Top travel apps rated and reviewed by Getaway staffers.
Photo by Jean-François Schmitz on Flickr
Photo apps
Camera+
All zooped up
The iPhone camera is okay, but fails at the image adjustments required to go from good to great. Download Camera+ for more flexibility. It’s not complicated, the interface is intuitive and navigation sensible. Importantly, you set up your ‘camera’ the way you want it with predetermined settings – such as a grid on the screen, horizon level, automatic geotagging and others. US$1,99.
Available on the App Store on iTunes and the Google Play Store
Camera+
Snapseed
Process that!
Powerful, easy to use and free, Snapseed (from Google) is hard to beat. Adjustment and effect controls (brightness, contrast, saturation, white balance, vignetting and cropping, to name a few) turn simple snaps into masterpieces. The app is able to process images shot on the tablet plus those imported from a more serious camera. It’s not as powerful as Photoshop Touch (below) but more than ample for most users. Free.
Available on the App Store on iTunes and the Google Play Store
Snapseed
Adobe Photoshop Touch
Best of the best
Pros use Adobe Photoshop Touch. It’s probably overkill for iPhonographers, and expensive, but there’s nothing the big daddy in tablet-based image-editing software can’t do. It rivals Adobe’s professional computer-based suites in power, which makes it a must-have for serious photographers shooting on the fly while travelling. In typical Adobe fashion, you’ll need a wee investment in time to learn the app’s ins and outs. US$9,99.
Available on the App Store on iTunes and the Google Play Store
Adobe Photoshop Touch
Navigation apps
iMaps+
Google on steroids
Get the best out of Google Maps with iMaps+. Intelligently designed allowing you to assess traffic conditions, find nearby contacts and adjust the display between map, terrain and hybrid. Most importantly, iMaps+ brings the power of Google Street View to your mobile. Network connection needed. R15,99.
Available on the App Store on iTunes and the Google Play Store
iMaps+
PocketEarth
Pocket atlas
Download free, interactive maps to your mobile device using the PocketEarth app, turning your mobile into an world atlas of GPS enabled maps – even if you’re offline. There’s also information on points of interest and, if you have signal, the ability to access Wikipedia articles and travel guides. The app records GPS tracks and easily imports and exports these. R24,99.
Available on the App Store on iTunes
PocketEarth
Tracks4Africa
Hail the king
Tracks4Africa is the regional leader in fine-resolution, high-quality GPS navigation apps. Overlanders find this app indispensible; indeed, travel off-road anywhere in Southern Africa without it at your peril. Available for smartphones and tablets, but works best on a dedicated Garmin GPS unit and in conjunction with Tracks4Africa paper maps. Worth every cent. R750.
Available on the App Store on iTunes. find out more at tracks4africa.co.za
Tracks4Africa
Animal apps
Sasol eBirds of Southern Africa
Bird brains
The Sasol eBirds of Southern Africa app is the digital go-to guide for serious birders, benefiting from the class-leading illustrations and descriptions in its renowned printed cousin Sasol Birds of Southern Africa. The app includes 950 species (with audio calls for more than 630). An intuitive, smart search function and an easy-to-use tick-list add to its appeal. IOS R239,99; Android R332,84.
Available on the App Store on iTunes and the Google Play Store
Sasol eBirds of Southern Africa
eGuide to Mammals of Southern Africa
eMammal
The eGuide to Mammals of Southern Africa app has comprehensive information on 350 species of mammals that occur in Southern Africa, including distribution maps, size comparisons to humans, spoor drawings and photographs of skulls. The app can be hard to search – especially if you don’t know your sengis (a small, mouse-like creature) from your cetaceans, but it’s the best in the region and you’ll get the hang of it. IOS R159,99; Android R221,85.
Available on the App Store on iTunes and the Google Play Store
eGuide to Mammals of Southern Africa
eSnakes of Southern Africa
Snakes alive
The eSnakes of Southern Africa app is adapted from Johan Marais’ guidebook on South Africa’s 151 indigenous snakes. Sure, you probably don’t go out looking for snakes, but the ability to identify one you’ve seen is a winner. There are distribution maps and photographs, diagrams show size and activity patterns, and it includes thorough descriptions and suggestions for frequently confused species. IOS R159,99; Android R221,85.
Available on the App Store on iTunes and the Google Play Store
eSnakes of Southern Africa
Apps to make air travel easier
Skyscanner
Find flights
The Skyscanner app should be the first place you check for cheap flights, wherever you’re flying. With more than 20 million downloads and a four-and-a-half star rating, this free app searches hundreds of scheduled and low-cost airlines, including SAA, Mango and Kulula. A handy bar graph displays the cheapest flights at a glance and searches can be saved or shared with friends. When you’re ready to book, the app will transfer you to the appropriate booking site. Free on all platforms.
Available on the App Store on iTunes and the Google Play Store
Skyscanner
FlightTrack 5
Track flights
FlightTrack 5 may have angered some long-time users by suspending its integration with the popular itinerary planning app TripIt, but it’s still the best flight-tracking app available. Punch in a flight route or number and get detailed information on gate times, delays and cancellations. Create multiple routes for multiple passengers, calculate transfer times, check terminal maps and weather forecasts, or just gawk geekishly at the real-time progress map of just about any public flight in the world. iOS R39,99. Android R54,08.
Available on the App Store on iTunes and the Google Play Store
FlightTrack 5
JetLag Genie
Beat jet lag.
JetLag Genie is a simple, intuitive app designed to help you overcome jet lag in as short a time as possible. Add your travel details and the times you’re usually in and out of bed, and the app will give you a seven-day plan (starting the day before you fly) with suggested wake-up and bed times, times to nap or to find bright or dimly lit areas, and, if you’re really serious, when to take melatonin. IOS only. Free.
Available on the App Store on iTunes
Beat jet lag
