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South Africa’s number one travel and outdoor lifestyle magazine. We pay our own way and tell it like it is. We drive back roads and speak to real people, giving you practical information about affordable destinations in southern Africa. Each issue is crammed with excellent photography, honest gear reviews and delicious recipes to make at home or in the bundu. Whether you’re looking to escape for a weekend or a month, your journey starts here.

A master key to adventure

BEHIND THE SCENES • In this issue's Travel Journal, software developer Francois Raubenheimer goes backpacking in the Andes (see page 118).

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LETTERS

Q& A

IN BRIEF

AMPHIBIANS

New reserve in Somerset West

BIRD BRAIN • CHALLENGE #8

PIT STOP

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE FIRST CAMINO PILGRIM • With nearly half a million pilgrims walking the famous Camino de Santiago each year, the route from Sarria in particular is now very busy. Gerda Engelbrecht recently did the more remote Camino Primitivo for a Weg video series sponsored by Outdoor Warehouse. The Primitivo starts in Oviedo, Spain, and traverses a mountainous region.

BOOKS • Our editorial team shares their picks for Christmas gifts this year.

Christmas skinny dip • For millions of people around the world, Christmas is a time of family, food and gifts. For Anelia Heese, it's also a time to remember the magic of water.

Hidden havens of the Hessequa • The Hessequa is a region between the Breede and Gourits rivers in the Southern Cape. We've hand-picked eight great places to stay in nature reserves, on rocky coastlines and along the rivers – far from the mad crowds on the main beaches – where you can wash off under an outdoor shower and fall asleep to the sound of the waves.

Hike, paddle, chill • Want to introduce your friends or children to the joys (and adventure) of a multi-day hike? On the Shipwreck Trail, from Port Alfred to the Great Fish River in the Eastern Cape, the hiking feels more like a holiday.

High days and holidays • From raucous parties to quiet evenings under the stars, every family has their own way of celebrating the important days: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day.

Christmas, Kaapsehoop style

When Christmas locked down

Just in time for church

From Helsinki with love

Happy New Year… and then?

Keeping it simple

No hour is better than this hour

Howzat! from the couch

TAKE YOUR PIC • Have you always wanted to show off your photos in print? Give it a shot! Send your best wildlife, travel, landscape and macro pics to Toast Coetzer

NEW CAMERA

Life in blue

Golden goodness • Celebrate the sweet things in life with these festive honey recipes.

Gifts galore! • Wondering what to get the family (or yourself) for Christmas? Our team came up with these great stocking stuffers.

MS Dhoni on wheels • It'snot just the slew of new Chinese SUVs that are giving the established old guard headaches, but also impact players from India like the new Mahindra XUV700.

TAKE A HIKE • FISH EAGLE TRAIL, PORT EDWARD

Hooked on Arniston • Waenhuiskrans, Arniston, Kassiesbaai… It doesn't matter what you call this coastal town in the Southern Cape, there's something here for everyone.

3 Things to do

WITH MY OWN EYES

WIN! • A THULE SUBTERRA POWERSHUTTLE BAG WORTH R1099!

Stripe hype! • Zebras are only found in Africa. Although there are lots of them, there are only three different kinds. In South Africa, we have two of the three: mountain zebra and plains zebra. Let's have a closer look.

BIRDS • IN NO WAY A LARK

BIRD BRAIN • ANSWER #8

Andean soul...