Ll58 complete

LOWVELD LIVING ISSUE 58 | SPRING 2016 | R30.00 (incl VAT)

THE GREAT OUTDOORS EDITION | A ROOM WITH A VIEW MUST-VISIT LOWVELD DAMS | GARDENING TIPS AND DÉCOR THE ART OF CRAFT | A KRUGER ADVENTURE | BOOKS FOR COOKS

ed’s letter

“IN WINTER, I PLOT AND PLAN. IN SPRING, I MOVE” HENRY ROLLINS

E

ntertaining outdoors is a Iuxury not many countries can boast about, but South Africa’s climate makes al fresco dining simply a must. This edition we fling our arms open and embrace the change of seasons. Now is the time to address your outside space and garden and dress it up for spring. Whether it is small or big, green or concrete, overgrown or manicured, get outdoors.

There is something quite delicious about long weekends basking in the sun with good food, good wine and good company; in fact my favourite kind of day.

The type where the kids play on the grass and laugh under the sprinklers; ants unobtrusively invade the picnic blanket; and we grown-ups while away the daylight hours lazily catching up. Even as the hour passes and the shadows tentatively appear, one can still find that last ray of sunlight to sit under and enjoy its lingering touch on the cheek. And once the Sun has stretched its arms to full length in a sleepy yawn and finally gone to bed and the Sky has thrown on its indigo coat, you linger longer because the air is still warm and the gentle breeze is laced with the faint scent of honeysuckle and jasmine. Simply perfect – simply spring.

Enjoy,

“BE LIKE THE” – FLOWER – TURN YOUR FACE TO THE “SUN” KAHLIL GIBRAN

EDITOR Nicky Manson, nicky@lowveldlivingmagazine.com | EDITORIAL Mignon van Zyl, Nicky Manson, Bev Tucker, Dianne Tipping-Woods, Sally Roper ADVERTISING Audrey Ford audrey@lowveldlivingmagazine.com, Lizette Steenberg lizette @lowveldlivingmagazine.com PROOF READING EditPro | PHOTOGRAPHY Africa Photographic Services DISTRIBUTION GMF Consulting | EDITORIAL info@lowveldlivingmagazine.com PRINTER Paarl Media KZN | DESIGN The Creative Union | CONTACT US 013 751 3330, 013 750 0049 COVER PHOTO Hertex – Toucan Bouquet © Copyright 2016 Lowveld Living. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express written permission of Lowveld Living Magazine or the publisher. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. All editorial information contained herein is, and remains, the property of Lowveld Living Magazine and/or its writers and/or photographers. Lowveld Living Magazine, its publisher, staff and contractors accept no liability for loss or damage in any form whatsoever arising from information, submissions or opinions expressed in this publication. Public comment and submissions are published at the sole discretion of Lowveld Living Magazine. E&OE.

WEYLANDTS/937/E/SA

TASTEMAKERS

B O L D C O F F E E TA B L E R 18 9 95

WEYLANDTS.CO.ZA

Brooklyn, Durbanville, Fourways, Green Point, Knysna, Kramerville, Nelspruit, Umhlanga Price subject to change

Zandspruit

Bush & Aero Estate OWN YOUR DREAM HOME AND LIVE IN A WILD PLACE YOU THOUGHT NO LONGER EXISTED...

Hoedspruit • Limpopo

Redefining Bushveld Living!

• Estate size 1 000 hectares • Only 200 Full Title stands • House styles are Pavilion, Farmhouse and Thatch • An untouched wilderness area of 650ha for game viewing • Breathtaking mountain views • Sundowner locations and waterholes within the wilderness area • Hard surfaced internal roads • 1 000m paved, private runway • Magnificent trees along the 4km riverfront • Bird hide, view points and walking trails • Zandspruit Equestrian Centre for all levels of equestrian adventures • Luxury Bush Camp for home owners to enjoy • Close to all retailers, doctors, restaurants and recreational facilities of Hoedspruit (2 km)

MOVE TO A BETTER PLACE E info@zandspruit.co.za W www.zandspruit.co.za

Die Ryshuis, R 527, Hoedspruit T + 27 15 793 1192

contents play

A round up of recipe books, our guide to Lowveld dams and straight shooting with Loyiso Gola

eat

Eat and drink but make sure it’s craft

23

Spring is here and we are celebrating with all things pretty plus check out our comprehensive outdoor section

35

We walk on the wild side in the Kruger and a baobab photo essay

57

style go

7

CELEBRATING 21YEARS OF LIVE, WORK, SHOP & PLAY in Mbombela City

live spaces

Gerard Sekoto’s success after death and Anne Innis Dagg triumphs in life

75

Celebrating the great outdoors

85

Riverside Park offers a complete, self-contained lifestyle with endless entertainment, dining and shopping opportunities. tel: 013 757 0415 info@riversidepark.co.za www.riversidepark.co.za riversideparkprecinct

MOZAMBIQUE

VICTORIA FALLS

Fly

Direct

MAUN

SINGATA PAMUSHANA

WINDHOEK

TIMBAVATI PRIVATE GAME RESERVE

To your lodge

MADIKWE OR TAMBO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

SABI SANDS PRIVATE GAME RESERVE KIMIKIA

PHINDA

WEST COAST

Federal Airlines Bases Major Destinations CAPE TOWN

Shuttle Routes PLETTENBERG BAY

Chartered Routes

We’re for the journey For over 20 years, Federal Airlines has provided a daily, direct shuttle service to exclusive game reserves throughout South Africa. Our premier shuttle service operates daily from Johannesburg into the Sabi Sands, Kruger National Park, Manyaleti, Timbavati, Thornybush, Madikwe and Phinda Private Game Reserves. We also offer shuttle flights into and out of the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport.

Experience the romance of flight with Federal Airlines direct flight service connecting you to the heart of the African bush. ddf

Flights can be booked through your travel agent or through one of our partner lodges.

shuttle@fedair.com | charters@fedair.com | +27 11 395 9000 | www.fedair.com

play [cookbooks to stock up on, must-visit dams & giggling with Loyiso]

food

reviews This edition we go on a foodie extravaganza

Words Nicky Manson Photos Baking with Jackie Cameron by Myburgh du Plessis, The Cookie Jar by Nigel Deary, Fun Foods

by Melody Deas, all Penguin Random House SA Bravo! Food From SA Stars Of The Stage: This is a must read for any South African theatre buff or fan.

Divided into the four seasons, some of our country’s top performers, directors and designers, put forward their favourite recipes. You’ll recognise many of these award-winning stars and each tells a little story about their dish, accompanied by stage pics.

Casper de Vries shares his Casper Neanderthal chicken; Athol Fugard and his Karoo rock soup; Sandra Prinsloo’s mushroom minestrone; Marc Lottering’s chicken pasta with mushrooms and pesto, and Shaleen Surtie-Richards’ pineapple cheesecake. Even Defending the Caveman’s Tim Plewman is here (a recent visitor to the Lowveld) and his venison potjie. R395, Human & Rousseau.

More Allergen Free Recipes For The Whole Family by Sylvie Hurford, photography by Warren Heath: This cookbook is such a visual delight thanks to its bright and colourful layout and quirky pics that it has become one of my best ‘mum’ birthday pressies. It certainly makes cooking look fun while also helping to manage and avoid food allergies.

Written for her kids, Sylvie has included homegrown favourites like butternut soup, homemade chips and cottage pie and then adds her own twist such as the dish ‘mush’ – pretty much yummy veg all mixed together with a dollop of olive oil. You will also find interesting recipes for dhal on rice, rye and potato bread and fruit sushi. R275, Human & Rousseau.

Mariana’s Country Kitchen: Food Through The Seasons by Mariana Esterhuizen, photography by Stephen Inggs: Mariana is a cook and gardener and owns awardwinning deli and bistro Marianas in Stanford. She cooks by season and allows her garden to prescribe what she makes and so the cookbook is

presented in seasons too. You will find waterblommetjies with garlic and lemon mayonnaise and chilled strawberry soup in spring. Summer boasts nectarine jelly with baked plums alongside duck breast salad with litchis and kiwi fruit. In autumn, recipes of tomato and ginger jam share pages with red pepper and macadamia nut sauce. And lastly, winter will tempt with Cavolo Nero soup and slow roasted pork neck with sage and cider. R350, Human & Rousseau.

food More Easy Party Treats For Children

by Janette Mocke, photography by Matthys van Lill: This is a delightful book of treats for children’s parties.

With lovely illustrations, they are simple to make (even I made the biscuit train with carriages filled with Smarties). Each creation will certainly produce a chorus of wows at the table, from chocolate dipped marshmallows and animal finger biscuits to mini sheep cakes and monster ice cream cones. R200, Penguin Random House.

The Baking Book by Your Family Magazine introduces a host of easyto-make savoury and sweet, and proudly South African recipes for your next tea party. Start simply with an apple and raspberry crumble or rainbow éclairs and move onto an onion and Camembert tart and a crème caramel. There is also a whole section on baking with less sugar.

R275, Human & Rousseau.

Gino’s Islands In The Sun by Gino d’Acampo: The book was published to accompany the original UK TV series and includes over a hundred recipes from Sardinia and Sicily. It’s visually vivid and enticing and offers insight into these islands, their ingredients and dishes. Think scallop Carpaccio with flatbread and baked rigatoni with spicy meatballs from Sardinia as well as salt cod stew from Sicily. Mama mia!

R495, Jonathan Ball Publishers.

Chatting to Janette How did a love for party treats begin? I think I was born loving this.

From as way back as I can remember I have loved creating treats with sweets and biscuits. What was the first party treat you created? A party cone. Biggest baking challenge to date? Fudge. I just can’t get it perfect. I come close but never perfect. Biggest baking fail to date?

Meringue. What’s your favourite treat to create? Anything with butterflies, flowers and glitter. Love it!

What’s your most used ingredient?

Chocolate. What’s the biggest fallacy about baking? That baking needs to be difficult or complicated.

No FIFTY EIGHT |

9

food

 Fun foods: Healthy Meals for Kids

by Sam Scarborough: This book is essentially about making cooking fun and more importantly, making cooking with your kids fun. An assortment of simple, some healthy, some indulgent, but all creative, recipes. Imagine lettuce salad wraps that look like folded napkins with the cucumber rind being the napkin holder. Funny face salads or the hungry caterpillar made out of carrots and cucumber. Delicious yogurt ice lollies, hard boiled egg boats and Mr Mouse baked potatos, they all make an appearance and will inspire all moms (and kids) at meal times. Happy creating. R170, Penguin Random House.

10

| LOWVELD LIVING

The Cookie Jar by Lisa Clarke: Lisa is a baking enthusiast and this is an ode to all things delicious. Filled with helpful baking tips, prep times and cooking times, conversions and more, there are over 50 pages of cookie and biscuit recipes. From peanut centred chocolate cookies, Rocky Road bars and banana whole-wheat rusks to black pepper Parmesan biscuits, olive cheese sables and maple bacon shortbread. A lovely collection of healthy, fancy, sweet and savoury, you will not be able to keep your hands off this cookie jar. R200, Penguin Random House. Available from September.

The Supper Club by Phillippa Chefitz: Food writer Phillippa began a supper club with a group of friends, which has now spawned a book. They get together once a season for supper and take turns planning and choosing recipes. Each couple – there are four – submits a menu, researched from cookbooks, the Internet, etc. to come up with a four-course menu of dishes that they would love to cook. They all vote and Phillippa ensures the menu is interesting and well balanced with a nibble, a starter, a main and a dessert.

On each occasion the venue changes as they take it in turns to host. Dishes from the book that have inspired us include tofu wraps, flat roast duck and beetroot, and a mocha semifreddo dessert. These feasts are the inspiration for the book and will in turn inspire more family and friend gatherings with superb food being the focus. R300, Penguin Random House.

Chatting to Phillippa Is there ever conflict, negotiation, compromise? Our method works well, avoiding conflict. If there is a tie, perhaps, then we negotiate. Are the meals and ingredients seasonal? Yes, very much so. Lighter and brighter for spring and summer, more serious for autumn and winter.

What has been your favourite starter, main course and dessert to date? One of my favourite meals is a shaved fennel, Parmesan and rocket salad to start, crispy flat-roast duck and beetroot, and pistachio brittle and mint tea to finish. What are your favourite ingredients to work with?

Fresh greens, fresh herbs and fresh vegetables. What ingredients are over rated? Balsamic vinegar. The best balsamic vinegar is treasured and used sparingly. Do you pair wine with the meal? Each couple brings with the wine to match the dish they have made. It’s best to consult a wine merchant at a speciality wine shop. Most memorable South African meal at a restaurant? Kobus van der Merwe’s tasting menu in Paternoster. A favourite chef and inspiration? I love David Tanis’ cookbooks. Favourite type of cuisine to cook and eat? It depends on the season, the occasion, the mood. I’m so curious about food and love to try different recipes. But most of all, I love to use good ingredients and cook them simply. Biggest foodie blunder? I’m not perfect, but right now I can’t think of anything. I’ve probably repressed it. A good way to handle a bad experience.

ubscribe & win

Western Cape wine getaway valued at R5000

SIGN UP TO THE LL EXPERIENCE AND THE LATEST COPY WILL BE DELIVERED TO YOU.

For only R204.84, you will receive a year’s subscription of six editions of Lowveld Living Magazine.

Subscribe in the months of August and September 2016 and you stand the chance to win a stay at Endless Vineyards Lodge on the Wildekrans Wine Estate on a bed and breakfast basis. This includes a Wildekrans MCC, fruit and cheese welcome platter on arrival; dinner for two at Forage restaurant with a bottle of Estate wine and a Wildekrans gift hamper.

Wildekrans Wine Estate and Endless Vineyards Lodge is just an hour away from Cape Town city centre. This beautiful 1000 hectare estate, surrounded by three mountain ranges, is extensively planted to vineyards, plum and pear orchards, olives, limes, proteas, walnuts, canola and wheat. Apart from its award-winning wines available for tasting, luxurious cottage accommodation, great food and dining facilities, conference and wedding facilities, the estate offers unparalleled scenic beauty and world class hospitality.

