Earlier this month we were invited to a festival that would normally be frowned upon in our household. Why? Well, I honestly do not have an answer for you. Maybe because we don’t see ourselves as being on a high enough level (whatever level that is) or we simply would not want to attend, because reading books for a couple of days and listening to people reading books is straight out boring!

Oh how wrong could we be! This is the perfect place to be in the middle of winter, all snuggled up in an old Victorian Hotel in the middle of the Karoo, with winter woolies and fires crackling in the background. Yes, we braved the cold and headed to the Karoo town of Cradock for the weekend of 17-21 June to attend the Schreiner: Karoo Writers Festival.

Upon arrival we soon bumped into the likes of Tony Jackman and Sally Andrew. Within minutes we found ourselves attending a story-telling session with Chris Marais and Julienne du Toit. These two people are the authors of the fabulous Karoo Roads series and they soon took us on a journey where several small Karoo towns were brought to life with vibrant pictures and their personal encounters with the people who keep these towns alive. The journey came to an end too soon and it was time to wine-and-dine like royals in the Albert Dining Hall of the iconic Victoria Manor.

For a moment we felt like we were part of the who’s-who as we were met by true Karoo hospitality from the brilliant staff who wined and dined us fine some fine food, all while rubbing shoulders with the likes of Etienne van Heerden and his wife enjoying an evening meal. The three course meal that Lisa Kerr and her staff so deliciously prepared for us, ranged from refreshing Springbok carpaccio, to pork belly, roasted potatoes, and brandy tart. The menu was filled with so many choices and the more we ate, the more starstruck we became as we simply could not believe that we were amongst some of the greatest names in South African literature.

The first evening ended on a more lighter note with a professional juggler showing us the ropes (literally) and we were treated with a spectacular show in front of the Victoria Manor in Market Street. A true crowd pleaser.

After a good night’s sleep in our Tuishuis (read all about the famous Tuishuise and the iconic Victoria Manor hotel in our next article), it was time to meet for breakfast. We had a full day ahead with a variety of “acts” all lined up. Great was our excitement when we bumped into the new internet sensation from Gqerberha, Dr. Dean Allen, his lovely wife Danica and of course the now famous Little Turtle as she is now know, their beautiful daughter. Dean was presenting/launching his Frontier Land books at the Writers Festival. If you ever thought (like me) that history is right out boring, you need to attend one of Dean’s sessions. Being travellers and doing some writing ourselves, we have used Dean’s Frontier Land Volume 1 and Volume 2 books as guides to exploring the Eastern Cape, but he has the ability to turn history into stories and you will soon find yourself locked in on a journey that you never want to end.

One of the highlights of the Festival was most definitely Des Lindberg. This legendary muso (that’s all I knew him for), got me hooked for two hours! Here I am, on a Saturday evening, listening to one of the biggest names in South African music history, telling us all about him and his wife, the late Dawn Lindberg’s journeys together. From music to theatre, local to abroad and everything in between. With Tony Jackman (editor of The Daily Maverick) as an anchor, it sure was an entertaining session. The hall was packed with everyone reminiscing and singing along to the tunes that the duo was known for. A the end of the night not a dry eye was in sight as an emotional book signing with the 81-year old legend came to an end with another exquisite dinner in the cosy dining are.

We have always known about the Schreiner: Karoo Writers Festival, but it was never a priority on our list. This year we recognized a couple of names and decided to attend to see what it was all about. Lisa Kerr and her amazing team has put together an unbelievable, intimate program for this very personal feel to the festival. With a limited number of people attending, all having one common interest….literature, this Festival is sure to grow into something bigger every year. Make sure to add the mid-winter Schreiner: Karoo Writers Festival to your calendar and make your way to Cradock. We will definitely be there in 2023 to have some Gluhwein with you!

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Britstown is more or less a dot on the map that is never an option for us to stop in.  Although it was a flash pack trip, I quickly Googled to see what comes up on Britstown and ta-ra-ra there you go!  Something new that I discovered so we had to stop to take the picture before we moved on. 

Britstown was named after the local farmer J J F Britz (with a Z), better known as Hans.  Now what made Hans so important that a town was named after him? 

Hold your hats!  The platteland never disappoints and always come up with some interesting facts and stories. 

