free copy
swipe me if you like me
may
2014
Dillan interviews
ProVerb Which proverb does ProVerb live by? Zola Budd-Pieterse Why is John McEnroe Zola’s favourite athlete?
The Up +
Runnin g issue
DILLAN OLIPHANT
doesn’t think he has the heart for the Comrades
got the munchies? FOR THE MENU see pages 4&5
PLUS City guides, sardine runs, carbo-loading, extreme endurance and a whole lot more, comrade
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Have Your Say
Whether you’ve had a great flight or feel that we could improve our service, we’d like to know. Drop us a line at khuluma@picasso.co.za. Hello, I have a British friend who had never been to SA. Last year we decided that he would travel to SA for the first time ever and, of course, I wanted to make his trip as special as humanly possible. So in January I contacted kulula, asking them to make a special announcement on board his flight to Durban. To my surprise, Mapula at kulula actually responded, saying they would see what they could do. Because my request went through in January and the flight was three months away, plus because we’ve gotten so used to no one really making an effort in customer service any more, I really didn’t expect anything from my request. Well, kulula, you have your newest biggest fan, officially. My friend contacted me when he arrived in Durban, saying he was absolutely gobsmacked when he got on board and the crew made an announcement welcoming him to SA for the first time. I cannot believe you did it. I simply cannot fathom that kulula takes customer service this seriously! You guys are beyond awesome. Mapula, you rock! I’ve booked my return ticket to go and visit my friend in Durban. Of course, I’m flying kulula. Thank you! Lindalin
Good morning, I needed to change my brother’s flight last week from an evening to a morning flight, as I desperately needed to get him home. People had told me this is often a real challenge, so I called as soon as I got the chance. I was amazed at how friendly the consultant was, how easy she made the process and how she kept me in the loop every step of the way, despite having some slow system issues. I have worked in and around call centres all my life and can tell you that you should be proud that you have such amazing staff. Keep up the good work.
View from the Top
11 MAY IS another day dreaded by husbands and sons, when they have the opportunity to forget Mother’s Day and to pay for it for the next 364 days of the year. Or, when added to forgetting Valentine’s Day, the wedding anniversary, Women’s Day, birthdays and so forth, to pay with a life sentence. I have argued that every day is Mother’s Day, but that is apparently not an acceptable excuse – and the florists, restaurants and card shops don’t like that argument either. So I have to organise something ‘from the kids’ for Mother’s Day, and I don’t have a clue, especially as we just celebrated our anniversary and my wife’s birthday in April, so I have no more rabbits in my hat. Of course, I’ve been told it’s the thought that counts. Well, I have thought a lot, and still have nothing. So I’ll leave it to the rug rats to figure it out. Otherwise Mum will get a new vacuum cleaner and I’ll be sleeping in the shed. Even the founder of the modern Mother’s Day, Anna Jarvis, spent the rest of her life fighting the holiday once she realised how commercialised it had become – and also that she had no more space to store new vacuum cleaners. Forty-six countries celebrate Mother’s Day, but not all on the same day. However, I’m not sure that the Yugoslavian celebration qualifies, as they have a tradition that the kids tie their mother up until she gives them sweets. If I had ever tried that, I would have been given a good beating – no sweets. I suppose there is novelty for a new mother in the first few years, but once the kids can reach the kitchen counter, I fail to see the appeal. There will be at least eight years of horrible experimental breakfasts of soggy toast or cereal, and tea that looks like it was produced by a dehydrated camel, all made with love, but strictly of the ‘grin and bear it’ variety. If you put a circle of salt around the bed, the breakfast would not be able to cross it. At least on Father’s Day my wife gets up early enough to wake up the rooster and oversee the culinary chaos, so I don’t risk spending the rest of the day praying at the porcelain throne. Of course, having forgotten Mother’s Day in the first place, it will now be impossible to take Mother out for lunch, and takeaways will have me sleeping in the shed. However, with more than 400 flights a week, you cannot blame kulula for not getting you there for Mother’s Day. And if you need a lastminute idea, find a weekend special on www.kulula.com.
Ivan Erik Venter, CEO: Comair Ltd
kulula.com
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Diabetes, the Silent Killer Are you sure you don’t have diabetes? The diabetes epidemic It is believed that 7% of the population is diabetic. A quarter of this percentage is unaware that they have the disease. This, however, does not include people with pre-diabetes, a condition in which blood-glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as Type 2 diabetes. The diabetes epidemic is spurred by the national trend toward unhealthy weight gain. The symptoms of diabetes may begin gradually and can be hard to identify at first. The warning signs may include fatigue, a sick feeling, excessive thirst, and frequent urination, especially at night, as a result of a surplus of glucose in the blood. Other symptoms may include sudden weight loss, blurred vision, urinary tract infections, genital itching, and slow healing of skin and gums. When to See a Doctor In addition to these typical symptoms, a doctor may also suspect a patient to be diabetic if the person has certain health problems. For instance, heart disease, changes in vision, numbness in the feet and legs, or sores that are slow to heal, may prompt a doctor to check for the disease. Although these symptoms do not necessarily mean that a person has diabetes, anyone who is affected by these problems should see a doctor to have their blood sugar levels tested. Keeping blood sugar levels under control is possibly the most important factor in the prevention or control of diabetes. How to Control Blood Sugar Levels and Prevent Diabetes A diabetes prevention study found that diet and exercise actually worked better than some medications in delaying the development of diabetes. Just 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day, coupled with a 5-10% reduction in body weight, produced a 58% reduction in diabetes. A Supplement to Help Prevent Diabetes Constant high blood sugar levels are the main cause of type 2 diabetes, Insulin Resistance and being Overweight. A Low G.I. diet can help to regulate blood sugar levels, control appetite, stop cravings, prevent type 2 diabetes and diabetes complications. Manna Blood Sugar Support is a Natural & Organic Dietary Supplement which helps to reduce the G.I. of the food you eat by up to 43%, thus helping to control blood sugar levels, which can help to control and even prevent type 2 diabetes.
Manna Blood Suger Support is available in pharmacies, Dis-Chem and Clicks, countrywide. Also visit www.mannaplus.co.za or call 086 111 4197.
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Contents May 2014 regulars
3 VIEW FROM THE TOP Our CEO’s letters, plus your letters 13 ÜBER-EDITOR’S LETTER Dillan Oliphant runs us
through this month’s issue
14 KULULA PAGES kulula takes on Kenya, and Trev makes one last stand for summer in Mauritius
guide
19 WESTERN CAPE What to do, what to eat, and where to shop and sleep in and around the Mother City 25 GAUTENG Get busy, chow down, shop till you drop then sleep
it off in Gauteng
31 KWAZULU-NATAL From Durbs to the Midlands, here’s the
where, what and why of KZN
37 GARDEN ROUTE Not as sleepy as you might think – we get to the root of the Garden Route 41 TOP TIPPLE Wine and olives – a
match or a miss?
44 WATCH Latest movies on circuit, plus our Godzilla giveaway
47 READ Liberate your mind with the latest literature
48 LISTEN May is for ‘may be a
little eclectic’
53 GAMES It’s a war out there…
57 GADGETS
The tech you need to hit the trail
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Contents May 2014 chat
60 MUSICIAN Dillan unwraps the gift of ProVerb’s gab 66 ATHLETE Zola bares her soul (and her soles) to Dillan 70 LOCAL HERO The spirit of the Comrades lives on along its route all year round, thanks to these organisations
travel 76 RUN FOR YOUR LIFE
Think the Comrades is tough? Check out these crazy ultramarathons from around the world
84 RECHARGE Unplug your phone and plug in your soul at one of these escapes around Durban
93 WALK IT OFF Change the way you think about your commute – by doing it on foot
action 100 BEHIND THE SCENES the annual sardine run
Join a run of a different kind –
109 CARS We check out the Ford EcoSport 1.0 Titanium, plus the five coolest emergency vehicles in the world
112 GO GREEN How to track – and reduce – your carbon footprint
stuff
115 MONEY MATTERS
How to get your business up and running
117 HEALTH Keep yourself fit and
healthy on the trot
120 COLUMN Why fat-free also seems to mean sense-free
MAY 2014
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Editor Anthony Sharpe anthonys@picasso.co.za Content Coordinator Vanessa Payne Copy Editor Joy Capon PROOFREADER Ingrid Graham Production editor Shamiela Brenner HEAD OF DESIGN STUDIO Jayne MacĂŠ-Ferguson Designers Mfundo Ndzo leo Abrahams Cover Photograph MornĂŠ van Zyl MAKE-UP ARTIST Sandra Fourie Content Manager Raina Julies rainaj@picasso.co.za Business Manager Robin Carpenter-Frank robinc@picasso.co.za Project Manager Richard White richardw@picasso.co.za Sales Consultants Stephen Crawford, Bonnie Eksteen, Randall Grace, Steve Norval, Marc Plastow, Andre Potgieter, Luke Roebert, Alec Rompelman, Roman Ross, Clint Smith, Zelda Stein Financial Accountant Lodewyk van der Walt
To advertise in this magazine please contact Richard White (Project Manager) on 021 469 2500 or richardw@picasso.co.za
Senior GM: Newspapers and Magazines Mike Tissong Associate Publisher Jocelyne Bayer
kulula.com CEO Comair Limited Erik Venter Marketing Manager, kulula.com Shaun Pozyn Senior Brand Manager, kulula.com Bridgette Ramuluvhana Brand Manager, kulula.com Thembeka Mabaso Comair Limited 1 Marignane Drive, Bonaero Park, Kempton Park, 1619 Tel 011 921 0111 kulula.com contact centre 0861 KULULA (585852) PRINTING
CTPprinters
CAPE TOWN
Copyright: No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent of the publishers. The publishers are not responsible for unsolicited material. khuluma is published monthly by Picasso Headline Reg: 59/01754/07. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Picasso Headline, kulula or Times Media. All advertisements/advertorials and promotions have been paid for and therefore do not carry any endorsement by the publishers. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of its contents, neither kulula, nor the publisher can be held responsible for any omissions or errors, or for any misfortune, injury or damages that may arise therefrom. We reserve the right to edit interviews for layout purposes.
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Flight cancelled? Now what? The unthinkable has happened. You arrive at the airport to discover that your flights have been cancelled. Relax. As a Flight Centre client our experts are on hand to provide immediate assistance. Here are the options available to you: 1. Contact the store you booked your flights through The contact details can be found on our website or mobisite. If you are calling outside of office hours, an emergency number is available. They are able to access your booking and find an alternative solution for you.
2. Speak to any one of our airfare experts by dialing 0877 40 50 00 Our consultants are available from 9am to 6pm seven days a week.
3. Contact our Customer Care team on 0877 40 50 80 This dedicated team is available to assist you with any difficulties you may be experiencing with your travel reservation. They are available by phone during business hours or via email on customercare@flightcentre.co.za.
By using one of these options we will have your holiday back on track in no time.
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ÜBER-EDITOR OF THE MONTH
Über-ed’s letter Dillan Oliphant
Running gags
picture: morné van zyl
SO THE GUYS at khuluma invited me to guest edit this issue. Please forgive them: they’re human. They make mistakes. Anyway, I hope I don’t run out of words. Get it – ‘run’? Because this is the Up + Running issue and ‘run’ is a play on words? Still not funny? Okay. Hopefully I’ll get better as the letter goes on. I’m a comedian, so I’m not good at athletics. I did come third in a sprint once. There were only three of us in the race, but to me it still counts. So I’ve been running the race of life and I’ve come a long way – from the streets of Eldorado Park to a cover of a magazine. Honestly, I thought I’d be dead by now and, after seeing the clothing they made me wear for the cover, part of me has died inside, but it’s nothing that therapy and a little alcohol can’t cure. Okay maybe not a little, because you know us coloureds love to drink and I can say that because some of my best friends are … alcoholics. #notracist. In this issue I got to sit down with my favourite South African rapper and MC, ProVerb. My second favourite wrapper was my ex; she used to love wrapping presents. (I’m getting better at this, right?) We sat down to speak about life and rap label YMCMB – although in Eldorado Park YMCMB only means ‘Your mother can’t make breyani’. Which is the worst insult around if you ask me, but luckily my mom can make breyani, so I’ve still got some self-esteem. I also got to interview the barefoot flyer, Zola Budd-Pieterse. I sat down to speak about her wonderful career in athletics and who her favourite sportsperson is. Don’t worry – he’s not in court right now. Or maybe he’s on a tennis court somewhere … who knows? To find out, you’re going to have to sit back. Well not from the get go; first get your seat in the upright position until the pilot says you can sit back. In the mean time you can stare at my lovely toned body on the cover for one last time and have a relaxing read. ■
Who will be our next ed?
South Africa’s a funny place. It’s got lots of funny people. And some are damn hilarious. Every month, khuluma chooses a particularly amusing individual to be our über-editor. This funny man or woman then interrogates prominent South Africans for us. So book your flight for next month or head over to www.khulumaonline.co.za to see who it’ll be.
kulula.com
Guest Eds Note 28 1.indd 13
Dillan’s creds
Fresh-faced and with a fresh approach, described as a dead-pan, oneliner comic, Dillan has grown from a novice to making waves nationally in what seems like a few short years. He was named winner of the Newcomer of the Year Award at the Annual SA Comic’s Choice Awards for 2012, and opened for South Africa’s best-selling comedy tour of all time, Trevor Noah’s That’s Racist. Follow him @dillanoliphant.
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Flying 101:
book a flight to Kenya on the kulula.com website
Haul out your khaki attire and binoculars, and book that safari trip of a lifetime to witness the wildebeest migration in the Masai Mara, as it’s now possible to book flights from Johannesburg to Kenya via the kulula.com website. kulula and Kenya Airways have entered into a bilateral code share agreement that allows kulula to place their code (MN) on the multiple daily Kenya Airways services between Johannesburg (JHB) and Nairobi (NBO), and allows Kenya Airways to place their code (KQ) on all South African domestic routes currently serviced by kulula, including Cape Town, Durban, George and East London. Kenya, also known as the ‘jewel of east Africa’, is fast becoming a top tourist destination in Africa for those looking for adventure. Whether you want to enjoy an unrivalled safari experience, climb Mount Kenya (the second-highest mountain in Africa), or swim in the tropical Indian Ocean, Kenya has something for everyone. Customers travelling to and from Kenya will fly in comfort on Kenya Airways’ fleet of Boeing 737-300s and 800s, and will have a choice of business class or economy class.
14
MAY 2014
Kulula Pages 28 1.indd 14
This code-share agreement with Kenya Airways allows kulula to grow its footprint in Africa in a sustainable manner while at the same time providing easy access to more destinations as smoothly and seamlessly as possible. From 1 May 2014, flight bookings can be made via www.kulula.com, www.kenya-airways.com or through local travel agents. To find out more information about conditions of carriage and baggage policies, kulula fans can visit the respective airline websites.
kulula.com
2014/04/17 1:19 PM
Get great deals with our partners Tsogo sun: so much to choose from. Only one choice Tsogo Sun is the leading hotels, gaming and entertainment company in South Africa, providing a variety of hospitality,
Trev’s Hot Spots
entertainment and leisure experiences.
Delicious Mauritius
Combining an established heritage with an energised approach, the group proudly includes 14 casinos and over 90 hotels in Africa and Seychelles.
THIS IS IT, people: the beginning of the end of the long, lazy days of summer. As I write this, I’m wearing one of those shorts-and-jackets combos, which does nothing to hide the fact I’m in total denial about it being the end of the sunny season. I just can’t seem to let summer go, which is why I recently jetted off to Mauritius – the island of all-year sunshine. And thanks to kulula’s latest hot, hot holiday offer, you can do the same from only R15 370 per person sharing. The deal includes return flights from Jo’burg to Mauritius, as well as seven nights at the Outrigger Mauritius Resort and Spa. Let me tell you, this beachfront spot on the southwest coast of Mauritius really lives up to its five-star rating. Recently refurbished, it has luxurious airconditioned rooms with incredible views of the Indian Ocean, flat-screen TVs, minibars and linen as crisp as the sea breeze drifting through the windows. The Outrigger sits on a private beach, and offers you activities such as tennis, volleyball, bocce, snorkelling, kayaking, boat rides and windsurfing, all of which are complimentary extras. But if you have the ball sense of a guppy and have
no interest in bopping around on the ocean, the resort also makes it really easy to just do sweet nothing – laid-back souls can just roll out of bed and onto one of the sun loungers on the beach. The resort also has a supervised kids’ club to keep the youngsters entertained while you enjoy a chillaxing treatment at the spa. The hungry can tuck into international or local grub at one of the resort’s three restaurants, and the thirsty can order a cold one from the beach or swim-up bar. This package deal is valid from 5 May to 26 June 2014 and 22 July to 20 September 2014. Breakfast and dinner are included in the price, as are return airport transfers. Tips, meals (unless specified), beverages, visas, entrance fees and items of a personal nature are excluded. Terms and conditions apply.* Go on – give your cozzie one last gig before the winter. Until next time, Trevor
If you are looking for a holiday in a great location, Tsogo Sun has the perfect getaway for you. Our association with kulula allows you to travel throughout South Africa to the widest selection of hotels. Our joint holiday packages include breakfast, and kids under 18 sharing a room with two adults stay and eat breakfast free.
Got some eBucks? Pay or part-pay for your next kulula flight using your eBucks.
As a Discovery Vitality member, you can earn Discovery Miles, which you can use towards paying for your kulula flight.
Rent a car with your flight and get a 10% discount, or get the best rates with Europcar.
