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Embassy Direct is proud to bring you our new print and online edition of Embassy Direct - The Ambassadors Handbook. The Ambassadors Handbook is not just a magazine, but it is actually the face of an ever-strengthening business networking structure. The brands you see in the following pages are the members that make up that structure. I’m grateful that our members believe in us and I am proud to work with them. Each year I wonder how Eugene, Iwan and the MBG team are going to improve on the look of the publication, yet each year they manage to raise the publication to another level. This year is no exception. Added to the great layout is what may be one of the most striking covers you’ll ever see on a magazine anywhere and we have Adam Rabinowitz to thank for that. Read Adam’s article and look him up on Instagram. Rodrigo and Wayne worked hard on creating quality content, managing to conduct interviews with the heads of diplomatic missions (embassies & consulates) for Canada, The Philippines, Panama, South Korea, Kenya, Switzerland, Turkey, Belgium, Egypt, Ukraine and Equatorial Guinea! They also interviewed Roelf Meyer, Rob Hersov & Don Boyd ... no small feat. I’d like to thank everyone involved in making this year’s edition a reality. A special thank you to Debbie Mayes, who has worked tirelessly on every aspect of Embassy Direct. Embassy Direct aims to bridge the gap between quality service providers and the expatriate community, both corporate and diplomatic. If you are an expatriate reading these words and would like to know more about how our member brands can assist you, drop us an email info@embassydirect.co.za and one of our team will be in touch. The message I’d like to leave with you with is one that forms the backbone of our business model, and that is to focus on the good news. There is so much of it all around us. Be a positive force that contributes to a better today and tomorrow. Africa is full of opportunities and you’re one of them!
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EDITOR Ron Mackenzie CREATIVE DIRECTOR Eugene Kruger EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Rodrigo Chiari EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Wayne Smith ADVERTISING Debbie Mayes LAYOUT AND DESIGN Jeane van Heerden PHOTOGRAPHY Cover: Adam Rabinowitz Editorial: Andrew Henn & Kelly Hardouin ONLINE Iwan Pieterse MBG MEDIA info@mbgmedia.co.za www.mbgmedia.co.za PRINTED BY Business Print www.businessprint.co.za ACCOUNTS Wanda Erasmus ENQUIRIES info@embassydirect.co.za www.embassydirect.co.za +27(0) 84 533 0467 DISTRIBUTION Stuttaford Van Lines www.stuttafordvanlines.co.za
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GETTING TO KNOW
16 H. E. Helen Budliger Artieda - Swiss Ambassador to South Africa 20 H. E. Jacob Dominguez Castillo - Panamanian Ambassador to South Africa 24 H. E. Elif Comuglo Ulgen - Turkish Ambassador to South Africa 28 H. E. Joseph Gerard Angeles - Ambassador of The Philippines to South Africa 30 H. E. Sandra McCardell - Canadian High Commissioner to South Africa 34 Counsellor Liubov Abravitova - Ukrainian Charge D’Affaires to South Africa 36 H. E. Francisco Edu Ngua Mangue - Equatorial Guinea Ambassador to South Africa 40 H. E. Hubert Cooreman - Belgian Ambassador to South Africa 42 H. E. Issa Sharriff - Egyptian Ambassador to South Africa 46 Mr Rob Hersov - Invest Africa 48 H. E. Jean Njeri Kamau - Kenyan High Commissioner to South Africa 52 Don Boyd - Scottish Filmmaker 56 H. E. Park Jong-dae - South Korean Ambassador to South Africa 60 Roelf Meyer 64 Ron Mackenzie - Editor of Embassy Direct 68 RADA 73 Adam Rabinowitz 74 Stuttaford Van Lines
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE 78 Italian-South African Chamber of Commerce 79 SwissCham 80 Belgian Chamber of Commerce 81 SACANCHAM 82 French-South African Chamber of Commerce 83 SANEC
*Image: Karkloof Safari Villas
TRAVEL
88 The SafariGuys 90 21 Nettleton 92 Kapama Private Game Reserve 94 Menlyn Boutique Hotel 95 Fifty Seven Waterberg 96 Matetsi Victoria Falls 98 Fairmont Zimbali Resort 99 Mount Camdeboo 100 Prana Lodge 101 Tiger Canyon Private Game Reserve 102 Leeu Estates 103 Leeu House 104 Le Quartier Franรงais 105 Jock Safari Lodge 106 aha Bongani Mountain Lodge 107 aha Ivory Tree Game Lodge 108 aha Shepherds Tree Game Lodge 109 aha Thakadu River Camp 110 aha Makalali Private Game Lodge 112 Double Tree by Hilton 113 The Munro Boutique Hotel 114 Newmark Hotels 115 Sibani Lodge 116 AirVentures Hot Air Ballooning 118 Ivory Manor Boutique Hotel 119 Hunter Hotels - Gorah Elephant Camp 120 Hunter Hotels - Hunters Country House 121 Hunter Hotels - Tsala Treetop Lodge 122 Morukuru Family 124 Morukuru Beach Lodge 125 Morukuru Ocean House 126 Morukuru Atholplace 127 Doornkop Fish & Wildlife Reserve 128 Strand Hotel 129 Chobe Water Villas 130 Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel 131 More Quarters 132 Madikwe Safari Lodge 133 Stanley & Livingstone Boutique Hotel 134 Lion Sands - Kruger National Park 135 Lion Sands - Sabi Sand 136 Marataba Safari Lodge 137 Marataba Mountain Lodge 138 De Hoek Country Hotel 139 Thanda Safari 140 Sun - The Maslow Hotel Times Square 142 Sun - The Boardwalk Hotel 143 Sun - Table Bay Hotel 144 Sun - The Maslow Hotel Sandton 145 Sun - The Palace Sun City 146 The Treehouse Boutique Hotel 147 Jan Harmsgat Historic Farm & Country Hotel 148 Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge 149 Dugong Beach Lodge 150 Lush Private Game Lodge 151 RockFig Safari Lodge 152 Shikwari Game Reserve 153 Shayamoya Tiger Fishing & Game Lodge 154 Hopewell Private Game Reserve 156 Entabeni Safari Conservancy 158 The Oberoi Mauritius 160 Brenton Haven Beachfront Resort 161 Elephant Valley Lodge 162 Impodimo Game Lodge 163 Kadizora Camp 164 Mkuze Falls Private Game Reserve 165 Saguni Safari Lodge 166 Santorini Mozambique 167 Victoria Falls River Lodge 168 Legend Golf & Safari Lodge 169 Avianto 170 Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa 171 Karkloof Safari Villas 172 Molapo Safari 173 Jozini Tiger Lodge
EVENTS 184 Networking with Embassy Direct 186 Casino Royale Evening 187 Hollywood Comes To Sandton 188 Embassy Direct Events 189 Opulent Africa 190 NSBC Small Business Networking Session
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Swiss Ambassador to South Africa
HELEN BUDLIGER ARTIEDA
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xcellency, since the days of William Tell, your country has a history of standing by democratic institutions. What is the Swiss stance towards the resurgence of South Africa after the years of oppression under Apartheid? Switzerland is often referred to as the oldest democracy in the world. The people still vote four times a year on issues in Switzerland. You can imagine then that for us, the day Nelson Mandela became President of South Africa was actually also a moment of celebration and joy in Switzerland. Switzerland contributed to the transition in many ways. To name a few examples, we sent a group of Swiss people to observe the election is South Africa to make sure that these elections were free and fair. Secondly, we came into South Africa with a transitional aid program that had finished by the end of 2015. Whenever we can play a role to promote the democratic model, we find a lot of enthusiasm and support from Switzerland. I think it’s also important to know that William Tell himself was a revolutionary. At that time in Switzerland we were a farming nation – most people tend to forget that – but there was a feeling that the rural population of farmers were actually oppressed by nobles and William Tell is a true revolutionary himself. Switzerland has uniquely divided itself into 26 cantons. These at the same time are divided into three different languages, French, German and Italian. How does this influence, and how would you define, Swiss culture? In truth we did not get divided – Switzerland is a true confederation, and it started with a nucleus of three cantons. Three central areas in Switzerland, after William Tell’s fight for independence and the idea of being your own master, decided to come together. It is not that somebody decided to divide us up on a map.
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We are in the heart of Europe so there is a lot of cultural influence. We have four official languages, so we are very much like South Africa in that we are a multicultural and multilingual country. If you were to ask me what is a typical Swiss thing, that doesn’t exist. Our typical thing is diversity. How have bilateral relations with South Africa developed in terms of financial aid, as well as trade and investment of Swiss capital in this country? The Swiss footprint in South Africa is quite large. Most people are surprised when I talk about this. We are the tenth largest investor in South Africa, being a small country but with a large economy. We have over 100 companies currently operating here. It is difficult to estimate how much job creation we have actually contributed but the numbers that I see float somewhere between fifty or sixty thousand South Africans employed through Swiss investment. We are large when it comes to touristic numbers as well, even though again we only have a population of 8 million. But we love to travel, and so I am told by the department of tourism that we rank eleventh, but the trend is that this number is going up. Swiss people love to come to South Africa, and as you know, tourism is an excellent sector for South Africa. It is growing, and it is labour intensive. It creates good jobs, and I think we heavily contribute through tourism as well. We are the sixth largest donor. Even though our transitional aid program stopped in 2016, we run an economic development program. It is not your traditional co-operation where you fight poverty and try to grant access to health and education, it’s really an economic co-operation. What we are trying to do through our assistance is to try and unlock the great economic potential of South Africa. There are 10,000 Swiss living in the region, which again for us is huge. This is the largest community on African soil. We have a science and technology program in which we train South African entrepreneurs. We also have a business development program. We estimate that 800 or 900 South Africa entrepreneurs have gone through this program. Some have become very successful. There is huge interest both ways between Switzerland and South Africa, and for me as an ambassador it is an interesting mandate because it is so broad-based. It is not just about defending Swiss interest but it is a partnership that goes both ways. The Swiss Federation is renowned for the manufacturing of high quality chocolates, cheese and clocks. Why do these products stand out, and in what other areas is Switzerland a world leader? Switzerland has been ranked by the World Economic Forum to be the most innovative country. I get asked quite often why Switzerland is such an innovative country, and it’s a rather simple answer. Switzerland is a small country in a mountainous area, there is limited land and agriculture might have to happen on a slope; if you try and dig in Switzerland, you will find nothing. The only commodity that becomes crucial is water, we are the water castle of Europe. But if you look back to when we were a rural society, parents would still have eight or nine children and there is no land to be divided – all the daughters would be married off because there is no space, and then each son in his own term could live off the land. So that pushed people fairly early on to cities and into factories, into learning a trade. Some migrated (many came here to the southern African region). So for us there was no other option than to be innovative, and also to be open to migrants. The watch industry, actually, we kind of inherited from the French. 20
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The Huguenots were very good at watch making. Since they had no home in France any longer they came to Franschhoek, in Cape Town in the Western Cape region, but also came to Switzerland and brought the watch-making trade with them into Switzerland, where it was then refined. So for us, innovation was a matter of survival. There are numerous other examples. Switzerland has registered more patents per capita than any other country. Some of the innovations I don’t understand. It goes beyond cheese, chocolates and watches – which are important because this is part of our cultural identity – but we have moved on to the high tech space. Living in Switzerland is expensive, but Swiss wages are high, or among the highest in the world. We usually cannot compete on price, and we cannot compete on quantity, so Switzerland will never flood the southern African market with cheap goods in huge quantities. Our niche, and I think it is important that countries find their niche, is the high end, high-precision, well done products. The breathtaking views of not only the Swiss Alps but also the country’s various lakes are landmarks that attract tourists from all over the world. What sites do you recommend South African visitors see when travelling to Switzerland? Now I’m going to get into trouble, because I’ve just explained that Switzerland is a confederation and I’m here to support all the regions, but you’ll allow me to start with my home canton, the canton of Lucerne. Lucerne is one of the most visited towns in Switzerland; it is right on the lake close to the mountains, which carry snow all year round. Lucerne is also in the heart of Europe, and it’s easy to do day trips up the mountain, or visit some of our famous cities. As a UNESCO protected world heritage site, the old town of Bern is the most preserved medieval town in Europe, and it’s absolutely stunning. But going to Switzerland, you have to go up the mountains – this is what we’re known for. You could also follow President Ramaphosa’s steps and go to Davos. If you’re a bit more adventurous you can ski down the slopes of Davos. The thing about Switzerland is that it is miniature, so you have everything in one spot. You can easily swim in the lakes in the morning and then later go up the mountain and experience something very different; you can be in the remote valleys of Jura, close to the French border, and feel like time has stood still, and then with a short train ride go to the very bustling, international city of Geneva on the same day. I would recommend that you use our public train system – that even goes up the mountain. It is timed like clockwork, we could actually adjust our watches to the train. There is art, there is history, we have become ‘foodies’ so you can eat well in Switzerland. And since we’re in the heart of Europe, it’s very easy to visit our neighbouring countries – we’re not jealous, we share. Excellency, thank you.
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In 1502, a year after Rodrigo de Bastidas discovered the area, Christopher Columbus arrived at a fishing village in Central America.The people called this village by a name that means ‘abundance of flowers’, ‘abundance of butterflies’, and ‘abundance of fish’. This name is Panama.
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Panamanian Ambassador to South Africa
JACOB DOMINGUEZ CASTILLO
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xcellency, your country established relations with South Africa more than 20 years ago and opened its first sub-Saharan mission here in 2000. How would you define this relationship currently and what do you foresee as its future? Our relationship with South Africa is moving forward. We are trying to accelerate cooperation with the country, and the exchanging of ideas. We are establishing trade partnerships that we have not had before. We have large South Africa corporations looking into Panama as a base to have their operations, to develop relations, and grow into the Latin American region, specifically in the Central American region, where Panama has an air hub, and the Panama Canal. South African corporations based there would be able to trade with a different side of America, and also with the northern side of South America, which is a huge area and has huge potential. This area includes Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru. We can also cover the Caribbean Islands where about 280 million people have not yet been reached by the intensive, commercial impetus that could be brought from South Africans into the region. On the diplomatic side, we get all the support from the government. We regularly meet with members of DIRCO (the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation). Six months ago, the Deputy Minister of Transport travelled to Panama with 18 different members from different corporations, among them MTU Rolls Royce, Transnet, the National Port Authority, and Royal Marine, which is a large company out of Cape Town that oversees ships and petroleum carriers. G ETTING
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I think we are doing well. We have had great help from our previous ambassadors, and we are hoping that this grows faster and bigger. Panama calls itself “The centre of the world and the heart of the universe”. Is this related to the presence of the Panama Canal or is there something else behind the phrase? This phrase was first said in 1824 by one of our major figures in politics, a liberator of the region, Simon Bolivar. Bolivar mentioned this in a meeting that he had in Panama. Panama has been a crossroad for centuries, not only from the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914, but before that. As a country, we worked with the idea of the Panama Canal for many years. The French came into Panama in the 1880s to try to build the canal. For many reasons, they failed. The Americans then came and built it from 1903 to 1914, and we had the first ship go through in August 1914. The maritime route opened new possibilities for everybody, not only for Panama. We have been working on increasing that waterway ever since – increasing its flow, increasing its commerce. We have the largest free-zone in the region. We collect goods from all over the world, and store them in Panama. We then ship them out to other countries, mainly South America, we do very well there. We are now trying to invite and educate not only South Africans, but the whole African continent. We are trying to show them that if they come with their products via a maritime line to Panama, and become part of the flow, the current that goes through there in the shipping business, their products will be sold to other latitudes of the world in an easier way. If you were to look at a Maritime map, you would see that the shipping routes from Panama go to Europe, to the northern side of the US, and to Brazil. As you move further from these routes, the traffic is less and less. That is why we are working with the South African government, and also with the Namibian government, to establish better port relations, and to improve this traffic to Panama. You mention Namibia. What other geopolitical interests, apart from South Africa, does Panama have on this continent? We are a very small country, we have 3.8 million people. We have 55 embassies around the world. Among those, we have three embassies in Africa – one is in Egypt, the other in Morocco, and then of course, here in South Africa. We have plans to open an embassy in Accra, Ghana, which is already in the works. We have also planned to expand our diplomatic affairs to Nigeria and Kenya, and are also looking at Zambia and Mauritius. We have not established any of these, apart from Ghana. These are in the works, they take time and we have to find the budget to finance these ventures. From our embassy here in South Africa, we also have relations with Namibia and Botswana. The idea is to bring Panama to all of southern Africa, to the northern parts of Africa, to the centre of Africa, to the coasts, and to then start increasing the commercial trade. We spent close to $6 billion expanding the Panama Canal, inaugurated two years ago. Now, we have to look for more business, more commerce, more ships, and more containers. The objective of the expansion was to increase the cargo that goes through Panama, and that is what we are doing today by extending our hands, and meeting leaders of the whole African continent. All our missions in Africa are working together to do this - we are part of the African Union. We are also very involved in the Pan-African Conference, as well as the SADC conference. 24
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In the year 2013, we signed a waiver agreement that allows South Africans to travel to Panama for 90 days without a visa. The Panamanian administration at the time also placed South Africa among their friend countries, which allows South Africans to adopt permanent residence in Panama with minimum requirements. Have those elements increased the numbers of visitors from South Africa – not only in tourism, but also with business interest? We have definitely benefitted from that agreement. The number of South African tourists coming through to Panama every year has increased from about 800 South Africans in 2012, to 1600 now. The immigration benefits for friendly countries, in this case South Africa, have given the opportunity for businesspeople, or even retirees, to come to our country and establish themselves there. This is growing, not only from South Africa, but from all over the world. Panama is a great place. We are part of the happiest people in the world, according to many surveys. We have an air hub, which allows you access to over 80 destinations, from 35 different countries, daily. These advantages allow foreigners to think about Panama, to think about becoming permanent residents in Panama, and to think about investing in Panama. In 2010, South Africa had the honour of being the first African country to host the FIFA World Cup. Similarly, after years of intense training and successful participation in the CONCACAF qualifier, Panama finally made it to its first World Cup. As a soccer fan, what would you say is the reason behind this success? I actually get goosebumps – for the first time we made it to a World Cup. This comes about with great work, training, and effort. Our fans have also been there giving hope and support to our team. As a Panamanian, I told my kids that I need to go to Russia. We placed a lot of effort in the team, and we had a number of strategies – we changed coaches, we changed players. We went to train at different sea levels. It took long, but we made it, and for the first time in our lifetime our country goes to the World Cup. We are very proud, and we hope for the best! We have some difficult adversaries, our first game is against England. This is proof of what consistency and persistency can do for a person, for a team, and for a whole country. And finally, how would you encourage South African tourists wishing to travel to Central America to visit Panama? Panama, although very small, has the biggest heart. It is very safe. We are always ranked in the top two or three Latin America American countries when it comes to income per capita. We compete with Uruguay, Argentina, and Dominican Republic. We are competitors, but we are friendly and we do our best. We welcome all South Africans to our country. We know they will feel safe, welcome, and that they are going to experience the best experience outside South Africa in Panama.
Turkish Ambassador to South Africa
ELIF COMUGLO ULGEN
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our Excellency, could you briefly elaborate on the historic background and details of the Turkish-South African relation. Turkey and South Africa established diplomatic relations in 1994. We had our embassies opened up on both sides. The South African embassy opened up in Ankara and the Turkish embassy opened in Pretoria. Since then, we have a vivid, lovely, friendly and sisterly relationship. Being the Turkish ambassador in South Africa puts a lot of pressure on the shoulders of any ambassador. It is a big country, it is a vibrant country and it is especially great being in South Africa at a time when the centenaries of the South African heroes are being celebrated. Particularly, Madiba’s hundredth birthday coincides with this year. I have the special honour and pride of representing my country in this beautiful rainbow nation.
How has your diplomatic and personal experience been thus far as the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey living in South Africa? South Africa, especially in the diplomatic arena, has one of the most populated capitals. You also probably know as a previous ambassador that Pretoria is the second largest capital for the Corps Diplomatique. Therefore it hosts a number of ambassadors. Currently we enjoy very warms relations with the diplomatic corps. On the social side, there are also many advantages. It is a beautiful country, beautiful to explore. As the Turkish ambassador in South Africa I also keep an eye on South Africa and Africa because Turkey has developed its relationships with the continent, especially in the last two decades, with a robust and ambitions agenda. Until 2009, we had only eleven embassies on the continent as the Republic of Turkey. Today, we have 42 embassies, the last of which is to open this year in Equatorial Guinea. Next year, we will open more embassies on the continent. I am currently the Turkish ambassador to South Africa, but I am also accredited to Swaziland and Lesotho. I look forward to my colleagues taking these duties off my shoulders because in the next few years we will open embassies there. We have a positive agenda on the continent and would like to have an embassy in each country. We value our relationships in Africa and really would like to do more here. What are the main fields of collaboration between Turkey and South Africa and how successful have you been in pursuing new co-operation agreements between the two countries? For South Africa and Turkey, all the required diplomatic agreements are already in place. We have a number of areas of priority. One is trade. The trade volume between Turkey and South Africa is somewhere around $2billion per year. We are working hard to do more in terms of trade and investment and we are happy that the South African government has a very welcoming climate. This is an agenda we would like to pursue robustly. Secondly, there is the cultural dimension. We highly value peopleto-people relationships. Our greatest asset is daily Turkish Airline flights, the airline flies to three destinations directly seven times a week: Istanbul to Johannesburg; Cape Town and Durban. We would like to double these flights and carry more people within Africa, or from the rest of the world to Africa via Istanbul. We opened a cultural institute in Johannesburg last year, where three Turkish classes are presented to South Africans. Last year (2017), 90 South Africans graduated from these Turkish classes. I’m also working hard to introduce Turkish soap operas to South African television audiences. We have seen the power of soap operas in bringing the Turkish spirit to places as far away as Latin America and the Middle East, so my desire is to bring those series to South Africa. On education, we provide scholarships to South African students. Politically, Turkey has been one of the countries invited by the South African government to the upcoming BRICS summit. We value that invitation very much and look forward to the summit. Over the past years, your country has become an important role player in the manufacturing of garments, becoming a successful supplier to the European market. Has the exportation of such goods found a niche in Southern Africa, especially in South Africa? That is another very positive agenda. With the permission of the relevant South African authorities, Turkish entrepreneurs, especially in the retail sector, are trying to expand more in the southern African and sub-Saharan market. Some have succeeded. You are likely to see more Turkish brands in shopping malls. The one hindrance is that there are no preferential trade agreements 28
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It is a beautiful country, beautiful to explore. between Turkey and South Africa. Small and medium enterprises that are good in the textile industry are doing successful business in Europe. With a little encouragement, I do believe we will bring more business to South Africa. But today I can proudly say that a lot of South African highlevel bureaucrats, cabinet ministers, especially male figures in politics, prefer to buy their men’s suits from Turkey. Also, Turkish scarves, carpets and textiles are becoming more popular in this country and we try our best to facilitate this trend. Turkey is a nation linking both eastern and western cultures. The likes of the Greek and Roman as well as the Ottoman and Persian empires set foot there. What would you say are the legacies left by them that might attract South African tourists to visit it? South African tourists are very impressed. I try meet as many of them as possible; some groups come to visit me after they have been to Turkey. What I hear from them encourages me to do more in terms of tourism between the two countries. As I said Turkish Airlines is the shortest connection between the two. We are far apart, more than 10 000 kms, but this connection brings us very close. South African people like to spend time in Turkey, they like the hospitality, the food and the deep historical culture. Equally, Turkish tourists also like to come to South Africa. There are many Turkish tourist groups and the number is increasing annually. The Turkish like to spend winter in the mild climates of South Africa. Tourism is an important way to bring cultures together. Politically, there is also a lot of merit in encouraging tourism. Ambassador, any last words for our readers and viewers? I am grateful that you chose the Ambassador of Turkey for this interview. It has been a great pleasure. Turkey is one of more than 100 embassies in Pretoria, and we will be moving into our new premises near the Brooklyn Mall soon – next month, I believe. You are welcome to visit us there. Thank you ambassador. Thank you.
