Touring South Africa’s National Parks
By Michael Brett
Published by Struik Travel and Heritage; Paperback: 64 pages.

To say that South Africa is ‘unique’ is an absolute understatement. We have the worlds’ oldest human fossils, we enjoy (and, yes, sometimes we struggle) with the most colourful of cultural melting pots - and we have a history that makes many others pale.

But if you ask me, the country’s greatest gems lie in its pristine national parks - the first of which was constituted in 1926.

This extraordinary guidebook leads you through our 19 national parks - history, climate, vegetation, wildlife, and attractions - and provides all the basic information you need to ensure smooth sailing during your next visit.

And it’s a very tasty menu, too - go through it, and you’ll ache to visit every one of these phenomenal sanctuaries.

This one’s a must. I certainly can’t imagine that any comprehensive travel library would be anywhere near complete without it. - Liesa Belling

Buy it here.

Published by Struik Travel & Heritage.Soft cover, 248 pages, 240mm by 210mm. 360 black-and-white and full-colour photographs. R 280.00 retail (R 238.00 here).

Did you have the privilege of meeting Kingsley Holgate and his team during their epic journey along the outside edge of Africa?

It was the kind of journey we’d like to have made: 64,327 kilometres, 33 countries, every kind of geography, some really weird - and hair-raising - experiences.

And Africa.

What more could you want?

But the Outside Edge was more than just a journey: Kingsley and his beloved Mashozi (and everyone else who involved themselves in the journey) had bigger missions in mind - and as they travelled, they distributed nearly a quarter of a million mosquito nets to pregnant mothers and mothers with children, and promoted literacy by donating glasses to the near-sighted, as well as mobile libraries, colouring-in books, and pens to people in far-flung communities.

The book would be great for your guest library because it divides the journey into these dispatches - two or three to a page - and while some people might like to read it from cover to cover, you also get a good idea of the trip just by dipping in.

To answer my question - yes. I did meet the Outside Edge Expedition - twice, and both times within a week of the end of the adventure. Nice people, for sure - but they were in a bit of a hurry, and they hadn’t the time to sit around and tell me all I wanted to know. Which was OK, because I knew this book was on the way.

… And (thank you Struik Travel & Heritage) it didn’t take long, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint.

Buy it here

Pat Hopkins, Willie Olivier, Denise Slabbert, with photographs by Jéan du Plessis

Struik Travel & Heritage; 256 pages, 297 full-colour photographs, 36 full-colour chapter maps; 46-page full-colour road guide. R 175.06

Beautifully produced (Struik just knows how to do it), lovely to look at, well bound - this is a great book for when you’re sitting by the fireside, and planning your next trip, or the next leg of your present one.

But…

I worry that it tries to be all things to all men, and, as we all know, that’s a recipe for disaster. It calls itself a “must-have travel companion,” but I found it a bit thin on information, and it’s not the kind of book I’d carry with me in the car, where things get messy, and a cheap road atlas becomes something you almost want to bin after a month or two (and I certainly wouldn’t want to bin ‘South Africa by Road’). And I say thin on information because it’s only 256 pages in length, so a town like Mossel Bay gets only four short paragraphs (about a hundred words) and two photographs - which is a bit like getting the smell, and not the coffee.

See, that’s the problem with South Africa: it’s so rich, and so diverse, that it’s impossible to distill in any really meaningful way - and if you try, you’re going to be left feeling like you’ve been short changed.

Nevertheless, I’d definitely recommend this book. My copy’s already taken up a happy residence next to my couch, and I’ve dipped into it again and again over the past few weeks, dreaming about where my next adventure.

