Indwe September 2014 by TJT Media Online

B LO E M F O N T E I N LUBUMBASHI

CA P E TOW N DURBAN E A S T LO N D O N GABORONE LUSAKA WINDHOEK NELSPRUIT P O RT E L I Z A B E T H

GEORGE HOEDSPRUIT JOHANNESBURG KIMBERLEY PIETERMARITZBURG RICHARDSBAY W A LV I S B A Y HARARE

Indwe September 2014

Home Grown Tourism YOUR FREE COPY

contents

Features 24

Travels in Wonderland Experiencing a Destination’s Real Pulse

Assume the Brace Position In Conversation with Marc Lottering

South Africa’s Willy Wonka Beyers Chocolates

Growing Vines, Transforming Lives Solms-Delta Wine Estate

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A Positive Improvement to Air Travel in Gauteng Gautrain

Travel Safe The Benefits of Buying Travel Insurance

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The Fabric of a Great Nation Presidential Shirt

Allergies Away! Get Tested Now

Just Try and Beat Us! The Rugby Championships

Travel With Flair Soars Again SA Express Travel Agent Awards

September 2014

Cover Image: © Cape Town Tourism/Andrew Brauteseth

On the Cover 2014 marks the 20th anniversary since all South Africans were free to cast their votes for the first time, and what better way to celebrate this hard won freedom than a trip to the Mother City?

Airline Content 10

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CEO Letter

SA Express Fleet

We Fly For You: Our Visions and Values

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Safety and Route Map

Flight Schedule

Passenger Letters

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Regulars

A Diamond in the Rough Kimberley

Whales of Delight Seaside Safaris in Richards Bay

Star-Spangled Botswana A Jewel of a Destination

Flights of Freedom Celebrate 20 Years of Freedom in Cape Town

Events North, South, and In Between

Business

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Motoring

Travel

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Bits & Pieces Travel Tips & Gorgeous Goodies

Bites Restaurants & Taste Experiences

Gadgets Must Haves for Technophiles

Books New releases and Must Reads

Our Beautiful Country Awaits 20 Years of Freedom and Tourism

Anyone for Cricket? Eastern Cape Explorations

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Zombie Workers Are South African Employees Just Tuning Out?

Leading by Example How to Build Leaders From Within Your Organisation

Are You Ready? The New Style of IT is Coming

A Subtle Styling Step Up Hyundai Elantra Facelift

The RAV4 Ramps it Up Tackling the Sani Pass with Toyota

A Showstopper of a Sedan Audi A8 4.2 TDI L

ceo SA EXPRESS is approaching the conclusion of commemorating its 20 years in aviation this year. Our vision of being a sustainable world-class regional airline with an extensive footprint in Africa remains aligned to the state’s airlift strategy through the implementation of the SAX 20/20 vision strategy. The key focus of this journey is on sustainability and unlocking growth through connectivity. As a State Owned Entity, the implementation of the SAX 20/20 vision strategy affords us the opportunity to drive the airline’s dual mandate. This is characterised by achieving the developmental state objectives of sustainability in the region, skills development and job creation, expansion into the African region, and remaining commercially viable. As September is Tourism Month, we will continue to put our passengers first by ensuring that we have the right frequency and availability of our services, at a competitive price, while improving on our on time performance to support South Africa as a preferred tourist destination. Internationally, the global air transport industry is concerned about the recent civil aircraft tragedies. Safety is the number one factor that attracts our passengers worldwide to choose air transport as their preferred mode of travel. At SA Express, it is a core value, as we put safety first and never compromise on our passengers’ wellbeing. At times, our vigilance may compromise our passengers in terms of delays, but the safety of our passengers, crew and aircraft is our key priority. Moreover, our aircraft undergo inspections and routine checks every night. They also undergo a preflight check before each take-off. On a global scale, we are forced to find new ways to make the air transport system safer and more secure. As noted by Tony Tyler, Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA): “The systems supporting global aviation have produced the safest mode of transportation known to humankind. There is no need for major surgery. But we must identify and close some specific gaps in the system that, however infrequently, lead to

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SA EXPRESS Divisional Manager Communications and PR Keitumetse Masike Tel: +27 11 978 2540 Email: kmasike@flyexpress.aero Customer Care Department Tel: 0861 729 227 Email: customercare@flyexpress.aero Twitter: @flySAexpress Facebook: SA Express Airways Reservations Support Tel: +27 11 978 9905 Email: groupsales@flyexpress.aero Group Reservations Tel: +27 11 978 5578 Email: reservationslist@flyexpress.aero Sales Office Email: sales@flyexpress.aero INDWE Indwe is published by TjT Media (Pty) Ltd Tel: +27 12 425 5800

unspeakable mistakes and tragedies.” It is a challenging time for our industry, but all the stakeholders in civil aviation are united in ensuring the safety and security of the global air transport system and its users. As part of sustainable development, SA Express, together with other state owned entities, will be exhibiting at Africa Aerospace and Defence 2014, which will take place in the City of Tshwane at Waterkloof air force base. We are also sponsoring five top performing maths and science learners from Kimberley to attend the show. The exhibition is open to the public, so bring your family on 20th and 21st September 2014 to experience this wonderful initiative. Spring is a season associated with growth and renewal. It symbolises a time of change, rebirth and new beginnings. At SA Express, we have embraced this spirit of transition and have found a new home for our head office employees. We are now situated at Airways Park near OR Tambo Airport, sharing our space with South African Airways. This move reaffirms our commitment to working more closely together as state owned aviation assets to grow shareholder value and leverage on economies of scale. As a rainbow nation with diverse cultures, let us warmly welcome tourists to our country and celebrate all that is South African with them this month. Regards, Inati

Images © iStockphoto.com, 123RF & Quickpic General Manager and Associate Publisher Letlhogonolo Sealetsa | nolo@tjtmedia.co.za Publisher Bernard Hellberg | bernard@tjtmedia.co.za Marketing and Communications Manager Pam Komani | pam@tjtmedia.co.za Editor Nicky Furniss | editor@tjtmedia.co.za Senior Designer Lindsey Steenkamp | design@tjtmedia.co.za DIRECTORS Bernard Hellberg l bernard@tjtmedia.co.za Obed Sealetsa | nolo@tjtmedia.co.za Pam Komani | pam@tjtmedia.co.za ADVERTISING SALES Tel: +27 12 425 5800 National Sales Manager Bryan Kayavhu | bryan@tcbmedia.co.za +27 83 785 6691 Manager: National Sales & Business Development Chantal Barton | chantal@tcbmedia.co.za +27 83 459 3086 Senior Account Managers Nikki de Lange | nikki@tcbmedia.co.za +27 83 415 0339 Calvin van Vuuren | calvin@tcbmedia.co.za +27 (82) 5826873 Gertjie Meintjes | gertjie@tcbmedia.co.za +27 82 757 2622 André Scharneck | andre@tcbmedia.co.za +27 72 739 8855 DISCLAIMER: All material is strictly copyrighted. All rights are reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without prior permission from the publisher. Opinions expressed in Indwe Magazine are not necessarily those of SA Express.

Events North And All that Jazz! 25th to 27th September

Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, Sandton Convention Centre Jazz giants from across the globe – including four-time Grammy Award winner Dianne Reeves, National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis and South African musical legends Sibongile Khumalo and Jonas Gwangwa – are part of the line-up for this year’s star-studded Standard Bank Joy of Jazz. Other Grammy Award winners who will appear at Africa’s premiere jazz festival include British R&B legend Billy Ocean, this year’s Best Jazz Vocal recipient Gregory Porter, and trumpeter Roy Hargrove. Performers from South Africa include Feya Faku and his quintet, the Mike Rossi Project, as well as Herbie Tsoaeli and Carlos Mombelli, both of whom will be performing with their quartets. Tickets are available from Computicket. www.joyofjazz.co.za

Homely Delights 18th to 21st September

Pretoria Homemakers Expo, Parkview Shopping Centre, Pretoria The Pretoria Homemakers Expo will offer discerning visitors the very latest in home improvement, décor, furniture and home lifestyle trends and products.A diverse local and national exhibitor line-up will range from basic and essential home improvement products to beautiful décor accessories and sublime furnishings. Not to mention sleek bathroom fittings, kitchen designs, and accessories. Food lovers will also not be disappointed as a range of deli delights will be available to taste at the Expo or to purchase to indulge in at home. www.homemakersonline.co.za

Ballet at Its Most Beautiful La Bayadère, Joburg Theatre, Johannesburg

September

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Lauded as one of the greatest of the 19th century ballet classics, La Bayadère after an absence of many years returns to the South African stage when Joburg Ballet’s glittering new production premieres at the Joburg Theatre in September. La Bayadère, or the Temple Dancer, is a saga of love, betrayal and revenge played out against the natural and architectural splendours of Ancient India, and brims with classical dancing in the grand tradition. At its centre, La Bayadère is a passionate love triangle in a be-jewelled setting, telling the story of an Indian temple dancer and her doomed love for a warrior who in turn is betrothed to a princess. Boasting some of classical ballet’s greatest showpieces, La Bayadère offers a feast of classical ballet at its most splendid. www.joburgtheatre.com

Events South

Democratic Dining

Oct

Avondale’s Rainbow Nation Culinary Series, Mondiall, Cape Town In the spirit of celebrating South Africa’s 20 years of democracy, Avondale is showcasing its premium wines in a series of culinary experiences that highlight the many delights of our Rainbow Nation’s diverse cuisine. Staged at top restaurants in Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town, Avondale’s Rainbow Nation celebration invites connoisseurs on a gastronomic adventure to explore the uniqueness of the South African palate. The series will visit Roots at Forum Homini in Gauteng on 24th September, and closes in style in the Mother City on 1st October at Mondiall at the V&A Waterfront where guests can look forward to a traditional Cape Town menu. The cost of Avondale’s Rainbow Nation Culinary Series is R450 per person and includes food, wine, gratuity and entertainment. Contact +27 21 418 3003 or email reservations@mondiall.co.za for reservations. www.avondalewine.co.za

Wine Time! 27th & 28th September

Franschhoek Uncorked, Franschhoek Get into the swing of spring and sample superb wines at this year’s Franschhoek Uncorked Festival in September.Wineries in and around the Franschhoek Valley will be pulling out all the stops to showcase limited release wines and possibly a new release (or two).The festival serves as the perfect excuse to stock up on your wine collection as you travel from farm to farm. Choose to stop and sample wines along the way, or take in the entertainment and activities on offer at some of the farms.Visitors can look forward to cellar and vineyard tours, food and wine pairings, art exhibitions, and live entertainment.The Uncorked Weekend Pass includes a tasting glass and free wine tastings at the participating wineries for the duration of the weekend. www.webtickets.co.za

Ready, Set, Go!