Protea Hotels ensure your stay with them is as unique as the kulula experience. Try out any one of the hotels – you won’t forget the experience.
twitter.com/kulula facebook.com/iflykulula
THE NOTICEBOARD fly to Nairobi From beautiful beaches to wild safaris, Kenya is
*legal stuff: The package price is from a starting price per person sharing. It is only valid for travel from Jo’burg, and excludes flight numbers MK 947/948/949/950 and SA 7000-7949. Specific and limited seats are available during low season only. Rebooking or rerouting is not permitted and cancellation penalties apply. Subject to airfare increases, exchange rate fluctuations and availability. Airline taxes are based on the current exchange rate and are subject to change. Valid for SADC residents only. Proof of a valid passport may be required by the property. Standard kulula.com legal stuff applies. E&OE. All prices are correct at the time of publication.
kulula.com
Kulula Pages 28 1.indd 15
a hidden gem on the African continent that has a little something to offer everyone – from business to pure relaxation. Now you can book your seat to Nairobi on kulula.com.
MAY 2014
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2014/04/03 10:13 AM 2014/04/07 2:25 PM
EXPERIENCE OUR NEW HALF&HALF PIZZA RANGE Combining dishes that bring out the best in each other, see in-store for full range.
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WE’RE LOOKING FOR FRANCHISEES IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: ENQUIRIES: BEULAH@COLCACCHIO.CO.ZA / 087 803 4000 Gauteng: Rosebank Clearwater Mall Bedfordview
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Pietermaritzburg Western Cape: Pinelands Paarl
Namibia: Windhoek
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2014/04/07 2:26 PM
WESTERN CAPE | GUIDE
What’s on in the Western Cape ROCK THE BOAT 16-18 May
Musical Presented by Cape Town Opera at the Artscape Opera House, the critically acclaimed Show Boat is a musical of the old American South, rich with nostalgia, humour, love stories and popular tunes such as ‘Ol’ Man River’ and ‘Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man’. Tickets are R140-R380, with a discount for block bookings of eight or more. For more info, go to www.ctoshowboat.com. Please note: How many actors does it take to change a light bulb? One – they don’t like to share the spotlight.
EPICALLY EPICUREAN
R’S ITOICE D E O CH
Expo The Good Food & Wine Show returns to the Cape Town International Convention Centre. This year the show focuses on new sensations, foraging, sustainability and world food trends. As visitors arrive, they will be given 3D glasses and enter the show through a ‘sensations’ tunnel, before they encounter the various hubs inside. Tickets are R125 and R50 for kids under 12, available at the door or through www.computicket.com. For more info, check out www.goodfoodandwineshow.co.za. Please note: Most chefs consider diets to be a waist of time.
FROM THE WINELANDS TO THE HIGHLANDS 16 May
Whisky festival The Wade Bales Wine & Malt Whisky Affair is on at the 15 on Orange Hotel, showcasing an enormous selection of beverages from around the world. Tickets are R180 per person, from www.computicket.com, and include all tastings, complimentary glass, selection of gourmet cheese, antipasti deli and artisanal breads. Don’t miss the sister event up north, the Kaya FM Wine & Malt Whisky Affair, at The Firs in Rosebank, 29-30 May. For more info, check out www.wadebaleswinesociety.co.za. Please note: ‘Too much of anything is bad, but too much of good whiskey is barely enough.’ - Mark Twain
SECOND TIME ROUND 13 June (Cape Town), 16 June (Jo’burg)
text: anthony sharpe; pictures: supplied
2-3 May
Live music 30 Seconds to Mars return to SA as part of their Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams tour, with two concerts, the first at the GrandWest Grand Arena in Cape Town, and the second at Joburg’s Coca-Cola Dome, promising their trademark blend of heartfelt vocals and lengthy fringes. Tickets are R310-R510, from www.bigconcerts.co.za or www.computicket.com. Please note: Jared Leto is currently suing his fringe for causing an accident on the way to a gig in Moscow. It’s a hairy case.
FLEET OF FOOT 4 May
Running The inaugural Wings for Life World Run, taking place at Boschendal Wine Estate in Franschhoek, is part of a global event raising funds for research into curing debilitating spinal-cord injury. Taking place at the same time around the world, the race is unique in that routes are defined, but runners will not be running a set distance – the finish line will be chasing them. For more info, check out www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com/capetown. Please note: Why do dogs run in circles? Well, for a start, it’s pretty difficult to run in a square.
PAINT THE TOWN ROOI 1-4 May
Arts festival The picturesque town of Clanwilliam is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year, and one of the highlights is the Cederberg Rooibos Arts Festival. Visitors can expect an exciting lineup of fun activities, great music, and entertaining live acts and plays, together with the finest local cuisine, to celebrate this momentous occasion. For more info, check out www.cederbergfees.co.za. Please note: When the artist finished his bas carving, he felt a great relief.
30 SECONDS TO MARS GIVEAWAY
Five lucky khuluma readers can each win a set of double tickets to 30 Seconds to Mars! To enter, go to www.khulumaonline.co.za and hit the Competitions tab. Competition is open to all South African residents, excluding employees of Picasso Headline/Times Media Ltd/kulula.com/ Comair Limited, and closes on 31 May 2014.
kulula.com
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WESTERN CAPE | GUIDE
Where to eat in the Western Cape Mondiall
Mondiall opened at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, at the end of November 2013. As its name implies, it serves food from around the world. Well, sort of. The menu is made up of understated, elegant, casual classics from Europe, Asia, the Americas and South Africa. French chicken paillard (R132) competes for diner delight with seafood ceviche (R86) from Peru, Japanese chirashizushi (R129) and American maple-and-pecan Pie (R68). Oddly, Africa is presented as a culinary terra nullius beyond the boundaries of the Bo-Kaap, with not a whisper of the glories of north, east, west or central Africa. For those who don’t consider Africa to be part of le monde, the food is okay. The view and the martinis are great. V&A Waterfront, Cape Town 021 418 3003, www.mondiall.co.za
Equus Restaurant
Equus is part of Cavalli Stud Farm Estate on the R44 between Stellenbosch and Somerset West. The restaurant opened late in 2013, with chef Henrico Grobbelaar (ex-Twelve Apostles Hotel and San Pellegrino International Young Chef of the World 2009) at the helm. The venue’s minimalist Hannes Bouwer-designed building heightens awareness of the achingly beautiful paddock, field and mountain location. Those seeking to carbo-load should know that the walnut bread with Shirazinfused butter makes for a magnificent mouthful. The pork belly (R95) with the perfect ratio of succulent meat to crisp crackling crunch, and a chocolate mousse topped with a silky-smooth ganache are less carb-rich, but they certainly taste great. Chef Grobbelar excels at bold,
unusual pairings. Pork with burnt orange sauce was a masterful move away from the pork-and-apple standard we all expect. Cavalli Estate, R44, Stellenbosch 021 855 3218, www.cavallistud.com
text: anna trapido, will edgcumbe; pictures: supplied
Where to shop in the Western Cape
The Athlete’s Foot
Besides, undoubtedly, having the best name of any other running store, The Athlete’s Foot at the V&A Waterfront stocks just about every brand there is, and has highly trained staff who can assist with anything from new shoes and clothing, to conducting gait analysis and dispensing
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advice about running injuries. They’re also associated with leading podiatrists, so if you have a foot issue, they’ll tell you where to go to get it sorted. Shop 6119, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, 021 421 5717, www.theathletesfoot.co.za
i run.™
Despite having a name that contravenes almost every formatting convention, i run.TM is the place to go for running advice and gear if you’re in the Stellenbosch area. Run by a husband-and-wife team passionate about all things running, the
store stocks Asics and inov-8 shoes, as well as the latest running apparel and accessories from well-established brands. Shop 43, Eikehoff Building, Church Street, Stellenbosch, www.i-run.co.za
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WESTERN CAPE | GUIDE
Where to sleep in the Western Cape
MARINATING IN THE MARINA Anthony Sharpe wallows in the good life at the Marina Residential.
pictures: supplied
How often do you feel like a tourist in your own city? I contemplated just this question as I wandered the V&A Waterfront on a glorious, sunny afternoon, grabbing breakfast at the market, browsing pricey clothing boutiques, and strolling along the breakwater – just as a tourist might do. The real kicker, though? I’d walked there from my apartment in the Home From Home Marina Residential, a complex of five-star, self-catering apartments on the edge of the Waterfront marina. The Marina Residential is like a citystate unto itself; once inside the gates, you’re ensconced in a land of ostentatious, modern wonder. I had to suppress a squeal as our concierge, Anywhere, showed us to our fifth-floor apartment.
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Aside from the enormous entertainment area and two full balconies (with a third Juliette), the two en-suite bedrooms looked north and south respectively, with the mountain visible from the one, and the stadium and Wheel of Excellence from the other. Once I’d been medicated to the point of calm, I was able to go about the serious business of evaluating the entertainment potential of the establishment. Suffice it to say that, if you get bored of sipping whisky and smoking cheap cigars on the balcony, the pool is a very good place for a glass of vino, with the lights of the surrounding apartments flanking the moon’s reflection in the adjacent canal. The kitchen was adequately equipped, but I eschewed cooking in favour of dining at the Waterfront, grabbing a delicious breakfast wrap at Market on the Wharf, which is packed with more than 40 food vendors, and dinner at Belthazar, enjoying the unseasonably balmy autumn evening. Honestly, though, I didn’t want to spend too much time outside the flat. Sure, there’s a big TV with a medium-sized DStv bouquet, but who wants to watch the box when you can tan and gaze out at your own private playground? The place is also very secure, with access control and underground parking. The rooms are turned down every day by housekeeping, and there’s also free Wi-Fi (which I found a little hit-and-miss). All in all, the experience was relaxing, beautiful and a little surreal – all of which are feelings I assume tourists associate with Cape Town. And two days and nights in the Marina Residential were all it took to make this lifelong Capetonian feel just like a tourist in his own city. V&A Waterfront, 021 418 2821, homefromhome.co.za
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GAUTENG | GUIDE
What’s on in Gauteng TASTY BEATS 31 May
RUNNING FOR RHINOS 14-15 June R’S ITOICE D E O CH
Music and food festival Described as a music festival for food-lovers, or a food festival for music-lovers, Delicious is set to take the South African entertainment and culinary worlds by storm. Taking place at Emmarentia Dam, the music line-up includes Brand New Heavies, Soul 2 Soul, Incognito, Fresh and Euphonik, and Black Coffee. For more info, check out www.facebook.com/DeliciousFestivalSA. Please note: Black Coffee is to be consumed aurally, not orally.
EN POINTE, COMRADE 9-11 May
Ballet Catch the internationally celebrated Crown of the Russian Ballet on the first leg of their four-city tour, which kicks off at the Theatre of Marcellus at Emperor’s Palace from 9-11 May. After that, it’s off to Cape Town’s Baxter Theatre from 14-17 May, then Durban’s Playhouse Opera Theatre from 20-21 May, and Pretoria’s State Theatre Drama from 23-25 May. Tickets are R150-R280, available from www.computicket.com. Please note: Dogs make terrible dancers because they have two left feet.
DIVINE DESIGNS
text: anthony sharpe; pictures: supplied
23-25 May
Expo Grand Designs Live returns to the Coca-Cola Dome, offering a little something for anyone with even the slightest interest in home improvement, from kitchens to gardens, to DIY and interior design, and everything in between. R85 gets you through the door. For more info, check out www.granddesignslive.co.za. Please note: Writers are also known as architexts.
Trail-running The Nedbank Save the Rhino Trail Run takes place a little north of Gauteng’s border, in the Mabalingwe Nature Reserve at Bela-Bela in Limpopo. There are three options: a two-day 27km race; a one-day 23km race; and a one-day 10km race. Half of each contestant’s entry fees go to the Nedbank Green Trust to save the rhino. For more info, check out www.trisport.co.za. Please note: Although rhinoplasty is a common cosmetic surgical procedure, the hippoplasty never really took off.
ARMIN TO THAT, BROTHER 14 June
Live music Dutch DJ legend Armin van Buuren is heading to the Coca-Cola Dome for one night only. Expect to be blown away by an exclusive six-hour set, including stunning live performances, dancing acts and topnotch technical effects that have never been used in EDM before. Tickets are R540-R2 500, available from www.bigconcerts.co.za or www.computicket.com. Please note: Why can’t DJs play pool? Because they always scratch.
HEAD-TOSOWETO STYLE 28-31 May
Fashion Soweto Fashion Week is taking place at the Soweto Theatre, offering 12 carefully selected designers the chance to show off their creations to the public and fashion representatives. It promises edgy creations of an international standard, and aims to promote local designers at a global level. Tickets are R50, available at the door or from www.computicket.com. Please note: People in the fashion industry are very clothes-minded.
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GAUTENG | GUIDE
Where to eat in Gauteng Five Hundred at the Saxon The Grazing Room
Marge Simpson once said that tapas ‘was like appetisers for a meal that never comes’. While you are waiting for the meal that never comes at the Grazing Room, you can see and be seen with all the most beautiful people in town. The menu changes according to season and chef whim, but expect the likes of teeny-tiny plates of squid stuffed with puttanesca salsa and dukha-dusted kudu loin. The delicious butter-andsage fried risotto balls will help with carbo-loading for a big race. What Marge neglected to mention is how much more it costs to eat lots of little bits, rather than one decent meal. Dunkeld Centre, Jo’burg 011 341 0663, www.dw11-13.co.za
Five Hundred is perfectly pitched to take advantage of the conspicuous consumption of government groupies. Chef David Higgs, previously of the multi-award-winning Rust en Vrede outside Stellenbosch, has produced an innovative menu which serves up a gentle, stylish love letter to southern African ingredients. Impala is paired with mebos. West Coast crayfish are set atop seaweed salads. Parsnip and amasi purées compete for patron pleasure with slivers of snoek. One weird thing to note: the tastes and textures are all very smooth and silky. After a while a diner longs for crunch. The extensive use of the sousvide technique means that even the meat could be tackled by those without adequate dentistry. Is this a message?
Are Five Hundred’s customers simply too refined to chew? 36 Saxon Rd, Jo’burg, 011 292 6000
text: anna trapido, will edgcumbe; pictures: supplied
Where to shop in Gauteng expert advice for everyone from beginners to professionals – and who knows? Maybe you’ll branch out from running and become a full-blown triathlete. 61 Woodlands Avenue, Hurlingham, Sandton, 011 326 1611, www.troisport.com
Troisport
Troisport are triathlon and multi-sport specialists, so by necessity they know a thing or two about running. They’re Africa’s largest retailer of multisport brands, and stock all major running and cycling brands as well. They also offer
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Running Inn
The key to running is finding the right shoe. Running Inn will help you to choose the correct running shoe for your running style. They do a video gait analysis of you running barefoot on their treadmill, to determine your running style and foot
strike, and then match it to the correct shoe. Pretty nifty. Brooklyn Centre, cnr Duncan & Lynnwood Roads, Brooklyn, Pretoria, 012 362 7322, www.runninginn.com
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GAUTENG | GUIDE
Where to sleep in Gauteng
AN ESCAPE ON THE EDGE OF THE CITY
Claire Martens finds peace and quiet at Protea Ridge.
pictures: claire martens, supplied
For anyone who spends a great deal of time on the road, nothing takes the edge off like a hot shower and a comfortable bed (except, of course, a well-stocked minibar). I was able to enjoy all of these indulgences on my brief visit to Protea Ridge Guest Cottages and Conference Centre in Northriding, Joburg – but then I do prefer the simple things in life. While I am not as well-travelled as I would wish, like any city-dweller, I long for time away from my desk job. So one Friday evening I fled the city centre and headed to the most obvious place where rest can be found: as close to nature as one can get. Located between Lanseria Airport and Joburg, Protea Ridge straddles the urban
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edge, but with groves of indigenous plants and bird-feeders set among the thatched cottages, it also maintains a connection to the natural environment. The executive rooms are spacious and clean, designed for functionality rather than stylishness. With a Wi-Fi connection, limited DStv and an air-conditioning system, as well as a small kitchen unit, the rooms are perfectly suited to a one or two-night stopover. Starting at R645 per night exclusive of breakfast, they are also very affordable. That evening, I joined owner Celeste Haupt for a family braai. Celeste started the guesthouse 13 years ago and has proved an astute businesswoman. Over a few glasses of wine, I came to understand why the dynamic of Protea Ridge is so down-to-earth. It’s a space to breathe deeply, which I did often, mainly because I love the smell of thatch. The next morning, after a nourishing English-style breakfast next to the pool, I was shown the areas set aside for new development. Celeste has combined her enterprising talents with knowledge of travel and people, respecting the need for fluidity and breathability. And with plans for a spa and wedding chapel, the delights of the place will soon be expanded to include more guests. There’s also a strong desire to further enhance the natural aspects of the area, introduce wildlife and make better use of the incredible views of the city. I expect this will be change for the better – as all change should be. Boundary Road, Jo’burg, 011 704 5552, www.protearidge.co.za
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KWAZULU-NATAL | GUIDE
What’s on in KwaZulu-Natal TRAVELICIOUS 10-12 May
Expo Africa’s largest travel expo, Indaba, takes place at the Durban International Convention Centre, and showcases the widest variety of southern Africa’s best tourism products, attracting international buyers and media from across the world. For more info, check out www.indaba-southafrica.co.za. Please note: This event is not to be confused with Inbaba – Africa’s largest toddler.
HUSQ-A-WHAT? 18 May
COMRADES-CON 29-31 May
Expo The Bonitas Comrades Expo, taking place at the Durban Exhibition Centre, is aimed not only at the ambitious ultra-runner, but at sports enthusiasts of all ages who want to view the latest trends, try out new technologies, and learn about health and nutrition. For more info, check out www.conker.co.za/comrades. Please note: Runners should avoid training in traffic unless they want to get exhausted.
’S
R ITO
Mountain-biking and trail-running ED OICE H A favourite with mountain-bikers, the C Husqvarna Classic Mid-Illovo MTB Challenge & Trail Run traverses two of KwaZulu-Natal’s most picturesque game reserves – the Gwahumbe Game & Spa and iNsingizi Game & Spa. For more info, check out www.husqvarnaclassic.co.za. Please note: Best train hard for this, or you’ll wind up but a husq of your former self.
