The Honey Badger Diaries
Death And Mourning In Times Of The Corona Virus
Maybe it’s just me who dwells on death today as a photograph pops up on my screen, taken three years ago, before the unthinkable. One of my very best friends passed away and will never feature in another photograph. Technology and Social Media is our new memory keeper. ---oOo--- With...
A One Night Stand - Cremorne Holiday Resort - Port St John's - Fabulously Flamboyant
Tick list travel or dashing from one place to the next; doing over-nighters doesn’t do it for me; although, I do get it. Sometimes there’s no option. For me, travel is about exploring. My curiosity about a place, its people, history, art, architecture needs in-depth investigation. Before...
Wonderously Wild – Mdumbi Backpackers
ROADTRIPPING THE TRANSKEI is one of a few places that make me feel as if I’m in another country. The people are cool, the weather’s divine, the landscape so different from ours, even the history’s different. Due to various reasons and circumstances, many people find themselves...
Tranquil Transkei - Mazeppa Bay Revisited
Promises made have to be kept. That’s a golden rule. Melissa, our niece, took up a position as a Dietician at a rural hospital in the Transkei. We applauded her for her decision to spread her wings, step out of her comfort zone and make a lifetime of memories. At Christmas time in 2019,...
Searching For Magic Mushrooms - Hogsback - Eastern Cape Province
My Grandmama told me about the Hogsback. In the early 1930’s she’d haul my aunt, my Dad, a French nanny and a German wet nurse, by train from Cape Town and steam off during the hot summer months to sojourn in the cool, misty Eastern Cape Amatole mountains. In tow, her best friend, Margie...
Hoo-Ray It's holi-Yay!
There were a few weeks to go, before the summer holidays would break the monotony of 8 months under house arrest, while we continued enduring the lockdown. Like a bolt of lightning on a summer’s day, a nephew and niece took up our holiday home for three weeks. They were determined to make...
Glamping in the Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park
Butch and I have never camped in a SANParks campsite. We prefer to stay off the grid or do wild camping as one does in Botswana and Zimbabwe. Without a doubt, our favourite camps being Polentswa and Rooiputs on the Botswana side. This time we were putting SANParks to the test. The...
A Saffa Safari - A Road Trip To The Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park
Do yourself a favour. Make a reservation, pack your tent and raid the pantry. Dust off the ammo boxes. When you've done all that grab a few T's, a pair of shorts and your favourite flip flops. Don't forget last year's stretched and perished bather. It will do. Believe me. Now, head off to...
My Fear of Failure - An Albatross
The deadweight of the rotting Albatross I was lugging around was weighing me down. Day and night, I was consumed by fear, uncertainty and doubt. Knowing I had no choice, my fate sealed. The reality; Butch's sight is compromised. If we continue to believe that our retirement dream to travel...
Rainy Days And Sundays - Butternut Relish
Inclement weather is expected to dry up in October. The rain running rivulets down the window panes as I type is a surprise. Shouldn’t be, you’d think, but, we’ve had such good weather for eight straight weeks, that I was ready to rip out the old bather to wallow in the shallows with...
Why Fly - Gifberg Holiday Farm
I jolted, something wet was slowly snaking its way across my belly, gathering momentum as it slipped around to my back. We'd just returned, unpacked, and put the washing machine on heavy load, after a longish weekend, at the very remote GIFBERG HOLIDAY FARM near Van Rhyn'sdorp. I’d...
My Namaqualand Journal - Madeliefie, Pietsnotjie, Katstertjie -
Every year at about this time a wayward uncle would stop over in his rusty, vintage Kombi, to stock up on fresh supplies, before setting off on his annual pilgrimage into the Namaqualand to paint. My father-in-law would beckon him into his flat, stepping back from the front door, frowning...
Wandering Closer To Home - Slanghoek - Kraalkloof Camp
Butch and his colleagues meet up in their library every morning for coffee. He says “sometimes we talk law, but, mostly, we just catch up and chat.” Everyone knows our story by now, and often good trip ideas are shared. Last week he was tipped-off about a camping spot on a farm in the...