Must See

Last Saturday of the Month. Sheep Racing and Open Day, Doran Vineyards, Western Cape At Doran Vineyards in the Voor-Paardeberg, five tame sheep earn their living in a unique way. Rambo, Sid, Lucky, Séan and Alice are regularly decked in colours then, lured by offers of food, run an 80 m course while spectators shout encouragement from the sidelines. Two years ago, these five Île-de-France lambs were rejected by their mothers and taken in by farm manager Basson Potgieter and his wife.They have since become the basis for a stable of racing sheep.The Doran Vineyards Sheep Derby takes place on the farm’s open day on the last Saturday of each month. Visitors can roam the 180 ha property, meet the other animals who call the farm home, and taste and purchase the entire range of Doran wines. Visitors are also encouraged to bring along picnics or meat for a bring-and-braai. http://doranvineyards.co.za

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Events In Between Arty Endeavours Witness Hilton Arts Festival, Hilton College, KwaZulu-Natal

18th – 21st

The annual Witness Hilton Arts Festival is broadly considered to be KZN’s premier arts and culture festival and one of the top festivals in the country. It consistently produces an unmatched programme of cutting-edge drama, comedy, music, and music revue. There will be a spotlight on visual arts and crafts at this year’s festival, with extended exhibition space and elevated focus being given to crafters and art makers, allowing for an interesting array of arts and craft items.Two enormous marquees will house an impressive body of work representing many of the country’s most significant artists. One marquee will be exclusively for crafters and the other – the ChemSpec Arts Marquee – will be for visual artists.All work will be for sale.There will be a link marquee which will house a cosy bar area and live music stage where elegant live music will be performed throughout the weekend. www.hiltonfestival.co.za

For the Kids 3rd to 5th October

The Herald Kids and Baby Expo, Port Elizabeth Now in its fifth year, the Herald Kids and Baby Expo promises visitors a brand new computer fun area, a large play area, exciting stage arena and themed Kids Zones that will include the very best of: indoor entertainment and fun, wellness and nutrition, education, furniture and décor, photography and home electronics, as well as travel and leisure. The Expo will be held in the Moffett on Main Lifestyle Centre’s spacious basement parking area, which offers a secure, central and weather proof environment which includes a comfortable baby changing area. Thanks to an exciting all-day entertainment programme, the festival also provides families with a great opportunity to entertain the kids during the school holidays. www.harwoodevents.co.za

Woodn't it be Wonderful? 9th to 11th October

Working with Wood Festival, Knysna “When I was a young man and wanted to become a cabinet-maker, there was no question about it, I had to go to Knysna. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we can get that reputation back?” says Richard Henley, owner of Full Circle Furniture. Several wood merchants in Knysna share Henley’s sentiments, and so the Working with Wood Festival was born.This three day festival will include a variety of products manufactured from indigenous and/ or recycled wood and will include displays, lectures, tool and project demonstrations, food stalls and entertainment for both adults and children. The Knysna Timber Route will allow festival participants to witness wood manufacturers working their wood into beautifully crafted products, many of which will be on sale at bargain prices. www.workingwithwood.co.za

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Bits & Pieces

The Best of the Bush Seventeen years after opening, Singita Boulders Lodge in the Sabi Sand has been thoughtfully redecorated to redefine its unique sense of place on the boulder-strewn banks of the Sand River. The lodge merges seamlessly with the shifting light, shapes and moods of the environment, providing a soothing sanctuary for world-weary travellers craving a connection with nature. Open to the elements or separated from the outdoors by glass walls, the lodge provides a continuous connection with the prolific wildlife and birdlife for which the Sabi Sand is so well known. Cleverly designed communal spaces provide new opportunities for guests to connect with their surroundings and with each other. The 12 privately spaced suites, two of which are designed exclusively for families, blend soulful, sensual Africa with high design to instil a sense of tranquillity and ease guests into the rhythm of safari life.

http://singita.com/boulders-lodge

Giddyup, Baby! Polo has recently launched a stylish new infants wear collection of designer baby grows, entitled “My First Pony”. The range is available in super cuddly fabrics with colours ranging from pastel pinks and baby blues to white. It includes Polo’s signature pique fabric, a weaving style characterised by raised parallel cords or fine ribbing, best known for its style and durability. Another must-have is “Polo the Pony”, the cuddly mascot who is the perfect companion for Polo fans, both young and old.

www.polo.co.za

Sky Light, Sky Bright Crafted from sterling silver, Pandora’s new Night Blue Crystal set comprises a captivating cocktail ring, delicate stud earrings and a necklace pendant, each set with beautiful deep blue crystals, faceted to catch the light. Each crystal is encircled with decorative dots of sterling silver, highlighting the beauty of each stone, and adding a textural element to jewellery reminiscent of the enchanting night sky. Wear the crystal cocktail ring alone or stack with other blue-hued styles for an on-trend look in this season’s favourite colour story. Enhance your personal style and layer the Night Blue Crystal pendant with one or two other necklaces with different lengths, or wear the stud earrings every day for a stylish look. The Night Blue Crystal set is available from Pandora stores nationwide from September.

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Bits & Pieces For Stiff Upper Lips and Collars If you are a “gotta-have-it” kind of guy, consider these nifty creations from Würkin Stiffs. The “Power Stay”, as this little accessory is called, has humble origins, and was devised to meet a very basic need: to keep a man’s shirt collar neat and in place. One evening in early 2006, while getting dressed for dinner, Jonathan Boos struggled to keep the collar of his new shirt neatly in place. Frustrated, he devised a makeshift magnetic collar stay to solve the problem. Boos’ practical ingenuity has since spawned a whole product line of cufflinks, wallets, travel bags and more, not to mention a wide range of Power Stays. Email info@wurkinstiffs.co.za or contact +27 82 602 7282 for more information. www.wurkinstiffs.co.za

Win! Two lucky INDWE readers each stand a chance of winning a pair of Würkin Stiffs Power Stays worth R700 each. To enter, SMS the word INDWE, followed by the word POWER and your NAME to 35131. Cost per SMS is R1,50. Competition closes 30th September 2014. Terms and conditions apply.

The Gift of Travel Flight Centre will be marking its 20 th birthday this year by giving a stylish Travelite vanity bag (valued at R299) to every customer who books an international flight with Flight Centre during the month of September. To date, Flight Centre has over 500 travel experts located across 120 stores around the country. Their aim is to deliver amazing travel experiences at the best available prices, and they pride themselves on their travel experience, professional service, and their Lowest Airfare Guarantee. Flight Centre customers who qualify for the gift may redeem their Travelite vanity bag at any Fraser’s store nationwide.

Making it Work Cape Town’s Woodstock Exchange is home to The Bureaux, a shared creative office space for like-minded entrepreneurs and small businesses. The Bureaux offers ten unique work spaces at affordable prices, with dedicated and fast WiFi access throughout the building to make it easy to work over lunch or coffee so that tenants have the option to turn any spot in the building into a work or meeting space. All the spaces – including the quiet areas, shared meeting rooms, and lounge areas – are designed to suit a particular business mindset, be it smart and formal office suites or the more casual and informal shared spaces favoured by creatives. One of The Bureaux’s key differentiators is that it offers each user an allocated work and desk space which allows members to personalise their space in a secure environment with full-time security and after hours parking. The membership options are equally flexible and users can choose between renting on a month-to-month or short-term basis or a longer term, fully serviced office suite with a three-month notice period.

http://thebureaux.co.za/

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bites Perfect for National Braai Day Legendary comedian Barry Hilton has recently launched a new range of MSG free braai marinades which are the latest addition to an ever-expanding range of Barry’s “Nou Gaan Ons Braai” merchandise. The marinades will be available in Sticky Chicken, Barbeque Ribs and Steakhouse Classic flavours. Two sauces – Peri-Peri and Honey & Orange – will be released towards the end of the year. Barry’s “Nou Gaan Ons Braai” range was developed following a comedy skit he developed in which the culture of the South African braai was explored, and made fun of; particularly the protracted process in which the actual food is only presented several hours after the guests have arrived. The skit has subsequently attracted hundreds of thousands of viewers on YouTube and has developed a wide following on social media as well as an array of associated media and cultural references. Other products in the range include braai tongs, a braai apron, T-shirts, caps and key rings. All Barry Hilton merchandise is available online from http://ngobraai.com.

High Five!

A Heritage Feast Celebrate Heritage Day in style this year at Lanzerac Hotel & Spa on 24th September, with a lunch of gastronomic proportions. A buffet menu, thoughtfully created by Executive Chef, Stephen Fraser, caters for all palates and can only be described as a feast for the senses. The cold buffet includes a smoked snoek mousse, goats’ cheese salad and roast tomato and onion soup, while the main course buffet includes roast leg of lamb, whole roast deboned chicken and braised oxtail. The feast ends on a sweet note with crème caramel, white chocolate profiteroles and Cape malva pudding. Included in the meal is a glass of wine from each of the wines in the Heritage range produced by Lanzerac Wine Estate, and carefully selected by cellar master, Wynand Lategan. Seating is limited. Email banqueting3@lanzerac.co.za or contact +27 21 887 1132 for reservations.

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Four Cousins has recently released their new fruity, wine-based Four Cousins Fiver range. At its heart, the new range contains the much-loved Four Cousins wine, South Africa’s biggest selling bottled wine brand. Four Cousins Fiver, a crisp and refreshing drink for all young-at-hearts, is available in five delicious flavours: Black (zesty with a ginger zing), Bold (pomegranate), Blush (strawberry and litchi), Cool (apple, lime and cucumber) and Crush (apple and pear). Each contains 5 % alcohol by volume. Each Four Cousins Fiver is available in 340 ml bottle. www.fcfiver.co.za

Travels in Wonderland

Experiencing a Destination’s Real Pulse Text: Keith Bain Images © Jesse Nedier, Lisa Burnell, Coffeebeans Routes, Keith Bain, Pan African Space Station

When our travels take us into unfamiliar territory, modern humans have a tendency to take a step back, and consider the place we’re visiting to be a kind of living museum to be observed, commented on, photographed, and quite often experienced only at the most superficial level. Far more satisfying than ticking off the sights, is taking home memories that touch us deeply, change us, and inform the way we see the world.

