CONTENTS
CONTENTS
CROSSROADS
MAN AT WORK
6 Back road 4x4 Trips 12 Modern-day explorers
50 Our put foot rally experience
[ H E A R T S & H E R OE S ]
[FEATUR E S ]
SCENIC ROUTE
BUMPY ROAD AHEAD
[PHOTO g raph y ]
[ S P OR T & A DV E N T U R E ]
18 The perfect shot 22 King Of The Click
54 The world’s greatest traveller
THE GARAGE
PITSTOP
24 Range Rover Evoque
56 Spring to spiritual health 58 Advanced Driver Training makes good business sense 58 Healthy Hydration
[Car RE V IE W ]
[ H E A L T h & F ashion ]
CHILDREN CROSSING [FOR THE K ID S ]
31 Kids pull-out section
The Arcade
PARK OFF
[Ga m e R eviews]
35 Latest Games
[EVENTS]
60 Event Guide
THE MALL
BEST STOP
[Tech R eviews]
36 Hottest must-have [ onroute Back P a ge ] gadgets 62 Hot Deals 38 Big summer fun
BEHIND THE WHEEL
DETOUR [TRAV EL ]
[Q&A]
40 Do the dorp thing 44 A journey through Namaqualand
64 Q&A with Miss Lira
Hidden Entrance
[Blink A nd You ’ ll Miss It ]
48 Hidden gems in SA THe Team Editor Elka Schaimberg elka@contactmedia.co.za
Paul Styles Sean Press
C ontributors Brad McCreedy Damian Murphy Dave Lemke Jacques Marais Kate Turner Stacey Vee Margot Bertelsmann
Mana ge m ent CEO & Development Director: Sean Press Managing Director: Donna Verrydt General Manager: Lesley Fox Production Coordinator: Gwen Sebogodi
C R EAT I V E ARTI STS Designer: Janine Steyn Art Director: Quinten Tolken
D istribution lesley@contactmedia.co.za
SALES Melanie Scheepers Jacobus Fourie Irene Hilton
P rinting Kadimah Print
P ublishin g H ouse Contact Media & Communications (Pty) Ltd Block A, 388 Main Avenue, Randburg Tel: 011 789 6339 Fax: 08650 42443 email: pressman@contactmedia.co.za
Copyright © 2013 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.
CROSSROADS [Global Report ] Words & Images Courtesy of Mariëlle Renssen & MapStudio
Taking the Road Less Travelled
Back Road 4x4 Trips
Does your 4X4 need a greater challenge than parking on the pavements of Sandton or Century City? The sooner you realise that your ‘big city car’ is made for back roads and likes the feel of dirt between its tyres, the sooner you will free yourself to embark on some of your greatest journeys yet. For South African adventurer, Mariëlle Renssen, the back road bug has bitten. She shares her experiences, tips, advice, route maps, road conditions and highlights in the hope that more people will explore our country’s back roads.
Kgalagadi’s Wilderness Camps
What’s so special about this Route? If true remote wilderness is what you’re looking for, Kgalagadi has it in heaps. You’ll hear many tales of lion, cheetah and leopard encounters and if you stay long enough, you’ll be the one telling the tales.
Our Experience
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The best move on the trip was booking into one camp for two nights. The animals roam across such vast distances, you’re not always guaranteed sightings: one night we didn’t see or hear a peep, the next we were one-on-one with a leopard.
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Highlight The night sky is brittle and beautiful, the tightly arranged stars of the Milky Way glittering like marcasite. We eavesdrop on a pair of jackals calling back and forth to each other. And in the depths of the night, we’re treated to a resounding orchestra
of ‘whoo-oop, whoop, whoop’ from spotted hyenas, followed by a chorus of yowling, whinnying jackals.
Our Advice to You Three wilderness camps – Urikaruus, Kieliekrankie and Gharagab – were tied for absolute favourite camp in Kgalagadi. Tastes differ though, so choose one or more – you can’t go wrong! And treat yourself to an extra day at your chosen camp.
Trip Summary Features: Wilderness camps with flush toilets, hot showers and oodles of class. Plus, dune driving and exhilarating big cat sightings. Road Conditions: Heavy corrugations, stony, very sandy, with high grass and steep sand ascents and descents.
How to get there: • From Johannesburg: N1/N14 to Upington • From Durban: N3/N5 to Winburg, N1 to Bloemfontein, N8 to Kimberley, R64 to Groblershoop, N10 to Upington • From Cape Town: N7/N14 to Upington
Mac Mac Summit Our Experience Once we were in enchanting Motlatse River Canyon country, it would have been crazy to ignore the beautiful sights of the escarpment. Thousands of tourists can’t be wrong. So, in spite of the tar (not a loose stone or corrugation to rattle our wheels), we stayed both at the top and at the foot of the canyon, allowing for very different perspectives.
Our Advice to You Do the 4x4 trail then take time out to explore the Panorama Route. Heat, haze, fires, mist or rain all play a part in visibility, so be flexible and play it according to what the weather gods serve up.
Trip Summary Features: A 4x4 trail through private plantations and over mountaintops; plunging canyons and waterfalls.
What’s so special about this Route?
Road Conditions: The 4x4 trail is muddy, rutted and stony with embedded rock and wash-aways.
Gain access to private land normally out of bounds to the public. Enjoy awesome mountain vistas, lush tropical scenery, tree ferns, thickly wooded hills, mist, waterfalls and spray. Plus, see the third-largest canyon in the world, with depths of up to 750 metres.
How to get there: • From Johannesburg: N12 to Middelburg, N4 to Mbombela • From Durban: N3 to Ladysmith, N11 to Middelburg, N4 to Mbombela • From Cape Town: N1 to Johannesburg, N12 to Middelburg, N4 to Mbombela
Southern-Central Mozambique Vistas of the cerulean sea and the coastline is relatively unspoilt with shimmering, powder-fine sands, coconut palms, milkwoods and mangroves. Experience 4x4 sand driving. Test your 4x4’s resilience to potholes and endlessly bad roads.
Our Experience The distances we travelled were so vast that it was nirvana to sink our feet into soft sand, stare across the water and make like sloths for a couple of days. In spite of the bad-luck stories, endless rumours of bribery and reports of extreme poverty, we were pleasantly surprised. The trick is to set off with no expectations. Mozambique stole our hearts.
Our Advice to You Try beach lodges along different parts of the coast – the ambience does differ – then dig in for a while. You might never leave, like the drifters from all around the world, who hung out a bit longer than intended and are now running the beach complexes. They simply never said goodbye.
If, like us, you prefer fewer people, less traffic and less of a resortstyle buzz, then travelling out of season (and definitely not during school holidays) is tops. Smaller border posts are definitely the most hassle-free. Do make sure all your vehicle and border entry papers are kept together and are easily accessible. We were stopped a couple of times at police roadblocks – and were treated only with courtesy. Even in winter, there are mosquitoes. So take your prophylactics. You need patience in this land. Breathe deeply and relax. Nothing happens fast, and sometimes even a firm booking is not a real booking.
Trip Summary Features: Soft-sand driving, beating the tide for beach drives. Road Conditions: Badly potholed tar, loose stone gravel, corrugations, speed humps and lots and lots of sand (beach driving only with a permit).
How to get there: • From Johannesburg: N1 to Polokwane, R71 to Phalaborwa (Kruger border) • From Durban: N3 to Ladysmith, N11 to Mokopane, N1 to Polokwane, R71 to Phalaborwa • From Cape Town: N1 to Polokwane, R71 to Phalaborwa www.onroutemag.co.za
What’s so special about this Route?
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CROSSROADS [GL OB AL RE PORT ]
Tankwa & Karoo National Parks What’s so special about this Route?
Our Advice to You
Here, you’ll feel like a Voortrekker only if you stay in a corbelled house. Get under South Africa’s skin via back roads with a slew of gently challenging scenic 4x4 trails. It’s rocky, mountainous and mightily marvellous!
Our philosophy generally is that it’s all about the journey; so always make sure to build some extra hours into your planned route for the day. We constantly gobbled up hours by taking photographs and surveying our planet.
Our Experience
Trip Summary
We discovered a gem right on our doorstep: Karoo National Park (why has it taken us so long?!) – a beautiful, craggy-cliffed, wildly inspiring landscape. But, once again, we did not allow enough hours in the day to stop and smell (and photograph) the daisies. An uncalled-for puncture reminded us always to allow for the unexpected.
Features: Karoo contrasts – flat plains and spring flowers versus towering mountain cliffs and offroad trail-driving.
Highlight
How to get there:
Our 4x4s took us from open air vistas to the edge of the skyline and then into a set of mountain ridges. We summitted at 1200 metres, staring into a valley of pinks, purples and blues being swallowed up by the hazy horizon.
• From Johannesburg: N1 or N12 to Beaufort West, N12 to Oudtshoorn • From Durban: N2 to George, N12 to Oudtshoorn • From Cape Town: N2 to George, N12 to Oudtshoorn
Road Conditions: Embedded rock, loose stones, sand stretches, steep ascents/descents, and dry river crossings.
Plan your back road 4x4 trip: www.backroadtours.co.za
Meet Mariëlle Renssen - Author of More Back Road 4X4 Trips This is your second book on 4x4 trips – what inspired you to write another one?
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Once we’d started to explore SA’s back roads, we realised we had only scratched the surface. There is so much natural beauty in our country, as well as beyond our borders. We’re often quite unaware of the extent of it and we simply don’t do it enough justice.
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What are the best and worst parts about travelling back roads? The best part is avoiding traffic and getting away from the crowds. They are also often the most scenic routes; you can stop as often as you want, particularly if you’re into photography; enjoy clean country air; and explore big skies and open vistas. The worst is if anything does go wrong you can be quite isolated. However, people in more remote parts are friendly and much more inclined to help you.
What personal qualities does one need in order to enjoy a road trip of this nature? Enormous patience, adaptability, careful and meticulous planning and a calm, polite, patient approach is a winning formula.
