onRoute Edition 1

WIN !

Kin Pho g Of T to C he om Clic pet it k ion

Your South African Travel Companion

Slackpacking Mosey Off To Kosi Get Famous Quick No Talent Needed

Bush Business The Rands & Cents Of Our Wildlife

issue 1 • www.onroutemag.co.za

More Hike Less Hassle

Are We There Yet? Puzzles & Games For The Kids

PLUS

The Nissan Juke • Gadgets • joBerg2c • Special Deals • Scorpions, Jellyfish And Bee Stings

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

THE GARAGE [ C ar R E V I E W]

22 The Juke of Awesome

CROSSROADS

THE MALL

[ T ech R eviews ]

24 All the latest gadgets A Guide to Getting CROSSING Famous Without Any CHILDREN [ F O R T H E KI DS ] Real Talent 26 Kids pull-out section SA’s Bush Business

[FEATU RE S ]

2

8

SCENIC ROUTE [PHOTO g raph y ]

12 Notes from a Travel Photographer 16 King Of The Click

PITSTOP

[HEAL T h &Fashion ]

18 Stingers 19 UV Wars 19 It’s lousy to be drowsy 20 A Bikini Winter

The Arcade [ Game R eviews ]

30 Latest Games

DETOUR [TRAVEL]

32 Slackpacking 36 Mosey off to Kosi

Hidden Entrance

[ Blink A nd You ’ ll M iss I t ]

41 Hidden gems in SA

BUMPY ROAD AHEAD [ S P OR T & A DV E N T U R E ]

44 CU when u get there

MAN AT WORK [HEARTS&HEROES]

46 Birds, Frogs and Flower Power!

INTERSECTION [ N E WS ]

48 Global Tourism targets 5.1 million New Jobs 49 Take The Pledge

BEHIND THE WHEEL [ Q& A ]

55 Q&A with Tanya van Graan

GIVE (A)WAY

PARK OFF

51 onRoute exclusive deals

56 Event Guide

[ onroute e x clusive DE A L S ]

[EVENTS]

Editor Donna Verrydt W R IT ERS Brendah Nyakudya Damian Murphy Donald Makhafola Elka Schaimberg Gord Laws Hagen Engler Stacey Vee C R EAT I V E ARTI STS Art Director: Quinten Tolken Digital Editor: Tinique Morgado

Manag ement Development Director: Sean Press Managing Director: Donna Verrydt General Manager: Lesley Fox Production Coordinator: Gwen Sebogodi SALES Sean Press Jaime-Lee van Sittert Dwain Margro D istribution lesley@contactmedia.co.za

P rinting Kadimah Print

P ublishin g H ouse Contact Media & Communications (Pty) Ltd Block F, The Palms Office Park 391 Main Avenue, Randburg Tel: 011 789 6339 Fax: 08650 42443

Copyright © 2012 Contact Media & Communications. onRoute is published by Contact Media & Communications. All material is strictly copyright with all rights reserved. No material may be reproduced in part or whole without the express written permission of the publisher. No responsibility will be accepted for unsolicited material.

The publisher accepts no liability of whatsoever nature arising out of or in connection with the contents of this publication. Whilst every care has been taken in compiling this publication, the publisher does not give any warranty as to the completeness or accuracy of its contents. The views and opinions expressed in onRoute are not necessarily those of the Publisher or contributors.

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THe Team

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CROSSROADS [F I GURE I T OUT T I ME ]

A Guide to

Getting Famous Without Any Real T alent

GET FAMOUS GUIDE - Plan 1

So you’re on your way to a fabulous holiday but the only drawback is the many hours trapped in the car. Think of this time as your “figure it out time!” In this issue, Gord Laws helps you plan your direct route to certain fame — without the lifetime of hard work and behind-the-scenes sweat!

Kardashian Step one: Make a sex tape!

It’s no coincidence that Kim Kardashian’s super-successful reality TV show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians hit the big time in the same year that her sex tape with singer Ray-J “leaked”.

Step two: Be “outraged” about it!

If you are going to go through with the tape thing (probably a bad idea, just sayin’) then be sure to act furious when a shady company starts distributing the flick. It is, after all, an invasion of your privacy!

Step three: Settle out of court

After an acceptable period of outrage, settle out of court for $5 million, and then ride the wave to years of mega stardom. Kim’s personal net-worth was estimated at $35 million in 2011.

Not bad for a film with really poor lighting!

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Step four (in case steps one to three don’t work): Become a Kardashian!

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The family has just signed on for their ninth season of Keeping Up with the Kardashians and it’s believed they netted $65 million for their troubles in 2010. Why? Well, because they’re related to Kim, who is related to “that movie”.

So best get yourself married to a Kardashian or adopted by Mamma Kris.

If you can’t make a good song, then rest assured that even your most truly, deeply atrocious effort could win you fame — like Rebecca Black’s song Friday for example.

Step 1: Have your mommy “believe” in you

In 2011, the Californian teen (then 13) convinced her mum to fork out $4 000 so she could record a song and matching video.

Step 2: Release the stinker online

Unfortunately Friday made its way onto YouTube, where it should have quietly died, but despite being dubbed “the worst song of all time” by numerous critics, the video somehow notched up 167 million views.

Step 3: Don’t take a hint

Despite being universally loathed and ridiculed, Black is working on an album. Her follow-up single to Friday, entitled In My Moment, hit YouTube, and notched up approximately 590 000 “dislikes” against 340 000 “likes” within four months. More singles are set for release. Oh goodie!

Miley Cyrus Step 1: Be Billy Ray Cyrus’ daughter!

Step 2: Play Billy Ray Cyrus’ daughter!

In her smash-hit Disney TV show, Hannah Montana (2006 – 2011), Mizz Cyrus played Miley Stewart; an ordinary teen living a double life as a pop star. In a stroke of creative genius, Disney cast her real dad to play her dad in the show. His character? A oncefamous country singer. See what they did there?

Step 3: Rant ironically about fame!

Miley recently ranted furiously in the press about YouTube stars (Rebecca Black in particular) rising to fame. “It should be harder to be an artist,” said the 19-year-old. “You shouldn’t just be able to put a song on YouTube and go out on tour.” While Miley can hold a tune well enough, and now that she’s 19, it’s okay to think she’s pretty, but she’s no rags-to-riches story, let’s face it. So best you get yourself a famous daddy.

Images by Shutterstock

Who? We’re talking about the country-singer guy who had that one hit, Achy Breaky Heart back in the nineties, of course!

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GET FAMOUS GUIDE - Plan 3

GET FAMOUS GUIDE - Plan 2

Rebecca Black

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Step one: Be a cliché

Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino is reality TV show Jersey Shore’s biggest attraction. Mike is, simply put, the archetypal Ed-Hardy “boet” — the type the rest of the USA has ridiculed for ages and now can’t get enough of, which is clear by Mike’s $60 000 per episode!

Step two: Name your abs

Mike calls his abs, “The Situation.” Whenever anything doesn’t impress Mike, he boldly states (and this is the genius part): “That’s not the situation. This is the situation!” And then flashes his eight pack. Bang!

Money in the bank!

Step three: Have no other discernible talent whatsoever

Besides the abs, make sure you’re otherwise utterly talentless and terribly unfunny. You just have to watch Mike’s embarrassingly unfunny contribution to Comedy Central’s otherwise brilliant Roast of Donald Trump… and realize if this guy can get famous, anyone can.

The Paris Hilton Step 1: Have a surname that means “Money”.

“Hilton” will do nicely. The name’s synonymous with hotels.

And, in the case of family heiress Paris, being famous for nothing.

Step 2: Star in a reality TV show

Step 3: Act (really badly)

Paris’ Hollywood achievements include a “Worst Supporting Actress” Razzie Award for 2005’s teen horror flick, House of Wax and, a pending lawsuit for her failure to promote 2006’s Pledge This; a straight-to-DVD mega-flop of a sorority movie.

Acting-wise, her “leaked” sex tape in 2004 is her best work.

And, even by sex tape standards, it’s really not very good.

Step 4: Break the law. Often.

When you’re Paris, any publicity is good publicity. A 45 day jail sentence for drunk driving in 2007 was golden PR! She’s still on magazine covers, in fashion shoots, promotes her fragrance range and demands tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of dollars for hotel nightclub appearances — and we hear the Hilton pays well.

Images by Shutterstock

Paris’ surname landed her a reality TV series called The Simple Life back in 2003, together with her then “BFF” Nicole Richie (who just happens to be pop legend Lionel’s adopted daughter). Since then, she’s become one of the most recognisable faces in the world.

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GET FAMOUS GUIDE - Plan 5

GET FAMOUS GUIDE - Plan 4

CROSSROADS [F I GURE I T OUT T I ME ]

Jersey Shore

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[Advertorial]

Touching Lives

Nurturing ... Sustaining...

N www.onroutemag.co.za

3 Toll Concession (N3TC), the concessionaire responsible for the N3 Toll Route – a 415km portion of the N3 from Heidelberg in Gauteng to Cedara in KwaZulu Natal, has a firm commitment to supporting the communities through which the N3 Toll Route traverses.

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N3TC’s staff members and contractors are encouraged, through a volunteer programme, to support the Programme and many employees spend hours working alongside the projects to ensure their overall success.

“It has been a great honour to be a N3TC Project Champion due to the fact that I have seen and experienced the difference that my Its Touching Lives Corporate Social Investment presence and input has made in the lives of those projects I chose to support. It taught me (CSI) Programme spans four provinces and to appreciate the small things in life and to supports more than 70 community-based always have a positive outlook,” said Isabel projects. In 2011, its Programme directly Potgieter, N3TC Route Help Centre Manager. touched more than 69 000 lives and left a legacy that will last well into the future.

Where it all began The Programme focuses on twelve core areas that include education, environment, tourism, job creation, road safety, child welfare and heritage, amongst others. It is the intention of the Programme to touch lives meaningfully with sustainability being the key to its success.

It was over a cup of tea in the heart of the Midlands Meander, when the N3TC Touching Lives programme took its first steps.

“Never underestimate the power of Earl Grey,” chuckled Nikki Brighton as she recalled her first meeting with Con Roux, commercial manager of N3TC. Nikki Brighton was the

original project co-ordinator of the Midlands Meander Association Education Project (MMAEP). Nikki had been asked by the Midlands Meander Association to make use of a small grant for the Association’s newly conceived social responsibility programme.

Trying to spend the money as sensibly as possible, Nikki soon realised that there was a huge need for creative education in local Midlands schools, and was pleased when a mutual associate put her in touch with N3TC. The MMAEP and N3TC Touching Lives programmes have since then flourished alongside one another. Over the past eight years, N3TC has supported the efforts of the MMAEP with significant grant funding which has, and continues to, ensure the ongoing development of the Project within the rural schools on the Midlands Meander.

