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LOWVELD LIVING ISSUE SIXTY FOUR | SPRING 2017

R30.00 (incl VAT)

WIN BOOKS & WINE | SA NATIONAL PARKS PHOTOGRAPHED | TRENDING FOOD TRUCKS | NEW KIDS’ SECTION | MACRAMÉ’S STYLISH REVIVAL LOCAL TRAVEL DESTINATIONS | CHATTING WITH LOWVELD AUTHORS

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I am going to try to pay attention to the spring.

I am going to look around at all the flowers, and look up at the hectic trees.

I am going to close my eyes and listen.

I love this

’’

quote by Anne Lamott, an American writer, because it mirrors my hopes for the next half of the year, and that starts with spring. This year has just rushed by and we are officially over half way to Christmas. How many of us take the time to stop, pause and smell the roses?

It’s rush… rush… rush… And I’m not alone.

So this edition, I have provided you with a gentle distraction from the whirlwind of this thing called life. Beautiful images from across South Africa, stories on interesting people, amazing LOCAL places to visit and some super WINS. Take some time out of your busy day. Pay attention to spring, look at the flowers, the trees, close your eyes and listen – take stock – and then enjoy your latest edition of Lowveld Living.

top tips for spring • Read! Pick up a novel, go outside, enjoy the sunshine and read. And read to your kids!

• Spring clean your home. De-clutter your space and you will de-clutter your mind.

• Visit a local treasure. We are surrounded by amazing places – don’t let your backyard just be for tourists.

• Eat amazing food and drink great wines. We have a few recommendations because life is too short for mediocre.

EDITOR Nicky Manson, nicky@lowveldlivingmagazine.com | EDITORIAL Nicky Manson, Faan Boshoff, Lynn Haken, Jenny Chaplin, Bev Tucker | ADVERTISING Audrey Ford audrey@lowveldlivingmagazine.com | PHOTOGRAPHY Africa Photographic Services DESIGN Creative Union | PROOF READING EditPro | EDITORIAL info@lowveldlivingmagazine.com | DISTRIBUTION GMF Consulting PRINTING Paarl Media KZN | CONTACT US 013 751 3330, 013 750 0049 | COVER Mopane Woodland, Kruger National Park – South Africa’s Wildest Places by Scott Ramsay. © Copyright 2017 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.

inside play kids eat style

Win book & wine hampers, discover the exciting photographic journey of Scott Ramsay and entice birds into your garden this spring

A new section for our little Lowveld readers – books, cool stuff & a family holiday destination outside Nelspruit

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Wine & dine and take a look at the growing trend of food trucks in the Lowveld and beyond

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Beautiful stuff we want, and the incredibly stylish world of macramĂŠ

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We visit Buhala on route to Mozambique

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We are celebrating the second Lowveld Book Festival and chat to Lowveld authors Nikki Meyer and Sam Ferreira

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go live

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The latest releases in the book world A new photographic coffee table book Enticing birds into the garden

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words ’n wine Words Nicky Manson

This edition we are pairing wines with books and we have three great combos bound to inspire you

Wild As It Gets by Don Pinnock: Wanderings of a bemused naturalist is a collection of stories and thought provoking questions put to the reader by awardwinning travel writer and naturalist Pinnock. Quirky titles to his musings include, The artful reverse navigation of moonstruck poo rollers and The strange tale of a druglord and his roaming monsters referring to Escobar and his African hippo collection, of course. R240, Tafelberg.

Maestra by L.S Hilton: The book introduces Judith Rashleigh, a seemingly average assistant, who works at an art auction house. She quits when a client makes sexual advances and ends up working in a hostess bar as a companion to wealthy clients. This is the beginning of her adventure that takes her across the world in search of art, riches and mayhem. What happens is murder. Intriguing, it will keep you glued to its pages. Its sequel Domino is now out too, and continues where Maestra ends. Double whammy, double action, double suspense and best paired with a Tokara Sauvignon Blanc.

R266, Jonathan Ball Publishers.

Win a copy of Maestra & Domino and a bottle of Tokara Sauvignon Blanc courtesy of Tops@Spar. Send your contact details and address to info@lowveldlivingmagazine.com and put ‘White Wine & Read’ in the subject box. Closing date is September 31, 2017. Ts & Cs apply.

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The Absence Of Guilt by Mark Gimenez: When the FBI uncover plans for an ISIS terrorist attack on American soil, it’s up to US district Judge A. Scott Fenney to decide if the arrested 24 co-conspirators are guilty. Mustafa, a prominent and notorious Muslim cleric, is thought to be the leader but there is no evidence. Tensions mount in the Muslim community, and all the while the Dallas Super Bowl is just around the corner. How sure are they all that they have the right guy? R272, Jonathan Ball Publishers.

The Moment She Left by Susan Lewis: Lewis offers an easy read every time. Never predictable, her stories present loveable characters and good storylines. They follow the life of Andee Lawrence, now an ex-police detective, who lives in the seaside town of Kesterly-on-Sea. In this book, Andee’s marriage has come to an end and she has left the police force. So when a local family asks her to look further into the search of their missing daughter Jessica, a young student who vanished without a trace two years earlier, Andee dives in.

She also has her own demons to battle as her own 14-year-old sister vanished 30 years ago. R212, Penguin Random House.

read Into The Water by Paula Hawkins: This is the author of The Girl on The Train’s second novel and it does not disappoint. Julia has been intrigued by the drowning pool since she was young child; a pool created by the wild river that runs through her hometown. It has been the site of a number of suicides over the years and has become somewhat infamous. Julia’s book on the subject matter has caused a stir in the sleepy town especially since some of its residents have been recent victims of the drowning pool… and then Julia is found drowned there too. Did she commit suicide like the many women before her or is there something more sinister at work? Interesting and complex characters. Great storyline and twists. Great read with a Fat Bastard Merlot. R302, Penguin Random House.

Authentic. How To be Yourself and Why It Matters by Professor Stephen Joseph: Psychologist Joseph takes the reader through a number of situations to determine if you are living a life that’s really true to who you are and then offers steps to make that shift of priorities so you can live a happier and more contented life. It looks at the expectation of friendships, your children, setting boundaries and more. Interesting reading. R315, Jonathan Ball Publishers.

WIN a copy of Into The Water and a bottle of Fat Bastard Merlot courtesy of Tops@Spar. Send your contact details and address to info@lowveldlivingmagazine. com and put ‘Red Wine & Read’ in the subject box. Closing date is September 31, 2017. Ts & Cs apply.

Mend The Living by Maylis De Kerangal: This is a tragic story of three young friends who venture one early, freezing morning to surf. A trip they have made a 100 times but today will be different, today two parents will have to make a terrifying and gut wrenching decision that will affect them and others around them forever. It’s a sensitive topic, and without giving too much away, makes you question what you would do in the same situation.

Sad, yet written beautifully. There are no happy endings here. Longlisted for the Man Booker International Prize 2016. R360, Jonathan Ball Publishers.

Not Working by Lisa Owens: Claire Flannery quits her job to give herself the free time to decide what she really wants to do with her life… but this is never as romantic as it sounds. It reminded me a bit of Bridget Jones’s Diary in the way it is written in first person. It’s personal and you live through Claire’s day-to-day existence with her. It’s funny, sharp and also sad and will resonate with most young female readers still trying to find their place in the world. Great with a cool glass of Olive Brook Moscato Rosé, its quirky pages are an easy read. R263, Pan MacMillan.

WIN a copy of Not Working and a bottle of Olive Brook Moscato Rosé courtesy of Tops@Spar.

Send your contact details and address to info@lowveldlivingmagazine.com and put ‘Rosé Wine & Read’ in the subject box. Closing date is September 31, 2017. Ts & Cs apply.

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It took me a total of three years to complete my travels to all the parks, but I was away for about a month or two at a time, and then returned home for a few weeks.

intothewild

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Scott Ramsay’s book, South Africa’s Wildest Places, was recently published and is a magnificent photographic showcase of some South Africa’s most beautiful landscapes and its inhabitants

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Scott Ramsay grew up

in the suburbs of Cape Town, spending holidays in the Kruger National Park and Etosha National Park. “But I wasn’t in love with nature back then, like I am now. Today the meaning of my life is directly linked to a love for the natural world,” says Scott.

He perceives Africa’s wild places and its wildlife as global treasures, deserving of the utmost care and protection. “The only truly real thing is the natural world around us. For me, I believe the natural world and wilderness is the paradise we all seek, even if it’s not always the paradise described in a dictionary.

“I didn’t plan on publishing a book. I simply followed my heart, and along the way I was fortunate to meet a team of people that believed in my work, and what I was trying to do. The book is really just another way for me to spread the message of conservation. If our continent’s natural heritage is going to survive, or thrive, then every kid and every adult should ideally know the names and locations of these sacred places. These parks need to be part of our language, of our discourse, of our daily lives.”

My approach to photography is incidental. I try to explore an area as much as possible, then take photos along the way.

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Each and every park I visited is remarkable in its own right. I had an extra special connection with the Richtersveld. I fell in love with those desert mountains, the Orange River, the heat, the starry skies and those statuesque kokerbome.

The other place that speaks to me is Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, Africa’s oldest formal protected area, and the birth place of wilderness conservation in Africa. There is a wild presence there that whispers in your ear constantly. It’s also very beautiful and diverse.

EVERYTHING TRENDING THIS SEASON. INDOOR & OUTDOOR. ALL UNDER ONE ROOF. FREE ENTRANCE.