Your best piece of advice to those thinking about a 4x4 adventure trip? Plan, plan, plan. But also, the journey is as important, if not more, than the destination!
What are the top three most essential items onboard? 1. A puncture repair kit and compressor 2. A tow strap 3. GPS with Tracks4Africa (it’s the best offroad mapping software)
Mariëlle Renssen
WIN
WIN your copy of More Back Road 4X4 Trips.
To enter go to www.onroute.co.za
CROSSROADS [so mething to think about ] By Margot Bertelsmann
Modern-day Explorers Who are the men and women who are conquering the unthinkable? They walk among us, seemingly normal, but undertake feats of extreme adventure and live to tell the tale…
Lewis Pugh
Alex Honnold famous free soloist
Rhymes with “whew” “...he couldn’t feel his fingertips for four months!” The funniest line in Lewis Pugh’s recently-released memoir, 21 Yaks and a Speedo: How to achieve your impossible (Jonathan Ball Publishers) is when he says, “I’m not a rule-breaker by nature.” The British-South African SAS reservist and endurance swimmer is a regular in the icy waters of the Arctic and Antarctic oceans. He’s swum long-distance in every ocean in the world and holds several world records, perhaps most notably the record of being the first person to swim 500 metres freestyle in the Finnish World Winter Swimming Championships (the usual distance is 25 metres breaststroke) – wearing only a Speedo. He also swam a near-unimaginable 1000 metres in -1.7°C waters near the North Pole, after which he couldn’t feel his fingertips for four months! When he’s not breaking endurance records, Lewis tours the globe speaking about his passion: conserving our oceans and water, climate change and global warming. Sounds like the very definition of a rule-breaker to us. 21 Yaks and a Speedo: How to Achieve Your Impossible is a mustread.
Lewis Pugh swims 1km in -1.7oC waters in a speedo!
Alex Honnold Gives Rocks
“...if you fall, you’ll likely die (and many free soloists have).” When your appetite for the thrill of danger is as large as 27-year-old Alex Honnold’s, you’d better find a 600 metreshigh sheer cliff such as the Half Dome, a granite dome in the Californian Yosemite Valley, and scrabble up it with your bare hands. That’s right: no ropes, no carabiners, nothing to jam into the minuscule cracks in the rockface. The “sport” is called free soloing – climbing rockface without any safety devices to help you, or even to catch you should you fall - so obviously it’s extremely dangerous, with a high body count. If you fall, you’ll likely die (and many free soloists have). With his friend Hans Florine, Honnold set a speed record last year. Together, they free-soloed up a cliff in just over two hours. Acknowledged by his peers as one of the very best free soloists in the world, he also does the technically more difficult climbs (with ropes and other equipment), and free climbs (with safety ropes) and is a great route-deviser. Clearly, Alex Honnold knows how to do one thing better than anybody else in the world: forget his fear of falling.
Jill Heinerth Modern Mermaid
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“...the first person to have entered caves in the Antarctic icebergs...”
Jill Heinerth cave diver
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When Jill Heinerth was a schoolgirl, she was told she couldn’t be an astronaut because she was a girl. So she shifted her focus from great heights to great depths and became the best female scuba diver in the world instead. She has dived deeper into caves than any woman in history. She has achieved more than most women and men and she holds records for being the first person to have entered caves in the Antarctic icebergs and so she’s been the first person ever to see several underwater locations. Because this scuba and closed circuit rebreather expert is also a keen photographer, filmmaker and writer (also a qualified graphic designer who owns an advertising agency), she has shared her spoils with the rest of humanity. You can see stunning photographs of her adventures at www.intotheplanet.com. Jill’s passion isn’t just for fun either. She participates in scientific diving missions, doing 3D cave mapping, and she’s a voice for marine conservation, notably with her We Are Water project.
Tyler Bradt
Whatever Floats your Boat “...Bradt broke a vertebra in his back while descending the Abiqua Falls in Oregon, but after receiving surgery he was soon back in the, er, saddle.” Here’s another 27-year-old superman with a thirst for adventure. This man’s poison is water: whitewater kayaking, to be precise. Ever since his dad introduced him to the sport at age six, he was hooked and quickly outstripped his father – and then the rest of the world – in ability. Yes, he’s kayaked the world’s biggest rapids on the Congo River. But his career high came in 2009 when he broke the world record for the highest waterfall ever successfully kayaked, the Palouse Falls in Washington State, at 57 metres. (That’s 5.2 metres higher than Niagara Falls.) In 2011, Bradt broke a vertebra in his back while descending the Abiqua Falls in Oregon, but after receiving surgery he was soon back in the, er, saddle. His latest epic adventure is circumnavigating the globe in a five-year sailing trek. He and his crew departed from Mexico earlier this year and have just completed their Pacific crossing.
Tyler Bradt decends Palouse falls from 57 metres
www.herbertnitsch.com
Herbert Nitsch Deep Down
“The neurological damage he sustained meant he had to learn to walk, talk and move again.” Free divers come in two categories: those who take a deep breath and dive down, down, down, competing to see how far they can get a) without any breathing apparatus and b) without getting seriously ill with the bends; and those who stay on the surface, but compete for the sheer length of time they can hold their breath. Enter Herbert Nitsch, an Austrian free diver who ironically, during his day job, rises to great heights as a pilot. Able to hold his breath for nine minutes at a time, he holds the 2007 world record for “the deepest man on earth”, descending to a depth of 214 metres on a single breath. He also holds 33 other divingrelated world records. Last year he attempted to descend to 249 metres in his no-limit dive.
Free diver Herbert Nitsch
It was only on the way back up that he got narcosis and had to undergo intense decompression treatment for months afterwards. The neurological damage he sustained meant he had to learn to walk, talk and move again. Herbert is doing very well and freediving again, one year later. Don’t try this at home, kids!
Fun Fact: German Tom Sietas currently holds the record for simply not inhaling for the longest time: 22.22 minutes.
François Gabart Around the World in 78 Days
The Vendée Globe: a single skipper on a single 60-foot yacht races non-stop 43 500 kilometres around the world without any assistance. Those are the rules of the world’s toughest sea race, which has taken place every four years since 1989. The months of solitude, as well as the dangers posed by icebergs, bad weather and sea mammals all add up to one extreme sail-boating challenge. Unlike the Velux 5 Oceans race, which occurs in stages, there is no break, and last year’s race was tighter than ever. The winner, Francois Gabart, broke the record for the shortest circumnavigation of the globe ever, in a little more than 78 days. His runner-up was just three hours behind him! Somehow we don’t think the world has heard the last of this 20-year-old Frenchman.
Extreme skipper, Francois Gabart
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“...months of solitude, as well as the dangers posed by icebergs, bad weather and sea mammals...”
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CROSSROADS [so mething to think about ]
Ed Stafford The Long Walk
“...anacondas, parasites, and a particularly inhospitable Peruvian tribe who threatened to kill him.� Just four years ago, at the age of 33, Ed Stafford got up and started walking. 860 days and several near-death experiences later, he stopped. He had become the first person ever to walk the entire length of the Amazon River. That’s 7000 kilometres of danger: unwelcoming locals, wild animals and the risk of getting lost, starving or dehydrating. Stafford did get into some frightening scrapes involving anacondas, parasites, and a particularly inhospitable Peruvian tribe who threatened to kill him if he was found on their land (they later relented as long as he agreed to employ a member of the clan as a guide). He battled tropical disease, and ran out of food, once, for eight days, when his GPS misdirected him and his stop was not inhabited by people as he had expected.
Ed Stafford in the Amazon River
What sets Stafford apart, and won him his Guinness World Record, is that his expedition (which consisted mostly of himself and one other person for parts of the way) made no use of boats to propel them along their journey at all. If he had to cross the river, he did so perpendicularly so that the river did not shorten his trip. Stafford is passionate about sharing his wonder of the rainforests with other people, to motivate them to care about their conservation.
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THE SCENIC ROUTE [Photog rapher F ocus ]
The perfect shot Acclaimed wildlife photographer and safari tour guide Daryl Balfour talks: living in the wild; good lighting and being trampled by an elephant! How did your interest in wildlife photography begin? As a small child my family spent many holidays in various South African parks. My dad was a keen cine photographer and I was given a small Brownie camera to take my own pics, so I’d say that was when I started. But I only got serious about it in 1986 when Sharna and I moved to the Okavango Delta to manage a safari camp. Our family and friends were incredulous at our move from Durban to a life under canvas in the bush, so we needed to take a lot of pictures to show them what we were doing. From that it went to slide shows in camp, to selling prints and eventually, putting together our first book.
Leopard on a broken branch with a stormy sky in the background.
“I don’t think I’ve had two days exactly alike in almost three decades of wildlife photography!”
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What personal qualities do you need to be a good wildlife photographer?
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Patience with a capital P! To create successful images can take hours of sitting and waiting for the right moment. You also need an enquiring mind, a passion for wilderness, and enthusiasm for discovering new things. Of course, a good photographer does need an eye for the light too. In my opinion the light, and the way you use it, is possibly the most important aspect of photography.
Can you elaborate on the success of your husband-wife team? Together we have produced more than a dozen top-selling wildlife coffee table books and countless magazine features around the world. We have lectured at the most
Two lionesses play in Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve.
prestigious nature photography symposium in the world, and we supply many of the world’s leading image libraries, including Getty Images in the USA. We have built up a sizeable stock library of our own here in South Africa with close to a quarter-million images, and over the past decade have established a successful photo safari business, Wildphotos Safaris, taking small, intimate groups of guests to wildlife destinations across the world.
What are your most popular safaris? The wildebeest migration in Kenya and Tanzania, polar bears in the Arctic, and wild dogs in Botswana.
