Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2016 i go!

Wildcat on the menu? QHENRIETTE LIEBENBERG from Hermanus writes: I took this photo south of Mata-Mata rest camp in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. The leopard was as fast as lightning and the African wildcat didn’t stand a chance. A Wildlife expert LD VAN ESSEN says: It’s not unusual to see predators feed on smaller predators or the young of other carnivores, especially in areas like the Kgalagadi, which has a lower prey density compared to other reserves like the Kruger Park, for example. In this case, the leopard didn’t think of the wildcat as a fellow predator, but as a potential meal. Is this a unicorn bee? QMANUELA KROG from Sandton writes: We had stopped for a picnic at the Makhadzi picnic site north of Letaba in the Kruger Park…

14 – 17 July Coffee & Chocolate, Johannesburg Coffee and chocolate is a winning combination. Learn more about brewing the perfect cup at the Coffee Theatre and make chocolate at the Chocolate Workshop. You can also taste interesting pairings like whisky and chocolate. Where? Monte Casino When? Thursday 4 pm – 10 pm; Friday and Saturday 10 am – 10 pm; Sunday 10 am – 6 pm. Cost: R120 (online); R150 at the door. More info: coffeechoc.co.za 16 & 17 July Franschhoek Bastille Festival Allez! Get your beret and red, white and blue outfit ready and start practising your “oui oui”. The festival celebrates the town’s French heritage with wine and food. Taste wines from the Franschhoek Valley and enjoy various dishes from the town’s restaurants. Have your…

Dude, where’s my snow? Visit snowreport.co.za  for the latest updates on snowfall in South Africa. Follow them on Facebook ( facebook.com/snowreportsa), Twitter or Instagram (@snow reportsa) or subscribe to the mailing list on their website to receive alerts – you can choose the provinces you’re interested in. OUR PICK OF PLACES TO SEE SNOW • Matroosberg, Western Cape The mountains around Ceres are often dusted in snow in winter. Matroosberg is the highest peak in the Western Cape (2 249 m) – if snow falls in the province, chances are there will be some on this mountain. Like the Facebook page “Matroosberg Private Nature Reserve” for updates. • Swartberg Pass, Western Cape The scenic views of the Karoo from this pass between Prince Albert and Oudtshoorn are even better after…

STAY HERE RESTHAVEN GUESTHOUSE The Rawlins family will welcome you like old friends. If Philip has time, ask him to take you up to the lake in the mountains near Matatiele. Most of the en suite rooms overlook the garden. There’s also a restaurant with a play area for the kids, which serves breakfast and lunch. A buffet dinner is available at the guesthouse. Rates: From R280 per person sharing. Self-catering rooms from R330 per person sharing; buffet breakfast R100 per person extra. Where? 77 Main Street (the R56). Contact: 039 737 4067; resthaven.co.za SEMONKONG LODGE  This lodge next to the Maletsunyane River offers many fun activities. It’s worth staying for a few days. The world’s highest commercial abseil is top of the list; you can also go…

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND • Your first stop in every town should be the tourism office, where you’ll find the latest flower information and a map of the best routes to drive and walk. The best flower spots differ from year to year, depending on rainfall patterns. Most tourism offices will be able to guide you in the right direction so give them a call before you leave home. • Many of the routes featured here are along good tar and gravel roads, but in the rainy season any road can turn to mud. Call ahead to find out about road conditions. To be safe, travel in a vehicle with high ground clearance. • Try to spend at least two days in each place. The flowers open during the brightest part of…

It’s windy. Sand hisses over the broad shore of Brandvlei Dam outside Worcester while the Fortuner’s 2.8 GD-6 diesel engine drones lazily as I follow a trail through clumps of restios. The white noise made by the grit pelting the Fortuner’s windows is hypnotising. I sink back into the comfortable leather seat and tear off a piece of biltong with my teeth. One of the rear wheels accidentally rolls over a hump and the Fortuner rocks violently, but settles down just as quickly. “Comfier than before ” I think to myself as I brush away a few peppercorns that have fallen. Above the high-water mark is a narrow strip of dunes. I steer towards them. It hasn’t been necessary to engage four-wheel drive yet, but I stop in front of…