Endless Vineyards Boutique Lodge offers eight Dutch-style cottages flanked by a rich farm of grapevines. Each cottage also has a stoep, which overlooks the vineyards and the mountain, so early morning coffee or late afternoon wine is encouraged. Take in the picturesque vista, while letting the natural surroundings heighten every one of your senses. The onsite restaurant, Forage at Wildekrans offers an indigenous dining experience which incorporates ingredients and flavours of the surrounding area. The chefs prepare them daily using old world techniques with modern inspiration and follow the ethos of promoting a sustainable and unique dining experience. Coupled with luxury farm accommodation and a serene setting, Endless Vineyards Lodge is the ideal stop-over and holiday destination.

INFO R43 Botrivier 7185, Western Cape, 028 284 9902. Lodge reservations: 028 284 9488, vineyards@endlessgroup.co.za SUBSCRIBE CALL: 079 523 4671 or EMAIL: lowveldliving@gmfc.co.za.

Ts & Cs Prize excludes transfers and travel. Magazine: Rate applicable to one-year subscription of six editions at R204.84. Processing of the subscription may take up to a week.

play

beyond the sea We might not have the ocean at our doorstep but waterlovers need not fear, the Lowveld is abundant in dams and lakes. Get all the water-related fun, without that salty seawater burn, at one of our favourite dams in the area Words Mignon van Zyl Photos Horace Schoeman

Blyde Dam (also called Swadini/Blyde River Dam)

Where: Blyde River Canyon Activities: If you’re a fan of the awe-inspiring Blyde River Canyon then you’ll love the boat trip on Blyde Dam. The hour and a half tour led by a guide takes you to the rare Kadishi Tufa Waterfall and the Three Rondawels (your chances of seeing a croc or a hippo are very likely). No swimming or water sports are allowed in the dam but you can hike the waterfall trail, stroll along the dam wall or learn about the history of the canyon at the Visitors Centre.

Nitty gritty: Day visitors pay R20 per adult and R10 per child. The boat ride costs R140pp and R80 for children between the ages of two and eight. Book in advance.

INFO Blyde Canyon Adventure Centre, 015 795 5961, bookings@blydecanyon.co.za, www.blydecanyon.co.za

No FIFTY EIGHT |

13

play

Da Gama

Da Gama Dam

Where: Between White River and Hazyview Activities: For a wonderful afternoon outdoors, head to Da Gama Dam where you can hire paddle boats, rowing boats, canoes or go for a tranquil sundowner cruise. Enter through Hulala Lakeside Lodge and you’ll have access to walking routes, bicycle hire, a restaurant and bar. You can also order a picnic basket to enjoy outside on the lawn with great views of the dam. Birders will be happy to know there’s a fair selection of birds to view, such as bee eaters (including the White Fronted bee eater), seven species of kingfisher, African Jacana and the elusive Narina Trogon.

Nitty gritty: Day visitors pay R50pp. Paddle and rowing boats and canoes cost R60 per hour. The sundowner cruise (well worth it) is R60pp.

INFO Hulala Lakeside Lodge, 013 764 1893, gm@hulala.co.za, www.hulala.co.za

Loskop

14

| LOWVELD LIVING

Loskop Dam

Where: Middelburg What to do: Located on the Olifants River in the Loskop Dam Nature Reserve, day visitors can bring their own motorised boats and explore at leisure. Alternatively, you can view the variety of wildlife in the reserve by booking a game viewing trip by boat with qualified guides. Keen fishermen can cast their lines for carp, red breasted bream, sharp tooth catfish and many other species. Two swimming pools (hot and cold) and braai facilities are available for use by visitors.

Nitty gritty: Day visitors pay R90pp and R50 per car. Bring your own boats and fishing equipment.

INFO Loskop Forever Resort, 013 262 3075, loskopres@foreversa.co.za

play Pienaardam

Where: Middelburg Activities: Fun for the entire family can be found at Pienaardam. Activities include fishing (carp, bass and catfish), paddle boating and canoeing. There are also game drives, pony rides, mini golf and more. Picnic and braai facilities as well as a restaurant, kiosk, ladies bar and ATM are on site.

Nitty gritty: Day visitors pay R90 per adult, R60 per child U/10 and R40 per vehicle. Fee includes three free activities.

INFO Pienaardam Leisure Resort, 013 282 7816, admin2@pienaardamresort.co.za

Klipkoppie Dam

Where: Just outside White River Activities: Passing this beautiful dam, surrounded by pine plantations, is one of the highlights of driving from White River to Hazyview. What’s more, the dam is home to some of the biggest carp fish in the country (records of 27kg fish have been caught here). Any water vessels, including boats, jet skis, canoes and paddle boats, are allowed on the water if they are licensed and adhere to all legal requirements. Braai and picnic facilities as well as accommodation and ablution facilities are available. If you have an upcoming event, why not hire out the hall as your venue?

Nitty gritty: Day visitors pay R50pp, pensioners and children between the ages of seven and 18 pay R25 for the day. R40 per car, R30 per quad bike or motorbike and R30 per boat.

INFO 074 444 2293

No FIFTY EIGHT |

15

play

Vygeboom

Vygeboom Dam

Where: Badplaas Activities: Said to be one of the cleanest dams in South Africa, Vygeboom Dam makes for the ideal place to spend an adventure-filled day with the family. Your options once here include swimming, fishing (the dam is home to, among other fish, carp, yellow fish and black bass), canoeing or paddle boating (available for hire). You can also bring your own boat or jet ski for some fun in the sun. Celebrate a birthday or anniversary on the floating cocktails party boat – a fully-equipped boat which comes with optional entertainment from local DJ JR. We love the majestic Brightenkop mountains surrounding the dam.

Nitty gritty: R60pp for day visitors, children under the age of six get in for free. R120 for the day to launch your own boat/jet ski and R20pp per hour to hire a canoe or paddle boat. There’s a small shop with fishing tackle available too.

Party boat cruises start at R175pp per hour and R2300 to hire the boat as a venue. INFO OppiDam, 013 712 4512, 013 712 2365, info@houseboats.co.za, www.houseboats.co.za

16

| LOWVELD LIVING

Lake Longmere

Lake Longmere

Where: White River Activities: Take advantage of the crystal clear water and abundance of surrounding fauna and flora at Lake Longmere. Try your luck at fishing for some bass, barbel or bream, have a braai on the grass alongside the dam or take your power boat out for a spin. Canoes and paddle boats are welcome. Camping facilities are available. Access via the Canoe Club or Pine Lake Resort.

Nitty gritty: Day visitors pay R50pp, pensioners and kids under 18 pay R25 for the day. R100 for a power boat launch.

INFO Lowveld Canoe Club, 082 322 1140, admin@lowveldcanoe.co.za

straight shooting

play

18

| LOWVELD LIVING

Loyiso Gola is a South African stand-up comedian and the co-creator and host of the late-night satirical news television series Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola. If you were lucky enough to catch him in the Lowveld recently, you too would have experienced his edgy and always current comedy set. If not, find out right here what makes him tick Words Mignon van Zyl

HOW DO YOU DEVELOP YOUR STAND-UP COMEDY MATERIAL? It’s mainly an observation of what is happening around me and in the world and creating humorous ways of commenting on current affairs.

WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: DAMAGING OR BENEFICIAL TO YOUR CAREER? Social media is cool, the damage or benefits are dependent on how a person uses it.

DESCRIBE YOUR COMEDY STYLE. Personal, frank, limitless, fearless, fun.

HAVE YOU EVER BLANKED ON STAGE? Yeah definitely.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART ABOUT YOUR JOB? Being able to just be me.

WHAT’S THE FIRST RULE OF COMEDY? Be honest with yourself.

IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE, TV OR STAND-UP? Stand-up.

BEST CITY IN SA? I love Cape Town.

DESCRIBE YOUR IDEA OF THE PERFECT DATE. Don’t know if I believe in a perfect date.

IF YOU KNEW TODAY WAS YOUR LAST DAY ON EARTH, HOW WOULD YOU SPEND IT? With my family.

LOCAL COMEDIANS YOU ADMIRE? There are a couple of guys but off the top of my head; Kagiso Lediga, Skhumba, Jason Goliath.

FIVE PEOPLE (DEAD OR ALIVE) THAT YOU’D INVITE TO A DINNER PARTY? Prince, Michael Jackson, Gwede Mantashe, Bantu Holomisa, Arsene Wenger.

IF VAMPIRES DON’T HAVE REFLECTIONS, HOW IS IT THAT THEY’RE SO STYLISH? They are born with it.

WHO WOULD WIN IN A COMEDY BATTLE BETWEEN YOU AND DAVID KAU? Tough question. Lol. IF YOU WERE A CONVICTED MAN, WHAT WOULD YOUR LAST MEAL BE? My mother’s cooking.

BEST CONCERT YOU’VE ATTENDED? There has been a few but Little Dragons was quite dope.

IF YOU WEREN’T A COMEDIAN, WHAT WOULD YOU BE? A lawyer… just kidding.

FAVOURITE WEEKEND ACTIVITY? Playing and watching football.

IF YOUR HOUSE WAS BURNING AND YOU COULD SAVE ONE THING, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Probably my childhood album.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR LOYISO GOLA? I have launched my new DVD and have a couple of international performances coming up.

play

aug&sept diary Send your events for inclusion to info@lowveldlivingmagazine.com

27th

27 Aug, South African Guide Dogs Association (SAGA) Charity Flyfishing event, Dullstroom: Limited to only 35 entrants, fishing is entirely catch and release on a huge array of private syndicate waters just outside Dullstroom. Big prizes and a gala dinner and auction. info@flyfishing.co.za

13 Aug & 10 Sept, Bagdad Farmers Market, White River: Pick up fresh produce, drinks & snacks and local crafts. Bagdad Centre, 8am-12pm.

every 14 Aug & every Sunday, French Boules Tournament at The Courtyard, White River: 11am – 2pm, R50 includes glass of bubbly. Contact Emilie 013 750 2102

4to7

| LOWVELD LIVING

6 Aug & 3 Sept, Farm Jam Offroad Series, LEG 6, Middelburg: An event for all off-road bike competitors and fans. Held at Dirt Trax, various races and categories available for bikes & quads. Leon, 082 446 6328, Rohann on 082 493 7918.

12 Aug, The Peter Cruse Golf Day, Nelspruit: Held at Nelspruit Golf Club, Matumi, in aid of Child Welfare Nelspruit. 013 753 3330, childwelfarenel@mweb.co.za

13

13 Aug & 10 Sept, Fit to Go & Bagdad Farmers Market trail

run, White River: Registration starts at 6am at Bagdad airstrip.

Entry fee: R40 – 4km, R80 – 8km, R30 – scholars. Entry forms at sales@mag-nolia.co.za & Fit to Go, Casterbridge.

sunday

4-7 Aug, Lowveld Book Festival, White River: For book lovers of all ages. Author talks, kid’s story telling, poetry, book signings and book sales. Meet Jenny Crwys-Williams, Tony Park and many more.

Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre. 071 134 8172.

20

sixth

20 & 21 Aug, The Greatest Train Race: It’s the 30th birthday and although the train is no longer running, there is still a relay, fun race and an individual race. Plus a mascot train float will be on the route. Live entertainment at the finish at Kees Taljaard Stadium, Middelburg. 0861 187 246, www.gtr.co.za.

twenty

25

play

1-31 Aug Casterbridge Cinema: Catch Carol, Steve Jobs, Happiness is a 4 Letter Word, Testament of Youth, Room and The Big Short. 013 751 3894, casterbridgecinema@zannas.co.za.

5 Aug, Soweto String Quartet at Emnotweni: Charlize Berg opens for the Quartet. Tickets from R150, www.emnotweni.co.za; www.computicket.com 30 Sep - 2 Oct, Isuzu 3 Towers Stage Race, Mankele: The Stage Race, Challenge and Mncane takes place over 3 days, 082 338 9532, ride@mankele.co.za 25 Aug, PJ’s on the Beach, Nelspruit: An annual event hosted by the South African Council of Business Women at Emnotweni Arena. PJs and pillow compulsory. nelspruit.admin@sacbw.org 27 Aug, Wine Tasting Fundraiser, Zest at Kavinga: R295pp includes food by Zest, Rietvallei wine, Sabie Brewing Co craft beer, a marimba band & auction – all in aid of World Child Cancer fund. 082 573 3372, kezdunshea@me.com

30th to 5th

20 AUGUST & 10 SEPT

30 AUG – 5 SEPT, GARDEN & HOME SHOW, NELSPRUIT: HELD AT RIVERSIDE MALL, LOCAL AND NATIONAL EXHIBITORS SHOWCASING GARDEN DESIGN AND DECOR, HOME MAINTENANCE, SECURITY AND MORE. NO ENTRANCE FEE. 082 4944279, LESLEY.INGS@GMAIL.COM

20 AUG & 10 SEPT, MOPANI MTB SERIES CYCLE RACE, UPLANDS, WHITE RIVER: STARTS 8AM. 50KM – R120, 25KM – R90, FUNRIDE – R50. DAY LICENSE FEE (R35) MAY APPLY. TANYA@SUNSHINEEVENTS.CO.ZA

sixth to twenty eighth 6-28 Aug, Yoga & Meditation Retreat, Nyala Safari Lodge, Hoedspruit: A weekend of yoga, meditation and the Big 5. Denise 083 387 3866, denise@liveshanti.net 28 Aug, Nut Grove Manor Sunday lunch, White River: 12-2.30pm. Plot 55 Plaston Road.

Enjoy live cooking stations and demos including homemade pizzas, prawn linguini, and slow roast lamb shoulder. Booking essential.

076 232 5392, 076 697 4886, www.nutgrovemanor.co.za

nine & 11 9-11 Sept, Dullstroom Ladies Flyfishing: Held at Tinter at Millstream, Egyptian Goose at Bracherleigh Stud and Child’s Play at Walkersons. Debbie Vink, 083 408 5952, debbie@anglers.co.za

twenty four

sept 27 27 Sept – 3 Oct, Travel & Adventure Expo, Nelspruit: Held at Riverside Mall, local and national exhibitors throughout the mall.

No entrance fee. 082 4944279, lesley.ings@gmail.com

16

24 & 25 Sept, The Croc River Marathon, Kwena Dam: Water levels permitting, an A+ graded technical river course. Paddle or support. 083 800 7744, 082 322 1140, admin@lowveldcanoe.co.za.

10

13 Aug & 10 Sept, Car Park League 2016, Nelspruit: A skate clinic at Makro for younger kids. They will be taught the basics of balance and pushing on the board. 083 7393 293.

