Goodbye, winter!

ED’S LETTER

It’s September – and if my memory of primary school geography isn’t letting me down, that’s officially the beginning of spring. Which means the winter is over. Which also means you can start paying some serious attention to your travel and camping plans. I’ve been busy planning my family holidays for the foreseeable future, and I’m inclined to go north: to Namibia and/or Botswana. After reading Evan’s tale on p. 50, I have to say I was convinced we should follow his route and visit Oranjemund for the first time, and explore the world around the Sperrgebiet. But then Mike and Lettie Henery’s story of their trip to the Guma Lagoon in northern Botswana (p. 74) landed on my desk. I’ve never been there, but it’s undoubtedly a must-visit destination before you hang up your keys permanently. I’ve long been in the mood for a proper Botswana adventure, and hopefully the roads will be kinder to us than they were to Mike and Lettie. Maybe we’ll go up via Oranjemund, then all the way up to Etosha, turn right and visit the Zambezi region, and return via Guma. I think that’s a route that could work. So, if you have any advice on places to stop along that route, please let me know! September is also braai month; and there’s no better time to pick up a copy of Gooi Kole, our recipe book that’s on shelf now. It’s a compilation of more than 100 of our favourite recipes from our food fundis that have been published over the years in our magazine and its predecessors. And your options aren’t limited to chops, sausage and potato salad. (Not that there’s anything wrong with those!) We’ve gathered together everything from bread and sides to chicken, mutton, beef, seafood, game and sweet stuff, all in one delicious recipe book. Keep it in your caravan or 4x4, and surprise people with your flavourful dishes. In the meantime, check out the tasty side dishes our resident chef Aletta has for you this month on p. 92. Safe travels!