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082 494 4279 Interestingly, I’ve never been scared of anything in the wild. On the contrary, most of the time I feel a deep sense of contentment. I’ve encountered elephants and lions on foot, but always in the company of some very good guides; people like Nunu Jobe in iMfolozi and John Anderson and Irving Knight in the Kruger National Park.

www.finditpromo.co.za

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I am more inspired by nature, wilderness and wildlife than anything else. For me, there is no art, science, book, architecture, music or man-made invention that comes close to the inspiration of nature. I love losing myself in the moment of photography… when all that matters is the elephant, lion, dung beetle or thunderstorm that I see through my camera lens. It’s a deeply meditative state, and there are times when I believe that the animal, land or ocean and I are connected – and perhaps even communicating in some way.

I explored and photographed about 45 protected areas in total across South Africa. There are 19 national parks, and so those had to be part of the book, simply because they are national parks. I also went to a lot of different provincial nature reserves, many of which are world-famous, like the Drakensberg and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi. For the book, I couldn’t include all 45, so I made a judgement on which 30 were the most special based on which biomes they protected, their size and their sense of “wilderness”.

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Everything is my favourite, depending on how you look at it. An elephant, a giraffe, an aardvark… these are creatures that defy human imagination. It all depends on your perception of what’s usual or unusual. Our greatest challenge, and our greatest hope, I believe, is to recalibrate our perception of nature and wildlife, so that once again each creature and plant and landscape becomes a thing of ultimate wonder and mystery.

I had so many adventures whilst researching the book. Some are seemingly insignificant, like when I heard the calls of woodland kingfishers, or when dust got up my nostrils, and I felt like part of the Earth. Then there are the “big” moments, when time really does stand still. I’ll never forget keeping watch around the fire, as my friends slept, and listening to two male lions roaring on either side of our camp in the iMfolozi wilderness. Soon after, a male leopard rasped its territorial call, and stared at me, its yellow eyes blinking brightly in the light of my torch.

WIN a copy of South Africa’s Wildest Places. Email your contact details and address to info@ lowveldlivingmagazine.com and put ‘Scott Ramsay’ in the subject box.

Closing date is September 30, 2017.

Ts & Cs apply. Buy online at www.

LoveWildAfrica.com. Delivery is free.

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grow it

and they will come The Plant Whisperer offers gardening and landscaping tips and ideas Words Faan Boshoff aka the Plant Whisperer Photos Pexels

Planning and creating a garden that welcomes wildlife is a wonderful endeavor and there are few easy steps to making insects and birds welcome visitors.

1. Create a forest canopy with interlinking trees to create a green corridor along which animals like birds, monkeys and fruit bats can move freely. Choose indigenous trees that naturally occur in your area.

2. Create an exclusion area. This is the most remote part of your garden with the least human activity. Here you can plant small trees, shrubs and ground cover quite densely to attract nature’s creatures.

3. By creating a natural pond and wetlands system you will attract birds normally associated with water as well as a wide range of reptiles and amphibians. A wetland will filter your pond water if allowed to circulate through densely planted bulrushes and papyrus.

4. Leave an open spot for a sand-bath. The use of soft sand will ensure that birds and other wildlife will come to sand-bathe.

5. Your open areas can also be planted with low-growing fruiting shrubs and various other grasses and ground cover. This will attract wildlife into the open making them easy to spot.

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TIPS The greater the diversity of plants, the greater the diversity of wildlife.

Use plants and shrubs that fruit and flower during different times of the year, to ensure birds visit you all year round. Plants that attract insects will draw birds closer.

Great plants to attract birds include the Wild Date Palm, Monkey Pod, Brown Ivory, Snuff Box tree, Fig trees, Water Berry, Cape Ash, Nyalaberry tree, Mitzeree and the Sunbird Bush.

socials

Movie premiere - La La Land

Lowveld Living, Brosens Cochrane Attorneys and Casterbridge Cinema hosted an exclusive sneak preview of the Oscar winning La La Land recently. We walked the red carpet lined by candle light, sipped on strawberry champagne cocktails, tasted wines by Alvies Drift and dined on Magnolia Restaurant’s gourmet pizzas. There were prizes galore for the best dressed, and the most stylish of the evening walked away with subscriptions, pedicure vouchers, Zannas Deli vouchers, Gary Rom vouchers and Casterbridge Cinema movie tickets. Photos Hilton Kotze Africa Photographic Services

Lowveld Book Festival 19 & 20 August

The Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre is proud to present the second Lowveld Book Festival, including the following: • Panel discussions • Authors’ interviews • Book stalls • Children’s storytime • Poetry slam • Movie Tickets are R50 unless otherwise specified on the programme.

Tickets are available online at www.lowveldbookfestival.co.za, our Facebook page, www.quicket.co.za or contact 071 134 8172.

In support of Books in Homes and the Rotary Club of White River.

CASTERBRIDGE CINEMA PRESENTS BEYOND THE RIVER

Times

Barnyard

SATURDAY 19th August 09.00 - 09.45

Billionaires under Construction. The Lowveld Book Festival and KLCBT present a breakfast event with DJ Sbu’. Have you ever wondered what goes on inside a successful entrepreneur’s head … how they come up with their ground-breaking ideas, how they turn them into a business, how they handle failure and what it takes to get them where they are today? R50

10.15 - 11.00

The Drawbacks of Telling it all to a Greedy Public. With Sam Cowen (From Whiskey to Water) and Gareth Cliff (Cliffhanger) R50

11.30 - 12.45

When things fall apart – can writing and ranting help to reverse our National Decline? Gus Silber in discussion with Richard Pithouse (Writing the Decline), Dale McKinley (SA’s Corporatised Liberation), Sizwe Yende (Eerie Assignment) and Athol Williams (Pushing Boulders) R50

13.45 - 14.30

Youth and Adult Literature… Derick van der Walt in conversation with Mattie Coetzee. Derick discusses his three youth books: Lien se Lankstaanskoene, Willem Poprok and Hoopvol and his two adult books: Daan Dreyer se blou geranium and Bambaduze. (An Afrikaans event) – FREE

15.00 - 15.45

Love, Loss and Literature : the fifth Mrs Brink in conversation with Arthur Sithole.

The story of Karina M Szczurek’s life before, during and after her marriage to Andre P. Brink. Polish-born Karina was twenty-seven when she met the acclaimed writer, and they spent a decade together. Here she chronicles their relationship and finally facing the challenges of Andre’s deteriorating health in the last year of his life. R50

16.15

Forgotten World : An Audio Visual talk. Marius Bakkes (The Lowvelder) in conversation with Prof. Peter Delius (Professor of History at Wits University) about his book Forgotten World: the stone-walled settlements of the Mpumalanga Escarpment. (90min) R50

Please note duration of each event

SUNDAY 20th August 10.00 - 10.45

The Disruptors : Can business change the world? Can the world change business?

Kerryn Krige and Gus Silber meet South Africa’s social entrepreneurs, journeying through their failures and successes in setting up businesses that exist to achieve social change and profit. This session is a lesson in what works, what hasn’t and why South Africa is the perfect environment for social entrepreneurship. R50

11.15 - 12.00

Brave Lotus Flower Rides the Dragon. Gareth Cliff interviews Tracy Todd – an intimate and inspiring memoir of a Quadriplegic. R50

12.30 - 13.15

Roads and Stories : Nicky Manson talks to Fikile Hlatswayo, author of the hilarious and subversive Blacks do Caravan; Adam Cruise who has written the intriguing King Soloman the Showman and Bridget Hilton-Barber, author of Student, Comrade, Prisoner, Spy, a powerful tale of her time as a student activist, detained after she was betrayed by her friend who was a spy for the apartheid security police. R50

Saturday 19th Aug 18H00 Sunday 20th Aug 14H00 An uplifting true story about the partnership between Piers Cruikshanks and Siseko Ntondini that inspired the movie Beyond the River. Cruikshanks is an English teacher, an Academic director and an acclaimed sportsman. Ntondini a paddler from the Soweto Canoe Club, with the dream of winning the gold medal in the Dusi. Their decision to train together as a team entailed overcoming both cultural and physical challenges to the required level of expertise. A feelgood adventure story with special appeal to those interested in sport and training for goals.

Lounge

Boardroom

“I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.” Groucho Marx An Invitation to Dream. How storytelling through memoir and poetry can take readers on journeys of discovery. Athol Williams shares stories from his autobiography, Pushing Boulders, and in discussion with poets Mercy Dube and Tlhookomelo Mashile discuss how their poetry invites readers into their worlds, and invites readers to rekindle old dreams or create dreams anew. R50 Scarred but not for life. After a deliberate and malicious act changed Kim McCusker’s life forever, Tracey McDonald finds out about the impact this senseless attack has had on her outlook on life; the choices she has made as a result and her attitude towards surviving and thriving in life despite what has come her way. R50 Wildlife Wars. Tall tales and true from the frontline of the fight to save Africa’s natural heritage. Quinton Coetzee in discussion with Tony Park (The Cull), Mario Cesare (Heart of a Game Ranger) and Nikki Meyer (Game for Anything/Rhino Walking Safari). R50

The Need for Diversity in Youth and Children’s Literature.

A discussion with Jayne Bauling (Game Plan); Elaine Pillay (Zwai and the little Creature) and Bandile Sibuyi – FREE

SATURDAY 19th August 09.30 - 12.00 A Workshop by Isabella Morris : A ticket to the world Who doesn’t dream of travelling the world for free? Travel writing is one way of doing it. In this hands-on workshop, writers will learn the basic skills needed to become a travel writer and how to break in to the industry without experience. R100 Isabella Morris – writer, ghostwriter, editor, teacher – is the author of two full-length books, a book of short stories, and Kuperard’s 2018 Culture Smart! South Africa. Her stories and articles have appeared in numerous publications, locally and internationally, and she’s been nominated for the Pushcart prize.

Isabella earned her MA in Writing from Wits University and is the owner of The Write Place, which offers editing and writing instruction locally and internationally. She has won numerous awards for her writing, but is still thrilled to have received an honourable mention from JM Coetzee for her 2009 short story Bluette.

