Travel
Currently Going With The Warm Mozambique Flow - Zavora
Being on Africa's East Coast, bathed in the Mozambique Channel’s warm currents, brings a lightness to the soul. In this subtropical climate, every day feels like summer. Blue skies, puffy white clouds, gentle breezes, and warm ocean. Precisely what the doctor ordered. The main artery running...
Mapping Maputo And Bilene – Our Travels Into Mozambique
Bom dia, como está? One of my favourite countries to visit is Mozambique. Its flavour, vibe, and people are distinctive, with a rhythm you won't find anywhere else in South Africa. Under Serulian skies, my Mozambique is everything a weary traveller yearns for. Once again, we crossed the Tropic...
Mushy Mossy Magic In Magoebaskloof
Magical, mysterious, and misty Magoebaskloof in Limpopo Province, between Tzaneen and Polokwane, is a lush, green, mountainous region carpeted with indigenous evergreen subtropical forest and vast plantations. I'd describe the climate as misty, rainy, and humid. Seductive. The enchanted...
Catching Up, Last Days And Cyclone Freddy
We needed an entire month to organise ourselves before entering unknown territory. I told Butch, “Fine.” He said, “You can have February.” So we decided to take up a February special offered by the ATKV (Afrikaanse Taal en Kultuur Vereeniging) resort, Die Eiland, near Tzaneen. We could stay...
A Childhood Revisited – The Lowveld - Hazyview
Childhood memories should be like a field of daisies. Bright yellow sunshine. Perfectly formed blooms that radiate simplicity and joy. Pick a petal at a time to see whether he loves you: “loves me, loves me not, loves me...” Some people vow never to return once they leave a place of...
Hats Off To Hoedspruit - Highlighted By Our Antares Bush Camp Experience
When we heard our friends from England, who lived in the New Forest, picked up sticks and moved lock, stock and barrel to South Africa, I was impressed, but when we heard Hoedspruit was their first choice of place to settle, I had my doubts. More fool me. A reasonably sized town surrounded by a...
Kruger National Park And The Story Behind The Story
Kruger National Park is an undisputed national treasure, and SANParks is probably one of the few state-run enterprises that have improved over the years. I fully support and admire the sterling job they do. My photographs are a random, liberal sprinkling of favourites from our stay, in...
Highways and Byways to Hoedspruit. Places We Saw And Friends We Met
Maun isn’t my favourite place, possibly because it feels neither here nor there. It could also be the flashbacks to our off-road caravan’s demise and the dreadful trip back to Cape Town. Our poor caravan was in dire shape, like a sardine tin with a rolled-up lid, except ours flapped and...
One, Two, Three, Four-tee-Four Elephants - Elephant Sands - Nata -Botswana
My sister-in-law Lol is a loyal follower of our travels. When she realised we were at Elephant Sands, she wrote, “I’ve often been to Elephant Sands near Nata, a lovely spot, but in all the years, we never saw one elephant! Good luck." While Butch was handling our registration, I went...
Drotsky’s Cabins with Kat-‘n-The-Four-Kin-Airey’s – Botswana
We skedaddled to meet the Aireys, who were searching for a Honey Badger. Nothing beats meeting up with family, especially when you’ve been starved of familiar faces, as we were, particularly over the festive season, when we all hit a little slump. Sometimes, late at night, when we wondered...
Nature Calls Ever North – Askam And A Meerkat Sanctuary
Our week in Springbok was nothing short of trouble and toil; even my watch seemed to suggest a moment of selfless breathing to recuperate. We needed to return to the quiet. A bit of dilly-dallying and a search on the SANParks website led us to a seven-night reservation at an exclusive campsite...
Rain, Subtropical Gardens And A Host With The Most
---oOo--- Mukuku Rest Camp Hannes and Ansie Pool For reservations, WhatsApp +264 81 245 6633 or +264 85 574 1520 Directions: S 17° 53.388 E 20° 16.414 Mupupama, Namibia P.S do not, whatever you do, take my norths and easts as gospel I’m a terrible directionist and only today realised...