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Ambassador of The Philippines to South Africa
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xcellency, as the Ambassador of the Republic of The Philippines to South Africa, how would you define your diplomatic tour here thus far? What moments or events stand
from other countries that have been our historical partners, we look forward to having more South African business in The Philippines.
out? I’ve been here for 3 years and my mission has been to promote trade, tourism, people-to-people exchanges, and culture. So far it has been a wonderful experience. Our focus for the past three years has been the promotion of trade and we’ve had numerous business delegations coming into South Africa, as well as South African delegations coming to The Philippines. We are very happy at the pace at which we have been going. Aside from South Africa, I also cover nine other countries in Southern Africa as well, so it is quite a big jurisdiction, and quite a challenge.
How has the Filipino culture been influenced by the presence of the Chinese, Spaniards, Japanese and Americans during its history? We have a long history of relationships with other countries and we have grown into such a unique society where all the positive aspects of all these cultures have now permeated the Filipino culture. As a tourist in The Philippines, it is quite exciting and quite unique to experience all of these countries in The Philippines. Our tourism thrust has been in the promotion of our very unique culture. I certainly think that it is the most unique in South-East Asia because of our unique experiences with other countries throughout our history.
What are the main fields of collaboration between The Philippines and South Africa and how successful have you been in pursuing new co-operation agreements between both? We have a Bilateral Consultative Forum every year. Last year The Philippines hosted the forum and this year South Africa will host it. We have been looking at trade, of course, and tourism. Recently we have moved on to other new fields such as maritime cooperation and also in science and technology. We have had several agreements already. They are ready for signing, hopefully later this year when we meet here in South Africa. We have been promoting people-to-people exchanges very strongly in terms of culture, as well as trade, so these have been the primary fields that we have been co-operating in with South Africa. Ambassador, you mentioned the maritime relations. Your country is the biggest supplier of sea-farers in the world right now. Could you elaborate for our readers? Thank you for bringing that up. As a matter of fact, that is the field that we wish to enter with South Africa. South Africa has pushed forward Operation Phakisa, which includes, aside from developing coastal areas and seas for economic exploitation, the development of skills for the maritime industry. As you mentioned, The Philippines leads in the training of maritime personnel and we hope to help South Africa in this field as well. Have any South African brands shown interest in the Filipino market so far? Yes, there is a strong presence of South African business in The Philippines, particularly in pharmaceuticals and mining. South African wine is also quite popular there, as well as South African juices. During the past five years or so, our economic growth has been phenomenal. It has been growing about 6-7 percent per year, one of the strongest in our part of the world. Just from January 2017 to January 2018, we saw an increase of 57 percent in our foreign direct investment, so it shows a robust economy in The Philippines. Aside
Cuisine in your country is influenced by these cultures too. Could you elaborate on that? Our cuisine is quite unique. There is a Spanish taste to it, some Chinese elements to it, as well as, of course, ethnic Filipino cuisine. Interestingly, when I presented my credentials to some of the leaders in Southern Africa, they mentioned their unique experiences insofar as Filipino chefs are concerned. We do promote our cuisine and several Western magazines in Europe and the United States have mentioned that Filipino cuisine is ready to take off in the international market, and we are really looking forward to that. As the main promoter of The Philippines in South Africa, what efforts has your mission placed to attract visitors from this country to the Filipino archipelago? Our beaches are among the best in the world. Boracay, as well as other beaches, have been mentioned in several tourist magazines as among the best in the world. Because of our location, we have an amazing array of sea-life, so scuba diving in The Philippines is certainly one of the best experiences in the world. In addition to our beaches, the ancient sites and cultural centres in The Philippines are also very nice tourist attractions. In relation to the South African tourist market, I am happy to say that South Africans can visit The Philippines visa-free for thirty days, so I encourage them to visit. I guarantee that they will find a very pleasant and unique experience there. One of our local television stations is currently broadcasting Survivor: South Africa and it is taking place in the Mindanao Islands in The Philippines. Yes, and I hope South Africa tunes in. It certainly gives one an idea of what to expect, perhaps on a more adventurous side. It would appeal to backpackers, as there are many such adventurous sites in The Philippines. Tourists could also visit the more commercial centres, they are among the best in South-East Asia and among the best in the world in terms of very modern tourist facilities. Thank you Ambassador. The pleasure is mine, thank you so much.
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Canadian High Commissioner to South Africa
SANDRA McCARDELL
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xcellency, as the High Commissioner of Canada to South Africa how would you describe your diplomatic tour in this country thus far? In our system, we are allowed to express preference for where we want to serve. I will admit that you don’t always get your preferences, but my first choice of a country that I wanted to come to and to represent Canada in, was South Africa – so I was thrilled when I got my first choice. We have had a great time here – I’m with my family of three boys. We really enjoy the country, it is magnificent. The people are great, and the work is always interesting – so it has been a really great assignment. Are there many South Africans immigrating into Canada? Not as many as you would think. I do not know if it is the climate that puts them off. We do have a good South African community in Canada though, there are roughly 45000 South Africans living there. Canada is the world’s second largest country and currently led by one of the youngest Heads of State. Could you talk a bit about the vision of your Prime Minister, considering the important role your country plays in this 21st century global environment? Prime Minister Trudeau has appeared on the international scene at an important point, and we are really excited to talk about what he is doing. He has a vision of international collaboration and of human rights, in particular women’s rights. He has returned Canada to the forefront of environmental protection in addressing climate change at a time when some of the leaders who had been espousing these issues left the scene.
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We are hosting the G7 in a couple of weeks. That will cover a number of themes, including future jobs. There is also a particular focus on Oceans, with plastic (waste) an issue that has caused a lot of concern internationally. Women will be at the forefront of the G7. We launched the Feminist International Assistance Policy just a few months ago, so our development assistance is really going to be targeting women and girls, and ensuring their place at the table. I think it is also the tone that has shifted. He has been a unifier, aiming to bring people together and to find solutions multilaterally, which is what Canada’s traditional international position used to be. Many countries are currently considering bringing down the age to be Heads of State. I have to admit, finding out my Prime Minister was younger than me was a bit of an adjustment. But we don’t have any age restrictions in Canada – that would be a sort of discrimination. We need to look at who is inheriting the world, at who cares about its future. I think it is more about the capability of a person rather than their age. I think this has real resonance in a continent like Africa with the large youth population, and I think it’s important that they have a voice. Canada and South Africa have a history that stretches back to the start of the 20th century, amidst the backdrop of the Anglo-Boer war. How would you say the relationship has improved over the past century, and what are its strengths? One of the first diplomatic missions that we opened abroad was in Cape Town. At that time we did not have control of our foreign policy, we were still under the British Crown, so our first efforts abroad were as trade merchants and one of our first trade offices was in Cape Town. The relationship with South Africa is a strong one. Like any long relationship, there are periods of highs and lows. We are certainly proud of the effort that Canada made around the time of the end of apartheid. We were very active in the Commonwealth in particular. Margaret Thatcher was British Prime Minister at the time, and really advocated a respect for human rights. In recent years there was a bit more of a challenge, some of the policies of our previous government weren’t as well received by South Africa. We are currently on a high, climbing back to a great friendship. The relationship is certainly multifaceted. We have a strong political engagement, we don’t always see eye-to-eye, but we certainly understand each other’s positions. Trade is a topic that we discuss often, and I know that it is a priority of President Ramaphosa’s. South Africa is interested in increasing its Trade and Investment and Canadians are interested in the market here. We maintain a development program of about five million dollars a year, as well as a few regional programmes as well, so we stay actively engaged. Increasingly, our other government departments are working together. We are currently negotiating a new TV and Film CoProduction Agreement. The first co-production agreement that South Africa had was with Canada and we are renewing it now to take advantage of the digital age and new forms of media. In the trade arena, our two countries share incredible trade figures. Could you elaborate on what is imported and exported between South Africa and Canada? South Africa is our largest sub-Saharan trading partner. The figure is about one and a half billion dollars per year between the two 34
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countries. It is in South Africa’s favour, and it’s my job to work on that. We have about $3billion investment here. A lot of our presence is in the mining sector, and that’s a big capital expense so a lot of investment is there, and that certainly is also a big part of what South Africa exports to us. We have a number of companies operating here. Not the largest, but certainly the most diverse trading relationship. Bombardier (a Canadian transportation company) is here, we have IT companies here, and the Gautrain, for instance, is a Canadian product. We have been working increasingly in services, such as legal firms. Export Development Canada, which supports exports from our country, has its only office in Africa in Johannesburg. We’re looking forward to building on this and supporting President Ramaphosa’s goals of increasing investment. Is mining a common denominator? Canada is very much a natural resources economy. Our foundation is in natural resources, and we share that with South Africa, so we have a memorandum of understanding on mining where we share experience and best practice. That includes technical questions - for instance, South Africa has a lot of experience in deep mines and we have our own advantages. One thing that we do share is corporate social responsibility. It is very important to our communities in Canada that our companies are respectful of community needs and of the environment, and obviously South Africa has a huge interest in that as well, so we trade notes on that. As a tourism destination, what does Canada offer potential South African visitors in search of adventure and leisure? Canada is a great country. It’s certainly known for its size, and of course natural beauty is a big part of what we are. It’s a country where, if you were so inclined, you could take a canoe for several days and go down a river and you wouldn’t see anyone else. I think in some ways South Africans have that as well – it’s a beautiful landscape with some great locations and incredible wilderness. Canada is more than just its nature, although we are certainly known for that. We have large multicultural cities, we have music festivals. You mentioned Vancouver, which I have to say reminds me a great deal of Cape Town, or vice versa. We have places you can do sports, obviously for winter. If a South African were to want a winter experience, we could certainly offer that: - great ski hills, cross country, or you could go riding on a dog sled or snow mobile if you wanted. But I think it’s really the people that make the difference, and Canadians are welcoming and friendly. For those interested in travelling to Canada, what is the visa application process? We have a visa application centre in Pretoria and we issue about 17,000 to20,000 visas a year. Most of those are visitor visas but there are work and study visas in that figure as well. It’s a process that we try make as smooth as possible. It takes a couple of weeks to apply, but South Africans seldom have difficulty getting a visa. High Commissioner, thank you. Thank you, it’s been a real pleasure.
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Ukrainian Charge D’Affaires to South Africa
LIUBOV ABRAVITOVA
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iss Abravitova, please share your personal and professional experience in this country. How would you describe it thus far? I have been here a year and a half already and I must say that this is an absolutely amazing country. A country with huge potential, a country of huge diversity and that makes it really interesting to live and to work here. Of course, when you come from another culture, another country, the first thing you investigate is the way people live and solve different problematic issues. For me, it is really interesting and pleasant that the country is very peaceful and that the people are very friendly - that makes it quite easy to work [in South Africa]. I will admit that communication between embassies and the different ministries of South Africa has been complicated because of the bureaucracy, but this exists everywhere – Europe, America and here. From a professional point of view, of course, this is a good place in Africa to be. Here, all the embassies of all the countries are concentrated and the role of South Africa as the regional leader and, I would say, the leader of the African continent makes this work not only interesting but also prestigious. How has the Ukrainian-South African bilateral relation developed since its beginnings? What are the main areas of co-operation between both countries? Last year we celebrated 25 years of diplomatic relations, so they were established in 1992. I would characterise them as quite fresh and developing now. Both sides are trying to find the roadmap of co-operation in different spheres: the economic sphere; the sphere of culture; of science and technology. I should mention that we are already actively engaged in political dialogue. We have been having political consultations between the ministries of foreign affairs, which brought to light spheres of development we are going to focus on. We have signed at least twenty inter-ministerial and inter-parliamentary agreements. Since the establishment of our diplomatic relations and different spheres of cooperation (economical, military), we have continued to work on some very important bilateral documents.
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Many South Africans visit Ukraine every year. What are your visa requirements and how easy is to obtain it? Not many people travel to Ukraine from South Africa, about 1500 people per year. That is not because the visa procedure is complicated. I would say it is about the same as travelling to any other European country, where you have to indicate why you are visiting, whether you are a tourist, whether you’re private or a businessman. Of course, you have to be insured, and you must have assets to visit Ukraine. It is quite budget-friendly, many South Africans can really afford it. This year, the Ukrainian side initiated the abolishment of a visa between Ukraine and South Africa. It is quite a long and complicated process but I think that at the end of the day we will be at the stage where we can travel between countries without visas. Can you name some of the main tourist attractions that your country offers to visitors from the rest of the globe? Both countries are similar for tourists in that they offer different attractions for both active leisure and passive leisure. We have beautiful seashores, mountains, nature reserves and the cities themselves. Ukraine is rich in history – going back to the eighth century – and you can actually see and touch all this history. One can find medieval castles all around the country, there are at least 5000 to find in Ukraine. Most are still inhabited, and they have fascinating architecture. The cities are very different – Kiev is known as the kingdom of golden domes, because of the churches. These are just some of the many beautiful places I would recommend to my South African friends.
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Equatorial Guinea Ambassador to South Africa
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FRANCISCO EDU NGUA MANGUE *Please note that this interview was conducted in Spanish, and has been translated.
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xcellency, you have been in South Africa for a number of years representing your country as its Ambassador, which moments of your diplomatic experience stand out? Firstly, I wish to thank you for the opportunity to highlight my country in this interview. From the moment I was appointed to this post, it became relevant to my diplomatic career. I am learning the customs and cultures of this country, enhancing both my professional and social life. One specific moment I can highlight is a state visit of my President to South Africa, and his subsequent multiple visits here after that for events including a BRICS Summit, an African Union Assembly that took place here too, the China-Africa Summit, former President Nelson Mandela’s Funeral and Jacob Zuma’s second Presidential Inauguration.
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What are the most important areas of collaboration between Equatorial Guinea and South Africa, and how many co-operation agreements are in place between the two countries? We are in the process of making history. Diplomatic relations between our countries began in 2004, when we opened our firstever mission in South Africa. With that opening, a general framework of collaboration was established during President Thabo Mbeki’s mandate and continued through Zuma’s administration. With the latter, many technical meetings took place to implement cooperation within different fields, and as a result of those meetings a number of agreements were signed in areas such as aviation, fishery, transport and oil drilling, amongst others. They are to be executed by a joint commission. We are currently in conversation with President Ramaphosa, and he has taken action for the first joint sitting to take place in the near future. Equatorial Guinea is one of the smallest countries of the continent and has one of the smallest populations. Nevertheless, its incredible resources makes it one of the richest. Is your nation’s economic growth and development showing such wealth? Definitely. Every country on the continent is known for its incredible natural resources, and Equatorial Guinea is no different. Yes, among other multiple recourses, my country is fixed on the exploitation of oil. This sector is controlled by foreign companies – American, British and French companies. Because we may not have all the required technical expertise, our economic share in these profits as a nation is small. From these profits, our Government invests in the development that is evident in the country, including in the building of infrastructure, of affordable housing for our people, roads, electricity and health. Yes, we take advantage of our resources, yet the Government has avoided any activity that is terminable and non-renewable. We are focused on diversifying the economy through other areas such as agriculture, fishery, cattle raising and tourism. Many countries nowadays depend on the tourism industry as well. To reach its goals, our Government has planned the Third National
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Economic Summit next year (2019). With it, many of the policies will be established in order to reach proper economic growth as well as the possible industrialisation of the country. Which South African companies have shown interest in investing in Equatorial Guinea? Currently, no South African companies are based in my country. It is not out of a lack of interest, but because companies will only establish themselves abroad when there are agreements in place that secure their investments. There is definitely an interest to do so, and we are waiting for specific agreements to be signed. The South African banking sector is one niche that is interested in our market. Numerous banks have approached me in this regard, looking at us as an investment opportunity, but they require a guarantee from the government in order to proceed. Nevertheless, our government granted the South African company PetroSA the right to extract oil from our grounds in 2004. PetroSA was unsuccessful and withdrew from Equatorial Guinea after 10 years. Other foreign oil companies then took over and in a shorter period were successful in extracting both gas and liquid oil. PetroSA is the only South African company that has seriously invested. Could you elaborate on the state of the tourism industry in your country? What attractions draw foreign visitors to Equatorial Guinea? Our government places the highest interest in its tourism industry, as this is one of the most important sources of income. We continually invest in this sector, and as proof of our commitment to tourism, we established the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, in which there is a State Secretary appointed for all tourism-related matters. This person not only focuses on promoting tourism to foreign visitors, but to locals as well. We have incredible biodiversity, historic sites, and ancient architectural structures. We have projects addressing ecological conservation and the protection of wildlife. We have attractive islands. There is plenty of interest in developing our tourism potential.
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Belgian Ambassador to South Africa
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xcellency, as Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to South Africa, how have you experienced your diplomatic tour in the country thus far? I’ve been here for four years. My wife and I have enjoyed this time very much, it has been a terrific experience. I am also Ambassador of Belgium to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho. It is a large area of the region to discover, and that has been a great pleasure for me – that personally, and as a diplomat, you are able to travel. How would you define the historic relationship your country shares with South Africa, and the African continent as a whole, and where does this relationship stand in the 21st century? We go back a long time in history with both South Africa and Africa. As you know, Belgium is a former colonial power in Africa, so we have been present in Africa for some time. Belgium became independent in 1830. We established our first diplomatic post in Africa in the 1850s already, and we have maintained a presence in Africa since then. In the 1960s we saw the independence of a lot of African countries, as we saw the arrival of democracy in South Africa in 1994. The relationship has since changed from a colonial one to a post-colonial one, but the relationship remains. We have evolved into the 21st century, like Africa has evolved, and we have redefined our relationships as such. On the Belgian political agenda, our relationships with Africa and African countries are of utmost importance. Your country hosts the headquarters of two relevant multilateral organisations, the European Union and NATO. How does such an important responsibility define Belgian policy as a key role player in international relations of the world? It’s an interesting question, because one might wonder why a small country like Belgium would seat important institutions like the UN and NATO. The answer lies back in European history. Belgium, unfortunately, has been the scene or centrepiece of many of the main conflicts in Europe - we witnessed the First World War, which was fought on Flanders Field, and the Second World War. After the Second World War, the European idea was starting to grow and the idea of a common defence was starting to emerge. It was obvious that a small country that suffered from European conflicts in the past would be an ideal place to locate international institutions whose primary objective was to prevent another war in Europe. We assumed that role, and of course that gives Belgium a unique position within the European Union, within Europe, worldwide as well. It means that as a small country we can punch above our weight. Brussels has become an international meeting place of government and political leaders. We host these meetings in the best possible way, together with these international institutions. It also gives us the opportunity to engage with a lot of governments and a lot of countries in a bilateral way. As the seat of those two international institutions, Belgium is very committed towards multilateral policy. We understand as a small country, that co-operation is necessary, but also is beneficial. We have seen it from our own experience. I am the first generation that has not experienced a war in my country in my lifetime. We know that for our own security, and for our own development, that international co-operation is essential -
not only with regard to defence and security, but also economically. Belgium is a small but very open, active economy. A good 80% of our GDP is earned through foreign trade. We’re a small country, but we produce and export a lot. In order to be able to export a lot, you have to have an international environment and relationships that are conducive to this trade. We are proud to host these international organisations, and we support the idea that co-operation is the best way to move forward. South Africa is a major exporter of raw diamonds and Belgium a world class processer of this stone. How have bilateral relations with South Africa developed in terms of financial aid, as well as trade and investment of Belgian capital in this country? Which Belgian companies have presence here? We have an extensive trade and investment relationship with South Africa. South Africa is the most important trade and investment partner on the African continent, and also acts as a hub for Belgian companies to explore the rest of the African market. In concrete terms, Belgium is South Africa’s fourth largest European trading partner, and one of the biggest investors in South Africa as well. We certainly became a big investor in South Africa last year, when the Belgian Brewery INDEF took over South African Breweries. That was an investment of around $100million. As a trading partner, last year we imported roughly R40 billion from and exported R90 billion - to South Africa. There is a bit of a trade deficit, but there is nothing wrong with the trade balance as it’s always going to be negative for two reasons. One reason is that the port of Antwerp in Belgium is the major gate to import South African products to European markets. Most of the South African exports that transit via the port of Antwerp are accounted for in our statistics as an import, although a lot of these products are in fact for European markets. So purely based on the location of the port, we will have a trade deficit with South Africa. Another factor that is important is of course the diamond trade. Belgium is the main trading centre for diamonds in the world, around 85 per cent of the world trade in rough diamonds happens in Belgium, and around 60 per cent of the world trade in polished diamonds happens in Belgium. We import more diamonds from Africa than we export diamonds to Africa. The 2018 FIFA World Cup celebrates its 21st rendition this year. As a prominent Europe soccer team, Belgium has participated numerous times. What are your expectations of the performance of your national side in Russia? Do you think they can bring the cup back home this year? I hope they win! But realistically, we are facing a number of other football-strong nations, so it’s going to be a stiff battle. But I think we have the best national team we have had in decades. We reached the semi-finals of the world cup in 1986, more than 20 years ago. They have my support. Thank you ambassador. Thank you.
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Egyptian Ambassador to South Africa
ISSA SHARRIFF
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he phrase “Cape to Cairo” describes the immense journey across the African continent. Excellency, as the Egyptian Ambassador to South Africa, how does your diplomatic tour in this country relate to such a journey? First, let me thank you very much for inviting me to be part of this edition. As Ambassador of Egypt to South Africa, one of my main aims is the Cairo-Cape Town project. This is an initiative by NEPAD (The New Partnership for Africa’s Development), under the auspice of the President of South Africa. The project is a dream – we are trying to connect the tip to the top of the continent, Cape Town the tip and Cairo the top. In between are many brotherly African countries, and we need to connect them, to make trade between them easier, and allow more transportation throughout. The dream is there, and people are trying to bring this dream to reality. There is a South African motorcycle rider who flew his motorbike up to Egypt, and rode all the way from Cairo to Cape Town. Although we still have no roads directly connecting Cairo to Cape Town, he broke a previous record, doing it in six days. He moved from Cairo, down to Aswan, to Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo, and then finally Botswana and South Africa. The point is, we need to make traveling easier, the movement of people easier, transportation easier. We have a similar project called Victoria-Med, which starts from Lake Victoria up to the Mediterranean. This is a mode of river transportation along the Nile River, under the auspice of the President of Egypt.
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Egypt is considered a Cradle of Civilisation. Does such historic responsibility play a part in the future of the African continent? Yes. In history, Egypt is the land of civilisation. The borders of Egypt have existed for 7000 years. We spread merchants and traders into the African continent 4000-5000 years ago. Egypt sent merchants to Puntland (present-day Ethiopia), Somalia and Eritrea – and they brought gum trees from there, as an example of where we started, and how we have moved forward. It is also an example to other countries in Africa about co-operation, and how co-operation can build economies. Egypt is doing well economically. We have a programme that we are building and implementing, and we hope this programme will benefit the people of Egypt, and the people of Africa, because we are part of Africa. How would you define the present bilateral relations between Egypt and South Africa from an economic perspective, particularly within the trade arena? This year we have almost doubled the volume of trade between Egypt and South Africa. We export $150 million to South Africa, and the total volume of trade is $314 million. This is a minimal amount of trade between the two countries – our potential exceeds this by 3 or 4 times. We need to reach $1 billion to reflect the capabilities and the potentials of the two countries. Last year the total figure was $216 million, this year $314 million, and we hope that by 2020 we will reach $1 billion. We have the potential. We are the biggest economies in Africa – with all due respect to other countries such as Nigeria and Algeria. Egypt has the highest GDP in Africa, followed by South Africa.
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What important agreements and treaties have Egypt and South Africa reached in recent years and which would you describe as important accomplishments? The bilateral joint committee has not met since 2010 – possibly due to the political situation in Egypt in 2011 and 2012. But eight years later, we have still not met as a bilateral joint committee. It is the vehicle through which we sign agreements. You need to sit together, from all the ministries in each country, and decide on agreements to sign. After eight years we have not signed any. Many are pending agreements that need to be revised, because a lot has changed in this time. We need to revise the trade agreement, encouraging investment, for example. I have been meeting with DIRCO (the South African Department of International Relations and Co-operation) – we have very good relations with them, and they have promised us that a joint bilateral meeting will take place this year. In relation to investment between the two countries, what niche business opportunities exist, or have emerged? Investment is important in order to attract foreign currency in both countries. We are co-operating, and we may say that we are competing together. But this is not a destructive competition, it is positive competition between both. For example, in the area of steel, Egypt and South Africa are the only two countries producing (large volume) steel. South Africa has iron ore, the raw material that we need and Egypt has factories. Why don’t we co-operate together in order to build a huge steel manufacturing plant that could export steel to all African countries instead of importing steel from other countries abroad? We need this co-operation in order to attract foreign investors. Foreign investment will come when we have the infrastructure, good policies and good investment from our countries, as well as laws and regulations. Three months ago (early 2018), Egypt adopted a new investment law, encouraging and attractive to foreign investors. South Africa has very good investment laws too. One of the other areas in which we could have good co-operation is that of spare car parts and car manufacturing. South Africa is welldeveloped in this domain, and Egypt has started producing spare parts for cars, particularly European manufacturers, from German and Italian brands.