Being part of the creative Midlands Meander meant that things could be, and are, done differently. To create an unforgettable

meaningfully

Encouraging ... Enlightening...

The MMAEP began with a focus on environmental education and tourism programmes in schools but it soon became apparent that a more holistic approach was necessary. Food gardens and creative lessons, including road safety education, were added. Later, after observing the trauma many children face, the MMAEP responded to address these issues too, with values based lessons, ‘quiet time’ in class and trauma counselling.

The MMAEP is one of the top Eco-Schools nodes in the Country. The Project supports 15 schools, located within the KwaZulu Natal Midlands. Over 1 100 learners and 30 teachers participate in the MMAEP’s activities in any given month.

Since 2009, the MMAEP has assisted six schools to establish libraries. The library project focuses on encouraging the love of reading in the MMAEP schools. A dedicated MMAEP facilitator – Cebo the Cricket – joined the MMAEP in 2011. The new facilitator is actively working in the existing libraries by training Library Monitors – learners who have been selected to fulfil the duties of library monitors – to assist the educators. The MMAEP library project will continue to expand as additional schools have been identified as being in desperate need of libraries.

There is no doubt that the MMAEP has made a difference to the level of education provided by the rural schools in the

Midlands. The ‘Bugs’ live their daily lives according to the Project’s values of preserving and conserving the natural environment, respect for each other and a love for all things creepy, crawly and slithery.

Lives are touched by the facilitators and the many projects they initiate. From learners as young as five to educators with many years of experience the ‘Bugs’ have become part of the fibre of the Midlands community. From a simple hug, to quiet time under the shade of a tree, to something as significant as educational support this is where the ‘Bugs’ can, and do, make a difference.

For more information on the MMAEP, visit www.mmaep.co.za.

If you would like to know more about the N3TC Touching Lives Programme, you can download its 2011 annual CSI Report from the N3TC website, www.n3tc.co.za.

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impression, the Environmental Education facilitators employed by the MMAEP, become ‘Bugs’ dressed in colourful costumes on special days and use brightly coloured magic hats to inspire and enthuse the learners and teachers. A philosophy that learning should be fun is the cornerstone of Bug activities.

Happy people learn better and are able to contribute more to a happy planet – and this became evident through the MMAEP’s unique approach.

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SA’s Bush Business

CROSSROADS [B US H B US I NE S S ] www.onroutemag.co.za

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South African game farms are not just where Africa’s unique safari experiences are on offer for both local and international guests, they are also at the heart of some serious money, says Hagen Engler.

A

s the first morning rays warm the plains next to Mankwe Lake, the white rhino calf emerges from the safety of his mother’s flanks and gambols awkwardly through the veld.

“Aaaah!” A chorus of “cute” and “shame” erupts from our game vehicle, and the calf quickly bounces back to his mom, still unsteady on his feet, but clearly loving these early steps on his great adventure.

“He was born a few days ago,” points out Dave, our game guide. “He’s just happy to be alive!”

A cascade of camera shutters greets the little rhino’s every clumsy step as we scramble for our long lenses and start busily documenting our first good sighting at Pilanesberg National Park. At a time like this, with the joy of new life and the miracle of unspoilt Africa on full display,

the silliest possible question to ask would be “How much is that little rhino worth?”

Even more ridiculous is that we actually know what a rhino is worth. The weighted average price of a white rhino at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and South African National Parks (SANParks) game sales is R234 405.

So in this case, you can put a price on beauty. And that’s not even as high as game prices get!

A few kilometres away, in Rustenburg, a buffalo cow named Tanzania was recently sold at auction for a cool R20 million – a South African record. The South African wildlife industry not only offers once-in-alifetime experiences for wide-eyed safari travellers, it’s also huge business. In fact, the annual income of SANParks in 2011 was R702m — but this pales in comparison to the estimated income of Wildlife Ranching SA. The body representing the

country’s game and wildlife ranchers (those who farm rare breeds) estimates its industry’s gross annual income at R8 billion. This, from an annual South African tourism income of around R70 billion in 2010.

So, while most people touring South Africa will, like us, be cooing “ag shame” at newborn rhinos in South Africa’s National Parks, a significant number of people are visiting private game ranches. And if you’re visiting a private game ranch, there’s a good chance you’re going there to hunt.

Prof Pieter van Niekerk, chairman of the National Confederation of Hunters’ Organisations (Chasa) says that 60% of the income in the commercial game industry comes from hunting, with local hunters contributing most of that amount. The

Images by Shutterstock

ticket sales part of a general trend towards higher prices for game?

Well-known entrepreneurs like these and others have been able to afford game with prices in the millions, which are guaranteed to make headlines.

Yes, but it’s not as simple as that. Gameauction figures collected by Professor Flippie Cloete of North-West University, and published in Game & Hunt magazine, show common game prices are dropping. Meanwhile the prices of rare and exotic species are going through the roof. In 2011, game auctions turned more than R504 million – a 71% increase on 2010. One auction – the legendary Thabo Tholo 2011 – turned R107 million. This year, a game auction outside Rustenburg made sales worth R146 million!

But why are game animals fetching such high prices? And are these headline-grabbing big-

“This can mainly be ascribed to a demand for scarce animals,” says Dr Cloete, pointing

It’s the live-game trading however that has begun to make serious headlines in recent years, especially because of the involvement of celebrity businessman like Bidvest Chairman Cyril Ramaphosa and Mimosa Films mogul Boet Troskie and his son Jaco.

out that it’s mainly scarce species and colour variants that are showing price increases, while common game prices show a downward trend Wildlife auctioneer Brandon Leer agrees.

“Last year’s general or plains game auction achieved a much lower density of purchase,” he told Gilla Brunt in an interview for the Wildlife Ranching South Africa (WRSA) Online.

So the growth in the game farming industry seems to be happening in the field of rare and exotic species, which will fetch higher prices on the stud market. In fact, the commercial farming of rare game is now the sixth-biggest industry in South African agriculture. What also attracts wealthy

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remainder of the industry income comes from eco-tourism (game viewing safaris, birding etc) and live-game trading.

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The Jupiter Drawing Room (Utopia)

It’s simple.

The longer we wait, the more we lose.

The largest and rarest of Africa’s crane species, the Wattled Crane, is Critically Endangered. Due to the loss and degradation of South Africa’s wetlands, less than 270 of these magnificent birds remain in the wild today. As natural habitats continue to disappear, so will our birds. Help us act now.

The N4 toll road provides a link to some of South Africa’s most spectacular birding locations.

Trans African Concessions supports Birdlife South Africa in its conservation drive. You can too.

www.birdlife.org.za

Rare game of this sort, bred by Piet du Toit and purchased by the likes of Messrs Bellingham, Troskie and Ramaphosa are possessed of super-genes that are in crazy demand across the industry.

Farmers have gone deep into the bush to capture the biggest, rarest, most beautiful animals, and then skilfully bred them to ensure their genes are passed down. As Piet points out, it’s also important when breeding with rare stud bulls to keep track of their progeny. DNA records are kept of all animals, which can be verified, and it is these priceless bloodlines that are driving growth in the game farming industry.

Species averaging in the R100 000’s at recent game auctions include buffalo, sable, golden wildebeest, black impala, black-back impala and white rhino. Interestingly, the white rhino, despite its endangered status and the growing threat of poaching, is losing value.

Average prices for white rhino at auction dropped 10,4% between 2010 and 2011.

and adds it to a herd of 30 normal wildebeest cows, which might be worth R100 000 in total. When those cows become pregnant, the herd immediately increases in value to R1,5 million. Those 30 split calves should produce 15 gold wildebeest calves, which would be worth R100 000 each. So within two years, that half a million rand purchase has given the farmer a herd worth R3 million.

That’s a return of 300% p.a. No wonder the big businessmen are showing up at game auctions these days! And those auctions are quite something.

If you search Thaba Tholo on YouTube, you’ll feel the buzz as auctioneer Willie Roux nurses the bids on Lot 84, Senatla, “the bull of the century”, up beyond the R10 million in half-a-million increments. You’ve never seen

Some say this is precisely because of the increasing regulation of rhino by the government as it tries to combat poaching.

The process of buying a rhino involves negotiating a byzantine bureaucracy aimed at protecting the animal. One needs export permits from the originating farm, import permits from the destination farm, an internal movement permit, a vet licensed to dart rhino, and a government nature conservation official to be present upon arrival — which, as you can imagine, is a logistical nightmare for anyone. The new owner will also require an almost military level of security staff to protect his new investment from poachers, and if he chooses to dehorn the rhino, he must negotiate an even more complex permit system as darting a rhino, cutting off a horn, possessing a horn and transporting a horn are all restricted activities. But then, of course, what eco-tourist or hunter will travel across the world to see a rhino without its horn? Perhaps removing a rhino’s horn makes him less attractive to poachers, but then you’re removing the very thing that makes him a rhino. Will that become the only way to protect the life of the little rhino calf we saw romping across the Pilanesberg plain?

In the face of this, many game ranchers decide that rhinos are more trouble than they’re worth. At present white rhino numbers are about 20 000, but the

accelerating rate of poaching to supply demand in the far east has seen poaching explode from a mere 13 poaching incidents in 2007 to where 220 rhinos had been poached by May this year. The Department of Environmental Affairs projects 584 will be poached by the end of 2012.

SANParks have prioritized the rhino poaching threat, and it’s policed in collaboration with the state security cluster, including the Hawks’ Endangered Species Specialist Unit, the South African Police and the South African National Defence Force. A total of 146 arrests have been made this year, and the Asset Forfeiture Unit is attaching the assets of poaching suspects. Three alleged poachers recently had R55 million of assets seized. Business Day however reports that there have only been 10 convictions in poaching cases to date, for a total of 111 years in jail. It’s likely the attachment of the bank accounts, farms, homes and cars of suspects not yet convicted will act as more of a deterrent to would-be poachers than the slow-turning wheels of justice.

Images Images by harumquiam

by Shutterstock nam cum and apeGoogle necus,Images occum

Take an example, which Piet du Toit outlines in WRSA magazine. Imagine a game breeder purchases a single golden wildebeest bull, which might cost R460 000 at present prices,

a bushveld hall full of khaki-clad farmers fold their arms as tightly as that! Not one sudden move that might be mistaken for a bid, except for a few subtle ones from “anonymous bidder” Peter Bellingham.

Eventually he outlasts his final remaining rival, a mystery telephone bidder and secures Senatla for R18 million.

