go!

South Africa’s number one travel and outdoor lifestyle magazine. We pay our own way and tell it like it is. We drive back roads and speak to real people, giving you practical information about affordable destinations in southern Africa. Each issue is crammed with excellent photography, honest gear reviews and delicious recipes to make at home or in the bundu. Whether you’re looking to escape for a weekend or a month, your journey starts here.

ED'S LETTER

go!

BEHIND THE SCENES • At the end of 2024, Cally Silberbauer, a digital designer and adventure journalist, and a group of friends bikepacked from Harare to Vic Falls to go and see their favourite band – read her entertaining tale on page 50.

LETTERS

Q&A

CHECK THIS

IN BRIEF

Kick back in Clarens • Musician, TV presenter and now real estate agent Johrné van Huyssteen has lived in Clarens since 2022. We asked him about his hometown highlights.

Lesotho or bust • Get a dream car, go on a dream holiday, right? Wrong. As Hancu Louw discovered when his family set off for Lesotho in a blood-red VW Syncro.

BOOKS AND MUSIC

MEET THE AUTHOR Rudi Steenkamp • Kinds’ Spiders of Southern Africa is a fun and accessible guide that will turn a scary daddy-longlegs from foe to friend!

Stay and play on the Panorama Route • The Panorama Route in Mpumalanga has waterfalls in abundance, jaw-dropping views and plenty of places to stay Need some help choosing? Here's our pick.

East of ordinary • iSimangaliso Wetland Park is a World Heritage Site and one of our country's most beautiful and diverse wilderness areas. On a new multi-day hike called Eastern Shores, you can explore its wildest side.

Five Feral Girls on the Fighting Road • When Cally Silberbauer saw that one of her favourite bands was playing a festival in Vic Falls, she decided to go see them live. But why fly when you can bikepack there with your friends? What could possibly go wrong?

TAKE YOUR PIC • New year, new you? Be bold and send your best photos to Toast Coetzer (takeyourpic@gomag.co.za). You might be published here!

Life and water

No cutlery required! • Forget about setting the table and washing stacks of dishes. These platters are made for sharing and can be served straight off the fire!

People pleasers • Kia and Volkswagen both offer a variety of seven-seater vehicles to move families around in style – we recently drove the new Kia Carnival and the Volkswagen Tayron. But the car we're really looking forward to driving is the new Toyota Land Cruiser FJ…

You call that a knife? • How do you choose a good knife? The choices and prices are overwhelming, so we asked expert Stephan Kornelius for advice. Stephan is an engineer by day and knifemaker by night - he also happens to be my neighbour and friend. He's made some beautiful knives for our kitchen, and it's a pleasure to pop over to his house when we need them sharpened! Here's his advice for the major knife categories.

TAKE A HIKE • DISA GORGE, TABLE MOUNTAIN

STAY HERE

The land of cheese and wine • In Bonnievale, you can taste cheese, wine and olive oil against a backdrop of mountains while the Breede River babbles past. What more could you want from a weekend destination?

WITH MY OWN EYES • Animal drama and the Kruger Park go hand in hand, but this touching scene caught Alwyn Viljoen off guard.

WIN! • A THULE CHASM GEAR CUBE WORTH R1 299!

Buy less, for earth's sake! • On 22 April we celebrate International Earth Day, where we focus on all the things that threaten our planet, and the ways in which we can help. But we should be helping year-round, right? Here's how you can do your bit every day.

How can we make it better?

BIRDS • THE WAITING...