About #HOTGR

`E`veryone in South Africa’s Garden Route has a story. Science accepts that all people alive today evolved from a remaining core population of about 600 individuals, right here on the South African Garden Route. This is why we love this place and its inhabitants. #HOTGR intimately features the ancestors of these 600 forefathers, and the journalists of Africa Media bring their stories closer to you.

All stories

Series

the Forgotten

Unemployed, faceless and hidden. The voice of the forgotten people.

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the Movers

Stories from the Garden Route's entrepreneurs, its movers and its shakers

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the Wild

Stories from those connected with nature.

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the Displaced

The stories of our neighbours seeking refuge in the Garden Route.

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the Savers

The people who sacrifice for causes greater then themselves.

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the Workers

Stories from the unsung backbone that keeps the Garden Route ticking.

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the Youth

Inside the minds of our children and future leaders.

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the Heros

Those dedicated to protecting the people of the Garden Route

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the Lawless

Inside the minds of those who live outside of the law

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the Characters

Untamed, charismatic, charming – the characters that cant be defined

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Our Journalists

Laurie Sullivan

Laurie is a hairdresser, barista and travel blogger from West Chicago, Illinois. She is one of Africa Media's Travel and Environmental Journalism interns and loves exploring (and writing about) new places and experiences.

Steven Lang

Steven is a writer and photographer from London, Ontario, Canada. He enjoys globetrotting in order to capture new landscapes, meet new people and experience local cultures. In his spare time he enjoys the company of cats, playing dodgeball or hockey and recording podcasts.

Anisa Abdullah

Anisa is a freelance journalist from Singapore with a heart for wildlife conservation. She is also one of the Environmental and Travel Journalism interns at Africa Media.

Fiona Ayerst

Fiona Ayerst is an established underwater photographer and environmental journalist based in the Garden Route's Mossel Bay.

Grace Bain

Grace is a journalism student at the University of Southern California. She loves to travel and to make new friends. She is a travel blogger and a Travel and Environmental Journalism intern (June 2019) at Africa Media.

Hannah Coogans

Hannah, an Africa Media environmental and travel journalism intern, was a research officer at ADM Capital Foundation in Hong Kong. She investigated wildlife crime and the use of endangered wildlife products and traditional Chinese medicine.

Michelle Fan

Michelle is from Singapore and is a travel and environmental journalist student at the Africa Media Academy (Feb 2020).

Rebecca Toogood

A journalism student from England, Rebecca loves wildlife and socialising with new people. In the future, she would like to travel the world and share her experiences.

Rouxne vd Westhuizen

Rouxne works for Africa Media as an environmental and travel journalist. She is also the course instructor for Africa Media's Environmental and Travel journalism training program.

Ryan Johnson

Ryan Johnson is a filmmaker and biological scientist based on the Garden Route's Mossel Bay

Vanja Lakic

Vanja is a freelance writer from Canada with a passion for human and environmental stories. She loves to travel and explore the details that make the world a beautiful place to live. She has a background in journalism and public policy, and is one of the travel journalism interns at Africa Media.

About #HOTGR

Series

the Forgotten

the Movers

the Wild

the Displaced

the Savers

the Workers

the Youth

the Heros

the Lawless

the Characters

Our Journalists

Laurie Sullivan

Steven Lang

Anisa Abdullah

Fiona Ayerst

Grace Bain

Hannah Coogans

Michelle Fan

Rebecca Toogood

Rouxne vd Westhuizen

Ryan Johnson

Vanja Lakic

Tell your story

Do you, or someone in the Garden Route you know, have a story that needs telling? Connect with #HOTGR.