“I enjoy teaching writing because as a writer myself, I know how difficult it is to find a way into a story, and so it is always such a joy to show writers different ways of approaching and framing their stories”. When not teaching, Isabella is writing her own stories and editing other writers. She enjoys reading Arabic fiction in translation.

13.45 - 14.30 Murder she Wrote. Fiona Snyckers leads a discussion with Jassy Mackenzie and Angela Makholwa. As thriller writing evolves both locally and internationally, women writers are at the forefront of new sub-genres like domestic suspense and grip-lit. Join these mistresses of local thriller writing as they discuss the latest developments in thriller writing. (45min). R50

Bridget Hilton-Barber in discussion with David Hilton-Barber : “The past no longer belongs only to those who lived in it; the past belongs to those who claim it, and are willing to explore it and infuse it with meaning for those alive today” - with reference to his book, the Malaboch War and other stories. R50

An Eerie Assignment : Carol Sanderson (Rise FM) talks to Sizwe Yende: A memoir detailing Sizwe’s experience as an investigative journalist probing the corruption of the Mpumalanga government officials under the leadership of Premier David Mabuza. R50

15.00 - 15.45

The Poole Diaries. Louis Changuion introduces the author Bill Yeowart. Robert Poole kept a diary in which he meticulously recorded his thoughts, impressions and observations, for the entire first year of the Boer war. This work, until now, an unknown document, sheds new light on the war which took place over a hundred years ago. – FREE The Duke from Haenertsburg. Marius Bakkes chats to Louis Changuion. This book is an overview of the life and times of the 11th Duke of Atholl. It is an extraordinary story of a man who did not expect to be elevated into that position and who accepted the title rather reluctantly. – FREE

A Workshop : How to Write Your Family History David and Bridget Hilton-tBarber, present guidelines on the process for those who are interested in recording their family’s memoirs. This includes a power point presentation. R100

SUNDAY 20th August 10.00 - 12.00 Isabella Morris presents her Workshop: From Start to Finish Isabella Morris presents a practical workshop that focuses on taking a writing project from start to finish. How to get the idea onto the page; how to sustain the writing momentum until The End. This course will include theory, practical exercises and worksheets to take away. R100

Please note that the Lowveld Book Festival programme is subject to change without prior notice

Mail&Guardian AFRICA’S BEST READ

kids Kids stuff & cool wins Story time Travel with kids

kids

kids stuff healthy & happy kids Earthsap’s tea-tree hand sanitizer is biodegradable, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. Perfect for keeping kids clean and healthy. Available online from www.faithful-to-nature.co.za

wint i

I thawt I saw a puddytat The Jackal and Baard leather range is very much a product of Lowveld talent, with the legacy of the little Silver-Backed Jackal as its foundation logo. They have recently introduced the Puddytat – an adorable range of baby shoes. R240, available online from www.jackalandbaard.com.

WIN a pair of Puddytat moccasions. Email your contact details and address to info@lowveldlivingmagazine.com and put ‘Jackal & Baard’ in the subject box. Closing date is September 30, 2017. Ts & Cs apply. extreme strolling THULE recently launched their Sport Stroller range that is being dedicated to being “Active with Kids”. Its lightweight aerodynamic design is perfect for some serious pavement pounding, as well as short walks and everyday errands. It offers easy manoeuvrability, a comfortably shaped and well-positioned handlebar with extended multi-position and a hand-activated front brake. It also has a large storage compartment with a zippered water resistant cover. R8 999, available from Kids Emporium, and online at www.kapasbaby.com, www.thule.com/za. nom nom Your little ones will love Olli Munch Bars. Each bar is individually wrapped and perfect for on-the-go snacks and lunch boxes.

Made with whole oats and sweetened with dates and honey, they also have prebiotics in them to keep little tums healthy. Available in three flavours, yogurt, chocolate and apricot. Available from Dis-Chem and Baby City.

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NELSPRUIT

The Very Best of…

win it just stack em Tsums Tsums are the latest craze when it come to collectible toys. Tsums, which mean ‘stack stack’ in Japanese are stackable, totally cute, and come in all different shapes and sizes. There are a number of ranges including Disney Tsum Tsums and Marvel Tsum Tsums and are suitable for ages six and older.

Available from Toys R Us and ToyZone.

Children’s wear Travel Systems Essentials Maternity Furniture Toys & Gifts Décor

WIN a pack of Disney or Marvel Tsums Tsums. Email your contact details and address to info@lowveldlivingmagazine.com and put ‘Tsums’ in the subject box. Closing date is September 30, 2017. Ts & Cs apply.

building our future Uplands is a Christian, independent, English-speaking co-educational school operating under the auspices of the Anglican Church and offering schooling to boys and girls from Grades 000 to 12, with boarding from Grade 5 upwards. The foundations upon which the school is built is their values, as they offer a forwardthinking, holistic and progressive curriculum, within a supportive and disciplined environment. Uplands opened its doors in 1928 and turns 90 next year. They offer exceptional facilities in the academic, sporting and cultural arenas, and are situated on a picturesque, peaceful 110-hectare country estate in White River. There is a daily bus from Nelspruit and the school is only 366km from Johannesburg and two hours from Swaziland and Maputo. www.uplands.co.za

Ask about our Décor Service! hester@kidsemporium.co.za 013 752 3019 | Shop 68, Crossing Shopping Centre, Corner of N4 and Madiba Drive

kids

story time

Mr Humperdinck’s Wonderful Whatsit and the sequel Mr Humperdinck’s Mysterious Manuscripts by Wynand Louw: These are for older kids (age 12 and up) and could just be the new Harry Potter books. Follow the adventures of Pete who inexplicitly finds himself fighting an evil sorcerer, talking to mice and trying to save a fairy kingdom. They are making a movie too. R195, Human & Rousseau.

The Amazing Talent Show by Lynn Bedford Hall, illustrated by Jane Heinrichs: Part of the Mattie Magical Animal Dreamwork Collection, every night when Mattie goes to sleep, her adventures with her animal friends begin. In this edition, there is a special talent show on and Mattie must help all her animal friends hone their talents. R74, Penguin Random House.

The Easy Family Cookbook (The Orange One): Brought to you by Ella’s Kitchen, the book features 100 recipes for the whole family. With bright and colourful pages, and fun recipes like Eye Spy Eggs, this will be a hit with Mom, Dad and the little ones. R323, Jonathan Ball Publishers.

Horton And The Kwuggerbug And More Lost Stories by Dr. Seuss: Four new stories featuring familiar characters like Horton and the Grinch, beautifully told in wonderful rhyme and colourful illustrations. Pure entertainment. R130, Jonathan Ball Publishers.

The Selfish Shongololo by Vanessa Teder, illustrated by Shan Fischer: Shongololo lives an idyllic existence in a bountiful garden but he is a greedy little worm and he won’t share with any of the other animals. But when an eagle decides that the shongololo would make a tasty snack, he is forced to call on the other inhabitants of the garden for help. R80, Penguin Random House.

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UPLANDS Old Macdonald Heard A Parp by Olaf Falafel: The familiar song will take you on a ride through Old Macdonald’s farmyard, which is being disrupted by •Pre-Preparatory •College some very strange•Preparatory and rude noises.

Is it the cow, the dog or the horse? E I E I O? R155, Jonathan Ball Publishers.

•Pre-Preparatory •Preparatory •College

We offer an environment where children can

WIN a copy! Send your contact details and address to info@ lowveldlivingmagazine.com and put ‘Parp’ in the subject box. Closing date is September 30, 2017. Ts & Cs apply.

We celebrate 20 years of Harry Potter with a giveaway of these two Harry Potter inspired books. Enter the amazing world of J.K. Rowling once again with:

Grow

The Tales of Beedle the Bard, which was made famous in the Potter books as a favourite bedtime story book of wizard families. The stories are accompanied by footnotes from Professor Albus Dumbledore (included by kind permission of the Hogwarts Headmaster’s archive).

Another magical book is Quidditch Through The Ages, which could be found in the library of Hogwarts. This book reveals all you will ever need to know about the history, the rules – and the breaking of the rules – of the noble sport of Quidditch. Both R134, Jonathan Ball Publishers.

WIN A COPY OF EACH! SEND YOUR CONTACT DETAILS AND ADDRESS TO INFO@ LOWVELDLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM AND PUT ‘HARRY POTTER’ IN THE SUBJECT BOX. CLOSING DATE IS SEPTEMBER 30, 2017. TS & CS APPLY.

Learn

Play all on one Campus

Prep: +27 13 7513806 College: +27 13 7513141 www.uplands.co.za

kids

Outdoor living at its best

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step back in time

A gorgeous yet family-friendly destination

Killarney Farm House

& Cottage sits on six acres of land and is surrounded by beautiful Lowveld working farms. Boasting pristine lawns, an avo orchard, bamboo forests and the Stats River passing through its grounds, the spot is the perfect retreat for nature lovers and families. Located a mere 32km outside Nelspruit, and just 3.5 hours from Joburg (370km), its location is ideal for a quick weekend getaway and its size lends itself perfectly to big family gatherings.

The original farmhouse is reminiscent of a bygone era. Large and welcoming, its high ceilings reveal the old thatch roof, and attribute to an airy and light filled space. It sits at the top of the property and looks proudly over its sentries.

It’s rambling yet cosy, each doorway seemingly leads you into another space.

And space there is. Alongside the fully equipped, country style kitchen, there is a traditional separate dining room, which, in days gone by would have been considered the formal eating area – if only walls could talk.

