Table of contents for Dec-15 in go!

Monster monitor Q JERMANNEKE HAVEMANN from Swakopmund writes: I saw this big lizard on the B28 between Swakopmund and Windhoek. When I searched online, I found several names for it: water monitor, leguan, monitor lizard… Which one is correct? And is it true that they are venomous? A Reptile expert JOHAN MARAIS responds: This is a rock monitor. Like the Komodo dragons of Indonesia, rock monitors are also venomous, but their venom is not nearly as potent as some snakes. A rock monitor looks similar to its cousin the water monitor, but the water monitor has a much longer, flatter tail to help it swim. Endemic to the Karoo? Q MARITZA VAN RENSBURG from Somerset West writes: I saw this interesting insect on a windowsill of Karmedo Lodge in the…

Your Kruger National Park guide – with stories by Frans Rautenbach, Tafelberg Frans Rautenbach has been visiting the Kruger since his childhood and this guidebook is clearly the work of someone who loves the park. It brims with enthusiasm, insights and insider tips. It’s also a highly practical book, specifically aimed at newcomers to the Kruger. The best game-viewing routes are given, plus advice about game viewing in general. Pre-planning is crucial and Frans gives you step-by-step instructions to ensure you make the best of your holiday – everything from how and when to book and what to pack. In-between all the facts, there are several personal stories and anecdotes that will make you want to hit the road and head straight to South Africa’s animal paradise. R250 in bookshops…

It’s a cliché, but don’t we all yearn for a white beach dotted with palm trees swaying in the breeze? Where your kids can splash around in the shallows while you sip a drink served in a coconut shell? A place where dinner is a fresh seafood platter served while the sun sets in an explosion of pink and orange? The good news is that if you live north of the Vaal River, all this could be yours if you’re willing to spend a few hours on the road. Your destination? Mozambique, of course! If you leave early in the morning, you’ll be sitting under those palm trees that same afternoon. But haven’t things gone wrong in Mozambique? It’s true that the tourism industry has taken a knock since conflict…

Whether you like swimming, surfing, scuba-diving or just walking along the beach, time spent at the ocean is better than therapy. I grew up in East London and learnt how to swim in the tidal pool at Kidd’s Beach. To swim in a good tidal pool is like riding your first bike with training wheels. It’s as thrilling as body surfing but without the threat of being dumped by a wave or sucked out to sea in a riptide. My grandmother was scared of the sea and refused to go near the waves. But I have fond memories of her standing ankle deep in the Kidd’s Beach tidal pool while I splashed about with my siblings and cousins pretending to be mermaids or monsters. We would only leave the water…

As usual, the world's premier wildlife photography competition – Wildlife Photographer of the Year, owned by the National History Museum in London – didn’t disappoint. The 100 finalists are literally jaw-dropping, and choosing only five to publish was nearly an impossible task. There were more than 42 000 entries for the 51st edition of the competition, from photographers in 96 countries. All the winning images will be exhibited at the Chavonnes Battery Museum at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town from 1 December 2015. If you’re elsewhere in the country, visit wildlifephotographeroftheyear.com for a gallery of all the winners and finalists. You’ll also find information about how to enter the 2016 competition. Who knows, maybe you'll be up on stage in London next year while the world applauds! Between earth…

Vingooo These individual servings of very drinkable wine come in hard plastic “glasses” that you could add to your camp kitchen once the vino is finished. Available in red, white, rosé and an especially yummy sangria, they’re just the thing for a summer picnic. R16 each (or about R80 for a plastic cool bag containing four) at Pick n Pay Liquor, Tops at Spar and other bottle stores; vingooo.co.za Leisure Quip Tumbler This stainless steel tumbler with blue plastic trim ticks all the boxes: It’s cheap, it’s cheerful and it’s sturdy. Get a set of blue ones or buy a different colour for each member of the family. R20 each at retailers like Makro, Game and Pick n Pay; 011 822 4150 The Mushroom Factory White Oyster Mushroom…