But the sad truth is that every strategy to combat poaching has failed and the number of rhino deaths has soared in the face of demand from Vietnam, where wildlife trade monitoring network, Traffic, says the horn is used, not as an aphrodisiac, but a special gift to curry favour, to help with a hangover and a purported cancer cure.

Because of the ongoing CITES ban on the estimated R1,2 billion rhino horn trade, control of the industry is in the hands of organized crime. But Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the body that brought the white rhino back from the brink of extinction in the ‘60s, has proposed a strategy to take back the industry from the gangsters and criminals.

The idea, recently floated by CEO Bandile Mkhize involves legalizing the trade, and establishing one central rhino-horn clearinghouse. Then, price and demand would be managed in the manner of the De Beers single-channel monopoly in the diamond industry, which ran through most of the 20th century. This system would work by using South Africa’s large rhino-horn stockpile to manage prices downwards and thus reduce potential profits for illegal traders. All horn would then be micro chipped, chemically profiled and certified so that no other horn could be traded. The South African team plans to present this proposal to the next CITES Conference in March 2013. Whether it’s accepted remains to be seen. But South African game is now an enormous international business, and everybody wants a part of it, from African billionaires to Vietnamese gangsters.

Home grown solutions are vital in addressing the challenges we face. South Africans have a vital part to play in preserving the African wildlife experience for all of humanity. Part of that means ensuring the keeping of game makes good financial sense for all involved.

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CROSSROADS [B US H B US I NE S S ]

businessmen to rare game is that it’s a tangible, measurable investment. In the current uncertain economic climate, rare game has been seen to have proven value; both to breeders and hunters, and the returns on investment are brilliant.

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THE SCENIC ROUTE [Photog rapher F ocus ] BY: Stu Shapiro

Notes

from a Travel Photographer

Travel Photography involves a lot more than good composition, post production skills, lighting knowledge and the ability to click a button of a pretty landscape. For Stu Shapiro, it’s more about the people you meet along the way and how you interact with them to capture the perfect shot.

“M

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y fascination with the human psyche; why people do the things they do, how we think, what we think, moments and memories and how our journeys shape who we are, have always been the strong driving force behind my photography and my desire to travel and experience different people. It’s like I was born to do this. I love interacting with people, seeing even just a glimpse of another person’s life and hearing their stories. The

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camera has always allowed me to embrace this fascination; it’s given me the opportunity to take on the role of the explorer, adventurer, journalist, artist and curious kid.

For me, it’s important that my personality, charisma and energy helps my subject feel relaxed and open to being photographed by me because it’s that “relaxed” state-of-mind that finally gives me a photo that tells a story.

A good system before going to a new location is to learn about the place that you are visiting, I do this simply by asking a local or a fellow photographer who has shot in that region, questions about the area and culture.

Just a little knowledge offers me the ability to approach the people respectfully, and rules out the possibility of hostility. Those un-posed moments of reality and emotion are generally the keepers!

People of different cultures and places have In India I got to experience the utter very different ideas about being photographed excitement of the local children at the and I am always careful not to offend people. prospect of being photographed — some of

Images by Stu Shapiro

The highlight for my creative outlet as a photographer are festivals, it’s where I can

really play with techniques, it’s challenging and the conditions are constantly shifting.

This year I created a steel rig with all my gear strapped to my back, enticing my subjects into my make-shift ‘mobile studio’.

The idea behind my portable studio is one which contradicts my normal form of festival photography — a style I call ‘Ninja Photography’, where I run between the masses, constantly on the lookout to capture moments. Abandoning my voyeuristic lens

now allows me to capture the eccentric nature of festival goers, as their alter egos break free in front of the lens. This coupled with the outdoor beauty of any festival event makes for perfect backdrops to magical images.

My advice to aspiring photographers is: don’t be shy. Be polite. Be open and approachable.

And when you see a shot, go for shot because there may not be another opportunity to capture that moment.”

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whom had never had their picture taken before. The kids crowded around, squeezing their faces together, shouting, pushing and smiling. In a similar situation in South America some of the children stuck out their hands to demand payment after I had taken their picture. And in Bolivia the traditional folk believe that you take a piece of their soul each time you take a photo of them.

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THE SCENIC ROUTE [Photo C ompetition]

King of the Click COMPETITION

What captures the hearts and minds of travellers from around the country? Join the league of onRoute’s travelling photographers by simply capturing the beauty of your journey and sending us your best shots! Whatever your photographic passion may be - from landscapes, people, places and faces to culture, wildlife, sport and entertainment - we’re looking for memorable moments and unforgettable experiences to share with fellow travellers.

This is your chance to be crowned King of the Click!

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onRoute readers will vote for their favourite photos online and a selection of the most striking images will be published in the next edition of onRoute Magazine.

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Send your images to kingoftheclick@onroutemag.co.za

All images must be at least 1Mb in size and include a brief description, your full name, address, telephone number, and the date and location of the photo.

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Images by Shutterstock

Bush

Berg

Beach

PITSTOP [H ealth ]

Stingers

Everyone needs a holiday, just not one spent in an emergency room! So before you head off to the beach, the berg or the bush here are a few things that you should know about the creatures that lurk beyond and how to treat their wrath immediately.

Scorpions

Although we are aware that it’s easier said than done, stay calm after being stung by a scorpion!

The more panicked you get the faster the venom will spread.

Jelly Fish and Bluebottles

It’s always easier to treat a sting when you’re not drowning so the first step is to get out of the water!

Rinse the area with saltwater.

Do not use fresh-water as it will aid unfired stinging cells to fire, making the sting even worse.

If you see any tentacles, remove them…not with your hand! Use a stick or a towel. Note: tentacles will stick to your costume, so beware.

For jellyfish or blue bottle stings, your best bet is to add heat to the area, which will alleviate the pain. Hot seawater is great, albeit a little impractical, so use any warmed object; like the lid of your cooler box. You could also apply ammonia such as vinegar to the area, but who takes a bottle of vinegar to the beach? Where else can ammonia be found? Urine… just saying.

GOOD TO HAVE www.onroutemag.co.za

Aloe Vera gel is very handy to keep in the beach bag.

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SEVERE CASES Severe symptoms include difficulty breathing, nausea, or dizziness. If you see any of these signs call ER24 immediately.

Wasps and Bees

Remove the bee sting by scraping it out gently with a fingernail or edge of your credit card. Wasps do not leave their sting behind.

Wash the area with soap and warm water — if possible.

Folklore says that if you treat a sting with honey the antibacterial properties will prevent the sting from getting infected.

And besides giving you a shiny, white smile, toothpaste can also treat a bee or wasp sting as it contains alkaline ingredients that neutralize the venom.

GOOD TO HAVE Soothing Calamine Lotion is always a winner.

SEVERE CASES The victim will experience difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, throat and mouth tissue; difficulty in swallowing; anxiety and a drop in blood pressure. In cases like this it is imperative to seek medical attention. Call ER24 on 084 124.

With that said, wash the affected area well with soap and cold water.

Apply ice to the sting to contain swelling.

Avoid eating or drinking after the sting as a reaction to the sting could be difficulty in swallowing.

GOOD TO HAVE A cortisone cream is a bonus for the bush.

SEVERE CASES Bearing in mind there are many different species of scorpion, some harmless and some highly venomous, no scorpion sting should be taken lightly.

Symptoms include muscle spasms, hyperventilation, disorientation and anaphylactic shock. It is important to try and keep the scorpion so it can be identified and to seek medical attention immediately.

Call ER24 on 084 124.

UV WARS The words “healthy tan” are the same as “relaxed run” and “tame lion” — they simply don’t exist! There is nothing healthy about Ultra Violet (UV) rays penetrating your skin, altering the structure of your cells and causing premature ageing and even cancer — no matter how golden you may seem on the outside.

So here’s the lowdown: there are two kinds of UV rays. UVB, the one that makes you brown, also causes us to burn, which can lead to skin cancer. Then there’s UVA, which penetrates deeper into the skin, ageing you and causing… yep, you guessed it, Cancer!

Thanks to that giant hole in the ozone layer, South Africa gets a lot of increased UVA and UVB rays — in fact our country is one giant danger zone. So what do we do about it? We know you’ve heard it all before but we’ll tell you again, and we bet you’ll thank us one day. You must cover your skin with a broad-spectrum Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15. SPF means that if you usually start to burn after 5 minutes and you apply a factor 15, it protects your skin for 15 times longer, i.e. 75 minutes. This means you must keep applying sunblock often, especially after swimming and should wear UV protected clothing too.

And for all of you youngsters, who think it won’t happen to you, then note: CANSA says that 80% of skin damage occurs before the age of 18 and only manifests later! So cover up.

For more information call CANSA toll free on 0800 226622.

Signs You Need a Nap • Your eyes go out of focus by themselves and you battle to see properly.

• You can’t stop yawning.

• You lose track of time.

• You battle to keep an even speed and keep drifting out of your lane.

• You don’t remember driving the last few miles.

Combat Fatigue • Stop for at least 10 minutes after every two hours of driving.

• Always get a good night’s sleep before you drive.

• Don’t depend on coffee or drugs to keep you awake.

• Keep your eyes moving, by checking your mirrors regularly.

• Don’t drive with the heater blowing in your face, as it will make you sleepy.

• Don’t drive with the interior light on as it strains your eyes and distorts your vision. www.arrivealive.co.za

www.onroutemag.co.za

People tend to fall asleep more often at high-speeds on long, boring stretches of road after many hours spent behind the wheel. So how can you ensure you don’t become a sleepyhead behind the wheel?

Images by Shutterstock

It’s Lousy To Be Drowsy

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A BIKINI WINTER Bikinis available in stores countrywide. available from august only! For your nearest store visit www.roxy.co.za or call 031 313 1422

PITSTOP [F AS H I ON] www.onroutemag.co.za

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Who said bikinis aren’t relevant in winter? If you’ve ever spent a south african winter on the beach, you’ll know that simply isn’t true. even if you’re a little “soft” and prefer to flee our country in search of warmer shores in say… Cannes or the maldives, then bikinis are still relevant in winter! Our friends at Roxy wanted to share their new bikini line with you, which will be out in august.

Wild Emotion Bikini

Roxy Logo Bikini

Jazzy Bikini

Tribal Love Bikini

Zig Zag Stripe Bikini

N

ow, like a piece of modern art the Juke’s look lies entirely in the eye of the wheel holder.

Either you think it’s good looking or you don’t — and there seems to be no middle ground here. Some describe it as cute, quirky or fun and others describe it as strange, obscure and… gasp, even ugly! The word we choose however is unique.

www.onroutemag.co.za

Who (in their right mind) would buy a car that fades into the background, without as much as a glance from fellow motorists?

