celebrate the good life

ISSUE 78 | SUMMER R30.00 (incl VAT) LOWVELD LOWVELD L I V I N G

reviews

book Words Nicky Manson

Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson: Whe Hen and Lloyd are invited over for dinner by their new neighbours, they are excited at the prospect of meeting new friends. But when Hen spots something sinister in neighbour Matthew’s study during dinner, it is only now a matter of time before a cat and mouse chase begins… and ends. A brilliant psychological thriller that will have you reading late into the night. R290, Jonathan Ball Publishers.

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood: The sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale is here and it is riveting. If you are a fan of the book and even the series, you will love this book told in the words of three characters including MUST READ

Aunt Lydia. A deeper and somewhat darker narrative of Gilead. Brilliant. Penguin Random House.

The Book Club by C.J. Cooper: It was Alice’s idea to start a book club. A great idea for her to get to know the people in the small town she has just moved into. But Alice has her own agenda and before you know it, all hell breaks loose. Addictive and slick, you will loathe Alice but die to know her secrets. R125.95, Jonathan Ball Publishers.

Their Little Secret by Mark Billingham: When a con artist meets an attractive single mom, he thinks he is onto a win, except she is not who she seems and before he knows it, he is involved in something more sinister than ever before. R325, Jonathan Ball Publishers.

The Last Widow by Karin Slaughter: We are huge fans and this does not disappoint. In fact we swallowed it up whole in two days. It begins with an abduction and a car accident, and ends with a worldwide threat. Only Medical Examiner Sara Linton and Detective Will Trent can fight the clock but will they win? Fans will absolutely adore this book. R305, Jonathan Ball Publishers.

My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing: Described by one critic as “Think Dexter but sexier” – this is a debut novel and is brilliantly chilling. I even had to read some of it in daylight hours and then I had to skip to the end just to know the ending and then go back and read it. Twisted yet compelling – you will want to know how it ends. R290, Penguin Random House.

Why Mummy Doesn’t Give A Shit by Gill Sims: “I’m wondering how many more fffffing ‘phases’ I have to endure before my children become civilised and functioning members of society?” If this makes you laugh out loud or crack a smile, then you will love the story of Mummy who dreams of a quirky country life with her lovely children and well behaved pets. Of course life never works out that way. Such a fun read. R305, Jonathan Ball Publishers. Tailspin by Sandra Brown: Rye Mallett, a fearless “freight dog” pilot charged with flying cargo to far-flung locations, has a rock-solid reputation: he will fly in the foulest weather, day or night, and deliver the goods safely to their destination. So, when Rye is asked to fly into a completely fogbound Northern Georgia town and deliver a mysterious black box to a Dr Lambert, he doesn’t ask why. As Rye’s plane nears the isolated landing strip, more trouble than inclement weather awaits him. Soon everyone is hot on his heels, wanting the black box. Jonathan Ball Publishers.

Garden Style by Melanie Walker: This beautiful book will help you create the garden of your dreams with advice and ideas from the talented Walker. Whether you have a tiny urban courtyard or a roomy rural plot, get ready to be inspired. It describes in detail how to achieve any of 19 distinct garden styles: from sweeping woodland and grassland gardens, through moon, rock and rose gardens, to compact courtyard and cottage gardens. It also covers the fundamentals of gardening, such as understanding garden habitats, basic design elements and water-wise gardening. R340, Jonathan Ball Publishers.

The Witches of St Petersburg by Imogen Edwards Jones: Inspired by real characters, this historical fiction tale spins the fascinating story of two princesses in the Romanov court who practiced black magic, befriended the Tsarina, and invited Rasputin into their lives – forever changing the course of Russian history. Brimming with black magic, sex and intrigue, this is an exciting story filled with lush historical details from the Romanov era. R290, Jonathan Ball Publishers.

Recover From Burnout by Judy Klipin: Burnout is a lonely battle. Men and women, young and old, from all walks of life suffer from burnout. Feeling run-down, exhausted, overwhelmed and under-enthused about life in general. Burnout is not only restricted to high-flying business executives, it can affect anyone. Klipin will help you to understand why we get it, how to get better from it, and how not to get it again. R260, Bookstorm.

hitched

Hitchhike (verb) to travel by getting free rides in someone else’s vehicle. Words Kim Springorum Photos Hitched

It all started when, “Two cousins, Jordan Deall, 30, and Luke Macdonald, 29, convince their newest friend, a cameraman, to join them on a childhood dream to search for the world’s last dinosaur Mokele-mbembe, located in the heart of the Congo Jungle. With an even more ridiculous plan to get there – they’ll hitch!”

