19 September 2023

Our world is filled with constant noise and chatter, we are always switched on. We are connected ALL.THE.TIME. If we do not take deliberate breaks from these daily stresses our bodies and minds struggle to cope which can bring about mental illness like anxiety and depression. Travel often becomes an attempt to break away from the daily stresses but while travelling the external noises can still be there. Travelling does come with its own challenges so the noise and stresses may just be in different forms. Travel experiences are things that you remember for a lifetime. Travel can change opinions and transform perceptions. Being mindful while travelling will go a long way to help you to do this better. "Mindfulness is paying attention to our present-moment experiences with openness, curiosity, and a willingness to be with what is." – Diana Winston "Mindfulness means paying attention… on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgementally to the unfolding of experience." – Jon Kabat Zinn It is the capacity to not be lost in the past or future but to be present and less reactive. What does mean to travel mindfully? When I was young and foolish, I loved those tour itineraries that offered 10 countries in 21 days – ‘come on, let’s cram it all in!’ And I thought that this is how travel was done. I found myself over-thinking, ‘What are we going to do tomorrow?’ ‘Why didn’t we rather do that yesterday?’ ‘Do we have enough time to do everything?’ ‘Am I getting my money’s worth?’ so on and so on. I used to get stuck in the details and try to do too much in too little time and not ever taking everything in. I often felt overwhelmed on a trip and unfulfilled when a trip was over. But there is another way… there is a better way! Many people associate mediation with mindfulness, but it can be as simple as catching yourself when you are sitting at a café in a new city and instead of staring into your phone or being lost in your thoughts from asking yourself random silly questions – just redirect your focus to the here and now, take a proper look around and appreciate the moment. Being present and grateful every day has so many benefits to your general wellbeing and when you apply it while travelling, it will only illuminate your travel experiences even more! Let us snap out of autopilot and start opening our senses!

03 November 2020

One of the best ways to explore South Africa’s vast travel options is by hitting the road. Besides the actual beautiful destinations and stopovers – the road offers interesting quaint rural towns, vast open spaces from Kalahari Desert to lush green mountain passes and a sky full of stars. Some of my best travel memories involved a car, playlists and good company on the road. Road tripping in South Africa is just the ultimate way to go! I’ve lived in Joburg most of my life and growing up every odd December we would drive to visit my Ouma Nucie in Jeffreys Bay or Reebok with the extended family. My parents would pack my brother and I in the car while we were still sleeping before sunrise and we’d only wake up halfway to eat at the rest stop, and carry on napping until we got there, 14 hours later. One year my parents decided that we needed to experience the fact that there was an actual road between Joburg and Jeffreys Bay and we did a proper road trip like it should be done. When I was 14, we joined forces with the Benade family and took on Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe in one massive road trip which was one of the most amazing memories from my childhood. If you haven’t road tripped through Southern Africa, please make sure you do at least once in your life! If I start writing about the places you could see, we’ll be here forever – so rather give me a call and I’ll talk your ear off instead! Back to the reason for my post, the focus for today’s blog is to share the road trip tips from the man that took us on our first road trip and gave me my first car, my Dad, Danie Roodt. He is like a biological GPS, honestly, to this day it boggles my mind that he just always knew exactly where we were at any given time (before smart phones). He also happens to have worked in the transport industry his whole life, his most recent business venture (with my Brother) is Mammoth Tyres. So, I asked the man himself to give us some of his tips to making sure your road trip goes smoothly: My Dad’s Best Road Trip Tips: 1. Do a vehicle safety check on your vehicle before you leave – you don’t want to breakdown/get stuck with stuff that could be preventable. a. Check when next service is due. If it will go over the recommended service schedule on the planned trip - service, it. b. Check brakes. You will probably be loaded heavier than normal. c. Tyres - Check general condition of all tyres. (Smoothness, cracks, or visible damage to tyre) AND CHECK spare wheel condition!! Do you have the right tools to change a wheel? (jack and wheel spanner that fits on the nuts of your rims). A canister of tyre fix could also be useful. d. Expiry of Licence disk. You have 21 days after the month the license expiries to renew it. It must be displayed – always give traffic officials reason to pull you over. e. General state of health of your vehicle – some fitments centres does a free safety check. 2. Take rechargeable light/torch – for if you get stuck at night and in case of load shedding at stay overs. 3. Take a few basic tools – plyers, shifting spanner, star and flat screwdrivers and a utility knife like a Leatherman 4. Take duct tape and cable ties – it fixes everything. 5. Take a first aid kit. 6. Always have water in the vehicle. 7. Take wet wipes/tissues or a “jammer lappie” for the accidents/spillage in the car. And they will happen. 8. Pack sensibly – things like overnight bags must be easily accessible 9. GOOD MUSIC IS CRUCIAL – While traveling through certain areas you will have no or bad reception. Make sure you take a good selection of music. If you are more than two people, ask each passenger to make a playlist for the road. 10. Do not travel too far between destinations. Plan the trip with stops for fuel and comfort breaks. In remote areas both these could be an issue – so make sure you know what the fuel range of your vehicle is and fill up before – do not push it. 11. Do a bit of research on the attractions on the route you will be travelling – natural, manmade and what is special in that region and make time to visit them. 12. MOST IMPORTANT BE SAFE. ENJOY THE TRIP AND MAKE MEMORIES!!!! Before you go visit Mammoth Tyres for a safety check, tell them Danie Roodt sent you!