It’s always good to cross the border into Botswana from the South African side. The landscape doesn’t change much, but something feels different. Maybe it’s because the farm entrances are more humble or maybe it’s the donkeys standing in the road like they’re getting paid. Or it’s that holiday feeling that washes over you – the knowledge that a fun-filled adventure lies ahead. The north of Botswana is a tourism hot spot, with attractions like the Okavango Delta and world-class parks like Moremi and Chobe. The Zambezi Region (the new name for the Caprivi Strip) of Namibia, plus Livingstone in Zambia and Vic Falls in Zimbabwe are also all within striking distance. But first you have to get to the north, which means at least 1 000 km of driving.…

Botswana & Caprivi Discover true African wildness at these iconic African destinations: Makgadikgadi Pan, Okavango Delta, Tsodilo Hills, Caprivi Strip, Bwabwata National Park, Mahango Game Reserve, Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park. THE RATE INCLUDES WHAT TO BRING 2016 dates: 19 – 29 April 28 June – 8 July 6 – 16 August 15 – 25 September How long is the tour? 11 days, 10 nights Departure point: Nata, Botswana End point: Kasane, Botswana Accommodation: Formal accommodation How much does it cost? R20 850 per adult; single supplement additional 30 %. The 2016 tours are selling fast and space is limited, so book now to avoid disappointment! To reserve your place call 044 535 0065; e-mail…

Wildflower guide in your pocket Have you ever been hiking or mountain biking and seen a plant that you’d really like to know the name of? And of course you don’t have a wildflower guidebook in your Camelbak… What you will have on you, however, is your phone. And now you can load the new Wildflowers of South Africa app with more than 900 indigenous species. The app is based on John Manning’s book of the same name and it helps you to identify a plant by its colour, in which month you saw it in bloom and the region you found it in. It provides the scientific, English and Afrikaans names for each plant, where applicable, and there’s a nice setting where you can choose your preferred languages for…

YOU CAN TAKE THIS PHOTO! Pictures of people will always liven up a travel album. But don’t just hang out of the car window and fire away, chat to your subjects, explain what you’re about to do and try to get them to relax in front of the lens. Select continuous shooting mode and take lots of photos – it’s often the candid moments between poses that look most natural. Another trick is to use a wide aperture like f3.5: Your subjects will be sharp but the background will be slightly blurry and therefore less distracting. D7200  Take the road less travelled with the Nikon D7200. The 24.2-megapixel sensor captures incredible detail, even in low light, and you can shoot full HD video at the touch of a button. It…

It’s raining stars! A meteor shower occurs when the earth moves through the debris in the wake of a comet. It causes a sudden increase in “shooting stars”, which all seem to originate from a specific point, the so-called “radiant”. As far as meteor showers go, the Geminids shower will be the highlight of the year. At its climax, you can look forward to as many as 50 shooting stars per hour. This year the moon won’t interfere, so even the fainter streaks will be visible, especially if you’re in a place with limited light pollution. The best time to see the shower will be from late evening on 13 December until dawn on 15 December. Find a spot with a good view of the northern/north-western horizon. You won’t need…

DISTANCE FROM JOBURG: 550 km All you see, hear and smell when you arrive is the sea. Then a grey heron lands on the beach like an elegant ballet dancer, the sun shimmers golden on the water and a few boats appear out of the haze. Fishermen haul in their nets, hoping for a good catch. I’m staying at Tan ’n Biki, one of the best-known resorts on the Macaneta peninsula (people call it “the island”) between the Nkomati River and the Indian Ocean. This is the nearest beach resort to Maputo (and Gauteng). As soon as the new ring road around the capital has been tarred, it will take less than an hour to drive here from the Komatipoort border. At the moment you also need to take a…

Best time to visit? Mozambique is a year-round destination. It’s hot and wet during summer; the weather is generally better between May and November. Many people, especially South Africans, flock to the south of the country over Easter weekend and during December and January. Book well in advance for peak season. Malaria. Mozambique is a malarial area, so talk to your doctor and take precautions. What kind of vehicle do I need? We drove a Toyota Hilux Legend 45, but you can get to the places mentioned in a two-wheel drive vehicle with some ground clearance. The new ring road around Maputo saves you lots of travelling time. Money. Rands are accepted everywhere in the south, but you’ll probably get meticais (MTn) for change. The current exchange rate is 3,1MTn…

