Feb/Mar 2022

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The Best Travel Buddy
Taking your best friend along when you hit the road is nothing new. When a hunter-gatherer ancestor in Eurasia made the decision to share a leftover piece of meat with a wolf more than 15 000 years ago, a unique and intimate bond between human and an
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WRITE TO US & WIN!
Ronél wins a Zartek TX-8 two-way radio twin-pack, worth R1 099. The TX-8 has a slim, lightweight design, the audio is loud and clear, and the reception range is excellent. The set comes standard with cradles, USB charging cables and belt-clip cases.z
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Behind The Scenes
Our chihuahua, Petit (9), joined the family as a teeny puppy. We adopted Nina (10) from Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue & Rehab when she was three years old. She’s our second ridgeback – we love the breed. We’re an active family and these dogs need a lot
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Letters
I enjoyed the article, “Me and my car”, in go! #178. This is my dad, Dawie Koch (81), with his favourite vehicle – a 1963 Dodge 330 – among the yellow canola fields on his farm Melkhoutdrift near Heidelberg in the Western Cape. My dad worked as a Nis
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Speak To Us
Send your letters to [email protected] – include your name, surname and where you live. Please also include a photo if you have one (at least 2 MB in size). We reserve the right to edit and shorten letters, and use your photos elsewhere in the magaz
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Q & A
ANNE-MARIE SCHEEPERS from Krugersdorp writes: I saw this crocodile battle at Sunset Dam in the Kruger Park. The big crocodile held the smaller one in its jaws and shook it violently every 10 – 15 minutes. Will the big crocodile eat the smaller one, o
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Go On A Virtual Tour Of The Huguenot Museum
The realm of virtual reality is no longer reserved for gamers and tech-savvy types. Take Street View on Google Earth, for example. For many of us, it’s simply a part of life! The Huguenot Museum in Franschhoek has embraced this technology and is now
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For Your Calendar
The aQuellé Midmar Mile is the biggest open-water swim in South Africa. It doesn’t require you to be a fantastic swimmer, but a basic fitness level is needed to make the 1,6 km swim from one side of the dam to the other. All age groups are welcome, a
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Sea-rescue Boat Built Entirely In Sa
Late last year, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) launched its first Offshore Rescue Craft (ORC) built entirely in South Africa by South Africans. NSRI CEO Dr Cleeve Robertson says the following on their website: “At 14,8 m long and 4,8 m wide
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Night Watch
As early risers may know, Venus has been the Morning Star since the beginning of the year. But a lot of people don’t realise that this planet is bright enough to see in the middle of the day, too. The trick is knowing where to look… Once a month, whe
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Don’t Rumble With A Rhombic Night Adder
Despite its name, the rhombic night adder is actually more active during the day, especially when the sun is hiding behind clouds. You’ll find this snake mainly in the wetter, eastern half of the country, starting near Hermanus in the Western Cape an
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Morale Coffee, Hermon
I recently drove along the R44 near Wellington and spotted a big, bulky structure on the horizon. At first I thought it was a combine harvester, but as I approached, no wheels materialised and the structure got even bulkier. That’s when I realised –
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Books And Music
This book is the second in English naturalist David Attenborough’s Life trilogy. It was first published in 1984 and is based on a television series made for the BBC. This edition has been updated with the help of zoologist Matthew Cobb and gives a lo
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Mulalo ‘Nego’ Negondeni
What inspired you to create Nego City? The 2010 FIFA World Cup came to South Africa and changed the country. The look, the feel, the very infrastructure! In 2008, I was watching TV when I saw an advert of the FNB Stadium, which they were building in
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Road Music
That’s right, a brand-new album from Springbok Nude Girls! And it’s just what your summer ordered: Rock and roll tunes to sing along to with the window down as you cruise along the highway. Lead singer Arno Carstens has more pop sensibility than 20 T
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Check This
There’s a fascinating geographical feature near Arniston on the Southern Cape coast, called “The Cauldron”. It’s a hole in the rock shelf that fills with seawater and then drains in a swirling mass. It’s only accessible at low tide, but even so, inco
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Meet The Authors
Tell us about your book? It has two sections: one is a vade mecum that helps you to understand some of the history of the specific places that you will find in the park; the other is about life in the past – the people, the way of life, and the event
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Where Did The Plates Go?