Every year, when I was in school, the standard 7 pupils at Laingsburg High School visited Cape Town for a week and stayed at a beach house in Muizenberg. In 1964 it was our class’s turn. My family often travelled to Cape Town, but for some of my classmates it was the first time they had seen the Mother City. I can’t remember much from the trip, except that it was a lot of fun. We toured the museums in the Company’s Garden, we went onto the roof of the Media24 building (formerly the Naspers building and the highest building in Cape Town at the time), we swam in the Sea Point pool (where I jumped from the highest diving board) and we visited the Castle of Good Hope. But…

So you ended up writing a motor-sport story? I’m fascinated by other people’s fascinations, whether it’s chicken shows, baking koeksisters or motorsport. I might have tried an unsuccessful handbrake turn or two shortly after I got my driving licence, but I’m no motorsport fundi. At the racetrack I was initiated into a world of fearless drivers who drift their cars and burn out their tyres. It was great fun. How did you end up at the racetrack? Photographer Sam Reinders and I were supposed to have a quiet dinner in Swakopmund. Then we ran into a matric dance procession at the seaside, and learnt they were travelling to a secret venue in the desert for the actual party, so we decided to follow. We got lost and never found the…

Augrabies has a new cottage Have you ever wished you could linger longer over the view of the Oranjekom Gorge in Augrabies Falls National Park? Or even have a sundowner at the view site? Now you can. In fact, you can even watch the sunrise. The park has a new luxury cottage, built underneath the viewpoint! The open-plan self-catering Oranjekom Gorge Cottage (sleeps two) has a fully equipped kitchen and a separate bathroom. When the day visitors leave, you have the rooftop deck all to yourself. Rate: R1 500 per night. Bookings: 012 428 9111; sanparks.org Speed up in the Lowveld Glide on a toboggan without having to eat snow. Misty Mountain Lodge between Sabie and Lydenburg has a new track. The 1,7 km route offers beautiful views…

ADVENTURE ITINERARY Day 1 & 2: Our seven-day self-drive tour starts near Knysna on the Garden Route, led by an experienced nature conservationist and adventure guide. The next day we travel along an exclusive route through the Knysna Forest, known for its ancient yellowwood trees, following in the footsteps of the elephants. We visit the Millwood gold mine and the Dalene Matthee memorial. Day 3 & 4: We travel over Prince Alfred’s Pass towards the western part of Baviaanskloof, our home for the next two nights. Our route takes us through the Langkloof and the small town of Uniondale. Day 5: Today we drive the length of Baviaanskloof, stopping frequently to photograph this scenic conservation area. Keep an eye out for kudu and bushbuck. We sleep over in Cambria in…

WHAT TO BRING THE RATE INCLUDES TOUR DETAILS Dates: 18 – 24 March 2017 How long? Six nights, seven days Starting point: Matatiele, Eastern Cape End point: Himeville, KZN Accommodation: Formal accommodation with en suite or private bathrooms Rates: R10 450 per person sharing. Single supplement additional 30 %. ADVENTURE ITINERARY Day 1: We meet at Resthaven Guesthouse in Matatiele, where we spend our first night. Day 2: We travel north and enter Lesotho at Qacha’s Nek border post. Our first stop overlooks the Senqu River, where our photography guide will share some landscape photography tips. We continue north along a brand-new tar road and arrive at Semonkong Lodge near the famous Maletsunyane Falls, our accommodation for the next two nights. Day 3:…