Wide passageways lead to the lounge. Art hangs everywhere, and dĂŠcor and prized possessions speak of wonderful travels and family outings. The living

kids There are seven bedrooms in total offering plenty of space. This one is perfect for kids

room is large, beautifully decorated and comfortable with an open fireplace. Its glass doors open onto an even bigger outdoor living space, which is shaded to protect from the rain and the sun. Housing big squidgy sofas and a hammock, once you have settled here for the day, there really is no reason to move.

Until, however… you discover the two tier wooden deck and pool around the corner, with a couple of deck chairs to boot. Picking your spot for the day could just be the most challenging part of it.

There are seven bedrooms in total. Most ensuite. Three have their own private entrances outside the Farmhouse. We love the outdoor staircase. Modern with amazing views – this is the room for the recluse. The other four bedrooms sit inside the house. The largest has its own secret passageway downstairs to another bedroom with two single beds and a bathroom – an ideal secret hideout for kids.

And let’s not forget the cottage, which sits above the farmhouse. Modern, tastefully decorated and sporting three rooms, this is certainly a destination where everyone is invited. In fact Killarney has been home to many a wedding and it holds regular yoga retreats, boasting its own yoga studio on the grounds.

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The Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport is 55km away and the Kruger National Park (Malelane Gate) is 100km away. Around the corner is Sudwala Caves and Mankele Mountain bike park.

Two outside rooms sit next to the yoga studio

kids

The modern cottage has three bedrooms

The land itself is a pleasure to explore so when you are not swimming or encased in a squidgy sofa, there are dams to be explored, a stream to wade in, avos to pick, great walks to be had and bike trails to be traversed. There is also prolific bird life and nocturnal wildlife.

INFO 082 573 3372, info@killarneyfarmhouse.co.za, www.killarneyfarmhouse.co.za

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Getting there is easy – just follow the directions closely.

A long bumpy dirt road needs to be navigated so low cars are not advised.

eat

Kitchen stuff we desire The rise of the food truck

eat

want

THE GREAT MPUMALANGA BAKE, AUG 9, ILANGA MALL

www.mpumalangashow.com

picnic time It’s time to dig out the old picnic basket and head to the park, dam, river… We love these Govino plastic picnic champagne glasses, (set of 4), which look good but are accident proof plus 100% recyclable.

R349, available online from www.yuppiechef.com

bush baby You need this funky bamboo travel mug for your next trip to the bush. Ideal for keeping your coffee hot.

R299, available from Woolworths.

flowers for spring An orchid that waters itself – what more could you ask for? With two bowls nested in one, the plant well and the water well, and filaments joining them, the aerophytic orchid can pull exactly the amount of moisture it needs from the water below. R999, from Eva Solo, available online from www.yuppiechef.com

I need Jimmy This gorgeous duck egg blue water jug is the perfect accessory for outdoor dining. And it has a cool name – the Jimmy Jug. R275, available from Woolworths. ice ice baby Rooibos iced tea is the ideal addition to any spring soiree.

Ingredients 8 Rooibos tea bags 1 cinnamon stick 4 whole cloves 6 thin slices ginger 1 litre boiling water 1 litre 100% grape, apple or berry juice, chilled Lemon juice to taste Ice cubes, mint leaves, fresh fruit (like blueberries or grapes) or lemon slices to serve Directions Place tea bags, spices and ginger in a large glass jug and pour over boiling water. Stir well and allow to cool for about two hours. Remove tea bags, ginger and spices.

Add juice to the tea and season with lemon juice to taste.

Serve cold with ice and mint leaves, fruit and lemon. Thread blueberries or grapes and mint onto cocktail skewers to add to each.

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cheers We mix it up with whites for the warm days and reds for the cool nights Haut Cabriere has a singular winegrowing philosophy – Sun-Soil-Vine-Man. And the Pinot Noir 2016 is no different. This 100% blend is elegant and light, offering fruits on the palatte and a hint of truffle. Delicious to drink alone or enjoy with roast lamb lunch. Serve slightly chilled. R190, buy online at www.cabriere.co.za Allée Bleue Isabeau 2014 is a mix of Chardonnay, Semillon and Viognier. A wooded dry white wine, it is a delicious combination of citrus and dried apricot on the nose, and summer fruits on the palate, with a lingering lemony aftertaste. Drink now or keep for 2-4 years. Yummy with Asian-styled dishes. R100, available online www.cybercellar.com Bellingham Homestead Shiraz 2014 is a gorgeous dark ruby red colour, offering flavours of plums, blackcurrants and pepper with hints of dark chocolate and mixed spice. Made from 100% Shiraz grapes, it is well paired with any beef dish.

R79, available from Makro, Tops Grove, Liquor City Nelspruit and Rooikat wholesale.

John B Sauvignon Blanc 2017. These grapes are picked at different times to get the earlier greener fruit as well as the riper tropical flavours later.

Hence you will find lemon zest, grapefruit, and tropical fruits on the nose and palate. It’s a fresh, fruity, dry wine and is great for a spring lunch. R42, available from PicknPay and Makro.

all-round feast Words Jenny Chaplin

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The Meat

& Coffee Company in Hazyview might look stylishly pared back with its clean, industrial décor, but there’s a lot more to this establishment than first meets the eye. For starters, it’s not just a coffee shop that serves delectable meals; it’s also a deli and a butchery that attracts visitors from far and wide.

Situated in the Hazyview Junction shopping centre, this 68-seater restaurant, which provides both in and outdoor seating, is the perfect spot for a business breakfast, a stop-over en-route to the Kruger Park or a casual lunch.

We popped in for brunch armed with massive appetites, and wow, were we spoilt for choice. First up were frothy cappuccinos served with homemade shortbread biscuits. The menu features an array of breakfast options, from traditional bacon and eggs with all the sides including the restaurant’s own speciality boerewors, to homemade muesli served with fruit and decadent French toast topped with bacon, fried bananas, pecan nuts and syrup.

While deciding, we were presented with a tasting platter of biltong, dried wors and the best cabanossi I’ve ever tasted from the butchery – all delicious and flattened within minutes. But back to brunch and more about the butchery later.

I opted for classic Eggs Benedict and my husband chose the freshly baked croissants filled with scrambled eggs, chicken and avo. The verdict? Ten out of ten on all counts. Our meals were served piping hot, were beautifully presented and tasted amazing. The friendly and attentive service, together with reasonable prices (between R50 – R70 for breakfasts and R50 – R90 for lunches) didn’t go unnoticed either.

Also on the menu are a variety of salads, various meats and carpaccio (beef, ostrich, springbok and crocodile) from the butchery, cheese platters, paninis and light meals including veggie options, quiche, chicken pie and burgers.

Speaking of which, the butchery is something to behold. Spotlessly clean and open plan, a variety of locally sourced AAA-graded meat, including game, pork, lamb and chicken is supplied. Meat is either wet or dry aged for 28 days, to ensure tender cuts. The butchery specialises in boerewors, biltong and dried wors, but the deli’s shelves are laden with rusks, olives, bottled ginger, chillI sauces, chutneys and more. We just loved the fact that all the products are sourced from local producers and that what’s in store changes depending on the season. It doesn’t get more Lowveld than that.

INFO Hazyview Junction Mall, Portia Shabangu Road, Hazyview, 013 737 8087, www.meatandcoffee.co.za.

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JACK RABBIT MOBILE KITCHEN Vehicle: Trailer Serves: Burgers, pulled pork, truffle mayo fries & caters fine dining Find them: Cape Town INFO @jackrabbitmobilekitchen, vasti.jackrabbit@gmail.com

just trucking around Food trucks have been quietly and unobtrusively taking over the South African food scene. They are bright. They are colourful. They usually have ridiculous and far out names and more importantly they are feeding us with darn good food. And this is why we love them

THE GOOD FOOD TRUCK Vehicle: 1967 Bedford Serves: Street food & caters fine dining Find them: Cape Town INFO @thegoodlife_ct, Facebook.com/TheGoodLifeCT

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MON AMI FRENCH AFRIK BISTRO Vehicle: Trailer Serves: French Afrik cuisine Find them: Western Cape INFO mon-ami.co.za

BOB THE BREW BUS

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Serves: Brewskies Vehicle: 1972 VW kombi Find them: Joburg INFO @thebrewbusza, info@thebrewbus.co.za, www.thebrewbusza.co.za

CAJUN JOE’S FOOD CO Serves: Cajun cuisine Vehicle: Trailer Find them: Joburg INFO @Cajunjoesfoodco, cajunjoes@iburst.co.za

eat

THE NOB

(No Ordinary Burger) Vehicle: Trailer Serves: Burgers Find them: Cape Town INFO @TheNobSA, www.thenob.co.za

COFFEE CAFÉ

SAO THE PREGO LADY Vehicle: Trailer Serves: Pregos Find them: Nelspruit INFO 082 530 6850

Vehicle: Trailer Serves: Coffee, hot chocolate Find them: White River INFO 083 207 5301

Love Local

Love Local SIXTYFOUR |

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Love Local

DOLLY Vehicle: 1971 caravan Serves: Gin & Tonics and anything else you want Find them: The Lowveld INFO 082 342 6014, 082 335 9074, Facebok/DolliesCaravan, warrentanya@gmail.com

FUDART Vehicle: 1978 Bedford Bus Serves: Upmarket contemporary catering Find them: Durban INFO @fudartbynardia, www.fudart.co.za

DIDIS BITCHIN BURRITOS Vehicle: 1978 VW Autovilla Camper. Serves: Mexican Find them: Western Cape INFO @didisbitchinburritosfoodtruck, ola@didismexican.co.za

CULTURE KITCHEN Vehicle: Trailer Serves: Barbeque pulled pork buns, Eggs Benedict in a bun…

Find them: Joburg INFO @culturekitchenza, Facebook/culturekitchenza

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Food TRUCK

Love Local

COMING SOON

THE KOMBI KEG Vehicle: VW Kombi Serves: Beer Find them: The Lowveld INFO @kombikegsa, Facebook/Kombi Keg South Africa

MAKOY FOOD TRUCK Vehicle: Mitsubishi L300 Camper Van Serves: Upmarket street food Find them: PE INFO makoyfoodtruck.co.za

Extraordinary

MEXICAN FOOD extraordinary experience

082 648 1019 013 750 0300 BAGDAD CENTRE WHITE RIVER SIXTYFOUR |

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TACO KOMBI Vehicle: VW Kombi Serves: Mexican Find them: Pretoria INFO @tacokombi, www.tacokombi.co.za

IMBUZI CAFÉ Vehicle: Trailer Serves: Healthy, organic food Find them: Pretoria INFO @imbuzicafe, www.imbuzicafe.com

THE KNICKERBOCKER ICE CREAM COMPANY Vehicle: Trailer, tuk-tuk and cart Serves: Homemade gourmet ice cream Find them: Joburg INFO @knickerbockerSA, www.knickerbocker.co.za

KREATIV JUICES Vehicle: Trailer Serves: Fresh juices, smoothies, coffee Find them: Western Cape INFO @KreativJuices, www.kreativjuices.co.za

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style

Things we want Meet On Core Pilates studio Meet Harshil Mitha The amazing art of macramĂŠ

DISCOVER

than you

EXPECTED...