Not us! And there’s no denying that the Juke stands out, with its distinctive appeal it means people notice when you drive by.

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The interior of the Juke is fantastic. It’s well laid out and the trim and colour insertions create great synergy throughout the car. It has all the bells and whistles at the touch of a button and you want for nothing inside the Juke — except maybe (and we hate to say it) more boot space!

If you’re looking to trade in a moderately sized city hatchback for the Nissan Juke in preparation for a growing family or a newly adopted golf game, then things

THE JUKE OF AWESOME

THE GARAGE [C ar Review ] BY: @carandgameguru

They say dynamite comes in small packages and nothing rings more true when you slip behind the wheel of a Nissan Juke — a small, big car that offers more than cars twice its size.

Considering the return on investment and the rewards, this little crossover makes it one of the few cars on the road that we consider worth its price tag.

Facts & Figures: Engine: 1.6 l Turbo Petrol

Power: 140 kW

Torque: 240 Nm

may get a little tricky. The truth is that unless you fold the two back seats down, the boot really only has space for a weekly shop — forget a monthly! And if it comes down to prams and golf clubs then you would need to choose one or the other, but certainly not both.

But with that said, this could be a good car for a small family whose kids are out of car seats and prams. Beside the booty, the rest of the interior is beautiful and whatever you may think of the

Images by Quickpic

exterior, good or bad, there is no doubt that the interior will transport you out of this world.

The Juke has four available versions at the moment and we were fortunate to experience the 1.6 litre turbo version. The little motor packed a massive punch for its

Fuel (Claimed): 6.9 l/100 km

0-100: 8 Seconds

size and it held its own against any 1.6 on the road.

Because of it diminutive size, you are easily able to nip in and out of bustling streets and that zippy little engine gives you the added confidence you need. Crossovers have become a trendy alternative to big 4x4s and

Price: R261,925 (R203,925 – R267,935)

the standard city hatch, and this Nissan takes that trend to a whole new level. As with most reasonably priced cars, the Juke has a few “iffy” bits but flaws aside, the benefits far outweigh the downfalls and the Nissan Juke is a real bomb shell and a brilliant crossover.

www.onroutemag.co.za

Gears: 6 Speed Manual CO2 emissions: 159 g/km

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TECH REVIEWS

THE MALL [tech Reviews] www.onroutemag.co.za

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R1 799

BY: Stacey Vee

Nokia Purity HD headphones Nokia gets some street cred with these High Definition (HD) stereo headphones designed by studio sound-masters Monster! Available in black, white or a striking pink or blue, the Purity HD stereo headset works optimally with the Lumia range of Nokia Smartphones (but the 3.5 millimetre jack means it’s compatible with other devices too).

It’s a sturdy make, with durable headbands and soft ear cushions that fit neatly into the hard shell case that it comes boxed with. There are two audio cables inside the box: one is an audio visual cable and the other specifically for use when taking calls while listening to music.

As can be expected from Monster, the sound quality is five-star! www.nokia.com

If you haven’t upgraded to the new iPad yet, why not? The Retina display (as seen on the iPhone 4S) gives you four times more pixels than the iPad 2, or 3.1 million pixels, to be exact.

If you use your iPad to read eBooks, then you’ll appreciate how much crisper and clearer the text is now.

The 9.7 inch screen has a resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels, which is more than some HD televisions. It takes plenty of processing power to run high-end graphics, which is why the iPad 3 comes with a zippy A5X chip.

Despite this energy use, the battery life has actually been bettered slightly, and sits at an average of 10 hours between charges. Last but not least, the camera has also been improved, and is now a generous 5 mega pixels. www.myistore.co.za

R4 999 – R8 299

Apple iPad 3

Isn’t this the most visually appealing Blu-Ray player you’ve ever laid eyes on?

The Samsung BD-D7500 3D is only 158 millimetres thick, and can either stand upright or be mounted against a wall. The disc slides into a panel on the side of this brush-metal finished beauty. That this BD-D7500 3D weighs a mere one kilogram is the only thing lightweight about it – it also connects wirelessly to your home network, and it has a built in two-dimension convertor. That means you can view any regular Blu-Ray movie or DVD in threedimensional glory!

Images by Manufacturers & Suppliers

R3 299

Samsung BD-D7500 3D

www.samsung.co.za

What you’re looking at is an adventure bike! The 1200 cc, fourstroke Super Ténéré is designed to take you off the beaten path, and right back on it again. Highways, gravel roads, cross-country… this two-cylinder, fuel-injected, twin spark engine has its 261 kg (wet) weight kept low to give you more grip and power when you need it. If you’re unsure whether you’d like a road bike or an off-road motorcycle, the Super Ténéré is a great in-betweener.

It packs all the features of a road bike like liquid cooling and ABS into the rugged, sturdy frame and suspension of an off-roader. (Bash plate, crash bars and panniers are extra.)

R159 000

Yamaha Super Ténéré

www.yamaha.co.za

Talking Yellow Pages

On Mxit: go to http://m.mixit.com on your phone, select Tradepost, MarketPlace (10), ClickFind (1) and Add Contact.

On Google Chat: clickfind@jamixx.im On Facebook: visit www.facebook.com/ yellowpagesclickfind and click on the left hand tab named Yellow Pages Chat.

www.onroutemag.co.za

The Yellow Pages are now interactive online!

Chat live with a real person on Mxit, Google Chat or Facebook and they’ll help you search and find services and contact details. The ‘talking’ Yellow Pages will even provide you with directions! You can expect a turnaround time of less than three minutes on your requests. Three ways to access the talking Yellow Pages:

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!

N O I T C E S KIDS

ht, Red light, red lig y? sa u yo what do right away.

I say stop, and w light, Yellow light, yello ? ow kn u what do yo ming The red light is co w. slo go se ea pl so n light, Green light, gree y? sa u yo what do e road, You may cross th . ys but look both wa k-you: red, Thank-you, than n. ee gr , yellow at the Now we know wh . an me s traffic light

n e e r G d n a w o l l e Y Red,

SPECIAL PULL-OUT SECTION CHILDREN CROSSING [K ids S ection ]

Welcome to The

www.onroutemag.co.za

Monkey Business

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d is over, don’t be sa When your holiday y for nit rtu po op an s because Joburg ha monkey business. me you to get up to so ted in James and ua sit is ch an br Acro ar Melrose Arch Ethel Grey park ne literally swing from and allows you to e four tree climbing the trees! There ar e too. and a 250m ziplin obstacle courses ed af fordable, fun-fill Acrobranch is an rk. adventure in the pa s and and public holiday 5pm on weekends to m 9a m fro en Op ring the week. from 1pm to 5pm du za acrobranch.co.

Email: bookings@

Toys I Gotta Have

Avengers Mightiest Heroes

An Avengers assemble! detailed hly hig of assortment ed pir heroes & villains ins - all vie mo rs ge by the Aven mes co ch ea , ale sc 75 in 3. ed with an action pack y. or ss ce ac e ur feat Age: 3 years +

arger Vehicle Avengers Super Ch hicle Great hero and ve atures fe le hic play. Each ve da an ile ct oje pr a firing e. ur fig ro removable he Age: 4 years +

Moshi Monsters blind pack series 2

s rs Foil Pack contain Each Moshi Monste to collect. u yo r fo gs lin sh two dif ferent Mo able, ing Moshlings avail With 100s of amaz well As e? u’ll get this tim who knows who yo es lud inc ck pa ch ys, ea at as two Moshling to th de co and a secret a collector’s card e lin on e th in m e ite lets you unlock a fre assortment. game. Available in Age: 3 years +

lls Lalaloopsy large do g Lalaloopsy are ra y all gic ma at th lls do e th m fro come to life ke ma to ed us ic br fa them. They live in a ! colorful silly world w Se al!

Sew Magic Cute! Collect them all today.

Age: 4-10 years

Twin Spot

e ute you may spot som ro ll To N4 e th on g lin t When travel , there are 10 differen ge pa is th n O s. al im of these an in who is hiding. Can tw a ve ha em th of animals. Five that are the same? o tw ve ha s al im an ch you find whi

nd?

Which twins did you fi Animal1 Animal2 Animal3 Animal4

www.onroutemag.co.za

Animal5

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SPECIAL PULL-OUT SECTION CHILDREN CROSSING [K ids S ection ]

e k i b r o t o M

ure to make it Add details to this pict

rider’s outfit in.

Step 1: Colour the haust. smoke out of the ex Step 2: Add some the side. road, with grass on Step 3: Draw the roplane in the sky.

Step 4: Draw an ae ssing. the motorbike is pa Step 5: Draw what c...)

(Building, house, et

www.onroutemag.co.za

Are We There Yet Maze?

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h the maze Help the family throug liday ho and get them to their ssible. house as quickly as po

look more real.

Secret Code

rite down the first W u. yo r fo ge sa es m onRoute has a the secret message t ou nd fi to e ur ct pi letter of each

www.onroutemag.co.za

n I g n i r u o l o C y t Road Safe

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Images by Suppliers

GAMING REVIEWS

THE ARCADE [Game Reviews] BY: @carandgameguru

www.onroutemag.co.za

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Silent Hill Downpour and HD Collection Silent Hill is, and always has been, the most terrifying series of games ever produced and Downpour, the latest in the series, meets all terrifying expectations! The storyline is intensely gripping, although somewhat familiar, but still brings you back to the harrowing town of Silent Hill. In this instalment you play a criminal named Murphy Pendleton who is involved in a prisoner transportation crash just outside the eerie town and what ensues is a frantic trip through a haunted world filled with dark corners and unknown paths. The storyline is fantastic, supported by a harrowing sound track and many elements of surprise that makes the developers of this franchise top of their game (literally).

PLATFORM

Playstation 3 Game Guru Rates It

85%

If you are playing this game for the first we recommend you get Silent Hill’s HD Collection. It will give you the shocking introduction you need to play the series and even if you have played the game before, the HD Collection will help you rediscover why you loved this game so much.

Max Payne 3 PLATFORM

XBOX 360 Game Guru Rates It

90%

If you’re turned off by how bad the movie was, don’t be. This isn’t some badly acted Hollywood flop; it’s an intense action thriller that allows you to ‘be the actor’. The writer’s have delivered a plot that draws you into the happenings of Max Payne’s new life outside of New York as he tries to battle the demons from his past. His character is flawed, but his intentions have a certain amount of good to them. The gun play in Max Payne is realistic and will have you ducking and diving on the comfort of your living room floor. Even though it’s very violent, the scenes set in this instalment of the franchise are beautiful, giving you a sense of involvement in the world you fight in everyday. We found very little wrong with Max Payne 3 and considering most sequels normally fail to deliver on the success of preceding titles, this game is a step above our expectations.