22 July 2020

Travel was the first hit by the COVID19 pandemic and will also be the industry that will see the lingering impacts for many years to come. One of the biggest impacts will be on HOW we travel. The travel experience is changing on all fronts, but it is tough to imagine how much change is happening without experiencing it first-hand. Countries are still navigating when and how to open their borders while airlines have had to make some big decisions over the traveller experience. We will not get into accommodation, tours, and other travel suppliers because then this will turn into a research article rather than a blog post. As more countries are opening and airlines re-instating routes (not for South Africa yet, sadly) - I started wondering which changes will stick around, and which changes will fade? When the time comes when we can head to the airports again (with our passports), what will we be faced with? I have picked some of the noteworthy points from the hundreds of emails and updates I have received over the past few months to share with you. I hope you find them interesting and useful. Clean, clean, clean There has been a strong response across the globe to address the hygiene and sanitation issues, also minimizing contact points, which is the understandably the main concerns. Many airlines have made promises of comprehensive hygiene procedures and regular training for staff on health and safety policies. Emirates and some other airlines are giving complimentary hygiene kits to passengers upon check-in Dubai which is a nice touch. There have also been some serious advancements using technology to assist with adapting to new standards. Hamad International Airport has introduced ‘Fully Autonomous Mobile Disinfection Robots’ (you can check the YouTube video in this link: https://youtu.be/YO64p2HDsPY ) Masks all the way Worldwide passengers will be expected to wear masks in the airport and on the aircraft, so make sure you invest in a comfortable and good quality mask for long journeys. Staff and crew will all wear personal protection equipment throughout the journey. Some images make you feel like you are stepping into a surgical room but safety first. Physical distancing No more farewell entourages and welcome home parties at the airport. Only the traveller who has a confirmed ticket will be allowed into the airport. Touchpoints are being redesigned around contactless options. Norwegian airports have launched a touchless travel technology, Avinor, that allows you to check-in, drop off bags, pass security and board the aircraft, all without interpersonal contact or the need to touch physical machines. It is quite impressive. Airlines will need to balance safety and profits. Social distancing seating probably will not last long as more people start travelling. The break-even load for most airlines is 75-80% so limiting the seats for spacing is not sustainable. COVID19 testing Testing will be here for a while but not necessarily forever. For the time being, if you are planning to travel it will be a good idea to have a COVID19 test done maximum 72 hours before you are due to fly. Some countries may also test you upon arrival at your own expense and if you are positive, they will put in mandatory quarantine (which is no fun for anyone). Temperature checks before, during and after the flight are becoming the norm. Health declarations could also become standard policy. Travel Bubbles Countries have started forming agreements to ‘green lane’ or created ‘travel bubbles’ with ally countries before they open to the world. Example: Singapore and Malaysia; Australia and New Zealand – have already allowed travel between the countries but not to/from other countries. Destination ‘Health Apps’ have also appeared which requires you to complete mandatory information before entering the country. (Belize Health app will produce a unique QR code to the traveller that will be used for contact tracing) Aircraft The age and model of aircraft have become an important issue. The age may determine whether they were equipped with the appropriate HEPA filters. Due to lack of demand right now airlines are using smaller aircraft and the bigger aircraft are being retired earlier than planned. The A380 may not make it back to the skies, which makes me sad. First and business class experiences may also be drastically reduced due to the smaller aircraft not having this offering. Air travel may become a necessity rather than an ‘experience’ unto itself, at least for a while. For me, any air travel is an experience because it forms part of the bigger travel experience – so regardless of what the onboard experience, I still cannot wait to get back in the sky The travel landscape will be forever impacted. Hopefully changes like the flexibility to change your ticket will stick around for the peace of mind of agents and passengers alike! Dream Now, Travel Later. Sources: Airline website/newsletters, Travel News publications, Travelinfo Plus.