How Etosha Got Its Name - A Lesson In Following Our Daydreams
Once upon a time, when pharaohs were building pyramids, a man named Noah from Goa (just kidding, Mesopotamia) decided to build a ship. Why? The message in a daydream was clear. “A flood covering the whole earth is nigh. Build a ship, Noah!” Noah proclaimed it would be made from Gopher wood (I...
Visiting A Himba Cultural Village
I suggested visiting the Himba Cultural Village, and Butch agreed. He paid the R400, and we made the arrangements. We alerted the guide well in advance to prepare. We went for our bike ride. On the way back to Oppi Koppi, we popped in since it was on our way. We arrived at the farm, exhausted...
Patio Prattle and Die Vingerklip– Oppi Koppi Rest Camp
An Extract From My Notes: “I’ve positioned myself near the electrical socket and hotspot, hoping a solid Wi-Fi signal will enable me to write. I must catch up on some emails, update Polar Steps and write two blogs. My fingers hover over the keys, ready to strike the first letter. My mind...
Resuming The Journey And Why I Wear A Hat - Munsterland Guest Farm - Khorixas
We’ve been on the road for five months. The Honey Badger is our tiny home. Snug as it is, it has a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and dining room, and here I sit, typing in my “study”. It’s currently raining. We find summer rainfall quite a novelty. Whispy, feathery clouds build into ominous,...
Boldly Bowled Over By Boulders - Spitzkoppe
The big smile and spring in Billy’s step as he entered the house couldn’t hide his happiness. He beamed. A new lightness settled on him. Like water cascading over smooth, polished rocks, his zest bubbled and gushed, and words tumbled out excitedly. He’d just returned from a fortnight-long road...
SMS –Sand, Mist, Swakopmund
Thirty years ago, before SMS, my telegram to family, anxiously awaiting my safe arrival in Swakopmund, would’ve read something like this. “Safe arrival. Sand, mist, Swakopmund.” The charge was twenty cents; the message would be relayed by telex or Morse code to the Stellenbosch post office....
The Road
Our journey is nothing like The Road, Cormac McCarthy's post-apocalyptic novel, in which an ailing father defends his son as they slowly travel to the sea. The novel’s main themes are Faith, Trust, and Doubt. In the harsh world of The Road, everything depends on whether you trust or...
Finding Order Unexpectedly At Tsauchab River Camp
Have you ever entered a room and felt utterly overwhelmed by the décor, the sudden onslaught of colour, or the furniture layout? I find antique shops cluttered with overstocked bric-a-brac, or art galleries where paintings hang too close together, and colours, textures, and patterns become...
First days in Namibia – Lapa Lange Guest Farm
Early this morning, before I could decide how the weather would turn out, my beloved left with our Honey Badger in tow to fit new tyres, attach a bull bar (as other overlanders recommended), and install a Thule storage container, as our current one is far too heavy. He did warn me he might be...
The Joys of Travel Are A Mata of Taste – Mata Mata
We have to own our retirement, make the most of it, embrace the adventures and challenges, and be unapologetically thrilled by every opportunity thrown our way. You say. I say, who would’ve thought we'd sit here on a fine Sunday, my fingers flying over my keyboard while my photographs...
The Company We Keep – The Da Silva’s - Nossob – Kgalagadi
Butch and I have just returned from the bird hide, where we spent a few minutes hoping to spot and tick off some birds on our list. There wasn’t one. Not even a laughing dove. We still enjoyed watching the ground squirrels dig, dash, and chitter, though. This morning we woke to...
Nature Calls - Askam And A Meerkat Sanctuary
Before I start this blog, I must explain why I'm publishing it after my Kgalagadi blog, to give context and highlight the importance of conservation efforts in these areas. I always upload my Word documents to my admin page, then add my photographs individually. We are at the mercy of...
Sitting On The Fence In The Kgalagadi - Nossob
It’s midday; I'm sitting in the Honey Badger, typing this blog. Now and then, I look up, binoculars at the ready, and see small critters perched on or clinging to our fence. They’re our pole dancers. My company includes a lizard, a Cape Glossy starling with a slurred warble, an...
Maintenance Steps, Malls and Mosquitoes in Upington
Although I am very much a creature of habit, using the same brands of toothpaste and tomato sauce I did when my mum did the shopping, still wearing the same brand of knickers, and having used the same fragrance for 40 years, I am not keen to repeat experiences. First, life is too short for...
