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Taking your best friend along when you hit the road is nothing new. When a hunter-gatherer ancestor in Eurasia made the decision to share a leftover piece of meat with a wolf more than 15 000 years ago, a unique and intimate bond between human and animal was forged that continues to this day. We thoroughly enjoyed reading our readers’ stories about their travels (and trials) with their dogs (p 46). During our meetings, we found ourselves sharing our own dog stories. (Copy editor Marijcke Dodds shares hers here.) Indeed, dogs were front and centre as we were putting this issue together – for more than just editorial reasons. Lynne Fraser, our art director who now lives in Canada, had to endure a massive stress fest just before deadline as…

Partypocalypse by Springbok Nude Girls US$8 from bandcamp.com That’s right, a brand-new album from Springbok Nude Girls! And it’s just what your summer ordered: Rock and roll tunes to sing along to with the window down as you cruise along the highway. Lead singer Arno Carstens has more pop sensibility than 20 TikTokkers and he hasn’t lost the knack to inject emotion into a song in just the right way. “Crystal Ball” feels like your very own bittersweet love song; “Flashlight” is a party track for that melancholic Saturday night when you arrive back in the town where you grew up; and “Beautiful Evolution” is the soundtrack for sunrise the next morning. “Something about the Neighbours” will shake the dried mud off your bakkie’s belly, and “SA Tan on the…

• Cecilia Waterfall: It’s largely shaded as you walk through forest, with enough water for your pup to drink. • Contour Path: Between Platteklip Gorge and Kloof Corner – this is a good introductory walk for dogs, but take water along in summer. • Pipe Track: Start from Theresa Avenue in Camps Bay to avoid the crowds at Kloof Nek, and hike in the morning if you want to walk in the shade. • Lion’s Head lower slopes: The old faithful! If you can’t get your dogs up the ladders higher up, stay on the less-crowded lower slopes. • Muizenberg and St James peaks: The two peaks are next to each other and you can either do both or one at a time. It will take about three hours if…

“We take in kids from the age of three to Grade 7,” says Joanne King, Project Director and Fundraiser for the trust. “There were 12 farm schools in the area many years ago, but they were very neglected. In 1994, the farmers got an idea to pool their resources and start a trust that would provide education to the children of their workers. “Today, we have 14 staff members and 89 pupils. Everyone gets picked up from home in the morning and dropped off again after school. We have three minibuses that collectively drive almost 700 km per day to achieve this feat! Another 40 kids – the ones who are in Grade 8 or older – are taken to the high school in town each day.” If you would…

Eagles and vultures play an important role in nature. Eagles keep animal populations in check by hunting, and vultures pick rotting carcasses clean, preventing diseases from spreading. Although these bids are big and strong, some of the species are endangered. They are threatened by these factors: HABITAT LOSS. A bird’s habitat is where it has enough food, water and space to breed to survive. As towns and farms expand, the veld where they live gets smaller or disappears. POWER LINES. Raptors collide with power lines or try to land on them and are electrocuted. POISON. Farmers sometimes poison jackals to prevent them from killing their sheep. They’ll fill a cow or sheep carcass with poison and leave it for the jackals to eat. Unfortunately, vultures sometimes eat these carcasses and…

Despite its name, the rhombic night adder is actually more active during the day, especially when the sun is hiding behind clouds. You’ll find this snake mainly in the wetter, eastern half of the country, starting near Hermanus in the Western Cape and going up the coast through the Eastern Cape, much of KZN, Swaziland, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and the eastern parts of the North West and Limpopo, where it favours damp localities. Its main prey is toads, so its habitats include moist savannah, lowland forest and fynbos, where it seeks refuge under logs, in disused termite mounds, under large flat stones and among building rubble. The rhombic night adder usually reaches between 30 cm and 60 cm in length, or up to a metre in rare cases. Unlike other adders,…