RESTAURANTS • COFFEE SHOPS GALLERY • CINEMA • MUSEUM WELLNESS • GYM • ANTIQUES GIFTS • INTERIORS • JEWELLERY LINGERIE • BOUTIQUE CLOTHING HOTEL • CONFERENCE

Tel: +27 13 751 1540 | Cnr Hazyview & Numbi Rd, White River | www.casterbridge.co.za Like us on Facebook - fb.com/CasterbridgeLifestyleCentre

casterbridgelifestyle

The Garden & Home Show, Riverside Mall 29 Aug – 3 Sept

blown away by the sirocco The recently launched Sirocco ceiling fan, offered exclusively

by Timber Fans of Knysna, is creating a big stir and it is easy to see why. A unique, superbly crafted fan with bold lines and an imposing presence, this award-winning design offers exceptionally high performance combined with a green technology AC input EC/DC inverter motor that consumes less than 30% of the energy of conventional fan motors. This makes it perfect for hotels, lodges, resorts and large rooms in the home. Available in 1.5m and 1.8m diameter and with matt black or brushed steel housing finish. www.timberfans.co.za

outdoor style We love Amatuli’s range of outdoor furniture and décor.

Pop into their store next time you are in Joburg – it’s certainly worth the visit. www.amatuli.co.za

want

stack it with love We love the trend of stackable rings and Pandora does it in silver. Gorgeous, elegant and always stylish. Shop online at www.pandorashop.co.za or pop into the Nelspruit branch. www.pandora.co.za Makeover Essence Quattro Eyeshadow Over The Taupe – greys and metallics for a lil shimmer in your life. Available online from www.takealot.com

great excuse to shower Nivea Care Shower Crème Oil Pearls Cherry Blossom, 20ml, R39.99 is an ode to spring.

Combining pampering oils with shower crème, the result is a gorgeous product with an amazing fragrance. Available in Pearl Lotus too. Available from Dis-Chem, Clicks and pharmacies.

It’s back!! The Color Run – Nelspruit – 19 August. za.thecolorrun.com/nelspruit

loud & proud Enjoy an immersive bass experience with full wireless freedom with Skullcandy’s redesigned Crusher Wireless headphones. R2 499, available from Musica, Sportsman’s Warehouse and online at www.luksbrands.co.za

SIXTYFOUR |

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IT IS ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING THINGS TO SEE A CLIENT MOVE WITHOUT PAIN

meet

Studio On Core Megan Leslie, 27, and Hayley Stylianou, 39, are the owners of Studio On Core, a Pilates practice in White River Photos Danielle Carstens

Megan grew up in the Lowveld and recently married her high school sweetheart Ross; she is also a competitive show jumper. Hayley is Zim born and moved to the Lowveld 13 years ago. She is a single mom to Alexandra and Christopher. They are both STOTT qualified up to and including advanced Pilates as well as Zenga, Rehabilitation and Special Populations.

What does Studio On Core do? We teach STOTT Pilates and use this for pre and post operative rehabilitation, as well as injury prevention and rehabilitation. Tell us about the name? It’s a clever play on the phrase encore because once people have tried Pilates they keep coming back for more, and core strength is what we strive for in each client. You are very passionate. It is difficult not to be passionate. It is so exciting to see people achieving goals they have set. It is one of the most rewarding things to see a client move without pain, or to see someone touch their toes for the first time. Who are your clients? Anyone from kids in senior primary to people with disabilities. We believe anyone can do Pilates in a safe and comfortable way when taught correctly. What services do you provide? We offer STOTT Pilates group and individual sessions on both mats and equipment. Our fully equipped studio provides interesting and challenging sessions for all ages and abilities. We love the rehabilitation but also have clients

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wanting to enhance their athletic ability or to improve their fitness. We specialise in the fields of special conditions and facial release. Where are you when not working? We both end up outdoors as much as possible. Most challenging part about your job? It is difficult to watch people get through the hard stuff. Pilates may seem gentle if you have not done it before, but it can be difficult at times and it can be really hard work getting certain parts of the body to work correctly. Tell us something no one knows? Our dirty Pilates secret is that we eat a lot of chocolate and hide it in our work desk.

INFO 083 504 3286, 082 453 7804, hayley@studioncore.co.za, megan@studioncore.co.za, www.studioncore.co.za

hunting style The Hunter gumboot has had a makeover. It now sports more flexible rubber and a slimmer silhouette. The curve of the toe has been reduced too, creating a sleeker yet comfortable look. From R2 500, available online from www.spree.co.za

Bagdad Market & Fit To Go Trail Race, 12 Aug & 9 Sept.

want

just for the body Nivea’s Body Oil in Lotion Vanilla and Almond Oil, R49.99 (400ml) is a luxury body cream thanks to the addition of oil. Also available in Cherry Blossom and Jojoba Oil. Available from Dis-Chem, Clicks and pharmacies.

Skin689 Firm Skin Upper Arms is a must for revealing arms in skimpy spring frocks. R625, available online from www.futurethis.co.za while Pure Beginnings Organic Care Hydrating Body Lotion is suitable for the whole family. The non-greasy all body moisturiser soothes and hydrates thanks to Marula oil. R104.95, available online from www.purebeginnings.co.za and www.faithful-to-nature.co.za

just glow Local brand Glow Organic is ready for spring with its new range of floral room fragrances, natural SPF creams and skin serums. Its range of natural and organic aromatherapy bath and body products are lovingly hand crafted with raw materials that are paraben, preservative, colourant and perfume free. www.gloworganic.co.za WIN a Glow hamper. Send your contact details and address to info@lowveldlivingmagazine.com and put ‘Glow’ in the subject box.

Closing date is September 30, 2017. Ts & Cs apply.

Create an original with Violet & Rose. stocklists of: Shop 69UG Ilanga Mall 013 742 2267 sales@violetrose.co.za

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I LOVE TO READ TOO – ONE OF MY FAVOURITE BOOKS OF ALL TIME IS FREAKONOMICS

meet

Harshil Mitha

Harshil Mitha, 29, known to his friends as “Hersh” is married to Sarah-Anne and they have a beautiful newborn daughter Mila Anne Photos Etienne van der Nest With certifications in Economics, Social Media Management and Personal Nutrition it was the lure of marketing and advertising that led him to head up the marketing company Two Red Pens in Nelspruit.

What are your specialities? Marketing Strategy, Retail Marketing, Graphic Design, Website Design, Social Media Marketing and more. What do you love about your job? I love working as a team to implement a tailor-made strategy for each client, striving to deliver the best possible service and product. One of my favourite sayings is: “Don’t you love it when a plan comes together.” It is also very rewarding to see the fruits of our labour, which is measured by having happy and satisfied clients at the end of the day. I love the marketing industry; it is fast paced and dynamic, which I really enjoy. With daily improvements in technology, it keeps you evolving and on your toes.

Most challenging thing about your job? Deadlines! I believe my work is never done and there is always something to learn.

What can we expect in the future? The growth of Two Red Pens; new business opportunities and new possible franchising opportunities.

Who is in your team? Bronwyn Swart; Chris Broderick; Janica Coetzee; Justine van Aarde; Kelly Rabe; Nomubuso Matsebula and Gcina LB Mavuba.

What do you do when you are not working? My main priority is spending time with my family. I also spend a lot of time training and keeping fit for obstacle course racing. I love to read too – one of my favourite books of all time is Freakonomics. And I am trying to teach myself to play the guitar.

How do you relax? I train hard… running, climbing, swinging. Anything obstacle course related. Where will we find you on the weekend? At Core360 Warrior Training or on the couch watching rugby, reading or researching new marketing trends. Tell us something no one knows? I play the saxophone.

INFO Two Red Pens, 013 755 5548, 082 755 0674, harshil@tworedpens.co.za, Facebook/TwoRedPens Agency, @TwoRedPens

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just because The Byou Subscription Lifestyle Box is a little gift for yourself – and why?

Because you deserve it. Find skin, hair and body care products, kitchen and homeware, accessories, stuff for hobbies and the garden, plus food, drinks and some extra special surprises. Subscribe for R450 a month and get your monthly surprise box delivered to you. They also specialise in gift boxes for birthdays, secretary days, and corporates. Vivette, 082 776 2541.

luxury & comfort Get your body ready for the heat.