16 & 17 SEPT, PERFORMANCE BOOSTER WORKSHOP, NELSPRUIT: LEARN LIFE MANAGEMENT TOOLS & SKILLS. ABUNDANCE LODGE. 013 744 0027, 082 675 6363, INFO@PERFORMANCEBOOSTER.CO.ZA

twenty four & 25

24 & 25 Sept, The Jeep Warrior Race, Nelspruit: An outdoor obstacle course for kids and adults. Get down and dirty, face challenges, overcome fear and have fun. Different courses for different age groups – Bratz race, Warrior Rookie, Warrior Commando, Warrior Black-Ops. Enter online or on day. Kwanyoni Lodge, N4, Alkmaar. 087 150 3144, info@warrior.co.za

No FIFTY EIGHT |

21

eat [the art of craft drinks in our hood]

eat

lazy lunches & drinking pleasure Words Nicky Manson

WIN get your buzz on and win! who’s the bos?

BOS Ice Teas have a new sugar free variant in its line of delicious fruit flavoured ice teas in the flavours peach and lemon.

Available from all supermarkets, www.bosbrands.com.

As the sun rises earlier and earlier, make sure you have your coffee fix ready.

How cool is the funky Y3 Iperespresso coffee machine valued at R3040. Small and compact, it offers two pour settings and an automatic stop and is available in gorgeous colours. Buy one from Italtrade in Nelspruit or win it! 013 010 1222, info@italtrade.co.za, Facebook – italtradeltdimporters WIN To enter, email your contact details to info@lowveldlivingmagazine.com and put ‘Coffee fix’ in the subject box. Closing date is September 30, 2016. Ts & Cs apply.

sip in spring Move the party outdoors with these fun jam jars from Superbalist. Get them in clear or coloured versions.

Available online from www.superbalist.com.

lazy lunches Nothings says spring is here better than dining al fresco. Yuppie Chefs’ 5 Minute Electric Pizza Oven is ideal for lazy, warm afternoon pizza sessions. Reaching high temperatures of up to 390 degrees, you’ll have your cheesy bliss in just five minutes. Buy online at www.yuppiechef.com.

berry yummy Mokai Forest Berries is here and it’s simply yum. Mokai, the all-in-one energy drink and spirit cooler, is a vodka infused drink in Elderflower, Blueberry and Mint and now Forest Berries. It also includes an energy shot of caffeine! Available from Shoprite and Checkers LiquorShops nationwide.

24

| LOWVELD LIVING

drink

Drink up...

Neethlingshof Short Story Collection’s The Owl Post Pinotage 2014, R190, offers a bouquet of ripe fruit, banana aromas and a background of vanilla oak. Recommended with red meat dishes and game. The Caracal 2013, R180, is a full-bodied, smooth wine with prune, cherry and blackcurrant aromas and is delicious with a beef casserole. Available from liquor stores and online at www.vinoteque.co.za; www.neethlingshof.co.za Waterkloof Estate has released its first whites from its inaugural certified biodynamic harvest. The Waterkloof Circumstance Sauvignon Blanc 2015, R100, (available from selected wine stores), and the limited Sauvignon Blanc 2015, R155, (available directly from Waterkloof ), are the result of the organic and biodynamic conversion of Waterkloof Estate eight years ago. They are made in same way yet their different flavours are attributed to their different locations on the farm. Both can be cellared and will pair well with shellfish. www.waterkloofwines.co.za

Neil Ellis Groenekloof Shiraz 2013, R100, has been aged for 17 months in new, 2nd fill and older French oak barrels and the result is red berries, raspberry and blueberry on the nose and notes of cloves and black pepper on the palate.

Ideal with lamb. The Groenekloof Sauvignon Blanc, R75, was described as, “Lipsmacking and almost sumptuous,” by 2016 Platter’s Wine Guide. Strong flavours of citrus and tropical fruit with herbaceous overtones. Enjoy it with fresh oysters, and calamari. Available from Tops, Makro, PnP and Checkers. www.neilelllis.com Place In The Sun wines are made by Zonnebloem using Stellenbosch grapes from the Devon Valley. Accredited by Fairtrade, all funds made by the wine have been used for educational, health, recreational and nutritional programmes for the farm workers. In the range you will find every day drinking and budget friendly wines like a Merlot, an unwooded Chardonnay, a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Sauvignon Blanc. The Sun Unwooded Chardonnay, R46, expresses notes of citrus on the nose and apricot on the palate. Pour a big glass with your next salmon steak. The Sun Merlot, R58, reveals succulent red berry and plum flavours and oak spice aromas and pairs well with Med dishes, while spring is still warming up. www.placeinthesun.co.za

25

drink

let’s talk about craft, bru In the last few years, craft drinks have burst onto the South African social scene. They’ve made their way into markets, bars and restaurants, and festivals have been established to celebrate them. If you’re new to the concept of craft drinking or need some convincing, here’s an overview of all things crafty plus a couple of places where you can get your craft on in the Lowveld Words Mignon van Zyl Photos Mignon van Zyl, Anthon Wessels, Danielle Carstens

28

| LOWVELD LIVING

drink WHAT IS A ‘CRAFT’ DRINK? Finding a clean-cut definition of a craft drink is not as easy as you might think.

You could try typing ‘what is a craft drink’ into Google’s search engine but your screen will just overflow with articles on craft cocktails (which also sound pretty great). After searching the web and chatting to a few local brewers and distributors, we’ve carved out two important features that differentiate a craft drink from a commercial drink: firstly, craft drinks are produced in small batches by independently owned microbreweries or distilleries (rather than mass-produced by large-scale corporate breweries) and secondly, craft drinks are hand crafted (hence, craft drink) which often means they’ll carry flavours not commonly found in commercial drinks (like rosemary, fynbos and marula).

The folks from saontap.co.za elaborate on this definition by adding the importance of identity, “We prefer to say that a craft brew represents the individual thumbprint or passion that each brewer puts into each brew. This suggests that the brew is a reflection of a brewer’s personality as well as the science and technology used to create the brew.” Although they’re referring specifically to craft beer here, we reckon this view is applicable to all craft drinks.

HISTORY The first microbrewery in South Africa opened its doors in 1983, more than two decades before the craft beer movement bubbled its way through the country.

With a strong focus on quality ingredients, delicious flavour and a specialised brewing process, Mitchell’s Brewery in Knysna paved the way for all aspiring home brewers.

This includes the likes of Theo and Sarie de Beer who brewed the Lowveld’s first craft beer from their brewery on the Long Tom Pass, Hops Hollow, in 2001. Today, master brewer Colin Ntshangase is weaving his magic. Since then, Anvil Ale in Dullstroom (also started by the de Beers) and the Sabie Brewing Company have established themselves as successful microbreweries in Mpumalanga. While there is talk of more distilleries opening up in our neighbourhood, the Western Cape is currently home to the majority of the country’s 138 microbreweries.

The mushrooming of these microbreweries has also led to the birth of craft beer festivals. These events provide excellent exposure for brewers looking to showcase their craft beer and other craft drinks, many of which are only available directly from the brewery. Since South Africa is largely a beer drinking community, it takes some convincing to get people to try something other than their regular, mainstream lager so craft beer festivals provide the ideal opportunity for them to taste something new.

WHY SHOULD BEER HAVE ALL THE FUN? The craft beer movement has given rise to other craft drinks, such as craft gin, rum, vodka and tequila. Again, what sets these drinks apart from mainstream drinks is the fact that they’re handcrafted in small batches. In most cases they’re are also unfiltered and unpasteurised and made from organic, locally grown ingredients, which means they’re a lot purer than commercial drinks (and a lot more delicious).

“These days it’s not just about having an ordinary drink, it’s about an experience.

Taking classic recipes and twisting certain elements,” says Garth Snyman of Cicada Craft Bar in Nelspruit. “A lot of people are moving towards a healthier, more organic lifestyle and they’re looking for that in their drinks too.”

No FIFTY EIGHT |

29

drink

LOCAL IS LEKKER OUR FAVOURITE PLACES GETTING THEIR CRAFT ON: Rottcher Wineries – established in 1959 after a local farmer started experimenting with oranges to make wine, the distillery’s product range now includes dessert wines, its own version of the Italian Limoncello and recently, a Clementine Mampoer. The latter is made from double distilled clementine fruit wine, which is then infused with naartjie or clementine peels.

INFO Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre, White River.

Sabie Brewing Company – renowned for its locally produced beers, the guys at Sabie Brewing Company also sell a refreshing cherry cider. Made in Clarens and conditioned in Sabie, this cider is a great craft alternative for those who don’t like beer. INFO Main Road, Sabie.

Mhoba Rum – free from any flavourants and colourants, Mhoba Rum is based in Malelane and hand crafted from the local Nkomazi cane sugar. After the distilling process, the rum is aged in toasted American white oak, resulting in a premium, flavourful and quality spirit. INFO Kaalrug Road, Malelane.

Anvil Ale Brewery – not only do they stock a unique selection of craft beer brewed on-site, they also sell Frutea – a combination of Rooibos tea and fruit juice that’s better than any other ice tea on this side of the country. Oh, and they offer free beer tastings, need we say more? INFO Main Road, Dullstroom.

Hops Hollow – Hops Hollow Brew Pub boasts the highest brewery in the world.

Their first beer was brewed in 2001. Today under the brew master hat of Colin Ntshangase, a qualified Food Technologist, the malt draught beer speaks for itself. Brewed with no enhancers or unnatural additives, it is coarse filtered and not pasteurized, containing a small percentage of active live yeast. The mountain water at Hops Hollow is soft with low levels of minerals and no added chlorine or fluoride, and as such is an important ingredient of the final product. Try Diggers Draught – a mix of pale ale and imported German winter wheat malt, and the Blacksmith Brew – a Belgian white ale. INFO Long Tom Pass near Sabie.

Sabie Brewing Co

Hops Hollow

Cicada Craft Bar

30

| LOWVELD LIVING

OUR FAVOURITE PLACES TO TRY THE CRAFT: Tops The Grove – home to the biggest craft beer selection in the Lowveld, this bottle store also has a Growler Beer Pump: a take-away beer concept that allows customers to buy a 2,5l container with fresh craft beer on tap. Once the container is empty, it can be refilled for a fraction of the cost. INFO St George Street, Nelspruit.

Jock Pub and Grill – This Nelspruit watering hole boasts 25 different South African craft brews, from Stellenbrau’s Jonkers Weiss and Craven Lager to the award winning range of Darling Brews. INFO Ferreira Street, Nelspruit.

Cicada Craft Bar

WI

N

Cicada Craft Bar – part of Cicada Restaurant in Nelspruit, this craft bar stocks 45 craft beers (three beers and one cider on tap), eight nationally produced and six super premium imported craft gins. A favourite is the Inverroche Fynbos Gin Collection which is made in Still Bay (Western Cape) and pot distilled from fynbos. Try the Inverroche Amber with ginger ale and orange zest or the Classic with mint and thyme. Although pricey (around R50 for a gin and mix), you can be assured of a craft gin experience like no other. INFO Sonpark Centre, Nelspruit.

WIN A case of Growler Craft Beer and a bottle of Malfy Craft Gin PLUS a gin tasting for two. To enter, email your contact details to info@ lowveldlivingmagazine.com and put ‘Cicada’ in the subject box. Closing date is September 30, 2016. Ts & Cs apply.

eat THE PHAT BEER New to the scene, Phat Boys Beer House pride themselves on a large range of craft beers Tell us about the name? Phat Boys Beer House is a play on words, Phat being slang for lekker or cool and that both Chris and Duncan are plush sized boys with “beer boepies”. What is the most popular craft beer sold in your restaurant?

On- tap craft beer it’s the Dragon Fiery Ginger and Darling Slow. Our most popular bottled craft beer is the Stellenbrau Jonkers Weiss. Why the decision to open a beer house and sell craft beer? We felt the need for a beer house in White River, giving our locals the opportunity to experience something a little different to the norm of our local pubs.

What’s the difference, in your opinion, between a craft beer and an ordinary one? A craft beer, better known as a handcrafted pint, is produced in small batches for up to 12 weeks and is personally inspired by the love of an individual for the product that he is creating. An “ordinary beer” is massed produced by huge companies, for example SAB operates seven breweries in South Africa with an annual producing capacity of 3.1 billion litres. What makes Phat Boys stand out amongst other pubs in White River? Phat Boys was created through an idea that was driven from the love of the industry. We are hands-on owners with a passion to ensure that every patron receives the personal attention needed for an unforgettable experience.

We ensure that we offer the best products available for our menu selection; that being said sourcing what can be sourced locally is of the utmost importance to us as we believe in investing in our local farmers and community businesses. We personally taste test all on- tap and bottled craft beers

to ensure that we are offering our patrons brands that we would highly recommend and encourage all our service personnel to be well educated on our products. One of the most important traits we have is our relationships with our suppliers allowing us to be ahead of our game when new products are about to be launched. What is the best way to taste a craft beer? We advise all “newbies” to the craft beer world to start out with either a Lager or Pilsner and to then progress to the more integrated styles of a craft beer for example the IPA’s, Dark Lagers, Weiss and Ales. Craft Beers are brewed in a variety of styles and are intended for different palates, foods and occasions; the only way to select your choice would be to try them. Tell us something about craft beer we don’t already know. Craft Beers do not contain any artificial flavorants or chemicals. INFO 9 Chief Mgiyeni Khumalo Dr, White River.

BEER SAFARI BY LUCY CORNE Beer-guzzling and travel-loving author Lucy Corne is back, with a second homage to hops and grain, in the form of Beer Safari. Released last year, the craft beer guide takes readers on a journey through the microbreweries of South Africa, stopping to chat to each brewer along the way. The book is laid out geographically and follows the golden trail of South Africa’s provinces. Includes a list of facilities each brewery offers such as accommodation, tastings, food and if it’s family friendly. Also interspersed with lagerloving tips like brew talk, beer menus, top pints and the true appreciation of beer, Beer Safari is one for the beer boeps. R282, Penguin Random House.

32

| LOWVELD LIVING

Q&A WITH A GIN MAKER Owner and distiller of Rottcher Wineries Frank Theron has revamped his distillery and launched a variety of new drinks, including the delicious Limoncello Slush Puppy – with the alcohol content reduced to 7%. Next on his list is gin production.