ROAD SAFETY

IT’S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TOO Holiday fever is upon us again, and the excitement of picking a destination and packing your bags takes hold once more.

Before you consider your destination Bakwena would like to urge you to give some thought as to how you will get to your destination and back safely.

Bakwena is confident that all the improvements we are currently busy with and have recently completed ensure our route is engineered to the highest engineering standards.

Bakwena’s involvement in road safety education and our assistance with incident management, overload management and enforcement is also testament to our commitment to road safety.

Road safety information that could save your life!

The Blue marker boards are situated on the N1N4 toll road in 200m intervals to assist motorists in distress with identifying their position when they need help.

The board depicts which national road you are on (N1), in what section (21) and the kilometre distance (39,0)

N1-21 39,0 N

However, engineering, enforcement and education can never replace the fact that each road user has a primary responsibility for their own safety.

So be responsible this holiday season, the safety of your life and your families lives are in your hands.

Seatbelts?

STAY ALERT!

Followin g

Distance

?

0800 Bakwena 0800 2259362 www.bakwena.co.za

DETOUR [Travel ] BY: Elka Schaimberg

Slackpacking You love the great outdoors but you’ve seen those documentaries where unwashed, malnourished hikers tackle gruelling trails while carrying their full body weight in gear and keep a Leatherman in their top pocket just in case a boulder falls on their arm!

But what if we told you that hiking could be all about warm beds, hot running water and delicious food.

Sound good? Well then congratulations, you may just be a Slackpacker!

A hassle-free hiking holiday!

S

Walk on the Wild Side

www.onroutemag.co.za

Pondoland, Wild Coast

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Leave the crowds behind and get yourself to Pondoland’s best kept secret – the Pondo Explore Trail. Stretching from the Mtamvuna River in the north (Port Edward) to the mighty Umzimvubu in the south (Port St John’s), this is undoubtedly the least accessible, most dramatically rugged section of the Wild Coast.

and the skeletal remains of numerous shipwrecks along the shore. Take canoes up the Msikaba Estuary, indulge in freshwater pools and enjoy sweeping vistas from the hilltops. Golden miles of beach also offer excellent swimming where schools of dolphin are a familiar sight.

For a welcome bit of pampering, you’ll stay overnight in East African style The high-energy coastline takes you on a journey through traditional Xhosa villages, tented accommodation offering en-suite bathrooms and hot water showers. It’s a rolling green hills, rocky headlands and sandy bays. You’ll pass amazing waterfalls, luxury adventure that only a fortunate few freestanding rock stacks, pristine estuaries have experienced.

The Hike at a Glance

lackpacking is the ‘no mess, no fuss’ version of a hiking holiday where you still get to experience all of nature’s beauty without the backpack or having to deal with that blasted popup tent. Slackpackers bags are safely transferred from one overnight stop to the next where tasty food, cold beers and relaxed evenings await you. It’s the perfect way to enjoy the rugged paths of South Africa’s mountains and coastlines. Here we outline South Africa’s top three Slackpacking trails:

Duration:

3 or 5 Day Options

Total Distance:

35 km over 2 hike days.

68 km over 5 hike days

Grade: DIFFICULT

Requires backpacking experience & a good level of fitness. Whilst porters can be arranged this trail is aimed at the true backpacker with some scrambling, rock-hopping and river crossings.

Climate:

Mild sub-tropical climate.

Summer (Nov - Feb): Daily temperatures range from 27 to 29°C. Winter (June - Aug): 21°C. Night temps seldom drop below 10°C in winter and average around 15°C in summer.

Best Time of Year:

Summer is best for birdlife.

Winter is mild with sunny days and a low probability of rain. Spring and Autumn months generally combine the best of all conditions.

Price:

5 Night Pondo-Hopper: 2 persons: R5 995/pp 3 – 6 pax: R5 495/pp 7 - 12 pax: R 4 995/pp 3 Night Pondo-Hopper: 2 persons: R3 995/pp 3 – 6 pax: R3 745/pp 7 - 12 pax: R3 495/pp (Price includes: Transfer, accommodation, all meals, luggage transfers, vehicle support, Reserve permits and trail fees, Emergency support, canoes)

Venture into one of the most inaccessible parts of South Africa, to the ecological sanctuary known as the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Here, four interconnected lakes and an estuary open into the warm Indian Ocean, inviting you to experience untamed natural beauty that is teeming with wildlife.

The slackpack trail is led by local community guides who are happy to share their knowledge, heritage and muscles with you. It’s also a flexible trail that can be tailor-made to suit the fitness levels and interests of the group. Wind your way along sandy paths from isolated beaches

to cool dune forest, through open savannah and wetlands. Watch the local fisherman spear a prize mullet in their traditional fish kraals and get a taste of the locally brewed Lala palm wine.

Snorkeling, fishing and swimming are very much part of the experience and sightings of whale sharks and dolphins are common. At certain times of the year, you can also see leatherback turtles waddling ashore to lay their eggs.

With all luggage transferred to comfortable bush and beach camps for your overnight stays, the focus is entirely on enjoying every single step of the way.

3 Days / 4 Nights

Total Distance:

40 km over 3 hike days.

Grade: FAIR

Generally short daily distances with little ascent (being a coastal trail). The soft sand can make it tougher in places.

Climate:

Kosi Bay boasts 300 days of sunshine.

Average daily temp: 28°C in January to 22°C in July. Average minimum temp is 19°C in January and 10°C in July.

Best Time of Year:

Humpback whales can be seen off the coast from June to December. November to early March is turtle nesting season but can be too hot for hiking. Winter months are mild and dry and perfect for hiking.

Price:

Based on a group of 4 Persons: R3 650/ pp.

(Price includes: 4x4 transfer, accommodation, all meals, luggage transfers, beach access, permits and trail fees, a boat excursion with an opportunity to snorkel)

www.onroutemag.co.za Images by www.active-escapes.co.za

iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Kosi Bay

The Hike at a Glance

Tropical Paradise

Duration:

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Amphitheatre Heritage Hike, Northern Drakensburg

www.onroutemag.co.za

Getting to ‘the roof of Africa’ is a feat normally only undertaken by fit and experienced hikers but slackpackers now have the opportunity to also enjoy the top of the world and experience the same sense of accomplishment as a dedicated hiker.

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You will spend three days and three nights on route, staying overnight at lodges nested up against the towering peaks of the Drakensberg mountain range. Qualified guides will accompany you and will even make decisions about your routes—so not even your brain is required.

The Amphitheatre is the most recognisable feature of the entire Drakensberg range. This World Heritage Site stands 3 000 metres above

sea level, in near perfect symmetry. Hiking your way to the top offers some of the finest views in the world! You can also experience the thrill of Africa’s highest waterfall, where the headwaters of the Tugela drops a sheer 614 metres into the gorge below. Pass through patches of cool mist-belt forest and criss-cross the river in the Mahai River valley. Enjoy a refreshing splash in several small pools and waterfalls along the way and relax in some the most perfect picnic spots nature has to offer.

For more information: www.active-escapes.co.za To Book any of the above Slackpacking Trails: Sarah Drew of Active Escapes on 084 240 7277 or sarah@active-escapes.co.za

The Hike at a Glance

DETOUR [Travel ]

The Roof of Africa

Duration:

3 Days / 3 Nights. Extra days and customised trails offered on request.

Total Distance:

36 km over 3 days.

Grade: FAIR

A fair amount of ascent, although the trail is not technical by berg standards.

The chain ladders can be intimidating, but there is a gully alternative to the top of the escarpment.

Climate:

Summer (Nov-May): Days can be wet and warm. Average temperature: 25 to 30°C. Winter (June-Oct): Dry, sunny, clear and crisp days with an average temperature of 15 to 20°C, dropping below zero at night.

Best Time of Year:

All year round. Spring and summer are the best months for wild flowers.

Winter months are the most stable weather-wise.

Price:

Vehicle supported hike with a guide: 4-5 Pax: R4 000/pp 6-7 Pax: R3 800/pp 8 Pax: R3 500/pp (Price includes: Accommodation, all meals and luggage transfers)

Images by Shutterstock

Newlands Forest, Cape Town:

Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve, Durban:

Mountain Sanctuary Park, Magaliesburg:

A fun walk through the forest takes about an hour and a half to complete. You’ll encounter a few small streams, a breathtaking mountain backdrop and some great picnic spots along the way. Shaded almost entirely by pine trees, this route makes for a great walk on a hot summer’s day. ‘The Littlewort Trail’ has been created especially for children, introducing them to the ecology and beauty of the forest.

This little piece of wilderness is a popular walking destination for families. From the entrance on Lagoon Drive, the trail goes past a picnic area and crosses a wooden boardwalk before cutting into coastal forest, which is home to vervet monkeys, small buck and butterflies.

Many of the trees on the trail have identification labels, so it’s a fun, educational ramble.

Enter a world of peace and serenity in this privately owned nature reserve nestled in the Magaliesberg Mountains. Day walks vary from 15 minutes to 8 hours, depending on how far you want to go.

Experience extraordinary rock formations and crystal clear mountain pools where you are welcome to swim.

Images by www.active-escapes.co.za & Shutterstock

For those who prefer their own beds, here are a few inner-city walks that are easily accessible yet still manage to offer a sense of escape.

www.onroutemag.co.za

Day Walks for City Dwellers

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www.onroutemag.co.za

Mosey Off to Kosi

DETOUR [Travel ]

For those who haven’t heard of Hello Peter, it’s a customer service website where the unsatisfied complain about the bad service they have received… from anyone, anywhere. Of course, people can also write about the excellent service they have received, but who takes the time to compliment good service these days?

People visiting Kosi Forest Lodge, that’s who!

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I

magine our surprise, when after typing “Kosi Forest Lodge” into Google search we were confronted by www.hellopeter.co.za of all sites! We immediately jumped to conclusions and scrambled to the post to see what we were getting ourselves into. We were confronted by words such as “brilliant”, “beautiful”, “friendly” and the likes. We realized that not only does Kosi Forest Lodge have a fan — but one willing to

take the time to compliment the lodge and their good service in writing! On more research we realized the Hello Peter post was just one of many, many favourable reports across multiple websites. And rightfully so!

Kosi Forest Lodge is set in a beautiful sand forest on the banks of Kosi Lake, which is situated in iSimangaliso Wetland Park, which is recognised as a

World Heritage Site — in fact it’s South Africa’s first recognised World Heritage Site. The 332 000 hectare National Park contains three major lake systems which are separated from the ocean by a strip of forest and some of the highest dunes in Africa.