Buy it here

San Rock Engravings - Marking the Karoo Landscape
By John Parkington with photography by Neil Rusch
Published by Struik Travel & Heritage
Hardcover: 128 Pages;180 x  200mm, 80 full-colour photographs. About R210.00

Before I say anything, let me confess: prior to finding this book, Rock Art was something I just vaguely associated with the paintings at Vredefort Dome (‘Cradle of Mankind’, if you will). And I’ve never set foot in the Karoo. Quite embarrassing actually, considering that I’m a born and bred South African. I’m mentioning all this because, simply put, ‘San Rock Engravings’ has introduced me to an entirely new and profound aspect of South Africa’s heritage, a side of our country I really ought to get to know better.

Prehistoric Rock Art is found throughout the world, but South Africa holds possibly the richest and most important of them all. Among these, rock paintings make up the majority. This book, however, looks at the curious and lesser known engravings (or petroglyphs) of the Karoo.

Dr Parkington’s research is predominantly based on hypotheses (quite obvious when there’s no-one left to question on the subject), but the conclusions he draws from the few facts at hand seem logical and suggest that the San were a much more advanced race than we’ve previously been lead to believe.

It’s really quite fascinating to imagine the precision and skill it must have taken to create such accurate illustrations.

Does anyone observe nature these days in quite the same way, with the same intuition, that the San did all that time ago? I’ve come to believe that the gradual extinction of the San - through forced removal and execution by colonists - is perhaps the greatest loss of cultural heritage our continent has ever seen. This book reminds me of how fortunate we are to still be able to follow the traces of the ancestors of our nation.

If you’ve never been to the Karoo, you don’t need to know anything about it to grasp the grandeur of this marvel: the photography focuses on the details but still provides a broad perspective of the landscape, allowing the reader to understand how the various locations and sites follow a pattern.

I enjoyed the read, as Dr Parkington explains his theories in a scientific manner yet remains on ‘eye-level’ with the reader. The imagery is accompanied by pithy San anecdotes and legends, which make the book all the more charming and original.

I can imagine this book would delight any fan of rock art or world heritage. I found it exciting, informative and visually fascinating. It’s everything quality photojournalism is about and it definitely belongs in your curio shop and guest library. - Liesa Belling
Buy it here

 
Photography by Tine Harden
Foreword by Jesper Strudsholm
Published by Struik Travel and Heritage
Hardcover: 144 pages.

The World Cup’s over, and things have gone so quiet on the football pitch that you’d think the game of soccer had packed up and moved to Brazil. I’m certainly happy to tell you otherwise.

In her latest work, award-winning Danish photographer Tine Harden explores 12 of Africa’s football-loving nations and gets to the nitty of what soccer in the Third World is really all about.

The images took my breath. They evoke the optimism and happiness of the people in a way that almost made me feel a part of the picture. I was right there inside that buzzing stadium crowded with ecstatic Ghanaian supporters and on that dusty make-shift pitch during a friendly amateur match in Sierra Leone.

But the focus isn’t purely on the peachy side. Ms Harden isn’t shy to show the unpolished side of the continent, which brought me back to the reality of the matter. As if to say: ‘Yes, life is tough, but we press on with smiles on our faces.’

In his foreword, Jesper Strudsholm describes how African football provides a bridge over which disparate nations have slowly been able to reunite and, more importantly, of how it creates such a significant form of relief among the poorest and most disadvantaged. As he says: “Soccer is a substitute of food in times of suffering; the saviour and destroyer of national pride; an adhesive that heals the cracks of society…”

After investing much time and money into the development of the Mbangweni Pirates (Swaziland), it seems he gained a deep understanding of how tough it is to keep an amateur team going without access to grants or sponsors. And - just as the pictures tell it – of how the ongoing struggle makes even the smallest victory all the sweeter.

From school kids and fans to amateur and professional footballers, from Morocco to Mozambique and everywhere in between; this fascinating collection truly lives up to its title ‘Soccer in Africa’ by showing it all. But perhaps most the awe-inspiring aspect of this book is the photographers’ strong ability to capture momentum.

As a fanatic of both the sport and powerful photography I was astonished by this piece.
I think the book’s ideal as a gift and is definitely something you’ll want for your guest library, especially in the wake of the World Cup.