Ray Jansen’s alert, dark eyes scan the trees for an early summer migrant bird, then they flick to distant hills where the November sun is already warming up this part of Limpopo. Ray is a scientist but he’s also streetwise; he’s used to sitting in an office yet he’s completely at home in the bush. He has a no-nonsense attitude, and he needs it, for the odds are stacked against him and his colleagues – a diverse range of researchers, conservationists, wildlife vets and police officers, all of whom play a role in battling the poaching of Temminck’s pangolin (ground pangolin) in South Africa. At times, Ray actively gets involved in sting operations. This is how it typically plays out: Word gets around that there’s a pangolin for sale. Ray…

NICK MATHIOS IG: @nickm807 Canon EOS 550D Canon 100 – 400 mm lens NICK WRITES: I took this photo from my favourite hide – Lake Panic in the Kruger. The African fish-eagle had caught a fish and was enjoying its meal when a goliath heron flew over to try and claim the fish-eagle’s catch. Suffice to say, “panic” broke out at Lake Panic, although more so in the hide among all the photographers trying to get a shot! The two giants battled it out with wings spread to the max, showing their dominance and power. In the end, the fish-eagle stood its ground, and the heron flew off with empty “hands”. The whole interaction lasted about two minutes. I had my camera set to Sport mode, using a shutter speed…

As dusk falls, shadows push their dark tendrils into the landscape. They creep into cracks and crevices, making the rocks come alive. This one looks like an enormous skull, that one like a ship sailing on sand… I’m here with my wife and our two boys. Along with our guide, Robyn Keyes, we’re the only people for kilometres around. The campfire throws firelight onto Skull Rock as Robyn whips up a braai feast. The moon rises, tracked by Venus, and soon the light fades entirely, pulling a velvet cape speckled with stars. Later, we’ll fall asleep under those stars – and under white duvets – in swag tents with the flysheets zipped open. Welcome to Giant’s Camp – a five-star Cederberg glamping experience. It’s offered by Mount Ceder, a lodge…

I might be speaking too soon, but I think the worst is over. Both our boys are in primary school now, which means that lots of difficult baby-phase stuff is all in the past: nappies, dummies, tantrums, taste-testing disgusting things found on the ground… Of all these trials, the most patience-testing parenting challenge was washing the boys’ hair. It was an ordeal for the entire Peacock house, and by that I mean the literal building. Water. Everywhere. When we visited an animal rehabilitation centre recently, I found an easier, more environmentally friendly alternative. As soon as I entered the walk-in aviary, a brown bird with an oversized red beak landed on my shoulder. Without so much as a “how d’ya do”, Mr Oxpecker clambered onto my head and started “scissoring”…

EAGLES They hunt animals for fresh meat. They usually hunt alone or in pairs. Each eagle species has a different diet, depending on the type of prey found in its habitat. An eagle holds its prey in its talons and uses its bill to rip off strips of meat. It won’t put its head inside a carcass. VULTURES They eat rotting meat. They eat together in big groups. Vultures will eat anything they can find. Some vulture species have bald heads and necks so they can eat meat inside the body cavity of the carcass. If they had feathers on their heads and necks, those would become covered in blood and bacteria.…

“We usually camp in the Kgalagadi, and at night we swap information with other campers about what was seen where. “We always try to get a booking at Nossob because you can explore to the north or the south of the rest camp, and the area is known for its lions. During our recent visit, however, we saw more big cats around Twee Rivieren and Mata-Mata – next time we’ll stay longer in those camps. Many people stay in Twee Rivieren for just one night before exploring the rest of the park, but that’s a mistake. There’s plenty to see in the vicinity. “Most people visit the park in winter, but if you want to photograph young animals like springbok lambs, you should go in summer. The heat is dry…

My dad and his Dodge I enjoyed the article, “Me and my car”, in go! #178. This is my dad, Dawie Koch (81), with his favourite vehicle – a 1963 Dodge 330 – among the yellow canola fields on his farm Melkhoutdrift near Heidelberg in the Western Cape. My dad worked as a Nissan dealer for many years and has a real love of cars. He’s the third owner of this Dodge – he bought it in 2003 for R36 000. It was built in the Chrysler plant in Elsies River in Cape Town; the 325th vehicle produced there. Despite its age, it’s in great condition – my dad often goes on vintage car tours and to the Old Car Show in George. The car is also sometimes used for…

