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The therapeutic relationship between nature and mental health is well documented and probably better understood by readers of this magazine than by most other mere mortals! This thought was on my mind during springtime, when it seemed as if the earth

The December/January issue of go! will be on sale at your local retailer from 27 November 2020. ■

How did you end up in Montagu? My dad worked here as a young man and he always told stories of outings to Poortjieskloof Dam and Cogmanskloof. I visited the town often and once did a story about rock climbing in the area. Local guide and rock climber

EDITOR›IN›CHIEF (WEG & GO): PIERRE STEYN editor@gomag.co.zaDEPUTY EDITOR: ESMA MARNEWICKTRAVEL EDITOR: TOAST COETZERFOOD EDITOR: JOHANÉ NEILSONCOPY EDITORS: MARIJCKE DODDS, MARTINETTE LOUWJOURNALISTS: SOPHIA VAN TAAK, KYRA TARRART DIRECTOR: LYNNE FRA

Riaan wins a Zartek TX-8 two-way radio twin-pack, worth R1 085. The TX-8 is the latest model from Zartek. It has a slim, lightweight design, the audio is loud and clear, and reception range is excellent. The set comes standard with a cradle, USB char

Yoshi and her species are the largest hard-backed turtles in the world. They are called “loggerheads” because of their big, broad heads that support powerful jaws. 50 000 The estimated number of nesting female loggerhead turtles left in the ocean.

Colourful towels spun in Plettenberg Bay – just what you need for your beach holiday and made from 100 % organic cotton. From R270 mungo.co.za Handmade Capetonian skincare products that only contain organic ingredients. Their sun cream (R390) emit

SPRING TIDE: 2 OCTOBER HIGH TIDE: 3.27 AM & 3.39 PM NEAP TIDE: 10 OCTOBER HIGH TIDE: 8.57 AM & 9.50 PM SPRING TIDE: 17 OCTOBER HIGH TIDE: 3.21 AM & 3.33 PM NEAP TIDE: 24 OCTOBER HIGH TIDE: 10.21 AM & 11.03 PM NEAP TIDE: 8 NOVEMBER

Cape Town 6.03 AM & 7.01 PM Bloemfontein 5.36 AM & 6.25 PM Johannesburg 5.32 AM & 6.15 PM Durban 5.17 AM & 6.07 PM Cape Town 5.33 AM & 7.30 PM Bloemfontein 5.12 AM & 6.49 PM Johannesburg 5.10 AM & 6.36 PM Durban 4.51 AM & 6.31 PM Sour

Describe what you do. I attempt to uncover nature’s secrets! Officially, I’m a nature guide – I plan personalised outdoor experiences for local and international guests in and around Cape Town. Have you always been an explorer at heart? Up until 20

by Nick Norman, The Franschhoek Press R320 in bookstores Born and raised in KZN, Nick Norman’s successful career as an exploration geologist has taken him to remote corners of the world to collect samples and identify areas that might be rich in

By Ella Joyce Buckley Donation, at ellajoycebuckley.bandcamp.com Ella Joyce Buckley is an enigmatic Cape Town singer: This is only the third album of hers that I know of. Fifteen songs strong, The Mystery Is How is wrapped in understated but cin

The pangolin’s scales, meant to protect the animal against predators, are what puts it most at risk – trade in pangolin “products” has earned this shy animal the title of most trafficked mammal in the world. In Pangolins – Scales of Injustice, conser

Where do you stay? Airbnb gives discounts when you book for longer than 28 nights in one place. We occasionally meet people who let us rent their holiday house at very reasonable rates. Campsites are expensive in certain parts of the country. What

• Overnight trip on the Orange River • Rock climbing at Monteseel, near Ulundi; Truitjieskraal in the Cederberg; Paarl Rock in Paarl • Skydiving in Mossel Bay • Snake-handling course in Durban • Sandboarding at Witsand Nature Reserve in the Kalah

This two-day hike links Bloubos Retreat at Wathaba with a camp called Pongola Express on a neighbouring farm. Pongola Express is part of High Five Hiking Trails, previously known as the Num-Num Trail, and guests sleep and dine in vintage train coache

“We farm with firewood and hikers here at Wathaba,” says Christia Newbery when she welcomes new visitors. She manages both the hiking and the firewood business. Christia’s mother, Wimpie Rauch, moved to the farm in 1984. Her father Frits worked as

“It took me three years to get my licence, but all your exams have to be completed within a period of 18 months,”Delport explains. “Time management is important. Some people fly and study full-time, others do it part-time. I flew two days a week to b

WHY? We publish a selection of reader pictures every month. Don’t be shy, haul out those shots you’ve been hoarding on your computer and send them to us! We like just about anything: wildlife, landscapes, portraits, holiday snaps or bugs in your gard

This canvas bag has sturdy sides and a soft inner to protect your valuable gear. The compartments are adjustable to fit your camera and lenses. Product available at winkel.weg.co.za ■

Made from recycled microfibre, this softer, warmer version of a Buff works as a neck warmer, mask, bandana… It has four-way stretch and offers UV protection, too. R429 Drifters Adventure Centre Soft, flexible, durable… Keep them in the cubbyhole

11 days,10 nights Start point: Letlhakane, Botswana End point: Kasane, Botswana 27 March – 6 April 2021 R15 950 per adult sharing; half-price for kids under 10 • The services of an experienced field guide • Two-way radios in all vehicles • All

Six-day/five-night adventure (lodge and guesthouse accommodation) 26 February – 3 March 2021 5 – 10 March 2021 R9 450 per adult sharing; half-price for children under 10 Your tour leader is an experienced nature conservationist and adventure guid

There are many well-marked routes in town and in the surrounding mountains. Walk the easy Badskloof (2,5 km) or Cogmanskloof (12 km) trails, or do the Bloupunt Trail if you’re up for a challenge (about 16 km). Get maps and permits at the Montagu Mo

“This place has a healing energy – I think that’s what draws people here. Montagu makes you whole.” “Aasvoëlkrans (3,2 km) is a great hike – it’s 90 minutes up and down.” “The Rambling Rose restaurant serves the best fish and chips. The food is

We’ve talked a lot about field guides before – books that help you put a name to the different species, with a photo or an illustration, a distribution map and some useful diagnostic information. But once the birding bug has bitten badly, you’ll prog

It was June 2019 and my friend Ayesha Cantor and I had booked two nights of camping in Mountain Zebra National Park near Cradock in the Eastern Cape. What were we thinking? It was the middle of winter! We weren’t sure what to expect of our visit, but

“Mountain Zebra National Park has such a diverse animal population. We spent hours watching a group of ground squirrels and their antics, and were lucky enough to see an aardwolf, too. The light in the Karoo is truly special, with beautiful blues and

The Republic of Indonesia consists of thousands of islands home to more than 267 million people – the fourth biggest population in the world. More than half of those people live on Java, the biggest island, but most tourists visit smaller Bali, with

When we travelled in Bali in 2019, the exchange rate was Rp1 000: R1 – the amounts listed here reflect the 2019 exchange rate. The rand has since depreciated and the current rate is about Rp858: R1. Visas: South Africans don’t need a visa for Indon

By the fourth or fifth day, everyone kind of knows each other. Not by name necessarily, but by a wave or a nod – an acknowledgement of a shared experience, of another day in each other’s company. Since Air Mauritius only flies from South Africa and o