Disclaimer: The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher or its agents. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information published, the publisher does not accept responsibility for any error or omission contained herein. Consequently, no person connected with the publication of this journal will be liable for any loss or damage sustained by any reader as a result of action following statements or opinions expressed herein. The publisher will give consideration to all material submitted, but does not take responsibility for damage or its safe return.
Tips for spring travellers
1
Outdoor allergy triggers
• It’s a good idea to check pollen counts in the different regions – check out https://pollencount.co.za/.
• Carry along hypoallergenic pillows if travelling –or check with accommodation spot if they have hypoallergenic pillows.
• Carry along antihistamines or whatever medication you take for allergies – there are drowsy and non-drowsy options available.
2 Public holiday
24 September – Heritage Day: celebrates the variety of cultures that make up South Africa. Locals generally tend to have a braai on this day and it has also become known as “Braai Day”.
3 Public transport
• MiCiti Bus – Cape Town
• Rea Vaya – Johannesburg
• Gautrain – Gauteng
If you are road tripping, it’s advisable to either book a tour with a shuttle bus option, or hire a vehicle. In metros, there are e-hailing vehicles such as Uber.
Money tips
• At most venues Visa and Mastercard is accepted. When travelling pack in an extra bank card in case a card does not work.
• If you are attending some markets, it’s a good idea to have cash as not every stall has a card machine. Like any market, browse around first before buying to ascertain price points.
• If carrying cash, make sure not to flash it and don’t carry too much. It’s a good idea to carry a bag that hangs in the front of you to alert you to any pickpocketing.
• Score travel savings by utilising rewards programmes linked to your bank accounts and other rewards programmes.
4
Map it!
While there are various apps such as Google Maps, tourism offices generally tend to have loads of brochures with maps, and employees can also give you some extra info about secret gems in the area.
5 TRAVEL INSURANCE 6
Travel insurance is recommended as it will most likely cover you for medical emergencies (check your insurance provider to confirm what is covered). There are public and private hospital facilities, although the private costs are considerably higher, which your insurance could potentially assist with.
Responsible travel
Pack reusable bottles and mugs to limit use of single-use plastics. Additionally, you can lighten your food footprint by eating more seasonal fruit and vegetables that are locally grown. Be mindful of water consumption – this includes not having to place towels in the wash daily.
7Hiking shoes
To help prevent feet issues, invest in proper hiking shoes, hiking socks and foot liners.
A sparkling history
BY TASHNE SINGH
FOR MANY OF US, A DIAMOND IS A VALUABLE SPARKLY JEWEL; HOWEVER, ON A RECENT TRIP TO THE DIAMOND WORKS INSTITUTE, I WAS TRANSPORTED ON A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY, EXPLORATION, AND ADVENTURE WHILE LEARNING ABOUT THE HISTORY AND SCIENCE BEHIND DIAMONDS
Generally, the tour starts with an offer of bubbles (sparkling wine) and the tour guide introducing key facts about diamonds, such as the four C’s: cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight. South Africa is known for its high-quality, ethically mined white diamonds. My guide informed me that yellow-tinged diamonds result from the presence of nitrogen during the formation of the diamond – the more nitrogen, the more yellow the stone.
Diamonds are formed over hundreds of millions of years, as far back as three billion years ago, deep in the earth’s core and under extreme pressure and high temperatures. Most mined diamonds cannot be used as precious gems in jewellery, but they can be used for industrial purposes.
Walking about, I saw people at work – the concentration and the accuracy required to cut a stone is a marvel to witness. According to my tour guide, it takes about 10 years of experience before a diamond cutter can start working on diamonds sized one carat and up. Considering how diamonds are formed, the mining process and the expertise that goes into cutting and polishing a stone make sense regarding its high value.
The diamond industry is intrinsically linked to shaping South Africa
From a historical and heritage perspective, there is no doubt that the diamond industry has played a crucial role in shaping the South Africa we see today – bustling, developed cities, vibrant cultures and so forth. Like all fascinating stories, it
begins with once upon a time...
Once upon a time, around 1866, Erasmus Jacobs found a “pebble” on the banks of the Orange River, which turned out to be a 21.25-carat diamond. There was a great diamond rush, with people from all over the world flocking to the country in search of riches. That, in turn, led to development and economic opportunities.
Tanzanite
Part of the tour also provides insight into tanzanite. Several years ago, the popularity of tanzanite soared. Tanzanite is exclusive to the Mount Kilimanjaro area, whereas diamonds are found in several African countries and other continents. That alone makes tanzanite quite rare, especially given that it is a finite gem, i.e., there are limited quantities.
Bring on the bling
The tour has a strong historical element, but many fun elements exist. There are replicas of famous diamonds, such as the Cullinan, The Star of Africa and many more. Head to the photo booth where the famous Taylor Burton diamond is superimposed on you, and snap! There are even tiaras in the photo booth to try on and capture any royalty dreams you might have.
While The Diamond Works Institute offers consultation with a designer to create the perfect bespoke piece, there is a lot of ready-made jewellery. I have never particularly thought of myself as a big jewellery person. Still, I was inspired by all I learned to try on some bling. I started to ponder if I was going down a rabbit hole – diamonds (more specifically, the pieces that appealed to me) are a relatively expensive passion to have – perhaps it is time to get serious about finding ways to become a multi-millionaire to fund this new passion!