Still Wandering - Gatsrivier Guest Farm
With dust billowing in our wake, we made our way from the Tankwa farmstall back onto the main road (a 70km detour, I was told) to continue our meanderings in search of peace. The road north became quieter, and farmsteads became fewer. In the Karoo, sustainable farming can only be on vast tracts...
Wandering into the future – Matroosberg Nature Reserve
It's no use crying over spilt milk. We’ve had our chips, and now we must suck it up and move on, without the help or approval of the government, closed borders or the WHO. Our lives are still in our hands. What we do with the situation takes some creative thinking and a will to do something...
Honey Badgers Don't Hibernate
I stopped laughing. My one redeeming attribute is that I enjoy a good laugh, some start deep in my belly, others I try to suppress as they tickle my spirit, but, on the whole Butch and I enjoy a good old fashioned chortle. When did merriment leave us? Sometime, I can’t pinpoint, probably...
Weekend Meander to MIDDELPOS
Pompelompie Hartklop (Heartbeat) Festival. The heart of the Karoo beats in its people. They are a hardened community, resilient and steadfast in their faith and in the land. Here every person is worthy. So, one fine day Butch comes along and suggests we go on a road trip to Middelpos. I’d...
Lets Hit The Road Jack - YZERFONTEIN
My beloved knew I’d be emotionally drained after our glorious six weeks in Onrus with the family. This was my weekend to be spoilt, almost an early Valentine’s treat. He made a reservation at the Yzerfontein Caravan Park for the weekend and secured a lovely campsite using the camp layout on...
Windy Weekend Weather Wolseley
It’s often hard to believe there was a life before a disaster. Fortunately there is. Our memories eventually only remember the good things in life as bad thoughts are laid to rest along the wayside. And then life goes on and soon we say “life is good”! So before the great debacle and...
A Gut-Wrenching Confession
If you're interested in the whole sordid disaster then this is it! Shake, Rattle and Roll, without the big band, was what happened to me this morning. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try or work at something it fails. Coming to terms with failure and moving on is also a learning curve I...
2nd November A Day To Remember
It would’ve been my Grandmama, Joe Knight’s birthday. Born on the 2nd November, 1906. She would’ve been a ripe old age (113), but, would she have been proud of our rugby team? Absolutely. Oftentimes I wish she could’ve witnessed and experienced our Rainbow nation in action, especially when all...
Making Memories In Montagu
As we get older we enjoy celebrations. Could it be that they’re becoming scarcer as we attend more funerals than parties these days? Fortunately we were on our way to a birthday braai and would camp in beautiful Montagu with its heritage homes, large properties, channelled water, quaint...
Seven Sticks Of Wood And A Block Of Blitz
No final destination was the plan. YR.com said it would be the worst weekend to go camping. I checked daily, which is very unusual, to see whether the weather would improve. Not a chance. We’d not have our spirits dampened by a drizzle so we packed up and went off to see some spring blooms...
The Honey Badger Goes For An Annual Check-up
We’ve been far and wide in the Honey Badger, our Isuzu NP 300 4X4 Overlander or motor home. Motor home sounds like a retirement home whereas Overlander sounds sexy and adventurous. Don’t you think? We'll stick to Overlander Truck. It’s been just over a year since we officially took...
Safari On Super Suppers And Snacks
Gosh it’s been a long time since I’ve felt that spring in my step. A new shop opened in town, Nibbly Bits. As the name suggests they stock all sorts of delicious nibbly bits. I went all out and got us some treats. After my spree I met up with friends en-route to Prince Albert in the Karoo and...
Tips And Tricks For Camping, Overlanding Or Roadtripping
Every trip has its unique challenges and it’s impossible to plan for every eventuality especially when space is of the essence. African roads are often bad, always take that into account. Here are some of the things I learned on this trip. 1. Less is more.2. When catering have a menu. Some...
