Indice dei contenuti per February 2018 in Getaway

Wetlands are biologically diverse ecosystems that provide a habitat for many important species, act as buffers against coastal storms, and naturally filter water by breaking down harmful pollutants. They could not be more important as gatekeepers that help protect the natural world. World Wetlands Day aims to raise awareness about them. Did you know, for instance, that South Africa has 23 designated Ramsar Sites, wetlands of international importance? Here are eight of them: BLESBOKSPRUIT The only Ramsar Site in Gauteng was formed in 1930 during the construction of road and pipeline embankments for the mining industry. The biggest attraction is the Marievale Bird Sanctuary, where one can see African spoonbills, yellow-billed ducks and goliath herons. 011-364-5900 DE MOND NATURE RESERVE This World Heritage Site between Arniston and Struisbaai in the…

Slow-sync flash enables you to shoot with a long exposure and flash in combination. This allows you to capture both ambient light and motion in your image and, when the flash fires, sharply freeze your subject in place. There are two methods of slow-sync flash. You’ll find both under the ‘Settings’ menu of your camera. • Second/rear-curtain sync The flash fires at the end of your exposure, as soon as your shutter closes. Your subject’s trail of motion will be behind it, with its final position frozen in place by the flash (such as the image on the left). This is the preferred method for capturing motion, used by action and sport photographers, because the trail looks more natural to the human eye. • First/front-curtain sync This flash fires at the start…

2018’S GETAWAY GALLERY COMPETITION WINNER is in for a holiday of a lifetime to one of Africa’s most photogenic destinations: Madagascar. The winner, plus a partner, will fly from Johannesburg to Nosy Be in Madagascar, courtesy of Airlink. Once there, they’ll be taken to Sakatia Lodge on Sakatia Island. Set between the ocean, a natural rainforest and mangroves, the lodge offers the quintessential island holiday. There is much to do on this little sliver of heaven: Madagascar is rich in biodiversity, on land and in water, so there’s incredible diving and snorkelling, hikes through the forest, touring the mainland, horseback riding and, in season, whale watching. The lodge itself is set on a pristine beach, with plenty of palm trees and shade and private nooks to…

1 Altydgedacht. Established in 1698, this is one of the oldest wine farms in the country. Tastings are R40. Its restaurant serves breakfast (a full English is R90) and lunch. 021-976-1295 2 Kunjani Wines. One of the newest wine farms in Stellenbosch, Kunjani has lovely views west toward Malmesbury. There is a casual-dining restaurant that serves pizza, burgers and salads. Platters start from R75 and tastings are R75. 074-166-9029 3 Muratie Wines. Full of history, character, and legends, but without pretence, Muratie has a charm that helps it stand out among the hundreds of other wine farms in the region. Lunch is from R75, tastings from R40. 021-865-2330 4 Stony Brook. This boutique wine farm, on 27 hectares in upper Franschhoek, produces some lovely wines and has spacious cottages on…

1 ROMANCE SUMMERFIELDS ROSE RETREAT, HAZYVIEW This family-owned tented lodge really lives up to its name. A sanctuary on the banks of the Sabie River, I struggled to leave this gorgeous 100-hectare macadamia farm dotted with litchi trees and granadilla vines. The tents are mostly geared for romance where you can choose a king-size bed unit on the gurgling river or a quieter forest option that’s perfect for birding. There are two restaurants on site, using only the vegetables grown on the property, a communal lounge and pool area and roses absolutely everywhere – sprinkled on the walkways, in heart shapes on the deck and colourful bunches in all corners. Expect luxury details such as Charlotte Rhys toiletries, snacky treats (macadamia nuts and homemade shortbread), filter coffee, plush downy duvets…

I RECENTLY LEARNT  that there are a significant number of people who still believe the Earth is flat. That is to say, they think it is a sort of disc, a hamburger patty ringed by a wall of ice that keeps our oceans from spilling over into the infinite abyss. They argue that when we move on the surface of the planet we can see and feel that it is flat, and we must trust that. These people need to be re-educated. Better yet, they should be sent to Madagascar. There they will find a place so uneven that it curves at the edges; a living, breathing body of land with a long, arched spine of mountains running down its eastern flank. Below those they will find a rainforest with…

GETTING THERE We flew with TAAG Angola Airlines from Cape Town, with a few hours layover in Luanda. Prices are lower in April (from R7 169, Joburg and Cape Town) and specials (such as the one we got) tend to pop up for Easter time. travelstart.co.za NEED TO KNOW South African passport holders need a Schengen visa (R988). vfsglobal.com The Lisboa Card offers discounts on public transport and some attractions. It can save you money, if you’re smart; plan your day carefully – 24 hours for R304. lisboacard.org Most old apartments in Alfama have a small central courtyard, which acts like an amplifier; the sound-sensitive should consider this when booking. STAY HERE Airbnb is your friend here. We found Little Patio for two, a tiny, clean apartment in Alfama for…

