Destination Africa
7 Karoo Towns That Stole My Heart – Off the Beaten Track in South Africa
A police car saunters past at approximately 4 miles per hour. The officer gives us a friendly wave and then disappears around the corner, leaving us alone again on the dust road, wondering if he was a phantom. This is the Karoo, South Africa's semi-arid heartland....
Lost in the Karoo Sky – A Photo Journal (Part I)
The most exciting times in the Karoo are when the storms come in. The whole town quivers with excitement. Water is a precious commodity here and rain (often promised by the meteorological gods, but rarely delivered) is cause for celebration. Out here it comes out in...
Lost in the Brew: The Hope Warriors Café in Prince Albert (A Must Visit)
We almost missed it... The entrance to Hope Warriors Café is subtle (trendily so) but if you know what you're looking for you can't miss it. Google Maps will guide you there: 2b Botterblom St, Prince Albert, 6930. When you arrive, look for the vibrant elephant mural...
The Karoo Food Experience – A Magical Culinary Journey At the Ibis in Nieu Bethesda
Friendly, delicious and delightfully surreal. The Karoo Food Experience, at the Ibis in Nieu Bethesda, was one of the highlights of our South Africa trip. It felt surreal because we were in Nieu Bethesda, a tiny village in the Great Karoo, that feels a little bit like...
Avoid the Tourist Trap: The Best Way to Get a SIM Card in South Africa
If you're travelling to South Africa, getting a local SIM card is a must. International roaming charges are wallet drainers and often come with data caps. South Africa's a big old place and you’ll want solid coverage for maps, bookings and keeping in touch while...
Kredouw: The Jewel of Prince Albert Valley – Art, Olives and Sweeping Views of Silver, Gold and Shadowy Peaks
I feel strangely emotional. We were there just 20 minutes ago but it was such a profoundly moving place I feel a pang in my stomach when we leave. As soon as we set foot on Kredouw Olive Estate a part of us dropped anchor. This is it, we thought. Pure Karoo magic....
Merweville: The Karoo Town I Fell in Love With In 143 Minutes
Merweville is a mysterious place. It's made all the more mysterious by my frustrating inability to pronounce it. "Merwewewe", I say, the vowels tripping over my tongue. "Mervewewree?" "Merrwer!" I give up and ask the lady from the cafe how to pronounce it....
11 Things I Would Do Differently if I Visited Namibia Again
Namibia was the trip of a lifetime. Beautiful people, beautiful landscapes. Endless space, ethereal quiet. I get an enormous amount of enjoyment planning and anticipating trips (like a WEIRD amount) so I start researching several months in advance. It helps me to...
Namibian Omajowa Mushrooms: Where to Find Them, How to Cook Them (And What They Taste Like!)
Omajowa (Termitomyces schimperi) are giant, delicious mushrooms you can find growing in Namibia. These things are ENORMOUS! They can reach up to 40cm in diameter and weigh as much as 2.5kg. When we first saw some folks holding them up by the side of the road, we...