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IT WAS MY WORST NIGHTMARE. The first and last time I joined a so-called “guided sightseeing tour”. I’d arrived in Los Angeles a day earlier than planned and, rather than try to navigate the sprawling metropolis on my own, I lazily coughed up a few dollars for the promise of an easy overview, a day-long bus journey that would join the dots between the most obvious attractions, ticking off Rodeo Drive, Venice Beach, Hollywood’s boulevard of stars, and a string of utterly unimpressive celebrity mansions, viewed from outside their gates. I was young and naïve and believed I’d be saving time and money and the possible embarrassment of getting lost, or – heaven forbid – missing some ostensible treasures. Problem was, the trip was designed as a checklist of the city’s most hyped and obvious tourist hotspots, sites that all of us on that bus had already seen in brochures and TV shows. It didn’t take much to figure out that the tour’s real function was to enable suckers (like me) to leave town thinking they’d “seen and experienced LA”. Frankly, what I mostly saw was the inside of a bus and a lot of concrete highway. It gave me absolutely no insight into Los Angeles or its people, no feel for its culture or what made it tick. Such surface-level experiences are what

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give tourism a bad name, reinforcing the same thinking that motivates people to visit tried and tested restaurant chains for fear of grappling with unfamiliar dishes in foreign countries. You go home with a hole in your wallet, wondering if being away from home in fact made any difference, other than a change in scenery. If, when travelling, you never penetrate deeper than is required to take a few pictures to post on Facebook, you’re kind of missing the point. Little wonder, then, that “social media envy”, also dubbed “the Instagram effect”, is believed to be dramatically impacting people’s travel expectations. It’s not necessarily all bad. Online boasting can have the positive effect of spurring other online fantasists to challenge themselves on their next trip. But where does this leave you? Our desire to document every moment has the effect of transforming vacations into a string of photo sessions, recording glimpses of a place you haven’t taken the trouble to actually experience. This “photograph everything” obsession undermines the real virtue of travel, which is to open us up to a wider understanding of life. Real memories aren’t made up of fleeting successions of photographs of famous buildings and breakfast buffets. Meaningful travel memories are the result of connecting with people, gaining

insight into their take on a place. To truly experience a new destination, you need to interact with the people who make it live and breathe on a daily basis, not only the ones who man your hotel lobby. Every trip can be like an adventure into Wonderland, a discovery that shakes the very core of your being, startles you out of your comfort zone, and compels you to see the world in a new light. Often, it simply takes letting down your guard, and immersing yourself in the unfamiliar reality of a new place. The first step is to stop behaving like a tourist, someone who is essentially a consumer rather than a participant in the world. There’s a marked difference between merely sightseeing and consciously engaging with a destination. This might mean seeking out guides who offer a more authentic, off-the-beaten track version of their home city, or simply making the effort to speak to local people to garner their insights into what makes their city tick. Find

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your way down back streets, venture to lesser-known neighbourhoods, take advice from regular people rather than those working in the tourism industry. Yes, you need to see those monuments, museums and mountains, but what brings a town or city to life are its inhabitants. You want to engage with people who can translate the local scene into meaningful knowledge, or vitalise what you’re witnessing with personal anecdotes. People also add an emotional dimension to a place, and sharing this will help the place touch you at a deeper level. There’s a certain beauty about spontaneous, unexpected, unforeseen encounters that aren’t happening purely for the benefit of tourists, so give yourself opportunity to allow those magical, serendipitous moments to happen. There’s a more authentic version of your next vacation waiting to happen, and all it requires is a curious, open mind, and an open heart.

Ways to Transform Your Local Travel This Month More than ever, savvy travellers are looking for transformative experiences, ones that connect them with locals, immersing them in daily life and culture in some way. • Start by rethinking where you stay. Smaller guesthouses tend to offer greater opportunity to interact with your host than you’d find in a big hotel. Many travellers end up befriending their hosts when using alternative accommodation resources like Airbnb (www.airbnb.com) or Couchsurfing (www.couchsurfing.org). Not everyone renting out their spare room to travellers wants to be your personal tour guide, but occasionally you strike gold and you’re made to feel like a visiting friend. • Do things that you’d do back home, but in the local context. Go to local sports events and find cultural activities with a local flavour. Try restaurants and cafés in neighbourhoods that aren’t touted as “internationally renowned”, and go to markets. And if there are communal tables where you can sit and eat the food you’ve just bought, sit down and join the conversation. • In the quaint Karoo town of Prince Albert, raconteur Ailsa Tudhope (www.storyweaver. co.za) offers walking tours with a focus on the town’s ghosts. She’s subversive enough to know that, behind the tales of poltergeists and haunted houses, what visitors really crave are intimate footnotes about the town that you’d never learn

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just by strolling around snapping pictures of the well-preserved architecture. • Durban’s Street Scene Tours (www.streetscene.co.za) was started by mates Richard and Sthembiso. They couldn’t understand why its unique and diverse culture wasn’t more accessible, so they developed a string of personalised tours during which they introduce visitors to the ins and outs of the place they call home. • In Johannesburg, Jo Buitendach at PAST Experiences (www.pastexperiences.co.za) has designed tours of the inner-city and Soweto that rely on foot and public transport. She says that’s a far better way to gain insight into how people live, and it provides a chance to actually meet people. • In Cape Town, you can spend a few hours in the home of Zainie Misbach (www.bokaapcookingtour.co.za), learning what goes into preparing an authentic Cape Malay meal, folding samosas, and getting a grip on the legacy of spices that arrived in the Cape from the East. • Also in Cape Town, Coffeebeans Routes (www.coffeebeansroutes.com) is a tour company focussed on introducing visitors to authentic experiences and making it possible to meet interesting locals. At night, for example, there’s a jazz safari and a reggae route where you meet and dine with musicians in their homes. And they have a dozen or so other immersive experiences where you can meet artists, fashion designers, spiritual leaders, storytellers, poets, and other dynamic locals.

sandton

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a w A y r t n u Co f Freedom and Tourism

20 Years o

t yn Wainwrigh Text: Bronw F 3R 12 © es Imag

year. This year ch ea ls va ri ar se g tourist enery and diver with increasin sc n r io la at cu n ti ta es ec d sp an try. Our st a is a top Afric th for our coun And it’s not ju . ow ld gr or w South Africa sm e ri th u to in d tinations s of freedom an country. ost desired des m e th marks 20 year of a world in one e le p on y eo p tr n n u ow co s r ake ou so offers it destinations m outh Africa al S … rs to si vi n foreig destination for

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ON 24TH June 1995, little more than a year after our first democratic elections, South Africa hosted the Rugby World Cup. Rugby had previously been a whites-only sport, but when Mandela presented the trophy to captain Francois Pienaar at Ellis Park after the Springboks beat the All Blacks, he did so wearing a Springbok shirt with Pienaar’s own number on the back. This was a major milestone for democracy and the reconciliation of white and black South Africans. The Rugby World Cup also opened the doors to international visitors from far and wide, while local visitors were given the opportunity to view their own country as a destination with much to offer. Tourism has since created more than half a million jobs and has overtaken our renowned gold exports in terms of earning foreign revenue. In fact, with growth at three times the world average, tourism has become one of the most important sectors in South Africa. Since the end of Apartheid, we have been able to showcase our diversity, not only culturally but also in terms of climate, landscape, holiday destinations, adventure and sport.

Sho’t Left Earlier this year, former Minister of Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, visited Witzenberg, one of the Western Cape’s hidden tourism treasures, as part of a Sho’t Left campaign event to promote domestic tourism. The event was themed “Promoting the Hidden Treasures of Our Country” and was coordinated in partnership with the

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Witzenberg Municipality, South African Tourism (SAT) and the Tourism Enterprise Partnership (TEP) in celebration of the 20 Years of Freedom and Tourism Growth in South Africa. According to van Schalkwyk “South Africa’s hidden treasures are showcased through tourism”. This is the message the Sho’t Left campaign wants every South African to appreciate: That tourism affects the lives of ordinary citizens, and that all of us should enjoy exploring our beautiful country.

Hidden Treasures While the Kruger National Park is a must-see and Cape Town has been named one of the world’s top destinations by Conde Nast, Lonely Planet, and The New York Times, there really is a long list of hidden tourism treasures, and many are often right on your doorstep. Here are five tourism ideas that will change the way you see South Africa as a travel destination:

World Heritage Destinations South Africa is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Cradle of Humankind, the Vredefort Dome, the Isimangaliso Wetland Park, the Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape, the uKhahlamba Drakensberg National Park, the Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape, Robben Island, and South Africa’s Cape Floral Region. If you have a passion for culture and natural history, add these destinations to your bucket

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list. Why not plan a visit to at least one of these sites for your December holiday?

Paleo Tourism Destinations When you’re relaxing at a quaint bistro in Johannesburg, it may be hard to imagine that South Africa is an archaeological wonderland. The Cradle of Humankind is considered the birthplace of the human species, and sites of great archaeological significance include Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, and Kromdraai. These sites tell the story of our human ancestors some two to three million years ago. The remains of more than 500 hominids have been discovered at the Sterkfontein Caves alone!

Adventure Abounds From hiking through the Blyde River Canyon and rock climbing at Waterval Boven in Mpumalanga, to bungee jumping at Bloukrans (which holds the Guinness World Record for the highest bungee jump in the world), adventure is not hard to find. We have 3,000 km of coastline, soaring mountains, diverse terrain, and an outdoor climate. Take your pick from surfing on the West Coast, horseback safaris in Limpopo, hiking the Otter Trail along the Tsitsikamma coastline, skydiving at Wonderboom, and white-water rafting at Augrabies or on the Orange River.