What was your most memorable encounter in the wild? We have witnessed many births and they are always incredible experiences, but probably the best was seeing my first elephant birth, from start to finish, after 24 years of waiting for it. Also being able to crawl into a tiger’s den to photograph her newborn cubs within hours of their birth was pretty special. Seeing my very first polar bear up close... There really are too many to mention – that’s why I do this with my life!
...and the scariest? In December 1992 I was trampled by the well-known Kruger Park tusker Tshokwane and almost killed. I spent four months recuperating and then went back to look for him. That was scary.
What is your favourite animal to photograph and why? Elephants, without a doubt, are my number one. Their trunks give them an added element that is so human-like. Touching, caressing, picking things up, rubbing an eye, scratching an itch… Wildlife photographers look for images that evoke a human response, and elephants usually do that in the way they use their trunks.
Can you pre-empt a good photograph by studying and understanding animal behaviours? Most certainly! That is possibly the most important skill a wildlife photographer needs – the knowledge of an animal’s behaviour and the ability to predict what might happen next, and be ready for it. I like to believe that we can create a greater understanding and awareness of the beauty of nature and the importance of preserving it for future generations. As I get older and more cynical I’m starting to believe the best we can do right now is preserve a record of what the world will have lost. Dramatic walk - don’t try this yourself...
A male lion fresh from a kill.
How much of your work is planned and how much is spontaneous? It is planned in the destinations we visit. We visit the Arctic with a plan to photograph polar bears. But thereafter so much of it has to be spontaneous, and quite honestly, I don’t think I’ve had two days exactly alike in almost three decades of wildlife photography!
Do you ever feel separated from an experience by being behind your lens? Yes, that is often something I’m aware of. Occasionally you miss experiencing the wider tapestry because you are focused on a small segment of a scene. I was always aware of the fact that I was seeing pictures – that is probably why I was trampled by the elephant. I was photographing his charge, so absorbed and thinking to myself: “Wow, great pictures!”
Any future projects by Daryl Balfour we should know about? In a few years’ time we want to do a retrospective of our lives in the wilderness, looking back over three decades, our experiences, and our best pictures. onRoute recommends TRACN4 to all aspiring wildlife photographers and nature lovers! For all route information & traffic updates visit: www.tracn4.co.za or @TRACN4route
Daryl and Sharna Balfour can be contacted via their websites: www.wildphotossafaris.com or www.darylbalfour.com
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Can wildlife photography impact conservation?
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THE SCENIC ROUTE [Photo C ompetition]
King of the Click READER PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION
Novice photographer Esmanè Minnie explores the country from behind her lense...
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TITLE: Ocean Jetty Location: Swakopmund, Namibia
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Join the league of onRoute’s travelling photographers by simply capturing the beauty of your journey and sending us your best shots!
TITLE: Purple coming alive Location: Merweville, Karoo
THE SCENIC ROUTE [Photo C ompetition] TITLE: A Couple at sunset Location: Theewaterskloofdam, Villiersdorp
WIN
1st Prize: R2000 2nd Prize: R1500 3rd Prize: R1000
TITLE: The Look Location: Somlandela, Lwandle
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L
et’s first clear up the pronunciation of ‘Evoque’, which is actually a Land Rover creation. There are two schools of thought here: either it’s pronounced ‘Evoke’ or ‘Evock’. At the Los Angeles Motor Show the Americans referred to it as an ‘Evoke’, but these are the same people that speak a totally different dialect of English to us (and some argue it isn’t English at all). We’ve heard from other sources too that it should be ‘Evoke’, as in to evoke emotion. But then it could be ‘Evock’, as in evocative. We’re going with ‘Evock’, we do have a 50% chance of being correct, after all! My first impression of the Evoque is that it is a drop-dead beautiful SUV with 20-inch alloy wheels that gives it an elegantly aggressive stance. Victoria Beckham assisted with the styling of the interior, which is why it is so posh and boasts every conceivable luxury available such as a reverse camera, a large glass roof that has an automatic retractable hood lining, and even a voice command system. The 380W Meridian sound system, with
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SD4 Dynamic
Range Rover Evoque
THE GARAGE [C ar Review ] BY: Brad McCreedy
“My first impression of the Evoque is that it is a drop-dead beautiful SUV with 20-inch alloy wheels that gives it an elegantly aggressive stance.”
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its iPod and USB connection, produces excellent sound – it even met my teenage niece’s max-volume, hip-hoppumping requirements. It has an automatic rear hatch which works by simply pushing a button on the dash, or on the key fob, and the hatch opens, and with the press of another button below the hatch, it closes again. We tested how safe this feature is. I convinced one of my colleagues (not a very bright one) to kneel behind the vehicle and stick his head in the back as I hit the close button. At this stage I was picturing him being decapitated and having to notify his widow, but the hatch gently closed until it touched him and stopped immediately. No harm done. At 575 litres, the boot is a good size. Not huge, but big enough for a couple of suitcases and a cooler box. I can only fault the interior in three places. Firstly not enough cup-holders in the front (only two in front of the centre console). Secondly, no grab handles above the doors, maybe because of the airbags. And thirdly, the infotainment centre works nicely but I
found the navigation interface not as user-friendly as it should be. The test model was powered by a 2.2 litre turbo diesel motor (140 kW and 420 Nm of torque) mated with a six-speed automatic transmission, and although it is not going to win any drag races with going from 0-100 km/h in 8.5 seconds, it pulls strongly. I managed at least 10.5km per litre consumption of diesel even though I was driving it with a very heavy foot, so the 12.5km per litre claimed by Land Rover should be very possible. Now for the handling: the Evoque has a Terrain Response system which, depending on your terrain, adjusts the damper setting to optimise the handling. On-road handling is excellent and driving it in Dynamic Mode made it very responsive. The vehicle is also fairly competent off-road and has numerous Terrain Response off-road settings as well as hill start assist and descent. The SD4 Dynamic starts at around R629 000, and while this is not cheap, it is a Range Rover and an excellent vehicle.
Most cars’ air pressure numbers are listed in the petrol cap and pressure should be checked at least once a month. Be sure to use the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended pressure and not the maximum pressure indicated on the tyres. That number represents the absolute max pressure a given tyre can hold, not what it should be rolling on day in and day out.
Tip 2: Rotate Tyres It is suggested that you rotate your tyres every 10,000 kilometres. Every tyre will wear differently. On front-wheel-drive cars, the front wheels wear at almost twice the rate of the rear wheels. In left-hand-drive countries like South Africa, the left tyre will wear faster than the right.
Tip 3: Examine Treads Make sure there is enough tread on your tyres to give them grip in all weather conditions. Tread helps push water through the tyres, keep you on the tarmac and gives you more grip when breaking, especially extreme breaking.
Tip 4: Align Wheels Aligning your wheels will not only keep you driving straight, but will also insure that your tyres do not wear unnecessarily. The problem with tyres not being properly aligned is that they can often wear on the inside, so it may not be known to you that you have no tread on the inside, which is extremely dangerous when the surface under the tyre is not dry or solid.
Tip 5: Keep the Deepest Treads at the Back Deeper tread grips the road and channels water better, making the rear of the car less likely to hydroplane and fishtail. Although logic may suggest you keep the better tyres at the front, as you steer with the front, the car is easier to control with better grip from behind.
What to Do with Your Old Tyres? There are enough wasted tyres in South Africa to stretch from Cape Town to Cairo 60 times! REDISA is a company that recycles old tyres. www.redisa.co.za
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5 tyre safety tips for your next road trip
Tip 1: Check Pressure
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! N O I T C E S KIDS
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SPECIAL PULL-OUT SECTION CHILDREN CROSSING [K ids S ection ]
Welcome to The
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SPECIAL PULL-OUT SECTION CHILDREN CROSSING [K ids S ection ] www.onroutemag.co.za
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What has teeth but cannot eat?
d.
! k c o n K k c o n K Who’s There? ur Classic Jokes to tell yo Friends and Folks Knock-knock Who’s there? Dozen Dozen who? Dozen anybody want to let me in?
Knock-knock Who’s there? Nana Nana who? Nana your business!
Answers: a. A clock b. A bottle c. A towel d. An egg course! e. All of them of f. A glove g. Your name h. A shadow i. A comb
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Funny Riddles
Knock-knock Who’s there? Goat Goat who? Goat to the door and find out Knock-knock Who’s there? Orange Orange who? d Orange you gla ! I’m here
Knock, knock Who’s there? Ya Ya who? know Wow. I didn’t cited ex so be you’d to see me!
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In many countries ladybugs are thought to be symbols of good luck.
sleep. Ants never
eir knees. r through th a e h ts e k c ri C
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Termite queens lay up to 30 000 eggs a day.
The brain of a cockroach is located in its body so it can live without its head for about 9 days. After that it dies of starvation.
Dragonflies are one of the fastest insects, flying at 100km/h.
Fireflies ‘talk’ to each other using light signals
de of cocoon is ma bout rm o w lk si e n a O d roken threa a single, unb g. n 914 metres lo
www.onroutemag.co.za
Fun Facts
about Creepy Crawlies
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PLATFORM
PS3
Images by Suppliers
E
very now and then a game comes along that blows your socks off! The Last of Us has redefined what great gaming is all about - not only is the story compelling, but the game play is smooth and the graphics world class.
Game Guru Rates It
90%
In The Last of Us it has been nearly 20 years since a viral outbreak devastated the United States and destroyed society as we knew it. The human race is confined to military run quarantine zones that are rife with back-stabbing and deceit. You can either tolerate life in these zones, or risk life outside where ruthless gangs run wild and the infected lurk in the shadows. The game is all about the relationship between Joel and Ellie. Joel is a survivor who is tasked with safely escorting young Ellie through this savage world in order to protect a secret she is keeping. Joel is abrupt, cold and practical, while Ellie (born after the outbreak) is warm, kind and somewhat naive. She counter-balances Joel’s pessimism and gives the gamer an attachment to both characters. The unique characters are brilliantly portrayed and will keep you coming back for more. As you begin to get lost in their world, their quest really does become yours. The beautiful, albeit deadly environments create an enchanting game that keep you glued to your PlayStation for hours, days, even weeks. This is not a game of stereotypes.
