Table of contents for March 2017 in go!

Is there anything more depressing than the Carte Blanche theme song on a Sunday night? Those few notes officially signal the end of the weekend. Yes, back to work you go! Three years ago M-Net decided to drop the iconic intro – not necessarily the best marketing move, but I was secretly happy. Then there was such a public outcry that it was reinstated a month later. Darn! It’s a case of classical conditioning. Like Pavlov’s dog, which learnt to associate the ringing of a bell with food, and would start salivating at the prospect of a meal, I get grumpy when I hear the Carte Blanche music because I know I’ll soon be stuck in Monday rush hour again. Life is one big lesson and we learn by association.…

When your tummy starts to rumble on Route 62, hold out for this farm stall-style deli and restaurant on the main road in Montagu. Cay and Sergio Fernandes, along with Cay’s parents, have built their business into a foodie highlight during the five years they’ve lived in Montagu. They’re originally from Hout Bay where Sergio was in the fishing business. On Saturday and Sunday their rotisserie-roasted chickens, sourced from a local farmer and ready by lunchtime, sell out quickly (R99 each). Also on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, you can tuck into a buffet lunch featuring up to 20 hot and cold dishes (R20 per 100g). While you’re at it, pick up a bottle of their home-made periperi sauce (R48). “We sell 100 bottles a month,” says Cay. They also bake…

Colin Cormac from Colin’s Showers “I’ve been to all 27 Splashys – I haven’t missed one. My nephew who lived in Underberg at the time told me about the first festival. He said, ‘Hey, you like music…’ and that was that. “I’ve always worked with my hands and I’m good with practical things. I work on a dairy farm near Boston. I used to set up a shower for myself here at Splashy, but then the original farm owner, Peter Ferraz, heard about me and asked me to come and set up showers for customers. I’ve been doing that for 14 years now. “I come up a week in advance. To get all the stuff here, I do about six trips in my 1997 Isuzu KB – with 635 000…

First, a confession: I’m not prepared for this. Ten days ago I got a call from my colleague Jon Minster. He was meant to do this cycle tour, but was no longer able to. Would I be keen to take his place? Even though it had been months since I’d ridden my bike, I agreed to be a super-sub. In a last-gasp attempt to get fit, I did three 18 km training rides. With only 54 km on my cycle computer, and with the support of incredulous friends and family members, I set off to tackle the Wild Corridor. The group of cyclists – 26 people from across the country – gather in Plettenberg Bay where they are greeted by the guides from Dryland Ride. Some of them do a…

The debate on which system is best (solenoid or DC-to-DC) has been raging for years. Unfortunately, the subject is shrouded in unsubstantiated opinions and a lack of research. To date, there have been no tests that prove that one system is better than the other. One possible reason for this is that there are so many variables that such a definitive statement could never be made. The other problem is the unchallenged belief that if something is more expensive, it must automatically perform better. This argument is further supported by the fitment industry, in which many 4x4“experts”recommend expensive DC-to-DC chargers because the profit margins are higher; and they also make the mistake of assuming that the more expensive option is automatically better. National Luna has conducted a series of laboratory…

I find that I often have leftover food, but I seldom have leftover wine. I wonder how that happens! Maybe it’s because the wines I buy and drink are usually versatile, crowd-pleasing options that pair with most palates. Here are three such beauties to go with just about any food combination. A delicately wooded chardonnay is always a good bet with food. As long as you go easy on the oak you can be fairly sure that it will please most wine lovers. I’ve been enjoying the Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Chardonnay 2015 (R119) with all sorts of different dishes. The “unfiltered” bit means that they have allowed the wine to settle naturally. This retains more flavour and keeps the oak component to a minimum. Delicious stuff. Slightly more unusual…

It’s late afternoon in the Makana district. The heat of the day has brought soft cumulus tufts to the brilliant blue sky. Once you hit the Eastern Cape, the smells sweeten, the bush gets thicker and you know by the Albany thicket and the high game fences that you’re in Frontier Country. Grahamstown is on the N2 about 130 km north of Port Elizabeth. It’s 37° C when I arrive: The fierce heat brings the streets to a standstill. The roads in the town are looking dismal and unkempt, but there remain little pearls of culture and history, politics and art. Grahamstown holds a dear place in my heart. I studied at Rhodes University for four years and I’m returning to a different town to the one I knew. The…