Why gin? Gin is definitely the “in” drink at the moment. The nice thing about it is that the distiller can be creative and make up his own recipe. There are no hard and fast rules to dictate the recipe. The only criteria are that it must be infused with juniper berries and have an alcohol content of over 43%. I am excited about using an orange based alcohol, as I don’t know of anyone else doing this.

What experimental recipes have you come up with? I have decided to use nine botanicals, and the experimenting involves using different proportions of these botanicals. In the next few weeks, I plan to have a gin tasting with some of the knowledgeable Lowveld gin drinkers. I will serve about six different varieties of gin and then between us we will decide on which permutation to use.

Tell us about the orange-based gin? The prime ingredient for gin is juniper berries. Most gin is made from fermented grain, which is then distilled and infused with the various botanicals. There are a few distillers who are also making gin from grape based alcohol. I will be using my orange “wine” as the base. The gin will be double distilled and on the second distillation, it will be infused with nine botanicals.

What is your secret recipe? If I told you my secret, it would no longer be a secret.

How long does it take to make gin? The fermented product takes about five weeks and the distillation requires a day for each distilling run. So if I double distil, the process should take between five and six weeks.

What other craft drinks can we look forward to? Once the gin is finished, I would like to experiment with a chocolate chilli liqueur and possibly a coffee and orange liqueur. All my drinks will be made from a citrus based alcohol.

Tell us about the clementine mampoer. I double distil my clementine “wine” and then infuse it with citrus peels. I then filter it and dilute it to bring the alcohol down to 45%. The result is a mampoer with a lovely citrus nose that is fairly smooth. Apart from drinking it as a shooter, it can be mixed with soda or lemonade or even added to a shot of espresso. INFO Rottcher Wineries at Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre, White River; 083 293 5001, www.rottcher.com

eat, drink & be merry

follow the feast No 4 in the series was a taste sensation pairing between the wines of Kaapzicht under the winemaker hat of Danie Steytler Jnr and Magnolia under the chef hat of Jamie Watt

W

e began the evening with a Kaapzicht dry Pinotage Rose 2016, the newest label of the estate. The Chenin Blanc, with a hint of sweetness and a balancing crunchy acid, was accompanied with a starter of chicken and coconut soup with ginger, lemongrass and coriander and prawn dumplings. Next we enjoyed the easy drinking reds of Kaleidoscope and the Merlot paired with glazed pulled pork on a sweet potato, chilli, celery seed wafer and crackling. Simply delicious. The king of the night, however, was the highly anticipated Steytler Pentagon. Heavy, rich with dark fruit on the palate, it was the most popular choice and beautifully complemented by the slow braised lamb shank, which was wrapped in smoked lamb belly and served with tomato tarragon gel, refried new potatoes and pan jus. To finish the sumptuous feast we dined on Cointreau spiked chocolate fondue with berries, meringue, nougat and fresh fruits with Hanepoot Jerepigo and 10 Year Pot Still Brandy. INFO Tracy 082 924 0851, Facebook – FollowTheFeasts.

34 | LOWVELD LIVING

WINE TASTING TIPS Courtesy of www.winefolly.com To fully enjoy all the nuances of a good wine, try the following: Look: Look at the colour, opacity and viscosity (wine legs). These are predisposed by vintage, alcohol percentage and grape variety.

Smell: When you first start smelling wine, think fruits – citrus, orchard, or tropical fruits in whites or in tasting reds, red fruits, blue fruits or black fruits. Primary aromas are grape-derivative such as fruit. Secondary aromas come from winemaking practices and are yeast-derivative such as cheese rind, nuts or stale beer. Tertiary aromas come from aging, usually in bottle, or possibly in oak. These aromas are mostly savoury like roasted nuts, and old tobacco.

Taste: This how we use our tongues to observe the wine, and once you swallow the wine, the aromas may change because you’re receiving them retro-nasally. Our tongues can detect salty, sour, sweet, or bitter. TIP: Try coating your mouth with a large sip of wine followed by several smaller sips so that you can isolate and pick out flavours.

Overloaded with aromas? Neutralise your nose by sniffing your forearm.

Length: The taste of wine is time-based, and the length is determined by how long you can taste the wine.

The Swirl: The act of swirling wine actually increases the number of aroma compounds that release into the air.

Alcohol and sugar: Wine legs can tell us if the wine has high or low alcohol and/or high or low sugar. The thicker the legs, the more alcohol or residual sugar the wine may have.

style [celebrate spring and move outdoors]

style

remember when…

These beautiful light installations are aptly called Memory and easily transport the beholder back to the carefree days of childhood. Made from hand-blown glass, they can be a ceiling or wall light and come in a variety of colours. Buy online from www.cremadesign.co.za

“The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart” – Helen Keller ...except perhaps these... bring the outdoors in Smart Art’s wide range of wallpaper does just that.

Suitable for any room, they will transform your space.

Contact them for Nelspruit outfitters.

021 447 0872, www.smartart.co.za

plastic fantastic Melissa’s latest range is bold, bright and beautiful and includes a collaboration with designer Jeremy Scott, where the shoes feature a quirky air nozzle. Available from Prey, Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre and Love Décor, Ilanga Mall, Nelspruit.

36

| LOWVELD LIVING

shower sweet Aroma Sense is an elegant collection of shower heads, which aim to remove 98% of the residual chlorine found in water. The product also offers patented spray plates to provide a luxurious spa-jet feeling and a microfibre filter, to keep pipe residue and unwanted contaminants at bay.

But what really makes these shower accessories unique, is their fragrances.

Built into the shower head and easily replaceable, fragrances of rose, lavender, vanilla, coconut or eucalyptus are released during your shower.

Each scent has its own healing properties, making your shower a seriously healthy experience. www.aromasense.co.za WIN a large rose showerhead and fragrance from Aromasense. Email your contact details to info@lowveldlivingmagazine.com and put ‘Shower’ in the subject box. Closing date is September 30, 2016. Ts & Cs apply.

WIN

natural tech Houdt, a local accessory brand, introduces its 2016 MacBook cover range. There are three nature inspired wood variants; Bamboo, Cherrywood and Walnut, which come in 11”, 12”, 13”, and 15”. Looks good and protects at the same time. From R449, available online at www.houdt.co.za and iFix stores.

indulge Christian Lacroix’s homeware collection is extensive and moves from fabrics and cushion covers to carpets and wallpaper.

Eclectic, over the top, decadent and singing the praise of florals and spring, we love it. Check out the Incroyables & Merveilleuses and Belles Rives Collections by Richard Powers. Pure beauty. Shop online at www.amara.com; worldwide delivery.

shopping for grown ups www.shopno2.co.za is a new online accessories store.

Discover hair wreaths, combs and pins, crowns and bespoke jewellery designed by Fotini Argyros. Pretty, pretty, pretty things for fairies, princesses and brides. Buy online, they deliver nationwide.

38

oh so pretty

support local

The summer range of porcelain crockery from Portuguese creators Vista Alegre is bursting with elegant colour, geometrics and floral motifs. Buy the Fiji collection online at www.vistaalegre.com. Their shop is amazing, you have been warned, and they deliver to SA.

If you are like us, a collection of pretty cards is always on hand. We love these – part of a collection of cards done by Lowveld artists including Alanna Deall, Angela Cochrane, Wendy Sippel, Fienie Willcocks and many more – they make a great gift idea. R79.90, (individual cards R25), available from The Curtain Shop, Biggie Best and Mopani.

| LOWVELD LIVING

a flair for design These embroidered cushions by Rouge Absolu form part of French designer, Géraldine Prier’s, Spirit of Gold and Spirit of Africa collections. Exotic and wild, they will certainly perk us up for spring. Order online at www.rougeabsolu.com; they deliver to SA.

love & learn Four full-colour animal posters have been printed by Penguin Random House and Sasol, and are the ideal accompaniment for any kid’s room. Featuring animal names in four languages, English, Afrikaans, Xhosa and Zulu, they are a great, bright and colourful educational tool. Choose from birds, snakes and other reptiles, mammals and insects of southern Africa. And they are not just for kiddies either. There is an adult’s range for nature buffs featuring mammals, common birds, insects and butterflies. R90, available from book stores including The Window in Graskop.

WIN a kid’s nature poster. Email your contact details to info@ lowveldlivingmagazine.com and put ‘poster’ in the subject box.

Closing date is September 30, 2016. Ts & Cs apply.

WIN

style

daddy designs www.parental-instinct.com is an innovative clothing range for kiddies, but designed by dads. The clothes are all about making parenting easier; think stain resistant fabrics, colour coded press studs on baby grows and more. Buy online, they deliver nationwide.

protect As the weather heats up, your skin will thank you for its protection. Eucerin Sun Creme is a dermalogical product that offers high UVB and UVA protection. We love it because you can wear it everyday – creamy and smooth – and it comes with a colour tint for different skin tones. Protected and no need for makeup. Thank you very much. R199.99 (50ml), available from Clicks, Dis-Chem and selected pharmacies.

Hannon’s Daily Sunblock Moisturiser is in a handy tube for popping in your handbag. SPF 30, it’s for all skin types. You only need a daily blob thanks to a thick and creamy formula so it also lasts. R285, available in some Mopanis or buy online www.hannon.co.za.

Celltone’s Face Care range offers a SPF15 moisturiser in its extensive range. It’s enriched with anti oxidants and vitamins, goes on easy peasy and smells great. A really great daily cream. R149.90 (125ml), available from Dis-Chem, Clicks, Game or online at www.celltone.co.za.

MatsiMela Home Spa

Offers you the finest Take Home Body Care Products that are a feast for the senses!

Visit one of our stores and indulge in a variety of pure spoil-me products.

Whether the products are a treat for yourself or someone special in your life, make a point of visiting us.

–HOME SPA–

www.matsimela.co.za • Hazyview, Perry’s Bridge Trading, Post R40, Mpumalanga, Tel: 013 737-6542 • White River, R40, Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre, Mpumalanga, Tel: 013 750 0401

promotion

Chaise Sofa: Stylish Chaise Sofa in the fabric of your choice. Available in two sizes.

Love Seat: A petite sofa with square arms, soft back and deep seating area.

oh sit

down

Woodenways’ range of seating will ensure no one is left standing out in the cold

Europa Table and Karoo Chair: Slatted table top design while the Karoo chair has an open backrest and an upholstered seat.

Carnovon Chair: Diamond stitch design balances the elegant curves of the chair.

Seeheim Couch: With its deep seating and padded oversized armrests, it’s a robust, heavyweight couch with elegant refinements.

INFO Amanzi Street Riverside, Nelspruit, 013 590 5018, www.woodenways.co.za

Design Quarter, Amanzi Street Mbombela

style

who’s who

the jewellery designer Meet Zai

Brenna Halse, 29, is married to her favourite person, Thomas. She grew up in Zimbabwe as a farm kid and has now made a home in the Lowveld where the adventure with Zai handcrafted jewellery has begun.

Brenna is a graphic designer and photographer by profession and a creative artist in her spare time. “I enjoy expressing myself through visual art in various mediums, from photography and painting to graphic design, illustration and now sterling silver.”

42

| LOWVELD LIVING

What is Zai? Zai Handcrafted Jewellery is a unique, wearable, everyday, skin loving kind of jewellery. Where does the name come from? The name Zai comes from a cherished childhood friend. She looked after me as a kid and was not only a minder but a teacher and guardian, my best friend and companion. A strong, yet kind spirited Shona woman by the name of Taridzai. Do you have a studio? It’s more like a cave of organised chaos. How did you learn the trade? I did a jewellery course in Pretoria and learned the fundamentals. That, combined with intuition, hours of experimentation, online video tutorials and reading on jewellery principles, enabling me to get to where I am.

What’s a favourite item that you make? I enjoy the process of making the hammered stacking rings. Hammering metal is strangely therapeutic. What inspires Zai? Simple and minimalist design. The shapes and lines and symbols found in different African art and cultures and things found in in the bush and nature. Where will we find Zai? Online and at Africa Joy and Prey Boutique in Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre.

Do you keep up with trends? Pinterest and fashion blogs are the places I like to seek inspiration and then express my own personal style. What makes Zai stand out? Every single piece is made by one single pair of happy hands (mine) and so it is not something you will find everywhere. What materials do you use? I use sterling and fine silver, but my focus is growing towards sterling silver and mixed materials like leather, semi precious stones, pottery and wood. Do you have a signature range? The Lowveld Collection. What can we expect in the future? A new men’s range. Tell us something no one else knows. My very first job was for an angling show on SuperSport1 called ESA where I dabbled in voice overs, the magazine and once caught a 20kg Amberjack on TV! INFO zaijewels@gmail.com, www.zaijewellery.co.za, www.facebook.com/zaijewellery; instagram: @Zai Handcrafted Jewellery

style

the

great

outdoors Escape the hustle and bustle and daily doldrums of life by introducing soothing, calming tips, ideas and features into your exterior living space Words Nicky Manson Photos Anthon Wessels

D

iscover a wealth of ideas for your spring outdoor space.

Whether it’s for a manicured lawn and pool area, a bush and boulders landscape, a covered patio or even a small balcony, there are plenty of ways to green your space. We look at some landscaping concepts and guidelines from the experts and explore this season’s must-have outdoor furniture and accessories to update your look and provide a relaxing space for some much needed weekend down time.

No FIFTY EIGHT |

43

style A FLAIR FOR DRAMA

Sometimes a dramatic hanging basket is all you need to take a patio or balcony from drab to fab. Faan Boshoff is the man behind the Plant Whisperer. When he is not creating drama (the good kind) in your garden, you will find him tenderly looking after The Fever Tree Nursery.

Here he provides easy-to-follow steps to creating an artful masterpiece.

“Hanging baskets should be low maintenance and a piece of art that can last for months. A basket of plants can look after itself through the correct plant choice.”

STEP 1: CHOOSING YOUR BASKET There are various baskets available on the market. The wire basket has a rustic look and a timeless appeal. Some baskets come with a ready-made coconut-fibre lining. You can also use the fibres of the Washingtonia palm as a base. An old birdcage is a unique planter idea.

STEP 2: CREATING YOUR SOIL MIX Cover the basket with the fibre lining. Add potting soil or bark mix. Add 2 tablespoons of bone meal and a conservative amount of a general fertilizer. Too much can burn the plants. A foliar feed is also a good option.

