Few places offer as much diversity of surroundings and experiences as the Southern Cape. We went scratching in our archives for some of the best adventures we’ve had. The complete stories are available on our website southmagazine.co.za until December 2017.
SURFING THE ROUTE, WINTER 2011
Stoked to be among kindred spirits, Gareth Pretorius explored surfing culture for Winter 2011 and met a surfboard designer, ocean-inspired artist, world junior champion, charity surf school owners and a legendary old-timer who remembers when surfers scaled their boards wearing rugby jerseys.
photograph Adrian Skelton
FLY HEAVEN, SPRING 2010
Pieter Naudé revealed a well-kept secret: The Garden Route’s lakes and rivers are prime fly fishing territory and relatively unexplored.
photograph PIETER Naudé
BACK IN TIME, WINTER 2015
Clare van Rensburg took the Point of Human Origins Experience at Pinnacle Point, a unique and intimate tour led by one of its discoverers, archaeologist Dr Peter Nilssen.
humanorigin.co.za photograph Shaen Adey
ICON AT A CROSSROAD, SUMMER 2010
The iconic Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe steam train was attracting 115 000 passengers per year, 70% of them foreign tourists, when significant and repeated flood damage to the George-Knysna track forced its closure in 2006. A George-Mossel Bay tourism steam route operated until September 2010, when the train’s licence to carry passengers expired. In Summer 2010, Athane Scholtz reported on local efforts to repurpose or restore the picturesque route, which incidentally continue to this day. friendsofthechoo-tjoe.co.za photograph Desmond Scholtz
WHALE TRIPPIN’, AUTUMN 2015
Athane Scholtz got up close and personal with humpback whales on a whale watching trip in open waters with Ocean Odyssey, the first Blue Flag nature-based boat excursion in the Greater Knysna area. oceanodyssey.co.za
photograph Lisa Leslie for Ocean Odyssey
WHAT LIES BENEATH, AUTUMN 2013
Large ladies, tight spaces and the villainous ‘Tunnel of Love’ featured in Dale Morris’ funny account and dramatic photographs of the adventure route in the Cango Caves outside Oudtshoorn. cango-caves.co.za
WALKING IN WORDS
Inspired by the work of well-known author Dalene Matthee the Circles in a Forest tour, led by Meagan Vermaas, enchanted Gareth Pretorius and photographer Lisa Leslie. forestguidedtours.co.za
SAVOURING A SLOW PACE
In October 2010 Sedgefield became the first Cittaslow Town in Africa. Locals Desmond and Athane Scholtz shared the town’s commitment to remain mellow and care for its people, visitors and the environment. slowtown.co.za
GHOSTS OF PRINCE ALBERT
Gareth Pretorius and photographer Adrian Skelton took Ailsa Tudhope’s Ghost Walk in Prince Albert, which included a repertoire of spooky stories and a treasure trove of historical facts and fables of the area. storyweaver.co.za
WALK WITH BIG CATS
Timothy Twidle recommended the Cat Walk at Botlierskop Private Game Reserve outside Little Brak River as one of several new activities on the Garden Route. Desmond Scholtz took the photograph. botlierskop.co.za
SLACK PACKIN’ ON THE DONKEY TRAIL, SPRING 2011
Matthew Covarr did the walking (and the words and the photographs), the donkeys did the carrying and the trail guides did the rest on the Donkey Trail slack packing route outside Calitzdorp. donkeytrail.com
MOONLIGHT MEANDER, SUMMER 2012
A mystical moonlight walk to the tidal pools at Gericke’s Point outside Sedgefield revealed an underwater wonderland to Colleen Blaine and photographer Colin Stephenson. 044 883 1015
TAMING THE DRAGON, sUMMER 2010
Sandboarding on the 320m Dragon Dune, South Africa’s longest sandboarding dune, outside Mossel Bay came highly recommended by Gareth Pretorius – who was shown the ropes by champion snowboarder Karin Weich.
billeon.com photograph Desmond Scholtz
WINGING IT, SUMMER 2015/16
Gareth Pretorius and Desmond Scholtz joined ex-SAA Captain Stewart Lithgow to experience Plettenberg Bay upside down, with the controls of an aerobatics plane in their hands. gardenroutegliding.co.za