This is the story of two ill-equipped and under-financed cousins and what transpired when they made the journey across Africa filming a documentary called Hitched. On their return, inspired by a desire to take their journey further, they hatched a ridiculous plan to hitch to Hollywood and meet a celebrity. They put up a poll of a list of possible candidates – Frodo Baggins, Kim Kardashian, Morgan Freeman and Ellen Degeneres. Ellen won. Their journey started in Durban in March 2019 and has so far taken them across Africa, through Russia and onto to the US. They faced delays, disappointments, lack of resources, deserts, dangerous territories, rebels, ice, gale force winds and searing heat. But they persevered and finally made it to LA. Arriving in the US was not nearly as easy as they had thought. Explaining to US border control that they had hitched from South Africa and are on your way to meet Ellen Degeneres meant quite a few hours in a locked room and lots and lots of questions. Lowveld Living had the opportunity to catch up with Jordan and Luke along the way and find out a little more about these boys and their hilarious mission to meet Ellen. Luke and Jordan are more like brothers than cousins. Their mothers are twin sisters and while Luke grew up in Durban and Jordan right here in White River, they are very close. They have always shared a love of people and a spirit of adventure. Travel has come from a need to explore and experience new things. “My mother always said that I should never let school get in the way of my education,” says Luke. “We are passionate about travel and the way it challenges and changes you.” We chatted to the guys throughout their journey using broken telecoms to give you an exclusive look into their amazing adventure.

What is Hitched and its purpose? We believe that so many people wait to experience life and travel. When you are young you have lots of time, but no money. But when you are older, you have the money, but not the time. OUR JOURNEY IS ABOUT MAKING STORIES about travel. More than anything we don’t have a storyline

or a plot other than there is an end point. It is more than just about filmmaking. Even if we weren’t shooting a documentary, we would still be travelling. Is there a time frame? WE DON’T HAVE A TIME FRAME, BUT WE DO HAVE A BUDGET; around R100 a day, and while most of the time hitchhiking is free, we do often have to pay something towards our ride. On a typical day depending on the ride and if we can pitch our tent for free, we survive on less than a dollar a day. Talk us through an average day? An average day for us often depends on where we are. While in Sudan in the middle of the desert we would get up before sunrise to walk as far as possible to hitch a lift and find water. Basically we would get up and go and just try not to die. Hitching is a bit like fishing. Some days you get far and other days you spend all day with your thumb out and would have got further walking. How do you decide on a lift? WE DON’T HAVE A POLICY OR VETTING SYSTEM WHEN HITCHING A LIFT. We get in with whoever stops. And thankfully we have been lucky so far. In Africa there is little regard for overloading and always space for one more. It has made it a bit easier to catch a ride, but does result in some very hair-raising trips with drivers who have no concept of the speed limit. Hitching is always interesting because in some places it is not done, but in other places especially in Africa, it is very common and the only way to get from A to B. You literally have to go where they are going and often you end up getting along and being invited to stay in their home. You interact with people on a much more genuine level than if you were just catching a bus or a train. Do you feel safe? We have been fortunate to not have had any major issues.

We both rate the Sudan as our favourite place so far.

Perhaps it is because we have nothing of value to steal or maybe because we are three young men. We have had the odd snatch and grab. In Egypt, we were invited into a home and caught the guy rummaging through our belongings. We “politely” told him to return the stolen items, which he did. Everything except Luke’s favourite red underpants. Best place so far? We both rate the Sudan as our favourite place so far. We have been overwhelmed with the hospitality and warmth. We were there at a time of conflict and people seemed more concerned with our safety rather their own. They were so happy to have foreigners visiting, which was so touching. We have learnt that what is going on in the country in the news is not always a reflection of the people we meet. In some countries of extreme conflict, it is often when you see the human spirit shining the brightest. There was an overwhelming sense of Ubuntu in Africa. What do you miss at home? We miss the small stuff such as a cup of coffee in the morning or more than three T-shirts to choose from. Luke, a Durban boy, misses surfing. What have you learnt about yourselves? The biggest mistake people make in their lives is thinking their life is the norm. It’s probably the number one reason for hate/prejudice/fear in the world. When you travel, you have a chance to see things differently and these challenges change you as a person.