Head over heels about mountains and hiking I had always liked the idea of hiking but had never made arrangements to go. The thing is, I live in Jozi where there are no mountains. Add to that the fact that my friends weren’t very interested in hiking, so that proved to be a challenge. But I figured a girl can maak ‘n plan. I vowed to myself not to spend New Year’s Eve in South Africa for the next couple of years after plans with a friend of mine fell through at 8pm on New Year’s Eve while I was in my car, make-up and all. It was after that moment that the overachiever in me wanted a big challenge. I boldly declared (and started making logistical preparations) to head…

If you’ve never been to New Orleans, this would be the year to go. The city turns 300 – older than the United States itself. It was founded in 1718, and with influences from the French, Spanish, people from our own continent who went there as freed slaves, as well as immigrants from Ireland, Vietnam, Greece and more, it’s one of the most diverse and culturally rich cities in the world. The epitome of this is the Mardi Gras, which takes place on 13 February this year. Joseph ‘Booga’ Boudreaux Jr (pictured here) is the Second Chief of the Golden Eagles, one of about 60 Mardi Gras Indian tribes in New Orleans. Photographer Erika Goldring has been walking with his family since 2006; they participate in a customary showdown against…

Unbelievable sights The man who made an American Airlines jumbo jet vanish is one of the eight-strong crew of magicians visiting SA this month, along with a master of the crossbow (Ben Blaque), a hilarious mind reader (Chris Cox, pictured), a ‘now you see it, now you don’t’ master manipulator from Japan who brings a sense of harmony and tradition to his act, an escape artist who is only one of three who can perform Houdini’s water torture cell act, and a funny guy with a few tricks up his sleeve (Harrison Greenbaum). Together they’re The Illusionists and their hit Broadway show has been dazzling audiences everywhere. Expect all the tricks of the trade – from grand illusions, levitation and mind-reading to disappearance and escapes, presented with a sophisticated, updated…

A friend’s dad, who has a glorious moustache and thus can be trusted, once told me that a wine is like a human being, each one has a story and to truly understand it you must go to its source. For some reason, wines taste better amongst the vineyards in which they’re grown. So I set off with my friend Jeff Kleu, a natural charmer and notorious violator of song lyrics, to explore the Winelands and unearth its best stories. The wine drinking promised to be a happy by-product. We left Cape Town on a glittering, early-summer morning. Within half an hour we hit Durbanville’s vineyards. When these farms were established 300 years ago, it took a day in a wagon to get across the sands of the Cape Flats.…

1. IN KOSI BAY I grabbed her by the arm. ‘There is a black mamba eating another smaller, paler black mamba and I know I am next.’ Teagan, intrepid Getaway photographer, walked up to the writhing mass of snake and said, ‘Those are mole snakes.’ She tried to untangle the two and save the victim (knowing snakes, probably its own child). She then saved them both from the cat. Success – with minor lacerations, some from me gripping her arm, some from the cat. I decided the best way to deal with all of this stress was to have a bath. This was, after all, my mission: ‘Jess, go to northern KwaZulu-Natal and sink yourself into as many various waters as you can. Observe your surroundings from this fluid dimension.’…

GANG HANG R1 299, adventureinc.co.za Get cosy in Sea to Summit’s Pro Double Hammock (3m x 1,9m), designed to hold a combined weight of 240kg. The ripstop nylon is a highly breathable fabric that absorbs and draws moisture away. The hammock comes with a water-resistant, durable storage sack and steel buckle. Light to carry (450g), it’s perfect to take on camping or hiking trips. ZIP IT SCOTTY R699, capeunionmart.co.za This K-Way Traverse Cowl Sleeping Bag zips together with another to form a double for lovely snuggling. The cowl is like a large ‘hoodie’ providing, warmth for the head and neck area. The polycotton inner helps to keep you toasty and dry. PUMP IT UP R849, campandclimb.co.za This queen-size Premium Airbed from Bestway…

GETTING THERE We flew from Cape Town to Bloemfontein with Mango for R2 078 return (travelstart.co.za). Once you exit the airport, follow the N8 for about two hours to get to Jacobsdal. Locals told us that the quickest way to get to Jacobsdal is to fly to Kimberley from Joburg (from R2 018 return on Mango) and take the N12 to Jacobsdal (55 minutes). STAY HERE Bietjie Moeg is a self-catering farmhouse close to the centre of town, with four en-suite rooms, a well-equipped kitchenette and a braai on the patio. R600 a night for two. bietjiemoeg.co.za Du’ Villa Bed and Breakfast has three individually decorated en-suite rooms, each with its own private entrance from the tranquil garden, which has a lapa. The rooms come with DStv, air-con, a microwave…

