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When Nothing Is Everything
Scratching out a living on the edge of the Kalahari is not for everyone, but as Shirley Marais remembers, her grandparents’ farm was a place of miracle and wonder.
12 Things The West Coast Taught Us
Sophia van Taak and Toast Coetzer travelled 3 840 km along the back roads of the West Coast to film the latest series of Weg Agterpaaie. Along the way they also turned inland to explore the Cederberg, the Knersvlakte, Namaqualand, the Richtersveld and Bushmanland. Here’s what they learnt.
Ancient England – From the Water!
Want to see a different side of the UK? Book an affordable boat cruise on the River Thames like Sam Basch did, and experience rural waterways and old towns.
One Way Down
If you’re the kind of adrenaline junkie who enjoys jumping off a cliff into a pool of dark water, you’ve probably heard of Suicide Gorge near Grabouw. Now it’s time to do it!
Suffering and glory
On a quest to find meaning in the modern world, Jon Minster entered a crazy vintage cycle race through the Karoo.
Tough It Out on Two Wheels
The Wild Corridor Mountain Bike Tour goes through the Karoo, the Baviaanskloof and over the Outeniqua Mountains. It’s 420 km long, takes five days to complete and there are never-ending climbs, hairy descents and long gravel roads. It’s perfect! For some…
The Reggie's Rush Of The R26
After months of cycling around South Africa, Ian McNaught Davis has a padkos-induced epiphany on the road to Wepener.
Khomas Hochland Calling!
On the six-day Khomas Hochland Trail near Windhoek, you can explore riverbeds, kloofs and mountains. It’s affordable, there’s a slackpacking option and you can have a hot shower every night. What are you waiting for?
when dad has other plans
teenage girls like to go on holiday where their friends are – and where the hot lifeguards are! but this wasn’t the case for esma marnewick and her sister…
The Rise of the Auto
The Ford Ranger 2.2 and the Renault Kadjar have previously only been available with manual transmissions, now both have received automatic gearboxes. But are they any good?
No Morebakkie Blues
In 2005, the Mitsubishi Triton received a tepid reception when it replaced the much-loved Mitsubishi Colt. Now, after 12 long years, there’s a new Triton. Can it win back the hearts of the bakkie blokes?
Misha O'Dale
The 35-year-old head of Greenpop – an environmental NGO – has planted thousands of trees all over Africa.
Young, Wild And Free
Want to feel young again? Put down that bottle of expensive collagen booster and drive to the Kruger Park.
The Search Is Over
When you travel, you search. You search for that place that will make you happy. It’s an endless search… Or is it? Because when you arrive on the shores of Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania, everything changes.
The Train To Willowmore
Growing up in the Eastern Cape, Deon Strydom would board a train in the school holidays and travel to his aunt and uncle’s farm in the distant Willowmore district.
The Island That Time Forgot
Getting to Lamu, off the coast of Kenya, is a mission. But as Nick Dall and his brother found out, tearing yourself away from this rhapsodical island of donkeys and dhows is even harder.
Renault Launches Le Bakkie
Brandy, the Boks, Ballito… And bakkies. Yup, we love them here in South Africa and now there’s yet another one vying for your attention: the Renault Alaskan.
Deluge Of Death And Destruction
On 25 January 1981, the Buffels River burst its banks and swept away everything in its path, including the town of Laingsburg in the Karoo. As the rest of the country followed reports of the flood in the news, the town’s residents watched the water level rise and engulf their homes…
finding heaven in the bo-karoo
south africa has many remote areas where almost every road is a back road. come on a detour from the free state to the bo-karoo and meet a rock musician turned farmer, a yorkie named gucci and find a little slice of heaven.
Everyone's Desert
The soaring red dunes of the Namib make Sossusvlei one of Namibia’s most popular tourist attractions. But can you still feel the spirit of the desert with all those tour buses around? You can. Here’s your guide.
Touch Down On Planet Ngorongoro
Mention “Ngorongoro” around the braai and people will look up from their drinks. It’s one of Africa’s most iconic wildlife destinations – an entire world within the crater of a volcano and unlike anything you will have seen in southern Africa.Here’s how to plan a visit.
Good To Know
Meet Ndlovane. This bull elephant (pictured) is one of 12 new tuskers in the Kruger Park. But what is a tusker? Kirsty Redman, co-ordinator of the Tuskers Project, explains.
The Leopard Next Door
Except for lions, which live in prides, and cheetahs, which form male coalitions of two or three brothers, most cats are solitary. Males and females each have distinct territories that they mark and defend. Leopards are a great example of this kind of system.
10 Things The Karoo Taught Us
For the making of the new TV series Weg Agterpaaie Karoo, journalists Erns Grundling and Toast Coetzer explored more than 5 800 km of back roads in the South African hinterland – a journey that took six weeks. Here are 10 lessons they learnt.
The Pelican Brief
The wind-battered islands offthe West Coast are home to important breeding colonies of sea birds, under siege by bloodthirsty pelicans. You can volunteer to spend a week on Malgas Island and chase the pelicans away. Yes, for fun!
Georgina Jones
We occasionally send reader questions to this marine expert, who overcame her claustrophobia and signed up for a scuba-diving course nearly 30 years ago. Since then, she has contributed significantly to the knowledge base of our underwater world.
Good As Gold
Golden Gate Highlands National Park has clear river pools in summer, snow-covered peaks in winter, sandstone cliffs, bearded vultures, hiking trails and great places to stay. You never knew the Free State was so spectacular, did you?
Take Your Pic
Take Your Pic
Wine
Cool, calm chenin blanc
Philippolis, 85 Years Later
Philippolis, 85 Years Later