25 May 2020

Never has it taken 5 days to get to Scotland from Africa, at least not by air and not in the 35 years I have been alive. This is my COVID19 story: How I helped a client travel from Ndola, Zambia to Aberdeen, Scotland during the most uncertain and unpredictable time in travel history. Airlines were cancelling flights left, right and centre without warning. Countries were closing their borders behind my client and her daughter as they left one country and arrived in the next. I was booking, rebooking, reissuing tickets so many times I lost count. It all started with their online booking that was cancelled by the airline and they had no one to call. The ‘online booking site’ contacts were unreachable. That is when I got the call from the sister, my existing client “My sister is trying to get to Scotland for a fresh start at a new life for herself and her daughter.” I felt their disappointment from the flight cancellation but also their determination through the WhatsApp messages and voice notes. Your mission, Lize Roodt, if you choose to accept it, is to navigate the crazy travel circumstances and get them to that new life… I accepted. The first option would have been to travel via Johannesburg since many airlines were still travelling to and from Johannesburg at the time. The problem arose that they were mother and daughter travelling alone, and time was against us. The South African regulations concerning “Travelling with a Minor” would require they have all the necessary paperwork from the father authorizing the travel and there was just not enough time. So, I relook at flight options. I booked a flight from Ndola to Lusaka for the Sunday to get to an international airport. From there I found a flight to London on Kenya Airways via Nairobi and then on a local flight on British Airways from London to Aberdeen. This seemed fair, although it felt like a lot of travelling, it would get them to where they need to be without too much administrative issues. Oh, if we only knew then.... They arrived in Lusaka with all their luggage and ready for the international journey to begin. I checked them in on the Kenya Airways flight for departure at 2am (Monday morning). And then they waited to board, and they waited and waited. Only at 2am were they notified that the flight has been cancelled. They were all re-accommodated on the 9am flight which meant they will miss their connection to London and all the subsequent flights. “OK no problem, we can handle this.” They stayed at a hotel for couple hours and headed back to airport later that same morning. I sent her the flight numbers for the options I found in my system to ensure that when it comes her turn at the Kenya Airlines airport desk, she knows what to ask for. I listed options in order from best case to worst choice – the latter was to fly to Paris, so they are at least in Europe. Turns out the London flight from Nairobi was also cancelled (not that they were going to make it anyway) and they were left with no option but to fly to Paris. I managed to hold some seats in my system but could not reissue them as it was too close to departure time. After speaking to a nice gent at the Kenya Airways desk, we waited patiently for 30minutes for the reservation manager - me eyeing the time because the flight was due to board in about an hour and we have yet to confirm their tickets. Between the reservation manager and I, we secured the tickets on the back of the seats I held for them. While they are boarding, I booked the flight from Paris to London and moved the flight from London to Aberdeen onwards to connect. Obligatory selfie on the plane was sent and I knew they were on their way to Nairobi from Lusaka. What happened next was just beyond mad… not a single flight we had booked went according to plan. I have tried to write to the best of my memory the events that followed. They arrive in Nairobi to find the flight to Paris was delayed by 11hours, so they stayed overnight in Nairobi. Now they will only arrive in Paris on Tuesday night due to the delay. I knew that they would need to stay the night again so while they were flying, I booked them into a hotel at Charles De Gaulle airport. I rebooked and reissued all the onwards flights again (Paris - London – Aberdeen). Airlines were cancelling and consolidating their schedules leaving us little options for good connections. In the effort to try save money, the option that allowed free changes meant I could only book for the following evening (Wednesday) to London and only THURSDAY evening from London to Aberdeen. So I did. Not long after I had done all this, you guessed it, another flight cancelled. Thursday evening’s flight to Aberdeen. This was, however, finally in our favour as I could rebook them onto the earlier flight with no additional costs which had previously been the costly option. They boarded the flight from Paris to London, and they sent me the photo of an empty plane. It looked so creepy but all I cared about was that they are on that plane and it was flying. They arrived in London; somewhere in-between I manage to book them a hotel close to Heathrow Terminal 5 for easy access and hopefully a good night’s rest. One more flight to go! It was the morning of the last flight, my client messaged me to inform me the flights to Aberdeen had been cancelled. My heart sank to my stomach, I could not believe that this was happening AGAIN! I logged in, I started checking all the systems and flight statuses as well as British Airways website. Something was not right because everywhere it looked fine to me. I checked the client’s message again and I realised she accidently looked at the wrong date and their flight was NOT cancelled and they had 30 minutes to get to the airport for check in… my exact message was “RUN RUN RUN!!” Exhausted but not beaten, they made it to the final flight! It was a rollercoaster for everyone with little sleep all round, but the final embarkation in this mad 5-day journey to get to bonnie Scotland was a liberation. They boarded and I had the biggest sigh of relief and felt my breathing return to normal for the first time in 5 days. I have never been tested like this before; major flight delays, at least 3 last minute flight cancellations, system issues, miscommunication and working with little sleep while trying to stay in touch with my client throughout the journey. 5 days from Zambia to Scotland, who would have thought?