Hans Britz met the Dr David Livingstone, who visited his father-in-law, Robert Moffet, when he was on a trip to at the mission station in Kuruman.  Now we all know that Livingstone, although married to Mary Moffet, loved to explore the African continent so Hans Britz accompanied David Livingstone as a guide on a journey into the interior to explore the sub-continent.  Britz, however, decided against a life of exploring and trekking for the rest of his life and decided to establish the farm Gemsbokfontein in the Britstown district.  The town was letter settled on a portion of Hans Britz’s farm.

The old Trinity Church was once the town’s museum, but like many things nothing is left except the empty building.  This is also the oldest church building in town and it is located in front of the municipality in Market Street.

GPS:  30°35’22.99″ S 23°30’08.71″ E   

The Dutch Reformed Church in Lang Street was built by the Scott, George Murray Alexander, and dates back to 1891.  He was the winner of a limited competition to design the Cape Town Opera House and the Dutch Reformed Church Tafelberg in the year of 1893.

Where:   GPS:  30°35’24.33″ S 23°30’15.90″ E   

As we were heading to Prieska we came across millions of voetganger locusts on the road and in the veld after parts of the Northern Cape was blessed with rain. This was the first time for me to see this phenomenon in real life and I was amazed as the scale of devastation they left behind.  Let us all stand together and report plagues in order to save the already drought stricken to protecting their veld as the locusts can consume so much plant material that they erase several months of growth before moving on.  This result in long-term effects on the health and finances of entire regions.

Report any locust plague to the national emergency number to 0824468946.

oOo

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Looking at those old pictures we were something to look at (I do not want to use the word spectacle, because that sounds a bit like  a circus, but over the years we have refined our travel kit and way of travelling that suits us.  

So, what did we learn over 20 years?

• Travel with an open mind.  First and foremost, do not expect things to be like at home.  That is why you travel.  To experience different places, cultures and perspectives. 
• Be flexible.  Being flexible can save you some money.  It is costly to change pre-booked activities or flights.  Costs which can go towards you dream holiday.  Pick off-season times to visit popular holiday destinations.
• Look out for good deals.  If you are flexible you will also be able to access special holiday deals that can save you some bucks.
• Use reward programs.  Be it from the airline or by using your credit card to qualify for free travel insurance. 
• Do self-catering.  Excellent sites are Air B&B, Bookings.com, Agoda and Skynscanner.  Take time to search these sites and you will find good deals.  You can even share accommodation with friends to cut the costs.  By doing self-catering you can also do your own laundry and save.
• Try local food.  Street food is much cheaper that buying dining out.  When we visited Thailand we only ate street food!
• Talk to the locals.  Why?  Because they know the best places in their region.  I find reviews on Tripadvisor very helpful, because it is really people that share their experiences – good or bad.
• Pack smart when picking your clothes.  Know what activities you are going to do and pack accordingly.  Mix and match colours and styles so that you will have an outfit that is suitable for every occasion during the trip.
• Wear your heaviest item of clothing on the flight.  This way you make sure that you will not pay excess charges on an overweight luggage item.
• Pack a sarong.  It can double up as a tablecloth, towel, picnic blanket, a privacy screen or provide shade.
• Get up early.  By doing this you beat traffic congestion that wastes your holiday time.  You can enjoy a breathtaking sunrise at a special place like Angkor Wat in Cambodia without the crowds.
• Make your money accessible.  Spread your money across debit and/or credit cards and between partners.  This ensure that you always have access to money should something unforeseen happen like losing a bank card.
• Notify your bank that you will be travelling to another country.   If the bank notes some out of the ordinary transactions on your account, they might just block further transactions. 
• Do not spend too much time behind the camera.  (I am guilty of that!)  You tend to forget to enjoy the special moment, because you are trying too hard to capture it. 
• Blow the budget.  Once in a while you need to blow the budget to have an once in a lifetime experience, be it ziplining, a hot air balloon ride , a sunset cruise or whatever your dreams are.
• Make travel a priority.  Channel your energy and focus to travel.  Sell unnecessary items that became redundant in your home and put the money towards a trip.

I hope that this inspired you to explore and travel the world.  See you out there!