A DAY IN THE VALLEY text: anthony sharpe; pictures: supplied
25 May
Open day Lily of the Valley in Eston is hosting an open day in celebration of its 20th birthday, from 10:30am to 3pm. Visitors can take part in fun activities, taste delicious foods, tour the grounds and learn about the different projects that are available – all in support of a good cause. For more info on Lily of the Valley, check out the story on pg 70, or go to www.lov.org.za. Please note: This is a somewhat more noble pursuit than the reality show, The Valley.
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ON THE FLY 29-31 May
Fishing festival Now in its 17th year, the Kamberg Trout Festival takes place around the magnificent dams of the Kamberg Valley. Situated at the foot of the Drakensberg Mountains, the valley offers a tranquil and nurturing atmosphere in which to practise the sport of fly-fishing. For more info, go to www.kambergtroutfestival.co.za. Please note: How do you stop a fish from smelling? You cut its nose off.
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KWAZULU-NATAL | GUIDE
Where to eat in KwaZulu-Natal China Plate
This is not one for the décor snobs – think Asian Vegas and you’ll get the general gist. Shanghai-born chef George Hu boasts that he cooked for former Kenyan president Daniel Arap Moi. Whether or not this is something he should be boasting about is open to debate, but his sautéed garlic langoustines are damn fine! Perhaps George should stick to reminding people that he was formerly chef at the Mandarin Room at the Edward Hotel. And do not leave Durban without having sampled his seaweed salad, superb sizzling tofu and absolutely the best deep-fried walnuts in the southern hemisphere. Park Boulevard Centre, Browns Drift Road, Riverside, 031 564 6437
Hartford House
The Western Cape and Gauteng engage in a ridiculous and ongoing fight about which province has ‘the best’ food. What neither of them has noticed is that the answer is neither. If you want fantastic food, skip the aforementioned bright lights and big cities, and head for KZN. Case in point is the world-class wonderful work of chef Jackie Cameron at Hartford House. This exquisite eatery and guesthouse is set on the grounds of a thoroughbred stud farm, in a house that was once home to the last prime minister of the Natal Colony (so it’s posh nosh and best behaviour all the way), but the food is amazingly innovative. Make sure to try the Zulu-chic Izaqheqhe (fermented curds) and Imbuya (amaranthus leaves) that appear on canapés paired with fruity yet
herbal South African Sauvignon Blanc. Hlatikulu Road (off Mooi River-Grants Castle road), Mooi River, 033 263 2713, www.hartfordhouse.com
text: anna trapido, will edgcumbe; pictures: supplied
Where to shop in KwaZulu-Natal stores also have their own running club, sanctioned by Athletics South Africa, with a structured training programme for runners of all abilities. 2 Gordon Road, Windermere, Durban, 031 312 6486, 397 Che Guevara Road, Glenwood, Durban, 031 201 9914, www.durbanrunner.co.za
The Durban Runner
With two branches, The Durban Runner is the best place to go to in Surf City for specialist running shoes and gear, training advice and coaching. The
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Poobie Naidoo’s Sports Wholesalers
Poobie Naidoo’s is something of an institution, having been around for more than 25 years. The shop has
a large range of shoes, as well as a High Performance Assessment Centre staffed by running experts – they can assist you to find the right shoes for your feet, assess injuries, recommend training programmes and more. Boshoff Street, Pietermaritzburg, 033 345 392167, www.poobienaidoos.co.za
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Contact Alison
033 234 4666 alison@lythwood.com www.lythwood.com
KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
Calling all Conference and Event Planners
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KWAZULU-NATAL | GUIDE
Where to sleep in KwaZulu-Natal
KNOW YOUR QUARRY Gaynor Lawson steps into another world at Lythwood Lodge.
pictures: supplied
Duiker frolic on the lawn, playing peeka-boo behind ancient oaks as guests sip sundowners on the patio at Lythwood Lodge. The R103 arterial of the KZN Midlands winds through Lidgetton village just 8km away, but this feels like another world. Lythwood (originally ‘Lithwood’, from the Greek ‘lith’ meaning ‘stone’ because of the farm’s quarry), nestles in an amphitheatre formed by the Blesberg or ‘bald mountain’ and is bordered by the Lions River. This was once Voortrekker territory. Indigenous forest clusters up the slopes, and guests may walk or MTB through the trees. Birdlife and wildlife are abundant, living alongside farming activities. The manor house was built in the 1940s by Dutch builders, with finishing
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touches added by Italian prisoners of war, craftsmen chosen from the overcrowded camps of Pietermaritzburg. In addition to expert stonework, still seen today, the prisoners crafted magnificent chandeliers and other décor from old fencing standards. Lythwood specialises in conferences and weddings that take place in the spacious Khaya Centre, located alongside a chapel built from the original stables with views down the valley. Public areas such as the lounge, conference room and dining room recently had an almost R5-million upgrade. But this is not a mass-market destination. ‘Familiar without being casual’ is how GM Leon Rennison describes his warm relationship with guests, and nothing is too much trouble. Leon is proud of Lythwood’s cuisine, produced by a team headed up by exLondolozi chef Vusi Mkhwanazi, which can offer a plated three-course banquet for up to 300 people – a daunting task even for a far larger operation. While functions are Lythwood’s main trade, it’s also ideal for a Midlands escape. It’s a stone’s throw away from the bustling Midlands Meander, and the excellent golf courses at Bosch Hoek, Gowrie and Victoria Country Club. There’s also trout and bass fishing, and kids can roam safely throughout the hotel’s 470 hectares. It’s a great place to experience the Midlands’ winter: each of the 33 bedrooms has its own fireplace, as do the lounge, reception and dining areas. Just 30 minutes from Pietermaritzburg airport and an hour from King Shaka, Lythwood has it all: convenience, bulk capacity yet rural tranquillity. It’s the perfect way to experience the KZN Midlands. KZN Midlands, 033 234 4666, www.lythwood.com
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GARDEN ROUTE | GUIDE
What’s on in the Garden Route YOUR CAR’S NICE, NÊ? 11 May
Car show The Garden Route Motor Club is staging the Knysna Car Show, part of Knysna Speed Week, at Knysna High School. The show features classic sports cars, performance cars and veteran cars, as well as veteran, vintage and classic motorcycles. All proceeds go to charity. For more info, go to www.grmc.co.za and www.speedfestival.co.za. Please note: What do you call a man with a car on his head? Jack.
STRETCH THOSE MOSSELS 10 May
Half-marathon The Mossel Bay Half Marathon takes runners through the private residential areas of the Mossel Bay Golf Estate and Village-on-Sea, and around the point. It promises stunning scenery, as well as a few challenging climbs along the way. Pre-entries are available via www.enteronline.co.za, closing on 8 May, or you can enter on the day. Please note: Did you hear about the sauna that served seafood? Their specialty was steamed mussels.
TICKLED PINK 4 May
Festival The glitzy, gorgeous and glamorous will don their fairy wings and feather boas, and flutter down to Knysna at the end of April for the Pink Loerie Mardi Gras, the premier event on Knysna’s gay and lesbian calendar, and the only Mardi Gras festival in Africa. For more info, go to www.pinkloerie.co.za. Please note: The organisers are expected to auction off a specially designed set of lingerie, including the all-new Mardi Bra.
text: anthony sharpe, will edgcumbe; pictures: supplied
Where to shop in the Garden Route distance runners will find what they’re looking for here. 296 Cape Road, Port Elizabeth, 041 363 5499, www.brianbands.co.za
Triangle Sports Brian Bands Sports
Brian Bands Sports sells specialised sports gear and has a comprehensive range of road-running shoes. Both firsttime runners and experienced ultra-
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Triangle Sports is the official shop of Ironman South Africa, so you know they know what they’re about. Their shoe and running analysis will get you on the road comfortably, and they offer training programmes for all fitness levels.
161 Main Rd, Walmer, Port Elizabeth, 041 581 7041, www.trianglesports.co.za
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GARDEN ROUTE | GUIDE
Where to eat in the Garden Route TransKaroo
Nestled between river and railway tracks, TransKaroo bistro is deliciously relaxing. There are trees to shade the deck and chandeliers to add sparkle to the dining room. South African comfort-food classics are always the order of the day. Think venison pot pie, oxtail and an achingly wonderful, pack-up-your-belongings-andmove-to-Great-Brak signature lamb neck and mash. 1 Morrison Road (to Glentana), Great Brak, 044 620 4163
Winter sees venison casseroles and heaven-stamp mielies much in evidence. The chef’s husband, Rudolph, is an enthusiastic fisherman and diver, so chances are that the fish on your plate was swimming in the sea only hours before you ate it. Be warned, Rudolph is very chatty and responsible for front-of-house service – if you order the fish, he will tell you every detail of the whens, wheres and hows of its capture. Freesia Avenue, Wilderness, 044 877 0433
Serendipity
Chef Lizelle Stolze writes patriotic praise poems in her pots. This multi-awardwinning tiny, lakeside restaurant serves up Afrikaans classics with innovative and sophisticated international twists. Menus change daily, but expect to find the likes of ostrich carpaccio with naartjie jus, almond and saffron-infused bobotie canapés, and even a panna cotta with rooibos foam.
Café Z
Chef Geoffrey Murray is a dedicated eco-epicurean, and it shows at Cafe Z. Relaxed décor and friendly service abound. Many of the ingredients are free-range and/or organic. The chef’s farm-to-table commitment to local produce is much in evidence, without ever being preachy. The breakfast menu includes the likes of brioche French toast, American buttermilk pancakes with real maple syrup, and fennel-rich Sicilian sausages. Luscious lunches include free-range roast chicken and crushed potatoes with lemon thyme butter. Local is definitely lekker. Pezula Hotel, Lagoon Drive, Knysna, 044 302 3364
Where to sleep in the Garden Route text: anna trapido, anthony sharpe; pictures: supplied
BRAK AWAY FROM IT ALL Kick back at Tharina’s Guest House in Groot Brak.
Tucked away in the tiny town of Groot Brak (five minutes’ drive from TransKaroo), Tharina’s Guest House is a cosy, welcoming retreat. It has four two-sleeper en-suite bedrooms, each with a private entrance and patio.
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There’s also a communal TV lounge and kitchen, a covered patio with a braai, and a deck with a glorious view of the lagoon and beach – both just a short drive away. Tharina herself is just as welcoming as her guesthouse. Go on, pay her a visit. 36 Franklin Street, Great Brak River, 079 346 8683, www.tharinasguesthouse.com
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OLIVE AND VINE | TOP TIPPLE
Olive and vine They’re both small, round, pitted and delicious – but are grapes and olives a hit or a miss together? Ingrid Graham asks the tough (but tasty) questions.
kulula.com
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top tipple | olive and vine
What is your earliest memory of origin? Olive: My stock had the distinct honour of announcing the end of a deluge that gave humans a fresh start. Vini: Aha! But we were the first to be cultivated, celebrated and appreciated once the waters had dried up. When did you come to the Cape? Olive: Our parents told us we both arrived on the Dromedaris with Jan van Riebeeck. But as you know, it depends on who’s writing the history books. We’ve heard that wild species existed at the Cape long before.
What brings out the best in you? Olive: Once I’m processed, I’m best in my youth and don’t like exposure to the air. Please don’t give me a chill, but rather put me in a dark spot and, remember, I can be reused a number of times after heating. Vini: I really get juiced when you give me a gentle press. I’ll be whatever your mood dictates – Blanc, Rouge or in between. Spritz me up or soften and mellow me in a vat for a while. Unlike Olive, I do improve and mature with age. Olive, why do they call you extra virgin? Olive: That’s because I’m completely natural, unadulterated, with no additives. I’m not rancid, winey or musty. Because I’ve been cold-pressed and unrefined, I’ve retained my wonderful aromas, natural antioxidants and minerals.
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Vini: Extra virgin, huh? Depends on who’s writing that history book! Considering that the South African olive industry is in development, how do I know that I’m getting the real deal? Olive: The South African Olive Industry Association (SA Olive) has introduced a seal that will appear on olive products of participating members, confirming that the content is 100% South African. The year of harvest will be prominently displayed, indicating the freshness of the oil. The SA Olive Codes of Practice, which are based on international quality standards, must be adhered to, and the labelling must be true and transparent – if it states that the content is extra virgin, the producer verifies that the content is in fact extra virgin, and not virgin nor a refined olive oil.
So are you considered a match or a miss? Vini: We’re definitely a match! But to find out our best combinations, I suggest you visit the Olive Festival in the Riebeek Valley on 3 and 4 May. Olive: We may even be pickled or get ourselves stuck in a jam!
Contact
Kloovenburg Estate 022 448 1635, www.kloovenburg.com Het Vlock Casteel 022 488 1488, www.hetvlockcasteel.co.za The Riebeek Olive Boutique 022 448 1368, www.olive-boutique.co.za
pictures: supplied
What helps you to thrive (not just survive) in your environment? Olive: We both love the Mediterranean clime at the Cape and prefer not to have our feet constantly wet. Vini: Just say ‘well-drained soils’. Why must you always be so high-brow?
kulula.com
2014/04/16 3:09 PM
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2014/04/10 3:31 PM
GUIDE | WATCH
Watch this…
Anthony Sharpe asks for an extra box of popcorn with this month’s heady dose of escapism.
GODZILLA
Release date: 16 May
TRANSCENDENCE
GODZILLA
X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST
Deception in the skies
X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST
TRANSCENDENCE
Release date: 30 May
Release date: 23 May The beloved Japanese monster returns in this film directed by Gareth Edwards, who made the acclaimed Monsters. It looks way better than 1998’s shoddy effort. Anticipatometer: 5/5 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Giveaway
pictures: supplied
Win one of five Godzilla hampers! To enter, go to www.khulumaonline.co.za and hit the Competitions tab. Competition is open to all South African residents, excluding employees of Picasso Headline/Nu Metro/ Times Media Ltd/Comair Limited/kulula.com, and closes on 31 May.
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Ready for another superhero flick? If not, your fatigue is understandable – it seems as if every second blockbuster these days features some collection of Marvel or DC characters in modernised, less-garish outfits. The latest X-Men entry is a rather interesting one, featuring the actors from both the original franchise and X-Men: First Class, in a plot that sees the X-Men sending Wolverine into the past in a desperate effort to change history and prevent an event that spells doom for both humans and mutants. It sees the return of Bryan Singer, who directed the first two X-Men films (arguably the best of the canon), so hopes are high that X does, in this case, mark the spot. Anticipatometer: 4/5 ■ ■ ■ ■
Transcendence is the directorial debut of Oscarwinning cinematographer Wally Pfister, and tells the tale of Will Caster (Johnny Depp), an artificial intelligence researcher who strives to create a sentient machine that combines the collective intelligence of everything ever known with the full range of human emotion. When a group of extremists opposed to technological advancement target him, they inadvertently drive him closer to his goal of transcending his human form. Yes, it sounds a bit cheesy, but with a cast that includes Rebecca Hall, Paul Bettany, Cillian Murphy and Morgan Freeman, and the absurdly talented Mister Pfister in the directorial chair, this could be pretty darn good. Anticipatometer: 4/5 ■ ■ ■ ■
In August last year, we published an interview with debutant author Elana Sabharwal about her novel, The Delhi Deception. That month, producer and businessman Cassim Shariff was flying kulula.com when he picked up the magazine, read the interview and was intrigued. Sufficiently intrigued, it turns out, to contact Elana and offer her a movie deal for The Delhi Deception. The film is to be produced by Cassim along with Junaid Ahmed, under the umbrella of Aquaworx Limited. Elana actually conceived of the novel while browsing through novels in an airport bookstore, so perhaps there’s a bit of serendipity at play. Just another reason to fly with kulula.com!
kulula.com
2014/04/17 2:49 PM
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READ | GUIDE
library lounge Anthony Sharpe embraces the couch with this month’s literary picks.
The Business Book
pictures: supplied
The Strangler Vine MJ Carter Penguin/Fig Tree The Strangler Vine is the first novel from acclaimed non-fiction author MJ Carter. Her background in historical writing informs this tale set in India, 1837, about a junior officer in the East India Company’s army who is sent to find a key official, in the company of an enigmatic special inquiry agent, Jeremiah Blake. As he ventures deep into the dark heart of Company India, Avery has to fight for both his life and a truth he wishes he’d never learned. It’s an adventurous yarn in the spirit of Doyle and Kipling, with a pair of protagonists described as Holmes and Watson for the 1830s, and one that doesn’t shy away from the uglier aspects of life in India during this intriguing and bloody period in history.
kulula.com
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Crazy! Adventures of a Marine Biologist Patrick Garratt New Voices Publishing Patrick Garratt is the director of the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town. His autobiography is a tale of decades of fascination with the ocean, as well as an undaunted desire to follow one’s passion. Patrick’s career in marine biology started in Durban at the Oceanographic Research Institute, continued as curator of the Sea World Durban Aquarium, before leading him to the Two Oceans Aquarium. His life has been filled with adventures, including spending 22 hours adrift at sea after a boat he was in capsized, and an evolving quest to understand and protect the oceans, making for a unique and distinctly South African story.
Dorling Kindersley How do you create a successful brand? What makes a great business leader? Why do some firms fail while others prosper? In the fine tradition of DK guides, The Business Book is a big, colourful guide that aims to make big ideas easy and fun to understand. Its six chapters are divided into crossreferenced subsections (with titles like ‘No great manager or leader ever fell from heaven’ and ‘None of us is as smart as all of us’) filled with bite-size chunks of information, entrepreneur profiles and examples. The book unpicks brilliant business thinking with explanations that cut through the jargon, diagrams that untangle theories, and illustrations to play with your ideas about the global marketplace.
MAY 2014
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2014/04/16 6:19 PM
GUIDE | LISTEN
Thrills and chills Claire Martens takes a ride through the weirdly wonderful – and wonderfully weird.
