Table of contents for June 2025 in Getaway

I grew up in a rural town, Deep River in Connecticut, US, with my parents, Neil and Sandy, and my sister, Kim. My family had lived there for several generations, and Mom and Dad owned a couple of local shops; they were hard-working. As the town’s population was 1 500 and everyone knew each other, especially my family, I couldn’t get away with anything. If someone thought they saw me doing something wrong, they’d tell my parents, even if they had no proof. My friends and I rode our bikes in the woods after school. I was in the Boy Scouts of America, and we camped in the woods. When I was older, a group of friends and I went on week-long river kayaking trips, carrying our gear in the…

The god Kithasamba lives on the snow-capped Mountains of the Moon, another name for the Rwenzori Mountains in eastern equatorial Africa, straddling the borders of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, comprising three majestic peaks where glaciers have existed for half a million years: Mount Stanley (5 109 m), Mount Speke (4 890 m) and Mount Baker (4 843 m). The Bakonzo ethnic group believe that the ice and snow are Kithasamba’s sperm, giving them life and fertilising their land. Spirits inhabit the entire ecosystem where the Bakonzo live. For example, Kalisya is responsible for domestic and wild animals, such as the Rwenzori turaco and Rwenzori batis, as well as mammals, including the Ruwenzori duiker and Rwenzori shaggy rat. Ndyoka is the water spirit, and the Ekisalhalha Kya…

‘You’ve got to drive like a tortoise,’ Rovos Rail Train Driver Andre van der Westhuizen tells me. ‘The roads are bad.’ I’m only half listening, caught between excitement and discomfort. The latter is because we’re standing too close to each other, considering we’ve just met. The former because I’ve lucked my way into his small domain: the cabin in the diesel engine that’s brought us from Pretoria and is about to haul us across the Zimbabwean border to Victoria Falls in the north. Referring to railway tracks as roads is the kind of casual line only uttered by people who’ve done something for a very long time, and Andre certainly looks the part: grey-haired, with a crew cut and moustache, and easy smile and sad eyes. (In hindsight, I was…

Starting a Trend Waiting for your flight can sometimes be boring, and finding ways to entertain yourself besides browsing curio shops and scrolling through social media can be challenging. Traveller Blake McGrath was determined not to give in to tedium, and instead put his dance and choreography skills to good use while waiting for his flight at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Texas. What started as a way to pass the time turned into a TikTok sensation. Blake played Céline Dion’s ‘It’s All Coming Back to Me Now’, rolled in on his suitcase, threw off his sneakers and performed multiple pirouettes ‘before dramatically rolling around on the floor’ and continuing to freestyle while he waited. Unfortunately, he became so engrossed in his impromptu routine that he missed his flight. He…

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Calling yourself a creative can be quite the commitment. Whether you’re a writer, designer, painter, sculptor or stylist, it’s time- and energy-consuming. But then you plan for months and plot your way to independence. One day, you leave your stable corporate job to answer your calling and be a full-time freelancer. One month, you know you’re guaranteed a salary on time at the end of the month and that your medical aid is a sure thing. The next, you’re doing your taxes and following up on invoices. That’s been my life for the past few months, and, honestly, I’m getting tired - more exhausted than I ever was when I worked a 9-to-5. My main issue, though, is the search for inspiration. I’m only in my early 30s, but I’ve…

Giraffes glide across the plains of the Camdeboo, not far from where we stand. Their two-beat amble is as graceful as a ballet, their backdrop, in contrast, gunmetal-grey clouds and the muted rumble of a thunderstorm yet to reach us. I feel small compared to these gentle giants. Our guide, Christiaan Swanepoel, tells us their hearts are as big as my head and weigh 11 kg. Speaking of heads, they can’t hold theirs lower than their body for very long because their blood has a long way to travel from their heart to their brain, so they sleep sitting up, and when they drink water, they lift their head after a few seconds. We get even closer to two six-year-old male cheetahs named the Kalahari Boys, because that’s where they…

It had rained overnight, and the morning mist clung softly to the leaves. Palm fronds rustled overhead, depositing fat drops of water on the ground below. I unrolled my mat in the yoga shala, surrounded by the still-sleeping forest. The silence was profound, broken only by the song of a red-vented bulbul, bubbling bell-like sounds delivered from the treetops. I felt the cool breeze on my skin as Sumegha Rao, the estate’s wellness practitioner, talked me through what would be a one-on-one sunrise classical yoga session. It was my second day at Glenross Living (glenrossliving.com), a wellness retreat tucked into the highlands of Kaltura, about an hour’s drive from Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. My lungs filled with refreshing, clean air, tinged with the…

As autumn light washes over Lalibela Wildlife Reserve in the Eastern Cape, a remarkable wildlife story quietly unfolds in the tall grass. Six cheetah cubs, just three weeks old, are captured on the reserve’s thermal cameras, their tiny spotted forms huddled close to their vigilant mother. Beyond celebrating Lalibela’s increasing cheetah population, these arrivals represent hope for one of Africa’s most genetically vulnerable predators. With fewer than 7 000 cheetahs remaining in the wild, each birth carries profound significance for a species teetering on a genetic knife-edge. ‘What many visitors don’t realise when they witness these magnificent animals is that they’re looking at one of the most genetically uniform species on the planet,’ explains Johann Lombard, the general manager at Lalibela. ‘The global cheetah population descend from about 10 breeding…

Geo Cloete is a multi-award-winning South African artist. His creative vision and passion have led him to develop a portfolio that has received international recognition. His work has appeared in publications and exhibitions worldwide, and his collector base continues to grow. As a lifelong aqua man with an enduring love for the ocean, he deeply desires to express the undersea world’s beauty, splendour and exquisiteness through his photographic endeavours. Geo is a firm believer in the idea that we can only love what we know and preserve what we love. Geo’s devotion and artistic vision have helped communicate the beauty of Cape Town’s underwater life to an international audience. His artistic vision, attention to detail and ability to capture the essence, beauty and uniqueness of the moment result in memorable…

When I was very young, my mom used to play me a German DVD of The Jungle Book. In one scene, the elephants marched, led by Colonel Hathi. ‘Hopp, zwei, drei, vier/rechts, zwei, drei, vier/aufgepasst, zwei, drei vier!’ trumpeted the colonel. ‘Hop/right/watch out/two, three, four!’ As the sun sets on Shamwari Private Game Reserve (shamwari.com), some 20 years after I first watched the movie, I find myself humming the numbers in my head in German. Our game ranger has taken a corner, and we’ve encountered a herd of elephants enjoying an evening drink. I’ve never been so close to such a vast number of these sage, soulful animals, and I’m half expecting them to break into a march. They don’t line up and start singing and stomping, but they put…

Situated within the malaria-free Welgevonden Game Reserve in the breathtaking Waterberg region, Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa is just under a three-hour drive from Johannesburg, making it an accessible retreat into nature. Covering 35 000 ha of pristine wilderness, the reserve is home to the Big Five and numerous other wildlife species, providing exceptional game-viewing opportunities. Private and exclusive, Mhondoro sleeps only 24 guests, with accommodation options including a two-bedroom Executive Suite and two Family Suites. Throughout the Lodge, the design reflects a stylish fusion of African chic and modern European flair, underpinned by Dutch ownership that brings a distinct aesthetic and attention to detail. The lodge is entirely off-grid, embracing eco-conscious luxury with minimal environmental impact. Most of the guest suites have private, heated plunge pools, including the romantic…