If we can work together, Egypt and South Africa, we have the potential to create models for the rest of the African continent. All African countries are working hard to attract foreign investment, we need this on our continent. That is the African spirit. It is the African spirit. With all the lessons we have learned, we have seen that investors, foreign investors, often come to take. Just to take, not to give. Investors should use part of their investment, and of their profits, to build society, to improve their investment, to attract further investment in this society. Without improving society, this investment is useless. It is just for the benefit of the investor himself. Egypt’s rich cultural heritage is a fundamental part of its national identity, having embraced different imported influences (including influences from the Arab, Greek, Ottoman, Nubian, Persian and Roman ancient cultures). How would you describe present-day Egyptian culture, and how is this used to promote tourism in the country? This is called soft-power. Egypt has used its cultural heritage to have influence. If you look back at Arab culture, seventy or eighty years ago, we say that ‘The book was written in Egypt, and the author Egyptian’. And it is printed in Lebanon because they have very good printers. And it is read in Syria. We write the books in Egypt and they are read everywhere in the Arab world. So our cultural impact is very important. Our televisions were the first televisions not only in the MiddleEast, but also in Africa – the first broadcasts in the early 1950s. We celebrate 100 years of cinema in Egypt, there were no other cinemas around us at first. Egyptian films were then shown all around the Arab world, and now the accent of Egyptian-Arabic is understood in all the Arab countries. This is the influence of film, of cinema. We have also won the Nobel Prize for literature. We have four Egyptian intellectuals and politicians who have won Nobel Prizes. This reflects not the elite Egyptian community, but the local Egyptian community which is very close to the African community. The way we live, the way we have lived and suffered, habits and traditions – this is how we introduce ourselves to the international community, and this is how we use our soft power in order to spread our culture around us. Ambassador, we would like to thank you for being here with us. We hope your tour here in South Africa is a successful one, and we hope you succeed in connecting Cairo to Cape Town. Thank you.
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ho is Rob Hersov? I am a South African-born international entrepreneur and investor, who after 31 years of being outside of South Africa, has decided to come home. I am proud to be home. I am focused on Africa – I love this continent and I sensibly evangelise investment in Africa.
Africa as an investor in Africa. And a very important one.
What is Invest Africa? Invest Africa is a platform that evangelises Africa. We have members in New York, Washington, London, Dubai, Geneva and Johannesburg. We organise events, conferences, trips to Africa. We are very realistic about the prospects. Africa has 54 countries, and people often tease foreigners about not knowing one country from the next, but if I were to walk around here and ask someone what the capital of Liberia, Burkina Faso, or Madagascar is, a large number of people would not know. In terms of investment, Africa is complicated, difficult. Some countries are good, some countries are going in the right direction.
How can people engage with Invest Africa? You can become a member, join the platform, and interact with us online.
If we were to compare what is going on in South African investment to African investment, what would you point out? The last eight years, former President Zuma did enormous damage to this country. We were close to going off the edge. Cyril Ramaphosa is now our president, and I think he is doing a lot of the right things. Right now, land expropriation without compensation is a dangerous message to be putting out. Foreign Direct Investors who look at South Africa as a great country with great potential are now no longer sure. The rest of Africa depends on the country, the region, the opportunity, the sector – it is too complicated to be grouped into one region. It is not one country, it is not even one continent really - it is 54 countries. Which countries are seriously looking at investing in Africa? The countries with colonial interests in Africa are still actively involved. China has done the running over the last ten years; America remains interested but Japan has fallen behind and needs to step up its game. Germany has a great reputation, though they tend to be disorganised when it comes to investing, and the UK and France are very active still, and very important. I also look at South
Are other African countries investing in the continent? Yes. I think there is $50billion in intra-Africa MMA, about $50billion Foreign Direct Investment, and about the same sum of money flowing back home from people to their families.
From a general perspective, in the year that you have dedicated to Invest Africa, what is your assessment of the progress, and what is the way forward? Certain countries have got it right, with good governance and transparency. They have created an investment climate that makes sense. But they are few and far between. Africa needs to be able to stand up and get it right together, that is fundamentally important. A large portion of our readership includes Heads of Missions, or others on international missions in South Africa. How could you motivate them to take the voice of Africa back to their own countries to look at the possibility of investing in Africa? So you have to look at the countries that are succeeding, such as Rwanda, Namibia, Kenya, Ghana and Senegal, and follow their lead. It is good governance, it is transparency, it is being honest and open with investors, and not changing the rules. It is a real headache if you invest on a certain basis and five years later the rules change. Any last words of hope to fellow South Africans about the future of the country? This is such a great country, it has everything. But social inequality is a big problem and we need to fix that. Governments often talk about ‘measures that they are going to implement’, but economic growth solves many problems. We must focus on economic growth. Thank you for your time and insight, Rob. Thank you
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Kenyan High Commissioner to South Africa
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xcellency, as the High Commissioner of the Republic of Kenya to South Africa, how have you enjoyed the experience of your diplomatic tour in this country thus far? It has been great so far. South Africa is a really interesting country. It is great to be on the continent, and to be this far into the continent, and to experience the diversity, and this amazing landscape. It is a very rich country in terms of history and culture, and there is a lot to do. What are the main fields of collaboration between Kenya and South Africa and how successful have you been in pursuing new co-operation agreements between the two countries? One of the key areas of interaction in the relationship between Kenya and South Africa is trade-driven. The sheer size of the South African economy gives them the advantage that they fare against the rest of Africa pretty well. Over the years, we have seen quite an influx of South African companies into Kenya. The main areas of penetration are in financial and insurance services. You find that the major South African banks and insurance companies have presence in Kenya, and that becomes a basis for other South African companies to come into Kenya. We find the trade area is where there is a lot of interaction, and a continuous movement of South Africans in and out of Kenya. Strong trade partnerships develop between South Africans and Kenyans. Quite a number of Kenyan professionals and technical experts work for South African companies. We find there is the movement of finished manufactured products out of South Africa, but also importation of raw materials between the two countries. There has been quite a bit of growth in that.
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In terms of air services, both our airlines are doing good business. Kenya airways does five flights a day into Johannesburg and Cape Town, and South African Airways also competes on that route. There is a good business architecture that drives both of our economies. The trading balance is currently in favour of South Africa, which has an historical background around why that is so. It is an area that we are working constantly to improve, and we hope to have an equitable balance between us. But we appreciate learning from this economy in terms of technical and manufacturing expertise, and it is an area that we would like to encourage more South African companies to look into – you know, having more smart strategic partnerships with Kenyan companies and Kenyan businesses, where we have a good technical exchange. In the last 5 to 10 years we have signed quite a number of agreements. Again, these are around the areas of trade, defence, biodiversity and environmental management, immigration – to improve access and movement of people. We have also signed new agreements in the areas of agriculture, and food production, and even on tourism. There are still others outstanding, we would love to have an energy agreement. We are also looking into transport – we would like to see how we could benefit from South Africa’s experience in the transport sector, for example, the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit system) in the different urban centres. We are negotiating new areas of trade and expertise, so that we can continue to strengthen the economic areas of our two countries’ relationships. I personally refer to Jomo Kenyatta as the real father of Africanism. Belonging to the same continent and sharing common grounds, how do Kenya and South Africa act together on international and
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regional forums such as the United Nations and the African Union? The founding father of our nation, the late President Jomo Kenyatta, was one of the pan-African leaders on the continent at a really critical time when a lot of countries were changing from colonial administration to independent states. He is considered to have set the strong pillars for the Kenyan independent state in the 1960s and was one of the key leaders in our liberation struggle. These leaders framed the first pillars of African diplomacy – they had the challenge of defining what was to be the African diplomacy that was going to be driven by these independent states. They appointed the first foreign ministers that walked into the UN in the ‘60s. We believe in a strong pan-African diplomatic effort that looks at having a strong, secure and peaceful Africa that is able to articulate a strong self-determination that all countries are able to drive their own agenda around having strong socio-economic development frameworks. We find that this resonates with what other African countries are doing. South Africa has its own foreign policy interests and Kenya has its own foreign policy interests, but we find that there is a common convergence. We both believe strongly in peace and security, and work towards that within the AU. We believe in the strong socioeconomic development of both our countries, so the economic diplomacy for both countries has a strong component towards that. We use a multilateral framework that drives our countries in their national interest, but they are also Afrocentric. We want to see more trade in the intra-Africa paradigm. How we engage in SADC (Southern African Development Community), how we engage in East Africa, how we engage in SACU (Southern African Customs Union) – there are different multilateral frameworks – is driven by this common understanding. There are common synergies, there are common areas of interaction in our different foreign policies, and we do engage a lot within the multilateral space. Bilaterally, we have had an exchange of our presidents visiting for years back. Former President Zuma came to Kenya in 2016, in January President Uhuru Kenyatta was here. We are always discussing what is going on within our regions, how we, as two anchor countries – South Africa in the SADC region, Kenya in the EAC region, how can we use our influence to anchor and influence changes. The Kenyan economy is the largest by GDP in eastern and central Africa. Does this reflect the integral growth of the country’s population? What are the government’s immediate plans to accomplish such integral growth? There is an issue of disparity within any population. We have disparities, there is no doubt about that. The gap between top earners and poverty levels will confirm that we have that disparity. However, what are the mitigating factors? How to address poverty eradication within the context of government policy is really the issue that comes out of every electoral promise when you have a new government coming in. Poverty has to be addressed because it has consequences for the country’s development, and nobody wants to live in poverty. So we are always asking how we are going to improve our lives. We have really sound economic policies around that – first of all, to create employment, but to get people out of poverty, to create an economic framework where citizens can engage within the economy. We recently adopted a very simple economic framework on four key agenda issues. These are manufacturing, healthcare, housing and food security. 52
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We aim to drive manufacturing as a key sector of our economy, where we move from the current 15% to 22% in the next four to five years. We can create 1.2 million jobs by creating an environment where simple technologies, simple effort can be made to create more self-made entrepreneurs who can take up the challenge of becoming manufacturers, and thus improve the quality of their lives. It is not easy, but if you have an economic environment where people can engage and be self-reliant, then they will take up the challenge and improve their lives. Kenyans are very hard working. People who do business in Kenya say Kenyans do not look at the clock at 5pm, they ask, “Is the job done?” Investors will tell you Kenyans are hard-working, they are skilled, and they want to improve their lives. There is an enabling environment, and government support. Credit is accessible, training is possible, and the opportunities are there. There are also safeguard measures. We are not a social welfare country. The only recipients of welfare are over 70 years old. So you have to work to get to 70 before you can get a cheque from the government. Within each of these four big agenda items, there is opportunity for us internally, and through foreign direct investment, to address the issue of poverty. Visited by millions around the world each year seeking the “Safari experience”, could you elaborate on your country as a tourist destination and discuss some other attractions? We have an amazing landscape, and tourism opportunities in Kenya. We have snow-capped mountains, we have beautiful white sandy beaches, and because of that, it is a thriving area of our economy. I speak as one who has enjoyed those facilities from when I was a child. What people find attractive about Kenya is that you can go from a high-end touristic experience, to a lower-end, communitybased eco-tourism where part of your tourism experience is to actually live in one of our communities, and to leave a footprint in that community. You can adopt a baby elephant if you want. The Maasai Mara (National Park) is huge, and migration occurs in July and goes on all the way into October. It is something that a lot of people come to experience. Mountain climbing on Mount Kenya, or you can go fishing by the lakes. A lot of South Africans come to a town where I live, called Malindi, to do Marlin fishing. We see a lot of interest in the kind of tourism that allows you to hop to different destinations - for example you have two weeks where you go from the coast, to the mountains, to the parks. There is a huge variety on offer. And to finish, High Commissioner, I’m going to ask a compromising question. Are you sure you want to ask it? (Laughs). I have asked a similar question to people from Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana about the Victoria Falls: Where is Mount Kilimanjaro? Right. (Laughs). It is actually on the border of Kenya and Tanzania, so we claim a bit of Kilimanjaro. If you have ever been to the Amboseli Park, Kilimanjaro is right in front of you. So, how can I not say it is in Kenya? Thank you so much, High Commissioner.
Scottish Filmmaker
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Getting to know DON BOYD
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our filmmaking career began in the 1970s. Tell us about these first years in the industry, and how they influenced the years to come? I was lucky – in the sense that I went to film school from 1968-1970, at a time when the film industry in Britain had had a big downturn. But for that reason, all the great directors from the ailing comedy era in British cinema were teachers, so I was taught by some of the men who made some of the great films of the 1950s, for example The Lavender Hill Mob (1951) and The Man in the White Suit (1951). These directors – Charlie Crichton and Alexander Mackendrick – were people that taught me about cinema. When I left film school, I got a job doing a documentary film about an overland trip from London to Delhi, and that got me a job at the BBC. There I directed a whole bunch of television commercials, which included a Coca-Cola commercial starring the great Kenyan athlete Kipchoge Keino, who had won many gold medals. In making that commercial, I thought, “I’ve got to make movies!” I made a lot of money making commercials, but when I stopped, it was at the lowest ebb the British cinema has known for a very long time. I was doing a film commercial for Chrysler at Pinewood Studios, and I was the only film on the lot at the time. It was a very depressed time, with very little funding for films. You didn’t have video, you didn’t have the internet, of course, very few films that were made were shown on television, and so there was an extraordinary opportunity in a strange way for somebody who was passionate about cinema, and who came from a very creative institution, the London Film School. It was a time that I felt was a bit like the Wild West. You could go out and do almost anything, like prospecting for gold. At the same time, Hollywood had abandoned British Cinema. The big studios like MGM all decided that they didn’t want to have studios based in Britain, and so in a very cavalier way, I said “Well, okay. I’ve
got some money. I’m going to stick this into films” that, first of all, I directed. Secondly, I decided I wanted to make a series of films with interesting artists, interesting directors, interesting writers that were interested in making cinema, but completely independently. We didn’t seek partnerships with the studios – we couldn’t, they just weren’t interested. Another factor at that stage was that the cost of a film was such that you could go out and make an independent film for under £200 000.00, and it wouldn’t look any different to one that had cost £5 million, if you were ingenious and canny. And so, I had a little studio of my own and we were the only studio in Europe of that kind. That gives you a certain status. Although the industry was depressed in the 70’s, I was riding high. It was a very exciting, extraordinary time of my life, and I was barely 30. Ironically, that lead to me producing a film in Hollywood which cost $24 million, within two years of my successes in Britain. You have worked with the likes of John Hurt and Richard Harris, as well as Robert Altman and Jean Luc Godard. How was your experience working with these renowned legends of the silver screen? Rather like Ian Fleming, the great writer of the James Bond books, I always took the view that there were only two people that were phenomenally important to revere. One was Winston Churchill, and the other was God. And so, when I worked with these people that I regarded as really great artists, I approached them on an equal basis. This was not arrogance, it was just that I felt comfortable after I had had an element of success. I worked with them very much collaboratively. What was weird was that these people, particularly Richard and Godard, had reputations of being impossible to work with: very difficult, very very feisty, very opinionated. In both cases, sure, they were like that, but in Godard’s case, from the beginning we had a very friendly, poetic relationship. Richard was up and down. We adored each other, but we fought like mad during the period. I’ve learnt that you have got to be very straight. You have got
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to be able to say, “No that doesn’t work,” and if they say, “We want to do it like that,” then I’d say “Well, have a go,” and they would do it and realise they were wrong, and they would come back to my view. Your film journey is incredibly diverse. You have been director, producer and writer. Which of these areas is closest to the heart of Don Boyd? In my passport I call myself a film director, and that’s really what I learned to do when I was at film school. I really love writing. It’s quite a lonely process though. My wife is a bestselling novelist, and she shuts herself up in the cubbyhole upstairs and gets on with it, focused constantly on her work. As a director, it is exciting because you’re dealing with a huge crew; you’re dealing with some very clever artists in their own right – cinematographers, production designers – and I love that interaction with them. I love bringing out their talents to match my vision of what I’m trying to do. There are two kinds of films that I have made. I have made movies with huge crews – for the Hollywood film we made, I was the boss of 10,000 people whose pay-cheques were being paid for at some stage over the period of time. Generally, on an independent movie, there might not be two or three hundred people on set at a time, there’ll only be 70 or 80 or even less than that, but that’s quite a handy situation. With documentary films, you have got a director, sometimes the director is also the camera man, a camera-man, a sound-recordist, and that’s about it – and there is something very pure and exciting about that, and I’ve enjoyed making documentary films hugely too. The process that is also a little lonely is the editing. Once you’ve finished shooting, you’re sitting on your own with all the material you’ve shot, thinking “I wish I’d shot that better” or “Oh that’s rubbish, that’s terrible” and you then almost construct the film again, especially in the documentary field. In the documentary field, the editing process is almost like writing and it gets quite lonely. In the movie way of shooting, with 150 or 200 people, when suddenly it’s just you and the editor it’s quite a sobering moment. You have experienced much of the world, and your life and career has allowed you to spend some time on the African continent. Do you feel that Africa has evolved, particularly within the film industry? I was asked earlier on whether I was Scottish, and that is true, I was born in Scotland. My mother was half-Russian/half-Ukrainian, but I believe in a strange, mysterious way that I am an African. I’ve spent a large portion of my life in Africa, almost more so than anywhere else. I was brought up partially in Uganda and Kenya, and I’ve revisited Africa many times. Parallel to Magic, I’m making a film in Morocco. I’ve been to South Africa twice to make films, once for Channel 4 and once for the BBC, and I love Africa passionately. I made a film quite recently about the African Film Festival that takes place in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and I cannot tell you how much fun I had doing that. It was very intriguing, and there you saw a plethora of African cultures, and I felt that I identified with all of them, that I understood them, despite the broad range of cultures that they represented. If you think about Algeria or Morocco, and you compare their culture to that of, say, Tanzania, where I’ve also filmed, they’re very, very different. Tanzania has 120 different languages, for instance. That is fascinating. And here in South Africa, of course, you have got a very exciting, new, vibrant economy and society. I feel it as soon as I come here. I looked around at the airport today, and thought wow, this is the Africa that I feel familiar with.
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You are an Honourary Professor at the University of Exeter in the College of Humanities, a Governor of the London Film School for 30 years and Artistic Director of www.hibrow.tv, an online platform for the Arts. How does academia nurture the mind and soul of the filmmaker? Actually, I don’t really see myself as an academic. But what I have discovered is that I have the ability to pass on what I am excited about, personally, and what I’ve learnt. So, in that sense I enjoy being in academic environments. When I was at the London Film School, they had an MA course in screenwriting. One of the key things about screenwriting is, of course, that what you produce is not the finished article. Your screenwriting is still to be made into a film. One of the things they weren’t doing was engaging the students with the director character, so I very perversely spent a year going through sixteen MA students’ work as screenwriters. I read their scripts, and then inputted on the scripts the directorial input so that they would understand that when they left with their polished scripts, there would be somebody else saying, “Hold on a minute, we don’t like that sequence, we don’t like that character; why do they say that?”; “Why isn’t this section of the film working whereas the earlier section was?” That teaches me as much as it teaches them, and I love my academic work for that reason. You have to think philosophies out, you have to think technologies out to pass on your own information. I spend more time preparing for a lecture than I do writing a script. What brings you back to the Southern Hemisphere, having previously been in South Africa directing the documentary Man, God and Africa? I have been in Africa since Man, God and Africa, as I’d said, in Burkina Faso and in Morocco. But I have a friend who was the manager of ‘Wham!’ and who was a very important manager of people in the music industry, Simon Napier-Bell. He introduced me to Rodrigo Chiari, whose short story Magic I’ve turned into a feature film screenplay set in 1975/’76 South Africa. A small fact I discovered while writing was that television didn’t happen in South Africa until January 1976, for a start. But the idea magic had intrigued me since the day that I had seen a Gully-Gully man on board a ship in Port Said when I was about 7. My father wouldn’t fly from anywhere, he had to go by boat. When we came to Africa, we would sometimes come down along the Garden Route, but sometimes we would go through the Suez Canal when that was possible, and the ship would stop in Port Said. On the ship would come this man who did the most brilliant magic tricks. I have never forgotten them and they were iconic in my mind. This short story, which is beautifully written, which had a tragic element to it, had funny elements as well, predominantly was an opportunity to deal with an era that, thank heavens is gone, but to explain that characters and individuals within that era were strong and had an opportunity to survive. The story had this extraordinary ingredient, which I was so attracted to - the ingredient of magic. Of course, magic has such a place in African society too. Man, God and Africa demonstrates the African spiritualist tendencies, blended with Pentecostal Christianity, which fascinated me, and so when I read the short story I said to Simon, “I’m your man.”
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South Korean Ambassador to South Africa
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xcellency, you have recently arrived in the country. What diplomatic and personal expectations did you have of South Africa, and have they been reached thus far? South Africa is a beautiful country, and a very important country in Africa. As an export to the region, before coming here I was an Ambassador in Uganda, and in Côte d’Ivoire in West Africa. In those roles, I learned a lot about South Africa. I’ve been here for three months now. I’ve met many people – I see diversity in this country, and it offers many opportunities, not only in business, but in academia as well. There are many think-tanks, and I have many colleagues in the diplomatic corps as well. I’m enjoying the life, and I’m getting to know more and more about South Africa. South Korea is also a member of the G20, as is South Africa, and I look forward to having a very fruitful partnership with South Africa in that regard. What are the areas of collaboration between South Korea and South Africa and what are your plans to expand and pursue new cooperation agreements between the two countries? We are at a very special moment because of the positive changes that are taking place in our two countries. With the new President Cyril Ramaphosa, there is a greater hope of economic prosperity and political stability in South Africa. In our case, we had a new government last year. President Moon Jae-in became president, and delivered hope and promise in our politics, and in many other fields. As we are both members of the G20, we have opportunity to work together. South Korea exports a lot of commodities to South Africa. Business, development, and international diplomacy. We have a sizeable Korean community here, and they play an important role. I would like them to be successful in their lives here. Seoul is considered the world’s fourth largest metropolitan economy, and the country has been referred to as one of the four Asian Tigers or Dragons. How has South Korea accomplished this global status? Our country is considered a miracle, because of the fast economic growth it was able to achieve. For example, there were only two countries which realised more than 5% growth every year for 5 decades in a row, and that happens to be South Korea and Taiwan. From 1965 to 2005, over a period of 40 years, our average economic growth rate was 8.1%. That is very remarkable, and I think the key to our growth was human capital, and social capital. It is not our resources that fuel this growth, but the work of the people. I think that is an important lesson to many other countries. I think it is up to the people to make use of what they have, to work hard, and to be entrepreneurial. Despite the adversity you might face, if you have commitment and the people are working together, you can achieve this kind of development. What would you say attracts South Korean companies to invest in South Africa and have any South African brands shown interest in your market? Our companies are really attracted to South Africa. We consider South Africa not only for its own market, but as a hub to enter the rest of the continent as well. Many of our companies’ headquarters are stationed here. We are relatively new to Africa – we have not had the kind of relationships that many developed countries have with Africa, we’re a latecomer. But we think of Africa is the last frontier, and definitely a huge potential for market growth. There can be challenges in some regions, but South Africa is a very good base for us to do business. It is very modernised, and has good infrastructure. It is a very developed country, with a very favourable image.
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It is strong in industries such as agriculture and other technologies, in culture and in sports. To give an example, we have a young tennis player, Chung Hyeon, who advanced to the semi-finals in the Australian Open, and he had a new coach from South Africa. Another special aspect of our co-operation is that South Africa is one of only six countries in the world from whom we receive English instructors. South Africa is recognised a country that can officially send English teachers, and many South Africans do. They earn salaries, and we also benefit from your expertise. It is very mutually beneficial and dynamic. Korean culture is one of the most ancient of the Asian continent and has extended around the globe through food and recently, K-Pop. What would you say is intriguing about your culture to others around the world? The rise of K-Pop and Korean culture is very interesting. Before, we were mostly into Western cultures, Japanese cultures – films from Hong Kong were very popular. In the late ‘90s and 2000s, our popular culture became more and more attractive to the world – not only in Asia, but it has expanded to the Middle-East, Latin America, Europe, and the United States. Our brands of goods, our companies’ products, are also known all over the world. That helps our overall brand. As a country, we have transformed very rapidly, and the world is interested in us.