Nelson Mandela once described ‘iSimangaliso as the only place on the globe where the oldest land mammal

Images by Kosi Forest Lodge

And while all these beasts do in fact co-exist together here, as a guest of Kosi Forest Lodge, you will not need to co-exist with any other guests as the thatched suites are positioned in such a way to allow for maximum privacy

— and with open air bathrooms, we say that’s not a bad thing!

The rooms have beautiful views of the forest, roll-up canvas blinds, mosquito net draped beds, Persian carpets and charming wooden walkways. What they don’t have however is electricity — and how wonderful that is. Kosi Forest Lodge is after all an eco-destination so why have TV and Internet to interfere with the beauty that people from around the world

flock to see. Picture the romantic ambience offered by strategically placed candles. And when the burning African sun rises, get ready for a day of adventure in paradise.

The most popular form of adventure is the guided canoe excursion on the Kosi Lakes.

A knowledge-sharing guide will wade you by the gorgeous Raffia Palm forests where you can spot the resident Palm-nut Vulture — the only fruit-eating vulture in the world.

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Kosi Facts: (the rhinoceros) and the world’s biggest terrestrial mammal (the elephant) share an ecosystem with the world’s oldest fish (the coelacanth) and the world’s biggest marine mammal (the whale)’.

• Kosi Forest Lodge has six twin rooms; one family suite and one honeymoon suite.

• Kosi Forest Lodge falls within a malaria area and precautions should be taken before a visit.

• The nearest scheduled flights are from Richards Bay or Durban

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But, if you’re not really a paddler, then opt instead for a boat trip through the lake system. You can cover a lot more ground… erm, water, in a boat and excursions often lead to a refreshing dip in the Indian Ocean and a late afternoon picnic on white sandy beaches.

RECOMMENDED ROUTE FROM JOHANNESBURg:

DETOUR [TRAVE L ] www.onroutemag.co.za

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In fact the Kosi system is home to many rare bird species including Flufftails, Whitebacked Night Heron, Crab Plover and pockets of flamingoes.

Head to Piet Retief on the N2, pass through Pongola and proceed south towards Hluhluwe (approximately 113 km from Pongola). Turn left into the town of Hluhluwe (approx. 4 km) and drive through the town until you reach the last traffic circle. Turn left towards Mbazwane/Sodwana Bay and proceed for 0.7 km and turn right again towards Sodwana Bay/Mbazwane. Shortly after turning right you will cross over a railway line. Proceed for 87 km bypassing Mbazwane on your right.

Proceed straight through the circles following the signs to “Coastal Forest Reserve” and pass. Proceed for 46 km after Mbazwane (passing the Mseleni turn-off) and turn right at the circle Kosi Bay / KwaNgwanase sign For non 4 x 4 guests: Drive into KwaNgwanase (Manguzi or Kosi Bay), through the town and near the end, look out for the Total Garage – on your left hand side. Once you arrive at this service station, a Kosi representative will meet you there and drive you to a secure car parking area not far away.

The trip to the lodge from here will be approximately 25 mins in an open 4x4.

In fact Kosi Bay as a whole is teeming with wildlife. Hippos dominate these wetlands and it’s not uncommon to spot families of up to 60 members frolicking in the waters.

Of course there are crocodiles too, but it’s the rare water mongoose and clawless otter, that keep the eyes of nature-loving guests peeled at all times.

If you’re more into two-legged species, then interacting with the local Tsonga fisherman is a must. Here the people use traditional fishing traps or kraals to reap the fishy rewards from the estuary — a method passed down from generation to generation.

After a full day of adventure and discovery, make your way back to the heart of Kosi Forest Lodge — a massive Zulu Podberry tree at the centre of the main deck. Here you can relax beneath the massive branches and enjoy a culinary extravaganza, aka dinner!

Not only will the food have you nodding in approval, but the excellent and friendly service, memorable life experiences and unbelievable beauty of the area will also have you writing positive reviews on 1:20 all PM Rani_OnRouteAd.pdf 1 2012/05/24 the travel (and customer service) websites of the world.

Images by Kosi Forest Lodge

And if, at any stage, you find yourself at the Kosi River mouth then congrats, you’ve arrived in snorkeler’s heaven. The water here is not only warm but it’s also crystal clear and the unique rock pools offer an abundance of sub-tropical fish.

Do you have any idea how many wonderful experiences you miss when you’re travelling at 120 kilometres per hour? What may look like a desolate stretch of road may actually be a front for some hidden treasures. We don’t want you to miss a thing, so here are some ‘must-see’ secrets along your route.

BY: Elka Schaimberg

HIDDEN ENTRANCE [B L I NK AND yOU’L L MI S S I T ]

BLINK AND yOU’LL MISS IT

CHEERIO gARDENS The secret gardens nestled in the mountains of Magoebaskloof have become a quietly famous scenic attraction. Every year at springtime people who know about Cheerio Gardens flock there - but what makes these gardens so special? They quite literally spill across an entire valley and burst with the bloom of thousands of azaleas and cherry tree blossoms in a riot of pale pinks, reds and vibrant greens in a true spring spectacle!

The same family have owned and run Cheerio Gardens since 1946 and we’re grateful they decided to open them to the public to share in their beauty. As you wander through the peaceful surrounds along moss-covered pathways, you really can’t help but feel a pang of envy as you ponder your own green thumb, or lack thereof! There’s an overwhelming appreciation for the love and dedication that has gone into the gardens. www.cheeriogardens.co.za

www.onroutemag.co.za

Magoebaskloof, Limpopo

41

HIDDEN ENTRANCE [B link And You’ll Miss I t ]

Zulu-lulu Trading Midlands Meander, Kwa-Zulu Natal Don’t leave the tranquillity of the Midlands Meander without a visit to its creative core.

Zulu-lulu is one of the most celebrated ceramic studios in South Africa, where all products are locally inspired and infused with love. Here, you’ll get to meet the infamous collectable ‘Dlamini’ family of figurines, whose original creation was that of piece-work gardener Tim Dlamini. Tim was encouraged to try his hand at art by his employer and owner of Zulu-lulu, Trayci Tompkins. The highly individualistic works of art have since become one of South Africa’s greatest craft exports!

You’ll also find an adorable mix and match range of designer tableware. Quirky tapas bowls, wine coolers, platters, cheese boards, dip bowls, jugs and jars — no two of which are ever the same!

Butterflies for Africa

What really makes this creative space so unique is that it’s a specialist Ceramic Boutique, Art Bar and Gallery all in one. Located at the Piggly Wiggly Country Village, you’ll also find a world class rock ‘putt-putt’ course, a well stocked wine store, an award winning coffee shop and a popular country restaurant. www.zulululutrading.co.za

Pietermaritzburg, Kwa-Zulu Natal

The Complex not only houses the incredible walk-through Butterfly House (with both exotic and indigenous butterflies), you’ll also find a Butterfly Craft Shop, The Blue Caterpillar Art Gallery, The Painted Lady Coffee Bar, and a Butterfly Nursery. The Nursery allows gardeners to purchase host plants (not available in conventional nurseries) which will attract butterflies to their gardens. Signs indicate which plants serve as food to which species of butterfly.

Also inside the Butterfly House is a Monkey House, plus Green Iguana and Stick Insect enclosures. This urban haven encompasses it all, serving as a valuable educational tool and a vital conservation asset too. www.butterflies.co.za

www.onroutemag.co.za

Bang in the centre of Pietermaritzburg’s industrial area, is an enchanted 6 000 square metre garden created solely to attract butterflies.

Experience a tropical walk-through Butterfly House, where an impressive variety of more than 100 different species from all over the world fly freely in a spectacular display of colour.

Make your way across a bridge, stop to find the cascading waterfall and watch as the butterflies dance through the spray. This lush environment is like something out of a fantasyland.

43

Bumpy Road Ahead [S port & Adventure]

C U When U Get There With the most unbelievable terrain before your eyes and the sound of crunching tyres in your ears, you quickly realize that mountain biking not only tests your endurance, strength and fitness but it also feeds the soul. And when it comes to mountain bike races, there is no other race that is quite as “soulful” as the joBerg2c.

www.onroutemag.co.za

RACE OVERVIEW

44

Day 1

Set out from The Karan Beef farm near Heidelberg to cover the first 113kms — which is all about getting the legs warm.

Day 2

A 93km ride to the Reitz Show-grounds.

The stage’s highlights includes the Liezel Thomas’ single track, which takes you onto Willies farm past the Makopan station.

Day 3

Takes you to the Sterkfontein Dam on a 125km trip through some very unique trails. You start on a track towards “Leeu Heuwel”, where there are real lions at the top of the climb, but the local “Farmer Brand” did mention that they were all well fed and all accounted for before the riders arrive.

Day 4

A 116km trip to Winterton where riders travel down through breathtaking mountain passes.

Craig Wapnick, the event spokesperson, said the venture fulfilled both the organisers and sponsors’ social responsibility objectives by creating jobs along the route. “We’ve committed to using every bit of the sponsorship for employing local labour throughout the year.”

She said the event’s long-term sustainability was a key factor in N3TC’s decision-making, “We want to enable the organisers to provide an excellent route but also allow weekend mountain biking enthusiasts to ride sections in the future, once the development is completed.”

N3TC PR and communications manager Andrea Visser said the off-road race was the perfect fit for their brand too. “N3TC is exceptionally excited about being part of the joBerg2c. The race fully supports the N3TCs commitment

“Our belief in supporting these events is based on the principle that the participants use the N3 toll route to access the events and it is our way of giving back to the community and our customers.”

Day 5

102km journey to Kamberg through farmlands with the beautiful Southern Berg as a backdrop.

Day 6

A comparatively short 94km trip to Hazeldean Dam. It starts off fast and flat but ends in some brutal climbs.

This section is more about survival than enjoyment.

Day 7

A short 86km from Hazeldean Farm to Mackenzie Club.

This is a less technical stage that allows riders to recover from the past six days.

Day 8

A 97km journey to Jolivet.

Regarded as one of the most exciting days, it is filled with technical single tracks, staggering climbs and nervy descents before you wind your way down to Umkomaas River.

Images by Kelvin Trautman

to job creation, skills development and tourism growth, which are all key economic contributors to community development.”

How to Enter

Everybody that works on the joBerg2c is paid; from the people manning water points and

crossings to those that prepare food for the riders at each stage. The race is a way for communities to raise funds for their schools, churches and charities.

If you are keen on entering next year’s race, you better hurry, even at R27 000 per team, space disappears quicker than the path the riders leave behind. www.joberg2c.co.za

Day 9

Race ends with an exciting 75km ride down into Scottburgh. It is a fast and easy stage that allows riders to take in what they have achieved over the last nine days.

www.onroutemag.co.za

I

t starts in the south of Johannesburg.