See Venus during the day As early risers may know, Venus has been the Morning Star since the beginning of the year. But a lot of people don’t realise that this planet is bright enough to see in the middle of the day, too. The trick is knowing where to look… Once a month, when Venus and the moon are close together in the sky, the moon acts as a perfect spotting aid to help you find the Morning Star. Look to the sky on 27 February and a month later, on 28 March. On both of these days, Venus will be 9° and 6° away from the moon respectively. If you missed it, check again on 27 April and 26 May, when Venus will be 4° and 8° away.…

Living Planet: The Web of Life on Earth by David Attenborough, Harper Collins Publishers R430 in bookstores This book is the second in English naturalist David Attenborough’s Life trilogy. It was first published in 1984 and is based on a television series made for the BBC. This edition has been updated with the help of zoologist Matthew Cobb and gives a look at how different animals and plants have adapted and thrived in a variety of habitats, from volcanoes, deserts, jungles and cities to the open ocean. If you’re a fan of Attenborough’s wildlife documentaries, you’ll know he is a great storyteller – he employs the same easy-to-understand style in this book. The narrative is accompanied by 64 pages of beautiful colour photos. He has such a distinctive voice that…

• We often buy snacks for the road at Bloo’s Buffet bloosbuffet.co.za • Sacramento.1918 (find them on Facebook) is a great restaurant for dogs. They even have a pet menu. There’s a walking trail nearby. • Grass Roof restaurant ( grassroof.co.za) is pet-friendly and they also have a walking trail. • Norm-Hudlin Trails (find them on Facebook) has trails for cyclists, runners and dog walkers. • Nina’s Real Food ( ninas.co.za) in Jeffreys Bay has always been kind to my dog.…

GERT & CHERYL HAVENGA Managers, Blanco Guest Farm Gert: “Some guests come here from a big city and they’re shocked at all the open space around them. There are no boundaries here, no rules. We are giving you a space where you can do anything you want. It’s your holiday home.” VUYO TYUKA Maintenance manager, Blanco Guest Farm “I grew up in Tarkastad, where there is basically no work. I decided to make a life for myself here at Blanco, because it’s nice and quiet and we’re like a big family. No day is the same in my job. There is always a challenge, and I keep learning all the time.” ANGELA HATTINGH Bryanston Country Cottage “The original Bryanston house – not the Country Cottage – was built in 1906.…

WHY? We publish a selection of reader pictures in every issue. Don’t be shy, haul out those shots you’ve been hoarding on your computer and send them to us! We like just about anything: wildlife, landscapes, portraits, holiday snaps or bugs in your garden. HOW? Send your photos to takeyourpic@gomag.co.za Submit only your three best shots each month. Don’t send files bigger than 4 MB – if we need a bigger version, we’ll ask for it. Give the name, surname, home town and contact number of the photographer. Also include info about where and how the shot was taken, and what equipment was used. If you manipulated your photo in any way, tell us what you did. THE FINE PRINT We reserve the right to use your photos elsewhere in…

Mince enchiladas Serves 8 Preparation time 30 minutes Cooking time 1 hour You need • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 1 kg mince • 1 red onion, chopped • 1 clove of garlic, chopped • 1 sachet (50 g) tomato paste • 2 tins (410 g each) red kidney beans, drained • 30 g Old El Paso spice mix (or your favourite Mexican spice mix) • 8 medium-sized tortillas • 1 cup grated mozzarella For the sauce • 3 tablespoons butter • 3 tablespoon flour • 1 cup hot milk • 1 cup hot chicken stock • 1 cup sour cream Here’s how 1 Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed pan and fry the mince until brown. Use a spatula to break up any clumps. Add the onion and garlic and fry for a few minutes. Add the tomato paste, beans and spices and…

