carols and caravels

It had been 31 years since last I’d stood on Vleesbaai beach. Now I was back to explore this coast for our December issue (page 76). There were many more houses but the peninsula, bending south-east to Fransmanshoek, was as beautiful as I remembered it. I looked out to sea and pictured our boat, anchored in the turquoise shallows. February 1988: what an adventure it had been. In 1987, as part of my national service in the navy, I joined a crew of 16 to sail a replica Portuguese caravel from Lisbon to Mossel Bay. This was in commemoration of the voyage of Bartolomeu Dias, the first European to round the southern tip of the continent. Our intention was to arrive in South Africa 500 years to the day after he…

contributors

HELEN WALNE Portugal Helen is a part-time misanthrope who would rather be submerged in icy seas and streams than churning through hordes of tourists pointing at things. Nostalgic, solid of body, with an affinity for pastries and cormorants, she can be found most days freediving around Cape Town’s False Bay, searching for sea slugs and dreaming up stories. Portugal was never top of her must-see list, mainly because it’s the top of everyone’s must-see list, but she’s so glad she went, and fell in love with Eugene. MIA LOUW Wakkerstroom Mia is obsessed with platteland towns. The fewer traffic lights and the more dirt roads there are, the better. Throw in cows, goats and horses roaming the streets and she’s in her element. Some of her favourite South African dorpies are Nieu Bethesda, Kaapsehoop and…

getaway

Editor Justin Fox EDITORIAL TEAM Deputy Editor Catherine Hofmeyr Associate Editor Caroline Webb Managing Editor Michelle Hardie Photojournalist & Gear Editor Matthew Sterne Interns 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, Anton Crone, Robyn Daly, Pippa de Bruyn, Mia Louw, Christi Nortier, Don Pinnock, Samantha Pinto, Janine Stephen, Chiara Turilli, Jotham van Tonder, Helen Walne 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 Getaway Travel Tracy Bennett MARKETING, CIRCULATION AND SUBSCRIPTIONS Marketing Consultant Fezeka Galadla Subscriptions Operations Karin Mulder Marketing & Circulation Coordinator Felicia Gertze Administrator Fozia Petersen Interns Ra’eesah Davis, Austin Fortuin DIRECTORS Chief Executive Officer…

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WE ASKED: Which book has inspired you to travel – and where? Gerald Durrell’s My Family and Other Animals inspired us to visit the Greek islands several times. Ian Brown The Drifters by James Michener – a group of young people travelling in the 70s in Portugal, Spain, Morocco and Mozambique. Alison Laura Thompson Best Walks of the Drakensberg by David Bristow. Brenda Dicks The Bible – to the Mount of Olives (Jerusalem). Brian Amery The Two-Year Mountain by Phil Deutschle is set in the Himalayas. Humaira Paruk Fools Rush In by Bill Carter inspired me to travel to Sarajevo. Dawn Bradnick The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón … Barcelona. Alicia Chamaille Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert inspired me to visit Italy and Bali. I’ve yet to go to India… Lozwelo Chiremba I’ve been reading Things To Do in a Dorp by Jacques Marais. Mtunzi…

post

CALL OF THE WILD We have just returned from seven days in Zimbabwe, a country perhaps not being given enough good press. We spent five glorious days and nights enjoying the (sadly, very low) Zambezi. Our lodge was on Msuna Island and offered fabulous views across the river to Zambia. With the low water, hippos and crocs were plentiful. We went downriver to Devil’s Gorge for sundowners – the sunsets in Africa are truly spectacular. We also spent time at Gwango Elephant Lodge (adjacent to Hwange National Park), where we were hosted by Elizabeth Pasalk and Danny Valerio. Elizabeth is half-Shona/ half-German and a reputable scientist. She and Danny returned to Zim after the death of her mother and took over the care of the elephants in the park. She is also running…

winners!

Two nights at Shamwari Private Game Reserve, worth R44 000 ‘I’ve never won anything before. This will be great for celebrating my wife’s 40th birthday.’ Magnus Loubser Two nights at Lekkerwater Beach Lodge in De Hoop, worth R25 600 ‘I’m so excited to get away and can’t believe it will be at De Hoop. My girlfriend is going to be super-stoked!’ Timothy Thom Gregory Packs adventure luggage voucher, worth R7 000 ‘I’ve been looking around for new luggage, so thanks for the good news!’ Ishmael Matsila A VIP weekend in McGregor, worth R5 000 ‘We often drive through these little towns and don’t take the time to explore. We’re really looking forward to seeing all that McGregor has to offer.’ Juliet Hoenck See page 117 for our big end-of-year Gear Giveaway…