Each hamper consists of a Weber 57 cm Master-Touch charcoal braai, a cover, a wok and a chimney starter pack which includes a chimney starter, a bag of briquettes and firelighters. The 57 cm Weber Master-Touch will take your outdoor cooking to the next level. With the added Gourmet BBQ System wok, a whole variety of delicious curries and stir-fries is possible. The convenient and easy to use fire-starter pack will also ensure your braai is lit and ready to use in no time. This hamper will turn your braai into the best on the block! HOW TO SUBSCRIBE PRINTED MAGAZINE R37 P.M. CALL 087 740 1036 E-MAIL gosubs@media24.com VISIT my-mags.com DIGITAL MAGAZINE R30 P.M. CALL 0861 697 827 E-MAIL support@mysubs.co.za VISIT…

Braai and relax with Base Camp What goes best with a good braai? A good camping chair, of course! Base Camp spider chair 120 • 120 kg capacity (19 mm steel frame with double-layer 600d polyester fabric) • Lightweight and comfortable with a cup holder in each arm rest and a side bag for a book, biltong or sunscreen • Carry bag included Base Camp enamel kettle braai • 59,5 cm lid and 58 cm bowl • Total size: 89 cm (W) x 74 cm (D) x 103 cm (H) • Weight: 10 kg • Chrome-plated charcoal grid with hinged sides for adding more charcoal • Porcelain coating on cover and kettle • Removable ash collector • Three nylon handles • Top and bottom adjustable air vents • Rubberised wheels…

Margate needs no introduction. If you live in one of our inland provinces you’ve probably been there, or at least heard of it. It’s the biggest and most popular resort town along the KZN South Coast and it groans under the weight of thousands of sunburnt bodies during holidays. Visit out of season, however, and the streets will be nearly deserted. The good news is that even when it’s at its busiest, the town remains one of the least pretentious seaside destinations in South Africa. There’s no such thing as a dress code in the shops and restaurants, kids are welcome everywhere and the local residents you meet will always be keen for a chat. A resort town from the start, Margate has its origins nearly a century ago when…

It’s war in my garden! I feed the birds in my garden and enjoy taking pictures of them, especially a pair of barbets that have nested in a hollow trunk. One afternoon I set up my camera and tripod to take pictures. I knew the barbets were in their nest so I focused on the entrance. Nothing happened for quite a long time, but then I noticed movement. It was a sparrow. I ran to my camera and pressed the shutter button without looking through the viewfinder. When I looked at the pictures later, it was clear that there had been quite a tussle. The sparrow had tried to get into the hole and the barbet chased it off. Is this common? ALTUS CLOETE, Centurion Ornithologist ADRIAN CRAIG says: It…

Constantia farm stall, Clocolan The Eastern Free State is cherry country and at Constantia outside Clocolan you can browse a wide array of products made using the farm’s own cherries. Buy cherry liqueur, syrup or ice cream, or quaff a delicious cherry milkshake. There are also cherry-scented candles, creams and soaps. The farm stall serves good coffee and there are jungle gyms and trampolines for the kids, plus a restaurant with soup (R50), sandwiches (from R25), steak (R90) and even cannelloni (R80) on the menu. Save space for cherry ice cream! Where? About 3 km from Clocolan, next to the R26 to Ficksburg. When? Monday to Sunday from 8 am to 5 pm. Contact: 082 304 7043 or search for “Constantia Cherry Farmstall” on Facebook.…

