CATEGORIES

Find Your Place In The Shade

Wander along dunes and through palm forests as you explore Mtunzini – a lesser spotted, bird-friendly town in Zululand where nature still has a say.

Turbo-Charged Twosome

Suzuki has jumped on the downsizing bandwagon, but don’t turn up your nose at the new 1,4 ℓ engine in the updated Vitara and Swift Sport – it’s a brilliant little piece of engineering.

Birds

THE TAXONOMIC TANGO

Drenched In The Drakensberg

They’re fit, and they’re experienced campers, which is why Jan Swart and his friend Christiaan Luus chose a five-day wilderness trail in the Drakensberg for their first multi-day hike. What could possibly go wrong?

Find Quiet In The Chaos

Goukamma Nature Reserve between Knysna and Sedgefield is free from crowds but still close to all the Garden Route hot spots. Nature is the priority, and that’s a good thing.

The Wildest Hike On Earth?

The Kruger Trail is an epic hiking route that traverses South Africa’s favourite national park. It’s a bushveld pilgrimage, where the call of a pearl-spotted owlet or the glare of a buffalo determines where you walk and where you camp.

Land Of Many Faces

On an 18-month, 50 000 km road trip from France to South Africa, Patrick and Marie Gurney crossed the border into culturally and scenically diverse Ethiopia.

Chasing Waves And Waterfalls

Gabon might be beeping on the tourism radar, even Cameroon to a certain extent. But what about Equatorial Guinea? Join us on a search for nesting sea turtles and the perfect jungle wave in one of the least-visited countries on earth.

Namaqualand Never Gives Up

The drought is taking a toll on the wildflowers of Namaqualand and you might be wondering if this region has anything else to offer. Of course it does! Take it slow and watch your step – beauty grows everywhere.

The Blue Train Still Has Its Sparkle

On the two-night journey from Cape Town to Pretoria, time is one of many luxuries you can enjoy aboard the Blue Train. Sink into a wing-back chair with a glass of sparkling wine and watch the world go by.

Highland Fling

The December holidays are around the corner. Why not explore a few passes in the mountains of Lesotho and the Eastern Cape, then head to the coast with the wind at your back?

The Free Spirit Of The Free State

We all have that one arty cousin – she wears your grandmother’s shawls and has paint under her fingernails. In the family of Eastern Free State towns, the name of this wild child is Rosendal.

Hakuna Matata, It's Kenya!

On an 18-month, 50 000 km-long journey from France to South Africa, Patrick and Marie Gurney arrive in Kenya, just in time for the great wildebeest migration in the Masai Mara.

At Home In the Wild

Many people wish they could stay in the Kruger Park forever. A braai every night, a game drive every morning… But what is it really like to live in the Skukuza staff village? We went to find out.

View From Here Lucky Ndlovu

This field ranger sergeant recently received a Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa for his work to combat rhino poaching. Prince William is the royal patron of the awards ceremony, which was held in Africa for the first time this year. Lucky and his team arrested a senior official involved in poaching.

Cars Of Our Lives

Cars are getting safer and more advanced, but have road trips become more boring as a result? Jon Minster remembers some of the cars he’s owned over the years, and the holiday adventures tied up in those memories.

New-Age Diesel For The Long Haul

Shirking public perception, Audi has returned with a winning diesel engine in its new Q5 luxury people-mover.

Your Very Own Serengeti

Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is one of Africa’s biggest, most expensive wildlife destinations. Is it still worth visiting? You bet! Especially if you follow the smaller tracks away from the lion crowds…

Ian Little

The biologist and senior manager at the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) recently received a Whitley Award in London for his work in grassland conservation in KZN. Known as the “Green Oscars”, winners receive funding of more than half a million rand.

This Travelling Circus Is No Joke

Nick Dall liked to think of himself as a seasoned traveller, ready for whatever the world could throw at him. That was before he tried going away with a baby and two dogs...

Land Of A Thousand Views

Rwanda is small. You can easily “do” the country on one tank of petrol. It’s also a small miracle, where you’ll see things you won’t see anywhere else in Africa.

Your Guide To Gamkaskloof

Gamkaskloof in the Swartberg is a place where you can escape the world. It’s a daunting drive into the valley, but once you’re there the daily grind will be a distant memory. Need help planning a visit? Here’s everything you need to know.

Bat Republic

Kasanka National Park isn’t as famous as some of Zambia’s other parks. But visit at the right time of the year and you’ll witness the biggest, battiest, most primordial wildlife spectacle in Africa.

A Tank For The 'Burbs

The Mahindra TUV300 is the latest compact SUV from the increasingly influential Indian manufacturer. It’s cheap and sometimes frustrating, but it has a heart of gold.

Bottle The Bliss

Spending time in the bush teaches you what you can do without, says Toast Coetzer. And it teaches you about what you really need to be happy.

Find Freedom In The Great Karoo

Remember Sylvester – the lion that escaped twice from the Karoo National Park? On the four-day Heuningland Slackpacking Trail near Beaufort West, you can retrace Sylvester’s steps and catch a whiff of freedom yourself.

Baby Cars Grow Big

Two compact crossovers are vying for your attention: the updated Renault Captur – basically a Clio with hiking boots – and the confusing new Mini Countryman.

Stay Here, Eat Here

Stay Here, Eat Here

Walk Far In Namaqualand

When Elize Kruger and Ina Vosloo – both from Hondeklip Bay – hiked the Tankwa Camino in May last year, a dream was born: To create a similar trail west of the N7 in Namaqualand.

Faansie Peacock

With a name like that, he was destined to become a bird expert! Faansie lives in Langebaan and has started writing a monthly birdwatching column for us (see page 142).