Sometimes, a thing you’ve grown used to over the years disappears, and you don’t even notice. It’s only when someone draws your attention to it that you realise it’s no longer there. That happened to me recently when my wife and I visited the Kruger
go11 min readCrime & Violence
Protecting The Ghost Of The Bushveld
Ray Jansen’s alert, dark eyes scan the trees for an early summer migrant bird, then they flick to distant hills where the November sun is already warming up this part of Limpopo. Ray is a scientist but he’s also streetwise; he’s used to sitting in an
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Paw Patrol!
Instagram: @yaya_goes_places I’m an ex-corporate actuary – my wife Debbie and I now consult remotely, to pursue a more flexible lifestyle for our family. In 2021, we decided we wanted to move to a quiet place where our two young girls could learn i
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Walk Wild In Leopard Country
It’s springtime but here in the Kruger Park, west of Shingwedzi, the veld is faded, dry and dusty. The summer rain hasn’t yet arrived. We were full of banter in the Land Cruiser as we drove off into the wilderness, further and further away from the w
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Jaco’s Top Three Pet-friendly Campsites In The Western Cape
• Balie’s Gat, Cederberg ( baliesgat.co.za): The scenery is amazing! • Kleine Eike, Greyton ( kleineeike.com): It’s almost always fully booked, but it’s heaven if you do find a spot. • Tankwa Tented Camp ( tankwa.net): This camp is not for everyone b
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Some Of Hein’s Favourite Dog-friendly Places In And Around Gqeberha
• We often buy snacks for the road at Bloo’s Buffet bloosbuffet.co.za • Sacramento.1918 (find them on Facebook) is a great restaurant for dogs. They even have a pet menu. There’s a walking trail nearby. • Grass Roof restaurant ( grassroof.co.za) is
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Know Before You Go
The Mphongolo is one of the Kruger’s backpacking trails – you’re accompanied by field guides but you have to cook your own food and carry everything you’ll need. There are two other backpacking trails: the Lonely Bull, which starts at Mopani; and the
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Kathy’s Top Five Dog-friendly Cape Peninsula Hikes
• Cecilia Waterfall: It’s largely shaded as you walk through forest, with enough water for your pup to drink. • Contour Path: Between Platteklip Gorge and Kloof Corner – this is a good introductory walk for dogs, but take water along in summer. • Pip
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Farm Life Is The Good Life
It’s good to take a wrong turn every now and then. Suurfontein, says the sign, and I take it, leaving the R61 behind. Sunday afternoon minibus traffic has just begun to pick up, shuttling people between the rural districts east of here and Cape Town,
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In Other Words
Gert: “Some guests come here from a big city and they’re shocked at all the open space around them. There are no boundaries here, no rules. We are giving you a space where you can do anything you want. It’s your holiday home.” “I grew up in Tarkasta
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Winterberg School Trust
“We take in kids from the age of three to Grade 7,” says Joanne King, Project Director and Fundraiser for the trust. “There were 12 farm schools in the area many years ago, but they were very neglected. In 1994, the farmers got an idea to pool their
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Take Your Pic
NICK WRITES: I took this photo from my favourite hide – Lake Panic in the Kruger. The African fish-eagle had caught a fish and was enjoying its meal when a goliath heron flew over to try and claim the fish-eagle’s catch. Suffice to say, “panic” broke
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Send Us Your Best Travel And Nature Photos!
WHY? We publish a selection of reader pictures in every issue. Don’t be shy, haul out those shots you’ve been hoarding on your computer and send them to us! We like just about anything: wildlife, landscapes, portraits, holiday snaps or bugs in your g
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Take The Winning Photo
This canvas bag has sturdy sides and a soft inner to protect your valuable gear. The compartments are adjustable to fit your camera and lenses. Product available at winkel.weg.co.za ■
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A Delicate Balance
The winners of the 57th annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition were announced late in 2021. The competition celebrates the splendour of the natural world, but increasingly, it also highlights the complicated relationship that humans hav
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Sock It To ’em!
The Sox factory in Pretoria makes an astounding array of socks for cyclists, runners, equestrians, rugby players, soccer players… and for anyone who simply enjoys a funky pair of socks. Our favourites come from the Heritage Collection. Celebrate our
go5 min readRegional & Ethnic
That's A Wrap!