And if you adore the ‘beautiful game’ as much as I do, ‘A Game of Passion - Soccer in Africa’ will leave you smitten.

Liesa Belling

Buy it here.

By John Edwin Mason

Have you had the luck and been in central Cape Town on January 2nd - any year? It’s madness.

Roads throughout the city are closed, the pavement’s packed excited crowds, their blankets, camping chairs and cooling boxes surround them. Getting anywhere fast is a schlep - but no one seems to care. Because this is the most significant day in the calendar of the Kaapse Klopse (the Cape’s unique marching minstrels).

It’s ‘Tweede Nuwe Jaar’.

Once the ‘Ghoemas’ - traditional drums made from modified wooden barrels - begin, all worries disappear and there’s only one objective: have a jol!

The messages John Edwin Mason conveys through his photographs are quite precise: celebration, togetherness and exuberant movement. The beaming smiles of the minstrels as they march through a lively Bo Kaap, the rich and glittering colours of the troupes’ uniforms against the bright blue African sky, or the Malay choir practicing by candlelight on a cold winters night; ‘One Love – Ghoema Beat’ delivers rare and heart-warming images like these.

Dr Mason - who teaches African History in Virginia and has a long-standing relationship with South Africa - realised he’d never actually witnessed the carnival before, even though he calls Cape Town his second home. A friend heard he wanted learn more about the tradition and introduced him to the head of Cape Town’s leading troupe. The Pennsylvanians instantly welcomed him as a member. Of course, we can’t all be so lucky. You see, to become one of them takes absolute dedication from an early age. It’s no walk in the park.

Over the next three carnival seasons he partook in public parades and spent time with the members in their homes and hangouts. From this unique viewpoint he was able to capture the most intimate moments of the carnival – and this is exactly why I find this book so touching.

Achieving an incredible feat with his latest work, he explores the origin and evolution of the carnival tradition in depth and, importantly, also demonstrates the joy that it has brought to countless generations. The book has an interesting and personal storyline with an extra close-up view of the Klopse; of the kind I have never seen before.

Just don’t expect deep literature. It’s about the visuals.

‘One Love, Ghoema Beat’ is an outstanding tribute to the history of the Cape Malays.
It’s great buy if you’ve been to the carnival and want something to remember it by - and an even better one if you haven’t. Because it’s sure to make you want to see it for yourself.

Buy it here

Liesa Belling

Photographer Claudio Velasquez Rojas
Foreword by George Branch

I think this book is awesome.

Anyone who has enjoyed the dramatic beauty of South Africa’s many faceted coastline will appreciate the stunning photographs and tremendous depth of scientific and environmental information that you’ll find in ‘Shoreline’

Shoreline – Discovering South Africa’s Coast evolved out of the successful 13-part television series of the same name. It paints a picture of the ever changing face of our seaside.

The journey begins with the birth of the unique and ancient South African coastline, and tells the story of how massive changes in climate have formed it - from Alexander Bay to Cape Town, along the southern Cape and up to the Mozambican border, this is wonderful ride.

I found the authors succeeded in creating a complete picture of the coastal communities, their histories and they way they co-exist with their natural environment.

For me, documentary photographer Rojas’ work is occasionally a little romantic, but he portrays the landscape, vegetation and people so specifically that you can’t help really grasping the essence of the moment. His attention to the tiny and huge details alike gives the all-round view that I think is needed to show the scale and contrast of South Africa’s grand heritage.

Personally I dislike jargon, but although they do use it from time to time I found the writing easy and informative. I didn’t have to strain my brain to make sense of the scientific lingo and facts.

You don’t have to be South African to enjoy this book. Jeannie Hayward, Claudio Velasquez Rojas and Jaco Loubser have put together something that everyone who values world heritage, geology or the unique wildlife of our maritime areas would like to own. And for anyone who loves extraordinary photography, well, it’s packed to the brim with gorgeous eye-candy. This is a book that belongs on every coffee table in every lodge and guesthouse in the country.