A grueling nine-day race, that puts you through your paces and then delivers you to the salty shores of Scottburgh in KwaZulu Natal. joBerg2c is known as the race that encourages you to ride the “off-road” less travelled and takes you through some of the most unspoiled areas of South Africa. It is a race where the journey is more important than the destination and it offers those with a love of riding a chance to share their passion for mountain biking while doing their bit to uplift the local communities through which they ride.

45

BIRDS, FROgS AND FLOWER POWER!

MAN AT WORK [HE ART S & H E ROE S ] www.onroutemag.co.za

46

For those who are aware that the Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher is not a type of a fishing rod and that the Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler is not a band from Welkom, Mpumalanga is one spot you will want to visit. Latest developments in that area have increased its tourism appeal making it a hot spot of activity for the avid bird-watcher and nature lover.

W

hen residents of Chrissiesmeer in Mpumalanga realised they needed to improve their socio-economic situation, they came together in an attempt to find a solution through viable tourism.

BirdLife South Africa in conjunction with TRAC (Trans African Concessions) saw an incredible opportunity to get involved and the rest as they say is birding and tourism history.

Drawn to the Mpumalanga Lake Districts surrounding Chrissiemeer, whose main assets are their amazing birdlife and freshwater lakes and pans, BirdLife South Africa and TRAC with the help of

Dr Anna Spenceley of Spenceley Tourism And Development (STAND cc) developed a tourism and marketing plan. The initiative, centred on the Mpumalanga Lake Districts would ensure sustainable socioeconomic development through responsible tourism and be beneficial to parties involved.

DID yOU KNOW? THE MPUMALANgA LAKE DISTRICT HAS: • 83 water bird species • 16 globally and nationally threatened bird species • 17 endemic or near endemic bird species

all

The Mpumalanga Lake District has the highest concentration of inland lakes in South Africa and houses the Chrissie Pans Important Bird Area (IBA), which

supports more than 220 species of birds, of which 17 are endemic. When the pans are wet, total numbers regularly exceed 20 000 birds!

The tourism plan, will include a hiking trail that meanders through the area featuring specially created bird hides,

Top 10 birds In Mpumalanga

• Southern Bald Ibis • Yellow-breasted Pipit • Rudd’s Lark • Narina Trogon • Orange Ground Thrush • Gurney’s Sugarbird • Blue Swallow • Gorgeous Bushshrike

• Southern Ground-Hornbill

• Kaapsehoop (bird habitats – grasslands and forests) • Wings Over Wetlands Bird Hide • Sasol Flufftail Hide • Crane Hide • Iain Drummond Hide

thus catering for the tourist keen to discover nature’s beauty on foot while trying to spot the many types of birds settled in the ecological wetlands. These trails will be best taken in the company of one of the many well-trained local community BirdLife South Africa guides who are in tune with the Frog Night in December held under the environment and your best bet when it comes experienced eyes of Ané and Nico Steinberg to viewing the elusive winged creatures. of Florence Farm, who have hosted it for the To provide a fully experiential holiday, certain past 14 years. On this “environmental night of fun”, visitors to the farm get to track frogs, events in the area have made their way onto the yearly calendar including the Annual classify them and check them for diseases

• Crowned Eagle

before returning them safely to their natural habitat.

Another event, which was a raging success this year, was the Annual Wildflower Weekend, a colourful and fun celebration of summer for the flower enthusiast. Going forward, much more will be added to this package including music, food and a wildlife festival, thereby increasing appeal to the Mpumalanga area and drawing in much needed tourism.

www.onroutemag.co.za

Popular bird trails In Mpumalanga

47

INTERSECTION [NE W S ]

Global Tourism targets 5.1 million New Jobs

I

n 2011, 656 million international travellers visited G20 countries, which is 67% of all international tourist arrivals. With that stat, it is safe to say that international tourism contributes substantially to the economies of the G20 nations which include: South Africa; Arabia; Argentina; Australia; Brazil; Canada; China; The European Union; France; Germany; Italy; India, indonesia; Japan; Korea; Mexico; Russia; Turkey; United Kingdom and The United States of America.

Research by the United Nation’s World Tourism Organisation and World Travel and Tourism Council presented that in 2011, 109 million tourists visiting G20 countries required a visa.

This represents 17% of the total international tourism market to the G20.

taxation of aviation emissions. In support of his submission, he pointed out that 43% of all international tourists globally arrive by air.

He said civilian air transport, which involved some 1 570 airlines, operating 24 000 commercial aircrafts, serving 3 850 airports and connecting just under 35 000 cities globally, is the lifeblood of the tourism industry.

www.onroutemag.co.za

Marthinus van Schalkwyk said improvements in visa facilitation by the G20 countries could generate up to 112 million additional international tourists by 2015, increase tourism receipts by as much as US$ 206 billion However he said, “Unilaterally introduced and unfair taxes on air transport or retaliatory th During the 4 Tourism Ministers Meeting of and create up to 5.1 million additional jobs taxes will ultimately have a negative effect the G20 countries held in Mexico recently, during the next three years. on tourists and those employed in the it was estimated that travellers spent tourism sector. approximately US$ 830 billion which generated Van Schalkwyk said himself and his counterparts from G20 countries supported 78 million jobs.

“We need a sensible and reasonable global the E-Visa concept because it is an solution. This is a transnational sector But this is not enough for South Africa’s opportunity to simultaneously enhance requiring a global approach,” Van Schalkwyk Minister of Tourism, Mr Marthinus van security and facilitate travel. told delegates.

Schalkwyk who believes that more money and But he also alluded to the ever increasing jobs can be generated by better facilitation challenge of double counting and double of visas.

48

Images by Shutterstock

confident that we will win this war against road carnage.”

Friends of the Decade of Action for Road Safety are companies that have pledged to be responsible road users and obey all traffic rules. onRoute partners Imperial I-Pledge and the N3 Toll Concession have joined forces to make a difference.

But in May 2011, The United Nations officially declared war, on a global scale, on road crashes and fatalities with their Decade of Action for Road Safety 20112020 campaign. South Africa, along with 99 other countries joined the initiative.

Imperial has launched a road safety campaign called I-Pledge, which encourages all road users to make a personal commitment to change their behaviour, because they believe there is a strong human behavioural component attached to road users.

Former Minister of Transport Sibusiso Ndebele said: “We need to stand up together, with the private sector, the education and justice fraternity, the religious sector, civil society and everyone, to firmly declare that road deaths can be stopped and prevented. If we commit ourselves whole-heartedly, I am

The N3TC has also ‘put its hand up’ for road safety in support of the initiative where all N3TC staff, contractors and service providers have signed the N3TC Decade of Action for Road Safety Pledge which is an active and personal commitment to driving and using roads safely in an attempt to lead from the front.

Contributing factors to the improvement, include: • Improved visibility and law enforcement.

• Improved response times to accidents and incidents.

• The continued and excellent core work of law enforcement authorities and emergency medical personnel along the N3 Toll Route.

• A well executed Incident Management System (IMS) under the auspices of N3TC. • The role of additional partners such as BMW Road Service.

• Prompt removal of obstructions from the Route.

• Increased awareness and a vast majority of motorists who clearly acknowledged the importance of safe driving particularly in heavy traffic volumes.

• Some 31,500 people have taken the I-Pledge to date.

• N3TC and I-Pledge distributed 100,000 road safety awareness brochures and I-Pledge stickers to motorists at the Wilge Toll Plaza on the N3 Toll Route.

You too can do your part to make a difference. Take one pledge, take all of them or even write your own personal pledge by visiting www.ipledge.co.za. You can also keep up to date on the campaign by following @IPledgeZA on Twitter or joining the Facebook page.

www.onroutemag.co.za

Take The Pledge

W

hen you look at the road accident stats, you can’t help but feel that we are losing the battle.

According to the Department of Transport more than 14,000 people die on the roads every year, at least 1000 people every month and 40 people die everyday!

The overall impact of the I-Pledge campaign and the commitment of N3TC has already played a significant role in enhancing road safety on the N3 Toll Route during the past holiday seasons:

49

Karkloof Canopy Tour Special: bring or quote ‘OnRoute Magazine’ when booking and get a 10% discount

The Canopy Tour The Canopy Tour® is South Africa’s fastest growing eco-adventure activity with thousands of satisfied clients visiting our 6 canopy tours countrywide each year. A Canopy Tour® takes you on an amazing adventure as you slide from one platform to the next along a series of steel cables set amongst magnificent natural surroundings. The scenery high up within the forest canopy is spectacular.

It’s perfectly safe and suitable for all ages; we’ve had 3 year olds and a 90 year old do the tour.

Contact Details

Tel: +27 (0)33 3303415 or +27 (0)76 2412888 or Email: info@karkloofcanopytour.co.za

The Elephant Sanctuary SPECIAL: 20 % off the 10:00 or 14:00 elephant programs for adults only.

No more that 2 adults per voucher. The voucher cannot be used in conjunction with any other special/promotion and is not commissionable. Valid until 31 August 2012

The Elephant Sanctuary is situated on the Northern slopes of the Magaliesberg range in Hartbeespoort, only an hour from Johannesburg and Pretoria. We run daily interactive and educational programs where guests obtain a better understanding of these magnificent animals through actually touching, feeding and walking trunk-in-hand with them, experiencing these gentle giants with the people who really care. Lunch, Elephant back riding and overnight experiences are also available as well as Conferencing and Teambuilding. Booking is essential.

Contact Details

Tel: 012 258 9904/5/6/7 Email: elephantsanctuary@mweb.co.za Web: www.elephantsanctuary.co.za FB: www.facebook.com/ elephantsanctuary

Route: R512

GPS Coordinates: 25˚43’11” South 27˚48’54” East

The Big Hole SPECIAL: one free entry per voucher shown at our ticket office.

There is much more to the Big Hole than just the hole. The Big Hole in Kimberley offers the visitor a world class facility where you can experience the Kimberley of a hundred years ago as well as see the largest man made hole and the largest diamond display in the world.

On the premises there are various shops, a bar and you can even sleep over in our own B&B. Contact Details

Tel: 053 830 4417 E-Mail: info@thebighole.co.za www.thebighole.co.za

www.onroutemag.co.za

GIVE (A)WAY [onroute exclusive D E AL S ]

EXCLUSIVE DEALS

Address:

Tucker Street Kimberley

GPS Coordinates: S28.73881 E24.75419

51

Newcastle JANUARY

Amajuba Chelmsford challenge 2012 Amajuba Chelmsford Challenge started in 1985 by the Newcastle swimming Club, this is annual event.