STEP 3: CHOOSE YOUR PLANTS I’m using a beautiful fern (Davalia trichomanoides), which is a really tough. To spice it up add Cryptanthus (Bromeliad family) as well as Echeverias or desert roses. You can also use Tillandsias and other smaller Bromeliads. A bright and colourful Bromeliad can also be used as your focal point. Other suitable plants for hanging baskets are Orchids, Guzmanias and Pepperomias. The choice is endless with a bit of research.

STEP 4: ADD SOMETHING FLAMBOYANT I’ve added Spanish moss or Old man’s beard (Tillandsia usneoides) to give it a timeless feel. They are air plants in the true sense of the word.

They will just get longer as they grow and give you a trailing effect.

INFO The Plant Whisperer, 071 411 3163, fakafab@yahoo.com

44

| LOWVELD LIVING

INTRODUCE TEXTURE

With the intelligent use of textural plants, a varied, interesting and colourful garden can be created. Plants with leaves in a myriad of shapes, playing with heights, hard edged leaves alongside softer grasses and the effect is textural and always mesmerising. Karin Morse from Karin’s Green Fingers is a fan of textural gardening. More recently she showed off her talents by landscaping the gardens of the Country Boutique Hotel. With the hotel’s opening date looming, Karin’s brief was to create a fully-fledged instant garden using a mix of plants and a colour palate of white, purple and blue flowers and green, white and grey foliage. “My idea was not to take the focus off of the beautiful hotel but to complement it. To do this I introduced many detailed focal points that draw you into the garden but also allow you to enjoy the bigger picture. I planted in straight lines and at varying heights using a variety of plants.” The result is a gorgeous synthesis of texture, shades of colour, heights and geometrics. INFO Karin’s Green Fingers, 082 508 0746, karinmorse@gmail.com

style A POETRY OF POT PLANTS

More people are turning to potted plants than ever before. It could be because they are easy to move around, can adapt to any space or are a lot easier to maintain. Whatever the reason, the humble pot plant is experiencing a rise in fame. Troos van der Merwe from The Fever Tree Nursery reveals the dos and don’ts of potting a plant.

1

2 3

46

| LOWVELD LIVING

CHOOSING A GOOD POT: The best pots have the ability to breathe. They are porous and supply the root zone with ample oxygen. Terracotta provides the right conditions for moss to grow on. Cement pots can be painted to your liking. The architecture of the plant normally predicts the style of pot.

IMPORTANCE OF DRAINAGE: Without proper drainage, water is unable to leave the pot environment and will accumulate. Water replaces oxygen and the plant drowns.

The type of plant predicts the amount of moisture needed; water loving plants are able to tolerate these conditions better. If drainage is a problem, bog plants such as white arum lilies, acorus grass and various big leaved varieties of Alocasia can be established in the pots. They have the ability to tolerate these conditions. Succulents require excellent drainage – ample amounts of river sand or even pool filter sand are good – the drainage will be quick and this is what they appreciate. Note that succulents also appreciate the odd dry spell. Stones at the bottom of the pot is not always necessary unless you use garden soil.

Organic soil naturally decomposes. Always add potting soil.

WHAT SOIL MUST BE USED: Know your plant and the requirements of the plant. If we know where the plant grows in nature we know how to simulate the potting mix to provide the plant with the best growing conditions. As a general rule use a third each of the following, good garden soil, river sand or gritty sand and a good quality potting soil. Incorporate lots of Bonemeal if you don’t have dogs!

This acts as a slow release food source over a long period to the plants. The bits of clay in the garden soil help to lock nutrients into the medium and will provide sustenance to the plant over a longer period.

GOOD PLANTS FOR PATIOS: We live in an area that is mostly subtropical and we are blessed with mild winters. Here we can really go to town. Sansevieria is low maintenance. Any of the Dracaenas have strong architectural lines. Funky Philodendrons suit smaller round pots like Xanadu or Rojo Congo. Succulents are excellent for full sun, and there are so many to choose from.

The new hybrids of Euphorbia Millie will provide year-round colour. Seasonal seedlings can 4 create regular new interest and provide change every so often.

WATERING TIPS: The type of pant will predict its watering requirements. It is better to drench a plant completely with with water than to water it little by little. Simulate nature in a rain storm, hose the leaves down and the water must be running from the bottom. On a patio this can be a problem but try to do this at least once a month. Water contains salts, regular drenches will wash these from the root zone. If you go away for extended periods, make sure your choice of plant can accommodate dry periods. TIP – an over turned plastic 2l bottle with a little hole in it acts like a slow release watering system. Also remember to wash the leaves to rid them of suffocating dust and feed them at least every 6 to 8 weeks with a liquid feed. INFO Fever Tree, Halls Gateway, 013 755 6012 1. Frosted Glass Self-Watering Herb Pot by Eva Solo: R449, available online from www.yuppiechef.com 2. Vase by Eleven Past: From R179, www.superbalist.com 3. Grain Stomper Plants: From R780, Amatuli, 011 440 5065, info@amatuli.co.za, www.amatuli.co.za. They deliver.

4. Plastic Make It Yourself Pots: From R35, Africa Joy, Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre 5. Kili Grain Pots: From R3 880, Amatuli, 011 440 5065, info@amatuli.co.za, www.amatuli.co.za. They deliver.

sho p 4 it

5

style COLOUR IN

Nothing makes a space brighter and sunnier than the introduction of colour. So what are this season’s colour trends? We chat to Hertex.

WHAT IS THE COLOUR PALETTE FOR SPRING? Pantone’s predictions of milky blue and rose quartz will be big, as will moody teal, vibrant yellows and bold greens. Pastel shades are also a big trend for the warmer months this year.

WHAT ABOUT MIXING AND MATCHING? Mixing and matching different prints and patterns is a fun way to introduce some personality into your space. The key to getting this right is to ensure you have one base colour that runs through all the prints or patterns you want to use.

WHAT FABRICS ARE SUITED FOR THE OUTDOORS? Ensure they are UV protected and have a high light fastness to avoid fading from exposure to the elements. Fabrics made from Olefin are also perfect for the outdoors.

ARE METALLICS STILL COOL? Metallic shades will be hot in spring 2016 with the Lexington Avenue and Chemistry collections leading the way. Look out for modern applications like vinyl, sheers and matelassé in metallic hues of gold, silver and copper.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE FABRIC TREND? Pattern and print will dominate interiors in spring 2016 and we couldn’t be more excited. Our spring offering is filled with tribal, floral and geometric patterns in a variety of vibrant hues.

ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AN ELEGANT OUTDOOR SETTING? Start with a plain fabric from our Koolhide collection, which are suitable for the outdoors. Dress scatter cushions in a pattern or printed fabric from our Stinson or Outsiders collection, which features tropical prints or timeless stripes. Anchor the setting with one of our patterned outdoor rugs like the Zores or Island rugs.

48

| LOWVELD LIVING

WHAT KID FRIENDLY, EASY CARE FABRICS DOES HERTEX OFFER? The Active Line is great for high traffic zones and active children. This collection of plains is easy to clean, stain-repellent, lowmaintenance and breathable.

FLORALS VS GEOMETRICS? Both prints prominent in the spring 2016 collections. When combined they complement each other beautifully. The florals for spring 2016 aren’t the regular ‘granny’ floral, instead they’ve been given a contemporary twist in a modern colour palette and application.JACQUARDS, DAMASKS & LINENS COMBINATIONS ARE HOT IN EUROPE – WHAT DO YOU THINK? These are a timeless trend and will work beautifully for spring/ summer when woven or printed onto sheer linens.

You’ll find a few fabrics in our spring 2016 offering will feature this elegant trend.

INFO Hertex Nelspruit Showroom, 38 Murray Street 013 752 8553, 013 752 8060, www.hertex.co.za

BE WATER WISE

More of a must than a trend, in today’s climate, we cannot afford NOT to be water wise. Clever planting, using indigenous plants which require less water and other tips can all contribute. Belinda McLintock of Botanical Bliss specialises in indigenous plants and her on site nursery at Lyttle Irving stocks a great variety. During a drought, it is often our gardens that take the biggest beating. Belinda provides some tips.

WHAT SHOULD WE BE PLANTING? Other than vegetables and herbs, water wise plants. Many succulents and aloes offer fantastic colour during winter and spring and are loved by Sunbirds and bees alike.

PLANTS TO AVOID? Shrubs and seedlings needing lots of water initially to establish.

HOW DO YOU SAVE A GARDEN LAWN IN A DROUGHT? Avoid raking or mowing the lawn as this destroys the runners and will take the lawn longer to recover in the rainy season. Leaf cover will act as mulch and your lawn will spring back in summer with the rain.

WHAT ROLE DOES MULCH PLAY? Mulch retains moisture and breaks down slowly, creating more topsoil in the long run.

HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR OWN MULCH? Chipped branches, leaves and grass clippings all work really well.

CAN YOU RECOMMEND CLEVER WATERING TIPS? Rather water for longer and less often, as this encourages deeper root growth and more drought resistant plants.

HOW DO YOU KEEP POT PLANTS AND HERBS ALIVE? Reuse your shower and bath water.

INFO Botanical Bliss, 083 407 1969, belinda@inx.co.za

style

ACCESSORISE

Now it’s time to personalise your space and with this season’s must- have furniture, décor and accessories, it’s really easy.

The Picnik Table by Extremis: R114 884, available online from www.cremadesign.co.za

Rimini Relax Chair with Footrest: POR available from Woodenways, Nelspruit, 013 590 5018.

Surabaya Chair: R2 295, available from Coricraft, Mbombela, 013 757 8460 & Emalahleni, 013 697 1007.

One Touch Umbrella: R21 999, Mobelli Illovo Square, 011 268 6956. They deliver.

50

| LOWVELD LIVING

Pyramid Daybed: R57 019, available from Mobelli Illovo Square, 011 268 6956. They deliver.

Luxor Table: R10 495, available from Bakos Brothers, Mbombela.

013 755 2331

Julian Chair, Me Too Collection by Magis: R2 448, available online from www.cremadesign.co.za.

The Peacock Chair: R3Â 995, available from Weylandts, Mbombela, 010 900 4551.

style African Teak Fan from the Classic Range: R4 788, available from Timber Fans, 044 382 2369, info@timberfans.co.za, www.timberfans.co.za

The Rainbow Table: R995, available from Coricraft, Mbombela, 013 757 8460 & Emalahleni, 013 697 1007.

Barattolo Drinks Caddy: R8 999, Mobelli Illovo Square, 011 268 6956. They deliver.

Indian Fire Pit: R14Â 995, available from Weylandts, Mbombela, 010 900 4551.

Cord Outdoor Sofa: From R21 950 (excl cushions), Private House Company.

011 465 5600, Will organise courier.

Copacabana Long Chair by Tectona Paris: From R37 392, available online at www.tectona.net

52

| LOWVELD LIVING

style Drinks Trolley for The James Collection: R58 600, Stellar Works, www.stellarworks.com.

They deliver.

Senufo Stool: From R1 480, Amatuli, 011 440 5065, info@amatuli.co.za, www.amatuli.co.za. They deliver.

Sundeck Pool with Cover: R175 000, Duravit.

Available online at www.duravit.com and Waterways, Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre, 0861 356 827.

Design Quarter, Amanzi Street, Mbombela

The Icecube Drinks Cooler by Extremis: R24 186, available online from www.cremadesign.co.za

The Hanging Hurricane Lamp by Eva Solo: R869, available online from www.yuppiechef.com

Bamileke Table: R3 200, Courtyard Framing, Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre, 083 773 9929

Forest Bird House: R350, Weylandts, Mbombela, 010 900 4551.

PREP YOUR SPACE

The team at Garden Pavillion is getting ready for seasonal changes and offer advice and how-to for preparing your garden for spring planting.

WHERE DOES ONE START? August – start by raking up old plant litter and debris. Weed where necessary, remove any dead vegetation and start preparing your beds for new plants. PREPARING LAWN? Give your lawn a low cut. Then use a firm rake. Apply a good quality weed free lawn dressing, some 2:3:2 fertilser and water well. If you have LM lawn, apply top dressing thinly; this will not only supply nutrients but will improve the soil structure and help level your lawn. CREATING NEW BEDS? Soil preparation is the foundation of a new bed. Dig the soil to a depth of 20-30cm. Break down the clods and remove roots and weeds. Apply 5-10cm weed free compost and kraal manure. Agricultural lime and superphosphate can also be applied. Your soil will now be aerated, loosened and contain lots of nutrients. REVITALISE OLD SOIL? Old soil is often compacted and lacks nutrients. This means that water is not easily absorbed and roots don’t have sufficient air intake and room to develop. Apply compost, kraal manure and agricultural lime to improve soil structure. Where possible, loosen the soil with a garden fork, paying attention not to damage roots of existing plants. PRUNING TIPS? Reasons for pruning – to train a plant, to maintain a healthy plant, to improve the quality of flowers, fruit, foliage or to restrict growth. Ensure your pruning tools are sharp and disinfected. Remove all dead wood and diseased stems. Cut above a node that is facing outwards.

Seal the wounds with Steriseal. Prune deciduous trees while they are still dormant. Cut back overgrown shrubs and ground covers to encourage new growth in spring and retain a neat shape. In general, the best time to prune most plants is late winter or early spring, before new growth begins.

PLANTING? We should use water wise plants for the majority of our large areas. Use water-holic plants only for pots and focal areas. The additional joy of a garden is to entice some of our abundant wildlife such as bees, birds, butterflies, insects and frogs back into our gardens. This is achieved by a good garden design and correct plant choice. MAINTAINANCE? The following are important: Water as required; fertilise 3 to 4 times a year; prune; insect and pest control; weeding. WATERING TIPS? Water less frequently but thoroughly. Don’t water in the heat of the day or on windy days. Apply water retention products when planting.

INFO White River Garden Pavillion, 013 750 0719.

YOUR PREMIUM LIFESTYLE CENTRE

HEALTH BEAUTY FASHION DINING

City Centre is an exclusive shopping centre conveniently situated on the corner of Madiba Drive and Andrew Street in the CBD of Nelspruit.

Home to these exclusive stores. Bakos Brothers, Food Lovers Market, Mamas n Papas, Bodycure, Hair Lovers, La Pearl Boutique, Grays Hugo Boss, Hangar Lane, Happy Me, Mochachos, Ninos, Captain Doregos, Zap Travel and Profit Trading.