END NOTE: At the time of going to print and after eight months and 14 countries, the boys made it to LA. They were invited to one of Ellen’s shows and met Ellen. And they are hoping to be invited back one day soon to sit on the famous couch and share their story of Hitched with the world. #Ellen

kids on safari

Taking kids on safari is magical! It’s also sometimes noisy and chaotic, so a little bit of foresight and planning goes a long way Words Dianne Tipping-Woods

Choosing the right lodge or camp is critical. Lowveld Living has a look at some diverse local options in the Kruger National Park and its associated private nature reserves, from the classic Kruger self-drive to Thornybush’s Main Lodge, Klaserie’s Amani Safari Camp, Sabi Sands’ classic Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge and Hoedspruit’s Khaya Ndlovu Manor House. THE CLASSIC KRUGER SELF-DRIVE SAFARI $ Camping, value for money and your own agenda Many South Africans have fond childhood memories of piling into the family car and heading into the Kruger National Park on self-drive holidays. When the time comes, this ritual will be repeated with their own children. The park’s huge variety of affordable, family-friendly accommodation means you’ll have lots of options to suit you. Kids over six are allowed on the park’s safari vehicles and kids over 13 can do the walking safaris. You may be restricted to self-drives if your kids are younger. This can work well for kids, who can sleep, snack and spot animals at leisure. Camping in Kruger works incredibly well with our kids and has done since they were able to crawl. It’s a source of endless activity and stimulation, with incredible opportunities for independence, creative play and family fun. Your time is your own and you answer to no one. Kids of all ages will also find lots of other kids to play with and leave with new friends as well as amazing memories. We have a family Wildcard – a must for frequent visitors – and as we live close to Kruger, we do frequent day trips into the park too. www.sanparks.org AMANI SAFARI CAMP Intimate, family-oriented and flexible $$$ This beautiful, intimate camp is perfect for families. It’s fully fenced, with expansive lawns (great for ball games) featuring some play equipment, including a large swing overlooking a waterhole. There are also board games and an indoor play area. The setup of the lodge, with two double, inter-leading rooms on either side of a large living area and kitchen, makes it easy to keep tabs on your little ones and they’ll happily

arrange camp cots for babies and toddlers. The private chef will deftly create kid-friendly meals as required, so long as you chat through options in advance. The lodge can be booked exclusively by larger parties and you can book an exclusive-use vehicle for kiddie game drives. Safety at sightings is always key, and particularly when small children are involved, but we had every confidence in our guide and by the end of a two-night stay, our small children (two and four) were firmly in his thrall, listening to him better than they ever listened to us! Dinner is served on the patio, close to the suites, and we’d advise feeding and putting the kids down before enjoying one of their spectacular three-course meals, knowing you’ll hear the little ones if they call. www.klaseriedrift.co.za THORNYBUSH MAIN LODGE Luxurious, world-class safaris for families $$$$ Thornybush Main Lodge is a classic in the Thornybush portfolio and with the private reserve’s fences having come down, game viewing has never been better. The lodge’s family suites (with their own plunge pools) easily accommodate a family of four with comfortable sleeper couches, and the large, fenced grounds are a spectacular playground for curious little ones. This is a large lodge, that sleeps 40 people. Staff are exceptionally warm and welcoming and our guides went above and beyond to ensure our kids were happy on drive and off. Taking kids under six is conditional on an exclusive-use vehicle and the reason for this was abundantly clear when our two-year-old roared at the lions and our fouryear-old declared herself bored at a leopard sighting and proclaimed she’d rather see a giraffe. Coffee and sundowner stops were entertaining and educational and it was no problem to shorten drives to better accommodate the kids. Being a large lodge, meal times were less flexible than some other options, but were easy to work around with some planning. The rooms are too far from the dining area to leave small kids sleeping unattended, so just bear this in mind. www.thornybush.co.za