Mabuasahube - The Pecking Order
At last we were ready to enjoy ten days of doing absolutely nothing. That's what dreams are made of... a real holiday. The wonder of Mabuasahube. All we do is wonder what’s next. Shrug. Shake your head. Nothing. We just wait and see. No expectations. But, there is always the promise of a...
The Fab Four Conquer The Kalahari - En Route to Mabuasahube
Best friends, best buddies, best Boetie (brother) and hiekkelsuster (crochet companion) that’s what Percy and Sue are to us. It’s rare to hear siblings, at our age, actually like each other and choose to spend time together. We do. We’re close, companionable, comfortable and cosy. The...
My Many Miles To Mabuasahube
Plus many hours practicing MA-BU-A-SA-HU-BE and for successfully playing the sympathy card. But first we rendezvous at Melton Wold in the Karoo. Planning a trip on short notice is very exciting. From the moment we decided, (during one of our long boozy lunches) that we needed a quick getaway...
Who Let The Dogs Out?
And what's more in the Kalahari to boot! So, there we were, minding our own business watching another beautiful African sunset, contemplating the day, sipping drinks when a Land Cruiser came hurtling up our road in a billowing cloud of dust. My stomach lurched and I do confess I felt...
Bonnievale River Lodge And White Linen Camping
Sometimes the end of a story is the story. Our stay in Bonnievale is a classic case where a mishap could make or break one's enjoyment of the moment . We have friends who are Swallows, in other words they spend six summer months in South Africa before migrating back to the UK to spend...
To Arniston With A Surfboard
The Southern Cape must boast the best weather. For some reason autumn has come early this year, I can’t remember ever experiencing three weeks of inclement weather in February/March. We packed up our Honey Badger in the hope of sunshine and perfect waves. Arniston is a gem. As a young girl...
Suikerbossie Guest Farm Meander - A Review
There are only 52 weekends in a year, we’ve already spent 9-10. Lives are hectic and stressful, many need to recharge in the country savouring fresh country air. Suikerbossie Guest Farm in the Kouebokkeveld is the perfect retreat for young and old. I have a friend who knows the lyrics to...
Authentic Seafood Paella Recipe
A Spanish Paella packed with punch, traditional spices and ingredients. A conversation piece that looks more complicated than it is and tastes sensational In a previous life I was a caterer and this Paella recipe was a firm favourite with clients. It is fool-proof, easy and takes center stage...
The Wall - Kariba Dam
It was time to wave Mana Pools goodbye. A month was just long enough and I was excited to resume our road trip and next destination. Kariba. All the stories I’ve heard about Kariba have conjured a picture of holidays, fun and houseboats. Romantic. We, of course, would not be staying in...
Going To The Dogs - Nyamepi Campsite Review
Close your eyes. In the distance hear the cry of the African Fish eagle calling its mate. The soft rustle you hear could be a Vervet monkey suckling her young one, the soft blow is an Impala warning the herd of possible danger and the loud swishing and snorting in the water a hippopotamus...
The Company We Keep
It's true, birds of a feather flock together. Just like Lilian's Lovebirds. Although we travel very well together and comfortably do it without company we were delighted to know that we would not be alone for the entire time we were in Mana. We are social animals after all and I definitely...
Mangwanani! Mana Pools
Morning! Early bird catches the worm. We’d be there when the gates open. That’s what we thought. But of course in Africa that seldom happens. We could not have known that the fuel shortages were about to commence. Eventually, we made it to the Mana Gate and then we had to negotiate the...
Roadtripping From Our Southern Shores to The Mighty Zambezi
On a fine Friday afternoon we were all packed and really excited to set off on our 5 day road trip from the southern tip of South Africa to the most northern border of Zimbabwe where our journey would end on the banks of the mighty Zambezi. Our first stop would be Matjiesfontein. We arrived...
The Honey Badger Does Its Maiden Long Haul To Zimbabwe
I am not a procrastinator by nature, what I can’t do is multitask. This blog has been coming along for a while now, unfortunately Murphy had a hand in the delay. What I must confess is that the last couple of months, since my last blog have been hectic. I hope to catch up and share all the...