan climbing a fruiting strangler fig entwined around a tall tree in the Indonesian rainforest. Laman’s photograph was one of many that tapped into the dangers that animals face in the wild, mostly due to habitat loss, poaching and climate change. Another heart-rending image was taken by Paul Hilton and shows a cache of about 4 000 frozen pangolins, confiscated before they could reach China. But it’s not all bad. The competition also showcases extraordinary moments in nature; photographs that make you stop what you’re doing and stare. Like the four photos we’ve chosen…

At some point in your camping life, you may find yourself yearning for a 12 V portable fridge. However, at a cost of R10 000 or more, there’s a good chance that your future outdoor fridge will cost more than your household unit, which you use every day! Likewise, at this price a new camping fridge will cost you five times more than a good-quality cooler box. This raises an important question: Is a camping fridge really worth it? Well, that’s for you to decide. But before you do, here are some things to consider. 1 No more melted ice What motivates people to buy an expensive camping fridge? In most cases, it’s the following: No more melted ice Adjustable temperature control The ability to camp for longer periods Being…

• Keep your windows open while you drive, if possible. Scooby will enjoy the journey much more if he can smell the countryside rolling past. • Stop often to allow your dog to stretch his legs and explore. • Be careful if you stop at a roadside picnic spot. Rotten food, broken glass or a sharp chicken bone can ruin your holiday. • Make sure Scooby is kept contained in the car – whether he’s behind a net in the back of the station wagon or in his own carrier. A free-roaming dog can make driving dangerous. • Pack your dog’s favourite blanket or toy – something comforting in strange surroundings. • Never leave your dog alone in the car with the windows rolled up, even if you’re just stopping…

Going by its name, Suicide Gorge sounds like a place to avoid. What exactly happens there? It’s with some trepidation that we drive out to the gorge, which is in the Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve, early on a Saturday morning. Suicide Gorge is a famous kloofing route. Kloofing involves getting down a gorge by any means possible, usually by jumping into river pools from the surrounding cliffs... Veteran “kloofer” and freelance guide Devin Abrahamson will accompany us. Devin casts a sceptical eye over our clothes. “I don’t usually take people who don’t have wetsuits,” he says as he folds his own wetsuit into a dry bag, along with a first-aid kit. “A wetsuit keeps you warm and provides an extra layer of protection on the rocks and when you jump…

Working for this magazine affords me the privilege of getting into our office Duster and exploring the world. I get to see amazing places and meet interesting people, but there always comes a time when I start to miss home. That’s why, when an opportunity arose for me to do a feature on pet-friendly places in the Little Karoo and along the Garden Route, I jumped at the chance. I roped in my wife Marilize and our two dogs and we hit the road. The trip had its challenges. I couldn’t spend hours in the local bars sniffing out stories. Photography was also difficult – it’s hard to get the focus right while you’re trying to control a golden retriever intent on catching every hadeda in sight. I also found…

Data charges in the Delta? In September last year I joined go! and Mpafa on a tour of Botswana. One of the activities was an Okavango Delta mokoro outing. I’ve wanted to see the Okavango for many years. I took this photo soon after we climbed into the boats. As tourists, we go to wild places to escape the trappings of civilisation, but this obviously isn’t true for the people who work there. Our guide’s phone started ringing and he nonchalantly took the call while steering with one hand. So now you know: There’s signal everywhere, even in the Okavango! WIMPIE BOSCH, Grahamstown Want to go on a mokoro outing? Read Toast Coetzer’s feature about the Okavango Delta in our February issue, on shelf from middle January. WRITE TO US…

Forage for seafood Want to spice up your holiday menu? This half-day coastal foraging workshop will teach you how to find edible shellfish and plants in rock pools along the coast. The group meets up at Scarborough Beach where expert Roushanna Gray will show you how to harvest in a sustainable way and cook delicious dishes. After a morning on the rocks the group will cook lunch with the ingredients found. Where? Scarborough Beach, Cape Town When? 14 January from 10 am to 2 pm; 12 & 28 January and 11 & 25 February from 9 am to 1 pm. Cost: R550 per adult or R2 000 for a group of four; R200 per child under 17; free for children under 2. Includes snacks and drinks, notes with recipes, tide…