SABI SABI BUSH LODGE The ultimate luxury kid-friendly safari $$$$$ With its fully-fledged Eleclub, this is an extremely convenient option for parents, with baby sitters and childcare facilities available. There is a fun and robust approach to environmental education that will provide hours of wild fun for your little ones. As with most lodges you’ll need to exclusively book the game drive vehicle, if your kids are under the age of six. However six and older can travel with other guests. In between drives, there are hands-on, interactive activities designed for children between the ages of four and 12 years. Age-appropriate bushveld themed activities are guided, and supervised, by qualified staff. Afternoon sessions are filled with games and hobbies, there is a beautiful, secure outdoor play area, with a flexible programme. Parents can bank on some real down-time with all the help at hand. Plus Bush Lodge was recently awarded Best Luxury Family Holiday Destination by Out & About with Kids Readers Choice Awards 2019. www.sabisabi.com KHAYA NDLOVU MANOR HOUSE Charming hotel on a private reserve $$ Khaya Ndlovu Manor, on a private reserve close to Hoedspruit, is a great alternative for a family-oriented safari close to Kruger. Its lovely rolling lawns are fully fenced and it’s close enough to the busy little bushveld town that visitors can combine a stay here with kid-friendly excursions into Hoedspruit, do day trips into Kruger or explore the Panorama Route. Khaya Ndlovu’s morning and evening game drives can accommodate children ages six and older. Children of all ages can be accommodated in exclusive-use vehicles (charged separately and subject to availability), and the guides will tailor the experience to suit your family. The chef will accommodate children’s dietary needs, organise fun pizza-making and other activities, and you can hire a babysitter at an hourly rate. Kids can also do bushwalks around the outskirts of the lodge to learn about the smaller creatures in the bush and there are even kiddie’s spa treatments on request. www.khayandlovu.co.za

tips Never ignore malaria – speak to your paediatrician about recommended prophylactics. Living in a malaria area, we are vigilant about mosquito repellent and sleeping under nets. Be courteous at sightings – not all vehicles at a sighting will appreciate running commentary from your toddlers. The beauty of the private reserves is that the number of vehicles per sighting is carefully managed. Plan for dinner on the go – post sunset-drive dinner time is usually too late for toddlers, so request or pack a dinner they can eat in the vehicle. Bath kids pre-sunset drive – You can dress them in their pjs to speed up bedtime when you’re back. Our kids have occasionally fallen asleep on a drive and then, it’s just a case of getting them into bed. Budget for an exclusive-use vehicle – having a vehicle just for you and your kids is the best way to ensure everyone has a great safari experience. Some lodges charge extra for this, others will accommodate you if there are enough guides and vehicles. Shorten drives as needed – an hour of fascination and fun is way better than three hours of moaning. As most kid-friendly safaris insist on an exclusive-use vehicle for kids under a certain age, you can discuss your needs with your guides and shorten drives to accommodate your little ones. Kit the kids out – our kids have binoculars, cameras and kiddie field guides. For slightly older kids, the Instamax mini polaroid cameras (www.instamax.com) are brilliant. If you really want to spoil them, get them Faansie Peacock’s bird book for kids (www.faansiepeacock.com). It will serve them well into their teens. Pool-time is always a winner – when in Kruger, stay at camps with pools. The larger camps like Skukuza, Satara, Pretoriuskop, Letaba and Shingwedzi are brilliant options for kids as they are large, fenced in, have great pools and room to roam. Take a spotlight for night garden safaris – our kids love finding owls, genets, bush babies, chameleons and more. Spend time on the little things – we don’t just mean the tracks, dung (kids love animal poo) and smaller things you’ll find on drive, but the insects, frogs and lizards you’ll find in camp. It’s a micro-safari on its own. Keep lists – these are great fun to compile and aside from being a wonderful record of discovery, can lead to lots of

friendly competitions and games linked to who sees what animal and when. Assigning points to various species can be fun for slightly older kids. Brief kids on common dangers – we’ve found snakes and scorpions in camp, so make sure kids know what to avoid and when to call adults. Baboons and monkeys can also be a hazard and some camps have hyenas, honey badgers and other nocturnal animals that can be a bit bold. Set a good example for your kids – they’ll tend to enjoy what you tend to enjoy. They’ll also emulate your behaviour so set clear boundaries and stick to them eg: NEVER feed any animals, don’t provoke or interfere with wildlife and let your own passion and excitement shine through. Fenced camps do give peace of mind – although we’ve taken our kids to unfenced camps, fenced options make for a safer and more relaxing experience all round. Check for baby-sitters as it can be fun to have a drive without the kids too. Pack some toys (nothing with multiple little bits or that make a noise), sippy cups, water bottles or similar and Tupperware. And if you must, charge a tablet and take some headphones along, even if it’s just for your peace of mind if the wheels fall off. They can also be useful if you want a midday snooze and your little ones have other plans.