Dreams of Deluge Independent Known as the supergroup of South African metal, the Drift have already debuted as the opening act for the illustrious Lamb of God. It doesn’t matter that they are barely teething as a band; their reputations have been enough to secure an endorsement from the local metal community – not as easy as one thinks. It’s fortunate then that Dreams of Deluge is as strong a debut as any musician could hope for, down to its exceptional artwork. While ambitious and extreme, it is also powerfully produced and well crafted. Interestingly, it’s also a concept album – one of three. Besides indicating the band members’ commitment to one another (a match made in metal heaven), it shows an approach that is knowledgeable and remarkable. A thrilling journey of death metal, Dreams of Deluge is privileged by their experience, even though it sounds strongly influenced by the international arena and loses some of its uniqueness because of that. It’s comforting to know that they’ll be back with more.
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Angelique Kidjo Eve Savoy/429 Record The Beninoise beauty is back with another pivotal, pioneering album. Eve is as fresh and crucial as the first woman on earth, and in many ways, Angelique Kidjo may as well be her. With a husky voice and intrinsic loveliness, Kidjo is as vital and entertaining in her lullabies as in her upbeat and vibrant songs. The spirit of Africa rests deep within this album which is at times celebratory, at times deeply sad. A dedicated activist for women’s rights and with an emphasis on caring for children, everything about Kidjo speaks of deep feeling and a heavenly essence. While Eve can be a little slow and uninspiring at times, on the few songs that are purely hers, she comes out to play – and play she does. She gives everything to her music and it shows in an album containing some of the best songs I have heard this year. Take some time to get to know her better.
Bombay Bicycle Club So Long, See You Tomorrow Island/Vagrant With their latest album, Bombay Bicycle Club have taken experimental to a new level, and it’s pretty far out. While some people are bound to fall deeply in love with the offbeat nature of So Long, See You Tomorrow, others will feel uncomfortable in its oddness. There is a definite large-frame-glasses-andvintage-waistcoat quality to the fourth album from these British indie rockers. However, it’s impossible not to find something to enjoy about it. Perhaps you wouldn’t want to have it in your family, but you would certainly like to invite it to dinner. While startling in its contrast to earlier work, this album is wholly and wonderfully created, finely detailed and exquisitely emotional, especially on ‘Eyes Off You’. Bombay Bicycle Club have used electronic influences to great effect, especially when they introduce captivating dance rhythms. They make you feel so happy, like you just want to get up and, well, ride a bike.
pictures: supplied
The Drift
kulula.com
2014/04/17 2:51 PM
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In Watch Dogs, players will be immersed in a living, breathing and fully connected recreation of Chicago. Players will assume the role of Aiden Pearce, a new type of vigilante who, with the help of his smartphone, will use his ability to hack into Chicago’s central operating system (CTOS) and control almost
Platforms: PC/Mac, PS3, PS4 & Xbox 360 Publisher: Ubisoft Genre: Action / Adventure DOWNLOAD THE DIGITAL EDITION DOWNLOADS.BTGAMES.CO.ZA
every element of the city. Aiden will be able to tap into the city’s omnipresent security cameras, download personal information to locate a target, control systems such as traffic lights or public transportation to stop a chase, and more. The city of Chicago is now the ultimate weapon.
P P
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Main prize includes a Watch Dogs™ hamper and a 500GB PS4™ console. Enter today on the BT Games website. Terms & Conditions apply.
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0861 - 4 - GAMES Terms & Conditions apply.
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Brin you
Trade in your old games for in-store credit!
Adul colle
Adult, 18 or older with ID required to assist with trade in games. PC games excluded.
2014/04/14 12:13 PM
Platforms: PC/Mac, PS3, PS4 & Xbox 360 Publisher: Bethesda Genre: Shooter
DOWNLOAD THE DIGITAL EDITION
COMPETITION!
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YOUR PRE-ORDER INCENTIVE RECEIVE A WOLFENSTEIN LANYARD*
STAND IN LINE TO WIN A SONY BRAVIA 46” FULL HD LED TV.
GAME COLLECTION, LIMITED STOCK. T’S & C’S APPLY. * UPON DOOM BETA IS ONLY AVAILABLE ON PC, XBOX ONE & PS4
VISIT WWW.BTGAMES.CO.ZA FOR INFO
TBC 16HPV
© 2014 ZeniMax Media Inc. Developed in association with MachineGames. MachineGames, Bethesda, Bethesda Softworks, ZeniMax and related logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of ZeniMax Media Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Wolfenstein, the W (stylised) and related logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of id Software LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks or trade names are the property of their respective owners. All Rights Reserved.
7 MAY
Includes God of War® & God of War® II Re-mastered in HD resolution Full PSN Trophies Support PlayStation Vita Functionality Platforms: PS Vita Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Genre: Action
TBC 18
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Bring in your old games* when you come to collect your pre-ordered game & we will give you an EXTRA 30% value on your trade. Adult, 18 or older with ID required to assist with trade in games. Release dates may change. Pre-orders must be collected within 7 days of release to qualify. *PC games excluded from trade-ins. Stocks are limited, offers are valid while stocks lasts.
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WWW.BTGAMES.CO.ZA Terms & Conditions apply.
2014/04/14 12:13 PM
Johannesburg’s Alternative Airport Lanseria International Airport is Gauteng’s only privately owned international Airport. Commercial airlines, charter companies, and many other service providers, call it home. It’s conveniently positioned north of Johannesburg, close to the business hub Sandton, as well as Pretoria, Midrand, Krugersdorp and surrounds.
World class airport facilities: • • • • • • •
Spacious airport building servicing Domestic and International flights Self service check in kiosks Ample parking and Fast Drop ‘n Go Facilities Quick baggage collection Daily domestic flights on offer between Johannesburg and Cape Town, and Johannesburg and Durban One-of-a-kind open air viewing deck that overlooks the runway Close proximity to hotels and B&B’s and many tourist attractions
world class facilities on offer, shouldn’t you be considering Lanseria International Airport?
With all these
Tel: 011 367 0300
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|
info@lanseria.co.za
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www.lanseria.co.za
2013/11/15 11:45 AM
GAMES | GUIDE
It’s war out there
The old way, the new … eliminate the enemy any way you can.
lease New re Wolfenstein: The New Order
text and images: supplied by BT Games
If the phrases ‘Mein leben!’ and ‘Halten sie!’ send you spinning into nostalgia, you’re from the ‘old school’ of gaming. If, on the other hand, you’re checking the front cover of this magazine to see if you accidentally picked up a German phrase guide, you’re from the ‘new school’. Regardless of which school your gaming history is from, the new Wolfenstein is sure to appeal, with its insane mix of old, new, and everything in-between. It’s not a reboot as such, but The New Order takes the already-loose narrative of the Wolfenstein series and twists it to suit its own needs. Those needs include awesome retro sci-fi settings, bizarre enemies and challenges, and a story that spans 14 years, from the end of World War II through to a dystopian and totally not-swinging 1960s in which the Nazis rule the world with an iron fist, robotic dogs and superhuman soldiers. Pre-order early to get a free lanyard upon collection of your game.
kulula.com
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2014/04/17 9:57 AM
GAMES | GUIDE
lease New re Watch_Dogs In Watch_Dogs you are Aiden Pearce, an extraordinarily talented hacker with the ability to access ctOS – a supercomputer that controls various functions of many cities around the United States. The game takes place in a digital recreation of Chicago, Illinois, which is ripe for open-world exploration. Aiden is able to hack into various aspects of the city to manipulate the environment and Chicago’s inhabitants. Slow pursuing enemies by messing with traffic lights to create multicar pile-ups, or overload nearby circuit boxes to disrupt fleeing targets. Do whatever it takes to stay one step ahead. Aiden’s also handy in a straight-up melee brawl or furious gun battle using one of the 30+ weapons featured in the game. While Aiden’s able to quickly traverse the city on foot, leaping across rooftops and scaling buildings to reach his destination, there’s also a wide range of vehicles to commandeer to get around Chicago. Once you’re done unravelling Aiden’s justice-driven storyline, there’s also an innovative multiplayer experience in which to absorb yourself. Kulula fans get added downloadable content when pre-ordering at BT Games!
re
ut The
’s O f What o t s e B
God of War Collection Did you somehow miss one of the PS2’s greatest games and its sequel? Okay, to be fair, we could be talking about a lot of games here, but right now we’re specifically referring to God of War and God of War II, which are now available on the PS Vita in one collection, so you can take your vendetta with the ancient Olympian gods (specifically Ares, the god of war) with you wherever you go. Both games fit onto a single PS Vita game cartridge, and feature fully remastered HD visuals, as well as PlayStation Trophy support for those who enjoy a good treasure hunt.
kulula.com
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Other than those changes, these two games are everything they were when they first released: fantastic, visceral, hardcore and absolutely enthralling for anyone who enjoys an excessive amount of hacking and slashing in their hackand-slash games. There will be blood.
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GADGETS | GUIDE
Does it run on batteries? James Matthew hits the road with this month’s crop of nifty training gadgets.
Nike+ Fuelband SE
iPod Shuffle 2GB
Arkon Neoprene Jogging Armband
Sennheiser MX 680 Sport Headphones
Find out just how lazy you are when you should be out training, or check how hard you’re pushing yourself with Nike’s nifty Fuel activity rating. The band uses motion tracking to give you an accurate sense of your energy output, hopefully prompting you to get on that treadmill. Available at bidorbuy.co.za for R2 950.
If you need to stay connected to the big bad world while you train, this armband is for you. Compatible with a number of devices, it secures comfortably to your bicep, allowing complete access to all of the functionality of the device in question. A neat addition is the small pouch for loose items, such as your ID or money. R319 at bidorbuy.co.za. R1 799.
The sound of feet slapping the pavement is dull and uninspiring. The sound of tribal drumming, however, is an instant supercharger. Give your legs a beat they can’t ignore and watch as your 5km simply whirrs by. The iPod Shuffle is tiny and easily clips onto your waistband, supplying all you need to run like the wind. Get it at dionwired.co.za for R800.
The perfect complement to the above. With these tiny Sennheisers, you get the brand’s legendary sound quality all wrapped up in a specially designed housing that can withstand the rigours of heavy training. Also, the usual weak link that is the cabling has been reinforced with a proprietary Kevlar wrapping, meaning you needn’t worry about ever losing the beat. R699 at Takealot.com.
Garmin Forerunner 70
Tracking your progress is an incredibly important aspect of staying motivated. Thankfully, there are a number of gadgets out there that make it ridiculously easy to keep records of your training sessions. One of the most comprehensive is the Garmin Forerunner. It supplies everything you need, out of the box, to track your time, heart rate and calorie count. Find it at kalahari.com for R1 799.
APPS pictures: supplied
RunKeeper
Take advantage of the fact that your mobile device knows exactly where you are at all times. With RunKeeper you can track your route, speed, distance covered and your time, without needing to punch anything in yourself. Setup is incredibly easy and then it just … works.
kulula.com
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Zombies, Run!
Incentive is everything in this life, and what better way to get you to run like a champion than putting a frenzied crowd of zombies at your heels? With Zombies, Run! you get exactly that, and is seems to work a charm, as 750 000 runners from around the world have joined in expressly to high-tail it out of danger.
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Dillan gets into his stride with ProVerb and Zola Budd-Pieterse.
erb talk V o r P d n Dillan a V reality T d n a o i d rap, ra butterfly a e k i l s t Zola floa stone a e k i l s and swim
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CHAT
Join the...
2014/04/16 7:35 PM
Proverbially speaking Rapper, fast-talker and all-round spiritual dude ProVerb has come a long way from the dusty streets of the Northern Cape. Dillan Oliphant feels the gift of the gab.
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kulula.com
2014/04/17 2:56 PM
pictures: craig jacobs, courtesy of M-Net
musician | chat
Dillan Oliphant: So ProVerb, you grew up in Kimberley? ProVerb: Yes. DO: What was that like? PV: I grew up in Galeshewe, which is number five as far as the areas go. Growing up in Kimberley, because you didn’t have anything to compare it to, it was wonderful, man. I was a principal’s laaitie – my grandmother was a principal – so I was a little bit spoilt in school and I was the youngest guy in Sub-A, so I had a brilliant childhood. DO: Cool. So when did you know you wanted to be a rapper? PV: I didn’t know. It was just a hobby and a habit, something to do with the ouens at break-time, and it just kind of runs away with you. It’s only when you look back that you realise you’ve made a career out of this thing. DO: So it wasn’t the plan? PV: No, never. My plan was to be a doctor or something, but I didn’t have the smarts for it. [Laughs] DO: Well, you gained something from it, then. PV: For sure. DO: So how many rappers were there in your town? PV: It was quite a popular thing in high school. We used to do competitions with other schools, and talent nights and battle of the bands. It was a big culture. I think the time and the era were very much Doc Martens and wearing your school pants down to here. You know that whole culture – we all had a little pretentious twang. DO: Cool. So which South African rapper inspired you? PV: My big brother was very much a hip-hop head. He once played me The Motherload, and for me, these were
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South African rappers on this cassette! I was like, yoh! DO: [Laughs] PV: Because then, being a rapper meant reciting someone else’s lyrics – you know, Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg, guys of that school. So when I heard Motherload, that’s when I heard guys like Ammo, Mischief, MetamorForces, and I thought, yeah, I must jump in. DO: Do you think it’s easier to make it in South Africa now than it was back then? PV: I think yes and no. Yes, because a lot of the doors have been opened and a lot of the battles have already been had. So guys can just submit their stuff now. Radio is a bit more accommodating to local hip-hop, and media is more aware of the culture. No, in that the game has grown so much that it’s difficult to stand out. What makes you different from anyone else doing it? So it’s a little harder to build a name, but it’s a little easier to penetrate the game if you can build that name. DO: Who currently are your favourite local and international rappers? PV: I’m digging guys like Manifest from Uganda. There’s another guy called Ruyonga, also from Uganda – from a flow and content point of view. Then from a punch-line point of view, guys like Mode 9 are doing it for me – he’s a Nigerian rapper. M.I is also my dude, but I dig him just for the tone and the delivery. Locally, I feel like guys are beasting it right now. muGz has always been one of my favourite rappers; he’s got lines for days, and I’m a bit upset that he doesn’t have an album out yet. But yeah, the culture’s grown tremendously. DO: So you’re quite a spiritual man. How do you balance your faith and the world?
PV: I do me; I don’t necessarily conform for the space. So I think in my content, the music and everything I do, there will always be elements of that spirituality, because that’s who I am. My content is clean, it’s positive and it’s uplifting, because that has a lot to do with who I am as a person. DO: So onto Idols. You’ve hosted it for, what, two seasons? PV: No, this is my fifth season! It’s my third as co-producer, but the fifth that I’m hosting. DO: Who did you think would win, but didn’t? PV: Not necessarily win, but there are contestants I thought would do better and didn’t, like Shekinah, three seasons ago – I really thought she had such a unique voice. Having said that, though, I respect the process, because it’s completely up to the public, the people who will ultimately buy and support this artist. DO: So you don’t think it’s about how many people you know? You think talent matters more in these competitions? PV: The thing is, that’s the nature of democracy. If you campaign and get more votes, it doesn’t mean you’re any less talented. It just says you also want to win that badly. So sure, if I win because I know more people than you and use that to my advantage, then better for me. DO: What other reality shows do you watch? PV: Not reality shows, necessarily, but I do consume a lot of TV. I’m a series kinda man. DO: Which series are you watching? PV: Sjoe, I’m addicted to The Fixer, The Dome, I enjoy the CSIs, but above all, believe it or not, I actually consume a lot of comedy.
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2014/04/11 3:42 PM
musician | chat
DO: Really? PV: But there aren’t a lot of comedy TV shows, except for The Funny Spot, but it looks like it’s all old material that they bought from somewhere. So I’d rather pull out my classics, like Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence. I dig Kevin Hart, but I think I enjoy him more as an actor. DO: You don’t think Kevin is a bit too much sometimes? PV: I get that line of humour, and I enjoy it, but for me you can’t beat the classics. In fact, sometimes they can’t even match the stuff they used to put out. DO: I think that’s why Eddie Murphy said he’s not doing stand-up comedy any more. PV: I don’t blame him. He set the bar too high! DO: Who’s your favourite South African comic? PV: You know something, there are guys I like for different reasons. For instance, guys like David Kau: I like that local element that he brings into his comedy. Then guys like David Kibuuka: he has a broader sense of awareness in his comedy. I find some a little heavy for me to take, because of the content and the language – you know who I’m talking about. DO: [Laughs] PV: I also think the global appeal that guys like Trevor Noah have brings a lot of value to the local comedy scene. I think you guys have really brought the industry to life. Even three, four years ago it
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CONNECT TO CAPE TOWN M
yCiTi welcomes visitors to the Mother City. Cape Town’s safe, reliable, convenient bus system, MyCiTi is the perfect way to access some of the most famous tourist and leisure destinations.
Explore the city’s historic heart – from Greenmarket Square to the Grand Parade, the Bo-Kaap, Castle and District 6 and the Company’s Garden. Unwind in the entertainment zones of Long and Kloof streets and Green Point. Visit the V&A Waterfront, Africa’s premier shopping and leisure destination. Cool down Green Point Urban Park
Waterfront Two Oceans Aquarium Breakwater
Somerset Granger Hospital Mouille Point
Granger Bay
Nobel Square
Robben Island Ferry
in sparkling waters at Camps Bay, the Sea Point Pavilion and Bloubergstrand. Kitesurf Big Bay or take a bike along the cycle paths. HOW TO START YOUR JOURNEY WITH MYCITI Get your myconnect card at the MyCiTi station outside the main Airport terminal. Ride in comfort to the city centre from just R41.80, and then pay as far as you go. Buses leave the Airport station every 30 minutes from 04:45 to 22:15, seven days a week.
