Blog Posts

Glamping in the Hemel en Aarde Valley, Overberg

17/1/2024

Deck and hot tub, Canvas Collective Africa in the Overberg

By Roxanne Reid
Yearning for a weekend glamping somewhere in the country where you can enjoy panoramic views, gourmet meals, and romantic hot tubbing, even active mountain biking or hiking? Canvas Collective Africa in the greater Hemel en Aarde Valley between Caledon and Stanford in the Western Cape might be just the place.

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17 things to do in Nieu Bethesda in the Karoo

15/11/2023

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By Roxanne Reid
The small village of Nieu Bethesda in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Karoo was once a dusty little place no one had heard of. Then it rocketed to fame on the reputation of Helen Martins’ strangely compelling Owl House and Camel Yard. But there’s much more to it than the Owl House. After making multiple visits over the past few years, here’s my pick of things to do in Nieu Bethesda in the Karoo.

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Fly with the angels over Vic Falls

1/11/2023

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Helicopter flight over Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

By Roxanne Reid
Scottish missionary and medic David Livingstone (yes, he of ‘Dr Livingstone, I presume’ fame) may be the first documented European adventurer to have seen the Victoria Falls. But I can tell you that he didn’t see them the best way. Nearly 160 years later, you can go one up on old Livingstone.

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White Lion Lodge at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, Little Karoo

18/10/2023

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White Lion Lodge, Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, Little Karoo

By Roxanne Reid
We timed our visit to White Lion Lodge at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve perfectly. Although some years this Karoo reserve in South Africa has little rain, by the end of September this year it had had lots, spawning a fiesta of colourful flowers among the green bushes. Small wonder, then, that one of our nature drives from the lodge focused on plants and flowers, while the second showed us some of the reserve’s big game.

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Brilliant birding in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

13/9/2023

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Birding in the Okavango Delta, Botswana: little bee-eaters

By Roxanne Reid
‘There!’ His voice is a loud whisper intense with excitement. We follow his pointed finger, peering intently through the tree branches. Nothing. He starts to explain and we trace the trunk of the tree, the branch jutting out ... and then suddenly there’s a flash of brown wings and it’s gone again. We’re birding in the Okavango Delta, Botswana, and this is something special.

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Why Moringa is my favourite Etosha waterhole

9/8/2023

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Moringa waterhole, Halali, Etosha National Park, Namibia

By Roxanne Reid
Not many people know about Halali. It’s the poor relation of Okaukuejo and Namutoni camps in Namibia’s Etosha National Park. But its Moringa waterhole is definitely my favourite. Here’s why.

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15 things to do in Greyton in the Overberg

2/8/2023

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Things to do in Greyton: shopping and restaurants

By Roxanne Reid
You’ll find Greyton at the foot of the Riviersonderend mountains, about 35km from Caledon in South Africa’s Western Cape. It’s a blend of relaxed country village with gravel roads and sophisticated town jammed with restaurants and shops. Throw in a fat dollop of nature and you have a winner. Discover my pick of things to do in Greyton in the Overberg.

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Guide to the Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area, Eastern Cape

12/7/2023

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Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area, Eastern Cape

By Roxanne Reid
I’ve heard it described as a fusion of the Sani and Bloukrans passes, with a smidge of Tsitsikamma beauty thrown in for good measure. I’m talking about the Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area, which is tucked away in the southwestern corner of South Africa’s Eastern Cape, somewhere between the Karoo midlands and the Gamtoos Valley.

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16 things to do in Willowmore in the Karoo

21/6/2023

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Things to do in Willowmore: colourful buildings

By Roxanne Reid
[Updated October 2024]
Anyone who thinks South Africa’s Karoo is full of a whole lot of nothing just isn’t paying attention. Same goes for anyone who speeds past Willowmore in the Karoo without stopping to scratch beneath the surface. Here’s my pick of some of the things to do in and around this little dorpie.

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The raw power of lions: on safari in the Linyanti, Botswana

24/5/2023

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By Roxanne Reid
On our first afternoon game drive from DumaTau Camp in the Linyanti, Botswana, we saw wild dogs and a leopard. We were beyond chuffed. We teased our guide that he’d never equal or better that on our next drive. But nature had other ideas, showing us the raw power of lions.

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