‘Extremes’ around SA
GOING BOS
On a game estate in Hekpoort, about 70km from Joburg, lies Boswa Survival farm, which offers basic to extreme survival courses. Basic options are a prerequisite before you can sign up Extreme Survival: two nights in the bush with only a knife, firesteel, water bottle and the clothes on your back, though there are instructors to help boost your Bear Grylls skills. On the “Alone in the Wild” challenge, you and a partner spend three days fending for yourselves, including building a shelter and finding food, while competing with other teams on challenges. There is also a branch near Mossel Bay.
● See boswa.co.za.
VISION QUEST
Fancy four days of fasting alone in the wilderness? Then sign up for a Vision Quest on a remote 5,000ha farm in the Olifants River Valley near Porterville in the Western Cape. Facilitators help you mentally and spiritually prepare over a few days in Cape Town, before you head out for some serious “solo time” in the mountains.
● See gentlespirit.co.za.
Halo Gaia specialises in wild dolphin encounters and wellness adventures in Mozambique. It has various themed retreats scheduled throughout the year, but there is one specifically for women. In addition to swimming with dolphins, the Wild Woman Retreat offers yoga, life coaching, bonfire circles and expressive dance, among other delights. It all happens in Ponta Malongane, with accommodation in a “semi-luxury” house, log cabins or tents.
● See halogaia.com.
If disconnecting from the world in comfort is more your style, then you’ll understand the rise in requests for remote, off-grid homes for long stays — and South Africa has a wealth of these. The upscale home-rental company Perfect Hideaways has a range of options that qualify, including a solar-powered beach cottage in the West Coast National Park, an eco-conscious private camp in Timbavati, and a 300-year-old homestead in the Tankwa Karoo. ● See perfecthideaways.co.za.
WILD WOMEN OFF THE GRID
With two weeks until the Fifa World Cup 2022 kicks off, the buzz about host country Qatar is rising as tourism stakeholders punt the wealth of attractions it has to offer beyond the football stadiums.
The country has been working hard to raise its status as a tourist destination and has a stated goal of welcoming 6-million visitors per year by 2030, making it the fastestgrowing destination in the Middle East. This year, the run-up to the cup has seen an unprecedented level of growth with the addition of eight world-class stadiums, a metro system to connect them and several show-stopping resorts, hotels, and museums — some scrambling to open in time to catch the more than 1-million football fans expected to descend for the tournament over November and December.
Likely to be a hit with sports fans is the new museum pictured here. Built onto the side of Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, it opened in March and its seven galleries take a dive into the world of sport over the ages and across continents. At just under 19,000m2 , it is one of the largest sports museums on Earth, technologically advanced with a plethora of interactive displays and the first Arab institution to join the Olympic Museums Network.
Some of its more noteworthy objects: a boxing glove signed by Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) from the 1960 Olympics; a basketball autographed by Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Scottie Pippen; and the soccer ball used by Brazilian Pelé to score the 1,000th goal of his career. This picture is from its Hall of Athletes, which profiles more than 90 legendary athletes from across the world.
● To stand a chance of winning R500, tell us the name of the museum. Email your answer to travelquiz@sundaytimes.co.za before noon on November 8.
● The winner of the October 23 competition is Thivia Ramnanan. The correct answer is Burj Al Arab.