Waterfront Silo
Aquarium Marina
Stadium
Woodstock N 1
Amsterdam
Foreshore
V&A Waterfront
Surrey
Kent
TABLE VIEW/MELKBOSSTRAND/ ATLANTIS/DUNOON/CENTURY CITY
Convention Centre
Civic Centre
Upper Salt River
SALT RIVER
The Old Biscuit Mill Neighbourgoods Market Lawley
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N Balfour 2 Upper Roodebloem
A01
Gallows Thibault Square Coronation East Upper Upper Hill The Castle Portswood Mountain Adderley of Good Hope A01 Lower Loop Coronation West Chester East Lower High Level N Chester West 2 Alfred Mid Loop Long Grand Parade AIRPORT Zonnebloem Skye Way 104 Three Anchor Old Fire Station Ben Nevis 105 Mid Long Strand The Hanover Bay Hill Darling Castle Street Greenmarket Square District Six Ravenscraig Church CPUT Longmarket Lower Sea Point Ellerslie Groote Library Buitenkant Kerk Dorp Rocklands St Bedes Leeuwen Kort Company’s Camberwell Roeland Garden Ilkley Upper Long Upper Loop Sea Point High Rhine District 6 Gardenia Bo-Kaap Promenade Museum Nazareth Museum Roodehek Firmount Stairs Lower Kloof St James Firmount Michaelis Albany Gardens 101 London Government Ave Deane Ludwig’s Wexford Garden Sea Point Annandale Upper Buitenkant The Glen Graaff’s SA National Art Gallery d Exner Pool Barkly tR or np Lower Reservoir Van Riebeeck ve Boat Bay 113 Da Herzlia Arthur’s Belle Ombre De Waal Park Highlands Sea Point Pavilion Irwinton Welgemeend 103 Sea Point De L’Hermite St Michael’s Rayden Pool Upper Orange Clarens Fresnaye Branksome Upper Kloof Cassel Montrose Kei App l e Rd Molteno Cassel Disandt Cotswold Kei Apple Tramway 107 Table Mountain Cableway Kloof CAMPS BAY HOUT BAY Queens Beach Brevity Lane 106 Koosani Lighthouse
Cape Town Stadium Wigtown
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For more info call the Transport Information Centre (toll-free 24/7) 0800 65 64 63. Visit www.myciti.org.za
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MUSICIAN | CHAT
I’m grateful that I’m able to talk and make a living out of it. That’s what I enjoy wasn’t as big as it is now. I think you guys are doing phenomenally. And you’re an award-winning comedian yourself, man. DO: Thanks. PV: What I like about your stuff is the one-liners. You need to be quick to keep up with that sort of humour, and I enjoy that. DO: Okay, onto my last question. PV: How? We were just getting into it! DO: [Laughs] Which proverb do you live by? PV: What proverb do I live by? It’s not so much a proverb as it is a challenge. I always ask myself, and others, three questions: What do you want? What are you gonna do to get it? What are you waiting for? That’s like a bumper sticker. [Laughs] That’s the thing I live by daily. DO: So you moved from Kimberley with big dreams, then. PV: You see, like you – except you’re funny – I’m a talker. I talk a lot. That’s all I do: talk, talk, talk, whether it’s on TV, radio, in performances, and I’ve made peace with the fact that I’m blessed with the gift of the gab. I don’t consider myself a smart dude, but I can talk. And I’m grateful that I’m able to talk and make a living out of it. That’s what I enjoy. DO: All right, thank you very much man. PV: Thank you!
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She’s famed as much for her speed as for the controversy that surrounded her career. Dillan Oliphant lays bare the barefoot running sensation, Zola Budd-Pieterse.
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athlete | chat
Dillan Oliphant: Hi Zola. Zola Budd-Pieterse: Hi, how are you? DO: Great thanks. So, first question, at what age did you move to Britain and what was it like living there? ZBP: I was 17 when I moved to Britain and it was very difficult, because the culture’s very different from what I knew in South Africa, and the weather’s horrible, so I really missed Bloemfontein. DO: Do you still miss South Africa? ZBP: Yeah, I do. If you were born or grew up in South Africa, it’s very difficult to get used to living in another country, because South Africa is a very beautiful place. I think it’s difficult to move away. DO: So what do you miss most about South Africa? ZBP: I think the food. South African food is really great, and so are the weather and the people. It’s strange, but you get used to our sense of humour and how we do things. I miss my family too. But mostly the food; I think everybody misses that when they’re overseas. DO: America is the home of the fat people, so I’m surprised you haven’t gained a little weight. ZBP: [Laughs] Obesity is a problem here, to be sure. DO: Besides running, what other talents do you possess? ZBP: Well, I swim like a rock and I’m a bad cook. I really don’t know what other talents I have! I love needlework. I think probably animals. I love animals, so working with them comes naturally to me. DO: How many pets do you have, then? ZBP: We’ve got three dogs and a lizard. DO: You’ve also got three kids, right? ZBP: That’s right. DO: Do you hope for them to be athletes one day?
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ZBP: My eldest daughter runs at school. My son started his first track season this year, and his twin sister just runs for fun. DO: Awesome. Tell me, what was it like breaking the world record at 17 years of age? ZBP: It felt good, because it felt like I had accomplished something. But it was probably the beginning of the end, in a way, because suddenly other people became interested in my running, and it almost felt as if it wasn’t me running any more; I had to run for other people. So it was bad in a way too. DO: How was it handling all that expectation and hope? ZBP: It was tough, because suddenly I had to run to fulfil other people’s goals and expectations, not my own. That puts a lot more pressure on you, because you already put a lot of pressure on yourself. DO: When you were a child, was becoming a runner one of your biggest dreams, or was it just something that you happened to be good at? ZBP: It was just something I could actually do. I was useless at tennis and any other sport, but running just came easily to me. It was just easy to do – to go out and run, and you didn’t need equipment or anything. It came naturally. DO: So you’ll be competing in the Comrades and Two Oceans this year? ZBP: Yes. DO: And how much preparation does that take? ZBP: I don’t train as much as some Comrades runners do. I train about 100, 120km per week. I just do the minimum training required to keep going. My preparation is going better than last year; I think I’m in much better shape, but I don’t consider myself as competing; I’m more of a participant.
Suddenly other people became interested in my running, and it almost felt as if it wasn’t me running any more DO: What sort of music do you listen to when you’re out training? ZBP: I don’t listen to music when I run. I like being out in nature, so I run in the woods and quiet places where there are no cars or people around. I love cello music, though, especially Bach – I love his cello sonatas. DO: Who is your favourite athlete? ZBP: John McEnroe, because I was still a youngster watching Wimbledon and I learned a few swearwords from him. DO: [Laughs] Words you can’t repeat, I’m sure. ZBP: [Laughs] DO: On the subject of words, are you a talker, or more of a listener? ZBP: I can talk a lot if it’s the right person listening, but I’m more of a listener. DO: Okay cool. Thank you so much for your time, Zola. ZBP: You’re welcome, Dillian. Have a lovely weekend.
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Getting to your destination has never been easier. Gautrain will help you plan your route, assist you with bus and shuttle services as well as assist you with calculating the time and cost of visiting your destination. Finding an event, place or attraction to attend or visit makes travelling a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Log onto www.gautrain.co.za for more information about places, attractions and events featured on this map.
Gauteng (Sesotho for "place of gold") is South Africa's smallest province (17 000 square kilometres), but also the wealthiest and most densely populated. It includes most of the towns strung east to west along the gold reef, from Springs in the far East Rand to Randfontein in the west. It runs down to the Vaal River in the South, and just beyond South Africa's capital, Pretoria, in the north. For more infomation visit Gauteng Tourism Authority www.gauteng.net
Montecasino Palazzo Circle Design Quarter Epsom Downs
Take a photo with our former president at Nelson Mandela Square.
Sandton Station Bus Routes S2: Gallo Manor S3: Rivonia S4: Randburg S5: Fourways
Rivonia Centre Rivonia Boulevard Liliesleaf Farm
Parc Nicol Nicolway Grosvenor Crossing
A valid Gold Card is required to board a Gautrain bus. These can be purchased at the stations and at selected retail outlets. Visit www.gautrain.co.za where you will be able to plan your trip accordingly.
Consumer Goods Council
Johannesburg
• For detailed and accurate bus route maps see station brochures or visit the Gautrain website. • Bus tickets cannot be purchased on the buses. • To find out where your bus is, please dial 010 223 1098.
Don’t forget to visit Joburg Zoo and the National Military Museum.
Park Station Bus Routes J1: Park Town J2: CBD
Coca Cola Park Stadium is situated in Johannesburg. Access to the stadium to watch your favourite event is easy from locations within within the confinements of the city
Nelson Mandela Bridge
SANDTON
S
Bidvest Wanderers Stadium
Atholl Oaklands
S TE
ROSEBANK Killarney Mall
Bus Routes RB5: Killarney RB2: Melrose RB3: Illovo RB4: Hyde Park
The undergound tunnel section from Park Station to Marlboro Portal is a total length of 15.5 kilometres.
PARK STATION
Newtown Cultural Precinct Standard Bank Art Gallery Reef Hotel
Innisfree Park
Melrose Protea Hotel Melrose Place Wanderers Arch Rosebank Station
M
Constitution Hill
First National Bank Boston Absa Bank
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Southern Sun
E UT
IN Hyde Hyde Park 4 M Square Illovo Thrupps Blvd Centre
The Mall of Rosebank
Morningside Shopping Centre
Sandton City
U
Joburg Theatre Complex
Sandton Racquets Club
Summer Place
Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital
Morning Glen Mall
River Club Park
Sandton Sports Club
SARS Bright Water Commons
4
Bryanston Centre
PRASA
Take the Metrorail from Park Station to FNB Stadium.
/METRO
RAIL
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PRA
Pretoria Bus Routes P3: Pretoria P4: PTA Unisa - Groenkloof
SA/
ME
TRO
National Zoo
Union Buildings Sheraton Hotel
State Theatre
RAI
L
City Hall
PRETORIA
The Union Buildings have lovely gardens. Check out the National Zoological Gardens.
Freedom Park
4M
INU
TES
North-South Commuter East-West Commuter Airport PRASA / Metrorail
UTES
9 MIN
Midrand Bus Routes M1: Randjespark M2: Noordwyk M3: Sunninghill
Kelvin Power is a 600MW coal-fired power plant located near Kempton Park that provides City Power with electricity.
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TE
TR OR A
A/
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MARLBORO
UTER
RHODESFIELD Emperors Palace RT
MBO OR TA
Woodbridge Square
Glen Balad Civic Centre Mall Arwyp Medical Centre
Protea Hotel OR Tambo
OMM
EST C
Ekurhuleni
Cavendish Glen
IL
Gallagher Convention Centre
U
IN
Joburg Water Tower
MIDRAND
AIRPO
OR Tambo International Airport, the busiest airport in Africa, forms the centre of a multi-nodal, multi- functional enterprise with major commercial development in Ekurhuleni and is known as South Africa’s Aerotropolis.
Rhodesfield Bus Routes RF1: Kempton Park RF2: Emperors Palace
OR TAMBO
TES
U 5 MIN N =1
TATIO ON S ANDT
TO S
The first two rail cars in the direction of the Airport (last two cars in the direction of Sandton) to the airport comprise special airport cars with fewer but wider and more luxurious seats and special areas for baggage storage near the doors.
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LEGEND
Southdowns College
Central Park African Bank
Eskom Megawatt Park
EAST/W
om n to m.
Checkers Lynnwood
Tilbury Business Park
Waterfall Lodge Hospital
6
Menlyn Park Shopping
Byles Bridge
PR AS
Linbro Business Park Shuttle Service
Curves Brooklyn
World CSIR Bank Xcelpark
Centurion Golf Estate Love More Eco Boulevard Centre
Protea Hotel
Unisa SBL Main Entrance
Sunninghill Hospital
University of Pretoria
Centurion Station
Eco Park Estate
Vodaworld
Chilli Lane Shopping Centre
Hatfield Bus Routes H1: Brooklyn H2: Lynnwood H3: Arcadia H5: Menlyn H6: Queenswood
HATFIELD
Little Company of Mary Hospital
Supersport Park
Centurion Bus Routes C1: Techno Park C2: Rooihuiskraal C3: Wierda Park C4: Southdowns
Download the Gautrain Apps, available on: • App Store • Google Play • App World
Loftus Rugby Stadium
UNISA
Protea Hotel Centurion Waterfront Lifestyle Centre CENTURION
Amberfield Estate
ETRORAIL
PRASA/M
Heart 7 MINUTES Hospital
8 MINUTES
Tshwane
OR Tambo Building Queenswood Christian Colllege
2881 | iww | cp
The Freedom Park & the Voortrekker Monument
SMS “Alert” to 32693 for service updates Disclaimer: Please note that some of the attractions indicated along the illustrated route map may not be along the route of the Gautrain services. Direct enquiries for more information about places and attractions may be obtained from Gauteng Tourism Authority. The illustrated route map is not to scale.
2014/04/16 9:39 AM
True
comrades
THE COMRADES MARATHON is one of the most beautiful races in the world, winding as it does through the Valley of 1 000 Hills. But the beauty of the surroundings belies the need many communities along the Comrades route face. Poverty, unemployment, orphaned and vulnerable children, and basic service delivery are just some of the challenges locals need to overcome. With people from all over the country and the world turning their attention to the world’s oldest and largest ultra-
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marathon, it’s a great chance for organisations doing valuable work on the ground in these communities to show us what they’re doing – and how we can help.
Lily of the Valley, Eston Lily of the Valley (LOV) was established in 1993 in response to the then-looming AIDS orphan crisis. At that time the focus was on giving palliative care to dying children. As the children were given proper care and attention, many of
them recovered from their AIDS-related illnesses, and over the past 19 years LOV has changed from a place that was preparing children for death to one that is preparing them for life. LOV provides a balanced working model and has a proven track record in directly tackling four of the biggest challenges facing South Africa today: orphaned and vulnerable children; health care; education and selfsustainability. The children’s village provides full-time residential care for
pictures: supplied
The spirit of the Comrades Marathon is what makes it such a special race. That spirit is alive and well on the route 365 days a year, as Will Edgcumbe discovers.
kulula.com
2014/04/17 4:21 PM
pictures: supplied
COMRADES OUTREACH | LOCAL HERO
Makaphutu Children’s Village, Botha’s Hill
e lag l i V n n’s e bee e r t v d hil who’ ce tha C u a n hut ildre n a pl en. p a i v h k Ma uses c hell e hea h k ho roug ks li th loo
a total of 168 children, and two Early Childhood Development centres care for, feed and educate children from the surrounding communities. LOV’s Lilyvale School now has grades R through to 5, where they provide a high standard of education to 65 children. LOV also has a top-class medical centre and a commercial farming venture, Valley Fresh, whose profits go towards making LOV more self-sustaining. Get involved: LOV runs a vibrant volunteer programme through which
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people can spend three months at the village assisting in the day-today running of the organisation. Not everyone has three free months at their disposal, however, so you could consider their Support-a-Child programme – LOV has a shortfall of R3500 per child per month, and this programme allows individuals or groups of people to sponsor a child. Alternatively, once-off donations are also greatly appreciated. Contact: 074 947 7992, www.lov.org.za
A sister organisation to LOV, Makaphutu Children’s Village (pictures left) is situated between Botha’s Hill and KwaNyuswa, housing 50 vulnerable children ranging from one to 19 years old. Makaphutu is a place filled with love. Its goal is to nurture orphaned and vulnerable children into wholeness, to give them hope, and to equip them to lead happy, healthy and fulfilled lives. It provides them with a loving, safe environment where they can heal and recover from the hurts and losses they have experienced, in the process giving them a good education, counselling and many life skills necessary to succeed. Makaphutu also seeks to make a positive impact on the surrounding community, which faces a number of economic and social challenges. It’s ideally suited to be a community hub for KwaNyuswa and Embo, forming a central venue for training and gathering, as well as a storehouse from which to reach out to those in crisis. It’s not an umbrella community development organisation, but instead partners with a number of NGOs, churches and community leaders, both to identify and efficiently distribute resources to those in crisis and to care for those in need.
WE’VE GOT YOUR BAKKIE The kids at Lily of the Valley can look forward to a bright future.
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SLV_kulula_sep13_HR.pdf
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2013/09/19
9:16 AM
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COMRADES OUTREACH | LOCAL HERO
quit o t e ake hav on’t job to m all d u m Yo day .As your ference onation ge a dif mitted d an chan com onth c life. ’s ym ever a child
HEALTHY BODIES, HEALTHY MINDS Harvesting spinach from I Care’s veggie garden.
Get involved: Makaphutu accepts day or residential volunteers, so whether you have a weekday afternoon to help with homework club, or five months free to get immersed in this unique community, you can get involved and make a difference. If you’re able to support them financially, Makaphutu welcomes onceoff donations and also has a ‘Sponsor a Child’ programme. A very cool way to help is to ‘pledge your birthday’. Basically, you can ask your friends and family to take the money they would have spent on presents for you and donate it to Makaphutu. That way you’re not the only one with many happy returns! Contact: 031 777 1239, www.makaphutu.org
Indigo Skate Camp A dusty village deep in the Valley of 1000 Hills is just about the last place one would expect to see a half-pipe, but at Isithumba skateboarding is
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thriving. Professional skateboarder Dallas Oberholzer established Indigo in 2001 in an attempt to expose rural and vulnerable youths to the joys of skateboarding and the sense of freedom it brings – freedom and the ability to rise above all odds, after all, is something not many rural youths feel. About 50 children from the village visit Indigo after school every day to practise their skateboarding skills, and the team at Indigo also takes the opportunity to teach life skills to the kids, as well as exposing them to books, computers and cameras, while keeping music, dance and storytelling alive in the hills. This positive environment, which also allows the kids to practise their English, is a safe place that empowers children who otherwise might feel powerless and gives them a sense of identity. Indigo also runs youth camps during school holidays for city children aged
nine to 18 years, bringing youths to a rural community and broadening their world view by exposing them to the Zulu culture, teaching them nature skills, and of course spending loads of time skating. Get involved: Indigo welcomes financial donations and runs a volunteer programme, accepting volunteers who want to stay for anything from a day to three months. You don’t have to be a skater to volunteer; the local children who attend take part in fine art, video technology, social media, music, dance and theatre, as well as improving their English, so volunteers with any of these skills are welcome. You can also assist with gardening, maintaining hiking and biking trails, or general admin. The children get excited and are more likely to attend Indigo’s programmes when volunteers are around, so see if you can’t get involved and bring some joy. Contact: 083 453 6385, www.indigoskatecamp.co.za
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LOCAL HERO | COMRADES OUTREACH
Ethembeni School for the Physically Disabled, Inchanga Ethembeni is a boarding school for 270 Zulu-speaking children between the ages of five to 18 living with cerebral palsy, visual impairment and other physical disabilities. With minimal government funding available, parents who can’t afford to pay school fees, and children who have highly specialised needs, Ethembeni relies heavily on the generosity of others to keep going. Some 100 staff members including educators, therapists, nursing staff, a psychologist and caregivers ensure that the children receive a holistic education and life skills, and that they develop self-esteem and mutual respect such that they truly believe they can take up their rightful place in adult society as contributing citizens.