Medjool Dates In Klein Pella
Upington feels like our home away from home, but I’d promised myself I’d avoid spending weekends there again, so we set off early. We left the Richtersveld on a bright, sunny day, eager to explore new paths. We asked locals about the route to Springbok and the Namaqua route, feeling curious...
Rich, Richer, Richtersveld
Writing the Richtersveld story is far beyond my intellectual abilities, and speaking eloquently about this extraordinary place would be an injustice to the reader and to the Richtersveld. Often, knowing less is safer, and the more you know, the more intimidating the subject becomes. I am out of...
Third Time Lucky - Goegap Nature Reserve - Springbok
Sometimes, you must read and follow the rules to avoid disappointment—case in point, Goegap Nature Reserve. Adhering to the 16h00 closing time is key to a smooth visit. Respecting these rules helps preserve the reserve for everyone and makes your experience more enjoyable. Just a few...
Going Green - Wild Camping At Groenrivier
Our driving times have changed since we acquired the Honey Badger, especially since retirement. The journey starts when we turn the key. We no longer rush to get to our destination; instead, we enjoy every moment of the road trip. In doing so, we have become more aware of our...
Two Nights In Strandfontein A Reflection
I’ve been to Strandfontein twice before and thoroughly enjoyed myself both times. Once with dear friends from the UK, who were our frequent travelling companions during the summer months when they were Swallows to our shores. On the last trip, we wild-camped for a night in the picnic area by...
Camping in St Helena Bay And Beyond
The drive along the scenic dirt road maintained by Spoor Net is a highlight; we always choose this route for its beauty, even when works temporarily reroute us to the tar road. Paternoster is a must-visit for its charming, timeless vibe; the crayfish hawkers and children selling wire hearts...
Langebaan – Greece On The West Coast - Leentjiesklip
It’s hard to believe we’ve only visited Langebaan a few times, and the last visit was decades ago with a friend who had a timeshare. Sharing this history helps connect you to our journey and shows how perceptions can change over time. We hadn’t made reservations and decided to follow...
Cape Town Capers – Making The Most Of The Mother Of All Cities
Only the people who suffer from negativity, boredom, frustration, or resentment are the sufferers. It is, therefore, not worth the space it takes up in our minds or emotions. Here we were in the City, rated among the world’s top ten. We were going to squeeze every drop of juice from this...
Our Authentic Travel – Three Anchor Bay Stay
Family and fish go off after three days. This mantra is so ingrained in me that staying as a house guest for an extended period does not sit well. We had hardly dragged our suitcases, bags and bits and bobs up the flight of stairs in Green Point when Butch and I decided we needed our own space....
The Right Side Of The Tracks - Wild Camping
If I could have my life all over again, one career choice I’d consider is becoming a train driver. I love trains in any form. As a child, journeys to and from boarding school by steam train were highlights, filling me with nostalgia and wonder. The clickety-clack would lull me to sleep, and I...
The Old And The Nieu Bethesda
Visiting Nieu Bethesda feels like visiting a favourite grandmother. Her familiar smells, curves, and the colour of her curls create a comforting sense of home. We’ve shared so many stories and experiences that it feels like reconnecting with an old friend. Like iron ore to a magnet, the pull...
Wild Camping At KaKhulu Karoo
Like everyone else, I love a riddle or a lekker ou skinder, but this visit left me with more questions about the landscape and wildlife than answers. As instructed, we turned left onto Pearston Road. We made good time and soon pulled up, our engine rumbling, at the imposing gates of KaKhulu...
Winter Wandering Into The Great Karoo
We picked up sticks and headed northeast towards Graaff Reinet. To celebrate the 4th of July, we stopped for tea and cake at Sophie’s Choice, a fascinating coffee shop just south of Willowmore. Quirky is the only word to describe this worthwhile stopover. Exploring the eclectic outbuildings...
Whether we can, Weather we can’t!
Our brief holiday depended on the weather. Where are the days when we could judge the weather by the way the day feels, e.g., putting your head out the door, feeling inclement weather in your bones, or watching a mountaintop being covered by a cloudy cloth, which used to be a good indicator...