Rifumo Boutique Spa is a luxury spa that offer a variety of face and body treatments. Based in Nelspruit, they also offer a mobile spa for the client’s ultimate comfort. 4 Opperman Street Nelspruit, 079 157 9704, 013 004 0251, Facebook/Rifumo Boutique Spa. WIN Rifumo Boutique Spa voucher valued to R1050. Send your contact details and address to info@lowveldlivingmagazine.com and put ‘Rifumo’ in the subject box. Closing date is September 30, 2017. Ts & Cs apply.

want it?

WIN a Byou Box filled with lovely goodies. Send your contact details and address to info@lowveldlivingmagazine.com and put ‘Byou’ in the subject box. Closing date is September 30, 2017. Ts & Cs apply.

on trend The Duck Egg Company is a lovely online shop that stocks all things gorgeous in home decor. info@theduckeggcompany.co.za, www.theduckeggcompany.com WIN two handmade navy bathmats to the value of R350. Send your contact details and address to info@lowveldlivingmagazine.com and put ‘Duck Egg’ in the subject box. Closing date is September 30, 2017. Ts & Cs apply.

PRINGLE LOGO new 9/14/07 12:07 PM Page 1 C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY CMY

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getknotted

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With the resurgence of all things 70s – house plants, wallpaper and rattan furniture – it was inevitable that macramé would follow. But this retro textile handicraft with its distinctive hand-woven appearance has been artfully reinvented materialising in modern forms, unexpected applications and on-trend colours. What’s (k)not to love…

Words Mandy Allen/ bureaux.co.za Styling Sven Alberding/ bureaux.co.za Production Jade Paton Photographs Warren Heath/ bureaux.co.za

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JUST HANGING OUT A woven tapestry will add character and texture to a space and is a great way to emphasise a specific area of focus. This pared-down bedroom has the balance right for a modern Bohemian feel: the textured macramé wall hanging contrasts warmly against the crisp white bed linen and the dark glossy green of a houseplant.

SOFT ART Macramé wall tapestries used to be a ‘70s interior staple but we’ve moved on from those ubiquitous owls and Santa Fe sunsets.

A beautiful wall tapestry such as this brings a graphic and contemporary character to a space – more wall couture than hippie craft.

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RAINBOW CONNECTION

HANGING GARDENS A well-placed hanging indoor plant (or three) is a joy to behold, never mind the mental and health-giving benefits of being surrounded by greenery. A variety of macramĂŠ hangers in sophisticated black are the perfect counter to the modern transparency of simple glass bowls filled with lush, leafy plants, their roots intriguingly exposed.

Create an area of focus in a space with an installation of hanging macramĂŠ plant holders in various designs. When creating an installation of any kind, put careful thought into the composition of colour, layering and placement: in this case plant holders suspended at different heights, additional hand finished texture in the form of crackleglaze pots as well as a display of vessels and vases, some in shades and materials that harmonize and others that create a slight visual contrast.

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FRINGE BENEFITS The organic, hand-woven texture of a macramĂŠ table runner is a nostalgic antidote to its machine-made contemporary equivalents. A combination of several types of knot and fashion-inspired fringing make this a conversation piece.

CURTAIN CALL A chic step up from beaded curtains, this macramĂŠ room divider takes on a whole new life in edgy black. The perfect solution for defining open-plan spaces, softly diffusing the light or as a window covering where privacy is not a chief concern.

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ROPED IN Design loves the unexpected application of techniques and materials, perfectly embodied by this modern chair frame which has been upcycled with a macramé seat in an elegant, simple knot as well as cuff detailing on the arms.

WIN a black macramé plant hanger from the Lowveld’s Macramé Me. Email your contact details and address to info@ lowveldlivingmagazine.com and put ’Macramé’ in the subject box.

Closing date is September 30, 2017. Ts & Cs apply.

go

A visit to Buhala Lodge Win a trip to Mount Sheba

ubscribe & wi

go

A getaway to Mount Sheba valued at over R11 000

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 2017 and you stand the chance to win a seven-night stay in a six-sleeper Mount Sheba Time Share Cottage, as well as beauty treatments from Anne’s Hands Day Spa worth R1 500.

Mount Sheba, A Forever Lodge lies on the outskirts of the gold mining town of Pilgrims Rest amongst indigenous forests and close to the Blyde River and its tributaries. Surrounded by Yellowwood, Lemonwood and Knobwood trees, the farm Grootfonteinberg on which Mount Sheba Lodge is located, has an altitude variance from 1 500m (the Blyde River) to 1 900m (summit of Mount Sheba) with a wide variation of birding life.

The six-sleeper cottage is a comfortable, open plan space that offers a host of facilities. There is a main bedroom with a queen-size bed and en-suite bathroom. The second bedroom has four single beds with a separate bathroom. The lounge features a lovely fireplace for chilly nights and outside you will find a gas BBQ and wood braai. All cottages are equipped with a telephone, TV with selected DSTV channels, and a DVD player. Covered parking is available next to each unit and the cottages are serviced daily.

There is so much to do at Mount Sheba but a visit would not be complete without doing one or more of the walking trails that radiate out from the lodge. The trails range from short, fairly easy walks of two or three kilometres to more difficult walks in the gorge, which involve numerous river crossings and steep forest terrain. Longer routes include the Percy Fitzpatrick trail, the Samango trail, the Old Waggon trail and the Marcos Mantle trail, which explores the high canopy ancient indigenous forest. Close to its finale the trail passes close to the base of a beautiful waterfall.

Mount Sheba is also an ideal base to discover the many attractions in the area such as Gods Window, the Blyde Canyon, Bourke’s Luck and the Forestry Museum at Sabie.

INFO Mount Sheba, A Forever Lodge, 013 768 1241, www.mount-sheba.co.za SUBSCRIBE: CALL: 079 523 4671 | EMAIL: lowveldliving@gmfc.co.za Ts & Cs The prize is for accommodation and spa vouchers only. Travel expenses and meals are not included. Magazine: Rate applicable to one-year subscription of six editions at R204.84. Processing of the subscription may take up to a week.

go

luxe with a view Buhala Lodge is a gem of old world luxury tucked onto a strip of paradise between the N4 and the southern boundary of the Kruger Park Words Bev Tucker

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THE VIEWS ACROSS THE RIVER DELIVER THE BUSH TO YOU ON A SILVER PLATTER

The essence

of Buhala Lodge, a five-star experience located off the N4 just minutes from Malelane, boils down to two elements.

First there’s the breathtaking setting on the banks of the Crocodile River. The views across the river deliver the bush to you on a silver platter. The second ingredient, the one that creates the magic of this place, is its family-run, family focused ethos. In the words of the owner Carol Rhodes, “Family is very important to us. It’s a family business and receiving guests is like welcoming visitors to our home. This really is how we live and we want our guests to experience it.”

Colin and Carol started out farming on the property over 26 years ago, having moved to the Lowveld from Natal when their two children were toddlers. Their first home was a building that was once used by the famed writer and statesman, Percy Fitzpatrick, on one of the Delagoa Bay transport routes. Carol recalls that in her early days on the farm, when her daughter was still a babe in arms, it was not unusual for her to come up the drive after being

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out and discover strangers picnicking in her garden. Says Carol, “They’d say, ‘oh we just came to see the house’.” Carol has since transformed house and garden into a haven that complements the incredible setting and epitomises the idea of gracious living and Lowveld hospitality.

Colin’s parents, who then lived in Johannesburg, were frequent visitors to the farm. They eventually bought the neighbouring few hectares with an old house in place, and moved in permanently. Following renovation and decoration, this became the original Buhala Lodge, which was run and put on the map by Sugar Rhodes, Colin’s mother.

The hotel we see today owes much of its collectible antique furniture and elegant style to Sugar. She named the original bedrooms after some of Africa’s most beautiful wildlife areas. There’s the Serengeti suite, the Lake Manyara room, the Masai Mara room, to name some, all decorated with old-world style, with touches that hark back to a romantic Africa of exploration and adventure combined with comfort and elegance. The rooms are all spacious, airy and

wonderfully comfortable with en suite bathrooms that all feature tubs and showers. A wall of hospitality awards in reception speaks volumes about the quality of the Buhala experience.

Fast forward several decades to 2013 when Carol and Colin took over the reins from Sugar who was ready to retire. The hotel underwent an upgrade and significant expansions without losing any of its originality and appeal. New bedrooms were added, a climate controlled, magnificently stocked, wine cellar made its appearance, and Carol gave the décor a fresh new approach. She has cleverly blended old family antiques with modern African design. “When we got involved I wanted to keep the thread of what Sugar created,” she says. She has pulled it off with sensitivity and flair. Here a Chesterfield is revived in one of the gorgeous Ardmore fabrics, there a contemporary Weylandts chair is offset by a teak sideboard and silver candelabra. A wall becomes a feature covered with vivid baskets woven locally. With its soaring thatch roof and cool screed floors, the overall effect is that of a grand colonial bush home.

The food is in keeping with that idea. There’s no haute cuisine or molecular gastronomy at Buhala. They do not dabble in seaweed and flavoured foams. Your starter will not be served in a test tube and dessert

go

does not arrive under a swirl of liquid nitrogen. Instead you’ll experience top class food cooked and served in a way that is friendly yet smart at the same time. The cook, Mavis, who is one of three chefs, was trained by Sugar, and, like so many of the staff, has been with the hotel for years. Buhala serves excellent, non fussy food. It is fine dining with a homely feel.

And then there’s the outstanding wine list with a strong representation by the Rupert family vines.

Dinners are set three-course menus with at least two options for every course each night. The restaurant is fully licenced and the bar with its massive timber counter looks like it has seen many a late night yarn. Meals are served in either the dining room or under the stars on the lawn. Breakfast outdoors overlooking the river is something particularly special. Remember to take your binoculars to the table

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so you can scan the riverbank for game. I was privileged to spot a resident leopard slipping from cover across the bank in the early morning – not something one typically sees over morning coffee. You may catch sight of a huge croc nicknamed “the train” who hangs around this bit of river.