Get involved: Ethembeni has an ‘Adopta-Child’ project – R7 500 will cover the school and accommodation fees for one child for a year. It also welcomes individual fundraising efforts. If you’re thinking of running the Comrades next year, why not get a bunch of people to sponsor you for every kilometre you complete and donate the money to the school? Contact 074 127 8069, www.ethembenischool.co.za
I Care, Durban Drive along the streets of any major city in South Africa and chances are you’ll see one or more street children. Driven from their homes by poverty or abuse, and trapped on the streets, they’re the most vulnerable members of our society. I Care is a Christian nonprofit organisation that seeks to transform the lives of street children in Durban and
HOLISTIC HELP Education is a key element of I Care’s rehabilitation programme.
Jo’burg by taking them in, educating them and transforming them into effective members of society. To date they’ve rehabilitated more than 400 street children, based on a successful model called the I Care Cycle. They reach out to street children, and begin the process of rebuilding and restoring them, work through their emotional problems and substance abuse, and house them safely within a family unit. They then provide these kids with tools and skills to integrate into society, offering skills training, assisting them in finding work, and monitoring them to ensure they don’t find their way back to the streets. I Care also educates the public about not giving money to street children – because it keeps them on the streets. Get involved: You can support I Care through once-off monetary donations or committing to a monthly sum, no matter how small. A good idea is to perhaps think about what you might be giving to street children now, and rather giving that money to I Care. If you come across a street child, it also helps to encourage them to go to an organisation like this. I Care also accepts any unwanted goods you might have, be they clothing or food, and it has a wish-list of important items, which can be found on the website. Alternatively, you can give of your time and skills by volunteering, be it running activities with the children, or offering general administrative or maintenance assistance. Contact: 031 572 6870, www.icare.co.za
Lend a helping foot
Chances are if you’re running the Comrades, you’re doing it in a pretty expensive pair of running shoes. Now imagine walking to school or the office barefoot every day. If you’ve got old pairs of trainers, school shoes or any sort, take them down to your local school or shelter – someone’s feet will thank you.
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Just north of the fast paced business world of Sandton lies the 260 bedroom Indaba Hotel, Spa & Conference Centre. It is a compelling blend of business-like efficiency and relaxed country atmosphere within close proximity to the International Airport making the Indaba perfect for groups and leisure travellers. The hotel features 24 multi-purpose conference venues ranging from executive boardrooms to large banquet venues seating up to 500 people. Boasting 2 world class restaurants and the renowned Mowana Spa, the Indaba Hotel is sure to meet your business and leisure requirements.
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2014/04/17 11:21 AM
Run for your life
There are marathons and ultramarathons ‌ and then there are extreme endurance challenges, which pit barmy contestants against harrowing conditions in deserts, mountains, jungles and arctic tundra. James Bainbridge faces his maker.
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extreme ultramarathons | TRAVEL
6633 Ultra, Canada, March The name of this frosty amble refers to the latitude coordinates of the Arctic Circle, which its well-wrapped contestants cross from Yukon Territory in northwest Canada. The 560km route follows the famous ice highway, formed by frozen sections of the Arctic Ocean and Mackenzie River delta. Yes, pocket-warmers are a good idea. Scenery en route includes snow-capped mountains, wind-warped forests, ice-blue gorges and miles of empty tundra – and that’s just on the ‘easy’ 190km route. Needless to say, you need to pack more than longjohns for the full, eight-day challenge, which only 11 people have ever completed. There are kit checks before kick-off, and contestants transport their survivalist essentials, normally by sled, between the checkpoints, which are up to 100km apart. One of the toughest challenges is the wind howling off the petrified wastes; those whipping down the so-called Hurricane Alley have blown over lorries and forced contestants to crawl. www.6633ultra.com
Marathon des Sables, Morocco, April
No time t contestan o enjoy the view: ts du Mont-B on the Ultra-Trail lan the 168km c must complete mount in 46 hou ain loop rs.
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This sandy challenge crosses more than 250km of inhospitable desert – a distance equivalent to five-and-a-half marathons. If a voice in your head is already croaking for a cold beer, just imagine lugging your personal demons, along with everything you need to survive, except water, for six days in 50°C heat. Add to that the mirageinducing Saharan landscape of arid pans, barren ridges and dunes rolling away to the horizon, tackled to a soundtrack of the lonely whistle of the wind through the sands.
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Steak and eggs
Davide Del Fante won the Investec Lion’s Head Challenge in March, completing the 21.5km race through Cape Town’s Atlantic seaboard and up the jagged peak in just over two hours. The 26-yearold building contractor, who runs 10-30km a day, says he follows a straightforward routine before and during races. Great news: eating is a big part of it. ‘I wake up super-early and eat food like eggs on toast and oats – you need to give yourself enough time before the race to digest a big breakfast. For longer races, I start eating lots of protein a few days before. Lots of people believe in carbo-loading, but it’s protein for me: steak, eggs, protein shakes. During the race, I stay hydrated and eat an energy bar every 45 minutes to an hour.’
The longest stage is more than 80km, and one of the greatest challenges is running on the fine sand, which soon becomes a trudge on those slippery grains. Despite these hardships, the world’s toughest foot race has a cult following for its endurance credentials and campfire camaraderie. Contestants share tents in a bivouac village, where the rumble of weary laughter warms the chilly desert night. www.marathondessables.co.uk
Jungle Ultra, Peru, May
pictures: pascal tournaire, aggelos venetsanos, franck oddoux, jacques marais, bruce viaene, cherie vale/newsport media,
The good news is this 230km dash, which drops more than 2 700m from the Andean cloud forest to the steamy heart of the Amazon rainforest, involves a lot of downhill. The bad news? Contestants climb the same altitude on the five-stage course, which also pits them against temperatures reaching 38°C, 100% humidity, clouds of hungry insects, junglecovered slopes and gushing tropical rivers – crossed by wading, zip-line or raft. The course takes in swathes of pristine jungle, where strange birdcalls and rustles in the undergrowth bombard the senses, and Amazonian villages appear between the trees. As well as watching out for snakes and hairy spiders, hardy contestants must carry their own
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CRAMPING MY STYLE A runner feels the strain on the 245km Spartathalon from Athens to Sparta.
supplies, including hammock, sleeping bag and food – the kit list recommends energy bars rather than foraging for grubs and mushrooms. www.beyondtheultimate.co.uk
Badwater 135, USA, July One of the world’s toughest races, this bad boy covers 217km of California’s appealingly named Death Valley, a cuddly stretch of dunes, mountains and salt pans in the Mojave Desert. It is one of the planet’s hottest places, and July is the sweatiest month here, with the mercury regularly punching its angry silver fist through the 46°C mark. In this huge natural convection oven, the course climbs almost 4 000m from Badwater Basin, the USA’s lowest point, to the slopes of Mt Whitney, one of its highest peaks. Still up for the challenge? The Badwater is a nonstop course, with a 48-hour time limit, and less than 100 nutcases attempt it each year. Pioneered by Al Arnold, who endured severe dehydration and trained in a sauna before completing the route, the Badwater has been rerouted this year while the National Park Service conducts a (sensible) safety assessment. www.badwater.com
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ACROSS THE LINE Once the queasiness has subsided, the sense of achievement and camaraderie is awesome.
AGAINST THE CLOCK Many races have a time limit, so contestants must start early and run through the night.
PUSHED TO THE EXTREMES Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (pictured here) and 6633 Ultra pit athletes against ice and snow, while the challenge in Marathon des Sables and Badwater 135 is desert heat.
Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, France, August Beginning in the French ski resort of Chamonix, this high-altitude romp takes in the Mont Blanc massif, crossing to Italy and Switzerland. The 168km loop around Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps at 4 810m, compresses the one-week Tour du Mont Blanc hike into two gnarly days. Regarded as one of Europe’s toughest foot races, it is also one of the continent’s most popular, with thousands of contestants braving the mountain conditions. However, with a 9 600km ascent and 46-hour time limit, fewer than half the entrants usually cross the finish line back in Chamonix.
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Participants need more than an appreciation of alpine scenery; the conditions of entry include ‘a real capacity for self-sufficiency in the mountains’. For lightweights, there are shorter routes such as the 101km course, which ascends a mere 6 100m – a walk in the park, really. ultratrailmb.com
Spartathlon, Greece, September Covering 245km from Athens to Sparta, the Spartathlon is less about tough terrain than a duel with Old Father Time. The race commemorates the long-distance runner Pheidippides of Greek antiquity, who, as legend has it, ran this route in two days before the Battle of Marathon
in 490BC. As well as explaining the origin of the word ‘marathon’, the story of speedy Pheidippides inspired a group of British military chaps to try the challenge themselves. And so the Spartathlon was born, scant consolation for poor Pheidippides, who died of exhaustion after running a further 40km to announce victory in the battle. Starting from the Acropolis and passing ruins including those of Corinth, the race requires contestants to reach all 75 control points within set times. The race also has an overall time limit of 36 hours, which necessitates donning a head torch and crossing a 1 200m mountain pass in the dead of night. www.spartathlon.gr
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TRAVEL | EXTREME ULTRAMARATHONS
Trail runs and gentler park runs take place across South Africa throughout the year
Local workouts
Nedbank Save the Rhino
You don’t have to journey to the Sahara or the Arctic to test your mettle. Trail runs and gentler park runs take place across South Africa throughout the year; check out www.trailrunning.co.za and www.parkrun.co.za to get a bead on what’s out there. Happening every Saturday morning in locations from Green Point Park to the Voortrekker Monument, park runs are a civilised 5km workout. Upcoming trail runs include:
Half the entrance fee goes towards the WWF rhino-conservation fund, and runners encounter members of the Big 5 on the 10km, 23km and 27km routes through Mabalingwe Nature Reserve near Bela-Bela. 14-15 June, Limpopo, www.trisport.co.za
FNB Platinum The 8km, 12km and 24km trails give one-day-only access to private estates in the Magaliesberg, with spectacular views of the Buffelspoort Valley. 25 May, North West, www.stillwatersports.com
Wacky Wine Tying in with the Robertson Valley’s raucous wine festival, day and night runs follow 6km and 16km routes across Arabella Wine Estate. 6-7 June, Western Cape, www.mountainrunner.co.za
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The Crazy Store 1000 Hills Challenge A scenic 10km meander around the Nagle Dam in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, with 20km and 35km routes also offered, along with food stalls and a family vibe. 26 July, KwaZulu-Natal, www.crazystore.co.za
IT’S WACKY, ALL RIGHT Not all races are that serious, as the Robertson Wacky Wine Trail Run demonstrates.
THE BIG WHAT? The Nedbank Save the Rhino Trail Run sees contestants dodging the Big Five.
Merrell Spring Night Run Strap on your headlamp for a 5km or 8km nocturnal zoom through Johannesburg’s Delta Park, and hang around afterwards for lucky draws and the like. 21 August, Gauteng, www.mountainrunner.co.za
WATER … WATER Tackle the unforgiving Magaliesberg bush on the FNB Platinum Trail Run.
kulula.com
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Recharge
Keith Bain leaves his running shoes in Durbs and heads for the hills to cool his heels.
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comrades recovery | TRAVEL
pictures: xxxxxx
Unplug h e country’s re. Among the m ost res getaways , Karkloo torative f Safari S urges utte pa rr the mome elaxation from nt you arr ive.
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ACT I: Succumbing ‘Ouch! Eina!’ ‘Sorry. Did I hurt you?’ ‘Oh, yes. It’s excruciating.’ ‘Sorry! I put less pressure, okay?’ ‘No, no, please don’t. It’s a good sore. Please carry on.’ I’m no fan of torture, but I’d pleaded with the petite Thai lady to indulge my high massage-pain threshold. Little did I know that extending from Natt’s teeny-tiny frame were arms culminating in hands of steel. And emanating from each of her dextrous fingers, an iron strength that, when applied to my aching muscles, causes every fibre in my body to pulsate and tingle with bursts of exhilarating pain. Just beyond the window, birdsong fills the air, warthogs snuffle in the grass, and although I may be hallucinating, I swear a nyala just looked up and winked at me. As I dangle somewhere between ecstasy and lucid dreaming, every care in the world simply melts away. Despite the temptation to remain sequestered in Karkloof’s spa, I’ve agreed to some level of sociability, and so coax myself into the back of an open-top 4X4 for a different kind of therapy, this time idly trailing rhino and zebra and giraffe through the 3 500ha game reserve. We’ve been told to look out for shyer specimens – caracal, serval, jackal – and that leopard is a possibility. But there’s no sense of a hurried chase, nor getting bumped around as the ranger frantically searches for the Big Five. Karkloof’s landscape is immense but, like some kind of Eden, animals seem to be everywhere. At times I swear rhino are actually following us around.
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WAX ON, WAX OFF Karkloof’s Thai massage experts also do their ironing on the terrace.
pictures: karkloof safari spa, cleopatra mountain farmhouse, cathedral peak hotel, kolesky/nikon/lexar
BOARDWALK EMPIRE Like a bridge over troubled water, the boardwalk through Karkloof’s enchanted forest is a good place to hide from titanium-fingered Thai women.
We end up in a jungly forest, where we follow a boardwalk built alongside a river. We loiter there a while, drinking in the soothing, faraway sounds, and then tuck into a picnic basket that our guide has thoughtfully packed for us. ‘Take your time,’ he tells us. ‘There’s no schedule.’ He’s being serious, of course, but obviously has no inkling that I am, in fact, in rather a great hurry to have Natt’s steely-strong fingers continue to iron out the remaining creases in my back.
ACT II: Sweating We’re melting, but we press on, our enthusiasm for the hike resounding through peak caps and layers of sunscreen. It’s barely mid-morning and the sun is threatening to incinerate us.
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LET US PRAY Apparently, Cathedral Peak is so named because its beauty has the power to turn even the most wicked among us to religion.
Up ahead, crag-crusted peaks thrust upwards like voluptuous claws, their magnificent silhouettes slightly dulled by a haze of dazzling heat and vapour turned to cloud. Like vigilant sentinels urging us on, these mountains possess the kind of relentless beauty that evidently turns reason on its head. It’s madness to be out here, but just when the temperature threatens to destroy us, there’s another crystal-clear rock pool, fed by gurgling streams and dancing waterfalls, into which to plunge. Eventually, we reach our goal. Spread out below us is an emeraldgreen wonderland, unfurled like some Tolkienesque fantasy: rolling grasssmothered foothills laced with pathways leading to high lookouts and caves decorated with scenes of nimble hunters rendered in vibrant shades of ochre.
It’s the kind of big, empty, unspoiled terrain that makes all the heat and sunstroke, aching legs and sweatdripping pores worthwhile. It’s at least nine hours to the top of Cathedral Peak and back, and we return to immense gardens and rolling lawns that blend effortlessly with the AfroAlpine vegetation. Our hotel, named for the mountain we’ve just hiked, is perfectly lost in time, like some childhood memory of a country vacation. Worn out and delirious with our achievement, we can do little but wilt on our little patio, staring back up at the peak we’ve just conquered, listening to monkeys scampering across the corrugated iron rooftops. And as the sun slinks away and the surrounding mountains are plunged into darkness, we realise that we’re no longer perspiring. We’re shivering.
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comrades recovery | TRAVEL
ACT III: Indulging ‘Blessed are the cheese makers,’ intones our host against a backdrop of frantically chorusing frogs serenading us as we sink pre-dinner drinks. Richard Poynton – part Santa Claus, part Hogwarts professor – is an awardwinning cookbook author, evidently with one foot in stand-up comedy. As a precursor to dinner, he entertains guests with his quirky, abbreviated history of the Kamberg, and then details his unapologetic love affair with full-cream, super-rich cooking. But when the frogs threaten to drown out his routine, he interrupts himself and sends his sidekick outside to shush them. ‘Dylan is a certified frog-whisperer,’ he reveals, suddenly sounding like David Attenborough. We giggle politely, expecting it to be another joke, but suddenly the frogs stop their croaking, and the head waiter returns looking triumphant. Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse has been around since the 1940s, Richard explains, when it started as a fishing retreat for his family – sugar barons seeking refuge from the Zululand heat. And they found it in this beautiful location at the foot of Mount Lebanon. Now Cleopatra is a tranquil hideaway where Richard fattens up guests before they retire to bedrooms exquisitely decorated by his wife, Mouse. Although there are fantastic hikes, horse-riding trails, and plenty of streams and lakes for fishing, the real reason for being here is to indulge. After a string of cleverly timed food jokes, Richard ushers us into the dining room, where our seven-course culinary adventure commences with mielie
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where there’s smoke Cleopatra Farmhouse’s lounge doubles as Richard Poynton’s comedy studio.
shroom for more? Be prepared to leave Cleopatra a few kilograms heavier than when you arrived.
just add snow Come winter, Cleopatra’s autumnal hues get a thick white coat.