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Our young artists – singers, dancers, film stars – have become more and more popular. I think that is due to a new dynamism in our culture. The recent phenomena several years ago that is Psy, with his Gangnam Style, was a massive hit around the world. It is intriguing why our artists have been doing very well, but I think we have that kind of DNA in us. We can be a very reserved, quiet people, but we can also be free and dynamic. And lastly, Ambassador, how would you encourage prospective tourists to choose South Korea and South Africa as tourism destinations? Africa is difficult to come to, because of the distance, South Africa in the most southern part. But more and more, people know about how beautiful South Africa is. Cape Town is a paradise on earth. I’ve been here only three months, but I have been to Cape Town three times – it really attracts me. In terms of Korea, there is tourism from your side. Many South African youths go to Korea as English instructors. Some come back to South Africa again, some stay longer. Korea is attractive because it is a dynamic economy, an open economy, and also has good business opportunities. We have a distinct culture, the food is very good and there are many other attractions to enjoy.
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r. Meyer, allow us to get to know you better. Could you share insight into your earlier career, before you got actively involved in national politics as a Member of Parliament in 1979? You refer to early 1970s apartheid South Africa, the period prior to my entering politics. During that time, our country experienced early signs of uprising. After the imprisonment of former president Nelson Mandela and his fellow leaders in the ANC in 1964, the political landscape as far as the resistance movement is concerned was quiet. The anti-apartheid struggle was, of course, always in the hearts and minds of the people, but we did not see much in terms of actual political activism. I started my legal practice in Pretoria in 1973. It was during this period that an awareness amongst white people like myself about what was going on in the minds of black people and what was really going on in terms of the resistance started to develop. By the middle of the 1970s, we saw the reaction and the resistance becoming alive again, so to speak. 1976 was a very important year in terms of the unrest amongst the youth, known through the events that lead to the June uprising amongst in Soweto, and the killing of Hector Peterson. I nevertheless became involved in politics in 1979, and was elected a Member of Parliament. This was a time in which change started to become the subject of discussion, even amongst white people, and even in the National Party. People like myself were at the forefront of those debates, looking at how we could encourage and promote change. I can truly say that I was always on the side in favour of change. But change didn’t happen overnight, and it took quite a long period. Throughout the 1980s we became more aware of the increased resistance against the apartheid regime and apartheid laws that were still the norm. Those in favour of reform
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kept the debate going within the National Party. I think I can recall myself saying publically in 1983 that apartheid had to go. You served as Minister of Constitutional Development in former President de Klerk’s cabinet and were intimately involved in negotiations on the settlement of South African conflict as Chief Negotiator. How was your experience as one of the country’s youngest politicians handling such important responsibility? I think the message is clear. Young people have to be involved in the affairs of the State. At the time we concluded the negotiations on the Interim Constitution of 1993, current President Cyril Ramaphosa, who was leading the ANC negotiations, was not even 40 years old. I was just past 40, so we were relatively young, and I think that should serve as encouragement to young leaders today. We carried an immense responsibility, but we did it for the sake of the country; we did it as public servants. After the election of former President Nelson Mandela, you continued in the portfolio of Constitutional Affairs. How was it different from your service under de Klerk? It was a completely new situation. The apartheid regime came to an end on 27 April 1994, and the previous establishment that existed was liquidated, while a new establishment came into being. One which was under a new democratic framework created through these negotiations. Where I was serving a small part of the nation, in terms of the people that we represented, under de Klerk, I later occupied a position where I had to serve all the people. That was a huge difference, and a wonderful opportunity. It was such a great moment of change, the 27th of April 1994, because we liberated all of ourselves as well. It was not only the majority that was liberated, but also the minorities.
Holder of the Order of the Baobab in Silver from the President of South Africa for “immense contribution in providing special support in the birth of the new democratic South Africa through negotiations and ensuring that South Africa has a Constitution that protects all its citizens�.
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From the early 1990s, you developed a close relationship with President Cyril Ramaphosa, both acting as Chief Negotiators for your parties. I’ve heard the way you met would make an incredible movie scene. How has that bond evolved since then, and what expectations do you have of Ramaphosa’s administration? The friendship that developed between Cyril Ramaphosa and myself came about as a result of the negotiations, as a result of the fact that we were sitting across the table starting off as enemies. We knew that we just had to make it work, somehow. We regarded ourselves as public servants, serving the interest of the people that we represented respectively. In the end, the animosity that existed at the beginning slowly started developing into a relationship of mutual trust that I think benefitted the process of negotiations. It certainly helped us overcome many stumbling blocks and challenges during that period of negotiation. In the end, we could say to each other that there is not a problem we could not resolve, and you can imagine how powerful that statement is. Of course, President Ramaphosa finds himself in a completely different situation now. He does not have to negotiate with his former enemy, he has to lead the country – which he is doing. That responsibility is completely different from the one we had 25 years ago. From my experience I can say that I have the highest regard for him. I have high expectations of him to lead the country in the right direction. I think he will, because he is a constitutionalist, somebody who respects the Constitution that he was part of defining. He is certainly also a modernist, somebody who respects the modern environment that we find ourselves in, in contrast to somebody who is probably a traditionalist. Within the scope of that relationship, has President Ramaphosa at any point approached you for advice? He has very capable advisors. I will do whatever I can to make his task easier, and I am doing that. I remain engaged in subjects that are relevant to the present South African environment, like the issue of land, in which I am very actively involved at the moment. Not with a political purpose to fulfil, but simply to advocate a balance in the views that are broadcast from different perspectives. On the one side you have very strong left-wing views, and on the other very strong right-wing views. Somewhere in-between lies the balance. To my mind, the success of these debates lies in how we find this balance in a way that serves all South Africans at best, and I think that is what our task and responsibility is. So I will play my role wherever I can, through the course of civil society. I am not a political representative anymore, and I don’t want to return to politics, but I can still remain a public servant through civil society and the different institutions that I serve. Since retiring from active politics in 2000, you have been a global advisor in conflict situations. In this capacity you have worked with governments and parties in the Middle East, South Sudan, Myanmar and Colombia, to name but a few. How has your experience in South African negotiations contributed to the peaceful resolution of conflict situations worldwide? The basic message that we carry from our South African experience is that conflicts can be resolved. If I think back to the 1980s, very few people would have expected peaceful resolution to the South African conflict. In fact, the majority of South Africans themselves, by the end of the 1980s, thought that we were ready for a bloody civil war. We prevented that from happening through a process of peaceful talks, dialogue, and negotiation. 64
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We are basically saying to others in conflict situations is that if we can do it, they can do it too. If ours was seen as an insurmountable conflict, then theirs might not be that unique. The differences are of course there. The main source of conflict around the world is mainly one of three things: it’s either ethnic, religious, or for political greed – sometimes a combination of these. I think in our own situation, it was mainly a political contest between the majority and the minority. I think it was less of an ethnic conflict, and religion did not play a role in our conflict. In other conflicts religion might play a bigger part, and that might be more difficult to overcome. Still, if people sit down, negotiate, be inclusive in their approach, succeed in building trust between the opposing sections of the conflict, and take ownership of their own situations, their own problems, but also their own destiny, they can resolve it like we did. Those three things – inclusivity, building trust, and taking ownership – were the fundamentals that helped us bring about success. My last question, Mr Meyer is more an assessment of yourself. I’ve known you for the last 15 years, and I have seen a man who both loves his country, and who has given his share to make it is today. In that context, and with South Africa as it is today, are we still talking about a story of success? Absolutely. We have the most liberal and most modern Constitution in the world, probably the best Constitution in the world. I’m talking specifically about Chapter 2 of the Constitution which refers to the Bill of Rights. Our Constitution is an enabling document. The dayto-day happenings of the rule of law and the governance of the state are things that come about because of the practise of certain institutions. We are lucky that we have institutions that take care of our Constitution, like the Constitutional Court, the Office of the Public Protector, and the Office of the Human Rights Council. We have a variety of institutions that take care of the responsibilities that should be executed in terms of the Constitution. Governance is a separate institution. We are coming out of a period of experience that was not favourable: we missed certain targets and goals in terms of the development of this young democracy, but I hope that we will return to what we aspired to be in terms of the Constitution. I am sure that under the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa we are going to move forward on the basis of hope, aspiration, and ambition. In terms of our constitutional framework, I am happy to say that I am positive about our future. My own personal assessment is that the country is going to launch itself back into the international community, and internally through growth we will be able to provide for the challenges that we need to face. That is providing jobs, providing an outcome for the poverty levels that we are experiencing, and providing better education for our people. Those are things that are fundamental to the success of the future. Thank you so much for sharing all your experiences. I am sure our readers will be inspired by your words to become better South Africans.
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Editor of Embassy Direct
RON MACKENZIE
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ould you talk a bit about the history of Embassy Direct, and how it all started eight years ago? I certainly have enjoyed the road that Embassy Direct has taken. If I look at where Embassy Direct stands today and where it originated from, various conversations and certain occurrences stand out. There were a few factors that led to the start of Embassy Direct: a conversation with Eugene Kruger who compiles the magazine, and quite an amusing occurrence around Chihuahuas which I’ve shared many times. I was looking after a Princess and an Ambassador’s wife in our VIP travel business, and we were tasked with securing a penthouse, Persian rug, helicopter transport, and two Chihuahuas. I just remember thinking that there was no way to derive revenue from this Chihuahua acquisition, and also the relevance of having an important network to call on when our VVIP international travellers are in the country. Things from visas to Chihuahuas – there’s such a diverse need. In that moment, I would say, Embassy Direct was born. And then, down the line, Eugene and I would have conversations about an Ambassador’s Handbook, an essential little book of numbers that any ambassador in the country should have. That has progressed over time to not only ambassadors, but the diplomatic and the corporate expatriate community as well.
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I certainly have enjoyed the road that Embassy Direct has taken.
With this growth in mind, do you feel like the fundamentals of Embassy Direct are being upheld according to your expectations? I would say that we still have quite a way to go, in terms of matching the standards we have set ourselves. In some ways we are behind, and in some we are exceeding. What continues to surprise me is the need for quality services providers. In servicing this international VIP market and engaging with their embassies, we found that many of these same travellers ended up investing in the country, buying in South Africa, expanding into the region. Embassy Direct has developed to the point that we have goals for the future that would connect the diplomatic and corporate expatriate community across the continent. I guess down the line we could look at the globe – it’s not impossible – but certainly on the African continent. This is what we know, and where we know – for now. When we get people travelling into Johannesburg or Cape Town, that’s one thing; Harare might be different, Swakopmund too - but when you start to head to Kinshasa and further afield, as people basically know less about a region and seek quality information, so we become more pertinent. Matching that expectation would be delivering quality service providers, and we certainly are doing that. Your latest editions place an emphasis on content with more interviews, more culture. You approach various Heads of Mission for that purpose, could you elaborate why? 68
Firstly, I think we are really blessed as a nation, and other nations are blessed in the same way, in that we have amazing people here, in the country, from abroad. They are our focus. It’s always fascinating to learn about the road that they have walked, and what they are bringing to South Africa. These people then go out and become global brand ambassadors for Brand South Africa. So part of our mission, if you will, is to help shape that brand, to learn from these Heads of Mission and to influence them, to plant seeds as well. It is a resource that is on our doorstep, and a door into a country on the other side of the world. A lot are right here in Pretoria. We aim to expand to learn more about their countries, about how their cultures influence our cultures here and about South Africans going over there. There really are just so many layers, from tourism to macro- and micro-economic policies. As you said in one of the interviews, you realise how small the globe is in the modern world. It’s really fascinating, and I would encourage everyone to look closely into these interviews. As a business man going into the publishing world, would Ron Mackenzie consider himself a media-mogul in the making? (Laughs) I was asked that question yesterday, so now my brain is starting to think there might be something to this. That wasn’t the plan when we set out, and I go back to the conversation I referred to with Eugene, probably about eight years ago at the Mugg & Bean in Midrand, when we were talking about this little black book. There is no doubt that our publication has potential to grow – that’s exciting! It wasn’t really a goal that we had set out in the beginning. Normally when I have had an endeavour in the business world, after a few short years it has either made it or it has not. We are going into year eight of Embassy Direct, and we’re still growing incrementally, with positive, authentic, real growth. I would definitely say we have not yet realised where we are still to go, there’s a lot of growth still to come on that road. Maybe one day we can look back to this conversation, and we’ll find out if that became a reality or not. Lastly, Ron, we know that you are dedicated in all sorts of activities in the business arena. Nevertheless, something that I personally admire about you is that you are a family-man. How do you combine businessman with family-man? That’s a good question, sir, and I think my wife would enjoy listening to this answer. As a dad of four children, and a husband, and a son, I think we know the different roles we have within our families, and I would encourage everyone to identify that your family needs to come above business. You need your business to feed your family, it’s essential, but not at the cost of neglecting relationships. I would say part of a message that I feel is a bit lost in the world today, is that there is nothing wrong with working hard to get something. There is sometimes a negative sentiment around having to work hard, in a relationship as a dad, or a mom, a husband, or a wife – but there’s nothing wrong with hard work, and if you put a lot of effort into being a good parent, you’re still going to have challenges, but you’re going to increase your chances of succeeding. So, on a personal front, my family is all-important to me, and I try include them on our road of failures and successes – often more failures than successes, but we learn from them as a family.
Creating a RIPPLE EFFECT of POSITIVE CHANGE In life we have many choices and often it’s our attitude and reactions to these choices that determine their outcome. Some choose to sit back and complain about the problems in the world, others resume an apathetic attitude. Then you get those who stand up and take action. For philanthropist and change enthusiast J-P Nobrega, it’s the latter. Picture this. In February 2013, the successful tax accountant was sitting in traffic on his way to work. It was yet to be an ordinary day, just like any other, traffic queued up for miles. J-P Nobrega sat tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, while listening to music to de-stress. He was listening to his favourite South African radio breakfast show when he noticed something unusual. Every few minutes, a beep echoed over the air, interrupting the daily broadcast. J-P soon learnt that the beep symbolised every time someone was raped in the country. It was a hard hitting realisation. It wasn’t the first time the Johannesburg-based businessman had heard of a rape case, but this time was different. The father of two daughters, J-P was unable to come to terms with the notion that someone could commit such a brutal act in direct violation of a woman’s right. Based on statistics, South Africa is seen as the world’s rape capital. The radio campaign planted a very important seed that would be nurtured into something far greater. J-P went to bed that night knowing something had to be done. After much deliberation and research - which led to the discovery of issues far broader than the uncontrollable rise in rape statistics - he decided to leave his cushy job as an accountant, sold his most valuable possessions and started the successful and influential NonProfit Company RADA together with now Managing Director Jacqui Gilbert. J-P now eats and breathes RADA, alongside his personal tax practice.
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What is RADA? RADA is your place of renewal. RADA is an acronym for Rape, Alcohol, Drug and Abuse and aims to help our world become a better, healthier and safer place through various community projects. By taking positive, meaningful and effective action, RADA aims to combat these addictions and atrocities by building comprehensive renewal centres initially in South Africa and then across the globe. How does RADA operate? RADA adopts an holistic approach to renewal – using proactive education programmes to develop skills, behaviours and attitudes which lead to improved self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making, including reactive healing processes in caring for people who face adversity. The RADA approach to renewal is based on the premise that people need to understand that they are entirely responsible for - and accountable - to themselves. RADA helps people recognise that they have the power and energy within themselves to get back onto the road to recovery and ultimately lead a fulfilled life. RADA’s psychologists, social workers, therapists and caregivers work closely with each person’s own unique set of circumstances – political, historical, and circumstantial – to locate their own source of strength and regain a healthy functional life. What makes RADA unique? RADA is a diverse and complex company, catering to various sectors of the market, as well as realising the need for general humanitarian care in the world. RADA values the importance of education and encourages responsible decision making.
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RADA Training Academy is an education centre that provides workshops, SETA Accredited courses, computer training and call-centre training.
RADA CARE Over the years, the team at RADA have pinpointed various areas of need, which led to the establishment of RADA CARE. RADA CARE looks at long-lasting, simple and effective strategies to help people in need, providing basic humanitarian care across numerous campaigns, including the Adopt-A-Home Project, the Tough Times Project, the Patrollers Project, RADA Feeding Project and more. RADA renewal centres RADA currently has an out-patient facility operating in Bryanston, South Africa, under its sister company The Transformation Development Centre and Managing Director, Jacqui Gilbert. Together, the company has 20 years plus experience in dealing with cases of addiction and abuse. The in-house facility is currently being built and should be ready by 2019. It will enable the treatment of a lot more people once it is operational.
RADA Music Projects were developed to support the musical arts. RADA Unearthed seeks to unearth new talent and cater for all artists from all genres of music. RADA offers full artist solutions to musicians ranging from a stateof-the-art recording studio together with a full marketing package including media content, touring, live events and festivals. RADA has since released two albums, RADA Unearthed Vol 1 and RADA Inspire. What is RADA Inspire? RADA Inspire was launched to encourage the citizens of the world to inspire both themselves and others. At the heart of it, RADA Inspire is about marrying action with awareness, moving forward inch by inch, and making a difference in people’s lives one day at a time. It is based on the premise that one person can make a difference and that when you change yourself, you raise your resonance, creating a ripple effect of positive change. You don’t have to be exceptional. You don’t have to exert yourself beyond your means. In the end, all it takes is to do one small thing differently, empowering others with the belief that they may do the same. For more information on RADA and how you can get involved, visit www.RADA.co.za
...we have many choices...
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“If art is the ability of an object to transmit emotion, then as a wildlife photographer I strive to capture the essence of our untouched wildernesses in a way that moves the audience. I know I have done my job when my limited edition fine art prints deeply move people (sometimes to tears) because they feel a real connection with the spirit of Africa. We all know that these wild spaces are being encroached on and that, as a result, the wildlife that inhabits it is becoming rarer. We need to love these spaces to protect them. It is my hope that my photographs not only occupy a physical space in the homes of the families who buy them but also in their hearts and minds. That they nudge people a little closer to that love affair with Africa so that the next generation can experience them too.� Adam Rabinowitz is a South Africanborn travel and wildlife photographer based in Cape Town. His work is on display at The Watershed at the V&A Waterfront and can be ordered online via www.rabinowitz-photography.com. For a behind-the-scenes look at his travel adventures follow him on Instagram as @rabinography or @colorcurated. 75
Dating back to the mid-1800s when Stuttafords delivered furniture for Cape Town’s first department store, Stuttaford Van Lines has since evolved into a modern, multi-national company with the largest fleet and network in Southern Africa.
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Stuttaford Van Lines guarantees a level of care and expertise that cannot be compared. Apart from being an expert removal company when it comes to national and international moves, they also provide secure long and short-term storage for household goods and special items like grand pianos. Additionally, you are able to take advantage of specialist services that many removal companies do not offer -such as vehicle and pet relocation. They understand that the difficulty in moving is not only related to moving all your possessions from one place to the next, but also has to do with the stress of settling into a new city or country. Although Stuttafords is the largest in Southern Africa, they are aware of the value of specialisation, and focus on providing the small family business brand of service that their customers have come to expect. ACCREDITATION Stuttaford Van Lines is a founding member of the Professional Movers Association (PMA) that regulates the South African removals industry. In addition, as a FIDI member they are FAIM accredited. FAIM (FIDI Accredited International Mover) is the strictest quality programme and the most recognised accreditation within the international moving industry. Over 200 predefined quality requirements must be met before a company can be FAIM accredited to ensure that the
highest level of quality is maintained at all times. As further testament to their leadership and quality of service, they have membership of the following National and International Removals Associations: IAM (International Association of Movers); SAIMA (South African International Movers Association); BAR (The British Association of Removers) and LACMA (Latin American and Carribean Movers Association). A TRUSTED GLOBAL NETWORK Stuttaford Van Lines has an international network that can safely and smoothly move you to any city in any country, on any continent. With 14 branches strategically located across Southern Africa, including branches in Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia and Mozambique, they are able to offer a hands-on and client-focused service. Those customers moving further afield will find them capable of managing any international move. FINE ART PACKING The safety of your most prized possessions takes highest priority during the moving process, and your provider of choice for fine Art packing and relocation services is a determinant factor in this. Whether you are a collector of paintings and antiques or own chandeliers, sculptures or portraits, Stuttafords understands the importance
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of the safe and reliable relocation of these items. Their moving process encompasses everything from planning and scheduling, fine art packing and loading to compiling inventory reports, delivery and unpacking. Their services can be customised to your specific art collection and personal requirements, while offering professional consultation and attention to detail every step of the way. OFFICE MOVE Stuttaford Van Lines also has a specialist division dedicated to the professional removal and storage of office furniture and effects. Operating as the wellknown Sandton Office Removals in Gauteng, this specialist service is also offered by all their branches under the Stuttaford Van Lines umbrella. Their office removal teams specialise in the dismantling and reassembling of desks, screens, multi-file units and shelving. Every relocation is supervised, with specialist teams ensuring that fitting devices are not lost or damaged and that all items are correctly matched for the swiftest possible reconstruction. Electronic equipment and other hardware require special attention to avoid damage. Computers are packed by their expert team and arrive safely at their destination in air suspension vehicles. Factory machinery is relocated to your new premises with the utmost care and attention. TRANSFER OF VEHICLES Whether you are moving your car, boat, motorcycle or receational vehicle across the world, Stuttaford Van Lines has the experience to get the job done. Moving your car to a new country can be complicated and time-consuming, Stuttaford Van Lines can assist you with the transportation of your vehicle to and from anywhere in the world. They can also advise you on all legal requirements and regulations. Motor vehicles are shipped in steel containers, firmly secured by straps and wheels chocks. You will also have the option of shipping your household items along with your vehicle. Vehicle inspection reports are conducted on collection and delivery.
STUTTAFORD VAN LINES International: +27 11 206 1500 National: 0861 788 882 www.stuttafordvanlines.com
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Southern Africa-Canada Chamber of Commerce
SACAN CHAM Patron: H.E. Sandra McCardell, High Commissioner
Chambre de commerce de l'Afrique australe et du Canada
The Southern Africa-Canada Chamber of Commerce serves its members through: • • • •
ethically promoting the interests of members to decision-makers in industry, government and the community; providing thought-provoking and relevant content on topical issues through newsletters, News Briefs, events and workshops featuring renowned local and international speakers; providing access to incoming trade missions; facilitating trade for - and between - members, and promoting sustainable commerce in Canada, Southern Africa and the countries for which the High Commissioner and the Head of Office have accreditation, namely Mauritius, Lesotho, Namibia, Madagascar, Zambia, The Comoros and Seychelles
SACANCHAM has an enviable reputation for arranging high-quality, interactive workshops and events that inform and often challenge attendees, in addition to offering quality networking sessions. Highlights of 2018 include presentations by JP Landman, Jay Naidoo and Wayne Duvenage, and the inaugural Ambassadors Cup of Nations Golf Challenge.
nding success! This was an outsta oking for 2019 We are already bo
For further information on the Southern Africa-Canada Chamber of Commerce, please contact: Mike Morgan (CEO) at mike@sacancham.com Sandy Andrew (Co-ordinator) at sandy@sacancham.com
www.sacancham.com Created by www.antworks.africa
LET’S CROSS BORDERS TOGETHER!