And that brings us to the phenomenal views of the Kruger with all the wildlife splendour it offers, sunsets included. The Big Five are frequent visitors. On our first evening a family of ellies was grazing peacefully a few metres from where we sat with our pre-dinner drinks. We watched them munching and listened to their grumbling before they made their way back across the river as darkness set in and the hippos set up a night chorus.

Drives into the Kruger can be taken with a guide from the lodge in the Buhala open vehicle or in your own car. We

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go

had an early breakfast on our first morning and dipped into the Park for a brief four-hour taste before heading out via Crocodile Bridge in time to get back to Buhala for the rugby international on TV, and to have a delicious laze on the veranda – highly recommended when taken with pink gin.

For golfers, one of Buhala’s unique advantages is their special relationship with the nearby private golf estate, Leopard Creek, which has given a select few lodges permission to send guests to their world-class facility.

Hedonists can elect to stay put and sample a variety of treatments at the open deck bush spa with its sweeping views, or just find a large chair and a good book. Whatever activity or non-activity you chose, you will be well looked after by the most smiley staff I’ve yet to meet. Bliss.

Driving past on the N4 you’d never know what a hidden

gem lies behind those gates. You feel that you are in the bush, yet you’re 10 minutes from Malelane Gate, and close to any number of attractions like the Geo Trail, Swaziland, as well as the Panorama Route. It is the ideal stop over en route to and from Mozambique and is a perfect spot for a weekend away with the intention of doing absolutely nothing whatsoever but relax right down to your bones and be pampered to bits.

In Carol’s own words, “Buhala is a little bit of magic on the edge of the Kruger Park, run by a family that is passionate about our guests. Buhala is my home and I want guests to experience it exactly the way we live.”

INFO Buhala Lodge, 083 272 2150, 082 909 5941, 078 456 1534. reservations@buhala.co.za, www.buhala.co.za

brought to you by SIXTYFOUR |

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L I V E Two Lowveld authors whose love for the bush has led to storytelling

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stories from the bush and beyond Having worked for SANParks and private bush camps in the Kruger for over 20 years, Nikki Meyer has more than a few stories to tell about having to wear as many hats as occasions have demanded! One she never imagined donning, though, was that of author. Having published two page-turning books filled with the adventures, ups and downs of living in the wild, it’s a hat that suits her well Words and photos Jenny Chaplin

It’s true to say

that Nikki Meyer – author of Game For Anything and Rhino Walking Safari has lived a somewhat nomadic life. From Swaziland to KZN, Botswana and the Lowveld, she’s had many an adventure. From sharing a loo with a black mamba and being stuck in the middle of nowhere at night, surrounded by ellies; this warm, vibrant, writer certainly has stories to tell.

Her first job was far from the bush though. Instead she worked under the watchful eye of her banker dad. “After a childhood which leaned towards nature in so many ways, I found banking soul destroying,” she groans.

Luckily, the world of finance didn’t get to keep Nikki and after her studies she found herself in a pair of high heels, dodging cow pats for an interview at Shakaland. It was to be a turning point in her life.

“At my welcome party, a colleague leaving to work for a safari company in Botswana said he’d give me three months before offering me a job. Despite laughing him off, he stuck to his word. I ended up going and absolutely fell in love with the bush,” relates Nikki.

Not having a work permit presented a few challenges, including once having to hide under a mokoro hidden in the reeds. “Despite the ups and downs, I was in awe of the bush and it became a major goal to work there for the rest of my life,” she reminisces. “I even put word out that I was

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looking for a husband, so that I could stay in Botswana.”

Although she got a few dodgy offers, she eventually had to head home to KZN. Little did she know another adventure lay in wait. This time it had a name. Gerrit Meyer – a game ranger who had worked in Mala-Mala for five years. The two married and the couple began badgering the Kruger National Park to give them a job. “The browbeating worked and in ’92 I began working in reservations and Gerrit, much to his disgust, as a receptionist.”

It wasn’t long though before they were transferred to Sirheni, where they experienced floods, fires and an axe-wielding member of staff amongst other adventures.

“I grew my own veggies, which the animals ate; baked my own bread and even gave members of staff jabs for malaria tests. It was a whole new way of living.”

Pretoriuskop came next and in 1996, their son, Martin was welcomed into the world. For two years, Nikki didn’t work – not officially anyway. “I used to put Martin on my back and do things like grass census, take the guys fighting fires lunch and even go on trails with Gerrit.”

During this time, Nikki entered a short story competition, which sadly ended up being cancelled. Well known Lowveld author, Kobie Kruger was one of the judges.

“She said I would have had her vote and encouraged me to write a book.” Nikki was also studying at the time and her

live

English Professor encouraged her to do the same. The seed was sown, but it took some time to germinate.

The young family left the Park to buy and run a PostNet branch in Port Shepstone. “It was the worst decision we’d ever made,” says Nikki. So when a management couple position at Rhino Walking Safaris – a private concession in the Kruger came up – they leapt at the chance to move back to the Lowveld. “We sold everything we had – including our wedding presents; packed one case each and we’ve been here ever since.”

Years passed – always eventfully – and Nikki continued her haphazard journal-keeping, until deciding to write her first book, which she says is almost like a highlights package of her time in the bush.

“I took five days’ leave and sat in front of my laptop until I had half a book!” Another five days of leave saw her finishing Game For Anything, which then gathered dust for four years. “Eventually I started editing, which I found to be a much bigger job than writing. I sent out a few proposals to agents and publishers and got the same number of rejections back,” reminisces Nikki.

“After discovering that JK Rowling had

26 rejections for Harry Potter, I decided not to take my few rejections so seriously and self-published.”

It was a good move. Game For Anything– which is packed with Nikki’s adventures and misadventures with fires, floods, wild animals and many, many elephants – sold so well, it’s been reprinted three times.

It inspired Nikki

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live to continue her story – this time about her life at Rhino Walking Safaris. It regales the reader with many a tale of bush living, bringing up a child in an unusual environment and the joys and mishaps of living in a tent.

Nikki gets momentarily wistful as she explains what it’s like living remotely. “It gives one a feeling of peace and reminds us what an insignificant part of nature we are. Fashion statements and fitting in with the Jones’s is totally irrelevant here. But nature isn’t always gentle. There are fires, floods and droughts to contend with.

Sometimes you even put your life at risk. It can be challenging, heady, but very satisfying.”

Next up for Nikki? Work, work, and more work; opening a lodge in Zim and ghost writing a book about legendary ranger, Ted Whitfield. Plans of writing a novel are also underfoot. Seems like Nikki is indeed game for many things! Except perhaps axe-wielding staff members and elephants. Definitely not elephants!

Both Game For Anything and Rhino Walking Safari are available from www.amazon.com WIN a copy of Game For Anything and Rhino Walking Safari. Email your contact details and address to info@ lowveldlivingmagazine.com and put ‘Nikki Meyer’ in the subject box. Closing date is September 30, 2017. Tc & Cs apply.

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Self Publishing Tips • Always get someone else to proofread your work. You can get too close to it to pick up errors.

• Self publishing on Amazon is free, try this first if you’re not sure about spending the money to do a print run. Printing is expensive.

• Remember that marketing is vital to book sales, not just the quality of the book. It doesn’t help to publish and then hope it will sell. Know your market and sell to them.

• To get a self published book into brick and mortar stores is difficult. Try to get a book distributor to assist with this.

• Unless you’re really good at design, have a professional cover designed for your book, your cover is your first impression.

live Sam playing the fool in an old bathtub in Augrabies with Dr Hugo Bezuidenhout (left).

wildatheart

Having specialised in large mammals ranging from antelopes to elephants, scientist Sam Ferreira has many a story to tell. Last year he put pen to paper to author a book that entertains, enthrals and in a surprisingly quirky way, teaches the reader a thing or two Words Jenny Chaplin

With a ready grin

and relaxed, but ever curious vibe about him, scientist Sam Ferreira, who lives and works in the Kruger Park as a large mammal ecologist, seems so completely at one with the bush, it comes as a bit of a surprise to learn that this wasn’t always home. He spent much of his childhood in the small town of Lüderitz in Namibia, where days outside of school were spent at play with the children from the local crayfishing community and holidays took place in national parks around the country.

“I was exposed to nature from an early age,” Sam reminisces. “But it was probably only in Grade 9 when I noticed

dung beetles in an open area close to home in King William’s Town school that I really became intrigued. I ended up doing a project on all the birds, plants, insects and creatures in that open space, and the fascination with wildlife is still with me today.”

Sam went on to study at Tuks, where he ended up with a BSc and an honours degree in mammology. Later came his masters, where he looked at the changes rats and mice undergo when their natural habitat is destroyed; followed by a doctorate on why those rats and mice change during forest recovery after mining. “I started off working on small animals, so it’s quite funny that I ended up specialising in

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Inspecting wildlife economy optionswith SANParks colleagues.

Abbey Legare, Sam,Hilda Mthimunye, Elizabeth Mhlongo. large mammals,” Sam quips. He also did two post doctorates concurrently, laughingly saying “it was two years of my life that I felt the dumbest!”

Before joining SANParks in 2008, Sam spent time working on Marion Island, throughout Africa and in New Zealand. “The time on Marion Island is probably where my love of writing started. We had lots of time on our hands, so I began keeping a diary and then started playing with poetry to describe my days. Later, when I did field work in East Africa and New Zealand, I did the same thing.”

His book Back To Your Wild Future came much later however. “Actually it was a bit of an accident that it came about at all,” laughs Sam. “After presenting a lecture on elephant management, I was asked to write an article about it. Co-incidentally, I had just done a course on media relations, which included a session on creative writing. Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be useful – I couldn’t have been more wrong.” So it was that Sam wrote his first story – which appears as chapter eight of his book.