Also head over to 10 Airport Hacks for some more inspiring travel tips.

*** To be inspired is great …. To inspire other is incredible ***

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If you ever find yourself daydreaming about the beautiful Karoo Landscapes, the bare mountain ridges (sometimes capped with snow), the warmth of a fire in the winter or the cool shade of the big ‘stoep’ around a homely Karoo cottage, dream no further. Snap out of it, NOW!!

Pack your bags and hit the road, we will meet you at our favourite Karoo Farmhouse. It is situated at the foot of the majestic Towerkop Mountains a mere 15km from Ladismith on the famous Route 62 that dissect the Klein Karoo.

In the fertile Dwarsriver Valley where the most sophisticated wines are being developed from lush green vineyards, Arusio Farmhouse @ Towerkop awaits you. Driving on a well maintained gravel road, admiring the beautiful views, you might think that you have left the Karoo landscape behind when you turned off the R62. Here you will soon switch your cellphone off and get rid of your watch. Time needs to stand still for you to admire the awe-inspiring mountain range that is making it’s appearance right in front of you.

Tucked away behind a vineyard and across a little stream, is a stylish Karoo off-the-grid farmhouse with a characteristic veranda surrounding the house. It shelters you from the African sun and the windy weather at the foot of the well-known Towerkop Mountains, a hiker’s paradise.

Arusio Farmhouse @ Towerkop is so much more than one expects. It is decorated in a stylish fashion that is extremely comfortable and makes you feel at home instantly. The house, together with the cottage sleeps 7 people. Firewood for endless hours of socializing is provided as well as every other amenity and item you would possibly need to make your stay a pleasant one. This is definitely not your typical off-the-grid stay. Excellent lighting throughout the house and outside, comfortable good quality bedding, hot water, electrical plugs and fridges are available. Anything and everything you would use back home is at the tip of your fingers.

Waking up every morning with views of the mountain through every window. Having a cup of coffee and homemade rusks while watching the birds go about their harvesting of nectar in the early morning. Taking a stroll down to the little river that runs through the property, all priceless moments that will forever be etched in your memory.

In no time the sun will set on another day and you will soon have to bid the immaculate little farmhouse goodbye. Fear not, for it is only a click or two away and your next dates will be booked. You will not be able to explore what the area has to offer in only one weekend. When you arrive at Arusio Farmhouse @ Towerkop, you would want to shove your shoes and grab a book to just relax, forgetting that there are more to explore and a different world in the rest of the Dwarsriver Valley.

We have already booked our next stay and cannot wait to recharge our batteries with the cleanest air that you will find around the country. Some peace and quiet can do magic for your soul!

oOo

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We came up with a routine that works for us when we are camping, but yet again this is something that you more or less have to work out what is your family’s needs.

We choose not to pitch our tent to close to the ablution blocks for mainly two reasons:  there is a constant foot traffic to and from the ablution block past your camp and well, unintentionally so, there emanates a bit of a smell from time to time.  These are things that bother us, but other families may have other needs for the choice of pitch. 

Off to the bathroom then. 

Over time I have come up with a plan to avoid dirty surfaces on my bathroom expeditions.  First off to PEP stores to get some cheap slipslops for the shower.  Do not bother to break the bank on this item as you need to replace them from time to time.  This is soley in an attempt to evade any foot fungus which may lurk in damp corners and which is also a bit tricky to get rid of once you have contracted it. 

Step two is to take a bag that you can hang on a hook in the shower cubicle to hold all your girly things that you need.  I have one with different sized pockets to hold a variety of items.  It seems to me that there is never a dry space to put down my things …… I really don’t know who design these cubicles!

The third and oddest item that I sometimes take to the bathroom is a chair.  Why on earth?    At the community campsites in the remote parts of Caprivi and Botswana there is normally just a basin slapped against a wall to do your thing.  I simply put my chair next to the basin to hold my towel, toiletry bag and clothing, as there is normally no hooks, while brushing my teeth.

And my last “secret weapon” is a square black rubber mat with holes in it like those that you use in the garage.  They work perfectly when getting out of the shower and to avoid stepping on those bathroom carpets/floors where unknown fungi hide. You see, the thing is, dirty surfaces in a bathroom just freaks me out!  I do not like it.