Contact SANEC E: info@sanec.co.za T: +27(0)11 568 1234 I: www.sanec.org
SANEC can assist you with your business activities between the Netherlands, Benelux, South Africa and Southern Africa (SADC). SANEC is a key facilitator when it comes to a wide range of professional services that enable members and partners to successfully trade, invest and network. By becoming a SANEC member, your organisation benefits from numerous business activities and networking opportunities, generating value add for your company. The SANEC team is dedicated to work with you in order to maximise the benefits of your membership and we aim to pro-actively support your business strategy in achieving its goals and objectives. SANEC welcomes members with companies of all sizes, to fit with our various types of membership. Visit www.sanec.org for more information on SANEC membership.
www.sanec.org
The Safari Guys have been working with the expatriate community, living on the African continent, for many years. Offerings tailored travel solutions to those with wanderlust & specializing in family travel wanderlust noun 1. a strong desire to travel
21 Nettleton is the epitome of elegance and luxury. Nestled against the slopes of Lion’s Head, this private boutique hotel is located in one of the finest positions in Clifton. A mere 10 minutes away from Cape Town’s legendary Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Table Mountain and the city centre, yet a serene oasis removed from the hustle and bustle of city life. The ambient sound of the waves, uninterrupted coastal views, pristine natural landscape and grandiose sense of space are prompts for an unforgettable experience at 21 Nettleton. 21 Nettleton offers four sumptuous suites and a spectacular penthouse with unrivalled views of the Twelve Apostles mountain range and the Atlantic Ocean. Each room is individually appointed with bespoke art, antique furniture and luxurious soft furnishings – styled in a modern fashion. Indulge the senses in the finest linens, relax in the comfort of plush beds, or linger longer in beautiful baths with premium amenities. Closed to the public and accommodating only eight guests, 21 Nettleton provides uninterrupted privacy. For the ultimate celebration, book the entire property on an exclusive basis.
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21 NE T T LETON +27(0) 21 438 1122 info@21nettleton.com www.21nettleton.com Cape Town | South Africa
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KA PA M A KARULA +27(0) 12 368 0600 res@kapama.com www.kapama.com Hoedspruit | South Africa
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Nestled between the Blyde River valley and Kruger National Park, Kapama Private Game Reserve is an escape for nature lovers. This untouched part of Africa is home to some of the continent’s most endangered and beautiful wildlife. Sweeping across 15,000 hectares of savannah and riverine forest, Kapama represents Africa as it used to be. Kapama has a variety of ways for guests to explore the beautiful landscapes and wildlife. The iconic and most dangerous wild animals of Africa — the Big Five — are at home on Kapama, together with more than 40 mammal species and 350 different bird types. Twice-daily game drives offer fascinating and unique African wildlife experiences. Guests are left to marvel at herds of buffalo, elephant and antelope, along with plentiful predators. The reserve is a slice of wilderness paradise; a place of renewal and reconnection with the natural world.
With its airy open spaces offering views from every angle, Kapama Karula, meaning ‘place of peace’, is truly the pride of Kapama as the flagship lodge. Each of the glass-wrapped villas has its own outside deck area, a full-sized heated pool and loungers to relax on as guests take in the views. Effortlessly elegant and stylish, this ultraluxurious and prestigious lodge has the power to steal the breath of even the most seasoned traveller. Modern whitewashed wood, complemented by a neutral colour palette, give Kapama Karula a contemporary African feel. The open-plan bar-lounge is spacious yet cozy, with skylights drawing in natural light. Considered one of the finest safari spas in Africa, the award winning on-site Karula Spa and Wellness Centre has an intimate connection with the bushveld scenery. This flagship spa, offers a range of revitalizing health and beauty treatments. Every aspect of this spectacular design is guaranteed to ultimately leave guests feeling pampered, energized and inspired.
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Ideally situated in the heart of the Tshwane Metropole lies The Menlyn Boutique Hotel where luxury, tranquility and art intertwine to provide guests with an unparalleled offering and truly magnificent experience that adds to the beauty of South Africa’s acclaimed capital. The 5-star Menlyn Boutique Hotel provides guests with the industry’s best in luxury accommodation, fine dining, premium conferencing venues and a fully equipped spa and has become a favourite choice amongst business and leisure travelers that are looking for a home-away-from-home in the Menlyn node. The Menlyn Boutique Hotel has received an array of awards that include the Haute Grandeur Global Hotel Award, World Luxury Hotel Award and various Lilizela Awards. “These awards and nominations are testament to our commitment in ensuring each guest has an unforgettable experience while visiting us. We consistently strive to exceed and improve on our guest expectations by creating an environment that both leisure and business travelers can enjoy,” says Eluan Rabe, General Manager of The Menlyn Boutique Hotel. The Menlyn Boutique Hotel’s signature restaurant, The Black Bamboo has become one of Pretoria’s go-to venues for an unforgettable fine dining experience. The Black Bamboo provides guests with the very best of South African fine dining and cuisine, with the menu changing seasonally to incorporate new and enticing options for every palate. In addition, The Black Bamboo’s boutique selection of wines is the perfect touch to complement any fine dining experience. The search for perfection is what drives the team at The Menlyn Boutique Hotel to consistently deliver 5-star service through its commitment to their guests. “Providing and maintaining service of the highest standard is of utmost importance to us and is what sets us apart from other establishments in the area. We constantly strive to exceed our guests’ expectations in all areas a remain committed to creating an environment of unparalleled luxury and tranquility,” concludes Rabe.
M E NLYN B O U T IQ U E H OTEL +27(0) 12 425 9580 reception@menlynhotel.com www.menlynhotel.com Pretoria | South Africa
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Less than four hours north of Johannesburg lies Fifty Seven Waterberg, a 5-star lodge nestled in the heart of the Welgevonden Game Reserve. This intimate, small sized lodge provides guests with a cozy, secluded getaway experience coupled with unmatched tranquility that can only be found in the African bushveld. Owned by WH Leisure Group, the lodge lives up to its five-star status, providing impeccable service that is evident in its personalised approach to its guests. “Our commitment to the highest level of service and our intimate size is what sets us apart from other establishments situated in the bushveld. At Fifty Seven Waterberg we have mastered the art of combining the ruggedness of the African Bushveld with the luxuriousness that one comes to expect from a 5-star establishment,” explains Quintin Wiehahn, Director of WH Leisure Group. Accommodating a maximum of 10 guests at a time, guests are guaranteed exclusivity and privacy. The 5 guest suites are furnished to the highest standards and incorporate elements of opulence and earthiness that complement one another beautifully. Each spacious suite comes standard with a king-sized bed and private patio that has a beautiful view of the area. Besides the reserve’s status as one of the few locations in which it is possible to spot all of Africa’s iconic Big 5, the region also has more than 50 species of mammals. The rangers at Fifty Seven Waterberg are qualified experts in wildlife and conservation studies to provide guests with interesting facts and informed game drives that focus on life in the Welgevonden Game Reserve. “We want our guests to get a true feeling and taste for the South African bushveld whilst receiving excellent 5-star service. Our staff consistently go above and beyond for our guests. Exceeding our customer’s expectations is a goal that we continuously strive towards,” concludes Wiehahn.
F IF TY S E VE N W AT E RBERG +27(0) 12 346 5425 rita@whleisuregroup.co.za www.57waterberg.com Limpopo | South Africa
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Matetsi Victoria Falls, located on a 15 km stretch of the spectacular Zambezi River is one of Africa’s most stylish luxury lodges. Just 40 km upriver from the rush and spray of the the world famous Victoria Falls, Matetsi Victoria Falls offers one of the finest combination experiences in Africa with world-class safari experiences, river activities and the falls all in one. Explore, adventure, relax and recharge.
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Experience stellar five-star services rivalled only by the spectacular natural wonders surrounding Matetsi River Lodge and River House. Guests, accompanied by knowledgeable, conservation-minded guides, are invited to explore Matetsi Private Game Reserve’s 55 000 hectares of protected and unspoiled wilderness on foot, by vehicle and by boat, while great herds of elephant, buffalo and plains game delight and amaze.
Above all, the Zimbabwean spirit, at the heart of everything that is done on the property, makes Matetsi Victoria Falls a unique experience: from the visionary owners’ passion, to the distinctly local design and architecture, and to the artistry and warmth of the Matetsi team. Matetsi weaves a magical quality to leave guests with greater insight into the culture and surrounds, treasured memories, and a longing for more Matetsi Magic.
M AT E TS I VICTO R IA FALLS +263(0) 8677 004 779 | +27(0) 11 397 1142 reservations@matetsivictoriafalls.com www.matetsivictoriafalls.com Victoria Falls | Zimbabwe
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South Africa’s magnificent eastern shoreline presents gently rolling hills and lush flora, pristine forest and glistening sea, which form the backdrop to a world of wondrous sights. Take in 1,000-year-old battlefields, incomparable gameviewing opportunities and renowned eco-parks—including two World Heritage Sites, Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park and iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Wrapped in this exquisite natural beauty and rich cultural intrigue is the KwaZulu-Natal province’s premier destination: Fairmont Zimbali Resort, a tranquil retreat offering the utmost in stylish comfort and unrivalled service. Cosmopolitan flair and traditional Zulu accents permeate the hotel’s 154 guest rooms and suites, each with scintillating views of the warm Indian Ocean. Adding to the superb offerings is a variety of exquisite food and beverage experiences, which range from international favourites to locally inspired flavours; a new and improved conference centre accommodating up to 600 guests; and welcome recreation, including a renowned Willow Stream Spa, a state-of-the-art fitness centre and a fully supervised Y-Univers Kids’ Club. Only 16km from King Shaka International Airport, and a mere 25 minutes from Durban. At Fairmont Zimbali Resort, our legendary hospitality and attention to detail create an atmosphere of pure paradise—a place where you can effortlessly immerse yourself in Africa’s unforgettable charm and allure.
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FA IR M O NT ZIM B A L I R ESORT +27(0) 32 538 5000 zim.sales@fairmont.com www.fairmont.com/zimbali-resort Dolphin Coast | South Africa
MOU N T C AM D E B O O +27(0) 87 057 4513 reservations@mountcamdeboo.com www.mountcamdeboo.com Eastern Cape | South Africa
Resting at the foot of the majestic Sneeuberg Mountain Range in South Africa’s dynamic Karoo region, Mount Camdeboo offers a private, malaria-free ‘Big Five’ safari experience in a pristine setting. This is a place of sweeping panoramas and undulating escarpments, extraordinary plant and animal diversity and a deeply rooted cultural heritage, all incorporated in the reserve’s expansive 14,000 hectares. The reserve is home to white rhino, Cape buffalo, cheetah, giraffe, mountain zebra, a host of antelope and an abundance of birds. If remote R&R is what you need, then the on-site spa and the constantly evolving menu of wholesome, locally inspired, refined cuisine, will do wonders for body and soul. Accommodation is in three beautifully restored, gracious gabled manors – including a sole-use villa – each with spacious gardens and swimming pools, and one with an additional secluded cottage.
For those looking for something under canvas, two luxurious and privately located en-suite safari tents provide sweeping views over the reserve. Activities on the reserve range from game drives and guided bush walks to cheetah tracking, scenic helicopter flights and star gazing. Informative talks take place at actual historical sites on the property, illuminating the lives of its first settlers and the dramatic events of the Anglo Boer War. Just 28 guests can be accommodated on the property, making for a low-impact, uniquely private safari. With the picturesque town of Graaff-Reinet only a forty-five-minute drive from the gate (one of the best-preserved of the Eastern Cape historic towns), it forms a perfect endpoint to a slow amble through South Africa’s backroads. We can assist with organizing charter flights in and out of the airstrip in Graaff-Reinet. TR AVE L
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Prana Lodge is a boutique luxury beach lodge and wellness spa situated in a pristine forest alongside the spectacular Chintsa Bay, within minutes of rolling savannah and private game viewing. Prana Lodge Private Beach Estate and Spa is a mere 40 minute drive from East London Airport, making the Wild Coast more accessible than ever before. 21km of golden beach, uninhabited, untouched and pristine ensure the connection to nature becomes a reality. Situated in the dense dune forest of Chintsa Bay, Prana Lodge promotes health, wellbeing, relaxation and rejuvenation aplenty. Exclusivity, tranquillity, peace and quiet, are complimented by 8 luxurious suites, 7 with their own private plunge pool and garden. These stand-alone havens boast luxury touches such as Persian carpets, fine linens and other five-star mod cons and provide total security in an intimate environment; the perfect setting for those seeking a romantic hideaway. As the only five-star hotel in the region, Prana Lodge offers guests the very best dining. Under the guidance of award-winning Head Chef, Jaycee Ferreira, Prana’s talented chefs are dedicated to preparing wholesome dishes marked by bold, palate-delighting flavours; a culinary experience par excellence. Prana Lodge also boasts an award winning Spa, with 2 private treatment pavilions; 2 couples rooms and one single room. Welcome to our Heaven on Earth. Experience ultimate relaxation and restoration for body and soul through highly personalised and unobtrusive service, total privacy and exceptional cuisine, and create memories of a lifetime. 102
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PRA NA LODGE +27(0) 43 704 5100 info@pranalodge.co.za www.pranalodge.co.za Wild Coast | South Africa
Tiger Canyon Private Game Reserve is an ex-situ conservation project that has established a sanctuary for wild Bengal tigers in the South African heartland. Founded in 2000 by veteran conservationist and wildlife filmmaker John Varty, today our reserve is home to the only population of wild tigers outside of Asia.
canyon, with each room providing spectacular canyon views. Our adventure safaris offer unparalled sightings as well as some of the best photographic opportunities of these elusive cats in the world, so that guests are able to enjoy a unique close-range safari experience in a rugged and scenic environment.
The endangered Bengal tiger has long been fighting for survival in its native habitat, and is increasingly at risk from expanding human populations and poaching. In South Africa, our proud conservation history and big cat expertise mean that we are able to preserve a flourishing population of wild tigers in a safe conservation environment. It was for this reason that our tiger project was established in the vast Karoo region of South Africa, a natural and underpopulated terrain that allows for the tigers to thrive as wild and free icon predators.
Set in the semi-arid Karoo region of South Africa, our reserve is a magical destination unlike any other. This captivating heartland is home to diverse and ancient cultures and naturally-occuring wildlife, including zebra, wildebeest, ostrich and springbuck, providing unforgettable memories in a breathtaking and spiritual wilderness.
Merging conservation with eco-tourism, we recently opened our exclusive Tigress Julie eco-lodge on the edge of our namesake
By working hand-in-hand with local communities, Tiger Canyon has created a conservation blue-print that allows each and every guest to experience the rare majesty of the wild tiger, a powerful encounter that will leave all who come here changed forever.
T IG E R CA NYO N PR IVAT E GA M E R E SERV E +27(0) 71 607 9279 info@tigercanyon.com www.tigercanyon.com Free State | South Africa
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Leeu Estates, an exclusive five-star boutique hotel property with 17 luxuriously appointed rooms and suites, takes central position on 100 hectares of vineyards, landscaped gardens and fynbos (indigenous vegetation) in the Franschhoek valley. Located between the mountainside and river, just minutes away from the village of Franschhoek, it is the ideal setting for an elegant and sophisticated private hideaway, offering superb comfort, fine dining and platinum service. At the centre of this working wine farm is the meticulously refurbished 19th-century Manor House with its six rooms and suites. There are two rooms adjacent to The Manor House, and the remaining rooms and suites are located in spacious cottages among the gardens, oak trees and vineyards. Delicious, innovative cuisine can be enjoyed in The Dining Room where the finest locally sourced organic and ethically farmed produce is showcased in creative fusion dishes with vibrant world flavours.
LEE U E STAT E S +27(0) 21 492 2222 reservations@leeucollection.com www.leeucollection.com Western Cape | South Africa 104
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Set among the vineyards is Leeu Spa, a wellness sanctuary offering expert massage and holistic treatments. A 15-metre (49-foot) infinity pool and TechnoGym-equipped gym cater to the most fitness-orientated guests. Personal training and yoga are on offer. In the boutique tasting venue, guests can sample handcrafted premium wines from Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines. Complementing the Leeu Collection on the main street of vibrant Franschhoek village are Tuk Tuk, a craft beer microbrewery in collaboration with the Cape Brewing Company, and Marigold, Franschhoek’s first authentic Indian restaurant.
LEE U H OUS E +27(0) 21 492 2221 reservations@leeucollection.com www.leeucollection.com Western Cape | South Africa
Leeu House is an exclusive and private 12-room five-star destination, in the scenic Franschhoek valley. An oasis of comfort and luxury, Leeu House’s appeal is its country guesthouse feel on the main street of vibrant Franschhoek village, within easy strolling distance of award-winning restaurants, art galleries, boutiques and many other attractions. Guests can also relax at the 15-meter swimming pool. The beautiful interiors are a contemporary take on Franschhoek’s traditional Cape Dutch heritage. The seamlessly integrated finishes are neutral, calm and multitextured. Leeu House also showcases a number of important contemporary artworks and sculptures from various countries. All-day dining menus are available at The Conservatory. Meals may also be enjoyed al fresco on the terrace. The Lounge, with views of the garden and oak trees, comfortable seating and a wood-burning fireplace, is where guests can mingle and relax. It is the perfect place for afternoon tea. Complementing the Leeu Collection are Tuk Tuk, a craft beer microbrewery in collaboration with the Cape Brewing Company, and Marigold, Franschhoek’ s first authentic Indian restaurant.
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Le Quartier Français, a romantic 32-room boutique hotel including two independent villas, is located in the heart of Franschhoek. Le Quartier Français is the ideal base from which to explore the surrounding winelands, or you can simply walk into the village to discover its quaint charms. The extraordinary staff, luxuriously comfortable rooms and attention to detail ensure that this auberge is the ultimate destination. All the rooms and suites at this luxury destination have been refurbished to reflect a sophisticated and fresh colourful palette. La Petite Colombe was established at Le Quartier Français by the La Colombe team at Silvermist Wine Estate in Constantia. This restaurant, which complements La Colombe, is driven by celebrity chef Scot Kirton and head chef James Gaag. The Franschhoek kitchen is headed up by talented young La Colombe chef John Norris-Rogers. Tasting menus focus on the finest local and seasonal produce, recommended with a rare and fine wine selection. Protégé, an exciting new restaurant in partnership with the La Petite Colombe team, will be opening its doors at Le Quartier Français before the end of 2018. Complementing the Leeu Collection are Tuk Tuk, a craft beer microbrewery in collaboration with the Cape Brewing Company, and Marigold, Franschhoek’s first authentic Indian restaurant. 106
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L E Q UA RT IE R F RA NÇAIS +27(0) 21 876 2151 reservations@leeucollection.com www.leeucollection.com Western Cape | South Africa
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Discover the spirit of Africa as you step into the magnificent aha Bongani Mountain Lodge, situated in the shadows of the Malelane Mountain range, bordering the Kruger National Park. This is the ideal area to connect with nature and the culture of this fascinating region. Walk the ancient paths of the San People, with over 250 recorded San Rock Art Sites estimated to be about 1,500 years old, the greatest concentration of recorded rock art per square meter on earth. Luxury accommodation, including an ensuite bathroom and private deck offering magnificent wrap-around views, comprises: 20 Double-bedrooms with en-suite bathroom (10 of which include a sleeper couch), 18 Inter-leading Rooms, featuring either a Double Bed or Twin Beds (ideal for families with young children). The attractive on-site restaurant offers beautiful views of the bush and mountains and serves a delicious bush breakfast, leisurely lunch and buffet dinner.
aha BON GAN I MO UN TA IN LO D G E + 27(0) 13 764 3577 gsm@bonganiml.co.za www.aha.co.za Mthethomusha Game Reserve | South Africa 108
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Our air-conditioned conference venue is fully equipped for business delegates. This conference venue, which is near the Kruger National Park, provides accommodation for up to 60 delegates.
Ivory Tree Game Lodge is situated in the north-eastern region of the Pilanesberg National Park, in an ancient amphitheater divided by riverine woodlands and elephant trails. The central facility includes a pool, bar, conference room, dining room, boma, reception and curio shop. Ivory Tree Game Lodge offers 5-Star accommodation in the malaria-free, Big Five Pilanesberg Game Reserve. All 67 rooms are decorated in earthy tones and offer comfortable outside seating areas to enjoy the surrounding wilderness. On-site dining facilities serve breakfast, lunch and dinner in stunning surroundings. Exclusive Boma and bush dinners are available at an additional charge depending on min/max numbers of guests. Non-Exclusive Boma dinners are held at the lodge’s discretion and cannot be pre-booked. Ivory Tree has a dedicated conference room seating up to 100 delegates as well as a range of fantastic team building activities, ranging from archery and interactive drumming to Quad bike trips.
IVORY T RE E GAME LO D G E +27(0) 14 556 8100 ivory.shepherds@aha.co.za www.aha.co.za Pilanesberg National Park | South Africa
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Shepherd’s Tree Game Lodge is a lodge concession within the existing Pilanesberg Game Reserve. The entire lodge lies in an exclusive-use zone in the south-western portion of the 57,250ha, “Big Five″ malaria-free reserve and is built to offer commanding views of the surrounding bushveld. In addition to twice daily game drives, guests can also enjoy bush walks to get up close and personal to the diverse species within the reserve. Shepherd’s Tree Game Lodge offers 26 Standard Rooms (or 13 Family Suites), 4 spacious Executive Suites situated adjacent to the magnificent main lodge and 1 Villa with 2 bedrooms, private Boma and a plunge pool on a spacious deck. A gourmet restaurant serves the most delectable cuisine, while a casual lounge and bar provide magnificent vistas of the impressive landscape. A variety of dinner experiences are available upon request (boma dinners, wine cellar and bush dinners). Shepherd’s Tree has a dedicated state-of-the-art conference facility and functions centre, offering several layouts and accommodating up to 70 delegates (classroom-style).
S H E PH E R D’S T R E E GA M E LODGE +27(0) 14 551 3910 ivory.shepherds@aha.co.za www.aha.co.za Pilanesberg National Park | South Africa 110
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Set along the banks of the Marico River, aha Thakadu River Camp provides luxurious tented accommodation and a stylish, comfortable base from which to explore the splendid game viewing that only Madikwe Game Reserve, close to the Botswana border, can provide. With its strong Afro-Asian safari ambiance, aha Thakadu River Camp offers 12 Luxury Tented Suites, perfectly blended within their natural surroundings, and each with their own viewing deck overlooking the Marico River. 4 of the Suites are Family Units, with an extra double-size sleeper couch. All suites include an indoor bath and shower. The main lodge area is built on stilts within the riverfront vegetation and guarantees a serene setting for breakfast, dinners and relaxation.
ah a T H AKAD U R IVER C A MP + 27(0) 18 365 9912 cro@aha.co.za www.aha.co.za Madikwe Game Reserve | South Africa TR AVE L
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aha Makalali Private Game Lodge is located close to the mighty Drakensberg mountains west of the Kruger Park, this ethnic bush retreat lies on 26 000 hectares of bushveld in the North Eastern Lowveld, South Africa. Flights can be arranged into Hoedspruit Airport and from here transfers organized. Makalali Game Reserve boasts the ‘Big Five’ Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino and Buffalo. Other characteristic species are Cheetah, Giraffe, Zebra and Kudu. aha Makalali Main Lodge is a newly built 5 star lodge, comprising of 30 comfortably designed standard rooms all with en-suite bathrooms. The rooms are air-conditioned and feature luxurious interiors with classic leather and wood furnishings. aha Makalali Main Lodge has a central dining area where guests can enjoy an array of African cuisine. The outside boma is ideal for an evening under the African sky. The spa offers a variety of soothing treatments and the pool area offers the perfect place to unwind and take in the sounds of the African bush.
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ah a M A KA L A L I PR IVAT E GA M E LODGE +27(0) 15 793 9300 cro@aha.co.za www.aha.co.za Hoedspruit | South Africa TR AVE L
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At DoubleTree by Hilton™ we put the human touch back into your travel experience. It all starts with the warm welcome of a chocolate chip cookie at check-in. Then the caring keeps coming with everything from the luxurious comfort of our DoubleTree sleep experience, to our highly-trained staff members who are dedicated to anticipating your needs so your stay is the best it can be. Come see us! We always have a cookie with your name on it ready and waiting. DoubleTree by Hilton Cape Town Upper Eastside has a variety of guestrooms that meet the needs of every kind of traveler, from business to leisure to family groups. Each room is equipped to ensure your every comfort.
DOU BL E TRE E BY HILTO N +27(0) 21 404 0570 CPTUE.RES@hilton.com www.capetownuppereastside.doubletree.com Cape Town | South Africa
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The DoubleTree by Hilton Cape Town Upper Eastside enjoys a convenient central location: a mere 15 minutes from Cape Town International Airport (14km away) and approximately 10 minutes from the world- renowned V&A Waterfront. Located just off Main Road, the artery that runs virtually the length of the peninsula’s southern suburbs.