Sports Events We’re crazy about sports, so it’s not hard to find a sporting event on any given weekend somewhere in South Africa. From the big ones like the 2003 Cricket World Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and annual mass participant events like the Argus Cycle Race and the Comrades Marathon, to weekly Parkruns, trail races, and orienteering events, you can always design your next trip around being active, healthy and fit.

Eco-tourism There are a host of parks under the SANParks and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife banners and many more privately owned reserves across the country. South Africa’s fauna and flora is far more exciting than just the Big Five. Visit the Namaqua National Park in August and September to have your breath taken away by fields of colourful daisies. Make your way to the red dunes of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park on the Namibia and Botswana borders. Here you’ll find herds of gemsbok, springbok, eland and blue wildebeest amid Camel thorn trees, which mask huge black-mane lions, leopard and raptors. Ancient baobabs dot the Limpopo landscape, and whales can be spotted off the coast of the St Lucia Wetland area in KwaZulu-Natal. Many of our parks offer outdoor experiences that cannot be experienced anywhere else in the world. With the December holidays around the corner, there’s no need to flock to the crowded beaches in Durban and Cape Town. The rest of our beautiful country awaits.

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Assume the

Brace Position In Conversation

with Marc Lotter

ing

Text: Keith Bain Images ÂŠ Supplied

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Where it All Started I’m sometimes taken aback by how big a part of our culture humour is. When foreign comedians perform alongside us, their jaws drop at what we say. Our history has made us race-obsessed, so we talk about it a lot. There are very few South African comedians who don’t let race creep into their routines. When I first started performing, every sketch began with the words: “As someone from the Cape Flats...” That was funny for five years. But I’ve grown up, I’ve matured, and I’ve realised I don’t need to hold onto that label to make people laugh. My late father was a pastor, and being in the church where there was always a congregation meant I felt comfortable going up to the front to sing. By the time I decided to do stand-up, I found it normal being in front of an audience, and enjoyed making people happy. Growing up, stand-up comedy wasn’t exactly a career choice. Back then, South Africa’s established comedians commanded diva status. You had to be Soli Philander or Pieter-Dirk Uys. Many of them weren’t strictly comedians, but were also doing serious theatre, they were capable of occupying both worlds. I started at the Armchair Theatre in Observatory, more or less when stand-up was starting to take off. We were just guys interested in doing comedy, not trained actors. As a novice comedian, my first trip abroad was to perform at Celebrate South Africa in the late-1990s at the Royal Festival Hall in London. It was alongside Hugh Masekela, Pieter-Dirk Uys, and Sibongile Khumalo, and I was this upstart comedian. I was too awestruck by the show to take in much about the city at all. Now I perform there so often, I know it like the back of my hand.

The SA Connection South Africans have a way of connecting when they’re abroad. It’s the way they look into your eyes. You’re in Times Square, and a total stranger will lean forward and look at you in a special way. When South Africans hear my accent, they turn around and share a moment. There’s a sense of belonging together. And inevitably you take a few moments to catch up with strangers, because we’re from the same place. I regularly perform overseas for expat South Africans. After the show, they often insist on speaking to me in Afrikaans, even if they don’t quite grasp Afrikaans. After the second glass of wine,

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they take particular delight in swearing in Afrikaans. They love doing that in front of their non-South African friends. Many expats tell me that, ten minutes into my show, they’ve been close to tears. Because even after being away for 20 years, the humour takes them straight back to what it means to be a South African.

Fond Travel Memories My parents believed Durban was Disneyland, so I have many fond memories of long childhood road trips. I looked forward to those holidays, because we would stay on the beachfront, and they’d take us to the beachfront funfair. We did that trip religiously. It was a drive – with warm Cream Soda and boiled eggs – that we looked forward to. Now I hate driving. I panic when I’m in Joburg because, like any decent Capetonian, I believe driving more than 20 minutes to get anywhere is insane. I’ve recently fallen in love with Paternoster. We went for two days and ended up staying four, it’s that pretty. The problem with quiet places is that while they’re fine for romantic getaways, they don’t allow me to write or create new work. I need the hustle and bustle of the city to be creative. I need to be where there’s a lot of traffic or a street fight or two. I feed off people for the stories I tell in my shows, and those stories only happen when there are people on the move. That’s why I love supermarkets; I can watch shoppers roaming the aisles for hours. Nothing can prepare you for the craziness of India. It must be experienced to be believed. After a day, I realised if I was going to get in a car or onto the back of a motorbike, I had to close my eyes, otherwise I’d risk having three strokes and a heart attack before getting to the corner. Nobody gets hurt, everybody seems to know where they’re going and everybody’s going in every direction, dodging monkeys and cows and old ladies in saris at high speeds. It puts any James Bond chase scene to shame. Johannesburg isn’t far off. Climbing into a car there is the start of an extreme adventure for me. Capetonians drive differently to Joburgers. In Cape Town when you’re changing lanes, you first look over your shoulder, lift your RayBans, and mouth the words: “May I move over?” Then you indicate and pull into the gap. Afterwards you flash your hazards to say thank you, and by the end of it, you’re swapping phone numbers. Johannesburg

drivers don’t understand that kind of foreplay. They drive like New York cab drivers. The thinking is: “There’s a gap, now take it, take it quickly and get to your meeting. I’m not here to be your friend.” In Joburg, travel instructions always begin with: “Get on the highway and drive for 35 minutes.” No man! In Cape Town 12 minutes is already a journey. The Gautrain is my new best friend in Joburg. Even if I’m offered a chauffeur-driven lift, I turn it down and go on the train.

Just Plane Annoying I have no sense of direction, so generally I’m much happier on a plane. My new show draws on the fact that I spend a lot of time in the departures hall and on aeroplanes. There’s always some kind of heightened situation or weird moment, like people who haven’t bothered to introduce themselves, but feel it’s fine to nod off on my shoulder. People think that because you’re a comedian you’re up for a chat all the time. On planes, especially, I believe you shouldn’t speak unless spoken to. I even have to watch how I shuffle past people to get to my seat. If I make eye-contact, or appear too friendly, they think it means I want them to have my baby. Inevitably, when I sit down, the woman next to me starts fiddling with her phone. I always know what’s coming next. Once the message sends, she’ll nudge me and, in a hushed giggle, say: “I just told my sister I’m sitting next to Marc Lottering!” I don’t have a comeback for that, so I just say: “Oh, I hope that made your sister happy.” But it doesn’t end there. She soon nudges me again and as I look up, she’ll have her cell phone held up in front of me. Then she’ll lean in and say: “Sorry, but I just know she’s not going to believe me.” And – click – she’s included me in her selfie. I think God sends these people into my life. Because God knows I only like flying in the morning, and I can’t fly with a hangover anymore because I can’t afford to look terrible in some stranger’s selfie. So now I drink less because I have to be ready for an impromptu selfie at eight in the morning whenever I’m flying. Following a run at London’s Soho Theatre, Marc’s new one-man show, “This is Your Captain Speaking”, opens at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town on 2nd September. Tickets are available from www.computicket.com.

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Areena riverside resort

Anyone for Cricket?

Eastern Cape Explorations Text: Glynis O’ Hara Images © Glynis O’ Hara & Rufus Dreyer

Take the road less travelled and explore the riches of the Eastern Cape, where you’ll find everything from stunning scenery, old battle sites, crumbling forts, and eccentric country cricketers, to traces of one our country’s most endearing diarists, 10-year-old Iris Vaughan.

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Forts and Battles If the history interests you, Rob Speirs, a strapping six-footer who is as fit as a fiddle at the age of 66, is one of the few people around who can take you on a frontier battle tour. We spent four-and-a-half days locating the sites, using almost every dirt road in the district. One evening we even crawled very slowly up a terrible pass, only to find at the top that the section we’d been on was officially closed! It’s impossible to describe everything we discovered,

s e e f l i g h t s c h e d u l e f o r m o r e i n f o r m at i o n .

Lochart’s’s farmhouse, Glen Gregor, is built right next to the foothills of the Winterberg and looks straight out at a mountainside of thick indigenous forest dripping with fronds of lichen. It’s been in the family for six generations, since 1835. British authorities settled all the Scots quite far north of Grahamstown in 1820, including the poet and abolitionist Thomas Pringle. And there are still Pringle farms north of Bedford in the Baviaans River Valley. But life wasn’t easy on the frontier in those days, and nine frontier wars erupted between 1779 and 1879. There are still traces of that epic struggle in this area today.

Sa express connects you to east london

ONE OF THE PLEASURES of exploring the Eastern Cape Frontier Wars Heritage Route is in unearthing its hidden treasures – both living and historical. Among the living, count Bedford’s Lochart Ainslie. Clutching a Stetson to his head in a howling wind while riding a scrambler, he guides my 4x4 over farm roads to view his eccentric cricket ground. It’s cheekily called the “MCG”, after the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia. But in this case, it stands for Mill Cricket Ground, because it’s next to the old mill which was built in 1839 and now houses a pub. “We’ve had Bangladesh play here, in a four-day game against country districts, to name one match,” says Lochart. “Plus Trevor Quirk opened the ground in 1998 and Robin Jackman and Pat Symcox did a show here in a marquee for 280 people. “Locally, we play for the Midland Bat, the oldest cricketing shield in the country still contested, which started in 1891. It’s a keen rivalry between Bedford and Cradock, a 50-over game played on the first weekend of December. Socially, we also play places like Molteno, Queenstown and Cathcart. We also use the field for the Bedford Garden Festival in October (24th – 26th). Guitarist Steve Newman and vocalist Lu Dlamini will be appearing this year.”

but among the highlights was the site of fierce battles in the Fort Fordyce Nature Reserve, northwest of Fort Beaufort. Driving up through lush forest, Rob explained a key battle fought between the Xhosa and the British under Lt-Col John Fordyce in the Eighth Frontier War of 1850 – 1853. The British soldiers had marched around the area so much, and had had such a horrible time of it, that they dubbed this peak Mount Misery. Fordyce was to become the most senior officer killed by the Xhosa, on 6th November 1851, and his death was felt as disastrous by the Colony at the time. Today, you can still see a few traces of the fort erected up there a year later, plus some of the graves of the British soldiers who died here.