DEVELOPED BY

City Centre, Corner Madiba Drive & Andrew Street www.citycentre.biz | Enquiries: 011 268 9999 City Centre, Corner Madiba Drive & Andrew Street Visit www.citycentre.biz | Enquiries 011 268 9999

PROPERTIES

go [africa, discover the call of nature]

go

a walk in the

wild

Connecting with wilderness at its truest level is something few people get to experience.

When the chance came up Bev Tucker leapt at it Words Bev Tucker Photos Amanda Hattingh, Stine Carstensen, Jens Schleith, Mat Moody

58

| LOWVELD LIVING

go

R

ight on time, our ride throbs into view. Driving the game vehicle is a huge red beard under a wide brimmed Akubra. Beneath that, a solid square of a man in an olive green uniform.

This is Bruce Lawson, a legend in wildlife circles, head instructor at EcoTraining.

He is younger than his ol’ timey bushwhacker beard suggests but has packed in more adventure than most people manage in a lifetime. A year on Gough Island with the SA National Antarctic Programme, a stint playing semi-pro rugby in the USA, a 22 month walk through Africa from Cape Point to Khartoum with a couple of mates to raise awareness for polio, plus a whole lot more. He’s been there, done that, got the T-shirt… and then turned around and done it backwards hopping on one leg just for a laugh. Ultimately he found his way back to what he knows best and loves most: the bush. The Makuleke is home for him and his wife Dee, a serene blonde presence who keeps the wheels turning smoothly behind the scenes as EcoTraining’s Operations Manager.

We are at Pafuri Gate, at the very top of the Kruger Park map. To the left sprawl the villages and back roads of rural Venda. Up north squats Zimbabwe. Just hours after being met at the gate, we walk single file into the bush with backpacks hoiked to our shoulders. As we slip across a tar road and vanish into the bush I have a flash of how it feels to be an animal in the Kruger observing the human traffic from the hidden safety of the khaki foliage.

Apart from food, water bottles and camping stoves, we carry only what we absolutely need. “If you have to think about it, you don’t need it,” Bruce advises before we set off. “Trust me, that pack will feel a lot heavier by the end of today.”

Necessity means different things to different folks. Harry, a smiling Belgian who arrived in a dazzling white Porsche, is big on gizmos, gadgets and gear. For Jens, young and hungry, necessity is a pantry of tinned food. To Stine, the petal skinned Danish girl who is already turning stinging-ant red in the sun, it’s a self-inflating sleeping mat and a stash of chocolate bars. For me, the non-negotiable is a giant pack of wet wipes squelched in alongside a change of clothing and our exactly meted out number of meals to last the week. For my beloved, the Good Doc, it means literally what he is standing up in: hat, shirt, belt, shorts, socks, boots and gaiters. “Spare clothes? Just in case?” I venture. No. Apparently this is not in the spirit of an immersive wilderness experience. I leave it there.

Technology, too, is non-essential. In fact, “This is the problem.” Blue eyes ablaze, Bruce holds a cellphone at arms length. He invites us to abandon our watches, cell phones and addiction to social media. “You are here to re-connect with yourself by disconnecting from man-made constructs like time.” Some of us can’t shed our phones fast enough. Others balk. Bruce’s second in command is a good-natured young EcoTraining graduate, known by his initials, FN, “Ja, like the rifle.” The rules are simple. “The less noise we make the more wildlife we can hope to see. Keep talking to a minimum. Try to walk quietly. Stay in single file. Don’t straggle or wander off.

If you want to change place in the line just step out and let people pass then step back in. We eat when we’re hungry; we rest when we’re tired. If there’s trouble, do exactly what I tell you and we can argue about it afterwards. Let’s go.”

Bruce leads, polished rifle butt over one shoulder. In his other hand he wields a weighty stick that looks like it has seen many a long trail. Behind him FN heels like a trained collie. The group filters into line. We walk in single file to minimise our visibility and the impact of eight pairs of boots on the bush, but we are far from quiet. There’s no way this stumbling, foot-dragging line of bumblers will creep up on any wild thing. It is quickly apparent that high-tech synthetic clothing rubbing against itself makes the loudest noise of all.

No FIFTY EIGHT |

59

FIRST NIGHT Before nightfall we’ve trekked up a ridge and over it and up another one, negotiating scrubby thickets that whip our faces and thorns that drag at our clothing. Bruce was right. My backpack feels twice the size and the straps are rubbing welts into my shoulders. In a clearing we glimpse a kudu bull and his wives. A warthog family darts away and a small herd of impala eyes us cautiously.

There’s lots of elephant sign. We fill our water bottles from a spring that bubbles miraculously straight from the earth before Bruce leads us up a knoll some distance from the water so as not to disturb animals that will need to drink tonight. “We’ll camp here. Pick yourself a spot and settle in.”

‘Here’ is dismaying. All I see are red boulders and rocks interspersed with scorpion slits. We clear areas just large enough to roll out sleeping mats. As the sun sets over miles of bush stretching in every direction, I’m reminded that we are in the Kruger Park; two million hectares of wilderness, just us and our sleeping bags. The Doc has a handle on the complexities of the folding gas stove, and whips up a dinner of noodles followed by a handful of dried apricots for afters.

FN has lit a modest fire. It must be kept going until morning. “Everyone sits watch for as long as they like before they wake the next person. Keep the fire small, just two or three pieces of wood is enough. Your positive energy and physical alertness is enough to deter predators, you don’t need a bonfire,” says Bruce. “I’ll go first.”

I attack myself with wet wipes and shimmy into my sleeping bag. I drag my bandana over my ears to stop insects from crawling down my ear canals in the night (I’ve heard stories). Around me the others are rearranging their stony beds, scrabbling in bags, scratching for belongings. Finally headlamps flick off. The camp settles. We are aware of one another but tucked into our individual cocoons of solitude in the darkness. The fire is a reassuring red glow. Stars wheel above.

The Southern Cross is bright and clear. Faintly, far off hyenas whoop.

TRAINING And just like that, without fanfare, our wilderness skills training begins. There are no lecture sessions, no note taking, no ponderous monologues. The teaching method is simple: walk, observe, ask, listen, fetch wood, carry water, prepare food, sit watch, clear camp, walk, look, ask. Ask again. And, patiently, Bruce answers, explains, elaborates. He knows the Latin names for fauna and flora, incredible amounts of detail about the intricate interplay between soil, plants, insects and animals. We circle to squint at tracks while he points out crucial identifying factors in toe positions and pad sizes. Tracking is an art so subtle I give up before I start.

Mostly we learn by doing.

Collecting water, do it like this so as not to stir up mud; others still have to drink from it (I’m fairly sure he means the animals). Gathering wood, check that nothing is living in it, no need to burn their house down. This is how to choose a campsite. Have a plan of action in case there’s trouble. Keep fires small. The heat kills microorganisms way down deep and it takes decades for the soil to recover. We need nature, it doesn’t need us. When you break camp, clear the site so no evidence of your presence remains. This means every branch and stone you moved must be returned to its place, no dropped papers, no fire ash, no fallen noodles, definitely no cigarette butts. Nothing. As the only smoker FN earns some narrow-eyed stares from the boss.

60

| LOWVELD LIVING

OUT HERE IT DOESN’T MATTER WHETHER YOU’RE A SELF-MADE MILLIONAIRE OR LIVE IN A HOLE IN THE ROAD

Bev and the Doc take morning coffee on the banks of the Limpopo.

Wading along Lanner Gorge.

go DAY BY DAY Dawn. There’s no light yet. Sunrise is just a grey smudge above the river but the birds are up and bustling around. The sandy spot I chose for its soft give now feels like concrete against my hip. Yesterday was a tough hike. As soon as we arrived at this camping spot we dropped our kit and made straight for the river. Everyone plunged down the bank and went in fully clothed, careful to stay in the shallows (crocs). Sunset over the Limpopo was the stuff of African dreams.

After breakfast we turn south towards the Luvuvhu River. By the end of the trip we’ll have covered close to 60km on foot through landscapes the average Kruger Park visitor doesn’t get to see. Each day takes us into different terrain. We dodge aardvark holes across a blazing plain with no cover but knee high lala palms. We triumph, panting and sweating, up ridges thick with mopani scrub to be rewarded with views that go on forever. On the hills great baobabs are changing into autumn leaf. There are magical fever tree glades stitched in pale green velvet. Monkeys dance above us in riparian forests with canopy trees heavy in fig.

When the sun heats up we find shade and ease our packs away from sticky backs. People unroll sleeping mats, tug off boots, doze, re-apply insect repellant, eat something, write in their journals, chat quietly. When it’s cooler we go on. By late afternoon we find somewhere to camp. Each site is more special than the night before. I have a sneaky feeling that Bruce deliberately chose the worst on the first night just to slap us into awareness.

We sleep on beds of leaves under great trees alongside a river. Stine lobbies to stay. “It’s a good safe spot, nice and cool, we’re close to water and there’s plenty of firewood.” Someone has been paying attention in class. But the next night we are in a gorge setting so impossibly perfect that she’s decisive, “This is it; the one. Let’s stay here. No more moving Bruce, OK?” But each time we move camp, the new site is more breathtaking.

The two South Africans, two Germans, a Belgian and a Dane are getting to know one another. At some point we all ask someone else “Why did you come on this trip?” What we will only grasp much later is not why we came, but what we will take from the experience in the end.

Harry is here to fulfill a boyhood dream of going on foot into the wilderness and sleeping under the stars. Stine wanted a “different Kruger experience than the usual tourist stuff in a resort.” Jens agrees. “I was talking to a South African and he said to truly discover the Kruger and experience the wild, I should do this course.”

Matt, the tall guy from Berlin, who asks the most questions and inhales every nuance of response, followed the trail of something he couldn’t name all the way from an overcrowded Europe. Now his eyes are ardent. I suspect the bush has won another heart.

IN THE NOW Life as a small nomadic band has become the most normal thing in the world.

We have lost all contact with our lives ‘out there.’ Unintentionally, we’re living in the moment. There is only now. We wake with the birds before sunrise. We make food. Fill water bottles, clean camp, load our packs and set off in single file. We’ve stopped badgering Bruce with questions. “Where are we going? How far? Where will we camp? What time will we get there? Will we be able to swim?”

We have all walked in each other’s dust, shared food and chores, guarded a fire and sat watch over one another at night. We have all been heard snoring, all been seen vanishing behind a bush for a bathroom break. We are safe from devices that tell us when we should be hungry or tired; from airwaves clattering

62

| LOWVELD LIVING

Bruce, leader of the pack.

A trail guide might set aside his shoes but his rifle, never. FN, Lanner Gorge.

Some days getting the fire started called for teamwork, Doc and Jens.

Harry and Doc, Lanner Gorge.

go that we ought to be better and want more. Out here it doesn’t matter whether you’re a self-made dollar millionaire or live in a hole in the road. Our social media followers don’t know we’re here, in the wild, being amazing (Like!). What truly is amazing is how little it takes to be utterly content.

ENCOUNTERS We see wildlife that sees us first: herds of buffalo, monkeys, zebra, baboons, warthog, giraffe, shy bokkies, a tree monitor, crocodiles, lots of bird life. Moving through a fever tree forest we come across a big dead baboon. The tip of Bruce’s stick delicately picks at the rough pelt to reveal a seething universe of white maggots in the decaying flesh. The stick comes into play a lot. It indicates spoor and spiders, draws diagrams in the dust, serves as a hat rack, carefully investigates dung heaps, points to the ridge (no, the other one, behind that) where we’re headed.

One morning we enter a cool gorge flanked by cliffs where rock figs cling.

Elephant sign is everywhere; trees snapped in half, branches torn off and flung aside, large soft spoor. Bruce pauses to listen intently. FN’s eyes comb the bush.

It’s so pretty under the big trees with easy walking on a soft path yet the men with the guns are definitely edgy. Something’s up. The line shifts its weight and waits quietly. No one demands to know what’s going on. We’ve come a long way in a few days.

In another 30 steps we come up behind a bull elephant in musth, hot after a breeding herd further ahead. We round a corner and there he is, all ears and trunk and huge head and vast bulk intent on his destiny. Suddenly we’re trapezeing up a vertical rocky route to the top of the gorge. Best not to tangle with that guy. For hours we hang out watching from safe vantage as an extended family of elephant mooches into the valley below. Tiny babies and mothers and teenagers all playing catch, taking mud baths and feeding alongside herds of antelope and a noisy troop of baboons. Eden.

LEAVING On the last night we camp on a granite pinnacle high above a spring that swells into a wide pool carved in rock. A life force seems to thrum from it; “Like the heartbeat of the whole place,” Bruce says. The moon floats white in the water. We can hear animals rustling through the undergrowth to drink. A leopard coughs.

We linger close around the fire reluctant to sleep. The atmosphere is charged with the knowledge that this is our last night. All too soon it’s the last fragile dawn. The last sachet of instant oats scooped hot from a tin cup, last time to roll your mat, stow your sleeping bag and remove all trace that you were ever here.

We go in silence. We seem to walk more consciously; to place our feet with awareness, test loose rock, step over twigs and slip past branches instead of thrashing along as if we own the place.

And then it’s over.

We step across a line into a world of plane schedules, politics and engines. As we walk into the EcoTraining permanent camp to be greeted and congratulated, feted with frosty drinks and the glory of hot showers, I feel unaccountably hollow with loss.

INFO: The Wilderness Trail Skills Course is one of many wildlife and outdoor experiences and accredited courses offered by EcoTraining.

Visit www.ecotraining.co.za, 013 752 2532, email enquiries@ecotraining.co.za.

64

| LOWVELD LIVING

“I WAS TALKING TO A SOUTH AFRICAN AND HE SAID TO TRULY DISCOVER THE KRUGER AND EXPERIENCE THE WILD, I SHOULD DO THIS COURSE”

A muddy puddle on the surface was in fact a pristine spring delivering clean water from deep underground.

WHO SHOULD DO THE COURSE? Anyone who wants to get in touch with real wilderness.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES? Everyone has different concerns. For some it’ll be bugs, spiders, scorpions.

For others it might be the lack of toilet facilities, or the heat, or being cut off from the outside world. In the end, everyone confronts their fear and comes away enriched.

WHO SHOULD NOT DO IT? Anyone who wants to chase the Big Five. People who’ll enjoy this course are happy knowing the animals are out there without needing to seek them out.

IS IT DANGEROUS? All EcoTraining guides are fully trained and qualified to lead groups in the wilderness. You’re safer out in the bush than you are driving to work in your car.

