After spending every other week on the road for the previous six years, travel journalist Jared Ruttenberg shares a few tips for planning that ultimate road trip.
1. Get out those Maps
One of the best chapters of a trip is sitting and dreaming up where to go. I choose a beautiful space to sit with both a map and Google Maps and dream up a road trip. Don’t underestimate the value of good old-fashioned maps – they give a much broader perspective than scrolling on a screen cap. Pop into Exclusive Books and get the biggest map of South Africa you can. Open that over a table and pour over it – explore areas that you’ve never visited before or know anything about. Start the vital process of asking questions. Essentially a travel journalist interviews places and landscapes and you get to start doing that.
2. Plan the Programme
Once you’ve got an idea of the area you’d like to visit, it’s time to plan some of the nuts and bolts on where to stay, and what to do. Here’s how I help refine my research:
· I begin with Instagram and research the hashtags and geo-location of where I’m going – it helps open you up to where and what other budding explorers in the region have seen and found
· I then Google blog posts and articles to see what others have written in the area
· Don’t forget about the search function on Getaway’s website – there is a treasure trove of articles waiting
· If you’re an avid walker or hiker, then the app Alltrail is an excellent source of up-to-date information on adventures that lie waiting.
3. Check your Vehicle
Since they carry us to our destination, our tyres are one of the most important parts of a safe journey; my father would always begin a journey by checking the tyres and I’ve learnt to do the same. I decided with my check and alignment it was time for some new tyres – and opted for one of the safest options I could find
I chose the Michelin LTX Trails tyres, which are specifically suited to the SUV/Bakkie market offering light off-road capabilities. They’re also up to 36% more durable in severe conditions than competitors. And let’s face it, travelling around South Africa the roads are not always in the best condition, so following the scouts’ motto of “always be prepared” I got the tyres.
4. Be a Curious Traveller
As much as you can plan out your journey and search out those hidden gems in advance, there are a host of surprises waiting for those who are simply curious. When I travel to a new destination, I ask any of the locals I meet what they think I shouldn’t miss while in their area.
This kind of genuine interest often rewards you with the neatest finds – and sometimes the locals are so excited about sharing their hidden gems that they’ll go out of their way to make sure you have the best time possible.
5. Take that content
In this day and age of content creation, we mustn’t forget about making sure you get some quality snaps and clips of your trip.
Here are the tools that I always travel with:
· OSMO – these little devices mount your phone and enable you to create smooth and steady content. They can even do cool tricks like track your movement and create funky videos. I’d suggest a model 3 or up
· While modern cell phones can produce incredible footage, they’re still no match for a camera itself. I use the Canon RP – the entry-level mirrorless camera from Canon and couldn’t be happier. I’d suggest you begin with a 35mm lens for general use and then a 100- 400mm zoom lens for wildlife photography
· Drones have opened up the world for us to explore from above. I use the DJI Mini 2 and despite its size, it is a brilliant starting point
· Lastly, when you’ve captured those desired shots, some great free editing options are available. I use Snapneed for images and Capcut for video.
Read more of Jared’s travel tips and destination stories at www.jaredincpt.com.
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