24 May 2020

I recovered this beautiful letter from one of my most beautiful clients whilst doing some spring cleaning and I couldn't help but share! The following year in 2017, she booked her 40th Birthday trip to Mexico where this photo of her was taken! Dear Lize, I just wanted to take this opportunity to write and thank you for the great service I received from you during my dad's visit to South Africa. Most of his trip had been booked and planned from overseas, but you did help me to make a small booking for a 1-night stay at Sun City for my dad and his girlfriend. As you know, unfortunately while on his holiday to South Africa, tragedy struck back home in Israel and my dad and his girlfriend had to urgently fly back home early. You were very helpful in informing Sun City of the situation and even managed to arrange to get the voucher transferred into my name so that I could use it later in the year (which I duly did and had a WONDERFUL time!) BUT what REALLY impressed me was that you immediately took it upon yourself to help us to make arrangements to change the international flights back to Israel – even though you were never involved in making those bookings. Of course, this all happened on a Sunday afternoon and not once did you make me feel like I was intruding on your weekend. Not to mention the fact that the airline was almost impossible to reach on a Sunday but somehow you managed to help us contact the right people to get things done! Your incredibly efficient response and service and your sincere concern about the circumstances make a very difficult situation much easier to handle and I will forever be grateful to you for that. And all of this was done for a booking you didn’t even make to begin with! There is absolutely no question in my mind that when I need to book my next overseas trip that I will be using you! As a result, I have, and will continue to tell everyone that I meet I know the best travel agent in town. So- if you ever need me as a reference, please do not hesitate to give out my contact details. Kindest regards, Shelley Afargan (Dundee)