Now considering my above utensils, I am quite sure that I strike a funny figure (and understand the puzzled looks) when going on my bathroom trip armed with my four items, but this is the long and short of how I cope with the challenges.

Leave your secrets in the comments section to create more happy lady campers.

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However, there are a few things that you need to get in place to make the trip, not only for yourself but also those that you left behind, easier and comforting.  Sticking to these five easy rules can make a huge difference to a solo trip experience.

Read on!

Rule 1:  Start off on a good foot or will that be a good tyre?  Before you spread your wings and leave home base, check your car’s tyre pressure.  This can easily make or break a trip.  It is also a good habit to form to check the overall conditions of your tyres on a regular basis.

Rule 2:  Keep hydrated,  especially during summertime.  Know where you are off to, the route and the driving times to your destination.   Go prepared.  You never know when you get bogged down along the route and what your waiting period will amount to.   Keep in mind that tap water is not a given to be safe anymore in South Africa.  No matter where we go, we always carry about 2 liters of water in our vehicle … and if you do not use it on the trip, hand it out to someone that is in need of water in the drought-stricken areas.

Rule 3:  Charge up.  Before leaving home-base make sure that all your gadgets are fully charged.  There is nothing more frustrating when you get let down in the middle of nowhere without the necessary power.  Also make sure that you have all the different cables to all the different gadgets to recharge enroute.  This can also be your lifeline to call someone when you are stranded somewhere.

Rule 4:  For your own safety and comfort check in regularly to a chosen person, especially if you  know that you are going to an area where there is no cell phone reception.  Yes, there are still remote areas in South Africa where you can go without cell phone reception.  This is a great comfort to those left behind to know that you are still safe and sound.

Rule 5:  Calculate your distance and make sure about fuel supply enroute as well as at your destination.  Know your vehicle’s fuel consumption ratios.  Do not be left stranded, because of a dry fuel pump or a miscalculation!

– – – – – – – – – – –

For some more tips on travelling go to Tips on how to negotiate African Roads

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This canon was on the deck of the Portuguese galleon Sacramento when it ran aground on 30 June 1647 off the coast of Port Elizabeth – for those of you who do not know Jan van Riebeeck only arrived in 1652 in the Cape of Good Hope so five years prior to old Jan setting foot ashore at the Cape of Good Hope.

What caused the disaster and how many people were aboard the Sacramento is unknown, but 72 made it to shore.  After 10 days the group decided to walk from Port Elizabeth to Maputo – which is about 1 300 km away by the way – from where they planned to get a ship to Europe.  It must have been hostile and wild country back then so an easy walk it was not!  A mere 9 persons survived to reach Maputo (then Lourenco Marques) on 5 January 1648. Now I am wondering did they really know how far Maputo was or were they just sort of taking a guess or maybe started walking and just hoped for the best outcome possible?

The canon weighing in at 2 500 kg was manufactured in Macao, China and cast by the Bacarro family foundry.  The bronze canon was only salvaged 330 years later in 1977 and the detail is still in pristine condition.

How do you get such a heavy canon salvaged from tons of sand in the ocean floor? If anyone knows the story to this, please share it in the comments section. I would really like to know.

The canon overlooks a few rock pools and the sea and a bench provide a space to sit and contemplate or watch the dolphins frolic just behind the white of the waves.

If you are planning to do the nearby hike, make sure you take enough water and some sun protection for the round trip of 8 kilometers.  You can read more on sun wise tips at The African sun is not for sissies

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Although being an Aussie Tony Park writes about what is close to his heart – Africa and its every day realities.  Let’s be honest there is only one African continent.   If you were not born on this continent, then you will probably not understand the passion that we harbor for this conflicting continent where nothing can surprise you.

Scent of Fear is a gripping read that centres around the use of specially trained dogs and their handlers of the anti-poaching unit to hunt down poachers in the Lowveld of South Africa and gives a true insight into what extent poachers will go to, to reach their goals.  The author definitely researched his facts well and managed to weave it into the story line without boring the reader.

Filled with plenty of action and credible characters it is a real page turner and I finished it within a week. For me that is an accomplishment as I am mostly a weekend reader and have a day job to attend to. As always, do not think you can predict what is going to happen at the end as there is always a twist to the story line.   

