Letter from the editor: November 2016

A walk in the wild leads to new resolutions.

A month ago I dragged photographer Teagan Cunniffe into the bush again. This time, we were at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, at the foot of the Warmwaterberg mountains. It was spring; it was meant to be warm, but we got up every morning before six and layered tee over vest, then second skin, jersey, scarf and windbreaker, expecting to peel them off as the sun rose, only to tug them tighter against the wind. Our lips chapped, our noses froze, our fingers looked like frozen oven chips. And we were loving it.

We studied brilliant crassulas. We walked up to a rotting hippo carcass and watched as black-backed jackals nosed about its maggot-infested bulk. We saw three rhinos charging down a river bed, scoured the bush for birds. A cheetah took the measure of our graceless two legs, then flipped herself head over tail just like Ozzie my house cat does. It was enchanting.

I’d been to Sanbona before when it advertised itself as a Big Five reserve, which it is. But coming from KwaZulu- Natal, where the herds of big game come in double-up sizes, it had underwhelmed. However, down on the ground, the detail drew us in,
and when we looked up and saw megafauna, it felt like everything fitted. This change of pace has come about because Sanbona has a new owner, whose approach is focused on legacy and leaving a healthy environment. This has meant the management is now free to focus on the health of the ecosystem. It’s exciting to see this shift. If successful, that approach will move out in concentric circles, plus it feels like this way has an ethical starting point. Living ethically can be complex. One’s choices aren’t necessarily simple equations that end in positive outcomes.

But there are people out there who make it easier for us, especially as consumers. Take a look at the Green Wine booklet that has come with your magazine this month. All these farmers choose to run their land in an environmentally friendly manner.

As a result they produce not only great wines, but wholesome, biodiverse environments. How admirable. It’s easier, I’m sure, simply to bend with convenience of modern management techniques.

I believe in eating ethically. Embarrassingly Capetonian, right? But I dislike abattoirs more than I hate how annoying I sound or, no doubt, am. But I might as well go all in: from now on, I’ve resolved to buy only green wines, too. I mean, pesticides are the abattoir of the insect world, right?

And I want to give bees a chance.

Now for inside the magazine: don’t miss our cover story on Madagascar by Tyson Jopson (The Brave Came Running, page 82), our features on a set of invigorating slackpacking trails (Two Hikes for Two Types, page 72), or Mexico (The Monster You Want to Meet, page 92). And more. We hope this issue makes you restless.

This month’s contributors

Janine Stephen

From pop stars to Alaskan truckers and even a former president, Janine has met (and interviewed) all sorts. Most of all she loves far-flung places… Whether it’s Groot Marico or Mexico City. On page 92, she tells you why Mexico’s capital needs to be your next faraway escape.

Welcome Lishivha

After a skydiving excursion, this recent addition to the Getaway team kept asking everyone to call him ‘The One Who Fell from the Sky’. Clearly in need of some grounding, we decided to send him on his first-ever multi-day hike – into the Overberg. Read about it on page 72.

Evan Haussman

A veteran journalist with little desire to travel the beaten track, we sent Evan to his happy place (Mozambique) to find
a new, relaxing route to get to Inhambane. He may have taken the ‘relaxing’ part too literally, because we haven’t heard from him since. Read his story on page 56.

 
 
 

This story first appeared in the November 2016 issue of Getaway magazine.

Get this issue →

Our November issue features the next adventure frontier of Madagascar, affordable breaks in Hogsback, and what to do in the Cradle of Humankind.

 
 

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