Tiger Woods 2014
S
PLATFORM
Xbox 360 Game Guru Rates It
85%
omething tells us that EA Sports, the manufacturer of the Tiger Woods franchise, are glad they’ve stuck with the world’s best golfer to produce this established franchise. Tiger is back at world number one, and the latest installment of his game is a real winner too.
Redefining a franchise is tough when you have a formula that has worked for so many years. The 2014 version of the game has nothing new, but it has evolved just enough. Some new characters, new courses and some revisited old ones make the latest version of Tiger Woods worth it. Being able to create your own character in a game and then compete against some of the world’s greatest modern and historic golfers is a novelty that will never wear off. EA Sports have also fixed one or two of the gimmicks that made the 2013 version seem like a stepping stone between the awesome 2012 and 2014 versions. There is nothing here that will set your world on fire, but there is plenty to keep the love for this iconic game alive.
The App CorneR
Top 3 iPad games to download at the moment:
Candy Crush Saga
Head Soccer
Stick Cricket
By far the most addictive game we have found in the app stores of late. The premise of this game is simple – slide different candies around into various combinations to complete a series of beautifully constructed levels.
Soccer with bobble-head figurines! It sounds so quirky, and really it is, but like most games for iPads and iPhones, it consumes time when you have time. It is a one-on -one game of soccer where your head is your biggest weapon.
Like 20/20 cricket, Stick Cricket is all about sixes and fours. You do not have to bowl, merely bat, and you must chase down a target in an IPL-styled game. It is fun and simple to play with the added benefit of being free.
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GAMING REVIEWS
THE ARCADE [Ga me Reviews] BY: @carandgameguru
The Last of Us
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Supercharge your spring with the season’s hottest must-have gadgets
BY STACEY VEE
THE MALL [tech Reviews]
Hot, hot, hot!
www.onroutemag.co.za
TECH REVIEWS
R99
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BuiltNY Slim Neoprene Sleeve Fancy reading your shiny new Kindle on the beach? This neoprene sleeve will protect your new Kindle Paperwhite or latest generation Kindle from dirt and grime. Designed with frequent travellers and commuters in mind, the form-fitting design hugs the Kindle so that it won’t slip out. The plush inner lining helps safeguard against scratches. If the BuiltNY Slim Neoprene Sleeve gets dirty, simply throw it in with the washing to get it clean. There is an array of funky designs and colours to choose from. Stockist: www.knrflatrock.co.za
R280
Dreamfarm Clongs Tongs There is good saying that goes, “any job is always easier if you use the correct tools.” The Dreamfarm Clongs are the correct tool to braai with. It features ends that are super flat with scalloped sides, making it easy to get under that chop/steak/wors. For those that serve straight off the braai, the built in sausage pricker and cutter makes easy work of boerie. Clong stands for Click, Lock Tongs which means that they click closed for storage. Made from stainless steel, they can be safely washed in the dishwasher. Stockist: www.yuppiechef.co.za
R5999
Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom Take a Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini and bolt on the zoom lens from a digital camera and you get the Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom. Made for someone who wants to take high quality snaps and post them online without having to carry two devices to achieve this. With a large sensor and optical zoom, the camera renders beautiful 16MP photos coupled with all of the features regularly found in the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini smartphone, makes the Zoom a great option for someone looking to take better photos with their phone. Stockist: www.samsung.co.za
R99.99
UVMonkey This nifty little gadget has a chemical compound in its core which changes colour to indicate the UV intensity of the sun, the stronger the colour, the more effective your SolarMonkey and SolarGorilla solar chargers will be at charging your device. UVMonkey will even keep you safe in the sun. If the colour on the chart shows up as strong, put on some sunscreen or get in the shade. The device is made out of tough rubberised materials so you can throw it in your beach bag and head out into the sun. Stockist: www.mobilegadgets.co.za
$129 (ships to SA)
BioLite CampStove The BioLite CampStove is no ordinary stove that goes along on hiking and camping trips. Not only is it a stove, but it doubles as a USB charger as well. The stove converts heat energy into electricity by means of a thermoelectric generator. There is enough power to plug in most smartphones or, if needed, an USB powered LED light. There is also no need to carry heavy fuels to burn in the stove, the stove works with twigs, leaves and pine cones etc. making it carbon neutral and safer for the environment. www.biolitestove.com
R445
Zoku Duo Quick Pop Maker Nothing says ‘Hello Summer’ like an ice-lolly. From the guys that brought you the original instantfreeze lolly maker, the Zuko team brings you the Duo Quick Pop maker. Use juices, milkshakes, chunks of fruit – let your imagination and taste buds run wild – and make two ice pops that set in just seven minutes, without even using electricity. You’ll need to pop the unit back into the freezer for a while after making six pops, though.
www.onroutemag.co.za
www.yuppiechef.co.za
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Fun
Have an adventure this season with the latest ’n greatest outdoor gear
Moto Guzzi V7 Racer
R2 999
R109 995
Airhead Graffiti City Wakeboard with boots
Now, if this was a ‘Bikers Magazine’ we would have a scantily dressed model posing next to the bike, but in the V7’s case you would spot the bike way before you notice the girl – it’s that pretty! The chrome tank with leather strap, red frame, and retro look, will outshine any FHM model. Moto Guzzi is the oldest European motorcycle manufacturer and this Italian company has a proud history in motorcycle racing. It pulls solidly with its 744cc V-twin engine. A fuel gauge might have been nice, but maybe it would have been too much of a deviation from the original and Moto Guzzi has certainly managed to retain its authenticity. The bike is a bit quiet but an aftermarket exhaust will correct that and most probably also help with the power output.
Carve up the waves with this 143 centimetres free-ride wakeboard with removable nylon fins. It’s designed for riders at all levels, and the Clutch binding provides extra support to the ankles, while cushioning your feet. The board has a rounded, bevelled front profile – making it easier to ride the waves. The Graffiti City board is designed for riders 70kg and over.
Words: Brad McCreedy
THE MALL [tech Reviews] Words: Copy Candy, Images courtesy of manufacturers and distributors
Big Summer
The V7 Racer turns heads wherever it goes, and now, with Ewan McGregor being the face of Moto Guzzi, how can you really go wrong?
Stockist: www.waketowake.co.za
Stockist: www.motoguzzisa.co.za
R6 499 (get 20% off when buying a complete set!)
Tusa BCJ-8000C X-Wing The Tusa X-Wing is one of a new style BCs that have become popular with more experienced divers who want to combine recreational diving with the challenge of more technical dives. It is a rearinflation jacket that uses Tusa’s new nylon horseshoe bladder design, for more freedom of movement for the diver. It has removable rear trim pockets and a mesh accessory pocket. Stockist: www.aquadivers.co.za
R185 995
Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 300X
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K-Way Panorama
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Take full advantage of the balmy spring weather to take the family camping. This three-man tent from K-Way is perfect for a weekend in the great outdoors. It has a lightweight frame, is easy to set up and take down, and rolls up neatly. Netting prevents any night-time mosquito bites, and the entrance flap zips closed for privacy. The Panorama tent is available in both red and blue. Stockist: www.capeunionmart.co.za
Stockist: www.kawasaki.co.za
*Prices may vary
R999
If you’re going to take to the waves this summer, make sure you’re piloting the 300-horsepower ‘most powerful Jet Ski ever built’. This supercharged, intercooled 1,498cc four-stroke runner leaves other watercraft in its wake as it skates across the waves. The handlebars of this two-seater are adjustable in five different settings, and the tank holds 77 litres of fuel.
Do the Dorp Thing Larger-than-life characters, tall tales of mythical proportions, jaw-dropping urban legends, unsung nature conservancies, and ecological treasure troves all await you if you dare to trip off the main highway. Trawl through a dusty museum; chat to that old guy with the wild beard and twinkling eyes at a local pub or book into a main street hotel with a big stoep. You won’t be sorry, because the huge rural heart of South Africa is where you’ll discover true hospitality and real people.
Hantam Hideaway
Where? Nieuwoudtville,Northern Cape (Namaqua Region – 350km from Cape Town)
Do These Three Things!
www.onroutemag.co.za
To get to Nieuwoudtville, you have to cruise the vast and shimmering Knersvlakte like those Thirstland Trekkers of yore, but fortunately some terrific farm stalls along the way help in breaking the monotony. The real trick is to go there during their ‘secret season’. August to October is when the flowers are in bloom, but for the rest of the year you will practically have this little Hantam hideaway to yourself.
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WIN
Tell us where your favourite little South African town is and stand a chance of winning one of three copies of Jacques Marais’ magnificent book: THINGS TO DO IN A DORP.
To enter go to www.onroute.co.za
Quiver Tree Forest: Climb the hill above SA’s most extensive quiver tree forest to see these giant aloes up close. Drive in the direction of Loeriesfontein for 23 kilometres, then turn right for 2 kilometres along the Gannabos Pass road. Botanical Garden: Head south on the dusty main road for 3 kilometres until you reach the Hantam National Botanical Garden. Stretch your legs as you search for the African lily and more than 650 other types of bulbous plants. Nieuwoudtville is known as ‘The Bulb Capital of the World’ after all! Oorlogskloof: Trip into the wondrous Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve. The reserve is a haven for hikers, trail runners and bird watchers who want to get lost amid the clivias, kiepersols and Bushman’s candles growing here in wild profusion. www.nieuwoudtville.co.za
Words & Images by Jacques Marais
DETOUR [T ravel ]
In his latest book, Things To Do In A Dorp, Jacques Marais discovers South Africa’s favourite rural hot spots.
Garden Route glory
Where? Storms river village, Eastern Cape (Garden Route Region – 160km from George) While screaming along the N2 highway, most travellers sadly miss this tranquil village. The charm of a bygone era envelopes Storms River Village, a town originally built in 1884, with historical buildings, colourful shops, adventure companies and quirky restaurants like Marilyn’s Diner lining the main road.