‘Shoreline – Discovering South Africa’s coast’ gets a double-WOW from me.

Liesa Belling

Buy it here.

Derryn Campbell’s new book is funny and inspiring, and could be tourism’s best sales tool ever.

I’d love to go to a country that was presented like this. The book is richly illustrated, filled with fast facts and word pictures, and its big, and square (24×24 cm), and solid (224 pages) - and it paints a portrait of South Africa as big (1,219,912 km = which is the same area as France + Germany + the UK), and weird (see pages 21-22: ‘Real Life Situations on South African Roads’) - and solid (”while occupying 4% of Africa’s land mass, South Africa boasts more than 50% of the cars, phones, automatic bank tellers, and industrial facilities on the continent”. and it ranks number one in the world for reserves of platinum, manganese, chrome, gold and vanadium - and number two for vermiculite, titanium, and zirconium).

But above all, it paints a picture of a country that is incredibly beautiful, and has a huge amount of fun even as it faces some of the greatest challenges of any country, anywhere (where else would you expect to find an estate agents’ board that offered a property for sale as a “Potential Mortuary, or Fruit Packing, Or Meat Processing Facility”?).

It’s the kind of gift you’d want to give to everyone who visits, it should be on every coffee table in every lodge’s lounge, and you’ll want a copy for your self, too, to keep by your side and dive into when you need to laugh at this exasperating land of ours.

Awesome South Africa: The Best, Greatest, Craziest, Biggest and Funniest is an awesome book.

Buy it here

You should also visit the book’s site - www.awesomesa.co.za

OK, lemme come right out and say it: I don’t know the ‘Berg. And THAT’S a terrible admission indeed - but I once went to Injasuthi and I spent a night in a backpacker’s at Sani Top: do they count?

No, actually, they don’t, and reading David Bristow’s ‘Best Walks of the Drakensberg’ (Random House Struik) made me realise how much they don’t.

Walking - I’ll say it again - is the best way to get to know a place, and if you’re going to walk in the Berg, this book is probably the place to start. It begins with a quotation from a mountaineer called Frank Smythe (“Go out alone on the hills and listen. You will hear much… Alone amidst nature, a man leanrs to be one with all and all with one.”)… and it gets better from there.

Amongst other things, the ‘Berg contains a vast collection of irreplaceable rock art, and the first chapter I read was the one on this subject. It set the tone for the rest - here is a writer who cares passionately about his work and, more, about the area he’s writing about.

After the introductory pages, the book reveals the ‘Berg area by area, with, of course, plenty of information about each walk and trail. But here I have a criticism - I get the feeling that you’re kind of expected to know the names of the places you’re going to be walking into. But maybe this is more a fault of the descriptions - or, more likely, my reading of them.

Still, I think when I do finally pack my tent and beetle up to the ‘Berg, I’ll be packing ‘Best Walks,’ too,

This is a revision of a book first published in 1988. Buy it here.

The first question I asked author Jacques Marais when I finally met him (we’d been in e-contact for a while, but never before in the same place at the same time) was, “Did you personally do all those things.”

And immediately the words came out of my mouth, regretted asking it - they showed that I hadn’t even bothered to read the introduction to this amazing dream-builder of a book.

But then if you put the cauliflower and broccoli on the table at the same time as the ice cream and the Bar One sauce and tell the kids to tuck in - who’s gonna eat the veggies? Gimme the sweets! Gimme the sweets!

(No, for the record, Mr. Marais didn’t write all the entries, but that doesn’t matter).

Amazing illustrations, incredible feats, and big, big dreams populate every single page of this book. Kloofing, trail running, canopy tours, catamaran cruising in the islands, snowboarding, rock climbing - everything I’ve ever wanted to do out there’s in here. 20 chapters of ‘em.

But I’m not going to tell you any more about it. Just buy it and enjoy, OK?

It’s published by Random House Struik. Buy it here.