5 DECEMBER Stargazing picnic at the Taal Monument, Paarl  The full-moon picnics at the Taal Monument are popular, and on darker nights the focus turns to stargazing. The Orion Observation Group (OOG), an informal astronomy club, provides the telescopes and you can order a picnic from the Volksmond coffee shop ( 021 863 2800). Stargazing is weather dependent; call 072 181 6744 for updates. Where? Taal Monument, Paarl Cost: R35 per adult, R10 per child; book ahead ( 021 863 4809) More info: taalmonument.co.za 11 & 12 DECEMBER Gabriëlskloof Favourite Things Market, Bot River  The focus is on products made by Overberg locals: leather purses, antiques, ceramic work, fresh bread, organic skin products and handwoven mats. Have a bistro-style meal at the wine estate restaurant, or visit the…

Where does your love of the outdoors come from? I’ve always enjoyed exploring. The first time I went off on my own I must have been about five years old. I walked along the railway line for kilometres. When I got back, I found two very worried parents – I was in deep trouble. The same thing happened a year later, and the year after that. Eventually my parents stopped worrying when I disappeared. These little trips gradually expanded. By the time I was 12, I would walk from our home in Wynberg to Kirstenbosch, up Table Mountain and down the other side to visit some family in the Bo-Kaap. How did you get into rock climbing? When I was 14 I came across members of the Mountain Club of…

No other month causes quite as much excitement in our hearts as December, when everyone gets a precious few weeks of sunshine as reward for a year of graft at work or school. By August, the year is already on a downward slide – time seems to go faster. By September, December’s door is slightly ajar. Listen and you’ll hear inviting music, the sound of laughter, a champagne cork popping… But you’re not there yet. First there’s the arrival of summer, which happens in different ways in different parts of the country. On the Highveld it’s simply there one morning, when you realise the nip in the air has gone. Somewhere in October the season’s first thundershower will explode from the sky and tender green grass will miraculously rise from…

DISTANCE FROM JOBURG: 700 km I’ve never been to a tropical island before and now I don’t have to because the view from my balcony is pure Seychelles. There’s a row of palm trees, a white beach and a turquoise expanse of water. Bilene is on the shore of the Uembje Lagoon, a warm swimming pool 15 km long and 3 km wide. “Mom and dad can sit on the stoep while the kids play in the shallows,” says Mariaan Fourie, manager of the San Martinho Beach Club where we’re staying. At night, drums echo across the water from the opposite bank. How is it possible that we’re only a day’s drive from Joburg? Bilene gets busy in December, with gazebos, cool boxes, jet skis, motor boats, kayaks and sailboards…

Before the pole is secured in the hole with cement, Hans Jors scrutinizes it from all angles using his right eye. He lost his left eye when a stone was thrown at him, but that right eye doesn’t miss a thing. People who know Hans and his work say there are few who can match his skill. Unlike a garden service or a wedding photographer, a master fencer is hard to find. And a good fencer, one who knows how to work steel wire, galvanised wire, binding wire and barbed wire, is as rare as a good pair of pliers. When a meticulous farmer like Tienie Dumas of the Bo-Karoo says he trusts only one man with the job, you know that man is capable. “Nobody does neater work than…

Your annual holiday to the seaside is always a great idea. That is, until you’re stuck behind yet another slow-moving truck and the kids have started pinching each other in the back seat and whining, “Are we there yet?” Thank goodness for Colesberg, with its litany of B&Bs and guesthouses. Colesberg has its roots in the early 1800s, when it became an important resting and meeting place for pioneer travellers exploring the interior of South Africa. Trekboere, migrant farmers, missionaries, hunters and those seeking their fortune on the diamond- and goldfields in the north all used the town as a gateway. Fast-forward a couple of hundred years and it still feels like a bit of a frontier oasis. Although, instead of watering your horse at the marsh under the koppie,…

A halo surrounds the setting sun over a fishing boat on Langebaan’s main beach. This optical phenomenon is caused by light interacting with ice crystals in the atmosphere, generally when there are cirrus or cirrostratus clouds in the sky. These halos were once used as a means of forecasting the weather, before the prevalence of modern meteorological devices. A halo often means that rain is imminent – very high clouds like cirrostratus can signal the approach of a frontal system. Batten down the hatches!…