MARCH

Telkom Swimming Competition The Telkom swimming Competition is the national event, you bid to host the event. Newcastle has hosted it for the past three years including this year.

S.A Level 1 age group Championship The S.A Level 1 Championship is the same as the Telkom swimming Competition the difference is that S.A Level 1 are the preliminary group stages.

B.M.W A township BMW car spinning event, crowds come from all the surrounding areas.

APRIL

Vodacom Winter Festival The Winter Festival started in the middle 70’s it has been held for more than 30years. Vodacom is the major sponsor since year 2000 and it is held over four days.

JUNE

The Siyabonga Nkosi Challenge Cup 2012 South African Professional Soccer League, PSL Eleven plays against Newcastle Eleven as curtain raisers for final of the tournament. This is one of the Municipal sponsored.

Newcastle Air Show The Air Show started in 2011. Be prepared for a week full of fun, planes, stalls & food galore.

AUGUST

Drag Racing This event is sanctioned by Motorsport South Africa, it has the potential to attract large crowds.

Memel-Newcastle Walk The Memel-Newcastle Walk started in 1993 by Amajuba High School.

SEPTEMBER

Art in the Park Exhibition of local art talent, patrons are either visitors or buyers of Art every year.

Lucky Dube Tribute Tour

Ntshingwayo/ Chelmsford Dam Newcastle Swimming Pool Newcastle Swimming Pool Osizweni/ Madadeni Newcastle Show Grounds Arbor Park Sports Grounds Newcastle Airport Newcastle Casino MemelNewcastle Carnegie Arts Gallery Newcastle

The show has been hosted around the world since 2010 and it will happen for the first time in Newcastle SA. Quad for Quads A Quad for Quads Race from Johannesburg to Ballito in Durban, for two nights every year, Newcastle town enjoys this unique experience from Bikers around South Africa in aid of quadroplegics.

OCTOBER

Amajuba Rainbow Show

Majuba Lodge Fort Amiel

Organized by the Provincial Department of Arts and Culture and Newcastle Municipality. Another platform for local talent to exhibit their Arts and Cultural products.

NOVEMBER

Mo fest It’s an annual event giving publicity to Cancer awareness.

DECEMBER

Newcastle Comedy Show Organized by Ilima Event Management and Newcastle Municipality. Previous line up was Many More, Felix Hlophe, Celester and Kenneth Nkosi was the Master of Ceremony for the day. Looking forward to laughing out!

Joyous Celebration MTN is the Main sponsor, and this is a renowned South African Gospel “Factory”.

Amcor Dam Music Festival Music vary from Gospel, to Kwaito and House Music. Last year’s lineup included, Bullistic, DJ Cleo, Dj Mngani, Character, Professor, Big Nuzz, Zakes Bantwini, Black Coffee, Zahara ect. Bonang and Sipho “Sgqemeza” Mbatha (sabc) hosted the show.

Newcastle Show grounds Newcastle Show grounds Newcastle Show grounds Amcor Dam

Tahiti Sands – located in Shelly Beach Special: free membership to our Anytime Loyalty Club and once signed YOU will qualify for an immediate 20% off accommodation bookings at any of our available resorts.

To qualify, the visitor will need to call us, quote the voucher reference “onRoute”, and provide name, ID and contact details in order for us to load them on as loyalty club members.

Set on the beautiful shoreline of Shelly Beach, KZN South Coast, Tahiti Sands offers superb views of the Indian Ocean. The beach is right on your doorstep, making this ideal for sunrise walks on the beach. These sea-facing luxury 3 bedroom self-catering apartments offer spacious patios, with built-in braais. Shelly Centre is within walking distance, with a host of restaurants, shops and movies.

Contact Details

0861 ANYTIME (0861 269 846) bookings@anytimeholidays.co.za

Topanga – located in Uvongo Special: free membership to our Anytime Loyalty Club and once signed YOU will qualify for an immediate 20% off accommodation bookings at any of our available resorts.

To qualify, the visitor will need to call us, quote the voucher reference “onRoute”, and provide name, ID and contact details in order for us to load them on as loyalty club members.

Enjoy a South Coast holiday in a chic modern unit with self-catering facilities and modern conveniences.

Built in a relaxed horseshoe shape around a sparkling pool, Topanga is located in Uvongo and is perfectly positioned for a great beach holiday. Just a quick 200m to the beach and you can spend a lazy afternoon soaking up the rays while kids frolic in sheltered rock pools catching tiny crabs.

Contact Details

0861 ANYTIME (0861 269 846) bookings@anytimeholidays.co.za

ZIP 2000 Special: R60 discount (current price is R380 per person)

This is only valid for sliders and not spectators. Maximum of 4 sliders per advert qualifies for this discount. We will then keep the advert as proof of discount given. If booking is made over the phone, the guests have to bring the advert with them on arrival. If the advert is not presented, no discount will be given. PLEASE NOTE: this is a very popular activity and all bookings are subject to availability.

Take a ride on the ZIP 2000, the longest and fastest continuous zip slide in the world! At approximately 280 metres high, two kilometres long, and reaching a speed of 150 kilometres per hour plus this is a guaranteed unadulterated adrenalin rush.

Solo and tandem slides are available so this ride will appeal to even the most amateur adventure junkie, bringing something extraordinary and fun to anyone seeking some action and adventure in a truly unique and unforgettable way.

Contact Details

014 557 1544/3382

GPS Coordinates: S25 21.622 E27 06.467

www.onroutemag.co.za

GIVE (A)WAY [onroute exclusive D E AL S ]

EXCLUSIVE DEALS

Bookings:

Bookings are made through the Sun City Welcome Centre information desk on +27 (0) 14 557 1544/3382 or email amelia@zip2000.com

53

to Frankfurt and beyond

to Accra and beyond

Luanda

Bring back the

smile

Lusaka Katima Ondjiva Rundu Mulilo Victoria Falls

Ondangwa

Windhoek

Maun

Walvis Bay Gaborone Luderitz

Return flights

Johannesburg

Oranjemund

on Air Namibia inclusive… Cape Town

Fly From Johannesburg to: Windhoek R2618.00

Walvis Bay R3544.00

Harare

Accra R5671.00

From

From

From

Lusaka From R3770.00

Harare From R2740.00

Gaborone From R3604.00

• ----- Effective 2012

Fly From Cape Town to: Windhoek R3494.00

Walvis Bay R3206.00

Accra R6721.00

From

From

From

Lusaka From R4430.00

Harare From R5540.00

Gaborone From R3704.00

*T&C apply, contact us for full details. Rates are per person and subject to change based on availability in U-class. Note limited seats per flight for this promotion available.

Tickets are non refundable and change fees apply.

• Tel: 0860 109 716/ 011 783 8022 • Email: reservations@airnamibia.za.com Winner of the Feather Awards

• Best Regional Airline - Southern Africa • 2009, 2011 - O.R. Tambo International • 2008, 2010, 2011 - Cape Town & O.R. Tambo International

Image by Ice Models

My most favorite spot in South Africa is the bushveld

in Mpumalanga . That’s where I grew up and it is a place of intense natural beauty.

I found adventure at Val de

Vie Polo Club in Cape Town. Who knew that horses could be so much fun!

I’ve discovered a hidden gem at De Waterkant area in

Cape Town, I absolutely love the vibe there.

The most comfortable bed I’ve slept in (that wasn’t my own) was at Kaggakamma

Game Reserve. There is something about the bush that makes you sleep like the dead anyway, but that bed was something else.

As a kid, we would holiday at Umhlanga. Now when I go there I still turn into a seven year old. My inner child is alive and well there.

Road trips are cool because

you get to spend quality time with who ever you are travelling with … whether you like it or not. It’s part of the adventure.

My worst road trip experience was when I was

little and my family drove all the way from the Lowveld to Victoria Falls … and back! It was a long drive and I was bored.

The best game to play in the car is still a mystery to me.

I’m not a big fan of Eye Spy or counting white cars.

Other driver’s irritate me when they throw cigarette

butts out of the window. And also when they think they’re the only ones on the road.

Foreigners should visit South Africa because it’s such a diverse country with so many beautiful places to see. And to top it off the people are really nice too — nothing like Paris!

The three things you simply must have on a road trip are good music, good snacks and good company.

The last time I had a flat tyre I changed it. I’m not a girly

type of girl. I grew up on a game farm after all.

www.onroutemag.co.za

BEHIND THE WHEEL WITH

BEHIND THE WHEEL [Q& A]

TANyA VAN gRAAN

55

24 June – 5 August

PARK OFF [E VE NT S ]

Jazz and Cheese Fondue Fest

B

eat the winter blues every Sunday afternoon with a piping hot cheese fondue, a great selection of wines and a live toe-tapping jazz trio.

This long-time tradition takes place annually at the gorgeous family-owned Delheim Wine Estate in Stellenbosch. Guests are welcomed with a glass of glühwein before being ushered into a cosy downstairs cellar where steaming pots of bubbling cheese await. Served with farm-fresh bread and crisp crudités, the fondues are prepared to the authentic Swiss recipe. There’s nothing better than good conversation huddled around a warm pot! Booking is essential.

Knysna Oyster Festival

S

ure to be a shucking success, this year’s famous oyster festival has something for everyone!

From running, cycling and adventure racing to wine and whiskey tastings, cooking competitions, food and wine pairings, gala evenings, live music, a specialised children’s programme — not mention tons of shelled treasures. The festival hub will be back in the centre of town at the Knysna High School sports grounds on Waterfront Drive.

23 - 25 August

6 – 15 July

www.delheim.com

Standard Bank Joy of Jazz

www.onroutemag.co.za

19 – 29 July

www.pnpoysterfestival.co.za

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Durban International Film Festival

T

T

For film details and screening schedules:

www.joyofjazz.co.za

his year the country’s largest and longest-running International Film Festival presents 250 screenings of the latest and greatest in contemporary cinema. Apart from the powerful representation of new films from South Africa and the rest of Africa, there is a special focus on French Cinema. Film-lovers will be spoilt for choice; they’ll also have the opportunity to rub shoulders with film-makers and other well-known personalities.

www.cca.ukzn.ac.za

his premier event on the Johannesburg Jazz calendar is taking place at six venues in Newtown. Joy of Jazz celebrates its 13th anniversary with a fantastic line up of top international and local artists from America, Sweden, Spain and the Netherlands. Joined by top performers from South Africa and the African Diaspora, it’s an event not to be missed by jazz and music lovers alike. Some concerts are free while others require ticket purchase, so check out the line-up and make sure you don’t miss out! www.computicket.co.za

SEE IT. TO BELIEVE IT.

www.namibiatourism.com.na