Sneak peek
While my bank account might not be healthy enough to afford the diamonds I want, there are certain perks to working in media, such as getting a sneak peek into what is coming next such as virtual reality (VR)! Heading into a conferencing room, I was given a VR visor that transported me back to the days of the diamond rush in SA. It is an interactive experience whereby you pick up items, including an ancient newspaper, a diamond, etc. and learn interesting facts. I was also put to work sieving through rock and sand to discover a diamond! (It took a few tries to get a grip on the handles of the archaic sieve barrow – and it felt somewhat realistic, particularly with the voiceover telling me to get to it, and that I didn’t have all day!) Overall, it’s a fun edutainment experience.
Plans are also currently underway for more features to be added to enhance the experience by highlighting more interesting facts about these precious stones.
Diamond qualities
The highlight of the tour is understanding the rich history –and that each diamond has a story to tell. Take, for example, the Taylor-Burton diamond. The original rough diamond, which would later become the Taylor Burton diamond, was discovered at Premier Mine in SA. It was cut and eventually sold again to Richard Burton for Elizabeth Taylor. Taylor found the diamond too heavy to wear as a ring and requested that a necklace be made. Once the romance between Burton and Taylor fizzled out, Taylor sold the famed jewel and donated part of the proceeds to build a hospital in Botswana. Similarly, every diamond piece we own has its own story – it can mark an occasion, a commitment, a gift from a special someone or a personal preference. When I left, with stars (diamonds) in my eyes, I whimsically thought to myself that as gems, diamonds are known to be exceptionally hardy, resilient, unique and beautiful, which is an apt analogy also to describe South African people, our rich history and land.
Did you know?
• The Kimberley Mine, or “Big Hole,” spanned 170 000 square metres and yielded three tons of diamonds. The mine was closed in 1914, but three holes i.e. Du Toitspan, Wesselton and Bultfontein continued operating until 2005.
• Mount Kilimanjaro, known as the White Mountain and home to tanzanite, was formed by massive tectonic activity over 585 million years ago.
• A natural diamond is more valuable than a manufactured diamond, as natural diamonds are limited and rare.
• In 1905, the Cullinan diamond was discovered at the Premier Mine (later named the Cullinan Mine). At 3,106ct, it is the largest rough diamond ever found. The Cullinan diamond was cut into nine gems. The two largest were presented to King Edward VII in 1908 and is part of the British Crown Jewels.
• Approximately 50 light-years away from our planet, the white dwarf star, nicknamed Lucy, is a crystallised carbon mass equalling a diamond of 10 billion trillion trillion carats.
• The Golden Jubilee diamond is the world’s largest faceted diamond, weighing an estimated 545.67 carats. Discovered in South Africa in 1985, it was given a papal blessing by Pope John Paul II. In 1997, the diamond was presented to the King of Thailand and is thus owned by the Royal Family of Thailand.
• The blue-white tinted Excelsior diamond, was discovered in 1893 at the Jagersfontein Mine near Kimberley.
Experiencing history, nature and adventure!
A MUSEUM VISIT PROVIDES GREAT INSIGHT INTO THE PAST BUT IN SA, WE HAVE TREASURE TROVES OF HISTORICAL INFORMATION SPREAD ACROSS VARIOUS SITES COMBINING ADVENTURE AND EXPLORATION IN AREAS OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY.
Robben Island, Western Cape
Declared a heritage site in 1999, Robben Island is famous for being the place where political prisoners such as President Nelson Mandela were incarcerated. There are guided tours available.
UkhahlambaDrakensberg Park, KwaZulu Natal
Boasting over 30 000 examples of Bushman rock art on the walls of caves, this park is a prime example of nature showing off – mountains, grasslands, rocky gorges and a wealth of diverse plant species.
Mapungubwe Cultural
Landscape, Limpopo
The Mapungubwe Cultural
Landscape provides insights into the rise and fall of the first indigenous kingdom in South Africa. It was once a major trading hub where gold and ivory were traded for salt, glass beads, cloth and porcelain.
iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Kwa-Zulu Natal
Formerly called the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park covers approximately 240 000 ha. It is teeming with natural eco-systems such as coastal forests, coastal dunes, coral reefs, wetlands, canyons, and savannah grassland – and offers a variety of activities including game drives, snorkelling, diving, bird-watching and hiking.
Cradle of Humankind, Gauteng
A visit here reveals a veritable treasure
trove of scientific information related to the evolution of human beings. The Cradle of Humankind includes areas such as Sterkfontein, Swartkrans and Kromdraai.
Richtersveld, Northern Cape
The 160 000ha Richtersveld is a mountainous desert that sustains the semi-nomadic pastoral livelihood of the indigenous Nama people.
Vredefort Dome, Free State
Approximately two million years ago, according to reports, a 10km meteorite hit the earth creating an enormous impact crater now known
R39.90
SOUTH AFRICA - WOOLWORTHS, SPAR, EXCLUSIVE BOOKS, PICK N PAY, DISCHEM, INDEPENDANT CONTRACTORS / FORECOURTS / BOOK RETAILERS, FUEL STATIONS.