WHAT WILL PARTICIPANTS LEARN? In addition to basic wilderness skills and bush lore, they’ll get in touch with themselves and connect with nature in a deeper way.

go IN A WORD Stine: The heat was tough, and the bugs and spiders, but seeing the animals in their real environment was worth it.

Jens: The best was sleeping under the stars and really living completely outside for so long.

Matt: It was awesome to actually experience wilderness. There are wild places still left in the world but you can’t always get to them.

Harry: I’ve often camped, but it was nothing like this. I wanted to sleep out, to be really in the wild with nothing between me and nature. The best part was being on watch at night, sitting alone and listening to the sounds, being part of the bush.

Doc: There was so much, but splashing up the river at Lanner Gorge and seeing fish eagle, Goliath heron, mocking cliff chats, bee eaters and crocodiles all in a morning really stands out.

Bruce: It’s vital for the human soul to connect with nature in whatever way possible. To experience this level of wilderness is a huge privilege. Humans and animals are all part of the same system. We desperately need to preserve and protect wilderness areas, not only for the animals that live there, but for humanity’s sake.

HUMANS AND ANIMALS ARE ALL PART OF THE SAME SYSTEM. WE DESPERATELY NEED TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT WILDERNESS AREAS

From left: FN Venter, Bruce Lawson, Mat Moody, Jens Schleith, Stine Lykke Carsterven, Harry Mahieu, Bev Tucker, William Mulders (AKA the Doc).

66

| LOWVELD LIVING

A large A. digitata in the Kruger National Park.

68

giants of the land

| LOWVELD LIVING

The sacred Andombiry baobab is the largest baobab and one of the oldest in Madagascar.

One of our favourite Lowveld trees, the baobab, is the star of a new book Baobabs Of The World. Looking at these trees in Africa, Madagascar and Australia, the book provides everything you need to know about these upside down trees.

Baobab is the common name for each of the nine species of tree in the genus Adansonia. The generic name honours Michel Adanson, the French naturalist and explorer who described Adansonia digitata.

Photos Louise Jordan, Sarah Venter, Xavier Vinke, Charlie Gardner, Vincent Verra, Amanda Mullard, Andry Petignat, Ferdinand Reus

go

An immense African baobab.

Did you know of the nine species, six are native to Madagascar, two are native to mainland Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, and one is native to Australia.

Baobabs reach heights of 5 to 30m and have trunk diameters of 7 to 11m. The Glencoe baobab, a specimen of A. digitata in Limpopo Province, South Africa, was considered to be the largest living individual, with a maximum circumference of 47m and a diameter of about 15.9m.

The tree has since split into two parts, so the widest individual trunk may now be that of the Sunland baobab, or Platland tree, also in South Africa.

70

| LOWVELD LIVING

A typical columnar speciman.

Footholds carved into this stunted baobab allow locals to gather the fruit

Golden barked A.Rubrostipa baobabs grow on small limestone Tsingy islands in Moramba Bay, Madagascar.

Dawn over the baobab rich forest of Kirindy Mitea, Madagascar.

72

| LOWVELD LIVING

go

WIN Baobabs Of The World by Andry Petignat and Louise Jasper: R230, Penguin Random House.

WIN a copy. Email your contact details to info@lowveldlivingmagazine.com and put ‘Tree’ in the subject box.

Closing date is September 30, 2016. Ts & Cs apply.

live [a famous local artist and a foreign researcher inspired by the lowveld]

live

Two Friends, 1941

76

| LOWVELD LIVING

seeking life in the city

live

Beyond the Gate, 1945-7

Remembering Mpumalanga-born master of form, light and powerful township story-telling, Gerard Sekoto (1913-1993) Words Sally Roper Images © 2016 The Gerard Sekoto Foundation/ DALRO, Johannesburg Art Gallery, portrait by Peter Johnson

G

erard Sekoto, South Africa’s virtuoso of potent urban truth-telling and exquisite use of colour, light, and pattern is understood today as one of the country’s most important 20th century artists, despite being chronically underappreciated during his lifetime as a consequence of apartheid.

A number of themes come powerfully to the fore in Sekoto’s work – one of which is the story of the country dweller moving to town during the explosive expansion of South Africa’s gold mining industry in the early 20th century. Sekoto’s young life was spent in a quiet corner of Mpumalanga, where he was nurtured in a deeply simple environment. As a child, the adult Sekoto recalled, he had a lightbulb moment when he came across a drawing of his father’s illuminated with bright crayons. So excited did the child become at the thought of making images with colour that he had to run around the house to find his father to ask if he, too, could draw with these magical colours. But he was told that the special crayons could not be bought where they lived – so he had to wait to begin the love affair with colour which makes his works glow and pulse with masterful use of tone, light and shadow.

No FIFTY EIGHT |

77

Three Men at Railway Station, 1939-40

Sekoto began his education at the important Lutheran mission, Botshabelo, later training as a teacher, all the while experimenting with art. In 1934 he began teaching at Khaiso secondary school in Polokwane, where he had the chance to collaborate with other artists, including Ernest Mancoba, who was to become another extremely significant exiled 20th century artist.

This experience impressed on him the indispensable necessity of learning from other artists. In 1938 Sekoto exchanged the slow rhythms of the country for the bustle of the famous Johannesburg suburb of Sophiatown which, in the 1930s, was experiencing an intoxicating ‘golden age’ of creativity.

It was here that he began to produce the brilliant, intimate snapshots of urban life for which he is globally famous: his marvellous work of two stylish women, shown from the back, arm in arm gossiping, is an absolutely iconic South African image. Sekoto’s depiction of an exhausted man slumped in the corner of a train captures the relentless tyranny of the industrial juggernaut.

And his painting of a young mother with the demure downcast gaze of the newcomer in a crowded train carriage has many poignant stories to tell.

In 1942, Sekoto moved to Cape Town where he similarly captured the vibrancy of the soon-tobe-flattened District Six, and where he collaborated with white artists such as Walter Batiss, who were contemptuous of the attempts of the apartheid state to control the creative community.

Whilst in Cape Town, Sekoto began to experience critical and commercial success, and in 1945, moved north to live with family in the Pretoria township of Eastwood, where again he produced lyrical masterpieces drawn from daily life. These precious years spent in South Africa’s pumping mid-century city hotspots were to be a source of emotional sustenance during the years of exile ahead.

78

| LOWVELD LIVING

live

Vegetable Cart, Eastwood, 1947

Yellow Houses, 1940

Mine Boy, 1946

In 1947, because of apartheid, Sekoto decided to emigrate to Paris – then the world’s preeminent city for artists. Critics have commented that this move robbed him of the wellspring of his inspiration. For, gorgeous as it was, Paris was not home.

Sekoto was one of the first artists to depict the totally unique, and now famous, societal phenomenon of the South African township, segregated outgrowth of the apartheid city, but made into something new and extraordinary by its irrepressible, energetic and innovative inhabitants.

Other artists – especially photographers – captured with brilliance scenes from the jazz age of Sophiatown and District Six, but no painter evoked these places with their soft shadows and subtle, eloquent narratives of sacrifice and strength quite like Sekoto.

It would be incorrect to say that the artist did not produce exquisite work whilst in exile. He did – sometimes with new techniques. Even into old age, he worked on, but often returned to an idealised memory of South African township life, which continued to conjure dreams and visions of home in his mind’s eye as an inspiration from which to paint.

But the experience of exile was sometimes torturous, instantly making the man who so loved the community of people an outsider again, placing him on the fringes of another vast, yet even more alien city. Sekoto never had a family of his own, though he did have a long-term partner, who pre-deceased him, precipitating a number of financial and other crises. In 1983 he was hit by a car, an accident from which he took years to recover. As his reputation was beginning to rise back home, his star was beginning to set in his adopted city.

He died in 1993, never having returned to his homeland. Today, however belatedly, Gerard Sekoto has secured a pre-eminent place in the art history of South Africa, with his magnificent, jewel-like canvasses continuing to tell powerful stories of South Africa’s industrial and political past.

No FIFTY EIGHT |

79

live

T

a tall tale In 1956, years before Jane Goodall set foot in Africa, a young Canadian zoologist named Anne Innis Dagg, embarked on a solo trip to South Africa to study giraffes. We joined her on her return to South Africa’s Kruger National Park – her first visit in 60 years

Words Diane Tipping-Woods Photos Debbie Thompson of Bushveld Connections

he long-tailed cassias are flowering as we head into Kruger National Park’s Orpen gate. There is a light mist lingering in the tall grass and a teasing coolness in the air. It’s exactly the same season as Toronto-born Anne Innis Dagg’s first visit to South Africa almost 60 years ago, when she arrived from Canada on a mission to study giraffes in the wild.

“Look!” she exclaims as we spot a small group browsing on some tender acacia leaves just a few kilometres from the gate. “Aren’t they lovely? Just as I remember them!” Anne loves giraffes now as much as she did then, when she was the very first person to study them – or just about any other large mammal – in the wild.

“Of course, science has moved on so much from then, but at the time, there was no protocol for that kind of research. I know of one study of red deer in Scotland that predates mine. I just thought I’ll see what they do and went in and watched them,” says the zoologist and feminist with a shrug as we continue along the H7, in search of more giraffes.

Despite being one of the world’s foremost experts on giraffes and the first person in the world to study them extensively in their natural habitat, she hasn’t been back to South Africa since completing her field work on a farm near Hoedspruit. In the Lowveld to attend a symposium on giraffes, Anne is also the subject of a documentary about her life and accomplishments. Along with her academic work and most recently, her 2014 comprehensive review of giraffe research, “looking up everything that had ever been written on giraffe,” Anne wrote about her time in the Lowveld in her book, Pursuing Giraffe, which was published in 2006.

Watching the giant ruminants, Anne’s joy is unfettered. “Look how their necks move with each stride. They don’t do anything fast. They have this grace about them…” In the clasp of her hands and the intensity of her gaze, I catch a glimpse of the girl who saw her first giraffes aged

No FIFTY EIGHT |

81

live

“THEY ARE UNLIKE ZEBRAS OR ANY OTHER ANIMALS I CAN THINK OF. THEY SEEM SO CURIOUS ABOUT PEOPLE” three at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago and went on to defy the status quo and the odds to become a pioneering researcher in field of mammalian behavioural science at the age of 23.

When she made the long, solo journey by ship from Canada to South Africa, she didn’t see herself as in any way extraordinary. “I knew what I wanted to do and I did it. It seemed very sensible at the time,” she states. This is despite the fact that she had to hide her gender in her letters to South Africa trying to secure a study site for her passion project.

Although not nearly as well-publicised as threats against charismatic species like rhinos and gorillas, recent research suggests that giraffe numbers are being negatively impacted by habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict and poaching, while at the same time, scientists are learning more and more about their emotional complexity. “When I studied giraffe in South Africa in the 1950s, and co-authored a scientific book about them in 1976 and 1982, I never imagined that they might become endangered or even that there would be huge interest in them in the coming years,” she notes. While southern giraffe

82

| LOWVELD LIVING

populations are fairly heathy, some of the nine subspecies (the rest of which occur north of Zimbabwe) are in trouble, threatened by bush meat poaching and habitat loss.

Unlike some other early large mammal researchers, Anne never became particularly famous, despite her extraordinary work. Talking to her though, it’s clear that she was never interested in fame, just in good science. “I have the original notes I took from my very first day in the field. When I saw my first giraffe, I walked towards them and they looked down at me and looked a little confused. And I thought this isn’t good, because I’m learning how they react to me and I’m affecting what they do,” says Anne. After this first realisation her field work improved. “I made sure they never became habituated to my presence and I kept a good distance,” she explains.

In her eighties now, Anne navigates the game drive vehicle with ease, snapping away at the birds and animals.

The giraffe we see are strangely familiar to her despite the time that’s passed. She notes what they eat as a long purple tongue selects some tender green acacia shoots. During her field work, she observed the animals eating from about 40 different trees – knowledge of their menu has expanded over the years to almost 90 species. “They are unlike zebras or any other animals I can think of. They seem so curious about people,” she notes as the bull peers at us from under his long eye-lashes. “Other animals don’t do that, do they?”

Coming back to the Lowveld has been emotional for her. “I went and got my PhD (on the gaits of the giraffes and camels) at the University of Waterloo, Canada, but as I was a woman it wasn’t taken seriously.” As the subject of the documentary, she’s reliving the adventure and her achievements, but also the memories of a sexist academic

live world that, for many years, ignored the contributions of women scientists.

One of the most exciting developments in current giraffe research, according to Anne, is “scientists are investigating whether giraffes communicate using infrasound as elephants do. In infrasound, the frequencies are too low for humans to hear and can travel great distances from one animal to another,” she explains. Their complex social structures are also still being studied.

Later on in the day, Anne’s mood turns contemplative. Her joy at being in the bush and sharing her story is coloured with emotion about the years that have passed since her last visit. She credits her time in South Africa for making her more confident and sure of herself and what she wanted to do as a young scientist. As a leading expert on the species, Anne is passionate about giraffe conservation and has never stopped working on the issues that interest her.

“I think I’ve published something like 20 books, 60 papers, so that makes me feel good,” she says when I ask her what she’s most proud of. She wonders why giraffe perhaps haven’t captured people’s imaginations the way they captured hers. “They are so stately, so regal,” she muses as we gaze upon a female giraffe whose dark chocolate markings are catching the last of the light.

When I asked her about being referred to as the “Jane Goodall of giraffe research” by the likes of Queen’s University giraffe researcher John Doherty, Anne just shrugs and ignores the question, holding the scarf dotted with giraffes that she’s been wearing all day. She’s said all she needs to say earlier.

“I just love them. I just love giraffes.”

INFO Anne’s 2014 book Giraffe. Biology, Behaviour and Conservation, draws together the latest giraffe research into one resource on the biology, behaviour and conservation needs of giraffe. Her memoir Pursuing Giraffe is available on Amazon.

“I KNEW WHAT I WANTED TO DO AND I DID IT. IT SEEMED VERY SENSIBLE AT THE TIME” Did you know?

• A group of giraffes can be called three things: 1. A tower of giraffe 2. A journey of giraffe 3. A kaleidoscope of giraffe.

• Giraffe have the same number of vertebra in their long necks as humans.

• A giraffe gives birth standing as the baby needs that fall to start breathing.