Farms Become Forts North of Fort Fordyce is Post Retief, a fortified base. The British started building it in 1836 on Piet Retief’s farm and at his invitation shortly before he left on the Great Trek. In fact, he was one of the building contractors on it and the money he made helped finance his venture.

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Post Retief was used as a supply base and a hospital during the Eighth Frontier War, but was also besieged for three months when farmers rushed within its protective walls. It was rescued in the end by a force of 130 burghers and 140 Mfengu. You’ll find the outer walls still standing, plus a stoep house, all elevated on a slope with a great view of the Katberg. There’s a sign to the “Piet Retief House” nearby, but there’s only a monument there. “The places that are looked after are usually the buildings that are still used,” explains Rob. “Sometimes buildings are falling apart due to neglect or lack of finances, but often too they’ve been totally stripped by dealers from the big cities who find an unguarded building and simply remove the yellowwood floors and beams, and basically gut the building.” One of the places he wanted me to see was the beautifully restored fortified farm Barville Park, southwest of Bathurst, which was built between 1843 and 1845. A solid double storey building, it is surrounded by a 2.4 m high stone wall with loopholes for guns. It was called into service in the Seventh and Eighth Frontier Wars. Today it sits quietly off a dust road, and is a beautiful example of its type. It’s unfortunately not open to the

public, but maybe Rob can work his magic for you.

Fort Beaufort Here you might find the slightly obsessed Moose van Rooyen, now retired, who was the curator of the museum for 27 years. He’s been collecting South African war memorabilia since he was 17. Today, though, he’d fit right into a Lord of the Rings movie, looking a lot like a smaller version of Gandalf, complete with glasses and a ponytail. The museum, well worth a visit, has a couple of cannons outside, as well as weaponry, paintings and sketches, including copies of Thomas Baines’ sketches of the Eighth War. It also houses displays on transformation and our post-1994 era. Fort Beaufort is a town with a multi-layered history, not least among them being that the 10-yearold diarist, Iris Vaughan, whose published diary is a South African classic, lived here during the Boer War. She describes moving into the “residensy” in her diary (her father was the circuit magistrate

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Useful Contacts Rob Speirs (Amatola Guest House in King William’s Town): Contact +27 43 642 1747, email info@speirtours.co.za or visit www.amatola.co.za. Post Retief: Carl Kritzinger (ckritzinger@vodamail. co.za) keeps the keys to the officers’ quarters. Fort Fordyce Nature Reserve: Contact +27 43 701 9600. The reserve is a favourite with hikers and climbers, with good cliffs for abseiling. Arminel Hogsback Hotel/ Katberg self-catering units: These are characterful country hotels in beautiful surroundings, well placed for exploring the area. Contact +27 43 743 3433, email reservations@ katleisure.co.za, or visit www.katleisure.co.za.

for the area) and the building still stands. Moose took us to see it in the grounds of the hospital and showed us a real gem. If you walk around to the back courtyard you will see a childlike scrawl on a stone wall: “CT Vaughan”, her brother’s signature. The two of them painted their names on the wall one day and Pop was not pleased. “It is the worst thing we have ever done,” she miserably confided to her diary. “Nothing can take off the names now... Our punishment is a hard one. Now we must go to Sunday School every Sunday.” Ever observant, she also noted the cricket being played, despite the war and being invaded by Boers one minute and British troops the next: “Pop is giving a cricket cup for playing between Adelaide and Bedford. Much fighting goes on when Adelaide and Bedford are playing the football match, but not when they playing cricket. Our cricket is the best.” Out at Glen Gregor farm, Lochart might be slightly annoyed to hear that Adelaide used to be “the best”. But he’s not too worried, he says, because the town simply doesn’t have a cricket team any more. So let’s see who wins the Midland Bat this year…

First Page: View out towards the Katberg showing part of the old barracks building at Post Retief, a fortified base built by the British on Voortekker Piet Retief’s farm, at his invitation. Second Page: Sign to the Mill Cricket Ground, dubbed the “MCG”, on Glen Gregor farm near Bedford, about 100 km north of Grahamstown. Third Page: The Mill Pub is situated in an old mill next to the cricket ground. Previous Page: Aerial photo of the farming area of Post Retief at the foot of the Winterberg, north of Fort Beaufort in the Eastern Cape. Much of the area shown is of the farm Killaloe, which belonged to Piet Retief before he went on the Great Trek. This Page: Part of the buildings that made up the old barracks at Post Retief.

A Positive improvement to Air Travel in Gauteng Gautrain

Text & Images © Gautrain

he Gautrain’s international award-winning airport service has been in operation for four years, and is the only air-rail travel extension in Africa. It offers worldclass convenience for travellers and, thanks to Gautrain’s airport station being integrated into the OR Tambo International Airport terminal, it takes travellers only 15 minutes to travel from the airport to Sandton.

TWO EARLIER and two later trains to and from OR Tambo International Airport have been introduced since the end of August 2014. As a result, the first trains will leave Sandton, destined for OR Tambo, at 04:50 and 05:10. From OR Tambo Station the later trains will depart at 20:46 and 21:04. These trains will travel without stopping at any of the stations between Sandton and the airport. The entire Gautrain service continues to show positive growth on its bus and train services in the commuter service (Johannesburg to Tshwane). In his budget speech on 22nd July 2014 the Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Dr Ismail Vadi, highlighted Gautrain as a successful flagship transport project in Gauteng. He also mentioned how it is contributing to

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Government’s objective of offering a safe, reliable, affordable, and integrated public transport system. He also thanked the Gautrain Management Agency for ensuring that Gautrain delivers on its mandate. Gautrain is indeed changing the perception of public transport in South Africa, particularly in the corridor between Johannesburg and Tshwane, and between Sandton and OR Tambo International Airport. For more information, contact the Call Centre on 0800 42887246, visit www.gautrain.co.za or like Gautrain on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ gautrain. You can also follow Gautrain on Twitter (@TheGautrain) and SMS ‘alert’ to 32693 for service updates.

A Diamond in the Rough

Kimberley Text: Will Edgcumbe Images © Frances Baard District Municipality

riving through Kimberley today, it’s hard to imagine it as a dusty frontier mining town or being under siege during the AngloBoer War. It’s a peaceful city, home to a cosmopolitan mix of friendly people who speak English, Afrikaans, Setswana and Xhosa, and with its blend of historical sandstone structures set amongst modern buildings, is the capital of the Northern Cape Province.

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KIMBERLEY OWES ITS EXISTENCE to its diamond reserves, and was founded some 150 years ago when an 83-carat diamond was discovered on a small kopje in the area. It didn’t take long before 50,000 diggers had trekked to the area and were sweating over the hard earth, each trying to excavate a personal fortune. The hill was soon mined flat, and then turned into a large, open pit mine which we know today as the Big Hole. Although Kimberley is one of South Africa’s smaller cities, thanks to the diamond rush going full tilt it became the first large-scale industrial city in southern Africa. It was also the first town in the Southern Hemisphere to install electric streetlights, and was the home of South Africa’s first stock exchange and tram transportation network.

All that Sparkles The first port of call during any visit to the city has to be the Big Hole and the accompanying Visitor’s Centre and Old Town. Some may wonder why a hole could be a tourism attraction, but the name, although on the nose, can’t quite capture the enormity of the mine. The Big Hole is said to be the largest hand-dug excavation in the world, although some claim this distinction actually belongs to the Jagersfontein Mine near

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Bloemfontein. Nevertheless, it’s certainly deeper than Jagersfontein and is impressive to behold. Created with picks, shovels and sweat, the Big Hole was mined between 1871 and 1914. When mining eventually ceased, some 22.5 million tons of earth had been excavated which yielded a staggering 2,722 kg of diamonds. That’s no small feat! Start at the Visitor’s Centre, which tells the story of the diamonds and their diggers, with various displays that show what life was like for the fortune seekers who came here. You can get right up to the edge of the Big Hole using the cantilever ramp, explore the Old Town full of fascinating old buildings which capture what the town was like in the “old days”, and even take a ride on a vintage tram. There are also numerous shops selling everything from jewellery to leather goods, as well as a bowling alley, restaurant, pub, and coffee shop.

Into the Wild Kimberley is surrounded by some beautiful wild places. Just 2 km north of the city is Kamfers Dam, a perennial wetland which has been given National Heritage Site status. The dam is home to more than 200 species of bird, including some 35,000 lesser flamingos, the largest population of these striking birds in southern Africa.

Also just outside the city limits, to the north, is Dronfield Nature Reserve, a 12,000 hectare park which is home to eland, gemsbok, giraffe, kudu, sable antelope and white rhino, as well as a vulture hide from which one can see the resident White-backed vultures. The reserve has six selfcatering chalets under the shade of Camel thorn

including goshawk, Martial eagles, Cape eagle owls and Lappet-faced, White-backed and Cape vultures.

A Dash of Culture

Kimberley is also home to one of South Africa’s finest art museums, the William Humphreys Art Gallery. Home to a collection of 16th and 17th Century Dutch and Flemish Old Did You Know? If you think history is Masters, British and French paintings, a little stuffy, Kimberley is also home to antique furniture and other objets d’art, the the Kumba Skate Plaza, a world-class museum also collects ceramics, sculptures skateboarding park which hosts the annual and paintings by local artists, including works by Stern, Van Wouws, Pierneef Kimberley Diamond Cup Skateboarding and Boonzaier. World Championships, drawing top skaters The McGregor Museum is a major research institute specialising in natural from around the world. and cultural history, and houses major trees, with each unit offering en suite bathrooms, collections, including a botanical herbarium, a air conditioning, a fully equipped kitchen, and history archive, as well as archaeological, rock braai facilities. art, zoological, paleontological and geological South of the city is South Africa’s newest national collections. The museum has nine satellites, park, Mokala National Park. With its open, sandy including the Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre plains pockmarked with Camel thorns, game is easy which is home to 400 well preserved San engravings to spot, including the rare tsessebe, roan antelope, on a sacred hill owned by the !Xun and Khwe San, black and white rhino, ostrich and gemsbok. For who were the first people to call the area home. the birders there is a variety of raptors to spot, Those who lost their lives during the Siege

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If you want to complete the colonial experience after trawling through the city’s historical sites, there’s no better place to stay than the Kimberley Club and Boutique Hotel. Founded in 1881 by none other than Cecil John Rhodes, along with a number of other top men in the diamond industry, the club has a rich history, including burning down and being rebuilt twice, and hosting Queen Elizabeth II. The club is now a four-star boutique hotel, with 21 rooms decorated with original club furniture, and offers excellent dining in the Rhodes Grill Restaurant.

