Getaway May 2025 blends big-ticket African adventures with quirky local escapes: trek Gabon’s gorillas, roam the Northern Drakensberg Nature Reserve, paddle the Zambezi, test winter-proof travel gear and discover South Africa’s tiniest desert. Ideal reading for searches like “Drakensberg hikes”, “safari lodge reviews” and “African road-trip inspiration”.
Upfront
- 3 The Editor
- Reflections on tranquil getaways and star-filled skies.
- 6 Contributors
- From the world’s smallest desert to neon Tokyo—meet the storytellers.
- 8 What’s On
- Don’t-miss festivals, hikes and outdoor events this month.
Briefs & Despatches
- 13 Snapshot
- Iconic Mount Fuji captured in one breathtaking frame.
- 14 48 Hours: Calvinia
- Historic charm, quirky stops and Karoo hospitality in two days.
- 18 Here & Now
- Wildlife rescue heroes and SA’s hottest local hideaways.
- 24 Fun Facts
- Weird, wonderful trivia to spice up travel chats.
- 28 First Person
- Safari guide Tsohop Loni pays it forward in the bush.
- 28 Small Towns: Bathurst
- Pineapple fame aside, uncover this Eastern Cape gem’s heart.
- 30 The Thread
- A rodeo tale, a runaway bride and travel’s odd connections.
- 32 Gear
- Stylish kit to keep you warm while exploring winter trails.
- 34 Oliver’s Travels
- Beautiful Beverlac and the art of slow discovery.
- 36 Witch to a Flame
- Open-fire cooking taken to gourmet heights.
- 42 Wild is the Wind
- Unveiling South Africa’s smallest desert wonder.
- 50 Journeys & Faces
- Photographer Samantha Reinders’ evocative portraits from the road.
Travel Features
- 60 Our Wild Wonderful Relatives
- Gabon’s gorillas and how their genetics could guide future medicine.
- 68 New Kid on the Block
- Why the Northern Drakensberg Nature Reserve is SA’s next hiking star.
- 82 A Dust to Divinity
- Serenity and spoilage at Tinswalo Safari Lodge.
- 88 On the Road with Land Rover
- An overland mission proving comfort and conservation can co-drive.
- 94 Just Around the Riverbend
- Peaceful paddling and fishing retreats on the mighty Zambezi.
Back Pages
- 120 World Wide Weird
- Strangest travel tales surfacing on the web.
- 122 Final Shot
- Samantha Reinders signs off with a dramatic Drakensberg vista.