11 May 2020

The great looming uncertainty of what the travel landscape is going to look like post-COVID19 brought forward an interesting challenge for me. Besides the obvious turmoil that is happening globally right now, I was stumped about how to approach my travel blog ideas without knowing where this is all going to end, and where and when will we be allowed or able to go. I have a dozen unfinished blogs and find myself wondering where the time has gone. All these travel ideas, experiences and inspirations waiting to be shared with the world, found themselves stuck as my fingertips just hover over the keyboard while I ponder this moral dilemma. I will be the first to admit I tend to overthink sometimes, so I decided to take a step back and reminisce about my journey into and through the travel industry so far. It all started when I was 5 years old. Lol. Don’t worry this is not my life story but every story needs to start somewhere... I was lucky enough to travel at this young age because my Dad received an opportunity to work in the UK. There we were, a young Afrikaans family in the land of the Brits, during a very important time in our own country’s history (1990). My brother (3years old) and I could not speak a word of English. Just imagine the uncertainty my parents faced being a new country and a whole lot of politics happening at home. They were certainly braver than most for embarking on this venture with 2 small children. I believe this is where my own resilience and curiosity for the unknown are rooted. My connection to travel was born or rather inherited. If we jump forward to a time in my life that I had to start making some serious decisions, like career choices and what/if I wanted to study after school. I found myself back in the UK in 2004 but this time on my own. My Mom reminded me that I was really struggling with my decision on what to study, where to study, if to study and decided to take that gap year to get clarity. BCom Marketing was all the rage back then, but it didn’t feel right for me and I didn’t want to waste my parents hard earned money on something I wasn’t sure about. So off I went on a ‘working holiday’ to the UK and Europe with strict conditions to return from the parentals. And this was my next defining moment – my first solo travel experience. I still remember it was a Nationwide flight into Gatwick Airport. I think my parents were still being braver than I, because honestly what did I know of the world at 18, and they watched me walk towards the unknown, the uncertainty, with everything I could carry on my back (literally, I over packed so badly!) One year turned into two and I was lucky to work in places like the Channel Islands, Scotland, and London (stories for another day). For the ‘holiday’ part of my experience I managed to travel a good deal of Europe on a Contiki Tour and kissed the Blarney Stone in Ireland! And my love for travel was solidified. I eventually honored the agreement made with my parents and came home to study – my choice was BCom Tourism Management – so basically marketing but with travel! I went on to complete my post grad in Destination Marketing and dived straight into working at a travel media company. I worked my way from travel media to tour operator to retail travel and business travel management. Everything I did, I did with travel in mind and has led me to where I am now. My most recent leap into uncertainty was around my 30th Birthday. I resigned from my job and embarked on the epic journey of starting my own travel business in partnership with Travel Counsellors. And it has been an amazing journey … a journey that is far from over. The travel industry is facing a very difficult period right now and it might take a long time to recover to its full potential. We are faced with uncertainty, no doubt, but nothing in life is certain anyway, right?! *I believe I am exactly where I am supposed to be.* I will keep on helping people to travel the world even if the travel doesn’t mean right now! And what exactly travel will look like in the future, I do not know, but I am certain (damn sure) that I am going to stick around to find out. Humankind has been travelling since the beginning of time, it is in our DNA to explore, so I highly doubt we are going to stop now. The need and amazement of exploring, experiencing, feeling and being there will always drive humans to travel. We are being pushed to find better ways of doing things which is a super exciting prospect. I hope this short snapshot into my travel life journey will create some excitement instead of fear around your own dreams of travelling. And YOUR dreams of travel will keep me going and keep me writing. I'm here if you have any questions, queries or just want to chat about your next trip without knowing when exactly it will be. We always have our own beautiful country to start with! Keep dreaming of travel until we are free to roam the planet again! xx

14 April 2020

The Eastern Cape calls to the adventurous souls with an overwhelming choice in daring activities and undiscovered corners waiting to be found. Somewhat underestimated next to its neighbour the popular Western Cape, the Eastern Cape proudly holds claim to 500km pristine coastline, stunning beaches and dunes. And who doesn’t want to visit a place that offers more sunshine per year than anywhere else in South Africa, hence proudly earning its name “Sunshine Coast”. This province of glorious contrasts also draws you inland and takes you on a journey of surprises in beautiful valleys and spectacular mountain tops. You can get lost in the forests of trees, swept away by rivers and stranded in Karoo dessert. Eastern Cape boasts 5 ecosystems between Storms River and East London… yes I said 5 different ecosystems. Are you asking yourself, why have I not visited this marvelous place yet? I am asking myself why I haven’t gone back yet? It is one of the best places to road trip, witnessing the change of scenery through your car window. General Travel Tips for the road: • Being on the long road can be a bit mucky (stock up on hand wipes and hand sanitizer) • Have lots of water in the car and snacks • Use day backpacks – it’s easier to carry around especially if you have an unplanned stop along the road – like a walk up to a waterfall or short hikes to look out points (there’s a few) • Have your car serviced and insure that your car insurance is still in place – it could be very useful especially if you need assistance on the road. Here are some highlights the Eastern Cape offers that won’t cost you a cent but they will most certainly won’t be the only things to do! Free things to do in the Eastern Cape: Send a letter from South Africa’s oldest letterbox. Stare at a steeple in Grahamstown. Take in the view from on Gunfire Hill. Get lost in a maze in Hogsback. Check out cars of old at the St Croix Motor Museum. Appreciate art at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum. Spend the day at Van Staden’s Wild Flower Reserve. Surf Jeffrey’s Bay. Get an introduction to scuba diving. Visit a lighthouse in Port St Johns. Go shell spotting at Hazel Jeffries Shell Museum. Watch out for whales in St Francis Bay.