Trevor Wigley switches off the engine of his old Toyota bakkie and gets out. We’re on a jeep track near the village of Qolora on the Wild Coast. In the valley below, cattle drink from the Gxara River. A sow and four piglets trot down a hill after being chased from someone’s garden. “It’s hard to imagine that some of the darkest times in Xhosa history took place here,” says Trevor. He takes out a photo of a young woman. “This is Nongqawuse, and this valley was named after her. She had a vision in that river.” In April 1856, 15-year-old Nongqawuse received a message from her ancestors – they told her that if the Xhosa people slaughtered all of their cattle, the European settlers would be driven away. Close…

My wife Elmarie and I spent 15 days in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in December 2020. We often visit the park, and one of our favourite game-viewing spots doesn’t even involve getting into your car. The hide in Nossob rest camp usually yields incredible sightings. On this particular day, I was at the hide at 5 pm with my Nikon D850 and Sigma 150 – 600 mm lens. After about 20 minutes, I noticed a lanner falcon perched nearby, watching the waterhole. I checked my camera settings in case the falcon decided to try and catch a dove. It did – soon after – but the action was too fast for me to get a photo. Close to 6 pm, the falcon flew up from the tree again and this…

What is it about a country that gets you hooked? Is it the people, the history, the landscapes, the food – or something else that you just can’t put your finger on? Jordan is on an ancient trade route connecting Egypt, to the south-west, with Damascus in Syria to the north. Beyond Jordan’s towns and cities, the country’s wild and rugged landscapes seem unchanged since the times when it lay at the cultural intersection of Roman emperors, Nabataean kings and Christian Crusaders. Jordan surprised us around every turn, the Bedouin hospitality made each day special, and everything simply radiated with an intoxicating atmosphere – it has that elusive X-factor that hooks you quickly, and for good. It’s also a very organised country, offering tourists a thing called a “Jordan Pass”.…

These prices are from 2019 and are meant to provide a rough idea of what the Gurneys spent on their trip. Prices would have gone up since then. AQABA Bedouin Moon Village (hotel): R480 per night for two people (camping in the parking area) Maqluba (upside-down stew): R265 per person Bakkie service: R288 (new oil, diesel and air filters) PETRA Entrance into Petra: R1 320 per person, which gives you access for three days. (Free if you have a Jordan Pass, like we did.) Donkey ride through the Siq: R400 per person (return trip) Horse-drawn carriage ride: R460 for two people (one way, from the entrance to the Treasury) Toasted sandwich opposite Ad Deir (the Monastery): R216 AMMAN Alanbat Hotel: R890 per room (two people) per night Entrance to Umayyad…

Our 10-year-old daughter Emilie saw it first. It skulked off as we drove into the De Hoop campsite in the |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, ribs bulging against its skin. Scrawny, it looked like a cross between a greyhound and a Canis africanis. Once we’d set up camp, Emilie and Bella (7) tried to lure it closer. It kept a safe distance. When I first started dating my husband Tobie, we agreed that we would one day own a dog. A big dog. But then we got a beautiful garden teeming with bulbuls, robin-chats, olive thrushes and a spurfowl family that criss-crosses the lawn, mom towing a string of chicks behind her. We saw a heron next to the swimming pool once, and there are geckos and lizards galore. It’s like living…

I took this photo in the northern Drakensberg, en route to the Sentinel Car Park near Witsieshoek – the starting point of the hike to the top of the Amphitheatre. Our plan was to spend the night near Mont-aux-Sources, close to where the Tugela Falls – the world’s second-highest waterfall – tumbles into the void. Loaded up with tents, sleeping bags and camera gear, we started the ascent. It was a strenuous few hours to the summit, but we sweated through it and managed to set up camp before nightfall. What a magnificent sight the next morning! At nearly 3 000 m above sea level, with the impossibly huge wall of the Amphitheatre lit by the rising sun, it felt like we were on top of the world. The cup…