READER STORY DANELLE BOSCH Home town: Pretoria Occupation: Teacher Our group of 11 friends arrives at the Caledonspoort border post just as the officials are opening up. Each of us is armed with a pen. It’s 6 am and freezing. We slept in Heilbron in the Free State last night and hit the road at 4 am. Within seconds our passports are stamped. Slowly we make our way up the iced-over Moteng and Tlaeng passes. We take photos at every viewpoint and arrive at Afriski two hours later. Our cramped bakkie pulls up to the backpackers’. “Check out at 10 am; Check in at 4 pm” says the sign on the door. It’s 9 am. So off to the snowy slopes we go. The resort has three ski slopes: Baby…

HYUNDAI SANTA FE The original Santa Fe was Hyundai’s first excursion into the world of SUVs. This is the third generation of that popular vehicle, and it’s received a substantial facelift. Notable changes include new bumpers, which were restyled using sharper accent lines, with added shiny bits and LED running lights. Safety features have also been upgraded. Radar sensors in the body will warn you of vehicles in your blind spot and scan the street for approaching cars when you back out of your driveway. The sensors also pair up with the cruise control to keep a constant following distance between you and the vehicle ahead. Another helpful addition is the automatic rear hatch, which opens and closes at the press of a button. The updated Santa Fe retains its…

Three lucky subscribers will win a Namaqua flowers tour package worth R10 650 each. The prize includes two nights (full board) at the Namaqua Flowers Beach Camp and one night’s accommodation (dinner, bed and breakfast) at the Namaqua Flowers Skilpad Camp, both in the Namaqua National Park, plus a picnic hamper. Here’s what the winners can look forward to: Flower season in Namaqualand is one of the most spectacular natural phenomena in the world. The popular Namaqua Flowers Beach Camp, located in the Namaqua National Park, is the perfect place to enjoy this colourful display. Guests stay in a temporary luxury tented camp, right on the beach. In the Skilpad section of the park you’ll find some of the best flowers in this area. Guests staying at the Namaqua Flowers…

THE OLDE DUCK  Order barista Siyabonga Miya’s famous cappuccino (R20) and sip it inside if it’s cold or outside on the lawn under the huge plane tree. You can also order meals like flapjacks with bacon and maple syrup (R40), chicken-and-avo salad (R75) or a 200 g rump steak with veggies and potato wedges (R95). There’s a special kiddies’ menu – the play area and petting farm will ensure the children stay entertained. Owners Jeannine Bonsma and Di Penny also have a gift shop called Vanilla Rose in the same building, which sells clothes and decor items. Where? 5 km from Underberg on the Drakensberg Gardens road. Hours: 9 am to 4 pm in winter, from 8 am in summer. Closed on Tuesdays. Contact: 074 141 3153 (Jeannine/Di/Jen) THE ORCHID…

WINNING LETTER Slithery when wet In April we visited Khutse Game Reserve in Botswana. Every morning we’d drink coffee next to the Molose waterhole, where several bird species congregate: rollers, shaft-tailed whydah, fork-tailed drongo, pied crows, white storks… A few hours after sunrise, flocks of Burchell’s sandgrouse would arrive to drink, bathe and play. We were just about to head off one morning when something in the water caught my eye: a python was wrapped around one of the sandgrouse! After its meal, the python settled down for a nap while insects clustered around its mouth. Afterwards, it went for a swim, vanishing beneath the surface for minutes at a time. It swam over to the other side of the waterhole where it lurked underwater – all we could see…

Langhurst Pub & Grill, Elliot, Eastern Cape There are not many pit stops on the R56 between Elliot and Indwe. Langhurst Pub & Grill has no frills, but you won’t leave hungry. It’s just far enough from the tar road so you can relax while the kids chase a chicken on the lawn or play on the slide. Sit on the stoep and look to the north-east, to where Barkly Pass winds its way up between sandstone cliffs. Order T-bone steak (R75) or a Hawaiian pizza (R70). The chicken schnitzel (R65) and beef burger (R57) are also popular. You can stay overnight if you underestimated the day’s driving: R700 per night for a double room (breakfast included). Where? The turn-off is about 1,5 km south-west of Elliot next to the…