Kati Auld Lisbon, page 86 Kati is a writer and pastry enthusiast with a ukulele, size 7 feet and absolutely no sense of direction. She’s not particularly objective about Lisbon, having fallen in love with it before arriving – but she’s fairly certain that anyone with good taste will feel the same way. Read why it’s the perfect place to have a proper holiday. Jess Nicholson Northern KZN, page 68 Always up for an adventure, whether in the heights of SkyRun or the depths of the Nkandla forest, Jess brings her love of literature, being in water and apprehending the vagaries of the human condition to every story. Many people say she would shine on stage but for now she is happy to do so (or report on it) from…

‘Many relationships are built over coffee – business deals, first dates – and people now use coffee shops as their place of work. There’s something special about it,’ says David Bassett, who left his job in the advertising industry to assist a friend with his coffee business and fell in love with it. They launched the Woza Coffee School in 2014 to help youth from disadvantaged backgrounds, and so far 72 students have graduated. They are trained in speciality coffee and work opportunities are granted to graduates. This includes running their own Woza Wagon, a modular, mobile coffee station. ‘The school is using coffee as a vehicle for change and to build relationships with people,’ says David. The school will be one of the exhibitors at The Cape Town Coffee…

Marsel says… I took this image in Walvis Bay, Namibia. Conditions were perfect – medium-dense fog and no wind gave a subtle background with subdued light and tones, inspiring me to capture the pelicans with a soft, blurred look. Instead of trying to isolate one bird I deliberately included part of another to add depth and experimented with shutter speeds to get this result. squiver.com Equipment Nikon D5, Tamron SP 24-70mm Settings f/2.8, ISO 50, f/16, 1/30 sec MARSEL’S TIP Try different shutter speeds to get varying amounts of blur. I find that with larger birds and mammals, shutter speeds of between 1/15 and 1/60 seconds tend to work well. Take it yourself To create blurred scenes that look professional (and intentional!) you need to keep part…

FINALIST Kgalagadi Sunrise A small herd of wildebeest in the riverbed at Mata-Mata Rest Camp in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park kicked up dust as they moved. The rising sun behind them created this silhouette. – By Alex Boonzaaier, Kleinmond Canon 7D Mark II, Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L II, ISO 160, f/5.6, 1/5000 sec FINALIST Dolphin Dance Back on the boat, returning from an awesome scuba dive on one of Sodwana’s many beautiful reefs, we came across a small pod of four bottlenose dolphins. After a short time observing them it was clear they were very playful so we jumped into the water with just our snorkelling gear. The dolphins circled us for about 10 minutes, getting so close that it was difficult to photograph them. I still get dizzy recalling this absolutely…

Day 1: Cape Town to Franschhoek DISTANCE 107km ALLOW 7 hours Take the N1 and N7 out of town. Then the M14 and M13 to Durbanville’s wine estates. You’ll find Altydgedacht (1) on the Tygerberg Valley road. From there, head through Brackenfell and then north on Bottelary Road to Kunjani Wines (2) behind Devonvale Golf Estate. Take Bottelary Road over the R304, and then Kromme Rhee Road to the R44. Muratie Wine Estate (3) is down Knorhoek Road off the main drag. Continue on the R44 to Klapmuts and then follow the Old Paarl Road and the R45 to Franschhoek while ogling the mountains. Take a right at the Huguenot Monument, onto Green Valley Road to Stony Brook (4), your stop for the night. Day 2: Franschhoek to Robertson DISTANCE…

CONVEY A SENSE OF THE BIRD'S AWARENESS, ITS LIVING PRESENCE ME THROUGH MY LENS OR DEMONSTRATE INTENT AND INTELLIGENCE THROUGH THEIR ACTIONS. A MALE ROCK KESTREL HOVER-HUNTS AT MIDDAY OVER A SMALL PATCH OF CONSERVED STRANDVELD IN A NEIGHBOURHOOD OF CAPE TOWN. ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER Adam Welz writes, photographs and makes documentary films. He’s transforming his Cape Town garden into a small, drought-resistant wildlife haven by planting locally indigenous fynbos and discouraging cats from using it. He thinks that although it’s fun to travel and buy expensive gear, you can make worthwhile nature images at home with any kind of camera. adamwelz.net (Instagram @adamwelz.wild) HOW HE GOT THE SHOTS Keeping his Nikon D500 and AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6 zoom lens set up and accessible allowed Adam to make these…

GETTING THERE KOSI BAY From Durban you drive all the way up the North Coast for five hours, then turn right just before Mozambique. The last bit requires a 4x4; if you don’t have one, there is safe parking and transfers twice a day from Manguzi. LAKE JOZINI It is 3½ hours from Durban on the N2. Boarding the houseboat is at 2pm, so there is plenty of time to get there. The route passes Hluhluwe and Mkuze, so you could visit the game reserves. WHEN TO GO KOSI BAY  Winter temperatures are moderate with beautiful days; March to June is best, October can be windy (the lakes can get too choppy for boat trips). Swimming and snorkelling are possible all year round. Summer has more rain and temperatures can…