Do These Three Things! Historic Inn: The main building of this magical hotel dates back to 1845 and both their Hunter’s Pub and Cafe Bacchus offer excellent meals. Saddle Up: Get a SAPPI permit from Tsitsikamma Village Inn and crank for a couple of hours, or head onto 60 kilometres of trails at Misty Mountain Reserve. Finebush Farm Stall: Holistic green living at its best, with sumptuous, slow food cuisine, country kitchen baking and a rustic shop filled with local faire. www.tsitsikammahotel.co.za
Forest Fantastic
WHERE? Hogsback, Eastern Cape (Amatole Region – 150km from East London) Do These Three Things! Hike a high trail: You can’t visit Hogsback and not tramp the magical trails traversing these ancient forests. Anything goes, from a gentle stroll through the Arboretum to a glorious mission along the multi-day Amatole Trail. Lose yourself: Breathe deeply and centre yourself before navigating the Chartresdesigned labyrinth at The Edge, one of Hogsback’s original accommodation establishments. Christmas in July: If snowball fights, roaring log fires, mulled wine and story-telling is your thing, head to the Arminel Hotel during mid-winter to partake in seasonal delicacies and good cheer.
Perched above the forested slopes of the Tyume Valley, Hogsback is one of those places where you may just find fairies, gnomes and hobbits. Time seemingly stands still here, and tradition jostles with rural charm as you wander the tranquil streets of this leafy mountain village. The serene, stone-clad St Patrick’s-on-the-Hill chapel (built in 1935) perfectly captures the timelessness of Hogsback.
www.onroutemag.co.za
www.hogsback.com
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DETOUR [T ravel ]
Midlands Meandering WHERE?
Nottingham Road, Kwazulu-Natal (Midlands Region – 60km from Pietermaritzburg)
‘Notties’ – as the village is known to locals – is set within typical KZN countryside. Rolling green hills, fly-fishing streams and stud farms are set against the distant backdrop of the impressive Drakensberg peaks. The village originated as a tented camp, set up in 1856, and later grew around the railway station on the route between Johannesburg and Durban. Old-world taverns, traditional farm steads and an eclectic mix of artists and crafters will entice you to stay for a few days.
Do These Three Things! Stunning Kamberg: Nestling against the Drakensberg foothills, you will find Kamberg Nature Reserve, one of SA’s premier fly-fishing, hiking and rock art destinations. Visit the Rock Art Centre or hike the scenic Gladstone’s Nose Trail. Brewing Pleasures: Beer-lovers, gather round! Taste rustic, locally brewed beers with unique names such as ‘Whistling Weasel Pale Ale’ or ‘Tiddly Toad Lager’ at any number of boutique breweries. Cast a Fly: The Mooi River boasts kilometres of prime fly-fishing beats against a backdrop brimming with natural grandeur; Glengarry’s 2km stretch of river frontage is just one these.
www.onroutemag.co.za
Images by Jacques Marais
www.nottingham-road.co.za
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‘Little Serengeti’
WHERE? Gariep Dam Village, Orange Free State (Gariep Region – 195km from Bloemfontein) Less than two hours from Bloemfontein, a small little town slumbers on the shores of a vast, man-made lake. Endless vistas, 347 square kilometres of inland water and a unique sense of tranquility are just some of the jewels on offer. What began as accommodation for construction workers involved in a huge hydro project, is now a setting that allows you to plug into both the leisure and pleasure of the Free State’s largest nature reserve while exploring a region rich in history.
Do These Three Things! Bike Wild: Free-range cranking doesn’t get any better than dicing herds of blesbok, zebra, wildebeest and springbuck along the mini-Serengeti plains of the Gariep Dam Nature Reserve. Roadies will also find their piece of heaven along the deserted, sweeping tarmac roads of the region. Family delight: Gariep’s Forever Resort is just the spot for a family getaway. There is a range of accommodation options on offer, while excellent weather and a long list of activities will enchant the whole clan. Love Thy Neighbor: The nearby village of Bethulie was established as a mission station in 1828. This sleepy dorp has changed names seven times! It’s the hometown of Patryck Mynhardt and literally teems with historic sites. www.gariepdam.com
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www.onroutemag.co.za BY: Elka Schaimberg
DETOUR [Travel ]
A Journey through Namaqualand
“...being the flower capital of Namaqualand has placed the pretty town of Springbok on the map.” Located 570km north of Cape Town, Springbok is the largest town in Namaqualand and within driving distance of other Namaqualand towns like Alexander Bay, Pofadder, Garies, Kleinzee and Port Nolloth. It’s also an important stop for any visitor to the area. Springbok gets its name from the vast herds of springbok that used to drink at the waterholes nearby. It is the administrative capital of the region as well as the last major town in South Africa on the only main road north, before the border into Namibia. It’s perfectly positioned as a stopover en route to Namibia and being the flower capital of Namaqualand has placed the pretty town of Springbok on the map. The attractive town is formed around a central koppie, known by the locals as ‘klipkoppie’(stonehill) that was used by the Boers during the Second Boer War as a fort for its incredible vantage point. Views from here across the valley are beautiful. There are plenty of reminders of the early days when copper was mined in this area. Across the town square, at the famous Springbok Lodge, photographs adorn the walls and there is a fascinating collection of mineral samples and semiprecious stones. There are so many reasons to spend a couple of days here including a visit to the Skilpad Wildflower Nature Reserve, the Augrabies waterfall and the Goegap Nature Reserve.
The Goegap Nature reserve “The landscape of granite boulders and sandy plains makes for stunning scenic driving on narrow un-tarred roads.” Goegap Nature Reserve is a fantastic place to kick off your flower trip, bearing in mind that the best route to travel is north to south so that you see the flowers facing the sun. The landscape of granite boulders and sandy plains makes for stunning scenic driving on narrow un-tarred roads. Besides the unbelievable number of floral species, Goegap Nature Reserve boasts a recorded 45 mammal species including springbok, gemsbok, aardwolf and the endangered Hartman’s Zebra. Bird lovers will
www.onroutemag.co.za
Images by Keith Van Der Schyff
Springbok
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Namaqua National Park “Every turn in the road paints an unforgettable picture.” Seemingly overnight, the dusty valleys of Namaqualand are transformed into a wonderland, carpeted with wildflowers. Butterflies, birds and long-tongued flies dart among the flowers, seemingly overwhelmed by the abundance and diversity as valleys filled with daisies and other spring flowers pulse with sheer energy and joy. Every turn in the road paints an unforgettable picture. The park is home to the richest bulb flora of any arid region in the world and more than 1000 of its estimated 3500 plant species are found nowhere else on Earth. It’s a land of contrasts, where the rigorous climate has created a myriad of life forms – fields of flowers, star-studded night skies, quiver trees, enormous granite outcrops and the icy Atlantic are but a few wonders that await you in the Namaqua National Park.
The Skilpad Wildflower Reserve
www.onroutemag.co.za
“Happy flower-gazers always have pollen-dusted noses and grubby knees.”
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Recently this mountainous reserve has been incorporated into the Namaqua National Park and it is a site not to be missed by visitors to the area. Here, you will get to see and experience carpets of flowers, quiver trees, klipspringer, kilometres of unspoilt coastline, an abundance of crystal quartz patches and, if you’re lucky, you’ll spot the world’s smallest tortoise (the Namaqua Speckled Padloper). Get up close and personal and explore the reserve on foot. Go down on your hands and knees and take a magnifying glass for closer inspection to reveal a multitude of little floral treasures that hide among the daisies. Happy flower-gazers always have pollen-dusted noses and grubby knees. Two days is a good amount of time here if you have good weather, but don’t rush it.
Nieuwoudtville “The variety of flowers is immediately obvious, but there is an equally amazing diversity of plants that can store reserves underground.” In the village of Nieuwoudtville you’ll experience silence, space and stars in a completely tranquil setting. The area is also known for its high number of bulbous plants. The variety of flowers is immediately obvious, but there is an equally amazing diversity of plants that can store reserves underground. In some areas around Nieuwoudtville there may be as many as 25 000 geophytes per square metre. At this density, a spade-full of soil will contain more than 100 bulbs at a time. Hidden treasures of the area include the Neo-Gothic Sandstone Church (which is a national monument), historical sandstone ruins and the famous Quiver Tree Forest where these extraordinary desert trees grow in rich abundance. There’s also rock art, the local bulb nursery, Nieuwoudtville’s Wild Flower Reserve; Hantam National Botanical Garden; Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve and the Nieuwoudtville Waterfall Reserve.
Die Knersvlakte “...a magical land of miniature succulents waiting to be discovered.” Die Knersvlakte is considered one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world. With its white quartz plains, this botanical treasure is sprawled between two small towns. The reflective quartz gravel shelters a fascinating world of miniature succulent plants from the worst of the summer heat. Here you will find plants with names as cute as they look: baby bums, donkey ears, little buttons, fingers-and-thumbs. Some look like tiny green marbles, others like flowering pebbles. Some plants emerge above the soil only during the temperate spring and retreat back into the soil, almost invisible, when the summer heat arrives. It’s a magical land of miniature succulents waiting to be discovered.
Fun Facts and Things You Should Know • Almost 4,000 different species of plant seeds lie awaiting germination and depend entirely on what the weather is doing. • The flowers do not have to be approached by car alone. There are some brilliant hiking and cycling routes. You can also saddle up and enjoy the magnificent landscape on horseback. www.namaquahorsetrails.co.za • You should plan to drive with the sun behind you - generally from north to south and westward in the morning, eastward after noon. • On a sunny day the flowers are fully open for five hours between 11h00 and 16h00.