TH E M U N RO BO UT IQ UE HOT EL +27(0) 11 487 1420 info@themunrohotel.com www.themunrohotel.com Johannesburg | South Africa
Overlooking the world’s largest man-made urban forest is a rare and spectacular jewel‌ The Munro Boutique Hotel. This hidden gem is one of the most sought-after bespoke venues in Johannesburg. Surrounded by waterfalls, exotic plants and panoramic views of the urban city with a landscape of the Magaliesburg mountains in the far distance. Nestled in its heart, is a three-story Victorian conservatory, an architectural masterpiece with a roof that opens to the stars, calming waterfalls and koi ponds that offers a soothing respite. Five luxurious suites, original art, designer and antique pieces grace this palatial mansion with an air of intimacy and exclusivity. Start the day with a leisurely breakfast and spectacular views from the Mediterranean style terrace with its cascading infinity pool. At the end of the day, enjoy a sunset cocktail above the city lights or unwind at the fireplace in the cosy bar, before savouring gourmet cuisine in the atmospheric dining room. The Munro Boutique Hotel is synonymous with local and international celebrity events, luxury brand launches and intimate functions for heads of state. The international airport, OR Tambo, is a mere 30 minutes drive. TR AVE L
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Sibani Lodge offers an authentic bush experience only 30 minutes’ drive from Sandton. Here, you’ll find paradise in the heart of Africa with our wellappointed lodge, royal cottages, and brand new luxury tents. With a backdrop of the ancient Magaliesberg mountains, our lodge is surrounded by a deep quietness, perfect for those looking for a romantic getaway. Home to giraffe, impala, kudu, red hartebeest, zebra, and a wealth of birdlife, the night time comes alive with the melodic notes of the African wildlife. Stir your senses with a morning or evening farm drive and experience the golden glow of the sunrise and sunset from the unspoilt bush.
SIBAN I LOD G E +27(0) 87 057 4520 reservations@sibanilodge.com www.sibanilodge.co.za Cradle of Humankind | South Africa TR AVE L
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AirVentures Hot Air Ballooning offers more than just a hot air balloon ride, we offer a total experience encompassing all the good things that make Africa great, from sunrise to great food, from wildlife to breathtaking scenery. We offer daily game viewing Safari Flights over the 53000 hectare world heritage site - The Cradle of Humankind, and scenic Classic Flights over the Magaliesberg. Our flights are customised to provide fun and excitement for anyone. We cater for the romantic couple to the larger groups, as well as corporate and incentive events. A six time tourism award winning company, AirVentures can meet all your requirements with a choice of high quality, exciting flight packages. Our attention to detail, and focus on exceptional service, will ensure that your balloon ride with us meets all expectations.
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A IR VE NTURES +27(0) 83 356 2435 info@air-ventures.co.za www.air-ventures.co.za Cradle of Humankind | South Africa
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This hidden gem is conveniently situated just off the N1 (via the Rigel exit), just 30 mins drive from all surrounding airports. Ivory Manor offers nine luxurious rooms surrounded by beautiful, tranquil garden settings. Ivory Manor also boasts various cosy, yet stylish areas that guarantees ultimate relaxation. Be it in our opulent Cigar Lounge for a good single malt whiskey, relaxing in our charming piazza or venturing to our heated swimming pool with a book from our extensive library selection. Our renowned chef’s gastronomical fair promises to satisfy all guests’ needs. Our offering ranges from a delectable breakfast spread, a la carte menu options, to a relaxed boma braai menu or formal dining if required. Our team endeavours to exude a genuine, caring generosity in the service provided and is committed to exceed our guests’ expectations. Additional offerings include private picnics in our Forest Garden, the use of our conferencing facilities, our cooking classes, wine tasting events, the Billiard room, in-room spa treatments and our swimming pool area. We also offer babysitting / child minding facilities with prior arrangement. Our hotel offers a complimentary Wi-Fi facility. Ivory Manor’s roaming Art Gallery is home to some of South Africa’s most acclaimed artists & sculptors. Various themed exhibitions are held throughout the year. Transfers to and from the hotel are available with prior arrangement.
I VORY M AN OR B O UT IQ UE HOT EL +27(0) 87 654 4778 reception@ivorymanor.co.za www.ivorymanor.co.za Pretoria | South Africa
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An authentic and uniquely intimate period safari. The thrill of quietly watching a herd of elephants stroll by the veranda of a stately colonial manor is unforgettable. 11 stylish tented suites entice you to stay sheltered under thatched canopies with private decks, the magnificent en suite tents are spacious and luxurious, recalling the golden era of safari in the early 1900s. Offering the Big 5, Gorah is malaria free and is the only private concession and Camp situated in the heart of the famous Addo Elephant National Park. The Park, home to the densest population of elephants on earth is just an hours’ drive from Port Elizabeth and is an ideal way to start or finish your Garden Route adventure. This exclusive safari lodge recaptures the romantic mystique of authentic safaris from centuries past. Experience the breath taking natural world of Africa merged with colonial nostalgia and modern sophistication to deliver an unforgettably unique 5 star adventure. Children 10 years and older welcome.
G O RA H E L E PH A NT CAMP +27(0) 42 235 1123 | +27(0) 44 501 1111 res@hunterhotels.com www.hunterhotels.com Eastern Cape | South Africa
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Elegant, charming and sophisticated, but oh so homely. Fragrant and colourful, Hunter’s flourishing gardens create an idyllic setting for this luxurious retreat in the heart of the Garden Route. Offering 27 luxurious suites with private patios and gardens with certain suites having their own plunge pools. The Hunter’s Estate offers 4 unique dining options from fine dining to bistro style eating, a main swimming pool area and magnificent gardens with spectacular views of the Outeniqua Mountains. Far from the madding crowd, yet conveniently close to a wide variety of leisure activities, Hunter’s is ideally situated as a base for your holiday adventure. A premier seaside destination and Nature Sports capital of SA surrounded by lush indigenous forests and framed by the majestic Tsitsikamma mountains. A mere 10km’s west of Plett and 20km east of Knysna. This beautiful property combines a gracious elegance with sheer comfort and impeccable service with warm hospitality. Young or old, it is a place that fills your heart with fond memories and remains with you for a lifetime. Children of all ages welcome.
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H U NT E RS CO U NT RY HOUSE +27(0) 44 532 7818 | +27(0) 44 501 1111 res@hunterhotels.com www.hunterhotels.com Western Cape | South Africa
Cocooned and cared for, high above the forest floor. Amidst the treetops of an age-old indigenous forest, Tsala is a lavish celebration of the spirit of Africa. The elaborate afro-baroque décor’s earthy colours, rich textures and handcrafted fittings are inspired by the diverse cultures of Africa, with the sophistication of the Western World. Tucked into the forest canopy, 10 luxury suites and 6 double bedroomed villas with private decks with private plunge pools extending into indigenous canopies. The magical allure of Tsala is irresistible to those that appreciate exclusivity and fine fare. A mere 10km west of Plettenberg Bay and 20km east of Knysna, perfectly positioned to access the various nature and sports activities on offer in the region yet allowing one to retreat into the privacy of your treetop suite. Staying in your own private elevated hideaway is romantic and adventurous, along with its perfect location in the heart of the Garden Route, this unique property is an ideal base for your holiday adventure.
TSAL A T RE E TOP LO D G E +27(0) 44 532 8228 | +27(0) 44 501 1111 res@hunterhotels.com www.hunterhotels.com Western Cape | South Africa
Offering 4 unique dining options during your stay either at Tsala in the main dining room or room service, at the renowned Zinzi Restaurant or there are two options available at Hunter’s Country House, namely our refined fine dining experience at Sage or alternatively The Conservatory offering a lighter bistro menu for lunches and dinners. Tsala is, in every sense, a magical place. Children 8 years and older welcome in the villas.
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EXCLUSIVE USE HOUSES
M O R U K U R U F A M I LY M A D I K W E The three exclusive-use houses of Morukuru Family (Owner’s House, River House and Farm House) are situated in a private concession in the southeast corner of the Madikwe Game Reserve, located in the North West Province of South Africa. The reserve covers over 75.000 hectares, offering guests a premier safari and wildlife experience. The reserve is situated between the Botswana border and the area made famous by the South African writer Herman Charles Bosman, called the Groot Marico. Morukuru Owners House has 2 en suite bedrooms, Morukuru River 3 en suite bedrooms and a kids room and Morukuru Farmhouse has 5 ensuite bedrooms. All houses have their own boma, pool and decks. Morukuru Family is famous for our “Freedom Concept”; we will schedule and cater around the personal wishes and preferences of your family or group. No fixed schedules when staying with us. Morukuru Family presents a flawless safari experience for any discerning party with a comprehensive checklist of bush “must-sees”. Join one of our highly trained ranger and tracker teams for an early morning game drive, where you can immerse yourself in the cacophony of sounds as the bush stirs to life and the sun creeps up in the East and be exhilarated by a late-afternoon expeditions into the Westerly horizon whilst you sip on something cold and nibble on some delicious game drive snacks. Madikwe is malaria free making it very attractive to groups with young children and offers year round game viewing with opportunities to spot the Big 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino or buffalo) and the rare privilege of possibly seeing the highly endangered African Wild Dog. You will have unparalleled photo opportunities with over 300 different birds, masses of large mammals, the small and interesting as well as abundant indigenous flora and fauna. Give back to the local community and assist in the conservation of our precious wildlife by taking part in our ‘Safari’s with a purpose’ package and leave a lasting legacy.
LUXURY BOUTIQUE ECO-LODGE
MORUKURU BEACH LODGE Morukuru Beach Lodge consists of 4 luxury Ocean View Suites and 1 Honeymoon Suite with views of the Indian Ocean and the surrounding sand dunes. All meals and 2 guided activities daily, as well as soft drinks, are included in the rate. Depending on the tide and the weather the guide will decide which activities to offer. Guests at are able to enjoy complimentary use of outdoor equipment (like snorkels, masks, water shoes, wetsuits, mountain bikes, sand boards, ponchos, gumboots, beach umbrella, towels. Lazy days by the pool, sundowners on the first floor roof-top terrace and sheltered courtyards are a must!
MORUKURU BEACH LODGE AND MORUKURU OCEAN HOUSE ARE SITUATED ALONG THE UNSPOILT COASTLINE OF THE DE HOOP NATURE RESERVE OFFREING AN ALL YEAR ROUND SEASIDE AND BEACH HOLIDAYS IN A PRISTINE SURROUNDING. CONSIDERED TO BE THE ULTIMATE PLACE IN SOUTH AFRICA TO SEE SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALES. DE HOOP NATURE RESERVE ALSO OFFERS TOWERING WHITE SAND DUNES ALONGSIDE THE INDIAN OCEAN, LIMESTONE CLIFFS, ROCK POOLS AND COASTAL FYNBOS. BOTH THE OCEAN HOUSE AND BEACH LODGE ARE BUILT WITH THE GREATEST SENSITIVITY TO THE ENVIRONMENT. DUE TO OUR REMOTE LOCATION WE ARE FULLY OFF THE GRID.
EXCLUSIVE USE VILLA
MORUKURU OCEAN HOUSE Morukuru Ocean House is the perfect destination for the entire family. On arrival, discover that the setting of the exclusive-use Villa is the perfect place to reincarnate mind and body. Morukuru Ocean House can accommodate 8 adults & 4 children (all ages are welcome!). The 4 suites all have their own en-suite bathrooms and glass doors overlooking the ocean. A sparkling pool, delicious food, lovely drinks served by your personal butler, your own private kitchen with chef, open plan lounge areas, dining areas, garden with amazing views, romantic fireplaces and so much more. We don’t prescribe a schedule to our guests it is all up to personal preference. Maybe your ideal breakaway means enjoying a delicious glass of chilled bubbles whilst enjoying the magical view? Maybe curling up with a great book in a quiet corner? Or getting active by taking a mountain bike ride through the De Hoop Nature Reserve, setting off on a marine walk or getting in some birds.
WE ARE JUST A 3 HOURS DRIVE FROM CAPE TOWN AND IDEALLY SITUATED HALFWAY BETWEEN CAPE TOWN AND KNYNSA/PLETTENBERG ALONG THE GARDEN ROUTE.
Contemporary-Classic glamour and understated elegance meet at AtholPlace Hotel, ensuring an unforgettable stay. Situated in Atholl, one of the most beautiful parts of Johannesburg and only a short distance from the commercial centre of Sandton. Each of our 9 suites have been individually designed, providing a sanctuary of comfort and tranquillity. The suites, all with en-suite bathrooms, are extremely spacious, ranging from 45-55 square metres. The Deluxe Suites offer interleading doors, making them ideal for families travelling with children. Guests are able to enjoy a comfortably furnished library with romantic fireplace and our temperature regulated swimming pool, a drink at our bar area, or enjoy a delicious meal at AtholPlace Restaurant with both indoor and outdoor dining options. For even more privacy and exclusivity our 4-bedroom AtholPlace Villa offers our guests a temporary home of their own in the amazing City of Johannesburg. The space includes three deluxe rooms, each with their own full en-suite bathroom, and one Junior Room en-suite (perfect for our young guests) as well as a superior in- and outdoor living and dining area - accommodating a maximum of 6 adults and 2 children. The villa has a breath-taking garden and large temperature regulated pool, a fire pit boma and shady trees perfect for those lazy, alfresco lunches.
Tucked away in the misty hills of Mpumalanga, Doorknop Fish & Wildlife reserve offers visitors stunning views, hiking trails, tranquil dams and rivers. Besides trout fishing the reserve offers an abundance of wildlife and antelope species. Easily accessible, Doornkop is less than 3 hours drive from Johannesburg. Escape to Doornkop Fish & Wildlife reserve for rest, relaxation and the great outdoors. Fly fishing in one of the 8 well stocked dams, which are maintained throughout the year, is a favourite activity amongst visitors. Hiking, horse riding as well as trails for mountain bikes are some of the activities for the entire family to enjoy. An ideal getaway for travellers both young and old, Doornkop offers a variety of upmarket accommodation. Timeshare and purchasing options are also available.
DOORN KOP FI SH & W IL D L IF E R ES ERVE +27(0) 11 702 8365 reservations@doornkop.co.za www.doornkopreserve.com Mpumalanga | South Africa TR AVE L
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Strand Hotel Swakopmund is the perfect venue for travellers wanting to explore Swakopmund. This Namibian icon has become a popular destination resort for international, Namibian and SADC visitors. With its extensive, unique and creatively entertaining Restaurants, Bars, Deli, Lobby-Lounge, Sea Facing Terraces, Beach Kiosk and state of the art Conference & Banqueting Centre, all set on the Mole, a historic and iconic site surrounded by Ocean on three sides, the Strand Hotel Swakopmund is a social epicenter and destination in itself for all visitors to and residents of Swakopmund.
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ST RA ND HOTEL +264(0) 64 411 4000 strand.res@ol.na www.strandhotelswakopmund.com Swakopmund | Namibia
In a special corner of the African wilderness, where two mighty rivers meet, a wetland paradise is haven for nature and wildlife. Discover the wonders of this magical destination at Chobe Water Villas. At the very tip of Namibia’s Zambezi Region, previously known as Caprivi Strip, Chobe Water Villas is nestled in the beautiful lap of nature on the bank of the Chobe River. The exclusivity and style of this boutique lodge in unparalleled.
C HOBE WAT E R V IL L A S +264(0) 66 253 602 chobe.Res@ol.na www.chobewatervillas.com Zambezi Region | Namibia
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C AP E C AD OGAN + 27(0) 21 480 8080 mpt@more.co.za www.capecadogan.co.za Cape Town | South Africa
Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel, set in the suburb of Gardens, is a grand old dame (with National Monument status) dating back to the early 1800s. But her bold and quirky style brings her firmly into the 21st century, without losing any of her charm. From the outside, this original Georgian house, with Victorian influences, looks like a private residence, and each of her 15 individually-decorated rooms are intended to make solo, couple, and business travellers alike feel at home in the heart of the city. Cape Cadogan Boutique Hotel is authentic Cape Town at its loveliest – beauty, sophisticated charm and quirky personality in equal measure. Set just off the buzzing Kloof Street in a scenic suburb of Cape Town, you can live like a local and still be treated as our guest. Take a walk to the nearby bistros, boutiques, cafés, and restaurants where you can enjoy the energy of the city and live the Cape Town experience. The Hotel is the ideal base from which to explore all that the city has to offer.
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Luxury Rooms, Including Family Rooms, come with all the privacy of your own lounge, kitchen and dining area, and all the convenience of five-star hotel service. The hotel’s 23 accommodations are ideal for travellers who appreciate having their own spot to come home to, where you can kick off your shoes and play your favourite music after a busy day out. The hotel also includes the four-bedroom Redcliffe House and we invite you to experience it as your own.
M O R E Q UA RTERS + 27(0) 21 487 5660 mpt@more.co.za www.morequarters.co.za Cape Town | South Africa
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Madikwe Game Reserve, bordering Botswana, is one of South Africa’s largest wildlife sanctuaries, conserving 76 000ha (187 800ac). Its wooded hills give way to bushveld and Kalahari plains, roamed by an astonishing array of animals – including the Big Five, a flourishing population of African wild dog (one of the continent’s most endangered creatures), and 60 other kinds of mammal. Above, its skies are graced by 350-plus resident bird species. This is wild Africa and then some! Coupled with the reserve having a rich cultural heritage and being malaria-free, this has made it a popular family and friend destination. Madikwe Safari Lodge’s three luxury camps – Lelapa, Kopano, Dithaba – are ideally located for you to appreciate the vastness and diversity of Madikwe’s landscapes and wildlife. Lelapa Lodge – Lelapa (meaning ‘family’ in Setswana) welcomes guests of all ages, with family-friendly accommodations and specially-planned children’s activities. While the lodge epitomises contemporary African design, its atmosphere is luxuriously laid-back, with each of its 12 Suites including a private lounge, viewing deck, and plunge pool. Four Family Suites also have a second children’s bedroom, stocked with toys and games. While the lodge, respectful of the natural environment in its construction, epitomises contemporary African design, its atmosphere is luxuriously laid-back. Kopano Lodge - The modern lodge, influenced by an African design aesthetic, comprises just four luxury Suites and reminds of a traditional homestead. Kopano Lodge – Kopano (meaning ‘small gathering’ in Setswana) is influenced by an African design aesthetic and, comprising just four luxury Suites, reminds of a traditional homestead. Booked on an exclusive basis, it is well suited to a gettogether of family or friends. Each Suite’s private lounge, viewing deck and plunge pool provide some personal space, and are ideal positions from where to spot the wildlife coming by.
M AD I KWE S AFAR I LO D G E + 27(0) 18 350 9902 mpt@more.co.za www.madikwesafarilodge.co.za Madikwe Game Reserve | South Africa
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Dithaba Lodge - Dithaba (meaning ‘mountain’ in Setswana) has just four luxury Suites overlooking the reserve. Each is a couple or solo traveller’s retreat; or together, an exclusive home base for family or friends while on safari. The lodge’s construction, incorporating natural design elements, is uncomplicated, and each Suites – with its own lounge, plunge pool, and viewing deck – provides space to unwind and watch the animals out on the plains.
Victoria Falls’ first luxury boutique hotel, with just 16 luxury Suites, welcomes guests (of all ages) to pause on a spectacular Southern African itinerary. Its elegant-yet-approachable design is a fresh take on colonial style, and its spaces – a lounge, bar, restaurant, terrace and serviced pool facing onto tranquil gardens – encourage you to settle in and relax. Thoughtful comforts, attentive service, and excellent food enhance the experience, ensuring you are very well taken care of – a hallmark of Stanley & Livingstone.
STA NL E Y & L IVING STO NE B O U T IQ U E HOTEL + 263(0) 213 28 41003/5/6/9 mpt@more.co.za www.stanleyandlivingstone.co.zw Victoria Falls | Zimbabwe
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Lion Sands is the only private game reserve rooted in both the Sabi Sand Game Reserve and Kruger National Park. The Sabie River forms a natural boundary between its two sides, and four waterside lodges provide the ultimate luxury safari bases. Ivory Lodge and River Lodge are located on the Sabi side, and over on Kruger are Narina Lodge and Tinga Lodge. The animals roam freely between them, and no matter which side you choose to stay on, you will have exceptional game-viewing opportunities. Lion Sands conserves 5 000ha (12 500ac) of a habit that is home to the highest and most diverse concentration of wildlife in the southern hemisphere. Natural animal populations include the Big Five, and the reserve is renowned for the quality of its leopard viewing – the most elusive of predators. Tinga Lodge - On the Kruger Park side of the reserve, Tinga is a sophisticated take on the colonial-style lodge, capturing the romance of the pioneer era while providing considerable more comfort. Nine Suites and the twobedroom Hi’Nkweni Villa occupy private spots along the river and in the bush, and each has a furnished deck and pool, in addition to the main lodge area. Hi’Nkweni also comes with its own butler, field guide, and open 4 x 4 vehicle for a more exclusive safari experience. Narina Lodge - On the Kruger Park side of the reserve, the lodge, perched on stilts amongst a canopy of 100-yearold trees, reflects its surrounds with organic chic décor, while its open design creates an air of relaxation. The main lodge connects via raised wooden walkways to a spa sala and nine separate Suites. Each is built to afford complete privacy in a wilderness where you can watch the animals come down to the water from your pool and deck, as well as bed and bath.
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L IO N S A NDS K R U G E R NAT IO NA L PARK +27(0) 13 735 8400 | +27(0) 13 735 8100 mpt@more.co.za www.lionsands.com Kruger National Park | South Africa
Ivory Lodge - On the Sabi Sand side of the reserve, the contemporary-style lodge is built of concrete, timber, glass, and steel to meld into the riverscape. Its eight one-bedroom Villas and one two-bedroom Fish Eagle Villa offer peaceful refuges – each with a plunge pool and relaxation areas. The self-contained Fish Eagle Villa also incorporates a spa and gym, and comes with a personal chef, field guide, and open safari vehicle for a tailor-made family/friend safari experience. A guest spa is set away from the main lodge and Villas.
LION S AN D S SAB I S A N D GA ME R ES ERVE + 27(0) 13 735 5000 mpt@more.co.za www.lionsands.com Kruger National Park | South Africa
River Lodge - On the Sabi Sand side of the reserve, River offers a chic design interpretation of the traditional safari lodge, with contemporary dĂŠcor and limited walls allowing a flow between interior and exterior. Its individual eight Luxury Rooms, six Superior Luxury Rooms, and four River Suites (each with a private plunge pool) are set along a path to reveal splendid river views, and make for an intimate safari experience. A guest pool is located next to the main lodge area.
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Glamping in one of 15 Tented Suites gets you closer to nature without having to rough it. Each stone-and-canvas abode may look ‘down to earth’ though is anything but basic, with a king-sized bed (triple-room configuration on your request), minibar, ensuite and outdoor showers, and shaded viewing deck raised on stilts above the bush. The lodge welcomes guests of all ages, with specially-planned children’s activities and a childminding service. A shared pool is located next to the main lodge area. Marataba South Africa is a private concession within the 67 000ha (165 000ac) Marakele National Park of South Africa’s Limpopo province. The dramatic Waterberg Mountains, vast plains, rich animal diversity, and winding rivers that feed this magnificent wilderness render us breathless. This is a place where busy people come to reconnect with themselves through nature. The Marakele, as its Tswana name suggests, is a ‘place of sanctuary’. It is home to the Big Five – with a healthy population of the critically-endangered black rhino. It is also a birder’s paradise, with over 360 bird species, including the world’s largest colony of endangered Cape vultures (800 breeding pairs). Plant species include rare yellowwood and cedar trees, and ancient cycads and ferns flourish here.
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M A RATA B A S A FA R I LODGE +27(0) 14 779 0018 mpt@more.co.za www.marataba.co.za Marakele National Park | South Africa
M A RATA B A M O U NTA IN LODGE +27(0) 14 779 0018 mpt@more.co.za www.marataba.co.za Marakele National Park | South Africa
The essence of this solar-powered, Scandistyle safari lodge is in its exclusive location – set secluded within the Waterberg and surrounded by Marakele National Park. Five private Eco Suites, accommodating you and just nine other guests, open onto a wilderness world of your own – renowned for its magnificent scenery and flourishing wildlife. The main lodge provides more social relaxation spaces and a shared Rock Pool, which seems to skim off into the Waterfall Valley below.