Want to explore Botswana but not sure where to start? Join Toast Coetzer and François Haasbroek, the editors of our Botswana map guide, for breakfast. They’ll give you handy tips and information on where to eat, where to stay and what to do. WESTERN CAPE 4 MARCH 2017 Laborie wine estate, Paarl GAUTENG 11 MARCH 2017 Blue Crane restaurant, Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary, Pretoria TO BOOK: Call Donvé Myburgh on 021 443 9830 or send an e-mail to donve.myburgh@media24.com…

Venus steps into the spotlight Astronomy is not just a night-time pursuit. Venus is so bright you can see it during the day! If you know where to look and you “anchor” your eye, you’ll soon notice the planet. To do this, look for the moon. During January, the moon and Venus will be close together on two occasions during the day. On 2 January at noon, the moon will be a slim crescent and difficult to locate, but once you’ve found it Venus will only be 2 degrees away to the top right – about the width of your thumb if you hold it out straight in front of you. On 31 January at noon, Venus will be about 5 degrees to the bottom left of the moon at…

Annabelle said that I could blink and miss Cuzieu – and I did. All it took was a momentary glance to check the GPS and when I looked up I was through the village and out the other side. I swung the rented Fiat around. Back in the village I turned down the first side street, parked and stepped out into the heavy summer heat. It was June and I was on tour in Europe – my first tour abroad as a solo musician. My friend Annabelle, a native of this area who had been in Joburg for the past few years working as a French language teacher, told me to check out her home town if I happened to drive past. I walked back to the main road and…

CINDY BESTER Nikon D5100 Nikkor 18 – 55 mm lens CINDY WRITES: This is Shark Rock Pier at Hobie Beach in Port Elizabeth, early in the morning. I took the two photos about seven minutes apart. It was overcast and a good sunrise wasn’t guaranteed, but when I arrived at the pier I saw the clouds had turned pink. I set up my tripod and took a few photos. Afterwards I boosted the colours slightly using editing software. SOPHIA SAYS: These two photos, although similar, demonstrate how camera settings and a change in light can influence the outcome. For Photo 1, Cindy used a six-second shutter speed, which blurred the motion of the waves. The slow shutter speed also worked well to capture the dreamy colours and the pink reflection…

AtHome Camera app Put your old cellphone to use. Download the AtHome Streamer app and set up the phone as a camera near your cat’s food bowl, plugged into the mains and connected to your home Wi-Fi. (The old phone should at least have a selfie camera and be able to run apps – your Nokia 3510 won’t cut it.) Then download the AtHome Camera app for your current phone and you’ll be notified when your pet comes to eat. Nifty! Free at the Apple App Store or Google Play Rogz Roglite A pet-friendly campsite contains a smorgasbord of interesting smells, which makes it hard for Buster to stay at your side. Let him explore while you keep an eye on him. This water-resistant LED light clips to your dog’s…

Karoo Passes & Poorts Ride both sides of the Swartberg Pass, the hills of the Little Karoo and the plains of the Great Karoo. Then swoop through Meiringspoort and fly down Montagu Pass. TOUR DETAILS  Dates: 2 – 6 March 2017, 27 April – 1 May 2017, 1 – 5 June 2017 How long is the tour? Five days/four nights Average daily distance: 30 – 50 km Departure: Queens Hotel, Oudtshoorn Accommodation: Hotels, guesthouses and special Dryland campsites Rates: R7 950 per adult sharing; R3 975 per child under 12 sharing; R10 335 single supplement ITINERARY The Karoo tour features various cycle routes, many inaccessible to the public. Highlights include a visit to Surval Olive Estate near Oudtshoorn, Prince Albert, Red Stone Hills and Montagu Pass. Riders will have the…