Recharge like a pro
You’ve just pulled off a level of physical exertion that’s beyond the wildest imaginings of most human beings. So how about a few days of physical and spiritual recuperation? We asked iconic ultra-trail marathon champion Ryan Sandes what he does to recover after one of his seismically tough 160km mountain races: ‘After a really long, tough race, I take seven to 10 days off from running to recover mentally and physically. I get in some active recovery – a few easy hikes and mountain-bike rides. If I’ve travelled to race, I’ll usually spend time exploring the surrounding area, taking in the scenery and meeting the local people. Something I love about racing is that I get to see really interesting parts of the world, so I take advantage of the opportunity to explore. It’s important to eat loads of good food after a big race and, of course, test the local beers.’
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COMRADES RECOVERY | TRAVEL
Make contact FOR ULTRA–INDULGENT PAMPERING: Karkloof Safari Spa Hard to believe it’s a mere hour from Durban, this sanctuary is steeped in nature. With a bevy of therapists and extensive spa facilities, the stroke of genius is that you never have to book a session and are virtually guaranteed whatever treatment you want. Plus, every session is included in the cost of your stay, as is everything else, including games drives, the plushest accommodation, and meals tailored to any need, preference or dietary inclination. If you can afford it, it’s faultless. www.karkloofsafarispa.com
FOR RELENTLESS DINING: Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse WHOO BOY Those equestrian props are for decorative purposes only…
soup and culminates with duck – ‘hand-reared by a local farmer,’ explains Richard. Finally, we’re served berries in zabaglione, a decadent dessert where there’s been no sparing of butter or cream. ‘We don’t want to be accused of being a health farm,’ Richard laughs. By the time we roll back to our room, the frogs have started up again, but this time in competition with a lone duck, evidently elated that it wasn’t on the evening’s menu. Our cowboy-themed suite is outfitted with antique equestrian equipment – stirrups, horseshoes, a saddle – all handsomely pulled together in manly shades of brown and sepia. Plus a large sleigh bed to sleep off the feast; we are, after all, just a few hours away from breakfast … and in the morning, we’re expecting to find out what makes the cheesemakers so special.
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Besides feeling that you’re on the set of a cooking programme presented by a stand-up comedian, there’s plenty of magic happening at this enchanted hideaway in the Kamberg Valley, not too far from Giant’s Castle. Old farm buildings have been carefully restored and invigorated with themed, personal interiors exemplifying Mouse Poynton’s sophisticated take on bohemian quirkiness. In addition to installing vintage bathtubs and cleverly sourced antiques, she’s turned all kinds of discarded bits and pieces into useful, eye-catching décor. There’s an abundance of activities to work off Richard’s high-calorie meals, or you can simply lounge around and let your eyes and ears drink in the splendid surrounds. www.cleomountain.com
FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY: Cathedral Peak Hotel For families, this is among the best of the Drakensberg options: a large, sprawling hotel that’s remote and offers immediate access to the mountains. During school holidays it can get lively with children, although they have their own dining room, and staff lay on heaps of activities to keep them entertained, with a playground, jumping castle, heated paddling pool, trampoline, and even pony rides on offer. Meanwhile, parents can escape into the hills on one of at least 18 hikes of varying grades of difficulty, with tremendous birdlife, horse-riding, and mountain bikes also available. www.cathedralpeak.co.za
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BREAK AWAY FROM THE ORDINARY Casambo Exclusive Guest Lodge, a 4 star private and exclusive retreat, offering peace, tranquillity, and service excellence in luxurious fully contained self-catering and catered facilities for couples, families and the discerning business traveller. Ideally situated for anyone wanting to explore the Lowveld and its natural wonders. 115 @ Casambo is a five star venue with its style and distinction is the perfect venue for your anniversary, birthday celebration, company launches, weddings, fashion shows, end of year functions or any special occasion. Breath-taking during the day with it’s beautifully appointed gardens, the venue comes alive at night with state of the art sound and lighting, trendy VIP lounge, vibey cigar lounge, private bar and a large wooden deck to compliment the upmarket finishings.
“Luxury has found a new home at Casambo”
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urban walking | travel
Walk it off Want to keep fit and stay (relatively) sane? Try walking with a purpose, writes Nick Dall.
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urban walking | travel
pictures: nick dall, thinkstock
Every time you walk with a purpose, you’re doing all these good things to your health, while at the same time sparing the planet some CO2 emissions
Maybe you’re the kind of oke who’d never even contemplate walking the Comrades, let alone actually running the thing. And you know what? That’s okay. I’m sure not built for 89km of physical and mental torture, and for all I know, neither are you. But just because you’re not a sadomasochist, it doesn’t mean you can’t hit the tarmac. I pound the pavements every single day, but I do it in chinos and black slip-ons. Most South Africans enjoy a good walk. On weekdays we take Wagter for a quick lap of the local park or school fields (and look the other way while he does his business on the halfway line), while on weekends we take him to the nearest beach, forest or mine dump (depending on where you live). We know that walking is good for our bodies and even better for our minds, but we don’t seem to smaak that a walk doesn’t have to be crammed
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into the corners of our day: it could be part of our day. I’m talking about walking with a purpose. To the shops. To work. To the hairdresser. Whatever blows your hair back. Every time you walk with a purpose, you’re doing all these good things to your health, while at the same time sparing the planet some CO2 emissions. I’m not saying you should ditch your car – hell no, not in this country. But I am saying that it’s sometimes worth using some other form of transport to get from A to B.
Around the world in 80 paces I’ve always been fond of a good walk. I remember choosing to walk home from school sometimes, much to the bemusement (and relief) of mother dearest, but it was living abroad that opened my eyes to urban walking’s true potential.
The first place I tried it was Perugia, a hill town in Italy. All the ups and downs made it far from ideal as a training ground, but nevertheless, I was hooked. Then I moved to Bologna – flat, compact and blessed with magnificent architecture and wide pavements, it was an urban walker’s paradise. In winter it snowed, but still I eschewed the buses in favour of my daily trudge. I took it to another level in Mendoza, Argentina, calculating exact timings between my different workplaces, and never arriving more than a minute early or late. I will admit that La Paz, Bolivia, was something of a challenge. There were certain routes – straight up Andean precipices, for example – that called for taxis, but I did find a circuitous, but flat, route to work that conveniently passed my favourite pancake-andhot-beverage stall. Admittedly, this
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rather negated the health benefits of that particular amble, but if you were struggling to breathe at 4 000m altitude, you might feel you deserved a pancake too. Vietnam was even more of a mission: picking my way through roadside mechanics’ workshops, fetid snail restaurants and heated games of mahjong contested by octogenarians became tedious. In fact, I pretty much threw in the towel and restricted my walking to my own quiet, beachside neighbourhood.
No place like roam Now I am back home, though, and I’m rediscovering what a wonderful place Mzansi is for walking. Not convinced? Of course, there is a not-so-lekker side to urban walking, so let’s deal with all that stuff before we move on.
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Rain can be a problem (unless you live in Upington). You could get yourself a fancy rain suit, but it’d probably cost more than your monthly car repayments. Or an umbrella, but they’re useless in the wind. Or you could just accept that some days you’ll have to take the car. Obviously there are times when the weather changes unexpectedly (especially in iKapa) – that’s why I always carry a disposable raincoat and a fold-up umbrella in my bag. If you’re walking to work, shoes can be an issue. What’s good for your heel arches might not be quite as good for the company dress code. Luckily you have options, depending on your job. Some employers might accept smart black takkies, especially if you work in KZN, while others insist on something made out of dead cow. If you fall into the second category, hopefully you’ve got an office
of your own where you can perform the old switcheroo. You might also think that the dogs will be neglected if you get home exhausted from your daily commute. On the contrary: I’ve found that the more I walk, the more I want to walk. Basil and Ruby, my neurotic rescue braks, have never been happier. You can’t carry as much shopping if you’re on foot. If you’re a diehard, you could take a backpack and do some impromptu training for the Amatola Trail, although it might be better to bite the bullet and give in to the fact that the weekly grocery shopping is best transported in some sort of motor vehicle. You don’t want to become the neighbourhood weirdo. In this country, one always has to think of security. Obviously there are areas
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TRAVEL | URBAN WALKING
No traffic jams (not yet, at least), robots or flat tyres to worry about mean that you won’t even need to glance at your watch once along the way I wouldn’t walk through, but these are areas I’d also prefer not to drive through. The people I encounter on my walks are non-threatening: domestic workers plodding up from the station; mothers taking their kids to nursery school; elderly couples exercising even older schnauzers.
Swept off your feet Now that we’ve got those little niggles out of the way, let’s move on to the positives of urban walking. Punctuality is one. This may sound like complete bollocks, but bear with me. As long as you leave home on time, you’ll get to your destination on time. No traffic jams (not yet, at least), robots or flat tyres to worry about mean that you won’t even need to glance at your watch once along the way. You’ll become an expert at measuring distances in minutes, and will be the envy of your Mandy in accounts as you clock in with a minute to spare, day after day. Not having to park is another. When last did you arrive at a shopping centre, or
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an office park, and walk directly to your exact destination? Precisely. At the risk of sounding like L Ron Hubbard, this is about so much more than time-saving: it reduces stress levels and promotes harmony in the populace. At least, that’s what I think. You’ll see a lot more than you would from the car. I have witnessed owls perched on rooftops in the early-morning gloom, and just last week I was lucky enough to stare down a juvenile goshawk from only two feet away. The sights are not only natural: I would never have noticed the slogan emblazoned on the side of a metalworker’s bakkie had I not been walking: ‘THE BEST IN THE WELD.’ In our vast country, I think the single biggest obstacle to urban walking is distance. I limit myself to a 5km radius, but even that’s a bit excessive, I think. Most people wouldn’t want to walk much more than 3km. There are ways around this problem, though. You could get off the train a couple of stations
early (my boet in Joburg catches the Gautrain to Sandton and walks from there, so no e-tolls for him!), or you could even park your car in a nice, quiet parking lot a few kays from the office. When I worked in the CBD, I used to park up near the Mount Nelson Hotel and walk to work through the Company Gardens. Soon I was on first-name terms with all the peanut vendors and even the odd squirrel. But it’s not only the daily commute that can be turned into a stroll. You could walk to somewhere a bit out of the way to buy your lunchtime samoosa, or you could use a local dentist or pet shop or bank, or – for goodness sake – you could walk down to the corner café to get bread, milk and fags every second day. Give it a bash, and soon you’ll be thanking me. Or at least your doctor, your psychologist and your medical aid will be. Who knows? Maybe you’ll even be shopping for Poly Shorts before the year is out.
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A common
shoal
On June 1, 18 000 runners lace up for Comrades madness. That’s a lot of suffering, sweat and strong-willed endurance, but it’s a drop in the ocean compared with the sardine shoals gathering along our eastern seaboard for the annual sardine run. Pursued by mobs of ravenous marine predators, theirs is a race where the finish line is survival. Keith Bain dives in on the action.
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sardine run | BEHIND THE SCENES
Sardine s the annua hoals during l grow as lo migration can ng as 15k 4km wide m and .
Voluptuous clouds hang grey and threatening above choppy seas. The sun is hiding. Frigid winds pump in nasty gusts. And aboard our lolloping rubber duck, eyes widen with each bumpy wave. Fidgety, impatient fingers toggle straps on masks and snorkels. Pulses quicken. Instead of screams of terror, we’re letting out cries of joy. ‘Woo-hoo! Yi-haaaa!’ We’re in luck. Although still some distance off, the first obvious signs are visible through the morning gloom. Hundreds of Cape gannets gathered in circling pockets. Like winged
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kamikaze assault squadrons, they dive-bomb, leaving little watery explosions as they disappear beneath the surface. It’s like a miniature armageddon, but beautiful and slightly comical. Soon we see the cause. A dark, swirling underwater shadow, big as a gathering storm and very much alive. Sardinops ocellatus – possibly millions of them in a heavy, pulsing mass, blackening the water like an inky bruise. A few moments later, through goggles, we watch those same gannets bulleting below, their beak-first dives resounding
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Dive in
pictures: chris fallows/apexpredators.com, keith bain
Huddled together in their millions, they’re hypnotically beautiful – a living artwork through the aquatic soundscape like tiny gunshots. They may be designed for the sky, but they’re virtually flying under water, quite capably chasing after their prey, hauling them topside. The sardines and gannets aren’t alone, though. Rather, what we’re witnessing is an underwater spectacle of operatic proportions. It’s a riot of marine life swishing and sashaying in every direction. A frenzy of tailfins, glistening scales, and trails of bubbles left in the wake of looming bodies gliding and surging every which way.
That’s how we shoal Genetically wired to congregate when threatened, the panicked sardines instinctively amass. A lone sardine is an easy target, and so they barrel together, transforming themselves into a
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swarming buffet. As dull and uninspiring as the sight of a single sardine might be, when they’re huddled together in their millions, they’re hypnotically beautiful – a living artwork. Like a shimmering, hyperactive mosaic, they perform choreographed ballet, their silvery skin and scales glimmering in the refracted sunlight, becoming a gigantic dancing wave, barrelling, twirling, spiralling as they spontaneously respond to the ongoing assault advances of countless predators. And emanating from it all is an alien symphony of clicks and high-pitched squeals, like the relentless, eerie static of a Japanese horror movie, only there’s something innately friendly about the merry whirr and buzz from the pursuant dolphins, even when they’re in sardine round-up mode.
While diving and snorkelling are typically about taking in placid underwater scenes, sardine-run dive trips are more about getting close to an underwater feeding frenzy involving multiple marine species. As with any natural phenomenon, there is no guarantee of an encounter. The shoals may be vast, but the ocean is similarly boundless. Consequently, most sardine-run dive trips happen over a number of days in hopes that divers will get to witness the bait-ball phenomenon at least once. While dolphins, copper sharks and gannets are probably the most common species encountered, it’s possible to see many other varieties, including seals and penguins, dusky and Zambezi sharks, humpback and pilot whales, and even – on rare occasions – orcas. Dives are reasonably shallow and often best done snorkelling, so it’s not essential to be scuba-qualified. Some of the best launches happen on the Wild Coast, so even when there’s not much happening in the water, there’s a marvellous coastline to observe. Several diving companies offer multi-day sardine-run expeditions, including, African Dive Adventures (www.afridive.com), Apex Predators (www.apexpredators. com) and Umkomaas Lodge Dive Charters (www.sardinerunafrica.com), which launches from Port St Johns. Be warned that the sardine run is never a certainty. Every few years, without explanation, the fish simply don’t migrate.
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SARDINE RUN | BEHIND THE SCENES
This bait ball becomes a swirling smorgasbord on which all kinds of marauding marine predators scrum down Well worth the bait The dolphins, in fact, are the ones in charge of this considerable action. Like a precise military exercise, they’ve teamed up into a sizable super-pod – hundreds, maybe thousands of them – to get this bundle of sardines where it is. As our duck’s captain has explained, what we’re seeing is a ‘bait ball’, a tiny part of the sardine shoal. With machine-like precision, perhaps assisted by groups of sharks, the dolphins band together and carve off a manageable section of the primary shoal moving deeper below. They then herd them upwards, corralling them into this tight mass, which the dolphins constantly work to keep at around 15m from the surface. This bait ball becomes a swirling smorgasbord on which all kinds of marauding marine predators scrum down, embarking on a relentless orgy of feasting.
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As we hang there, staring in awe, it’s like looking in on another world that’s oblivious to our presence. They’re so intent on picking off sardines that, apart from occasional sideways glances from the perky dolphins, none of these creatures pays us the slightest bit of attention. There’s time to notice the varying table manners; sharks – mostly copper, but a few dusky, blacktip and spinners – tend to hover almost lethargically at the fringes, and then jolt, suddenly, into the sardine bundle, scooping up jaw-loads at a time. The dolphins, meanwhile, are whizzing through the water, changing direction in the blink of an eye, keeping the sardines packed together and tucking in at the same time. All the while, the water is being pelted from above by those inbound gannets, along with other sea birds, all crisscrossing the melee in strings of bubbles, wings and webbed feet.
Chasing giants This mesmerising drama continues ceaselessly for countless minutes, maybe hours. Then, when there’s scarcely a sardine left, the show stops almost instantaneously. Like lightning, the dolphins disappear, off on a new mission, followed by the dawdling sharks. After all that fury and clatter and high-energy chase, the cacophony is suddenly replaced by silence. The water seems empty, utterly devoid of life. Birds, no longer squawking, rest on the surface, enjoying the afterglow of this freak feast. We’re in the duck for a few moments, exchanging looks of dazzled disbelief. ‘Wow!’ is about as much as we can muster. Then there’s crackle on the radio. A coded exchange. ‘You folks ready for more?’ says the captain. It’s scarcely even a question.
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BEHIND THE SCENES | SARDINE RUN
Lifejackets back on, smiles plastered across gobsmacked faces, we hunker down as the motor coughs back to life. There’s more action several kilometres away. Soon, more dive-bombing gannets, feathery meteorites plummeting from the sky. We dive overboard for an unexpected surprise: Bryde’s whales, hovering passively amid the frothing chaos. Their sheer magnitude is overwhelming; like fantastical giants, they hover languidly at the fringes of the fray, every so often stealthily slipping in to scoop up truckloads of fish, nibbling politely from the periphery. We get close. Really close. I could reach out and touch one of these gentle leviathans, feeling the pulse as they idly flick their tails, gliding by like velvety submarines. And in this moment, as I’m made to feel so tiny, the entire universe suddenly makes sense.
IN THE BAG Many hands make light work of a massive haul of sardines on Durban’s beachfront.
THE CRATE ESCAPE This is a lot more fun than fishing, isn’t it?
