Fly africa

Vol 1 • Issue 1 • Aug-Sept 2013

Journey

Paradise on Earth Technology

Light up your life

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The African Adventure

Sailing across Cape of Good Hope

art& decor

Wilderness Indoors

South Africa takes wilderness a step further by completing its jungle experience through its wildlife lodges which display wildlife inspired interiors and dĂŠcor.

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aking up to the rustle of trees, bird songs, calls of animals and leaf-filtered light - a stay in the wildlife lodges of South Africa offers a big thrill even before you set out for the safaris. And of course, the wildlife safaris themselves are a unique and unforgettable experience. Where else in the world can you drive through forests and savannah land seeing hordes of zebras, giraffes, large-eared elephants, wild buffaloes, rhinos and if you are lucky, lions and leopards too? And if your lodge is located bang in the middle of the jungle, you can even wake up to the sight of elephants and other animals at the watering hole outside the window. A giraffe might saunter up to your window, the go-away bird will land on your windowsill and the geckos will scamper across the floor of your sit out.

Call of the Jungle To complete the jungle experience, most wildlife lodges in South Africa draw liberally on wildlife motifs, artefacts made with actual and faux animal remains and creative jungle-theme accessories to do up the lodge. In short, the wilderness experience is there even within your lodge! Known variously as Savannah-style, Africa-style or safaristyle design it makes the resorts and lodges very thematic in appearance and feel. In fact, this is done so imaginatively and aesthetically that South Africa’s game lodges regularly win international

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art& decor

Stools made of animal shapes and centretables supported by elephant-shaped legs or real wooden logs were noted

travel and design awards. Among the lodges which we visited in South Africa, where we noted a sophisticated elegance imbued along with the spirit of the jungle throughout the interiors were Singa Lodge in Port Elizabeth, and the Shamwari Game Reserve Safari Lodges, the Lion Roars accommodation as well as Amakhala Game Reserve Safari Lodge. They all brought the wildlife indoors in a wonderfully aesthetic and creative way.

From animal-inspired prints on bedsheets, cushions and curtains to wildlife-inspired art and craft like giraffe-head shaped lights and chandeliers made of real ostrich eggs, and animal horns for desktop decor items, we saw countless illustrations of this. Stools made of animal shapes and centretables supported by elephant-shaped legs or real wooden logs (found in the jungle and brought back and slightly chiselled and cleaned for use) were also noted.

We saw many original and stunning works of art inspired by the jungle and created by local artists placed in niches across the lodges at Amakhala, Lion Roars, and Shamwari Game Reserve - both in the public areas and private accommodation. This was a way of allowing the locals and indigenous people to benefit from the tourist inflow into their land. And at the same time give the lodges a wonderful local touch - after all many tourists come looking for and enjoy this when they are visiting a new land.

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Many lodges had furniture and lights with the lines and shapes taking their cue from nature. So, we saw interestingly shaped tables made from a mass of painted branches, papier-mâchÊ or metal birds atop lampshades, chandeliers using not crystals but real horns of animals or branches and twigs from the bush.

1 Dolls made of natural beads 2 Deer head used as wall hanging 3 Animal horns used as chandelier

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Sometimes, these branches/twigs would be real and sometimes they would be replicas which would be brushed in an earthy brown, gold, silver or bronze colour. In my cottage, there were beautiful giraffe-shaped lights above the sofas.

In keeping with the central idea of staying close to nature, we saw rough, natural, textured walls and natural stone -topped tables, besides tables

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art& decor 1

Sometimes, an animal head found in the jungle is brought back, cleaned and placed at the entrance of the lodge to set the ambience

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1 Roof made out of natural hay 2 Miniatures made out of wood 3 Dolls in different shape made out of natural beads

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fact sheet While in Africa you get to see animal-inspired prints on bedsheets, cushions and curtains to wildlife-inspired art Drums are an integral part of most music and dance which figure in most traditional ceremonies.

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fashioned out of tree-trunks. Besides, there were cushions and throws with animal prints (leopard prints being a favourite) and natural, earthy sisal rugs. In one lodge, the reception had a chandelier formed with a real ostrich egg as the centrepiece with curved horns stretching out like branches on all sides.

and basketry and objects made from animal skin were found across the lodges - creations of African tribals. We noted that grass, leaves, twigs, feathers of birds and horns of animals were other elements that were liberally used in the beautiful ethnic artefacts. Natural pigments are often used by the craftsmen, we were told.

Sometimes, an animal head (ie a dead one) found in the jungle is brought back, cleaned and placed at the entrance of the lodge to set the ambience or mounted on the wall. Besides, we noted very natural-looking centre-tables and benches and were told that they had been created out of salvaged trees which had been torn out of the bush land either by floods or by elephants.

In many South African safari lodges, one will find masks of all kinds, animal skin, and Zulu shields to adorn walls and sometimes drums placed in a corner. Drums are an integral part of most music and dance which figure in most traditional ceremonies and African percussion traditions are considered very rich and vibrant and are admired the world over.

Evoking African culture The choice of colours in many places was such that they evoked the African jungle, so earthy and warm colours are often used instead of garish ones.

Wooden artefacts, flamboyant coloured beadwork

The art and craft inspired by the jungle and created by local artists was used not only to accessorise the lodges but also sold in the souvenir shops of most lodges. This greatly benefits the surrounding communities. Several tribal crafts of this region draw on locally available materials--often forest waste. The management of these lodges also practice several wellplanned environment-friendly measures and also work towards conservation. Thus by practicing conservation and also encouraging tribal art traditions these lodges demonstrate their commitment to environment-friendliness and social responsibility.

Thus while offering tourists the ultimate African adventure, the lodges of Lion Roars, Amakahala Game Reserve and Shamwari Game Reserve, among others, also practice responsible tourism.

This has resulted in many of them winning awards for their efforts.

Words & Photographs – Aruna Chandraju

Fly Africa flies to Johannesburg Harare and Victoria Falls

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Photo essay 1

Happening

Harare Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe is the lifeline where all action takes place. It is Zimbabwe’s largest city and its administrative, commercial, and communications centre.

The city is also known for its gold and textile.

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destination

travel & art

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1 South Africa takes wilderness a step further by completing its jungle experience through its wildlife lodges which display wildlife inspired interiors and décor.

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2 South Africa takes wilderness a step further by completing its jungle experience through its wildlife lodges which display wildlife inspired interiors and décor.

3 South Africa takes wilderness a step further by completing its jungle experience through its wildlife lodges which display wildlife inspired interiors and décor.

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destination

travel & art

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4 South Africa takes wilderness a step further by completing its jungle experience through its wildlife lodges which display wildlife inspired interiors and décor.

5 South Africa takes wilderness a step further by completing its jungle experience through its wildlife lodges which display wildlife inspired interiors and décor.

6 South Africa takes wilderness a step further by completing its jungle experience through its wildlife lodges which display wildlife inspired interiors and décor.

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destination

travel & art

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7 South Africa takes wilderness a step further by completing its jungle experience through its wildlife lodges

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South Africa takes wilderness a step further by completing its jungle experience through its wildlife lodges

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South Africa takes wilderness a step further by completing its jungle experience through its wildlife lodges .

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