For all information on the three or five-day group Flower Tours, or to find out more about private tours, visit www.flower-tours.co.za
Images by Keith Van Der Schyff
DETOUR [Travel ]
enjoy more than 92 South African bird species which can be viewed in the park including ostriches, black eagles, spotted dikkops and ground woodpeckers. Look out for the Namaqualand Sandgrouse which has an amazing ability – it stores water in its breast feathers and flys as far as 40 kilometres to quench the thirst of its nestlings.
Hidden Entrance [B link And You’ll Miss I t] By: Kate Turner
Blink and you’ll miss it The Deck Restaurant at Irene Farm
A Storybook Diary Farm Centurion
“O
ne cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” This is the quote by writer Virginia Woolf that introduces us to the menu at The Deck Restaurant, which leads directly off the dairy shop on Irene Farm. They serve a wide range of delicious breakfast and lunch options in a light, bistro-style environment. Tucked between the sprawling cities of Pretoria and Johannesburg, the storybook dairy farm is worth a visit. Run by the Van der Byl family since 1895, five generations later the Irene Farm has become an iconic landmark in the Gauteng countryside. In the midst of an increasingly urbanised environment, it remains a working farm where kids can watch the cows being milked or visit the calves in their stalls. If it’s not for breakfast or lunch, then just pop in for a cup of coffee and grab an ice-cream cone from the shop on your way out. www.irenefarm.co.za
Celestial Culinary Feast under a mantle of stars Cradle of Humankind
Somkhanda Game Reserve A Place of Responsible Tourism Pongola, KZN
R www.onroutemag.co.za
egarded as one of the pioneers of responsible tourism in South Africa, Managing Director, Andrew Anderson, has 27 years experience in both conservation and tourism. When asked what there is for the local market on Somkhanda, Anderson gets very excited. “Somkhanda is prime wildlife country accessible only by 4 x 4 vehicles. It has an extensive network of tracks making it a superb destination for the local responsible travel adventure tourist.” He adds, “Having worked as a ranger in Umfolozi and a passion for adventure I have extensive 4x4 experience and appreciate the opportunity to get to places less travelled, yet relatively speaking on our doorstep!”
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The reserve’s main tourist camp offers quality self catering and fully catered accommodation. For the more adventurous traveller there is a mobile camping safari option set up in a secluded location on the reserve. Tailor-made fully guided and catered self-drive 4x4 mobile camping safaris are also offered incorporating a range of prime destinations in northern Zululand and Maputaland, with Kosi Bay, Lake Sibaya and Usutu Gorge as “bucket list” destinations. reservations@somkhandagamereserve.co.za
N
ot since dinner and cabaret has a culinary pairing been so charming. This time it’s a marriage of steak and stars. Stars: as in luminous, cosmic bodies. Based at the Maropeng Hotel – itself, a four-star establishment, you can expect a heavenly supper of stars and telescopes. First, you’ll be welcomed with a glass of wine. Then you’ll be ushered into a darkened side room, populated by a projector and Vincent Nettmann, Maropeng’s resident astronomer. You’ll ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ as he brings home astounding numbers using everyday comparisons. For example, did you know that Saturn is less dense than water? So, if you could find a glass big enough, it could actually float on water! Blinking as the lights flick back on, you’re shepherded into the dining room where course after course is served by inconspicuous waiters, their black-soled shoes whispering up and down. Imagine a starter of meze, followed by flambéd beef fillet in red wine and cranberry jus. And, just when you think, “That’s it, not another crumb!” you’ll be swayed into submission by a delicate crème brûlée. Then it’s time to take your coffee outside, while you star gaze using Vincent’s impressive large aperture telescope. The evening flies by, at the speed of light. www.maropeng.co.za or call 014 577 9100
The cost?
R230-R350, including dinner.
Big Swing
Voted Guinness World Record’s ‘Tallest Swing’ Durban Sometimes the hardest thing to do in life is to simply let go, especially when you’re 106 metres up! The appeal of hurling yourself off a building while attached to an elastic chord is not the 10 seconds or so of abject terror you feel as you fall, but the elation that follows when the bungee cord arrests your fall, and you swing back and forth with a sense of having defied gravity. Durban’s icon, the Moses Mabhida Stadium, offers adrenalinpumping activities for fun–seeking families, or a spot of office team-building. Take a trip on the Sky Car or, if you have some winter kilos to shed, make the 550-step climb to the top of the arch (the 160-degree panoramic views of the Indian Ocean and Durban make the slog worth it, trust us). But the real thrill is the Big Swing. Hop aboard the Sky Car; once you’re up with the birds get holstered, take your position on the lip of the stadium roof and tell your feet (which are suddenly rooted more than ever before) to tell your brain to take the leap! If terrafirma is more your vibe, then take a peek inside the remarkable stadium with one of their all-access (90 minute) or general (45 minute) tours.
www.bigrush.co.za or www.mosesmabhidastadium.co.za or call 031 312 9435
Clear-as-vodka rock pools Arguably the most picturesque pass in the Cape Western Cape
T
he weather’s warm and the days are long – it’s time to get your swim on! And there’s nothing more delightful than frolicking in a wild swimming hole. The 30 kilometre-long Bain’s Kloof Pass, an easy one-and-a-half hour’s scenic drive from Cape Town, is a pearl string of natural rock pools, each one more luscious than the last.
Must do:
Once over the mountains and in Tulbagh Valley, stop for tea at the old tollhouse at the base of Mitchell’s Pass.
www.capenature.co.za or 021 483 0190
www.onroutemag.co.za
At the top of the pass, 595 metres above sea level, you’ll find a picnic spot where the road meets the Witte River. The river cascades down the rock faces, through a cleft in the mountainside, down a stretch of rapids, over waterfalls and into natural pools on the northern side of the mountains. And this is where the magic happens. Either pay the entrance fee to swim with the rest of the rabble, or wallow privately, and for free, in one of the pools tucked away just off the main road. You can camp at the Tweede Tol campsite, managed by Cape Nature. But because it’s on the river, it’s a spot that gets booked up quite quickly, so book ahead.
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By: Elka Schaimberg
onRoute Travels with Team Bookmark Africa Our team of eight local guys (and a chicken) are back on home soil having just completed on the largest social rally of its kind in Africa. Team Bookmark Africa travelled 8000km through seven African countries. onRoute joined them for the ride here’s a taste of our Put Foot Rally experience…
“Overriding observations of poverty and struggle were enhanced by the glaring reality of how far behind the rest of the world Africa really is.”
“W www.onroutemag.co.za
e must begin by acknowledging our vehicle – the Hilux was a great travel companion and an absolute dream to drive, taking us on vast open roads, through various border controls (which were all friendly, fast and easy with simple forms of entry and exit), past some of the most breathtaking sites, to local villages, shebeens, campsites, backpackers and all the way back home in one piece.
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We are grateful (and surprised) that there was only one flat tyre throughout the journey, especially after sinking into the potholes that littered the worst roads ever imaginable in Zambia! Driving at night was hair-raising with lots of free-roaming animals and rural folk on unlit bicycles to look out for. It certainly wasn’t ideal and although the rally was not a race, we had to keep going to make up the
distance and get to the next location. It was only when we hit Malawi that we heard that the original route for all 60 teams taking part in the rally had to be changed due to a rebel uprising in Mozambique. We were disappointed not to be finishing in the beautiful coastal country of Mozambique, but rumours of tourist busses being shot at was enough for us to reroute without much hesitation. So instead of finishing in Mozambique, a contingency plan rerouted all teams to Botswana which also meant we could tick off another two countries, as none of the guys had ever been to Zimbabwe or Botswana. We navigated ‘old school’ style, leaving our GPS devices at home, and relied on maps which we often spread across the bonnet of the car. It made the adventure more rewarding and got us out of the car, chatting and meeting the locals, who were all very
accommodating and proud to show their countries off. The walky-talkies between the team’s two cars worked brilliantly, inspiring a lot of hilarious route planning discussions, debates, and a lot of voting. It kept us entertained much of the way, as we clocked the kilometres. We became pros at setting up camp in the dark and felt blessed to get a decent night’s sleep to recoup and rebuild our energy to get back on the road. There was a great show of international participants in this year’s rally and we got to know guys from Argentina, Netherlands and the United States at the infamous check point parties. Everyone, from the 70-year-old couple to the rowdy Stellenbosch students enjoyed festive meals and engaged in many discussions about their experiences along the way. Overriding observations of poverty and
Images by Stu Shapiro
HEARTS AND HEROES
Our Put Foot Rally Experience
In Team Bookmark Africa’s experience every country apart from Botswana saw locals running up to the cars asking for money with a sense of entitlement. Botswana was different - locals are educated and tourists do not get harassed because of the understanding that tourists bring money in that benefits locals. Here, they know they’re getting a piece of the pie so they are able to see the bigger picture. Zambia was the worst! Double the price of South Africa and everyone is poor. We saw some entrepreneurs at the border, who have made their business by driving big vans
with 25-litre plastic drums across to Namibia to fill up with petrol only to bring it back across the border to sell it at a profit. There were so many highlights during our 18day African adventure: the Fish River Canyon left us all speechless - its enormity literally takes your breath away. We drank sunset tequilas on the roof of our car surrounded by the beauty of the Etosha National Park. We felt the world move from the sheer power and intensity of the Zambezi Falls, as we crossed a bridge and got soaking wet. The adrenaline rush of white water rafting saw us topple through rapids and get sucked into the wildest waters, leaving us completely exhausted and feeling lucky to be alive. We kayaked on the flat, clear waters of Lake Malawi, snorkelled and swam among fresh water fish immersed in total tranquil beauty. We discovered so many places off the beaten track, and bought all the beer in one local shebeen which forced the shop owner to close for the rest of the day. We bought artwork, climbed a baobab tree and played pool in the local pubs. We met the chief of a local village just outside Livingstone
where we slaughtered, skinned and cooked a goat for the whole village to feast on. The excitement and joy, especially from the children, will never be forgotten. We licked our fingers after that special meal - tummies and hearts full. The rally organisers hit their target by raising over a million Rand which will be used to support a handful of charities and fund future shoe drops. After such a rewarding rally we would visit every country again, because just when you think it can’t get any better, it does! We kicked off our shoes, lost complete track of time and disconnected with our everyday reality. We have returned from a full-on adventure with an enlightened perspective and stories to tell for lifetimes to come, but more than anything else, we each found our inner African spirit.” To read more about Bookmark Africa’s Put Foot Rally Adventures, check out their blog: www.blog.bookmarkafrica.org
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struggle were enhanced by the glaring reality of how far behind the rest of the world Africa really is. Many were impressed with the cities, their development, entrepreneurial spirit and opportunity for new business, but the forgotten outskirts just beyond them was the eye-opener, often leading to unanswered questions about the future of our continent.