Worth their weight in, well, fish The annual sardine run – perhaps the greatest simultaneous movement of animals on the planet, if going by sheer numbers – happens usually between May and July off South Africa’s eastern shore, predominantly along the coastline of the former Transkei and southern KwaZulu-Natal. Billions of the fish move in concentrated shoals that may measure as much as 15km in length, over 3km wide, and 40m deep. Shoals migrate eastward when a band of cooler water forms between the shore and the Agulhas Current. This abundance of easy prey attracts an obvious line-up of opportunistic predators, so much so that KZN’s shark nets are removed and bathing discouraged during the peak of the sardine run. It’s not known entirely what prompts this migration, since conditions aren’t favourable for very long, and the ensuing predation eradicates considerable numbers. Those that survive eventually disappear into deeper waters sometime after they reach Durban, their ultimate fate a subject for speculation. Although small, sardines and their relatives are caught in such abundance that they comprise almost one quarter of the total global fish catch by mass. Most of South Africa’s sardines dwell in the cooler, more nutrient-rich waters around the Western Cape, where about 200 000 tonnes are caught annually, mostly by fleets of purse seiners operating at night. By contrast, KZN’s warm waters yield only a few hundred tonnes, making the sardine run a time of economic plenty. Anglers flock to beaches, and commercial fishermen end up with sagging, heavily laden nets pulled from the shore by netting teams, a scene on Durban’s beaches that often attracts an audience, with people crowding around to watch and buy the freshest possible fish. Since the sardines often end up very close to the beach, though, it’s sometimes possible to wade in and simply scoop up a catch using a basket or hand net.
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CARs | ACTION
He drove/she drove
pictures: supplied
David Taylor and Liv Dunham find something for both the boys and the girls in the Ford EcoSport 1.0 Titanium. HE SAYS: The Ford EcoSport is one of those cars that polarises opinion, thanks to its quirky looks. Think of it as a Ford Fiesta … on stilts. This is not as bad as it sounds, as crossovers are all the rage right now. Crossovers offer the best of both worlds, as you have a raised driving position, giving you better visibility, better ground clearance to take on potholes and more interior space. The thing is built in India, and you can only imagine what the road conditions are like there… SHE SAYS: I’m ripping it up at a blistering 50km/h around the West Coast National Park. The BF has calmed
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Venomous speed
That famous piece of petrolhead heaven in Germany called the Nürburgring has been sold. The Capricorn Group will be converting the complex into a world-class car technology cluster. Interestingly, the group also takes control of the Formula One track and will be hosting the German Grand Prix every second year, as it shares the event with the Hockenheim circuit.
The Hennessey Venom GT recently hit a ridiculous top speed of 270.4mp/h (432.6km/h), overthrowing the record of the Bugatti Veyron. To celebrate the record-breaking run, the car maker has built three World’s Fastest Edition models. They’re sold out – incredible, considering the R10.5-million price tag for one of these 1 244hp monsters.
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down since I’ve spotted (and pulled over to snap pictures of) two tortoises, and now believes me when I promise not to flatten any. They’re kind of cute, but also odd-looking, and much smaller and faster than I thought they’d be. Which is kind of how I feel about the Ford EcoSport. HE SAYS: She’s right. It has a tiny 1.0-litre engine, but don’t worry, as the amazingly engineered motor has enough grunt to make it feel like a 1.8-litre. The bonus of this is the terrific fuel consumption. It has all the gadgets you’d ever need, too. The EcoSport looks a bit girly, but I don’t care, as it’s a good offering for the price.
SHE SAYS: Forget the looks. I find the car incredibly easy to drive, though that probably has a lot to do with the Fiesta that’s enjoying its day off back home. I’ve managed not to grind or stall anything; I’ve also managed to get beach sand everywhere, including in one of the many cup-holders inside the driver’s door. HE SAYS: The perfect test of a crossover would be to take it on a road trip, so I brought the GF to the park. There’s a combination of different terrain and the EcoSport hasn’t broken a sweat (even if I have). That said, all-wheel drive would have been a nice-to-have to go even further off the beaten track. SHE SAYS: Brought me on a road trip? Ha! Anyway, sandy, tarred, gravel roads, it’s all the same to the EcoSport – when you put your foot down on the accelerator, it takes off like the eland that cross the road ahead of us as we leave the park. I have to hold that foot back a bit on the way back to Cape Town, because of the average-speed traps. Thankfully the car has cruise control … although the BF only shares that particular nugget with me after I’ve developed cramp in my right foot. If I ever trade in my Fiesta, it’ll probably be for an ST and not this SUV – but I hope someone has an EcoSport I can drive the next time I want to chase wildlife!
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ACTION | CARS
Five cool
emergency vehicles These super-fast chasers would be hard to miss, even without their lights flashing and sirens blaring.
se Becaulove we allist al
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Supercar company Lamborghini has donated one of its Gallardo vehicles to the Italian Police Force. This particular version comes with police branding, blue lights, as well as typical police equipment: radios, cameras and medical gear such as a defibrillator. The car routinely patrols the Lazio highway, so behave yourself if you’re in the area.
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BMW M4 COUPE MOTOGP SAFETY CAR
BMW has been involved with motorbike racing for some time and supplies a new safety car each year. This year will see the brand-new BMW M4 coupé debut at the season opener in Qatar. The car has been decorated in typical BMW racing colours and features a crazy array of emergency lights.
BRABUS B63S DUBAI POLICE
From the land of bling and ostentation comes the Dubai police-registered Brabus B63S. Loosely based on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV, this monster 4x4 just screams loud and over the top. With its 515kW motor, the B63s 4x4 is faster than most sports cars – and can travel on any terrain.
TECHART PORSCHE 911 CARRERA S POLICE
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Porsches are very fast. Tuned Porsches are even faster, which makes them prime candidates to be police interceptors. But this TechArt-tuned 911 is ridiculously quick. It’s perfect for hunting down criminals on Germany’s de-restricted Autobahn, with a top speed of well over 300km/h.
MERCEDES-BENZ SLS AMG F1 SAFETY CAR
What vehicle do you use to bring almost two dozen screaming Formula One cars to order? The SLS AMG, of course. Mercedes-Benz deployed this classiclooking supercar back in 2012 and the vehicle has been doing duty ever since. Amazingly, it’s the same as its road-going counterpart, except for emergency lights and branding.
text david taylor; pictures: supplied
the fiver
LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO LP560-4 POLIZIA
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Keep the Comrades
un-carbonated Keep the Comrades
un-carbonated picture: istock
pictures: shutterstock
Dale Hes tracks your carbon footprint as you make your way across the country.
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carbon footprint | go green
Tr really avel tip: If yo u’re greenh conscious a o b u o s ut you e gas em Comra r curry ades, avoid a issions for th spicy D e t all co day on u s the roats before yourban greenh d – methan r big ouse ga e s too! is a
Emission omissions
Using your legs to get from point A to point B is surely the best way to reduce your carbon footprint, but if you’re heading off to the Comrades, you’d laugh your head off if someone asked you to run to Pietermaritzburg too – 90km is strenuous enough, thank you. This year, 18 000 people will take on the world’s largest ultra-marathon, so there’s bound to be thousands and thousands of kilometres travelled as runners and their entourages fly, drive, rumble and hitch a ride to Pietermaritzburg from all corners. Transportation accounts for 23% of global carbon-dioxide emissions, but there are a few ways for the savvy South African traveller to measure, reduce and offset his or her carbon footprint.
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‘It’s not rocket science trying to work out your individual carbon emissions,’ says Alex Hetherington, co-founder of corporate carbon management company Carbon Calculated. There are a number of simple-to-use carbon-footprint calculators that will give you a general view of your carbon emissions. Type in a few straightforward figures related to mode of transport and distance travelled, and voilà, you have a value, measured in the complicatedsounding tCO2e, which reflects the carbon footprint of your journey. ‘tCO2e stands for tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, and is a snug system for converting emissions from all six greenhouse gases into one uniform value,’ explains Alex. According to the Climate Action Programme calculator, if you’re driving a medium-sized petrol car from Johannesburg to Durban, for instance, your trip there and back will account for 0.21 tCO2e.
Public domain Alex says that if you’re going to be travelling by car, you should carpool, but he punts public transport as the best mode of travel for keeping carbon emissions to a minimum. ‘Buses, trains and planes are heavier on fuel than cars,’ he says. ‘However, the carbon emissions are split among dozens of people.’
Alex singles out aeroplanes as being particularly carbon-intensive, but explains that sacrificing a little legroom by flying economy class can be several times less damaging than flying business or first class. ‘Economy is clearly lower-carbon,' he says, 'because it maximises the number of passengers that each flight can carry.'
Green is clean
So now you may be squirming guiltily in your seat, imagining the plane you’re sitting in leaving a trail of invisible destruction in its wake, but it’s not just the colour of kulula’s distinctive aircraft that is green. In 2008, kulula became the first South African airline to tackle the prickly issue of carbon emissions, with its Project Green initiative raising R1-million for the NGO Food and Trees for Africa. The planes in kulula’s shiny new Boeing 737-800 fleet are not only roomier, faster and slicker, but also feature the lowest carbon emissions per seat of any aircraft in their class. Jonti Salt, Check Captain for kulula’s parent company Comair, says the 737-800 fleet emits 24.4-million fewer kilograms of CO2 per year than the old 737-400 fleet, and saves 7.5-million kg of fuel. ‘If the 737-800 fleet used 60-million kg of fuel annually, this would equate to a distance travelled of 21.6-million km and a total CO2 emission of 178.2-million kg,’ he explains. ‘If the same flights were operated by the 737-400 fleet, the fuel used would have been 67.5 million kg, and the total emission would have been 202.6-million kg.’ With all its tree-planting, fundraising and frugal flying machines, kulula.com has truly earned its status as the greenest airline in South Africa.
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money matters | STUFF
Get your company up and running
Starting your own business is big leap of faith and you need to begin with the basics. Katherine Graham cuts through the red tape. When starting out, the first step is to register your company. The good news is that as of May 2011, when the new Companies Act 2008 kicked in, the requirements for running a private company have been simplified a lot.
that are available on a website such as domainsonly.com.
Bedding down formalities
What’s in a name? ‘The normal process in starting a company is first to reserve a name,’ explains Noel Raymond Frost, a legal advisor at Frost Financial Managers. You can do this by registering on the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) website (www.cipc.co.za). Search for a company name you like, and secure as many as three
names. There’s a small fee involved (R50-R75 per name) and it takes only three days. If you wait for your forms to be processed, which can take up to eight weeks, the names may already be taken. Once your company name is registered, search for domain names
The forms you need to download and complete are the Notice of Incorporation and the Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI). Both of these documents need to be delivered by hand or posted. The MOI sets out the rights and responsibilities of shareholders, directors and others within the company. This will cost R100-R125 if you use the standard MOI. If it’s anything more complicated, it’s wise to use the services of a reputable corporate lawyer, likely to cost upwards of R20 000.
picture: thinkstock
Starting an online business
Jonathan Stewart, owner of tackletart.co.za started Tackletart in December 2010, working full-time from April 2013. His business does an average turnover of R100 000 per month. How did you get the idea to start your business? I’m mad keen on fishing and it’s a very expensive sport. While looking for a way to get cheaper tackle, I thought of buying for the carp-fishing community in Cape Town by going direct to the manufacturers to get the items at cost price. I got lucky: after calling a list of potential suppliers, they gave me an account, allowing me to buy. I imported about R20 000 worth of tackle. How difficult was it? It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I worked 14 to 16-hour weekdays and 10-hour weekends for just over two years. I would start work at 4am, have breakfast at 7am, get dressed and be at my day job by 8am. I would work all day and then go back after-hours to my business. What are the advantages of having an online business? E-commerce is comparatively quick and cheap. Perhaps the best thing is that it allows you to test your idea or product on the market. Once your business is up and running, have a look at search-engine optimisation. Google AdWords is the best advertising money you will ever spend.
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HEALTH | STUFF
Off to the
races The Comrades Marathon is just around the corner, so Annie Brookstone has rounded up all the tips you need to get you to the finish line – or, you know, around the block…
picture: thinkstock
If the shoe fits If you’re hunting for the right running shoe, get off on the right foot. The right size should allow for a thumbnail’s length of extra space at the toe (trust us, your toenails will thank you). Try on shoes at the end of the day, as feet tend to swell slightly over the course of the day. The heel should fit snugly, but not feel tight. Figure out their function. Hitting the road to train for a marathon? Light and
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flexible road-running shoes are made to support each footfall on hard surfaces. Channelling your inner Bigfoot and heading for the hills? Trail-running shoes are beefed up for better traction and stability. Your running style isn’t just about wearing the trendiest new kicks. The way your foot moves as you run gives you clues about the type of support you need. Haul your smelliest, mostworn pair of running shoes out of your
wardrobe and check the wear pattern on the soles. Wear central to the ball of the foot and a little over the heel? You have a neutral stride. More wear on the inside edge? You may be an overpronator, meaning your foot has an exaggerated inward roll with each stride, usually more common in those with low arches or flat feet. An outer edge that takes a beating indicates supination, an outward rolling of the foot.
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STUFF | HEALTH
Neutral: Look for stability shoes – also a good bet for mild overpronation. Overpronation: The main feature you’re looking for in a shoe is motion control. These shoes are often straighter and may have a firmer heel. Supination: Cushioning is your friend, as you want maximum shock absorption.
Red The colour to wear for a race-day advantage. In a study of the effect of red clothing on athletes, researchers at the University of Durham found that, in opponents of equal skill and fitness, the crimson-clad competitor was more likely to win. The colour has long been associated with dominance and power.
Three days That’s how long the average man could run – nonstop – at 24km/h (which is roughly twice as fast as most men’s average speed of 10-12km/h) on the energy in his fat stores alone. And you wonder why that 20-minute jog every weekend isn’t shifting your boep?
26 The number of bones in each foot.
Think before you drink It’s common knowledge that dehydration on race day can be risky, but drinking too much – and we’re talking about water here – can also put a damper on your performance. Not only does drinking more than you need simply to satisfy your thirst mean a greater likelihood of unplanned
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Research has found that people who exercise regularly are more confident in their work-home life balance and are less likely to be stressed at work
pit stops, but drinking too much water puts athletes at risk of water intoxication, which is a dangerous disturbance of brain function caused by an electrolyte imbalance in the body (think of the electrolytes as overly diluted Oros and you kinda get the idea). What do the pros say? Stop drinking at least 45 minutes before the gun goes off and, during the race, drink according to your thirst levels. Sports drinks can be used to supplement your carbs and electrolyte levels.
Just beet it There’s a magic potion to give you a boost come race day – and it’s not one that’ll get you stripped of your medal either. Beetroot is packed with dietary nitrates that help blood vessels to dilate, meaning improved blood flow to your muscles during exercise. Studies have
shown that drinking 500ml of beetroot juice two to three hours before running can enhance performance.
Start with a yawn Ever noticed how whenever you watch the Olympics, the cameras always seem to catch pro athletes yawning before they compete? Well, it’s not that they’re bored or bratty – it may actually serve a purpose. ‘Through the benefits of cerebral cooling, yawning may provide an increase in attention and focus immediately prior to races,’ says Andrew Gallup, a researcher in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Princeton University. In other words, a cool brain means a cool race, so yawn on…
Marathon shmarathon… If running 56km at a time for gloating rights and some seriously stiff muscles the next day isn’t your thing, here’s another reason to get active: a research paper has found that people who exercise regularly are more confident in their work-home life balance and are less likely to be stressed at work. ‘We think exercise is a way to psychologically detach from work – you’re not there physically and you’re not thinking about it either – and, furthermore, it can help us to feel good about ourselves,’ said Russell Clayton, assistant professor of management at Saint Leo University and lead author on the paper. Take it a step further and get your partner and children involved for an even better balance. How about regular family weekend hikes or afternoon jogs together?
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STUFF | COLUMN
A is for … artificial Two of my dearest friends – The Twins – are compulsive fad-hags. The moment they get wind of a new dietary trend, they fall for it hook, line and sinker. Because, naturally, there’s such overwhelming scientific evidence that these lifestyle modifications work. Cut out this, that and the other, and in almost no time at all you’ll be healthier, slimmer, brighter, fresher, smarter, sexier … whatever. I love observing this game of theirs, but I’m seldom surprised when, after two weeks, the latest die-hard scheme to revolutionise their eating habits has been summarily forgotten, only to be usurped by another. Last year’s big Twin trend was a game of on-again, off-again veganism that had me in stitches every time I’d ask one of them to hold my ice cream while I ran to the bathroom. It was, of course, a treacherous scheme to see if they’d fold; invariably, these part-time vegans couldn’t resist first licking, and then finishing off, a cone stuffed with deliciously real dairy ice cream. Neither can I, of course. What’s important, however, is the ‘real’ part. That’s what I’ve missed increasingly in all these years while society’s grown increasingly obsessed with diets and slimming – and (my ultimate gripe) low fat. I recall, 20 years ago, when margarine was big in kitchens. Everyone turned a blind eye to the fact that it tasted kinda
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like plastic. Only when some lab nerd finally showed the world that, under a microscope, it also looked quite a bit like plastic, did we make the sensible return to real butter. But what continues to boggle my mind is our obsession with fat-free, 2%, ‘lite’, and all manner of dietrelated variants that are regularly stripped of their naturally great flavour. Last year, scientists finally synthesised meat-like protein in a laboratory – and so we finally arrive at the sci-fi horror moment when humans dine on a smorgasbord of artificial supplements and chemically created substitutes for the real thing. The idealist’s alternative would be to exist in a world where we all farm a patch of land, milk our own free-roaming cows fed on a diet of delicious grass, with happy Karoo sheep wandering into our kitchens bleating the refrain, ‘Please eat me, I taste fantastic.’ We’re probably too far gone to fix our absolute reliance on supermarket
convenience. But perhaps we owe it to ourselves to pay labels more heed, reminding ourselves that ‘artificial’ means ‘added sugar’. While I live by the catchphrase ‘Sugar is from the devil’, I sure as hell know that artificial sweeteners, colours or flavours are the real enemy. After all, doesn’t the E in E261 stand for ‘evil’?
illustration: roberto millan
Keith Bain goes in search of full-fat yoghurt, and finds a world that’s lite on flavour and lite on sense.
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More holiday, less us. At Europcar, we do our best to get you on the road as quickly as possible. It starts with our easy 3-step booking process on our website where you can choose from a wide selection of cars and products. Add our knowledgeable staff who are there to assist you day and night and you get a rental experience that is both fast and efficient. It’s our way of ensuring that you get the most out of your holiday.
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