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D E H OE K COU N T RY HOT EL +27(0) 14 577 9600 reservations@dehoek.com www.dehoek.com Magaliesburg | South Africa
De Hoek Country Hotel is a 5 Star boutique hotel within an hour of Johannesburg and Pretoria on the banks of the Magalies River in the Magaliesburg. Exceptional cuisine, fine dining and personalised service is a hallmark of the Hotel. Led by Executive Chef Jacques Swart, De Hoek Country Hotel’s fine dining experience is centred on an authentic yet nuanced interpretation of French-Continental cuisine. Our superior, air-conditioned luxury accommodation, supported by 24 hour in-room dining, includes: - 16 Superior Suites - 4 Superior Suites with Gas Fireplace - 10 Deluxe Suites with 2 Wheelchair-Friendly - 2 Penthouse Suites - 4 Executive Twin Rooms Our location, amplified by manicured gardens and access to activities including tranquil walks, hot air ballooning, horse riding, game drives and a fully equipped spa, makes for the perfect departure from the daily rush. The Hotel boasts a variety of conference, meeting and function facilities for those searching for an oasis of focus, relaxation, bonding or joy. De Hoek Country Hotel. Celebrate Life
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Thanda Safari is a Big Five game reserve situated on 14 000 hectares in the heart of Zululand, KwaZulu Natal owned by Swedish philanthropists Christin and Dan Olofsson. It offers an authentic South African wildlife experience with excellent game viewing all year round, and has a sincere commitment to the Zulu culture and conservation of the environment; actively involved in conservation and wildlife research, it works to uplift the local communities through ‘Star for Life’ and other projects. Meaning ‘love’ in isiZulu, Thanda is a proud member of The Leading Hotels of the World and multiple winner of The World’s Leading Luxury Lodge. Thanda Safari offers three different accommodation types, Thanda Safari Lodge, Villa iZulu and Thanda Tented Camp. Thanda Safari Lodge has nine bush suites - shaped like a traditional Zulu homestead, the suites have panoramic views of the surrounding game reserve; Villa iZulu is an outstanding safari hideaway for families, holidaymakers and wedding parties wanting privacy - situated amidst lush green lawns and surrounded by expanses of wild African bush, Villa iZulu can accommodate 10 guests in five suites. Thanda Tented Camp has 15 colonial safari-style tents, each with its own viewing deck and en-suite bathrooms.
THAN DA S AFARI +27(0) 32 586 0149 reservations@thanda.co.za www.thandasafari.co.za KwaZulu-Natal | South Africa
Thanda Safari is situated 23km north of Hluhluwe on the N2 approximately 220km north of Durban and is easily accessible from the N2 by gravel road (no 4x4 required). Richards Bay is the closest commercial airport, with King Shaka International Airport, Durban being the closest international airport. Road transfers are available from and to Durban and Richards Bay Airports.
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The Maslow Time Square is a 238-room specialist business hotel, boasting 17 floors, with multi-level accommodation which includes the Foundation, Median and Zenith Level. The hotel is packed with state-of-the-art facilities and technology that will delight and satisfy any business executive. All the senses have been catered for, offering everything from business to leisure. Honour those who fought for liberation at the historical Freedom Park, discover life underground with a tour of the famous Cullinan Diamond Mine and witness an architectural masterpiece with a visit to the Union Buildings, the official seat of the South African Government. 142
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TH E M AS LOW H OT EL - T IMES S Q UA R E +27(0) 86 084 6377 tsq@suninternational.com www.suninternational.com Pretoria | South Africa 143
Port Elizabeth is rated as South Africa’s friendliest city with a charming coastal atmosphere, all of which this quaint casino perfectly mirrors. From the grace of the classic Victorian white-and-red façades, to the Tivoli-styled gardens and the debonairstyle interior, The Boardwalk conjures up scenes from a bygone era and is the perfect starting point to pursue enticing endeavours. From revelling in the best adrenaline thrills in the world to embracing the beauty of Africa’s animal kingdom and indigenous forests harmonised by pristine coastlines, The Boardwalk is a passageway to Africa’s best possessions. 144
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T H E B OA R DW A L K HOTEL +27(0) 41 507 777 boardwalk.reservations@suninternational.com www.suninternational.com Port Elizabeth | South Africa
The Table Bay, opened in May 1997 by iconic former South African president, Nelson Mandela, is situated on the historic Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. Perfectly positioned against the exquisite backdrop of Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, providing a gateway to Cape Town’s most popular allures. Be graced by the synergy of two oceans, witness South Africa’s richest floral kingdom, take a trip to an island symbolic of resistance, explore a natural wonder of the world and be captivated by the sheer beauty of the Cape’s breathtaking sceneries.
TA BL E BAY H OT EL +27(0) 21 406 5000 tbhres@suninternational.com www.suninternational.com Cape Town | South Africa 145
Situated in the heart of Sandton’s financial district, The Maslow is a specialist business hotel that has consciously been positioned as a game-changer, a destination for professionals and portal for travellers to discover unique fascinations within and surrounding the diverse city. Celebrate the legacy of Nelson Mandela by visiting the very place he called home, learn about the notorious system of racial discrimination which he victoriously fought against, admire local art and end where it all began; feel a connection to human ancestry like no other place on earth at a world heritage site which may be the place where humanity was born – where that first evolutionary step towards consciousness started.
T H E M A S LOW H OT E L - S A NDTON +27(0) 10 226 4600 maslow@suninternational.com www.suninternational.com Johannesburg | South Africa
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From its inception in 1992, The Palace has enthralled and amazed visitors from all over the globe. This addition to the Pilanesberg landscape is dwarfed in years by the 1,300 million year old extinct volcanic site on which it is built. The 55,000 hectare, malaria-free Pilanesberg National Park, borders on the Sun City complex. It was opened in 1979, and is to date the largest game re-settlement project in the history of South Africa. The Mankwe Lake, a game draw-card, marks the centre of the ancient volcano. The term “Super Seven� was coined for the park, as cheetah and wild dogs can be found, in addition to elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo. The diverse vegetation supports a wealth of other mammals, bird, reptile, and tree species. The perfect location of The Palace tempts and entices the hunger to explore, from tracking rhino to hot-air balloon safari or teeing-off on world-famous greens, The Palace is an entryway to a sphere of unique African adventures.
T H E PA L ACE - S U N CITY +27(0) 14 557 4307 scenq@suninternational.com www.suninternational.com North West | South Africa
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From the middle of March 2017, ‘The Tree House Boutique Hotel’ will be an exciting addition to the best of Cape Town. The hotel is positioned in vibrant and trendy Green Point, within easy walking distance of many of the great attractions of Cape Town; the fashionable V&A Waterfront, the lively BoKaap, the chic Cape Quarter, the famous Cape Town Stadium and indeed the Central Business District. Within this convenient location, The Tree House Boutique Hotel is nestled amongst lush trees, and enjoys the most amazing panoramic views thus leading to its fitting name. Traditionally, a tree house represents a personal space of escape; a creative retreat; a place of freedom, comfort and play; and a place where imagination can be set free on a journey with no limits, no boundaries and no restrictions. A tree house is a place of dreams, and at The Tree House Boutique Hotel dreams become reality. There is no mainstream design here. In creating this unique space, emphasis was placed on fashioning a new distinct destination, one which forms part of an exceptional guest experience whilst also showcasing local creativity and colour. Often understated and minimal, there is some remarkable design inspiration which reconnects with nature and harnesses its pure magic.
THE T RE E H OUS E B O UT IQ UE HOT EL + 27(0) 21 439 9296 info@thetreehouseboutiquehotel.co.za www.thetreehouseboutiquehotel.co.za Cape Town | South Africa
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The result is an exceptional haven which offers guests a sense of escape, wonder and respite while continuing their personal journey. Be one of the first to experience the magic and charm of The Tree House Boutique Hotel.
Jan Harmsgat Country House encapsulates country charm and a rich history. Located on the R60 between Ashton and Swellendam, this working farm blends luxury and rustic elegance. A gem within a gem, our renowned restaurant, Just Amy, focuses on healthy, farmto-table dining. The vast menu satisfies your every craving, with options to picnic under our pecan nut orchard. If you love wine tours, our Farm Drive experience will have you sipping on our delectable, single block wines with views capturing the essence of the wine valley. If you’re looking to experience an authentic country ambiance, our charming and spacious 5-Star accommodation will steal your heart.
JA N H A R MSGAT +27(0) 87 095 1141 reservations@janharmsgat.com www.janharmsgat.com Western Cape | South Africa
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Set within 75 000 hectares of safari park, Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge is situated on a rocky outcrop in the heart of the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve in the North West Province of South Africa. Ingeniously set amongst boulders and ageold Tamboti trees, the private game lodge is situated in the middle of Madikwe, giving visitors a huge game drive advantage over other lodges situated on the borders of the reserve and offers visitors the most amazing South African safari adventure. The total dedication and passion of the team at the Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge ensure that every guest departs with a memory of an African safari never to be forgotten. From outstanding wildlife holidays to unforgettable safari weddings and honeymoons – Madikwe offers the complete adventure in South Africa. Madikwe Game Reserve is home not only to the Big Five of Africa (Lion, Buffalo, Elephant, Rhino and Leopard), but also to a wealth of over 66 mammal species, including the rare African Wild Dog, as well as Cheetah, Eland, Kudu, Giraffe and a range of more than 300 resident and migratory species of birds.
TH E T RE E H OUS E B O UT IQ UE HOT EL + 27(0) 11 781 5431 reservations@madikwehills.com www.madikwehills.com North West | South Africa
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Accommodating up to 24 guests in vast, wellspaced and utterly private glass-fronted suites scattered across the hillside, camouflaged by tamboti-beamed thatch roofs. Wooden walkways lit by hurricane lamps criss-cross the grounds and connect the secluded suites to the central openplan lounge, bar, wine cellar, library and dining area up the slope, where cooling fans make slow rotations and the giant twisted trunks of leadwood trees hold up the vaulted ceiling.
Discover paradise on the East African seaboard. The awardwinning Dugong Beach Lodge is situated along the Southern Mozambique Coast, within 30 000 hectares of pristine marine and wildlife territory, in the Vilanculos Coastal & Wildlife Sanctuary. As the first privately managed specially protected National Park in Mozambique, the diverse eco-system of wilderness and wetland is bound to mesmerize. The lodge boasts 14 luxuriously appointed chalets, powder white beaches and crystal clear water, providing a barefoot luxury experience like no other. Daily flights are available from O.R.Tambo International to Vilanculos. The trip from the Vilanculos Airport to the boat takes approximately ten minutes and guests are transported on a safari vehicle. The boat transfer to Dugong takes approximately 45 minutes. The lodge offers 14 luxuriously appointed, air-conditioned chalets with direct access to the beach via individual pathways. Two of the chalets have a private plunge pool whilst all of the chalets have a private deck furnished with day beds for relaxation with panoramic ocean views. Romantic private dinners with majestic views of the star studded skies can also be enjoyed under the secluded canopy.
DU G O NG B E ACH LODGE +27 (0)12 443 6700 reservations@legendlodges.co.za www.dugongbeachlodge.co.za Vilanculos | Mozambique
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Lush is a contemporary lodge, shaped around the environment. In fact, it is a shepherd’s tree – sheltered from the wind and warmed by the morning sun, between hill and plain – that marked the position of the main lodge. Its minimalistic décor and natural finishes put the focus on the view, which at once draws you outside. With this in mind, multi-level interior-flowingto-exterior spaces are designed for outdoor living. Spend time between safari activities reading or playing board games on the couches, sipping coffee in the bar lounge – a favourite spot to rendezvous at any time of day – or stargazing from the deck. Choose from three Bush-Facing and two MountainFacing Suites – distinguished only by their views. Covered walkways lead to each, interspersed between the trees and with their own private entrances. Wilderness-inspired interiors, innovative use of space, and extended fold-back glass doors mean you feel immersed in nature even when in your suite. Their décor gives a nod to the owners Italian heritage, though much of the furnishing is local, supporting South African artisans. Designed with every comfort in mind, your Suite is not simply a base from which to explore the surrounds, but a living space. Lush guarantees you authentic safari adventures to write home about. Exclusive traversing in Black Rhino Reserve and the Pilanesberg’s Wilderness Area offers the opportunity to explore an untouched environment. Access also to the public section of the park increases your chances of encountering a large variety of wildlife.
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LUS H PR IVAT E GA M E LODGE +27(0) 66 479 5639 reservations@lushprivatelodge.co.za www.lushprivatelodge.co.za Pilanesberg | South Africa
Set in the heart of Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, adjacent to the famous Kruger National Park, RockFig Safari Lodge is well situated for forays into the African wilds. Game drives let you cover some ground in the comfort of a vehicle, while walking safaris put you right on the ground, exploring the area under your own steam. Whatever you prefer (and we suggest you try both), these exciting activities – and their inevitable wildlife sightings – are sure to get your blood pumping. They’ll also work up an appetite, which you can satiate with the feasts you’ll find at the bush breakfasts and dinners, as well as safari-style meals back at this luxury South African safari lodge. RockFig Safari Lodge features just six suites, making it ideal for exclusive-use bookings for families or groups of friends. The sense of place comes through strongly, with the colour palette in each room inspired by the purple and green hues of local birds and plants. Although guests are always conscious of where they are, no stone is left unturned in the quest for comfort and luxury, with each suite featuring both indoor and outdoor showers with a bath, a private verandah ideal for romantic candlelit dinners and a minibar. Specially commissioned watercolour paintings add notes of cool beauty, and – as with every space in the lodge – the aim is always to delight the guests who’ll stay here. Game drives rank among the quintessential Timbavati experiences, and the guides and trackers at RockFig Safari Lodge pride themselves on providing incredible, safe but close wildlife encounters. Every guest has a ‘window’ seat looking out onto Big Five territory; with just four guests per shared vehicle, there’s almost as much space on board as there is to explore beyond the lodge!
R O CK F IG S A FA R I LODGE +27(0) 63 295 4075 reservations@rockfigsafarilodge.com www.rockfigsafarilodge.com Timbavati Private Nature Reserve | South Africa
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Shikwari Game Reserve offers two accommodation types in two camps on a 200 hectare property close to Kruger & the Panorama. Enjoy majestic views of the mountains and tranquil peace of the bush and great cuisine. Shikwari Suites TGSA 4 Star Rated Shikwari offers a fully licensed bar, lounge and dining room. Free Wi-Fi is available here to all guests. Six luxury thatched suites. Each suite is tucked away in the bush; decorated with stylish furniture. Each suite has a private bathroom & outdoor shower, sitting area plus a small patio. There is a Hospitality Tray and mini fridge. Relax on the lodge veranda taking in the view and cool off in the shady pool. Enjoy friendly relaxed service in amazing surroundings. Pangolin Rondavels Our more budget option but no less comfortable. There are four traditional thatched rondavels. Two rondavels with a “Bush Bathroom� - outdoor shower, covered toilet & basin. The other 2 rondavels share a bathroom with bath basin & toilet & an outdoor shower. All beds offer luxury percale linen and towels are supplied. In most rondavel there is a choice of beds All rooms have a wardrobe, seating, & hospitality trays. Guided Game drives and walks with a FGASA guide available at the lodge and to Kruger Park in open vehicle. Our reserve is aslo close many other exciting day trips. Children welcome 5yrs -12yrs old are accommodated parents. Teens 13 -18yrs accommodated in own room or with one other adult and/or 2 younger siblings. This applies to both camps. SH I KWARI GAM E R ES ERVE +27(0) 73 049 7494 enquiries@shikwari.co.za www.shikwari.co.za Hoedspruit | South Africa
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All guests take meals at the Shikwari Suites; meals are included Half Board. Enjoy delicious 3 course Dinners & full Continental Buffet & plated English Breakfasts. Cuisine is a celebration of South Africa and its different cultures.
Situated at the gateway to KwaZulu Natal from Swaziland Golela border post, Shayamoya commands spectacular views of Lake Jozini, Pongola Game Reserve and the majestic Lebombo Mountains. Privately operated by the Blevin family who have lived in the area for many years, enjoy a personalized experience, a warm atmosphere and friendly staff. The 4 star star lodge consists of 8 standard chalets, one honeymoon suite and one family unit. Each chalet sleeps 2 people (with extra beds for the children). Besides the stunning view, the outdoor shower is a big attraction. Between the carefully positioned chalets, marvel at the extraordinary indigenous gardens hosting over 6o species of aloes and succulents. Shayamoya is fully catered with a ala carte menu and buffet and braai evenings are also arranged. As a special treat, meet Nandi,
the resident Spotted Eagle Owl, who might come and visit you at your chalet to say ‘Welcome to our Paradise’! Shayamoya is a true bush experience for the whole family. A must is the safari boat cruise on Lake Jozini for game viewing and phenomenal bird watching. Enjoy a game drive on Phonogolo Nature Reserve with the dramatic setting of the Lebombo mountains to frame your photographs. For those who enjoy angling, the thrill of tiger fishing is the unique attraction to these waters. Furthermore, the area is rich in things to see and do and it is worth it to book an extra few days – from the wild cat sanctuary, elephant interaction, horseback safari, tracking rhino via vehicle and foot. The cultural tours into the Lebombo mountains are an authentic view of the Zulu way of life. Take a picnic basket and head to one of the well renown reserves 1 hour away such as Ithala, Mkuze and Hluhluwe or Tembe Elephant Park.
S H AYA M OYA T IG E R F IS H ING A ND GA M E LODGE +27(0) 34 435 1110 shayalodge@saol.com www.shayamoya.co.za KwaZulu-Natal | South Africa
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Redefining the meaning of “private”, Hopewell Private Game Reserve is an exclusive hideaway where unspoilt nature meets pure African luxury and guests reconnect with nature at their own pace. This private game reserve in South Africa’s beautiful MALARIA-FREE Eastern Cape hosts up to 12 guests in stylish, secluded suites with sweeping views over a reclaimed Eden. Waking up to the sounds and sights of the African bush, sun downers above the elephants’ favourite watering hole, relaxing in a secluded private pool overlooking the bush, and sumptuous dinners under the stars provide the memories that linger long after your stay at Hopewell. Hopewell offers guests an amazing experience. Passionate and experienced rangers guide guests through the rolling landscape, ever willing to stop and discuss plants, insects, birds and game spotted along the way. Up close and personal interaction with a cheetah is a highlight of this unique wildlife experience. Guests are likely to encounter our herd of elephant, along with cheetah, leopard, hippo, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, antelope and other indigenous species carefully introduced to maintain a balanced eco-system.
H O PE W E L L PR IVAT E GA M E R E SERV E +27(0) 83 281 3383 info@hopewell-lodge.com www.hopewell-lodge.com Eastern Cape | South Africa 156
Entabeni Safari Conservancy, rightfully dubbed “The Place of the Mountain”, is situated in the World Heritage Waterberg Biosphere. Approximately a three-hour drive north of Johannesburg, this 22 000 hectare malaria-free reserve boasts five eco-systems. A gravel road leads up to this Big 5 reserve, complemented by five different lodges. Each lodge comprises a unique blend of luxury and African wilderness, perfectly set in different immaculate locations of the reserve. The upper escarpment offers majestic craggy rock formations and wide-open grass plains. This is separated from the lower plateau by 600m high cliffs. The lower escarpment is approximately three degrees warmer and comprises of “sandveld” vegetation and a series of wetlands. It is a place where the lion still reigns as king and Mother Nature still mesmerizes with her power and beauty. Your modern African adventure starts here!
ENTABE N I S AFA R I CO N S ERVA N CY +27(0) 12 443 6700 reservations@legendlodges.co.za www.legendhospitality.co.za Limpopo | South Africa
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Hanglip Mountain Lodge (lower escarpment) Discover this exclusive lodge, evoking the romantic Africa of yesteryear. All luxury suites, elegantly furnished in African Baroque style, have private sun decks with breath-taking views across the wetlands, vast open plains and the alluring Hanglip Mountain. Perfectly manicured gardens provide a paradise of foliage and serenity. Total number of suites: 10
Kingfisher Lodge (upper escarpment) Set on the banks of Lake Entabeni, this intimate, exclusive lodge entices guests outdoors onto its wooden decks. As the most luxurious of all the upper escarpment lodges, the ambience is inviting in the main lounge and dining area, with stylish dĂŠcor and specially designed furniture. The cosy fireplace ensures a luxurious and relaxed atmosphere. The honeymoon suite features an exquisite four poster bed and a Jacuzzi bath with breath-taking views of the lake. The tranquillity of the lake and distant bush is nature at its undisturbed best. Total number of suites: 8
Wildside Safari Camp (lower escarpment) A true African bush experience awaits you at Wildside Safari Camp, where the essence of the unspoilt Waterberg wilderness is combined with comfortable en-suite accommodation, creating a wild African atmosphere. The open lounge/bar area with the romantic roaring fire in the boma, creates the perfect end to a relaxing day in the bush. Traditional South African hospitality and cuisine await you in the informal dining and bar area. The camp offers a total of 20 tented chalets: 4 family tents sleeping 2 adults and 2 children.
Lakeside Lodge (upper escarpment) Set on the banks of the 1.7km lake, this thatch and stone lodge provides a memorable blend of luxury and wilderness with the aweinspiring Entabeni Mountain as a backdrop. The bedrooms are linked by thatched walkways to the reception, restaurant, conference room and boma. Spacious double/twin rooms are complemented by sundowners on your own private deck with the ever-changing colours of the Entabeni Mountain reflecting in the lake. The hippos at Lake Entabeni are a site to behold and the viewing deck provides the perfect setting for spectacular views over the lake. Total number of rooms: 24 Ravineside Lodge (upper escarpment) Located under the shadow of Entabeni Mountain, this thatched wooden lodge is built on stilts and hugs the cliff’s edge, offering magnificent views of unspoilt ravines and wooded hillsides. The lodge offers double/twin chalets, leading onto open sundecks where guests can indulge in bird and game watching and experience the grandeur of the ravine whilst listening to the rippling sound of the water from below the valley. The bedrooms all have an African ethnic theme and a number of stairs to climb. Total number of rooms: 22 159
The ethereal beauty of Mauritius has inspired many poets and writers. Verdant mountains, spectacular beaches, a blend of the mystery of an island and brightly transparent lagoons, the exuberant Creole character encountered in the marketplace, the astonishing variety of deep-sea fauna, mysterious primeval forest with exotic fragrances, the delicious combinations found in Mauritian cuisine, the excitement of water sports - Mauritius offers a never ending list of reasons that make it a favored holiday destination. Mauritius is often described as a melting pot, where the past and present are seamlessly juxtaposed, offering a beautiful and restful heaven that exudes peace and tranquility, which compels the traveler to return to its shores time and time again. Overlooking the pristine blue waters of The Turtle Bay, The Oberoi, Mauritius complements the natural splendor and beauty of its surroundings. A peaceful and serene abode enveloped by 20 acres of lush sub-tropical gardens with the majestic range of green mountains offering a dramatic backdrop, The Oberoi includes six hundred meters of oceanfront and turquoise lagoon. The inspiration here is nature – several species of rare and beautiful trees, shrubs and plants alongside the snaking terracotta-hued pathways that lead to a large natural lake speckled with water lilies, teaming with golden Koi, Carp and ducks. Beyond, the gardens and lawns spill down to the inviting oceanfront beach. The architecture of the leisure hotel takes inspiration from the African and Asian heritage of the inhabitants of the island. The architect, Lek Bunnag and the renowned landscape designer, Bill Bensley, have attempted to establish real harmony between the interiors and exteriors in that the guestrooms and public spaces of the hotel seamlessly integrate amidst exotic foliage, trees and flowers. The public spaces of the hotel overlook the azure lagoon making a walk through them a treat. The hotel has three restaurants, one bar, two swimming pools, an Oberoi Spa, conference facilities, one boutique, fitness center and two floodlit tennis courts. The three restaurants offer contemporary International cuisine with subtle Mediterranean influences. Guests can also relish light meals, tropical fruit and cocktails at the swimming pools in a casual atmosphere all day till sunset. The hotel offers an extensive wine list, with a selection that includes wines from France, California, Australia, Italy and South Africa. The hotel has a total of 71 guestrooms, which include one Royal Villa with private swimming pools, one Presidential Villa with private swimming pool, 16 Luxury Villas with private swimming pools, five Luxury Villas with private garden and 48 Luxury Pavilions. The
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interior designer, H.L. Lim, has sought to create a serene ambience by using soft and subtle natural colored fabrics and timbers, thus creating a soothing, light atmosphere offering an interesting contrast to the bright organic hues that the outdoors offer. The Villas have their own private courtyards, an elevated dining pavilion from where guests can view the magnificent lagoon and the Indian Ocean while dining in the privacy of their Villas. The spacious bathrooms have a large vanity counter, a sunken bath and a separate shower stall. Accentuating the feeling of space is the courtyard garden within the bathroom area. Indigenous materials have been used as far as possible. For instance, sugar-cane thatch is used for the roof, volcanic boulders and tropical plants and shrubs have been effectively utilized to create natural boundaries. The Oberoi Spa offers a wide range of holistic treatments, body massages and scrubs, and specially customized holistic wellness programs.