Useful Contacts

First & Second Page: Kimberley’s Big Hole Visitor’s Centre and Old Town are undoubtedly the city’s favourite attraction, not least of all because they transport visitors back to when the exciting time of the diamond rush was in full force. Previous Page: For visitors interested in natural and cultural history, the McGregor Museum and its nine satellites are a must see.

Northern Cape Tourism: Visit http://experiencenortherncape.com or call +27 53 832 2657 The Big Hole: Visit www.thebighole.co.za or call +27 53 839 4600 Dronfield Nature Reserve: Call +27 53 839 4455 Mokala National Park: Visit www.sanparks.co.za or call +27 12 428 9111 (central reservations) William Humphreys Art Gallery: Visit www.whag.co.za or call +27 53 831 1724/5 McGregor Museum: Visit www.museumsnc.co.za or call +27 53 839 2700 Wildebeest Kuil Rock Art Centre: Call +27 53 833 7069 The Kimberley Club and Boutique Hotel: Visit www.kimberleyclub.co.za or call +27 53 832 4224

s e e f l i g h t s c h e d u l e f o r m o r e i n f o r m at i o n .

Old World Charm

S a e x p r e s s c o n n e c t s y o u t o k i m b e r l e y.

of Kimberley during the Anglo-Boer War are remembered in the Honoured Dead Memorial. Designed by Sir Herbert Baker, the famed architect who later designed the Union Buildings in Pretoria, the memorial is one of the finest in the country and actually serves as the tomb of 27 soldiers. At the foot of the memorial is the “Long Cecil” gun, a once-off design manufactured in the De Beers workshops to battle the Boer artillery.

The Fabric of a Great Nation Presidential Shirt Text & Images © Presidential Shirt

The brand Presidential Shirt was born in 1994 when designer Desré Buirski gave a batik shirt to Nelson Mandela as a gift. This marked the birth of a style that became synonymous with this great political icon. INTRICATELY HAND-PAINTED and excellently tailored, every Presidential Shirt is an example of true artistry. Much time is spent meticulously painting each shirt dot by dot, and colour by colour, using ancient skills to ensure that each shirt is magnificently crafted. These shirts have been worn by iconic and influential men, from Bruce Springsteen and Morgan Freeman to Vusi Mahlasela and, most famously, Nelson Mandela. “When I heard Mr Mandela was to speak at the synagogue on Marais Road in Sea Point

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the following day, I knew I had to see him and give him a gift to thank him for all his sacrifices. That’s how he got the fish shirt and the Presidential Shirt brand was born,” explains Desré Buirski, Founding Designer of Presidential Shirt. The following day, in May 1994, Tata Madiba appeared in the newspaper wearing the shirt Desré had given him to the dress rehearsal for the opening of Parliament. Desré supplied Nelson Mandela with over 150 shirts over the years, as he defined the style of what has now become known as the “Madiba Shirt”.

“He told me he liked earth tones. Needless to say, over the years I have covered every shade of earth tone imaginable, as well as every other colour of the rainbow.” Nelson Mandela was once quoted as saying: “I wear these shirts to represent my people and their struggle and to represent the beautiful, diverse cultures and traditions of Africa.” The designs are inspired by African diversity, cultures and heritage, with a noticeable infusion of Asian craftsmanship and influence. The skills required to tailor the shirts were traditionally Indonesian, but have recently been acquired by South African tailors. “The fabrics and patterns are so intricate, and

require exact matching across the seams. There is extra fine attention to detail, as each design is so unique,” says Presidential Design Director Annette Sim. “We have spent the past year training local tailors to tailor the shirts. Our first range of Made in South Africa shirts was launched for Autumn/ Winter 2014.” Various styles of “The Madiba Shirt” have been worn by iconic men, and continue to project confidence and individuality when worn by men of influence today. Presidential Shirt is available at OR Tambo International Airport Duty Free (+27 11 390 2157) or from the Presidential website at www.presidential.co.za.

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Allergies Away! Text & Images © Thermofisher

llergies are very common and we often treat the symptoms, without finding the cause. However, being able to conclusively pinpoint the existence and cause of an allergy can make all the difference in being able to effectively treat and manage it.

Allergy or Not? Like many people, you may find it difficult to tell whether your symptoms are caused by allergies or not. A runny or stuffy nose and other symptoms may not be caused by an allergy at all. A number of other factors, such as irritants, infections, injuries, or deformities of the nose can cause symptoms similar to allergies. To treat the symptoms, you need to understand the real cause behind them, since treatment differs for different conditions. That’s why it’s important to be tested for allergies to help your doctor make an appropriate allergy diagnosis.

Understand Your Symptoms Beyond itching, sneezes and sniffles, allergies

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may have many symptoms you wouldn’t expect, such as stomach pain, diarrhoea, or ear infections. Recognising typical signs of the most common allergies is a prerequisite for receiving a correct diagnosis, appropriate help and optimal symptom relief. By limiting your exposure to the relevant triggers or allergens you can also improve your own wellbeing.

Allergies Add Up Most people with allergies are allergic to more than one thing, and greater exposure to allergy triggers is more likely to make symptoms worse. Since allergy triggers (such as dust mite, furry animals, and pollen) add up, symptoms may appear only when exposed to two or more allergy triggers at the same time. This means that what may seem like the obvious trigger – for example pollen – may just be the “tip of the iceberg”.

Testing for Allergies Knowing what is causing your symptoms is important, since treatment differs for different conditions. The right diagnosis and early treatment of allergies can also help prevent potentially serious complications from developing, such as ear infections, sinusitis and asthma.

Ask Your Doctor About an Allergy Blood Test A blood test will help your doctor to determine whether or not you have allergies and if so, to what. A blood test is quantitative and measures the amount of allergy antibodies in the blood (IgE), which is an indicator of allergic sensitisation. Based on a physical examination, your case history and the blood test results, your doctor will be able to make a proper diagnosis and decide on a relevant treatment for you. A blood test can test for hundreds of allergens, such as weeds, trees, pollen, mould, food, and animal dander. Adults and children of any age can take the test, and it can be performed irrespective of skin condition, medication, symptoms, disease activity, or pregnancy. Any doctor can take a blood sample and request the test, which is covered by most medical aids. Visit www.isitallergy.co.za and complete your allergy profile to find out more.

thermofisher

Whales of Delight Text: Keri Harvey (www.keri-harvey.com) Images ÂŠ Courtesy of Advantage Tours and Charters (www.advantagetours.co.za)

The KwaZulu-Natal coastline is whale territory par excellence. In season, breaching Humpbacks are abundant, and if luck smiles on you, Southern right, Minke and Brydeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s whales may also be seen.

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IT’S EARLY morning in St Lucia and the sun has just risen over the ocean, dazzling the water’s surface with dancing stars of light. As we drive the 400 m of beach to meet our whale watching boat, excitement is building. Yes, we’ve seen whales countless times from land and boat, but this trip is going to be different. The difference starts with the surf launch through the St Lucia shore-break, which is something Cape boat-based whale watching operators don’t need to do. Before the adrenaline-pumping launch, though, there’s a serious safety briefing to ensure that everyone on board knows the rules of the sea. Boat captain and co-owner of Advantage Tours and Charters, Danie Bennett, does this personally. And then we’re off through the breakers and out into open ocean, for two hours in the territory of mighty Humpbacks. All eyes on board are scanning the ocean for whales, but of course there are plenty of other marine mammals to see here too. Dolphins frequently swim alongside the whale watching boat and provide a literal “side show” on the trip. But the Humpback whales remain the main act and have travelled all the

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way from Antarctica to be here. It’s an epic journey and one of the longest migrations on Earth. Every winter, Humpbacks leave their feeding grounds in Antarctica and head 10,000 km north to warmer water to mate and calve. Their calves wouldn’t survive being born in the icy Antarctic waters, but the warm Indian Ocean waters are hospitable, and the calves can feed and accumulate blubber as they make their way up to Madagascar and then journey back south to Antarctica again. The Humpbacks have it all timed perfectly, as those who mate off the KwaZulu-Natal coast this year will come back and have their calves here next year, since the gestation period for Humpbacks is a full 12 months. As we cut through the ocean, Danie gives all this interesting information and more. He’s had countless close encounters with whales and has enchanting tales to tell. As a committed conservationist, he also explains the importance of whale watching with a registered operator, all of whom use experienced skippers with extensive knowledge of whales and marine life; collect data from every whale watching trip and log it with

How to Identify Whales • • •

Marine and Coastal Management; and of course never encroach on the whales’ territory. It is, after all, their world and we are just the visitors here. And then it happens. Not one, but two Humpbacks breach straight out of the ocean like jet propelled rockets. Aboard the boat a single gasp is heard as everyone holds their collective breath at the unusual and majestic sight. Yes, it is truly breathtaking and no, the experience is not easily translated into words at all. Seeing over 40 tonnes of Humpback shoot from the ocean skywards is a marine wildlife experience that is truly wild. And as the two whales crash onto the surface of the sea sending white water in all directions, all aboard again give a collective gasp. Only when the Humpbacks are out of sight below the surface do we exhale. Everyone looks at each other in disbelief at what we have just seen. Danie breaks the silence, chuckles and says: “That’s not exactly an everyday sighting. You were really lucky today.” While most people who go on whale watching trips may not see two Humpbacks breaching

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Humpback whales: Have a singlespouted blow. Southern right whales: Have a V-shaped blow, callosities on their heads, and no dorsal fin. Bryde’s whales: Have a single-spouted spray and dorsal fin.

together, their chances of seeing Humpbacks during whale season – from the end of May to early December – is so high that there’s a 40 % money back guarantee if you don’t. Before we continue, Danie logs the sighting along with its GPS coordinates, weather conditions, description of the whales, and their behaviour. This information is ultimately correlated with other data received from along the coastline and so forms part of a bigger story of Humpback whale behaviour off the KwaZulu-Natal coast. And today we witnessed a small part of that story. We still don’t really know why whales breach, lobtail or spy-hop, but we do know that humans and whales have an inexplicable connection and fascination with each other, and it’s about much more than simply both being mammals. Maybe one day we’ll understand more about these mysterious creatures that have us gasping in awe. Contact +27 35 590 1259/1180 or visit www.advantagetours.co.za for more information.