Join us on a one-day workshop of all things camera-related. We’ll show you how to operate your camera so you’ll be inspired to get out there and capture the world around you – a lion in the Kruger Park, a pretty sunset, your grandkids playing… Professional photographer Sam Reinders will facilitate the course and she will be joined by a member of the go! team. Come armed with your point-and-shoot or D-SLR and we’ll help you improve your photography. WHEN? Pretoria: 21 January 2017 Clarens: 28 January 2017 (Venues to be confirmed) BOOK NOW! Contact Donvé Myburgh 021 443 9830; donve.myburgh@media24.com HANDS-ON ATTENTION • LUNCH COMPREHENSIVE COURSE NOTES HOW MUCH? R1650 per person, including lunch…

Zeederberg Centre, Vaalwater If you’re returning to Gauteng from Botswana, chances are you’ll cross the border at Grobler’s Bridge or Stickpoort. Vaalwater in the Waterberg is about two hours south and a good spot to stretch your legs, fill the tank and grab something to eat. You don’t even have to drive into town – you can find everything you need at the Zeederberg Centre on the northern outskirts of town. Zeederberg is a one-stop Bushveld shop, where a taxidermied wildebeest watches you from the wall of the Total filling station. Visit the Kamatsogo Project shop where you can buy tablecloths, cushion covers, aprons and jewellery made by women from the local community. There’s also a Spar, an outdoor-clothing shop, art gallery and the Seringa Café, which serves dishes like…

Where does your love for the outdoors come from? I’ve always been very interested in nature. I grew up in a village called Gondeni Ha Mabilu, near Thohoyandou in Limpopo, and I often fished and caught birds. Somewhere along the way, conservation began to play a part. I wanted to learn as much as possible about nature’s ways. The teachers of the secondary school I attended also inspired me to learn more. And I loved watching 50/50 – I hero-worshipped some of the presenters! How did you become a guide? I matriculated in 2005 and attended the Limpopo Field Guiding Academy where I received training in birdwatching and tracking. I also obtained a certificate in tourism guiding. In 2007 I started working as a guide at Mabula Game Lodge and…

Their ears droop as soon as I take the big red suitcase out of the cupboard. While I pack, they give me those puppy dog eyes that make me feel guilty for ever leaving the house. All dog owners will sympathise. Your dogs just know when their owners are about to vanish. My wife Marilize and I have two dogs: Orio (6), a Biewer terrier that weighs about 2kg and is the boss of the house, and Buckley (2), a golden retriever. Life as a dog in the city can be a little boring, especially if you’re stuck between Vibracrete walls all day. There are three highlights to Buckley and Orio’s day: food, a walk and that moment when Marilize or I come home from work. Every day, without fail,…

As much as I enjoy wine, sometimes the heat of summer calls for a longer, cooler drink. That’s when I turn my attention to gin. Traditional gin is flavoured by juniper berries, but there’s a growing craft gin movement worldwide where distillers are mixing up the flavour by adding exotic or unexpected botanicals. Some of our local distillers are doing amazing work in this field, producing gins often flavoured by herbs or plants unique to this country. Here are three proudly South African varieties to try this summer. As mentioned, the modern trend with gin is to make it from a blend of botanicals, so the 100 % Juniper Berry Gin (R300) from Triple Three Distillery on Blaauwklippen wine estate is unusual. By going back to basics, the complex flavours…

You have two dogs… Yes. Asha is four and Vanilla is two. Both are female golden retrievers. Asha went on her first camping trip in Knysna at 12 weeks and saw snow on the Swartberg Pass. At nine weeks Vanilla went for a run with Alfred in a backpack carrier! Alfred also likes to take them out on paddling trips. Tell us about your trips. We recently went rock climbing near Montagu and we’ve also been to the Drakensberg, the Wild Coast and KZN. Of all our holidays, Namibia was the highlight. We made sure the dogs’ paperwork and vaccinations were up to date and we didn’t have any hassles at the border. It was a long drive so we sometimes let them run next to the bakkie! Jeffreys Bay…