This is no monkey business Every South African knows the love/hate relationship between people and baboons. Why do we dislike them? They cause havoc wherever they go: They raid your campsite and crops; they break into houses and intimidate unsuspecting tourists. The destructive behaviour of baboons has partly to do with the fact that we’re putting up houses in their habitat. Baboons are intelligent and resourceful and one of the few animal species that can thrive in close proximity to humans. On the other hand, visit a game reserve and one of the most entertaining stops you’ll make is with a troop of baboons. You can’t help but smile. They are so much like humans… On a recent safari, our group watched a big troop coming to settle for the…

A pole on a sharp bend, or any sign for Christ the King mission station. Those are the landmarks to look out for. If we spot either between the villages of Sekake and Seforong, we should turn off. Such was the advice dispensed by Philip Rawlins last night. Many Lesotho tours begin at Philip’s Resthaven Guesthouse in Matatiele. Matat is close to three border posts – Ongeluksnek, Qacha’s Nek and Ramatseliso – and Philip knows his way around southern Lesotho like he knows his way around the cabin of his Land Cruiser. I’m exploring Lesotho with John van den Berg from Mpafa Travel and the reason we’re looking for the obscure turn-off between Sekake and Seforong is because Philip told us about a specific point on the Senqu River (the…

LISL MOOLMAN Nikon D7100 Tamron 150 – 600 mm lens LISL WRITES: I took this photo at Sable Dam in the Kruger Park. Zebras are nervous animals and they’ll prick their ears for any sound when drinking water. I waited for one such moment. The zebras got spooked and ran off, allowing me to snap this action shot. I think the photo has more impact because I chose not to show the whole animal, concentrating instead on the legs splashing through the water, and the flapping tail. TOAST SAYS: I’d also be nervous if I had to scan my surroundings for lions all the time, or if I had to watch out for a croc in my water bottle! Lisl used a fast shutter speed of 1/1 600 second, which…

With the current obsession with bacon, belly, cheeks and more, it seems that every part of the pig except the squeak is on the menu these days. Pork tends to be quite a rich meat so you need to pair it with a white wine with good acidity to cut through the fat. However, when you smoke the meat, it gains layers of spice and vanilla, which is a good match for red wine. As global warming increases, South African winemakers are constantly on the lookout for wines with naturally high acidity, allowing them to cope better with heat. A good example is the Portuguese variety verdelho, which KWV have used to create their top-tier The Mentors Verdelho 2013 (R165). It’s full of peaches and nectarines with a pleasing salty,…

TRACK A CHEETAH IN THE MOUNTAIN ZEBRA NATIONAL PARK, CRADOCK Traditionally, radio-tracking a big cat has been the preserve of PhD students and wildlife celebrities like David Attenborough. Now you can also experience the thrill of finding a wild cheetah on foot. By the time you report to reception, your guide will already have downloaded the cheetah’s approximate GPS co-ordinates. You’ll drive towards the cheetah in an open Landy (brrr!) until the road runs out. At this point you’ll disembark and start tracking the animal on foot. The armed ranger will stop every couple of minutes and wave his antenna in the air to confirm that you’re still on course. Radio-tracking is not an exact science, as the topography has a huge effect on how the signal is interpreted. We…

As seen from horseback “Have you met Steve Black? Oh, you must meet Steve Black.” No, I have never met Steve Black and it’s unlikely I’ll meet him because he’s in Durban at the moment. He drove there, which is strange because he’s run from Underberg to the coast before. Steve, as I understand, is a man who likes to run. Preferably over mountains for 100 km at a time. Extreme athlete, mountain man, horse man and the guy behind Underberg’s popular Khotso Horse Trails. That’s Steve Black. Instead I meet Phil Flanagan. Phil has worked all over the world and now calls Khotso home – for the time being. While my girlfriend Alice Inggs and a handful of other tourists set off on a two-hour ride in the hills…