Choose Sustainable,

Choose MSC

Pressure on marine resources is growing and responsible seafood buyers are increasingly turning to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) for their assurance of sustainability. Widely recognised as the most rigorous third-party certification standard for wild-caught seafood, and green-listed by WWF-SASSI, the world’s leading eco-label, the MSC’s distinctive ‘fish with a tick’, indicates a product that is traceable back to a certified sustainable source. THE HAKE TRAWL fishery in South Africa is one of the country’s oldest commercial fisheries and first achieved MSC certification in 2004. In the 10 years that have followed they’ve been rewarded with better economic returns and closer cooperation between scientists, NGOs and industry. Environmental Benefits In 2004 the hake fishery was already well managed, but conditions of certification led to further environmental improvements. For instance the introduction of bird scaring lines on all trawl vessels has led to a 90% reduction in overall incidental seabird mortalities, and a 99% reduction for albatross, according to a recent report done by BirdLife South Africa. Pioneering research is also being conducted in the Atlantic Ocean, where the trawl industry have temporarily halted fishing in certain areas to monitor ecosystem recovery. The Benthic Trawl Experiment is a joint initiative between the fishing industry, the South African Environmental Observation Network, the University of Cape Town, the South African National Biodiversity Institute and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and highlights the collaborative approach being taken by the industry to meet certification conditions.

Economic Rewards The benefits are not only environmental. Being MSC-certified has helped the fishery to secure markets in the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and Australia, where buyers place a premium on certified products. It has also ensured that South African consumers are given a wholesome, sustainable choice from our own waters. Trawled hake is South Africa’s most valuable commercial fishery, directly employing over 8000 people and indirectly supporting a network of logistics companies, processors and exporters. Over 60% of the catch is exported and economists estimate that certification has added as much as 35% to the value of the fishery, at the same time creating employment and job security for workers at sea and on land. Whether a seafood lover or a seafood business you can support sustainable fishing by choosing MSC.

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Star-Spangled Botswana

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B Text & Images © Adam Cruise

otswana is shaped like a pentagon. That is it has five corners, like a star. The immense open waterless plains of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve dominate the centre of the country, as does its equally expansive white-washed neighbour, the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. But while both are fascinating visits in their own right, it’s in the five corners that Botswana’s real personality resides. THE SOUTH-EASTERN corner (the bottom left for those less geographically orientated) is where the country’s capital, Gabarone, nestles. Situated just across the border from South Africa, Gabarone is a small town by global standards, but is the nerve centre of the country. It has a laid-back character and a sensible feel

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to it that defines the pulse of the nation in general. Given that not much is needed to run a country with a national population half the size of Cape Town, it’s a wonder that Botswana even boasts a government. But since the natural wealth of the country is exceptional, Gabarone’s administrators are meticulously attentive about

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s e e f l i g h t s c h e d u l e f o r m o r e i n f o r m at i o n .

a reliable 4x4, though. Running up the arrow-straight border with Namibia over some of the most inhospitable landscapes on earth, one unexpectedly arrives at Botswana’s great emerald jewel at the top left, the twinkling waters of the Okavango Delta. The contrast in scenery could not be more pronounced. Desert dunes and scrub are replaced by a maze of lazily snaking rivulets and streams that appear to struggle through an impeding density of verdant tropical vegetation. The Delta also contrasts with the Kgalagadi in that it is the antithesis of rudimentary. Ecologically low impact and widely scattered five-star luxury lodges provide a window into one of the most beautiful paradises on earth. Being poled down the placid streams in a dug-out makoro, where elephants and hippos bath among grazing Lechwe, is a truly special experience. On the reed-choked pan handle of the Delta one could even try your hand at fly-fishing. Some lodges here, like Nxamaseri, cater exclusively for fly-

Sa express connects you to gaborone

preserving the natural order of things, and are unarguably the most ecologically and environmentally advanced country on the continent. Along the frontier moving west towards the bottom left corner, following the dry Molopo River, one arrives at the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. This corner is dominated by red dunes and scattered thornveld, and enjoys one of the highest concentrations of large predators on the sub-continent. The size of the park is staggering and, if you add the salt-pan-spangled Mabuasehube National Park that is attached like a barnacle on its rump, as well as the Transfrontier bit in South Africa, it is a whopping 35,000 km² – that’s bigger than Swaziland! This is a rudimentary destination by most standards, as there are no luxury game lodges or hotels – or even roads beyond sand-tracks for that matter. But that’s all part of its appeal. If you want solitude and to immerse yourself in real nature with just a tent between you and large, toothy grimalkins that roar the starry nights away, this is the place. You’ll need

fishermen. The owner, PJ Bestelinck, is an avid flyfisherman himself and is an even more avid horseman. Riding a horse among herds of buffalo and giraffe on many of the Delta’s “islands” is possibly the best safari experience money can buy. Game viewing is excellent on a horse, as one is higher up than even a 4x4, so it’s easy to spot game. Unlike mechanised vehicles, horses are fairly quiet and appear natural-looking to their wild cousins – despite the fact they have a human plonked squarely on their backs – which also allows you to get much closer to wild animals than you may otherwise be able to in a 4x4. From the Okavango the border hugs the southern swampy section of the Caprivi Strip to the border town of Kasane – a town just behind the confluence of the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers. Kasane holds the accolade of having not two, but four separate border crossings for four separate countries – Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe – making it a veritable cross-roads. It is here that one can

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do another kind of safari that is special. A luxury river cruise has a charm reminiscent of the old days when travel was about journeying without really arriving. The Chobe-Zambezi confluence also has one of the most prolific riverfront concentrations as far as wildlife is concerned. Most noteworthy are the elephants that arrive in such multitudes that it becomes difficult to have them out of constant vision while lounging on deck. Moving to the south and the last of the five corners is the Tuli block. Like so much of Botswana, is teeming with wildlife, but unlike the other corners this place is rocky and rugged, giving off more of an African Rift Valley feel. There are a smattering of top-end lodges set among giant baobabs, sparkling swimming pools and green lawns, all within a few hours’ drive from Gabarone. It’s clearly difficult not to find top-star nature in Botswana, because it’s certainly abundantly apparent in even the nation’s most far-flung corners.

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Le Botswana étoilé Texte: Adam Cruise Images: © Istockphoto.com & 123RF

Le Botswana a la forme d’un pentagone. Et tout comme une étoile a cinq branches, le Botswana a cinq coins. Les immenses plaines arides de la Réserve animalière du Kalahari central (Central Kalahari Game Reserve) dominent le centre du pays, tout comme les vastes lacs salés blanc-lavés de Makgadikgadi (Makgadikgadi Salt Pan) qui lui sont limitrophes. Bien que ces deux lieux soient fascinants à visiter, la vraie personnalité du Botswana réside dans ses cinq coins.

LA CAPITALE Gaborone est nichée au sud-est. Comparé aux normes mondiales, Gaborone est une petite ville mais elle se trouve être le nerf central du pays. C’est un endroit relax et terre-àterre, ce qui peut aussi définir le ton de la nation en général. Considérant qu’il en faut peu pour diriger un pays qui a une population qui fait la moitié de celle de la ville du Cap, c’est presque une surprise que le Botswana ait un gouvernement. Mais le pays comprend des richesses exceptionnelles et de ce fait, les administrateurs de Gaborone sont méticuleux quant à la protection de la nature, et le pays est sans conteste l’un des plus avancés du continent africain sur le plan écologique. Longeant la frontière vers le sud-ouest se trouve le parc transfrontalier de Kgalagadi (Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park). Ce coin est dominé par des dunes rouges et des épineux de toutes sortes, et jouit d’une des plus grandes concentrations de grands prédateurs du sous-continent. La taille du parc animalier est ahurissante : si l’on y ajoute le parc national de Mabuasehube qui lui est rattaché sur la droite comme une bernacle à un rocher, et le morceau transfrontalier qui se trouve en Afrique du Sud, alors sa taille

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atteint 35 000 km², taille supérieure à celle du Swaziland ! On pourrait classer cette destination de rudimentaire puisque l’on n’y trouve ni loges luxueuses ni hôtels et que les routes ne sont rien de plus que des pistes en terre, mais c’est ce qui fait son charme. Si vous êtes du genre à aimer vous immerger totalement dans la nature avec pour seul rempart une tente entre vous et les grands félins rugissants, alors vous êtes au bon endroit. Mais il vous faudra un 4x4 très fiable. Si vous suivez la frontière rectiligne qui sépare le Botswana et la Namibie vous traverserez les terrains les plus inhospitaliers du monde. Contre toute attente vous rejoindrez enfin les eaux étincelantes du joyau vert émeraude du Botswana au nordouest, le delta d’Okavango. Le contraste entre les paysages ne pourrait pas être plus saisissant. Les dunes et les broussailles sont remplacées par des rivières formant des dédales ondulant avec paresse, et les ruisseaux s’efforcent d’avancer à travers une végétation tropicale luxuriante entravant leurs parcours. Contrairement au Kgalagadi, le delta est l’opposé de rudimentaire. Des loges écologiques cinq étoiles de grand luxe éparpillées dans la brousse vous permettent de goûter à la splendeur de l’un des plus beaux paradis terrestres.