Serves 8 Preparation time 30 minutes Cooking time 1 hour • 2 tablespoons olive oil• 1 kg mince• 1 red onion, chopped• 1 clove of garlic, chopped• 1 sachet (50 g) tomato paste• 2 tins (410 g each) red kidney beans, drained• 30 g Old El Paso spice mix
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Naa Na Na Na–vara!
It has been a while since I’ve driven a Nissan that turns heads. The last one was the high-performance GT-R, a beast straight out the Fast & Furious franchise. That was about 10 years ago. Recently, I took the new Navara Pro-4X double cab on a gravel
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Stay Here
As dusk falls, shadows push their dark tendrils into the landscape. They creep into cracks and crevices, making the rocks come alive. This one looks like an enormous skull, that one like a ship sailing on sand… I’m here with my wife and our two boys.
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Do This
Trevor Wigley switches off the engine of his old Toyota bakkie and gets out. We’re on a jeep track near the village of Qolora on the Wild Coast. In the valley below, cattle drink from the Gxara River. A sow and four piglets trot down a hill after bei
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The Karoo’s Prince Charming
In Prince Albert, the locals say that rain is “more precious than gold”. During my visit in early October, the heavens burst open for what I was told was the first time in nearly three years. As the leiwater furrows beside the high street gathered a
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Birds
I might be speaking too soon, but I think the worst is over. Both our boys are in primary school now, which means that lots of difficult baby-phase stuff is all in the past: nappies, dummies, tantrums, taste-testing disgusting things found on the gro
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In Other Words
“Silence, stars and the vast Karoo veld await you in Prince Albert. Your soul will be rejuvenated. Ask me, I moved here from Joburg!” “Come relax and enjoy an olive tasting. Some of the groves are more than 50 years old.” Where? Kruidfontein Road;
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With My Own Eyes
My wife Elmarie and I spent 15 days in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in December 2020. We often visit the park, and one of our favourite game-viewing spots doesn’t even involve getting into your car. The hide in Nossob rest camp usually yields inc
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Back In The Day
Before commercial air travel (literally) took off in the 1950s, travellers would take leave of their loved ones with a “Bon voyage!” and board a ship. One of the great shipping lines to link Africa and Europe in the 20th century was the Union-Castle
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How Do Eagles And Vultures Differ?
They hunt animals for fresh meat. They usually hunt alone or in pairs. Each eagle species has a different diet, depending on the type of prey found in its habitat. An eagle holds its prey in its talons and uses its bill to rip off strips of meat. It
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Raptors Rock!
Eagles and vultures play an important role in nature. Eagles keep animal populations in check by hunting, and vultures pick rotting carcasses clean, preventing diseases from spreading. Although these bids are big and strong, some of the species are e
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Pathway to Petra
What is it about a country that gets you hooked? Is it the people, the history, the landscapes, the food – or something else that you just can’t put your finger on? Jordan is on an ancient trade route connecting Egypt, to the south-west, with Damascu
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HUGO & ELMARIE HAUMANN, SANDBAAI
“We usually camp in the Kgalagadi, and at night we swap information with other campers about what was seen where. “We always try to get a booking at Nossob because you can explore to the north or the south of the rest camp, and the area is known for
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LETTER FROM the Richtersveld
Our 10-year-old daughter Emilie saw it first. It skulked off as we drove into the De Hoop campsite in the |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, ribs bulging against its skin. Scrawny, it looked like a cross between a greyhound and a Canis african
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Africa At Its Best
I took this photo in the northern Drakensberg, en route to the Sentinel Car Park near Witsieshoek – the starting point of the hike to the top of the Amphitheatre. Our plan was to spend the night near Mont-aux-Sources, close to where the Tugela Falls
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Fast Facts
These prices are from 2019 and are meant to provide a rough idea of what the Gurneys spent on their trip. Prices would have gone up since then. Bedouin Moon Village (hotel): R480 per night for two people (camping in the parking area) Maqluba (upsid
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Go!
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF (WEG & GO): PIERRE STEYN [email protected] DEPUTY EDITOR: ESMA MARNEWICK TRAVEL EDITOR: TOAST COETZER FOOD EDITOR: JOHANÉ NEILSON COPY EDITORS: MARIJCKE DODDS, MARTINETTE LOUW CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: JON MINSTER JOURNALISTS: SOPHI

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