—oOo—

Will I recommend it? 

Yes, definitely, because Tony Park never disappoints you.

Is it an ideal gift? 

Yes, for someone who loves wildlife and Africa.

—oOo—

Also explore the post on how the team met up with Tony at the Knysna literary festival

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Being environmentally conscious, we are constantly aware of the products used in the production of the travel mug and even though the now very popular bamboo cups are better than the styrofoam cups, they too have some bad elements that keep them together such as formaldehyde and melamine, which ends up in your hot drink after a couple of uses.  Therefore, we decided to make use of a silicone cup.  We believe in it so much, that we decided to stock it in our online store.

The silicone cup is a durable, foldable, BPA-free mug made from food-grade silicone.  We love this cup so much that we use it at home as well as on our trips in the wild.  Compared to other mugs that we have used before this cup can take extreme temperatures and keep its shape when the fluids inside is frozen.  The other perk is that it comes with a screw-on lid where the ceramic cup’s lid only presses down and the tin cup has no lid at all.  This mean that spillage in the vehicle is eliminated.

While the designs on the ceramic cups are hip and cool, the dove-grey colour of the silicone cup is neutral and can fit into any colour scheme of current crockery.  Because of the light colour, the cup shows dirt quite easily and the silicone does attract a bit of dust, but it can be wiped off with a damp cloth and cleaned effortlessly.  Just like a normal tin cup or ceramic coffee mug, the silicone cup is dishwasher safe.  It can also withstand temperatures up to 190 degrees Celsius.

When it comes to packing space, we always look at the items that will take up less space, so that we can fit in more.  That is just how we do things, because less is not always more, right?  We’ve started using the old tin cups, but they are always so noisy, especially on a dirt road.  They were always packed with some bubble wrap, foam or a cloth wrapped around them.  This didn’t change when we switched over to ceramic mug.   We even had more to worry about as they could also break.  With the silicone cup that is foldable, it takes up minimal space and can even clip onto the outside of your backpack when you hiking bag is full.  No excuse to leave that precious coffee mug behind.

A tin cup used to burn my hands so much that I would get blisters while enjoying my morning coffee.  While the ceramic cups have better insolation, some still retains the heat and you will soon find yourself looking for a place to put down your coffee while waiting for it to cool down.  The silicone cup does have one disadvantage though, it comes in two parts.  One part is the foldable, durable silicone cup and the other is the plastic ring that wraps around the mug to prevent your hands from burning when holding the cup.  The design, however, has been thought through and the ring fits perfectly into the folded mug’s bottom for storage. 

All-in-all, the silicone travel mug is an upgrade from the conventional cups (of which we have mentioned only two in this article) and with it being lead-free, glue-free, and BPA-free, it fit right into our lifestyle of going green.

If you would like to get your hands on one of these, head on over to our online store and place your order before your next hiking trip.  Some places even offer a discount when you use your eco-cup.  It just goes to show that it is indeed an everyday, lifestyle coffee cup.

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According to me some of the must haves will include the following items

Setting up camp

• A tent with built-in ground sheet and mosquito netted windows
• Hammer for those tent pegs
• Stretcher or inflatable/foam mattress
• Bedding (i.e. sleeping bag or duvet and pillow)
• Folding table and chairs
• Dustpan and brush

Preparing food and cooking

• Braai equipment like a grid and triangle to place on the fire
• A cast iron black pot and kettle to use over the fire
• A gas cylinder and cooker head
• Tinfoil comes in handy to cook dishes over an open fire
• Some Ziploc bags/container to store leftover food in

Some external hardware to make life easy

• 220 V electrical cord as all the camping spots are not equipped with electricity
• External storage device to store all those pictures on
• A universal plug
• Battery chargers
• Inverter (optional for us)
• A Swiss army knife or Leatherman

Our camping list is much more comprehensive than the above as we have tailor made it to our requirements and have figured out over the years of off-road travelling what works well for us and what are items that we have never or seldom used. 

Planning is an important part of your trip and if not planned correctly it can easily turn an overlanding expedition into a horrible experience or a pleasurable trip. 

Also read our post on COOKING IN THE BUSH for some more insight when planning an overlanding trip.

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