• Giraffe spots are very similar to human finger prints, no giraffe has the same pattern.

• Male and female giraffes both have horns. A good way to tell if a giraffe is male or female is by looking at the horns. As a male will use his to fight, the top of his will be bald. The females will have black fluffy fur as they do not fight.

Courtesy of www.worldgiraffeday.org

No FIFTY EIGHT |

83

1 2 3

EXTERIOR INTERIOR

WOODCARE MADE EASY! The Sherwood 3-step system – Prepare, Protect, Maintain – makes choosing the right product as easy as child’s play. With wood strippers and revivers, varnishes, sealers and preservers, the Sherwood range offers complete woodcare solutions for just about any wood-related need. And because Sherwood is quick-drying, you can complete three coats in a single day!

/31030

Scan for more information

• WATER-BASED* • • LOW VOC • • NON-YELLOWING • • ECO-FRIENDLY • *Sherwood Hard-wearing Varnish and Sherwood Deck Sealer For more information, visit www.sherwoodsolutions.co.za are solvent-based products. or call the Customer Care Centre on 011 389 4746.

For more information, visit www.sherwoodsolutions.co.za or call the Customer Care Centre on 011 389 4746.

spaces [can’t see the houses for the trees]

spaces

living with trees 86

| LOWVELD LIVING

The riparian trees in Selati Game Reserve take centre stage in an innovatively designed eco-lodge that combines canvas, glass and wood to astonishing effect Words Dianne Tipping-Woods Photos Sven Musica

I

t’s a beautiful feeling to awaken in the embrace of a weeping boer-bean as the light filters through the canopy of trees in the Selati Game Reserve. The roaring of lions has given way to the dawn chorus and as the soft green light brightens, the elements in the room around me materialise, as if by magic.

“Our brief to architect Reiner Förtsch from Förtsch+ Associates always involved the idea that the lodge facilitates an experience,” says Rob Snaddon, former MD of H.L. Hall & Sons and Chairperson of the Selati Game Reserve.

Opening the glass doors and rolling down the blinds on the canvas walls, I watch the light in the glade and its effect on the unvarnished wood. I feel the privilege of being a guest in this wilderness; close to the earth, kissed by the wind, nourished by the trees. At a glance they appear to be holding up the roof over my head.

The inspiration for the design of Huja Lodge, which was completed in 2015 as part of H.L. Hall & Sons’ 125 year celebrations, began with selecting a site; which was all about the trees: nyala berries, knobthorns, marulas, weeping boerbeans and more. “It was round about October when we flew over the reserve in a helicopter and looked for the green spots; an oasis in the grey,” says Snaddon, who managed the build with the MD of the company’s property division, James Aling. The lodge is reserved for the use of the family and forms part of the company’s extensive property portfolio.

While a spot in a riparian zone limits light pollution and provides shade, two factors that were important to the team, it also brings with it a whole suite of responsibilities. “There are ethical and compliance issues to building in ecologically

spaces

THE DESIGN OF THE PROPERTY IS CONDUCIVE TO BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER

Above and left: Exterior and interior dining areas were designed to maximise the views.

Below: Latte overhangs shelter the outside areas.

Opposite page: Comfortable rooms are simply furnished in blonde wood and subtle greys and greens.

88

| LOWVELD LIVING

sensitive zones and it was important to us that we address them fully,” says Rob. “We had a floor plan in mind, we had a location and we knew that we wanted something that would minimise our ecological footprint, but conceptualising the building was an iterative process,” Rob explains. Visits to other lodges, site visits and discussions with Reiner and an intensive EIA process lasting 18 months, resulted in Huja as it sits today, a den of wood and glass and canvas perched lightly on the earth, allowing it to breathe.

“The EIA allowed for a camp constructed largely of temporary structures,” says Förtsch. “Conceptually this translated into a hybrid structure of tented screens with timber posts and beams and a minimum of brick walls. A low sloping sheet metal roof with wide latte overhangs screens the tented structures from the sun.”

With the majority of the structure anchored by wooden stakes sourced from sustainably harvested forests, the concrete work is minimal. The camp is gas and solar powered, with a 10 kilowatt system that “can drive everything except air conditioners and walk-in freezers,” notes Rob. The treated effluent is pumped 100 metres beyond the 100-year flood line by solar pumps.

The layout of the lodge follows the contours of the usually-dry riverbed and fresh tracks each morning indicate the wildlife that have passed by. “It’s a gathering place for family and friends,” says Rob, who believes that the design of the property is conducive to bringing people together around the central living area, while the game moves around them, relatively undisturbed.

The main building consists of two bedrooms, the kitchen,

spaces

Top: A modest pool offers respite from the heat.

Above: A classic boma setting.

Opposite page: Unimposing exterior architecture blends into the landscape.

90

| LOWVELD LIVING

living room, outside patio, boma and pool. Large glass doors open up completely onto the external living spaces. Catching a glimpse of the signature Tony Fredriksson driftwood leopard in the living room, a gift from H.L. Hall and Sons CEO Pete Backwell, it’s easy to imagine its doppelganger slinking through the property as if the walls aren’t there at all.

This effect will only grow with time as the treated but unvarnished wood greys to tone in with the bark of the surrounding trees, just as the large sun screen overhangs on the building echo the living canopy that envelopes the site. Subtle décor by Chazelle Brink completes the effect, with furnishings that enhance the sense of place, rather than trying to alter it. At certain times of day, you won’t know if you’re inside or out…

For Rob, Huja (which is simply the name on the title deed of the property) symbolises a particular moment in an evolutionary process – for him, for H.L. Hall & Sons and as a thinking human being. “Having become conscientised to the issues of sustainability, a green approach is a sensible approach to building something in a place we love, that is dedicated to conservation,” he notes.

“I came here with my father as a child, when Selati was still a ranch,” he recalls, reminiscing about the happy childhood hours he spent exploring. Today, he is proud of the shift that has been made from a working farm to a game reserve which he hopes will become one of the foremost conservation research centres in the Lowveld and South Africa.

“There hasn’t been an epiphany or an ‘aha’ moment,” he notes. Instead, Huja reflects the value of the reserve to the Hall family. As their memories root with the trees, they’ll hear the message in their embrace: tread lightly on the earth, for one day you will be all be gone and only the trees will linger on.

spaces

92

| LOWVELD LIVING

house of glass “MORE THAN ANYTHING, THE HOUSE IS A PLATFORM IN THE BUSH – A VIEWING DECK” Words Graham Wood Production Sven Alberding, Gina Waldman Photos Greg Cox/bureaux.co.za

spaces

Above: Simple dĂŠcor refuses to compete with the views.

Left and below: The main bedroom has stilts more than four metres high to raise it to this position, creating some of the best views the house has.

94

| LOWVELD LIVING

“MORE THAN ANYTHING”, HE SAID, “THE HOUSE SHOULD CREATE A SENSE OF PROXIMITY TO NATURE, AND AN ENHANCED AWARENESS OF IT”

D

epending on the time of day, the weather, the light and the season, you can see anything between three and seven layers of the Waterberg Mountain range from the deck of this weekend getaway. It looks out from a ridge in the foothills of the mountain range across a vast valley of pristine bushveld towards a section of the range know as Boshoffsberg Mountain Range in the Marakele National Park, Waterburg. “As the light changes and as the sun moves, as one layer seems to disappear, you become aware of another and then another,” says its owner, Kobie Delport.

The mountains seem to vary in shades of purple and grey. “Everyone underestimates how beautiful the views of the bushveld are,” says architect Johan Wentzel, who, together with his wife and partner Grete van As of W Design and Architecture Studio, designed the house. “We always think of an ocean view being dynamic, but this changes constantly.”

For Kobie, the view was paramount. He wanted the architecture to be subservient to the setting, maximising it at every opportunity. More than anything, he said, the house should create a sense of proximity to nature, and an enhanced awareness of it. There were certain aesthetic guidelines and building requirements on the reserve, the most significant of which was that the roofs should all be thatch, which necessitated a 45-degree pitch, so Johan and Grete had to work within certain restrictions.

The cluster of glass-gabled chalets they conceived, while using simple, unadorned materials, represents a complex relationship between the building and its natural setting. The thatch-and-gum-poles typical of bushveld lodges actually belie a far more modern space – more closely resembling a series of glass pavilions than the more common lodge aesthetic and hip construction.

Locals have nicknamed the chalets the driehoekhuisies (little triangle houses) because of the silhouette of their unusual glass gables.

Johan and Grete broke up the rooms into what Johan calls a “loose structure” with three separate pitched roofs each for the living area and two bedrooms, connected by a series of uncovered paths. “With thatch-roof homes, the bigger they get, the higher and wider they become,” says Johan. Breaking it up allowed them to keep each roof smaller and less imposing on the landscape than a great, thatch “cathedral”, as Johan refers to them, breaking the horizon as little as possible.

The structure is essentially a concrete platform on stilts – some of them over four metres high. They basically “took a level and built a platform off it”.

“The house touches the ground with a series of columns,” says Johan. You can barely even see them now as the trees below have grown and the vegetation

spaces

Above: The pool is on a lower level so it doesn’t interfere with the view.

Left: With the glass walls pushed aside, the distinction between inside and outside is all but invisible, especially as the outside deck is covered with a shade of latte, a lattice or screen made from thin wattle branches, that seem to extend the interior space.

Opposite page: The seating and dining area is simple and positioned to make the most of the 270-degree views from the main living pavilion with access to the deck from two sides.

Below: Three glass gables peek out from the bush, respectful of the natural surroundings.

96

| LOWVELD LIVING

“IT’S NOT ABOUT LOOKING AT THE BUILDING, IT’S ABOUT BEING INSIDE THE BUILDING AND LOOKING OUT”

has filled in. “More than anything, the house is a platform in the bush – a viewing deck,” says Johan.

Kobie decided he was going to build the house himself, and lived on site for three months. “We weren’t allowed to have workers in the reserve outside working hours,” he recalls, “so I booked them in at a nearby hotel. Every day I would pick them up and take them to work.” For his part, he slept in a rooftop tent on his trailer.

The concrete for the columns and platform was mixed with two mixers on site and thrown by hand. Kobie was very careful to preserve indigenous tress, building around them. “There was a red bush willow right next to one of the foundations,” he recalls. “I was worried that we’d damaged it, and every morning I had the guys water it. It survived and now it’s a big tree.”

The concrete platform topped with glass and thatch seems to float, while other sections are earthy and grounded. Solid walls were made from rock.

“Those rocks are local,” says Kobie. For hundreds of years the rock on the reserve was mined for tin, and there are remnants of stone walls associated with the defunct mines. “That’s where we got the rocks from,” says Kobie, who trucked them across the reserve in his trusty Landcruiser.

spaces

The fireplace is one of the most powerful and memorable aspects of the house. It serves as a focal point in the foreground, but with its floating chimney, frames the view rather than obstructing it. The colour of the front door and fireplace was matched with the leaves of a prominent bush willow on the site.

98

| LOWVELD LIVING

“IF YOU SHOWER, YOU SHOWER WITH A VIEW. IF YOU BATH, YOU BATH WITH A VIEW. IF YOU STAND IN THE KITCHEN DOING DISHES, EVERYTHING IS VIEW-ORIENTATED. WHATEVER YOU DO, THERE’S A VIEW”

The rock imparts a sense of gravity to the house, making it seem almost as if the walls are growing out of the landscape, “pushed together to make this shelter”, as Johan puts it. The contrast of the rock with the light, glassy void of the interiors sets up a constant contrast – nature and building, solid and void, grounded and floating – creating awareness of nature through this dialogue.

The interior finishes are deliberately simple: cement screed floors, concrete counter tops, wood, thatch and stone. “It’s not about looking at the building, it’s about being inside the building and looking out,” says Johan. And the views are indeed spectacular. “Each and every room and bathroom there has a view,” says Kobie. “If you shower, you shower with a view. If you bath, you bath with a view. If you stand in the kitchen doing dishes or preparing food, everything is view-orientated. Whatever you do, there’s a view.”

The space in each of the thatched volumes is evenly divided between a solid half and a light half. “The solid half is where all the services are,” says Johan. The living areas are light and open, the shelter they provide “is almost incidental”. “Johan studied the arc and the phases of the moon,” says Kobie, “so you see the moon coming up through the east gable, then it disappears, and when you wake up it appears again in the west through the gable.” The same holds for the passage of the sun throughout the day as it animates the building, and, more importantly, its surroundings.

This awareness of the subtleties of the passage of time built into the structure adds an almost intangible dimension to the ever-changing view, enriching the experience of it with a secret dimension beyond the visible.

spaces

Left: The bathrooms are housed in the solid sections of the bedroom pavilions. They are designed as wet rooms, with open showers.

Above: Views over the game farm, 3 400 hectares of bushveld, with a wide range of game.

100

| LOWVELD LIVING

For all your editing, proofreading, summarising, letter writing & CV requirements: Call the professionals – EditPro We will dot your ‘eyes’ and cross your ‘tees’!

Gavin Sinclair 013 750 2870 | 083 285 0499 | gavins@icon.co.za www.editpro.co.za

To advertise here call Audrey Ford 072 726 4660 Lizette Steenberg 081 309 1430

MARKET PLACE

MalcolM Funston African Wildlife Photographic Fine Art Prints

malcolmfunston.com funstonms@telkomsa.net

102 | LOWVELD LIVING

031 568 1926

Middelburg-Nelspruit-AugustAd-portrait.pdf

1

2016/07/22

2:09 PM

MARKET PLACE

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

No FIFTY EIGHT |

103

MARKET PLACE

104 | LOWVELD LIVING

ALL-NEW JAGUAR F-PACE

ABOVE ALL, IT’S A JAGUAR.

Welcome to Jaguar as you’ve never seen it before. Now you can enjoy the dramatic drive and beauty Jaguar is renowned for, with added practicality.

Inspired by F-TYPE, its powerful, muscular looks give the All-New F-PACE a head-turning road presence. And it delivers the connected steering feel and sharp, responsive handling of a sports car too, thanks to its aluminium double wishbone front and Integral Link rear suspension.

A master of sporting performance and everyday practicality, F-PACE raises the game.

Call or visit to find out more: Jaguar Nelspruit 40 Madiba Drive, Riverside Park, Nelspruit 013 760 1000 nelspruit.jaguar.co.za

BOOK YOUR TEST DRIVE TODAY