05 January 2020

It is the year 2020, how lucky are you to be alive at this very moment in this wonderful world! A world full of amazing destinations, too many to list, too many to fathom but most of us have short listed the vast options of places that we want to visit in our lifetime – our Bucket List. Although they may change every now and again and some repeat, the idea is to actively make plans to tick these special places off the list and live a life full of amazing experiences and discoveries from all corners of the earth! What is on your bucket list? See my every changing list as its stands for 2020 below: 1. Peru: It has been my dream to trek the Inca Trail in Andes Mountains to view the Machu Pichu in Peru since high school. I read a book called “There’s more to life than surface” it was an autobiography and the author describes her journey to this mystical place as a big milestone in her spiritual life and it all sounded extraordinary and magical. Besides from the Incan citadel itself which holds so many secrets, there is so much to explore in the surrounds. From the beautifully accessorized llamas and alpacas, to the gastronomy experiences in Lima, Lake Titicaca, believed to be the birthplace of the sun where you can spend a night on a floating island or flying over the Nazca Lines! 2. Reunion Island: This hidden gem was introduced to me a few years ago through some of our industry training when they announced the South African’s no longer need Schengen Visa to visit, because, you may not know, it is a French Territory. The island is home to 2 volcanoes, one dormant and one ‘friendly’ active volcano, which is fascinating! While everyone runs from most erupting volcanoes, on Reunion Island you can take helicopter over the brewing lava! The island boosts one of the worlds 30 biodiversity hotspots and The Reunion National Park accounts for 40% of the island’s surface area. With so much nature the adventures are endless from hiking, scuba-diving, kite surfing and beautiful scenery! 3. Sri Lanka: sneaky little place this, you start looking into it and then discover there is so much more than you ever thought! Its relatively new to the tourism shores but it has not been shy to show off, they received Best in Travel award by Lonely Planet 2019! Sri Lanka’s diverse experiences start with beautiful beaches (including black sand beaches), they have ruins, they have loads of elephants (my favourite animal), good flavourful food and … TEA! Those who know me, know I like my tea. This island also boosts 8 Unesco World Heritage Sites. 4. Japan: There was one thing about the Rugby World Cup this year that just repeatedly got my attention and that was the Japanese people. Watching them sing our National Anthem, Nkosi Sikelela, just made me feel all fuzzy inside. I have put together packages for Japan before, but I feel like I’m looking at the country from a whole new perspective after the RWC (it has nothing to do with us winning it). The country offers such contrasting experiences with Old Culture versus New World Tech. There is just something about visiting a country that differs so vastly from your own, trying to navigate complex Japanese manners and dining etiquette. Best way to step out of your comfort is to travel to country that does not speak your language. 5. Iceland: I travelled to Iceland in 2017, so why have I included it on my list again? Because Iceland is spectacularly distinctive during their 2 seasons, winter and summer. I had made my visit in summer month of August. An amazing experience with beautiful waterfalls, expanding and everchanging landscapes. I would however love to experience this country in winter months when the snow falls thick and heavy. I want to climb in the glaciers and experience those same waterfalls FROZEN solid. You could also have a chance to see the Northern Lights, although if this is the sole purpose of your journey, I would recommend travelling further north into the Arctic circle to increases your chances. Reykjavik offers visuals of quirky street art and lively bars to keep you going to early hours.

