ANDREW JOHNSTONE

Andrew spent the festive season on a solo trip through the Richtersveld and into Namibia. He shares his adventure, and a very self-reflecting experience, in a travel feature with us.

What is your earliest travel memory?

Walking in the Victoria Falls rainforest and playing on the beach in Beira, Mozambique.

The best place you’ve ever visited?

I can’t say best! That would be unfair. However, the most recent to the Sperrgebiet is right up there!

What is your number one travel tip?

Leave enough space! Packing too much has diminishing returns. This actually goes for distance, time, kit, places and things to do on your trip.

Do you plan your trips in detail or just go with the flow?

A few waypoints, basic to-do list and departure date is normally enough.

Which destination in Southern Africa would you like to visit?

Some of the less-travelled areas up in Angola.

Do you have a favourite travel writer?

There are quite a few that inhabit the online forums. Most of the ones I enjoy have been on motorcycles. They go by the names of MetalJockey, Colebatch and Michnus on PikiPiki.co.za.

What music do you listen to on the road?

I only put music on occasionally. It can be distracting and alienating and it’s rare that the music matches the mood of the places I am travelling through.

On my bucket list…

Ithuba’s head office to collect my winning lottery ticket – to see more of Southern Africa!

What is your earliest travel memory?

Begging my father to stop the car so that I could go “peepee”. He kept repeating: Another 15 minutes, another 15 minutes. Looking back, I should’ve let go on the back seat and gotten retribution!