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The World’s Greatest Traveller
Gunther and Christine Holtorf relaxing in Bild
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unther and Christine Holtorf left Germany in December 1988 in a Mercedes G class wagon with the goal of driving the length of Africa and back. They finished a test drive of the car in East Africa in five months, and in late 1990 began the trip in earnest, leaving from France and spending the next five years cross-circumventing Africa. At some point, standing on South African shores, staring at the dark blue meeting point of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, an idea occurred to them – why not just keep going?
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From this idea spawned one of the greatest expeditions of modern times! No other car has ever visited so many countries, earning Otto a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. During this epic journey, Gunther and Christine chalked many firsts – they became the first family with a foreign car ever admitted to North Korea and Cuba and the first to be shipped into many of the Caribbean islands. They are also the first to cross Guyana in a car, the first foreign car admitted after 20 years of closure in Ethiopia, the first to drive the entire length of the Trans-Amazonian highway, all the way down to three-country corner, and the list goes on. “We didn’t know what we accomplished until 2007. Before then we kept a hand-drawn map and only guessed at the number of countries
we had visited,” Gunther reminisces. “When we sat down and added up all the places we had been to, we were just as astounded as anyone else.” Now Gunther travels with a properly printed map delineating his globetrotting route. He carries no mobile phone, laptop or digital camera (preferring his two 50-year-old film Leicas), and has no Facebook page, Twitter handle or blog for people to follow. Gunther’s strict avoidance of technology comes from a deep need to be out of the public spotlight. This is also true of his decision to reject any kind of sponsorship. It may seem odd not to draw attention to his record-breaking journey, but, as he states, “A lot of places we have travelled to are not the safest ones and in every country, there are always a number of not-so-nice people. So if we arrived with media-fare and gave daily updates as to where we would be, then I believe the likelihood of us avoiding violence, as we have done so far, would have been nil.” Travelling the world over hasn’t necessarily left Gunther with a rosy outlook. “When we left, our only goal was to see as much of the world as possible. Quickly, we realised the more you have seen the more you realise how little you have seen,” Gunther says. “But in many ways we have been lucky to see some places before tourism ruined them.”
Gunther remains a staunch opponent of commercial tourism – something he believes has destroyed the beauty and magic of many of the world’s most historical natural and man-made destinations. “The world has gotten smaller,” Gunther continues, “Now anyone can use the Internet to book a ticket for a small adventure through a tour company, and in a week’s time be there and have all their needs taken care of. What I did was go to places that did not even have maps. I had to make my own! Our route was created from the knowledge of local people we met. People today can look at a website and read about what’s on the other side of the world and that’s enough. They think they’ve been there.” Like any literary epic, Gunther’s has not been without tragedy and heartache. After battling cancer for seven years, his wife Christine passed away in 2011. “It was hard, incredibly hard,” Gunther admits, “but before her death, she asked that I complete the tour on her behalf. She always wanted to see Otto finally ending up in the Mercedes museum.” Gunther’s son came to spend time with him after Christine’s passing, travelling in Otto through China, North Korea and the South Pacific. Despite his outspoken thoughts on some subjects, Gunther remains a humble and lively
Copy and Images: Dave Lemke
Bumpy Road Ahead [S port & Adventure]
You probably have never heard of Gunther Holtorf, and in an era where technology is an indispensible part of our lives, it is incredible that the Holtorfs are still unknown. This is even truer when you read the bare statistics of their accomplishments: 23 years of travelling, more than 830 000 km driven, 200 countries visited and all in one car with, incredibly, no breakdowns. What is more, they have done all this without any form of sponsorship and Gunther continues this voyage today.
“…one of the greatest expeditions of modern times!”
Celebrating in India
A Quick Q&A with Gunther Holtorf What impresses you the most when you are visiting new places? By far it’s the nature. Nature will never cease to amaze me; it’s just incredible to behold the Earth’s formations and animal-life. People do as well, but what I have noticed over the years is that with our now ‘global’ world, we are all becoming the same. The world’s distinct cultures are slowly becoming a universal one.
What are some of the highlights so far – or are there too many to choose from?
Traveling through Syria
Indeed there are so many – but two that I often talk about are when we were in Sudan and we drove the car to one of the ancient Nubian pyramid sites, camping there overnight. There was no one else, just us, falling asleep in this rarely visited spot. They are beautiful and were largely unknown. We felt like we were going back in time. Also when we were in Bolivia and visited the Salar de Uyuni, we actually spent a whole week in the middle of the salt lake and no one else showed up. It’s a freeing experience to be alone in one of the natural wonders of the world.
How do you view this incredible journey you’ve undertaken? Honestly, I don’t feel like I have done anything
Los Angeles, USA
special – I am not even sure people care about what Otto has done. It was a dream of mine and of my late wife’s, and I will see it through to its conclusion. I feel a sense of accomplishment, but what I have done, it feels normal, natural. I don’t consider myself a hero or anything.
And the state of Otto? The car is great. I can truly say that Otto has been the biggest part of the journey. When I open and shut the doors, they click and lock just like they did when I first bought it. The engine has never been better. It’s a testament to the engineering and build quality of the automobile.
How does Otto go so far without a breakdown? Well, let me just say that the car runs like a wrist watch and is taken care of by myself at all times with aircraft-like preventive maintenance. I change all parts before they reach the end of their life – this ensures a trouble-free operation. Inside I carry some 400 different spare parts and all the tools and I have the knowledge of how to use them.
What is next for you? Still waiting to hear back from Burma – which I am very excited about, if it happens, then into West Africa, then home and finished!
Alaska
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spirit, and he is very much looking forward to settling down upon the completion of his expedition in mid-2013. Otto will be retired in Mercedes’ Automobile Museum and Gunther is hoping to relax by a small lake near his house in Germany. After 24 years, it will be a rest well deserved – and although Gunther will be done with travelling the world over, the world should not so easily forget him and his accomplishments. The Holtorfs story is one that should be preserved and retold for generations to come. Great adventures do not come often, and on our ever-shrinking globe, the breed may very well die out completely.
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PITSTOP [H ealth ]
Spring to Spiritual Health Laughter Therapy
A Taste of Mindfulness
What it is: Just a few generations ago happy healthy adults spent 20 minutes a day, or more, laughing. Today daily laugh-time is down to 5 minutes or less. Why have we lost our child-like ability to laugh for no reason? Laughter Therapy helps adults regain their ability to laugh without intellect. You will quickly rediscover the joy and happiness of laughing for the sake of laughing and reap great overall health benefits.
What it is: The Buddhist Retreat Centre in Kwa-Zulu Natal offers meditation retreats to newcomers and seasoned meditators alike. The retreat gives participants a taste of the practice of Mindfulness: developing momentto-moment, non-judgmental awareness. This powerful practice enables you to relate to whatever is unfolding before you and makes it possible to work more creatively with the stresses and demands of daily life.
How it Works: A certified laughter coach leads a group through a series of warm-up routines that include clapping, chanting and physical movement. This relaxes inhibitions and prepares us to laugh. Breathing exercises are done to loosen the diaphragm after which a series of laughter exercises begin. It could be said that laughter is initially ‘acted out’ in exercises but due to group dynamics real laughter soon takes over, spreading contagiously. Sessions can last 30-60 minutes.
How it Works: A two-day weekend retreat combines traditional eastern wisdom with modern science and psychology and aims to generate a greater present-mindedness, less reactivity, and more relaxation, body awareness and self-compassion through mindful exercises, yoga, group discussion and reflection. You will be taught how to integrate the practice into your daily life. www.brcixopo.co.za
www.laughsa.com
Ayurvedic Massage
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What it is: Settle the stress in your spirit, mind and body with an Ayurvedic assessment followed by a muscle-melting back, neck, shoulder and hand massage using oils specific to your body type. The benefits range from rejuvenating, detoxifying, weight reducing, healing, revitalising, nurturing and balancing.
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How it Works: Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine originated in India that dates back over 5000 years. Centring on mind, body and spirit, the holistic system is a comprehensive study of anatomy, physiology, pathology and diagnostic methods. Your evaluation serves to identify your body type by examining finger nails and blood pressure using a simple three finger pulse diagnosis. The results of the evaluation will determine how best to treat your body and also what kind of oils will be used in your massage treatment, designed especially to guide you back to harmony. www.ayurvedahealthspa.co.za
Images by Shutterstock
Health consciousness has reached new heights, but it’s not all about just eating right and exercising. We require emotional and spiritual rejuvenation - here are some alternative treatments to consider incorporating when planning your health regime.
PITSTOP [S afet y]
Healthy Hydration
Image by Shutterstock
Your body consists of approximately 70 to 80% water! The most important commodity for survival, yet neglected! You can be the best survival expert in the world and live on the most deserted island, but live without water and nothing will matter – you will not survive.
Advanced Driver Training Makes Good Business Sense
How do you know if you are dehydrated? There are various symptoms to look out for, but prevention is better than cure. Keep a special eye out when you have little or no urine passing; sometimes urine might be darker than usual. A dry mouth, sleeping or fatigue, extreme thirst, headaches, confusion or feeling dizzy might be symptoms of dehydration.