The book follows an interesting journey, with early chapters looking at problems in nature, the discovery of new species, followed by how to manage the environment and finally, concludes with looking into the future, using what we’ve learnt in the past to our advantage. It is this sequence that inspired the title.

“One of the things I was very conscious of was to not write a book that tried to convince the reader of something. Instead, I wanted to tell stories that would make one think, that would expose the reader to environmental management and in so doing them empower them to make good choices,” explains Sam. He goes on to say that there are stories within the stories and describes the book as “story-telling with a stealth education aspect.”

Another thing Sam avoided, was writing ‘gory’ bush stories, as he says those are very personal and wouldn’t allow him the freedom to include an environmental aspect to the story. “Plus, there are things I’ve experienced, that people shouldn’t know about,” he teases.

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He says he found the process of writing an extremely enjoyable one and that being able to share stories from a “greenie scientist” perspective was a great privilege. “I would always write on Sundays, kicking off with a glass of wine. First I’d put the story down in bullet points and would then unpack and expand on each one.”

The book was finally published in celebration of Sam’s 50th birthday last year. The first print run is just about sold out and there are plans for a second. Also in the pipeline is a book on rhino poaching and wildlife crimes, which Sam hopes to finish at the end of 2018. First in line though is a book in honour of his late father who was a minister. This will include a preamble on his dad’s life followed by a collection of his thought-provoking sermons. He is also writing an Afrikaans travel book that tells the stories of experiences on our continent – from animal encounters to chance meetings with interesting characters.

In-between writing and work– which he sees as a source of inspiration – Sam enjoys reading. “During the week, I mostly read fiction just before bed, but on weekends I make a point of reading popularised science. At the moment I’m reading everything I can about Albert Einstein.”

Sam also loves having time to contemplate life. “It’s an extreme privilege to live in the bush and to be able to go on a drive and reflect. You can’t do that in a coffee shop in the city.

There are too many distractions. Living in the bush means I can’t pop out for a pizza, but it does mean fresh air, clean water and being connected to nature.”

And that connection is for Sam, what it’s all about.

Back To Your Wild Future is available at MLPMedia (Pty) Ltd; tanya@mlpmedia.co.za.

WIN a copy of Back To Your Wild Future.

Email your contact details and address to info@lowveldlivingmagazine.com and put ’Sam Ferreira’ in the subject box. Closing date is September 30, 2017. Ts & Cs apply.

spaces

Nature, tranquility, beauty and peace, what else could a homeowner need

spaces

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Words Nicky Manson Photos Anthon Wessels, Africa Photographic Services

“We love open spaces and room to move around in and live�

spaces The coffee table, dining room table and chairs are from Weylandts. Here, the design and furniture in the space as well as the stone cladding on the fireplace, follow the couple’s philosophy of bringing elements of nature inside.

When it comes to

their new home on the Likweti Wildlife Estate, it is all about minimalistic living for Peggy and Bart. This style is emphasised throughout the house, presenting wide-open spaces, a blank canvas, minimal decor and plenty of freedom of movement.

“For us it helps to make life a lot less stressful and makes it more fulfilling too. Clutter is visual stress and it is distracting to the mind and eye. We love open spaces and room to move around in and live. It gives you the freedom to breathe and it becomes possible to focus your time and energy on the important things, such as the people around you and the things you are doing.

This is also one of the reasons we don’t have a TV,” explains Peggy.

The couple moved from Belgium where homes are smaller, neighbours are closer and life is spent indoors most of the time. They consider moving to South Africa a huge privilege and wanted to fully utilise what the country and the Estate had to offer and this was space, nature, peace and tranquility. Peggy and Bart wanted to emphasise these features and bring the outdoors in, hence the large windows, light colours and the minimalistic approach. This also allows for the splendid views to take centre stage.

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“THE PAINTING IN THE LIVING AREA OF THE WILD DOGS ARE FROM ARTIST VANESSA LOMAS WHO WE MET THROUGH FRIENDS”

The barstools are one of the few items they brought from Europe.

They are Italian from Lapalma.

spaces “We positioned the house so that we could enjoy our extraordinary view, wherever we are in the house.”

Architect Reiner Förtsch designed the home. Peggy and Bart had previously reserved a stand on another estate but fell in love with Reiner’s showhouse on Likweti. “On our wish list were large windows, high ceilings, outdoor living spaces, northern exposure (we get sun the whole day), an open floor plan (I love to cook and entertain), two en-suite guest bedrooms and all of this was in the plans of the architect. And today this is still our perfect home.”

The couple were at the inception of the plans along with Project Manager Bruce Mackay so they had the luxury of being able to choose every single aspect with regards to the interior design. “We had very little furniture with us in South Africa so we just picked up stuff as it came along. We don’t really search for things but rather stumble upon them and they usually have a nice history behind them. “ Peggy loves to entertain and so a great kitchen was a top priority. Soldor Exclusive Kitchens & Cupboards had a couple of consultations with Bart and Peggy to discuss the layout and finishes and several cups of coffee and buckets of laughter later, the design for their cabinetry was confirmed. “We always let our clients know from the beginning that, in order to get to the final layout, there is a process to be followed, which often includes a few revisions before you get to the final conceptual presentation with 3D drawings and floorplans. Thankfully, Bart and Peggy were a dream to work with, because they knew from the get-go what they envisioned for their dream home, which made the process much simpler and ensured that the final outcome was exactly what they wanted,” explains Soldor’s Lana Oosthuizen.

The home is mostly a blank canvas and the few special pieces of art and décor all have meaning for the couple. Nothing is random. Most of the wall art has a history, explains Peggy. “They are almost all gifts from friends, a sweet remembrance of our friendship and the good times we spent together.”

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spaces

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the black book “It is only because we had such a good relationship with the Project Manager Bruce Mackay and all of our suppliers that we were able to build our dream house. Moving to a different country, let alone a different continent is already a challenge. Building a house is on a whole other level. You have to consider a different way of approaching things; different materials being used and above all, you have to rely on other people’s judgement with regards to choosing your suppliers. But we managed and are very proud to call House nr 42 @ Likweti Estate in White River our new home.”

Architect: Reiner Förtsch, www.fdparchitects.co.za Kitchen: Willy Soldor, www.soldor.co.za Furniture: Weylandts, www.weylandts.co.za Project Management: Bruce Mackay Project Management: FB/Mackay Project Management

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people could not enter directly into the living room.

A solid wall would have been contradictory to our love for open spaces so this was the ideal solution.”

a r c h I t e c t s

upon entry. Designed by Eric Archdeacon, the idea was that

Förtsch Associates

“The large wooden room divider forces visitors to pause

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the observation deck

cordial cordylidea

Words Lynn Haken

I have a number

of lizards on my stoep – they are the common Striped Flat Lizard, which generally inhabit rocky outcrops. But my lizards live underneath my wicker chairs, preferring the cool of their shade with ample air-flow, and like to run around my slate tiles, which obviously substitutes as a rocky outcrop for them. We have a good, symbiotic relationship, as there isn’t much housekeeping to do with them around. Breakfast crumbs, smacked mosquitos and dead bugs are gobbled up by the following morning and we all live in harmony.

With the morning sun’s rising heat dispelling the chill of the night, a sunbeam casts over the stoep couch. Its rays dance through the speckled branches still housing the last of the winter leaves clinging desperately to their seasonal home. It dapples onto the cushions and as it rises higher, the beams create shards of sunlight bathing the corner of the couch, moving inwards as the sun rises higher. My little companion darts out of the back of the couch and runs onto the cushion. There’s a delve in the middle, as if someone has punched a fist into it, and he becomes comfortable there, turning around and around, as a dog does on its bed. He finally settles and I almost hear a little lizard sigh. But as the sun rises higher, the shade created from the rooftop casts a chill over him. He rustles backwards until he finds the heat again, but the sun is determined to not to spoil him and the shade takes over.

Eventually, a tiny shard of sunbeam remains and like a teenage boy, the lizard then hangs upside down for a bit, the sun warming his belly.

His partner is curious and comes out of hiding to see what is happening. She too finds a warm spot and watches him warily. I suspect he’s a bit of a bully as I have seen him suddenly run towards her and she takes flight. Either bullying tactics or else she’s just not in the mood; she seems to watch for his reaction before taking her cue.

A dragonfly decides to be adventurous. He’s already buzzed over the pool, skimming the surface but alas his minutes are now numbered as he swoops near the lizard. In one swift movement, the lizard launches himself upwards and grabs the unsuspecting insect, gobbling it up immediately. He then flops back on the cushion, his tummy now not only warm, but extended. The speed is quite amazing to witness and whereas one can feel somewhat sorry for the dragonfly, I’m pleased my stoep-larder is full for my reptilian companions.

Sometimes, they both run along the back of the couch at great speed, almost as if it’s a game. They pick out small insects in the wicker, keeping the chairs spotless.

Anything droning past and smacking into the window doesn’t have much time to gather its wits and fly off again as in a flash, my chaps are onto it. Even the carapaces are eaten. Winter doesn’t stock the larder as well as summer, so they have become very adept in managing their appetites with what is available. The odd cricket or grasshopper doesn’t stand a chance. Come summer, they will put on a lot of weight with the availability of fresh produce, but for now, they’re not too picky.

My only complaint is they have been known to leave a bit of a mess behind from their digestive tracts, but something else comes and cleans that up and I do not investigate. Between us, we all live harmoniously and I am glad of their companionship and hard work in keeping the stoep tidy. Nature has a wonderful balance and I am delighted that, in my small infinitesimal way, I am able to be a part of their survival.

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