Fires raged in the Western Cape at the beginning of the year and we were reminded again and again about the courage, perseverance and hard work of our firefighters. Almost on a daily basis, these brave men and women put their lives on the line protecting nature and property. That’s why, on 27 February, we’ll be delivering bakkie loads of milk tarts to fire departments around Cape Town. It’s our way of saying thank you. Why don’t you do the same? Surprise the heroes in your life with a milk tart on National Milk Tart Day. Maybe it’s the nurses at the hospital emergency room or the lifeguards at your nearest beach. What about the paramedics or the police officers who always come to our aid? Maybe it’s the man…

FREE STATE Lush  This new festival still has to earn its stripes, but it can’t be faulted for its location on the farm Linwood near Clarens in the eastern Free State. This year you can catch artists like Jeremy Loops, Karen Zoid, Francois van Coke, Short-straw and Koos Kombuis. Note that no children under 18 may camp on-site; kids can attend under supervision of their parents as day visitors. Dates: 13 – 16 April (Same weekend as Splashy, but it’s closer to Gauteng so it’s a good alternative.) Tickets: From R495 per person (including camping) or R445 for a weekend pass (no camping). More info: lushfestival.com LIMPOPO Oppikoppi  South Africa’s original rock-and-roll festival, held in the dead of winter in the thorniest, dustiest nook of the Bushveld about…

Michaela Reuvers “It was a challenge, but the atmosphere was great and everyone was very supportive. And the tour was really well organised.” John Wilkinson “I really enjoyed the tour, especially the final two days. But you have to be very fit to manage it.” Helen Brown “I’ve done lots of cycling tours and this one had the best camaraderie and friendship. Following the migration routes of animals is a nice idea, but I can’t imagine why the poor elephants would want to trek through this hot region and over all those hills!” Jamie Marais “It was a life-changing experience. I made friendships that will last a long time.”…

MARK DUMBLETON The Drakensberg is South Africa’s most dramatic mountain range. It’s the highest – with peaks soaring to more than 3 000 m – and the longest, stretching more than 1 000 km from Limpopo to the Eastern Cape. The KZN part of the mountain range is where you’ll find the Drakensberg’s most celebrated features and its best hiking. Landscape and wildlife photographer Mark Dumbleton visits often from his home in Gauteng, drawn by each season’s unique mood. He loves the northern parts of the KZN escarpment the most, especially the Amphitheatre and the Mnweni area. “I enjoy the adventure of hiking for days, carrying everything you need to survive,” he says. “But most of all I enjoy the mountains themselves: the streams, waterfalls, basalt spires, insanely steep cliffs…

1 Gidgitz waterproof capsule If you ride a motorbike, attach this capsule to your key so paramedics can instantly access your medical details in the event of a crash. You can also use it to store emergency medication like antihistamine tablets, should a bee sting you. R30 at rammountain.co.za  and outdoor shops 2 360° folding mug This 250 ml mug weighs half as much as an enamel equivalent and it’s smaller than a pair of rolled-up socks. It might look silly, but it makes sense. R50 at Sportsmans Warehouse 3 Gidgitz capsule whistle Hikers do get lost in the mountains. It can happen to anyone, even you. Attach this whistle to the shoulder strap of your backpack and don’t stop blowing until you’re reunited with your group. R25…

You might have heard of Die Hel in the Swartberg mountains, also called Gamkaskloof, but have you heard of the river pool of the same name? It’s high in the Groot Winterhoek mountains behind Porterville. CapeNature says it’s the biggest and deepest natural pool in the southern parts of the Western Cape. Pop these GPS co-ordinates into Google Earth and see for yourself: S33.08835 E19.08723 You might be asking why I’m broadcasting the location of such a magnificent spot. Don’t stress. It’s not about to get overrun because you have to hike far to get there. Take a deep breath and put one foot in front of the next. The pool isn’t going anywhere. DAY 1: 23 km Swim your way to sanity “Groot Winterhoek, come in,” Tobie Marnewick says,…

Peruse some museums The Observatory Museum (10 Bathurst Street; 046 622 2312) is a unique celebration of Victorian life. There are interesting displays going back to the days of the earliest diamond hunters, but the most fascinating for me is an original camera obscura, which was the only one in the southern hemisphere for many years. Its clever mirror system reflects the outside world onto a table so you can keep an eye on the town. R10 entrance fee. At The Eastern Star Museum (4 Anglo African Street; 046 622 7042) you can explore the history of one of Grahamstown’s first newspapers for free. The first edition of The Eastern Star hit the streets in 1871 and it still exists in Joburg as The Star. During the 19th century Grahamstown…