23 August 2019

Looking down into the canyon after our transfer dropped us at the hike’s starting point was daunting enough, so the thought that I had to hike through this monster for the next 5 days had me seriously doubting my own sanity! We had been waiting a year for this and so much goes into the preparation; the backpack, the gear, the food packs, first aid kits, satellite phones, water bladders, tent or no tent? I was literally weighing my water bottles to make sure that I took as little weight as possible. 2 sets of clothes, hat, sunscreen, something to make food with and a whole of will power (something they leave off most lists). One thing I would recommend that I didn’t do; take more drugs! I’m not big fan of popping pills, so I thought I’d get by with my antihistamine, 3 GenPain (yes, I only packed 3 pills) and a tube of “Deep Heat”. If it wasn’t for my drug dealing hiker pals, I might not have made it. The drugs I refer to are things like slow-mag, cramp-ease and your trusted anti-inflammatory pain killers for when those legs say NO! As the date approached the messages started becoming more frequent from your fellow hikers "have you packed this or that?" The guides of what to pack, what not to pack were flying around from all different sources. Oh and the training? Do it. And don’t only focus on walking/hiking, unless you live in Cape Town where you can hike Table Mountain every weekend. If you are stuck in Gauteng with little time to get out to the better hiking spots, just do more squats (with your backpack) - I should have done more squats! And the day arrives, after lengthy drive starting at 3 am, we crossed the border in the desert that is Namibia ... feeling the excitement and nerves as they stamp your passport. We arrived at Ais Ais Spring Resort for check-in, dinner and anxiously waiting for that early start the next day, so we all had to go to bed early. Most people warn you about Day 1: The Descent, "after you get down in the canyon its smooth sailing" they said. They were lying. The Descent was grueling, yes, but Day 2 came around and I soon realized I had to summon some of that will power and just focus on keeping my legs moving, one step at a time for the next 4 days. Everyday. Day 3 almost broke me. They weren't ready, my legs, not nearly ready for the sand (that soft sand), nor were they ready for the back-breaking boulders (I shudder thinking about those boulders). Sand. Boulders. Sand. Boulders. This ain't for sissies! We may have taken some shortcuts but that didn’t mean things were made easier, shortcuts meant climbing the canyon walls like mountain goats! I just had to remind myself to turn around at the top and to admire the views which were spectacular! Early mornings and early bedtimes. We wanted to cover as much ground before the heat of the day. And the days were hot but Day 4, Day 4 was hot. Water was my biggest concern from the very beginning, there was water even in the drought, but not much and it wasn’t clean, so we were grateful for the purification drops. The German Soldiers Grave rest stop offered us fresh, cold, clean water which was supplied by the park and it felt like we had won the lotto! Dankeschön! Each day ended with setting up camp including the tent, we collect and filter water, we cook dinner, we eat, rub arnica on our aching muscles, check blisters, drink Amarula cappuccinos, go to bed (try sleep). The evenings turned chilly when the sun disappeared and by this time the moon was already high. It lit up the canyon walls and surrounding landscapes like a giant bedside lamp to the world. Come 4 am when the moon set, the sky came alive! My roomie/tent buddy, who also happened to be my first year roomie at University, Jess, was up at 5am, putting the kettle on and we started our mornings spotting shooting stars and passing satellites in the darkness of the canyon. The front runners of our 15-person pack would push us every day to cover the recommended kilometers. I won’t mention the words I would utter at them under my breath each day, but each day we reached designated ‘campsites’ with water and we covered the necessary distance thanks to their determination and navigation skills. My legs and heart were very grateful to them when on the final Day 5 we only had 13 kms to walk and they were at the finish line, ready with cold beers and we arrived just in time for lunch! “I made it!” - This repeated several times in my head not sure if the words made it to my tongue – “I hiked the Fish River Canyon." All the aches, pain and blisters seem to fade into celebrations and joy. The sense of achievement is almost overwhelming. We stayed at Ai Ais Springs Resort and Spa for pre and post - hike accommodation, the service left much to be desired at the time, but we won’t get into that as they have promised things will improve. But, oh, the hot spring pools were incredible after hiking for 5 days. We had a great group and we spent the remainder of the last day discussing the incredible experience and challenge we all just accomplished… or should I say SURVIVED! If you would like more information on how to get to the Fish River Canyon, whether you want to hike it or just admire it from the viewpoint (the saner option). I can tell you what to expect, what to pack (lil tot of alcohol for each night), what not to pack (chocolate, it melts). For all the ins, outs and tidbits, just give me call and I’ll gladly help you get there! LIZE ROODT TRAVEL COUNSELLOR 0767035070