take me to church

The mountain gods were angry. We stood in the mouth of a cave and watched the approaching storm. The light turned an eerie purple, the sun disappeared and soon the basalt spires were shrouded in grey. Lightning split the gloom. Thunderclaps echoed between the sandstone ramparts, building to a continuous roar. The rain arrived in solid sheets. It felt religious: the gods hurling down thunderbolts to test our faith. Indeed, the Drakensberg has always been a holy place. San shamans painted images of the spirit world in its caves, while the amaZizi sought spiritual sustenance in its heights. Voortrekker predikants looked upon these mountains for examples of their God’s work, while British settlers were certainly thinking in religious terms when they named the crags: Cathedral Peak, the Bell, Organ Pipes, Twelve…

getaway

Editor Justin Fox EDITORIAL TEAM Deputy Editor Catherine Hofmeyr Associate Editor Caroline Webb Managing Editor Michelle Hardie Photojournalist & Gear Editor Matthew Sterne Photojournalists Lauren Dold, Gabrielle Jacobs, Jessica Oosthuyse CREATIVE TEAM Art Director Louise Topping Senior Designer Achmat Booley DIGITAL TEAM Digital Content Manager Elise Kirsten Group Web Development Manager Cicero Joseph Webmaster Lizelle Leonard CONTRIBUTORS Darrel Bristow-Bovey, Robyn Daly, Pippa de Bruyn, Andy Hofmeyr, Lauren McShane, Don Pinnock, Samantha Pinto, Janine Stephen, Morgan Trimble, Chiara Turilli, Jean Tresfon, Jotham van Tonder, Marion Whitehead BUSINESS, SALES AND EVENTS TEAM Sales Director Ryan Nicole Account Managers Elzanne Botes, Jean de Ridder Getaway Gear Patrick Kennedy, Joanne Thompson, Lindi van den Heever Getaway Guide Elzanne Botes Commercial Director (Events) Stephan Herman Group Events Coordinator Nasreen Salie Exhibition Sales Consultant Atikah Hendricks Marketing Consultant Fezeka Galadla Intern Austin Fortuin Getaway Travel Tracy Bennett MARKETING, CIRCULATION AND SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions Operations Karin Mulder Marketing & Circulation Coordinator Channel Martin Administrator Fozia Petersen Interns Ra’eesah Davis,…

contributors

MICHELLE HARDIE India, page 104 On a dream trip to India, our managing editor walked for miles in the Himalayan foothills and slept in a trekker’s hut at the top of a mountain. And she didn’t mind queueing to sit in ‘Lady Di’s Chair’ at the Taj Mahal, the famous Temple of Love in Agra. (pictured above). MARION WHITEHEAD Mandela’s Eastern Cape, page 82 While a young reporter in the dark days of apartheid, Marion read the famous banned speech that Nelson Mandela made during his treason trial in the newspaper library where she worked. It sparked an enduring admiration for the great man, so a trip to his birthplace and childhood haunts was especially poignant for her. Since returning to her roots in the Eastern Cape, the former Getaway assistant editor delights in exploring…

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WE ASKED: Which food did you fall in love with while travelling? Chicken livers in pomegranate molasses sauce in Lebanon, and roti canai (‘flying bread’) for breakfast in Malaysia. Catherine Reichardt Trdelník (cinnamon pastries on sticks) in Prague. Glynne Gibson Banana soup in Moshi, Tanzania. Kirsten Waller Raclette in Switzerland. Alida Dippenaar In New York I had grits, biscuits and southern-fried chicken for the first time. Shana Rome A tagine in Ouarzazate, Morocco, and paprikash (chicken stew) at a restaurant on the Danube in Budapest, Hungary. Marguerite Blignaut Real tortillas in Central America. Matt Carter Swahili rice, naan, spinach and squid in a tiny restaurant in Stone Town, Zanzibar. Ashlea Myson Fried zucchini flowers in Rome – light and piping hot, with such a delicate flavour. Deryn Graham Chocolate künefe (cheese pastry) in Istanbul. Vanita Dee Dajee Chupe de camarones (shrimp chowder) in Peru and Pudding-Kirsch-Schnecken in Germany. Robert Els I fell in…

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STAR-SPANGLED SELFIE STICK I recently went on a fantastic road trip through iconic national parks in the USA, starting at Yellowstone, through the Grand Tetons, Utah’s ‘Mighty 5’ and on to the Grand Canyon. Due to my involvement at iSimangaliso Wetland Park, I have more than the average traveller’s interest in these parks. While we’re still working towards attracting heavier footfalls, my experiences at some of the US destinations (outside of peak season, mind you) was that there were just too many people. The viewing platform surrounding Old Faithful geyser at Yellowstone was packed with tourists. Selfies rule, and I’m as guilty as the rest for trying to get the perfect Instagram shot. At Horseshoe Bend on the Colorado River, and a dangerous-looking ledge at the Grand Canyon, people queued (me too!) to…

winners!

Four nights at Mdluli Safari Lodge in Kruger, worth R30 000 ‘This will be a very nice surprise for my wife. We’re looking forward to breaking away from the everyday rush.’ Corné Grové The Photographer’s Guide to the Greater Kruger National Park, worth R400 WINNER 1 ‘I’m going to the Kruger for the first time next month so this book will help me make the most of the trip!’ Anton Botha WINNER 2 ‘Kruger has always been on my bucket list, but I’ve never had the opportunity to go – I’m inspired to rectify this situation now.’ Mike Pearlson See page 92 for our big win this month DON’T MISS THE CAPE GETAWAY SHOW, 6–8 MARCH AT SANDRINGHAM FARM IN STELLENBOSCH. PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS ONLINE AND YOU COULD WIN A ZANZIBAR HOLIDAY, WORTH OVER R45 000!…