Join us for breakfast and all things Botswana Want to explore Botswana but not sure where to start? Join Toast Coetzer and François Haasbroek, the editors of our Botswana map guide, for breakfast. They’ll give you handy tips and information on where to eat, where to stay and what to do. WESTERN CAPE 4 MARCH 2017 Laborie wine estate, Paarl GAUTENG 11 MARCH 2017 Blue Crane Restaurant, Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary, Pretoria TO BOOK: Call Donvé Myburgh on 021 443 9830 or send an e-mail to donve.myburgh@media24.com…

150201 Table Mountain A slight increase from December 2015. In 2016 more than a million people went to the top of Cape Town’s iconic landmark! 129039 Cape Point A 15 % increase from December 2015. There were a total number of 1 095 270 visitors during 2016. 118699 Kirstenbosch The most visitors to Kirstenbosch ever during December. The previous record was 116 986 in December 2014. 79000 Groot Constantia wine estate A 25 % increase from December 2015. 49738 Robben Island Museum Visitor numbers were up by 4 % from December 2015. Source: Cape Town Tourism capetown.travel…

Why an episode about cities in a nature documentary? Cities are earth’s fastest growing habitat and animals are adapting. We wanted to show which animals were doing well in urban environments – from leopards in Mumbai to peregrine falcons in New York. What are the challenges of shooting in a city? Shooting in a city is much harder than anywhere else. Normally if you’re filming in a nature reserve you only need one permit for your entire shoot. In New York, for example, we were looking to access the rooftops of about 30 different skyscrapers. We hardly did any drone filming because you’re likely to harm someone if it falls – or at least damage someone’s car. Not much research has been done about animal behaviour in cities so we…

Kate-Lyn (20), Chad (11), Sonia and Lee Comrie, Bulwer Lee: “We’ve been to easily 20 Splashys; Sonia and I have been coming since we were young.” Kate-Lyn: “I’ve been to 17 festivals. My first Splashy memory is of people sitting around a huge bonfire playing music – the band was called the Hairy Legged Lentil Eaters!” Chad: “I’m 11 and I’ve been to 11 Splashys! I remember when I was little I collected everyone’s empty plastic beer cups and made a huge tower of them so it almost touched the roof of the tent!” Sonia: “We’re not the best campers, but we love camping. As a family it’s easy to camp at Splashy. There’s a lot of security so the kids can go to bed early in the caravan and…

When? 13 – 16 April (Easter weekend) Where? Just outside Underberg, KZN What does it cost? General access for all four days (includes watching the bands plus camping) R765 per adult; R745 per child aged 12 – 17; R400 per child aged 5 – 12. Tickets: splashyfen.co.za If you’re not equipped for camping and you’d rather pay someone else to do everything, look no further than the tent hotel at Harambee. It costs R4 950 for two people for four nights in a tent with a bed, bedding and a bed lamp. You also get a buffet breakfast, hot showers and access to plug points for your gadgets. The “lite” rate is R2 280 for two people for four nights. This rate doesn’t include meals and you have…

How does it work? The tour starts and ends at Central Beach in Plettenberg Bay. Safe parking there will be arranged. From Plett, you’re transported to Driekuilen Farm by shuttle bus. There is no obligation to pedal the entire distance and it’s not a race. If your legs turn to jelly, just jump into one of the support vehicles. A professional guide leads the tour and there’s a bike mechanic and medic at hand. How fit do I need to be? The easy answer is “very”. The roads and tracks will test your technical skills and the uphills are no joke, especially on the first and second days. If you’re worried about your fitness, watch this space: go! and Dryland Ride will soon be launching a less strenuous cycle tour…

READER STORY JOHAN HOSTEN Home town: Pretoria Occupation: Landscape architect I love my nature photography and I’ve travelled to national parks and game reserves all over southern and East Africa. Top of my list is Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe. It calls me back again and again – I get emotional at the mere mention of the name! Mana makes you a little selfish – you don’t even want to tell others how wonderful it is. But then you realise the Facebook group “Friends of Mana Pools” has more than 8000 members and is growing every day... Not that Mana Pools is easy to reach. It’s tucked away in the north-western corner of Zimbabwe, between the Zambian escarpment and the Zambezi River, with Zambia on the opposite bank. The…

How to get there? The Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area is about 33 km north of Porterville, on a plateau in the mountains of the same name. Porterville is about 140 km north of Cape Town. Distance? There are day hikes and overnight hikes in the wilderness area. You can plan your own route and decide whether you want to camp wild in the veld or in a basic hut. We hiked 13 km to the Ribbok Hut (sleeps seven) at an area known as De Tronk. You can leave your backpack at De Tronk and walk 5 km further to Die Hel. There are two other huts: Disa and Klipspringer (both sleep eight). Where to stay? On the Friday night, stay at Flyers’ Lodge in Porterville. An en suite single…

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