T H E O B E R O I HOTEL 0800 982 414 | +230 204 3600 reservations@oberoigroup.com www.oberoihotels.com Turtle Bay | Mauritius
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Accommodation is provided via 26 Beach Villas and 9 Suites offering between 1 and 3 bedrooms each. The resort was completed in December 2014 and so offers modern high quality finishes, well equipped kitchens, DSTV, free WIFI, all bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, and spacious decks with a braai area overlooking the ocean. The Butterfly Blu Restaurant is perched on a dune top with beautiful panoramic sea views making it one of the most idyllic restaurants in Knysna with beautiful food, an outdoor/indoor deck, lounge areas, cocktail bar, and a contemporary interior. Brenton Haven offer Self-catering accommodation in Knysna, Brenton on Sea, Garden Route as Beach Villas or Luxury Suites with sea views. Fall asleep with the sound of the waves crashing gently onto the beach, wake-up and step onto your private deck and enjoy the fresh air and ocean views. Escape to South Africa’s haven of nature, Brenton Haven Selfcatering accommodation in Knysna. Here you will experience the best of the world-renowned Garden Route. It is a breath taking holiday location best known for its tranquillity and long sandy beaches. Many have fallen in love with this little sleepy hollow suburb of Knysna and some even describe it has having “Champagne air”. Immediately surrounding you at Brenton Haven is a spectacular beach directly below the resort, dramatic rolling dunes, clifftop walks, beautiful green forests, and the lush fynbos for which this part of the world is so famous. It is a perfect location to enjoy the best of the garden route with Knysna town (15 mins), Plettenberg Bay (40 mins), Wilderness (35 mins), and George (45 mins) all close by.
The Indigo Deli & Coffee Shop is open from 8am to 5pm daily. Come and enjoy our selection of lovingly prepared delights, all home made from scratch by our team under the guidance of highly experienced professionals with more than 30 years experience. Amongst others, regular choices include beautiful crisp pastries, stunning flavoursome croissants, light and airy scones, baked cheesecakes, french apple tarts, and decadent chocolate ganache.
B R E NTO N H AVE N B E ACH F R O NT R ESORT +27(0) 44 381 0040 reservations@brentonhaven.co.za www.brentonhaven.co.za Western Cape | South Africa 162
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Elephant Valley Lodge is surrounded by the peaceful wilderness of the African bush. It lies in a unique position over-looking the Lesoma Valley in the Chobe District, which is home to the largest population of African elephant in the world. The animals and birds move freely in the valley between the gamerich conservation areas of the neighboring Chobe Game Reserve and the National Parks of Zimbabwe. From the comfort and tranquility of the Lodge you can watch creatures great and small, dropping by for a thirst quenching drink at the Lodge’s waterhole. At Elephant Valley Lodge guests will enjoy activities including daily 4 x 4 game viewing safaris and boat cruises along the Chobe River in Chobe National Park. Day trips to the Victoria Falls either in Zambia or Zimbabwe can easily be arranged.
E L E PH A NT VA L L E Y LODGE +27(0) 79 523 4078 res@anthology.co.za www.africawildlodges.com Chobe | Botswana
The lodge has 12 ‘forest tents’ in the shady canopy of trees surrounding the swimming pool. One of these ‘forest tents’ is a family tent, which includes a second bedroom with twin beds and a large bathroom with bath and shower. A further 8 ‘valley tents’ have views over-looking the valley and water hole. All accommodation tents are spacious and comfortable with twin three-quarter beds which can be pushed together with a converter to make a double bed. They all have en-suite shower, toilet and basins plus tea and coffee making facilities, fan, (electric blankets in winter), hair dryer and charging points. They each have a veranda with seating so that you can relax outside your room and enjoy the views and amazing birdlife. Sturdy acacia trees form large canopies of shade over the main communal areas and forest tents. The new rim-flow pool is perfect for a refreshing dip and relaxation on the sun loungers. A traditional out-door ‘boma’ serves evening meals and a game viewing platform brings you closer to the valley’s wildlife. An attractive open lounge with bar and upper viewing deck is connected to the dining areas. All these facilities have magnificent views over-looking the valley and water-hole. The waterhole attracts a wide variety of game, particularly elephant, but also giraffe, buffalo, antelope such as waterbuck and kudu, warthogs, honey badgers, jackal, mongoose, predators including leopard, lion, hyena, wild dogs and many more species.
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Impodimo Game Lodge is set along a rocky ridge commanding stunning vistas of the Madikwe Game Reserve. It is also located at the source of a natural spring, which provides the lodge with elevated views as well as riverine serenity. Impodimo is the ideal retreat from a busy world. Relax by the feature rock pool or read a book from the library in the comfort of our sala overlooking the waterhole. Perhaps let one of our therapists ease the stress out of your body with an in-room massage. Spacious in design, each of the 8 Luxury Suites include a closed system fireplace, climate control air conditioner, mini bar fridge, tea & coffee making facilities and full en-suite bathroom and outside shower. Your private deck allows uninterrupted views of the Madikwe Game Reserve. Each suite has been carefully positioned to ensure absolute privacy. The Deluxe Safari Suite is for those who prefer something extra-ordinary. Up to 4 guests and 2 children reside in our sumptuous Deluxe Suite with 2 en-suite rooms, a lounge and dining area, private boma and plunge pool all commanding magnificent views over the Madikwe bushveld. With the services of a private guide, tracker, open 4Ă—4 game viewer, chef and butler exclusively yours, you set the pace on a bushveld experience that takes safari to a whole new level.
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IM PO DIM O GA M E LODGE +27(0) 18 350 9400 reservations@impodimo.com www.impodimo.com Madikwe Game Reserve | South Africa
KAD I ZORA C AM P +27(0) 79 523 4078 res@anthology.co.za www.africawildlodges.com Okavango Delta | Botswana
Kadizora Camp is situated between the Vumbura River and Selinda Spillway. It lies in the remote northern part of the Okavango Delta over-looking a panoramic seasonal floodplain. Giant Marulas, Sycamore figs, Jackalberries and Rain trees provide a canopy of shade throughout the camp. The bar, lounge, reception and dining area form a horse-shoe shape around the sandy fire pit. From there, a decked walkway leads you to an inviting swimming pool with a view over the floodplain.
You will find the freshly prepared food a treat at Kadizora Camp, with pre-dinner drinks under the stars. This camp truly represents the magic of a wild and remote Delta experience.
The Camps accommodation consists of 4 Standard Tents and 9 luxury tents, each one well-positioned to provide privacy and iconic views of Africa. The tents are spacious and furnished in a classic style ensuring that time between activities is spent relaxing comfortably. Each spacious tent is well positioned for guest privacy, with outdoor decking and secluded views. The tents have an ensuite bathroom with a feature bath and his / hers vanities.
Kadizora Camp also facilitates open vehicle safaris, walking safaris and boating. Mekoro excursions provide a fabulous and traditional way to explore the meandering water channels. Float quietly amongst the water-lilies and experience a spectacular bird lovers’ paradise.
Kadizora is the only camp in the Okavango Delta to offer hot air ballooning. You have the option, of booking an early morning hot air balloon flight to soar over the Delta at sunrise and view game from above.
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Situated in the heart of Zululand in KwaZulu-Natal, Mkuze Falls Private Game Reserve is one of only two Private Game Reserves in the region where you can view the ‘Big 5’ as well as nearly 430 species of birds are resident. Overlooking the Mkuze Waterfall, the lodge features 8 luxurious thatched Chalets and 1 Safari Suite, accommodating guests in utmost comfort and style. All Chalets are built on raised wooden platforms and the spacious veranda of each unit provides fantastic views of the river, the waterfall and the surrounding hills. The 8 characteristic thatched, twin-bedded chalets are spacious and each bed is fitted with its own mosquito net. Each Chalet has its own entrance and is equipped with telephone, air conditioning, fan and mini-bar. Luxurious en-suite facilities offer a bath, toilet, secluded outside shower and plunge pool. Each Chalet is completely private although panoramic vistas of the river and beyond can be enjoyed from some of the adjoining decks. A romantic and beautifully decorated suite for anyone who would like to experience African luxury in the purest sense. Magnificent views from the private veranda, the Safari Suite is ideal for special occasions and honeymooners or those who want to experience something a little extra. The Mkuze Falls Safari Suite consists of a spacious living and sleeping area, both with views up and downstream the Mkuze River and the waterfall. This suite has a small but comfortable and well-equipped kitchen and, of course, all the features of the other chalets like fans, air-conditioning and en-suite facilities. The adjoining private outside shower and splash pool area is spacious and secluded. The Safari Suite also has its own outside terrace with a unique view over the river. A better place to enjoy your intimate dinner will be hard to find.
MKU Z E FAL LS P R IVAT E GA ME R ES ERVE +27(0) 34 414 1018 mkuze@mweb.co.za www.mkuzefalls.com KwaZulu-Natal | South Africa 166
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The peace, scenery and style of the lodge allows for a calm atmosphere amidst the elegant decor. Relax in the spacious lounge, view animals from the wooden deck, sip cocktails in the swimming pool or recount your sightings of the day in the bar! Taste South African food with a sophisticated flair under a star strewn sky or in the boma to the sounds of tribal dance and song.
Saguni Safari Lodge is situated in Moremi East in the Okavango Delta. It is nestled in an island of mature riparian trees, typical of the Okavango Delta. The Lodge overlooks the ‘Mbudi Lagoon’, in the beautiful game-rich area of Khwai. The name ‘Saguni’ is a bushman name for Khwai, meaning “an area with abundance of game and spectacular sights” Saguni Safari Lodge has 9 Forest Tents and 8 Luxury River Tents, custom-designed and built in harmony with the island environment. The River Tents are on the riverfront with stunning views over the Sable River and the Forest Tents are nestled under the canopy of trees. The Lodge offers open vehicle photographic safaris and walking safaris. Besides the daytime game drives, which can feature Africa’s big attractions – lion, cheetah, leopard, wild dog, elephant, buffalo, hippo and giraffe, there is also the option to experience a night drive. Cultural visits, bush walks and mokoro excursions are all available at Saguni. Saguni Safari Lodge offers the ultimate Okavango Delta experience, with a wide range of activities, a beautiful location, diverse wildlife and warm, local hospitality.
S AG U NI S A FA R I LODGE +27(0) 79 523 4078 res@anthology.co.za www.africawildlodges.com Moremi East | Botswana
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Nestled above the red cliffs of Kingfisher Bay in Vilanculos, Santorini’s unfurling view of the archipelago islands and curling mainland in the distance is unsurpassable. Santorini Mozambique is like a small Greek village in the heart of a raw African landscape. The Main Villa has 5 spacious suites, which can all be booked out separately, as well as exquisite living areas including a lounge with library, sala bar, guest kitchen and shaded pool courtyard. The ocean front patio has a pale blue martini pool which faces directly onto the ever changing, Bazaruto archipelago. Whilst The Chapel at Santorini, with its gorgeous curved ceiling and private patio with infinity pool, is the ultimate honeymoon villa, and the Villa Da Praia on the South Side, is Ideal for families or small groups. Both private Villas complete with your own private chef, its luxury beyond your imagination. Vilanculos is well known as the gateway to the Bazaruto Archipelago and was one of Mozambiques first well known tourist destinations. With regular flights from South Africa and now improved road access. The magic created in our Santorini kitchen is enchanting. Our vegetables and herbs are from the Villa’s own garden and the option of the day’s fresh sea harvest, complement the daily menus. At Santorini’s spa -Spa na Colina- our therapists restore calm and rejuvenate your body. Families with children simply love Santorini with an abundance of activities as well as our own activity room that is packed full of equipment for complimentary use and a number of activities on offer like boat charters, fishing excursions, horse safaris, dhow sailing and scuba diving to name a few. At Santorini, one cannot help but fall a little in love... over and over again.
SAN TORI N I +27(0) 76 941 4951 reservations@santorinimozambique.com www.santorinimozambique.com Vilanculos | Mozambique
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Set upon the banks of the mighty Zambezi River, the Zambezi Crescent Collection’s Victoria Falls River Lodge offers something for everyone. The first privately owned lodge to be built in the Zambezi National Park (Zimbabwe), it’s close proximity to one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World provides guests easy access the famous town’s bustling hub of vibrant markets, restaurants, activity options and historical landmarks. The Lodge’s favourable location also allows guests to withdraw in blissful tranquillity after an eventful day. The relaxed atmosphere of both the family-friendly thatched rooms and luxuriously secluded Island treehouses offers guests their choice of preferred accommodations. Open-flow lounge and dining areas are beautifully decorated in a light contemporary style and equipped with all the modern conveniences one would come to expect from top class lodgings.
Onsite leisure activity options include game drives, walking and fishing safaris. River cruises and canoe safaris allow guests to explore the river, islands, channels and freshwater beaches. Guests seldom have to travel too far from their private decks however; as the lush foliage, and immediacy of the River, offer ample opportunity to enjoy many of the spectacular array of game species and birdlife that Zimbabwe has to offer. Cuisine at Victoria Falls River Lodge is inspired by the unique flavours of Southern Africa. No effort is spared to provide a fine dining experience. Menus are complimented by a choice wine list and custom designed to cater to all tastes. Whether guests elect to unwind at the pool with a favourite book, indulge in a treatment at the Africology affiliated Toa Spa, or sip cocktails at the riverside bar – the fully-inclusive Victoria Falls River Lodge offers an uniquely tailored experience which is sure to be remembered!
VICTO R IA FA L LS R IVE R LODGE +27(0) 87 0210 737 reservations@zambezicrescent.com www.victoriafallsriverlodge.com Victoria Falls | Zimbabwe
Since the initial conceptualization of Legend Golf & Safari Resort in 2007, the historic and architectural designs and influences of the old Monomotapa Kingdom is evident. The resort has become a place of legendary experiences and a second home for many legends themselves. The combination of design elements and high quality finishes ensure a uniform standard of luxury and elegance throughout the resort. The resort entrance is guarded by a replica of the Western Wall of the Great Zimbabwe Ruins, revealing behind it, the start of the Waterberg Mountain range with the iconic Hanglip Mountain. On top of Hanglip not only will you find an amazing view of the incredible landscape the Limpopo Province has to offer, but also the one and only Extreme 19th hole. This highest Par 3 in the world has seen many people from across the globe try their luck at driving the ball towards the Africa shaped green - approximately a 400m drop from the Tee. This world famous hole is seen as the perfect hole to compliment the Signature Course – the famous 8 km course designed by 18 different international professional golfers, representing 15 countries. The wide fairways, free roaming wildlife and majestic scenery is any visitor’s dream – never mind just golfers. To top it all off Legend boasts a 10-hole Tribute course of the best Par 3’s in the world, an array of challenging golf holes that might just improve you short game. Surrounded by nothing else but lush bushveld and nature at its best, the 220 luxury stylish bedrooms located within the Kingdom of Legends, will leave you relaxed and rejuvenated after a long day on the golf course. For leisure guests or families, an exciting day filled with adventurous activities awaits, for instance a Big 5 Game Drive into Entabeni Safari Conservancy, a visit to the Wildlife Centre, a helicopter fligh, horse riding or even a day spent at the Legend Health & Wellness Spa. The resort offers various restaurants and dining options at the Signature Clubhouse, Tribute Course and Great Enclosure. Golfing fanatics, guests travelling for leisure or business, groups and special celebrations will all find a unique place within the walls of Legend.
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L E G E ND G O L F & S A FA R I R ESORT +27(0) 12 443 6700 reservations@legendlodges.co.za www.legendhospitality.co.za Limpopo | South Africa
e Franschhoek Hotel & Spa, situated in the Franschhoek Wine Valley, offers luxurious hotel accommodation and a truly unique winelands experience. This exclusive hotel features 79 elegant, en-suite rooms and suites, two lavish villas and 16 double or single villas. Each has its own breath-taking view over the Franschhoek mountains or manicured hotel gardens. The sophistication of Le Franschhoek Hotel is evident in their fine dining options which offer guests the opportunity to indulge in seasonal dishes from an a la carte menu. The hotel is well-known for its exceptional service and picturesque setting. In addition, Le Franschhoek is an ideal destination for a team building, corporate functions and even a fairy-tale wedding – boasting five world-class conference venues, able to accommodate 20 to 120 delegates.
Email: reservations@lefranschhoek.co.za • Tel: +27(21)876-8900 • www.lefranschhoek.co.za
Karkloof Safari Villas is an extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime destination, made up of vast spaces and intimate exclusivity, boasting 16 individually decorated and indulgent private villas. Surrounded by magnificent terrain and abundant in wildlife, Karkloof is ideal for those in search of effortless luxury, solitude and jaw-dropping scenery. With the privacy afforded to guests based on the style and exclusivity of the destination, guests are given the utmost attention by the property’s exceptional staff, whereby every need is catered for.
KARKLOOF SAFA R I VIL L A S +27(0) 35 569 1321 reservations@karkloofsafarivillas.com www.karkloofsafarivillas.com KwaZulu-Natal | South Africa
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Escape deep into the African wilderness and discover a secluded private retreat. Whether you are seeking solitude or travelling in a small group, Molapo offers luxurious comfort in a true African setting. Nestled in the shade of the ancient Waterberg mountain range, this 1750 hectare private wildlife sanctuary provides refuge to a large variety of animals ranging from kudu, scarce antelope, giraffes, eland, and wildebeest to the smaller predators like the genet, honey badger, serval and civet. Other exciting occupants are the rarely-seen aardvark and pangolin. Situated on the north-eastern boundary of the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve, Molapo is one of 400 UNESCO-registered Biosphere reserves worldwide. The lodge sleeps up to a maximum of 12 guests in 6 air conditioned rooms with a minimum stay of 3 days. Full facilities ensure your comfort.
M OL AP O S AFAR I’ S +27(0) 82 891 3927 molapovaal@gmail.com Limpopo | South Africa
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Create your own experience by soaking in the pristine air on a game drive or a leisurely bush walk, mountain biking, birding or swimming in the dam or just lazing while sipping delicious cocktails next to the heated infinity pool overlooking a waterhole. At only 3½ hours’ drive from the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg, the serene Molapo experience is guaranteed to rest your mind and body, and feed your soul as only the African bush can do.
JOZ I N I TI G E R LO D G E & S PA +27(0) 35 572 1020 reservations@jozinitigerlodge.co.za www.jozinitigerlodge.co.za KwaZulu-Natal | South Africa
Situated in the heart of the Zulu Kingdom, with its rich heritage and untamed natural beauty, Jozini Tiger Lodge & Spa is the perfect luxury getaway in the heart of nature. Incredibly positioned along the banks of the picturesque Lake Jozini, and backed by the splendour of the Lebombo Mountain range, the lodge boasts superb facilities, including a Mangwanani Spa, gym, rim-flow swimming pool, exceptional dining experiences, extensive conference and banqueting facilities, and a wide range of activities for all ages. Easily accessible from both Durban and Gauteng, and surrounded by a host of world heritage sites and nature reserves, Jozini Tiger Lodge & Spa is ideal for weekend getaways, extended family holidays, conferencing, incentives, weddings, team building and international tour groups.
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Getting the right people in the right room is a challenge. Keeping them there is even harder. The most valuable resource in business isn’t money. Nor is it people. It isn’t even time. Those are all fantastic things to have, but they’re worth nothing if they’re not combined with the final ingredient: attention. By taking your business on The Blue Train you’ll capture everyone’s attention in a luxurious time capsule where the rest of the world just fades away, giving you the time to take your time and unlock your endeavor’s true potential.
Services
ALL MAJOR METROPOLITIAN AREAS & INTERNATIONALLY Close Persons Protection Threat Management Risk Assessments VIP Logistics 24 Hour Armed/ Unarmed Security
Consulting Services Official State Visit A & B Suite Logistics Investigations VIP Chauffer Services Armed Vehicles
Tholo Group has extensive experience in Close Personal Protection. We’ve managed a range of high and low profile operations for the political, corporate and entertainment sectors. We have an ongoing relationship with official Government departments. We manage and liaise between all departments to ensure a successful operation for all VIP needs. Tholo Group offers targeted services to increase the security of at-risk executives. With more than 18 year’s experience, Tholo Group professional executive protection team can quickly and adequately provide key employees with the appropriate level of security coverage. For us at Tholo Group the protection of our clients, safety and assets is “Priority Number One”,
www.tholoconsultants.com Tel: +27 12 807 0969/1611
Fax: +27 86 617 4424
Email: admin@tholoconsultants.co.za
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We provide a specialised, dynamic and tailored approach to international and cross-border recruitment by merging niche talent and opportunities.
MOVE FORWARD elizma@ziphi.co.za
EVENTS
WITH EMBASSY DIRECT
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It is an accepted fact that print media and the internet are two of the most important vehicles that enable a start-up business to develop. However, although the use of electronic marketing is significant, nothing beats the power of the ‘human’ connection. Attending an Embassy Direct networking event - or any networking event for that matter - can transform your business almost overnight. Embassy Direct’s main focus is the creation of opportunities for our members to liaise with prospective clients, ranging from multi-nationals to big corporates. We have learned through the years that personal introductions can promote powerful, mutually beneficial relationships. Throughout the year Embassy Direct partners with key members to host invitation-only events where our members can network with leading brands and industry leaders in Southern Africa. In addition, introductions to the expat community at these high-profile events gives our members the opportunity to market to a broader prospect base with a view to expanding internationally. We encourage all our members to attend our networking occasions, and 2019’s Event Calendar is guaranteed to offer potentially important and lifelong connections! Find out more - info@embassydirect.co.za
EVENTS
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CASINO ROYALE EVENING A fabulous evening was had by all at the American International School of Johannesburg Casino Royale evening. Weylandts did a beautiful job of hosting the event and everyone who attended had a great evening. A number of other members contributed to the evening’s success, not least of them Fulgeo diamonds‌ Their diamond give away was one of the highlights of the evening.
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HOLLYWOOD COMES TO SANDTON Hollywood visited Sandton! The Cupola suite provided the setting for a glitzy evening where members got to enjoy the company of internationally recognised entertainment personalities.
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EMBASSY DIRECT EVENTS Embassy Direct held small get togethers throughout the year where members got to learn more about each other and their business offerings.
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OPULENT AFRICA Opulent Africa was a great networking event hosted by Embassy Direct and Nedbank Private Wealth at The Melrose Art Gallery in Rosebank where Members gave insight to the African Continents Luxury markets as well as sharing key trading tips.
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NSBC SMALL BUSINESS NETWORKING SESSION Cube Workspace in Fourways was the venue for an excellent afternoon of business networking. Numerous members took centre stage alongside NSBC’s CEO Mike Anderson who gave an inspirational talk.
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2012 2011
Bitcoin becomes the 1st widely accepted fully digital currency
Google begins testing driver-less cars
The iPhone is launched & smartphones usage explodes
2005
2007
YouTube launches with a video of the co-founder at the zoo
2004
Facebook is born, and a new age of social media begins
1992
1990
2000
Broadband is introduced to the UK.
Bluetooth technology is introduced to the world
1994
1999
0.05% of people are using the Internet Commercial dial up Internet becomes available
Smartphone is released, supporting calls, email & fax
Tim Berners Lee invents the WORLD WIDE WEB
1988
1984
1989 A fully digital camera is released, offering storage for up to 10 photos
1st mobile phone launched. A 10-hour charge provides 30 minutes use
1981
The laptop computer is born, sporting a screen little bigger than a matchbox
1971 1st email is sent
1947
The transistor is invented: data transfer devices that underpin digital tech
1951
1st commercially available computer released, for simple arithmetic and data handling
APRENET network established. An early precursor to the Internet
1969
Research: Science & Technology Facilities Council
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