It has been determined in the UK that a new driver can only be classified as ‘experienced’ when they have 100 000 miles under their belt. In South Africa this translates to 160 000km and, considering that most drivers only cover around 30 000 km per year, one could reason that a driver is ‘experienced’ only after five years of driving! That may well be the reason – at worst, a contributing factor – for our terrible statistics. It then makes sense that companies who hire employees for the purpose of driving, should invest in them by providing some post licence training. Not so, according to some!
“A dozen good excuses for not training yourself or your drivers – which one is yours” Masterdrive offers the first of a 3-part-series: 1. It’s going to cost too much: The average company car driver doing 30 000 kilometres a year will use approximately R30 000 of fuel. You can expect a defensive driving course to reduce that fuel consumption by at least 5%. Therefore, in the first year alone fuel savings should be at least R1 800 per driver. Further, a conservative estimate is that your accident claims rate will fall by 40%. A day’s driver training can cost as little as R1000 per driver. Now, can you afford not to?
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2. It’s still too expensive: Compared to what? R4 000 for a new set of tyres because bad driving only got 20 000 kilometres out of the last set? R8 500 for a new clutch to replace the last one that was abused? R20 000 knocked off the residual value because of excessive wear and tear? The cost of renting when a vehicle is in for repair? The increase in your insurance premium? A one day driver training course costs as little as R1000 per driver. Now, can you afford not to?
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3. We don’t have the budget for it: Use 5% of your fuel budget because you will not be spending it if you train your drivers. How much have you budgeted for third party claims to avoid a huge increase in your insurance premium? You can confidently use 50% of that because with trained drivers you wont need it. How does a proven reduction of 50% sound? In the UK statistics showed a reduction of crashes from one in 19 000 kilometres (pre-training) to one in 125 000 kilometres (post-training). Makes one think, doesn’t it? For detailed information on MasterDrive training courses: info@masterdrive.co.za or 0861100618
It is recommended that an adult drink between 6 to 8 glasses of water per day. This should be spread through the day and not necessarily all at once – which has its own dangers. You can also overhydrate and suffer headaches, nausea and/or vomiting. It is important to keep in mind that each person’s body reacts differently and is unique. Should you have a medical condition, it is wise to consult with your local doctor before you make drastic changes to your water intake. It is interesting that some of the symptoms above may be typical symptoms of diabetes. Should you be drinking enough water during the day and still stay thirsty (without exercise or extreme temperatures) over a long period of time, it is recommended that you consult your local doctor.
Handy Water Tips
• Keep a bottle of water with you during the day, or carry it in your bag. • When you are out on the road, make sure that you have a bottle of water with you. • If you don’t really like plain water, try adding a slice of lemon or a squirt of lemon juice. • If you have a bottle of water in the car or bag and did not drink it during the day, remember to replace it with fresh water for the next day.
Western Cape & Gauteng
Expect unsurpassed views and breath-taking scenery as you wind your way through the panoramic towns of Darling and Malmesbury to your final destination of Durbanville. The Gauteng route also offers the best of Mother Nature’s trails, ranging from rough back roads and Jeep tracks to koppies. Each participant will be racing in honour of the 668 rhinos that were poached in 2012. Both events, in the Western Cape and Gauteng, are aimed at raising funds to help curb the disappearance of these beautiful, endangered animals. The majority of proceeds will be used to supplement funds for existing antirhino poaching initiatives. www.renosterveldmtb.co.za
SANSUI Summer Cup gauteng Glamming up Joburg’s summer social and sporting calendar, the SANSUI Summer Cup is Jozi’s premier equestrian and fashion affair. Chic fashionistas and sharp-dressed leading men will boldly show their high fashion swag to claim the title of best-dressed at the Turffontein Racecourse. Legendary for painting the town pink, the SANSUI Summer Cup is the power, the pace and the pulse of an esteemed legacy of thoroughbred horse racing in Johannesburg which began in 1887. Whether you go to place your bets or be a party animal, there’s entertainment aplenty.
30 November
21 September: Gauteng 27 - 29 September: Western Cape
PARK OFF [E VE NT S ]
Ride the Rhino
7 September: JHB 21 September: DBN 12 October: CT
www.summercup.co.za
Pinotage on Tap Tour
Nationwide
Mark your diary, book your tickets, and make sure you’re at South Africa’s most anticipated wine event on the calendar! Guests attending this year’s Diemersfontein Pinotage on Tap Tour can look forward to ‘prepped and primed’ barrels of Pinotage. Premium, craft slow beer from the Darling Brewery will also be available to the nonwine drinkers. Enjoy an interesting array of food stalls in a market-style environment and note that a range of lunch dishes and sweet treats are included in the ticket price. Great entertainment is also included, with an exciting musical line-up including Gangs of Ballet, Newton’s 2nd Law and Natasha Meister. Tickets are available through Computicket.
The Cape Outdoor Eco Adventure and Travel Expo Stellenbosch Whether you crave adventure, delight in the thrill of travelling, love the great outdoors, or are passionate about health, beauty, fitness and wellbeing, the Cape Outdoor Eco Adventure and Travel Expo has something for you. Buzzing with everything travel, leisure and lifestyle - more than 250 exhibits will be showing off the best they have to offer, including 4x4s, tents and caravans, travel destinations and outdoor gear. For the wild at heart, Harley Davidson will be there to get motors revving, while golden-voiced songstress Cat Simoni will be on-stage to keep toes tapping. For a full family experience, don’t miss this great day out in the country.
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16 November
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www.outdoorexpo.co.za
Salomon Sky Run
Eastern Cape
The Salomon SkyRun is considered by many athletes to be the toughest race in South Africa. Entirely self-navigational, athletes tackle the highest ridges and peaks of a mountain range in remote unmarked wilderness terrain with no trails. Armed with only a map, compass or GPS device to navigate between check points and a back pack with food, water and equipment to survive the harsh environment, they run at an average height of between 2200-2500 metres above sea level. The SkyRun takes place in one of the most picturesque places of the country on the Witteberg Range, starting in the pretty town of Lady Grey and finishing in Tiffindel. The route offers the choice of a 65 kilometres one-day run or the big daddy 100 kilometres of pure Mountain Wilderness. Skyrunners are fit, brave adventurers and dedicated environmentalists leaving only their footprints, and cherishing the shared experience. There is no other running event of this nature. www.skyrun.co.za
25 - 27 October
www.diemersfontein.co.za
BEST STOP [onroute HOT D E AL S ]
The Back Page
Langebaan Country Estate – West Coast Flower Season SPECIAL: R1500 for 3 nights’ accommodation in a Luxury Self-catering Golf Suites unit (sleeps 4), plus one 9hole Mashie 4-ball. Valid Sundays to Thursdays, till 5th December 2013 (YOU MUST Present this ad to claim the hot deal)
The Golf Suites, within Ellefsen Village on the Estate consist of 40 luxurious two-bedroom two-bathroom apartments. Each apartment is fully equipped with a fitted kitchen, double bed in the main bedroom and twin beds in the second bedroom. Added facilities are a washing machine, tumble dryer, lounge & dining area, plasma TV with M-Net/DSTV, HiFi, DVD player and a patio with a built-in braai. Ellefsen Village is surrounded by a lovely garden setting, Zest Beauty Spa and a children’s Entertainment Centre. Contact Details
www.onroutemag.co.za
www.langebaanestate.co.za Tel: 022 772 2112 E-mail: reservations@langebaanestate.co.za
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loves being South African
She describes herself as a “multi-platinum selling, multi-award winning singer, songwriter, fashion icon and entrepreneur from Daveyton in Ekurhuleni”. We go behind the wheel to find out more about our very own Miss Lira. My favourite part of the country is… Cape Town. I love the sea, the scenery and the lifestyle.
My favourite memory growing up in South Africa is of… My family - I have a huge family with more than 40 cousins. I saw the affects of apartheid on them and I saw their resilience through it all. I also saw the power that music had to encourage a family through difficult times, keep us together and become a crucial part of our celebrations. My family had a big influence on my choice of career because all of them have a love for music, though none are actually musicians.
My favourite local holiday destination is… Also Cape Town! I enjoy that there are so many outdoor activities. I love taking a nice walk through town, along the beach, or going on a hike.
My fantasy guest and ultimate travel companion for the greatest road trip ever would be… Oprah Winfrey – it would be great to just sit and chat to her without all the media and get to know the person behind the name. I would love to show our gorgeous country off to her on a road trip.
My favourite CD of all time is... My latest release, Rise Again: The Reworked Hits Collection. It may seem strange, but I do enjoy listening to my own music. I’m able to remove myself from it and just enjoy.
My fantasy tour would be... I would love to visit Asia, that’s one part of the world I would still like to tour.
My pet hate on the road is... Bad drivers make it unpleasant for everyone! This includes slow drivers in the fast lane, straddlers and mean drivers who are not courteous.
I never travel without… www.onroutemag.co.za
My music – it’s my favourite travel companion.
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I think South Africans should be most proud of... Our heritage. We have come a long way as a country and it’s our history and diversity that makes this country a great place to be.
All visitors to South Africa must travel to and experience...
Wow, there is so much! Mountains in the Drakensburg, stunning beaches all along the KZN coastline, wide open roads in the Free State and Northern Cape, stunning game and wildlife in Mpumalanga, and great outdoor activities in Cape Town. The Blue Train is also an exquisite experience. We have the best food and restaurants in the world. We also have amazing world-class hotels across the country at great prices.
My biggest road trip disaster was… My band and I were on route to Bloemfontein and our trailer came loose! You had to have been there to see the horror on everyone’s faces, it was travelling faster than the car with no means of stopping. It miraculously stayed on the road, with no other cars ahead of it, until it lost momentum and eventually stopped undamaged. Read more about Lira at www.misslira.com.
Image by Lira Management
Behind The Wheel with
BEHIND THE WHEEL [Q& A]
Songbird Lira