Getaway

We set sail from Cape Town, bound for the island of St Helena. It was sunset and Table Mountain was disappearing over the horizon. I stood on the aft deck of RMS St Helena, witnessing the most curious of modern phenomena. Passengers lined the guardra

Sardine Run, page 86 Whether it’s in the air, on land or underwater Getaway’s online editor is always up for an adventure. In June last year, she found herself in Port St Johns on one of her favourite escapades yet. In the deep, where whales plunge

I always start so hopeful that surely this time I’ll be able to cross an item off my List of Things To Do Before I Am Too Old. It’s a long list but never seems to get shorter. I’ve written about the time I tried to cross off item No. 43: ‘See the Gan

South Africa has more luxury safari lodges than you can shake an Instagram-influencer at. But with their hefty rates aimed squarely at pound- and dollar-toting tourists, they’re rarely within reach of the average South African. Not so Bayala, which o

Later this month, humpbacks and southern rights start their annual swim-past of Durban. The best place to see them is on the Bluff, which has five viewpoints (plus the roof of the Treasure Beach Wessa office, by appointment, where you can find out ab

➊ ‘Nothing says “Africa” more than baobab trees and sundowners,’ says Larry Whitfield, founder of Loxtonia Cidery in Ceres. He’s blended the two to create a quintessential African cider, a delicious tart-sweet mix of sundowner apples and baobab fruit

It’s not always about the big picture Take a wide-angle lens (16-35mm or 24-105mm) and a telephoto (such as a 70-200mm) to give you options when framing your shot. A tripod and a timer/cable release are essential to eliminate camera shake (because yo

There are two main types of distortion in photography. Optical distortion results from the design of the lens, and you get three types: • Barrel distortion, commonly found with wide-angle lenses, occurs when the image bulges from the middle outward

Soon after sunrise in Londolozi, we came across this female leopard with two cubs. She was trying to hunt but they just wanted to play. Mom was not impressed, as is evident from her expression. Eventually she gave up and rested on a dead marula tree.

HOW TripAdvisor lists accommodation rated by guests, but as much as we love peer reviews, they don’t offer a comparative voice – so how do we know No. 1 is really the best? Pippa de Bruyn, who has reviewed accommodation for 20 years for the likes of

We have America to thank for burgers, hot dogs, milkshakes, doughnuts and much more besides. Anything is possible in the USA – including when it comes to food (think deep-fried Oreos and turducken), and the country continues to set culinary trends. A

Don’t let the brittle grass brush your trouser legs. The telemetry is telling us to climb the dune. So we do. But even my breathing seems too loud. Suddenly, there he is! The pangolin shuffles out from under a bush and pauses, just metres away. He em

1 Kamieskroon Hotel is a good stopover spot close to Namaqua National Park (fabulous in the spring flower season). From R550 pp sharing a room and R120 pp sharing a campsite. 027-672-1614, email info@kamieskroonhotel.com 2 Augrabies Falls National P

YOU’VE GOT THE RIGHT VEHICLE BUT NOT MUCH ELSE. WHEN SETTING OUT ON YOUR FIRST OFF-ROAD ADVENTURE, IT’S ESSENTIAL YOU HAVE DECENT RECOVERY KIT ABOARD. R2 379, outdoorwarehouse.co.za This useful combo set has everything you need. The kinetic strap b

In the recesses of my dream came the distant sound of chattering swifts and falling water. The unusual combination lured me back to consciousness as I peeled open an eye to see a grey dawn coming through the trees that formed my shelter. It took a mo

Nausea clawed at my throat as I bounced like a ping-pong ball against the inflatable tube of the rubber duck. I was hunkering as close to the bow as I could to avoid the smell of diesel, my hands clutching the rope. The breakfast I’d so enjoyed earli

It’s a five-hour drive from Durban to Port St Johns. Take the N2 to Port Edward, then the R61 via Bizana, Flagstaff and Lusikisiki. Alternatively, fly direct from Joburg to Mthatha on Airlink (from R2 050), then drive the 90-kilometres to the coast.

In a channel between two islands, off the southern tip of Zanzibar, we nearly collided with a dhow. The ancient vessel – with a single, intent fisherman aboard – sailed across our bow with a stealthy grace that belied the choppy water. It came so c

The novelist Hermann Hesse once said, ‘Whoever has learned how to listen to trees no longer wants to be a tree.’ I’m not sure what he was going on about. I’ve spent the last few hours hiking in the Black Forest (Schwarzwald), listening to the swishin

Mango flies direct from Joburg to Stone Town, from R7 500 pp return (check for specials). flymango.com The best time is June to September (least rain and cooler), or November to February (some rain and hotter). March to May is the rainy season. South

‘Two decades ago local tourists didn’t come here. They’d drive on the N1 through the Karoo to or from Joburg, but in the last 15 to 20 years South Africans have been discovering Graaff-Reinet for the first time,’ said David McNaughton. ‘Ja, it’s a do

Graaff-Reinet is 263km north of Port Elizabeth on the R75. From Colesberg on the N1, it’s 205km south on the N9. Drostdy Hotel. Enjoy memorable service and stylish surroundings. The property has lovely garden courtyards, a wine shop, art gallery and