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Vous pouvez aussi vous lancer à la pêche à la mouche sur les eaux du delta envahies par les roseaux. Certaines loges comme Nxamaseri accueillent exclusivement des pêcheurs à la mouche. Le propriétaire, PJ Bestelinck, est féru de pêche à la mouche et encore plus passionné d‘équitation. Faire une promenade à cheval entouré de girafes et de troupeaux de buffles sur les nombreuses « îles » du delta est probablement ce qu’il y a de mieux en matière de safari. Observer les animaux sauvages à dos de cheval est formidable puisque l’on s’y trouve bien plus haut que dans un 4x4 et que de ce fait, on voit les animaux plus facilement. À la différence de véhicules, les chevaux font peu de bruit et se fondent dans le paysage, ce qui permet donc d’approcher de bien plus près les animaux sauvages qu’il ne serait possible avec un 4x4. Depuis l’Okavango, la frontière suit de très près la région marécageuse du couloir de Caprivi (Caprivi Strip) jusqu’à la ville frontalière de Kasane, qui se trouve derrière la confluence des fleuves Chobe et Zambèze. Kasane se distingue du fait que l’on y trouve pas deux, mais quatre postes frontaliers pour quatre pays différents c’est-à-dire le Botswana, la Namibie, la Zambie et le Zimbabwe, ce qui fait de Kasane une véritable croisée des chemins. Et c’est à cet endroit-là que l’on peut faire des safaris sans pareil. Une croisière fluviale de luxe a un charme des jours d’antan, évoquant une époque où voyager était plus important qu’arriver à destination. On peut observer, sur les berges de la confluence des fleuves Chobe et Zambèze, une concentration extraordinaire d’animaux sauvages. La multitude d’éléphants se trouvant là-bas est un des faits les plus remarquables, faisant que ces créatures sont constamment dans son champ de vision quand on se relaxe sur le pont. Quand on se déplace vers le sud, on rejoint le dernier des cinq coins du pays, le Tuli block, qui, comme la majeure partie du Botswana regorge d’animaux sauvages. Mais contrairement au reste du pays, cet endroit est rocheux et accidenté, ce qui lui donne des airs de vallée du grand rift estafricain. On y trouve un petit nombre de loges de grand luxe entourées de baobabs géants, de piscines resplendissantes et des pelouses vertes, et tout cela à quelques heures de voiture de Gaborone. La nature est à son apogée au Botswana, la faune et la flore étant très riches même dans les coins les plus reculés du pays.

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Celebrate 20 Years of Freedom in Cape Town Text: Cape Town Tourism Images ÂŠ Cape Town Tourism & Andrew Brauteseth

2014 marks the 20th anniversary since all South Africans were free to cast their votes for the first time, and what better way to celebrate this hard won freedom than a trip to the Mother City?

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A Symbol of Freedom “Cape Town has always been important in the struggle for freedom,” says Cape Town Tourism Executive for Marketing, Velma Corcoran. “We encourage Capetonians and visitors to celebrate how far we have come as a country and as a city. Take a walk past the City Hall and stop under the balcony to reflect on the words of Madiba’s post release speech; pay a visit to the District Six Museum, followed by a stroll through the vibrant Fringe District; or head to Langa to spend some time in the Pass Museum understanding what life was like for so many South Africans. When you are driving along Helen Suzman Boulevard or Robert Sobukwe Avenue, take a moment to ponder the role our struggle icons played in giving us the freedom we have today. Twenty years after apartheid, Cape Town is a liberal African city that welcomes anyone and everyone wanting to experience our diversity of offerings.”

Continuous Transformation It is also a city that is still wrestling with the legacy of apartheid, particularly in the stubborn existence of both a socio-economic and spatial divide. It was in the face of this challenge that Cape Town won the bid to become World Design Capital 2014, forming part of a broader vision to position Cape Town as a leading global city – a hub of creativity, knowledge, innovation and excellence – and to acknowledge that the city is using design thinking as a tool for transformation, by focusing strongly on socially responsive design.

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Visitors to Cape Town can be part of this ongoing transformation by contributing of their time and signing up for any number of volunteer programmes. These range from building houses to reading to children.

Navigating Freedom in Cape Town Cape Town is the New York Times’ Number One Destination to visit in 2014, and visitors and locals alike have a number of ways to explore the footprints of the journey to democracy. Cape Town harbours some famous sites, including the world renowned Robben Island Museum, The District Six Museum, St George’s Cathedral and Cape Town City Hall. Lesser known sites like the Nobel Laureates statue in the V&A Waterfront and the Langa Pass Museum are also must-sees. South African Tourism’s recently launched “Madiba’s Journey” is an interactive map where you can literally follow the footsteps of this extraordinary man around the country. In Cape Town many street names honour the memory of notable struggle icons, while township tours are a great way to see and experience the Mother City via coach, bicycle or on a walking tour. “Cape Town is, in itself, the expression of its freedom. The street art, music, dance and design that epitomises the city is perhaps the greatest acknowledgement of its liberation. Soak it up at coffee shops, in art galleries, in the parks, on campuses, and the pavements of the city streets,” says Corcoran. For more information, visit www.capetown.travel.

First Page: Gugulethu Seven Memorial was built to commemorate the death of seven young black activists from the Cape township of Gugulethu on 3rd March 1986. This Page: A cycle tour, like Masiphumelele Cycle Tour offers a wonderful way of experiencing Cape Town’s townships as their residents experience them. Next Page Left: Robben Island is one of South Africa’s most visited tourist attractions. Next Page Right: The Langa Township Heritage Museum, or Dompas Museum, was once a pass office and court during the Apartheid era.

s e e f l i g h t s c h e d u l e f o r m o r e i n f o r m at i o n . S a e x p r e s s c o n n e c t s y o u t o c a p e t o w n d a i ly

Freedom Attractions Cape Town boasts a number of special sites which speak to the country’s heritage and its path to ultimate freedom. • The City Hall and Grand Parade were where a crowd gathered to see and hear from the newly released Nelson Mandela on 11th February 1990. Mandela stood on the small balcony of the Cape Town City Hall and delivered his address calling for all of South African society to end apartheid. 250,000 people streamed onto the Grand Parade to celebrate the release of the country’s future president. • The Nobel Peace Laureates statues at Nobel Square in the V&A Waterfront are a tribute to South Africa’s four Nobel Peace prize laureates: Albert Luthuli, Desmond Tutu, FW de Klerk and Nelson Mandela. The sculptor is Cape Town artist Claudette Schreuders. • Once “home” to some of South Africa’s most famous political prisoners, including Nelson Mandela, Robben Island is one of South Africa’s most visited tourist attractions. Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of the 27 years he was imprisoned here. • Formerly known as Victor Verster Prison, Drakenstein Correctional Centre in Paarl is where Nelson Mandela spent his final months of imprisonment. In Nelson Mandela’s honour, Drakenstein Correctional Centre houses outreach exhibitions and a bronze statue of the former president at the Mandela House Museum. • Table Mountain is Cape Town’s most iconic landmark. Former President Nelson Mandela said in 1998: “During the many years of incarceration on Robben Island, we often looked across Table Bay at the magnificent

silhouette of Table Mountain. To us on Robben Island, Table Mountain was a beacon of hope. It represented the mainland to which we knew we would one day return.” • Nelson Mandela routinely appeared in Parliament as the President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. It was here, in February 1990, that Former President FW De Klerk announced the release of Nelson Mandela. Former President Nelson Mandela made his first and last State of the Nation addresses in the National Assembly at Parliament. • St. George’s Cathedral is the oldest cathedral in South Africa. It played a key role in the resistance against apartheid by hosting peaceful demonstrations and mass protests, and has always welcomed all races. In 1989 more than 30,000 people from all walks of life were led from St. George’s Cathedral to the Grand Parade in a mass anti-apartheid demonstration. It’s most famous, and most vocal, leader was Archbishop Desmond Tutu. • The District Six Museum revives the history of a vibrant community that was forcibly removed to the city’s periphery during apartheid. This heart-breaking story is also one of rich cultural tradition that has survived against the odds. • The Langa Cultural Heritage Precinct is a heritage site in Langa Township and is made up of the Guga S’thebe cultural centre, the Old Pass Office Museum and the old Post Office building. Here visitors can buy from local crafters and explore. • The University of Cape Town (UCT) is the oldest university in South Africa. During the apartheid era UCT students regularly opposed apartheid both academically and physically, through student demonstrations, protests, and academic challenges.

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South Africa's

Willy Wonka Beyers Chocolates Text: Nicky Furniss Images © Beyers Chocolates

Do you feel like Willy Wonka?” I ask Kees Beyers, chocolatier and owner of local chocolate producers Beyers. “No, I don’t,” he laughs. “But my kids think I am. There is one dad at school who is cooler than me because he’s a music promoter and represents bands like The Parlotones, so I think he has one up on me. But I think my kids like that we have a chocolate factory. I could be a lawyer or a doctor, but to have a chocolate factory is a little unusual, a little out of the ordinary.

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IT CERTAINLY IS, especially when it uses close to 35 tonnes of chocolate a week and has been producing chocolates for the South African market for close to 25 years. While the factory’s own brand, Beyers, was only launched three-and-a-half years ago, South Africans have been enjoying Beyers for years without even realising it. The company supplies many of the country’s top retailers, including Woolworths, Clicks and Pick n Pay, with their own house brand chocolates, from their regular branded lines to chocolates – and even Christmas cakes – for special occasions. So if you’ve nibbled on a chocolate Easter bunny or enjoyed a delicious chocolate Santa from any of these retailers in the last two decades, there’s a good chance it was made in the Beyers factory in Kempton Park. Beyers is also responsible for making those delicious Amarula chocolates – which are always the perfect gift for friends visiting from overseas – as well as for resurrecting their own version of Caramello Bears, called Caramel Dream Bears, when Cadbury’s sadly discontinued the popular gooey treat several years ago. Nostalgic chocolate lovers who think longingly back to the good old days of their youth, also have Beyers to thank for resurrecting those yummy morsels of marshmallow goodness, Sweetie Pies, which the company has recently released in snazzy red packaging. “It’s funny,” says Kees, “I never used to buy Sweetie Pies before, but since we bought the business, I am bringing them home by the caseload!” And Kees is sure that he won’t be the only one to rediscover his love for this childhood treat. So much so, that the company has acquired a new factory just to produce it, where they will be producing 30,000 of these dollop-shaped chocolates every day. The new factory will also create 40 new jobs, which will grow the Beyers factory staff contingent to over 300 workers. They may not look like Oompa Loompas, but pretty much everyone I encountered had a smile on their faces (how could you not, working with the glorious smell of chocolate every day?). And none more so than my designated tour guide, Beauty Sithole, who showed me around the factory with obvious pride and love of her job. It’s a fascinating business making chocolate, right from the ingredients store room, through to the kitchen where they make their own fudge and caramel fillings, and onto the production floor, where you can watch chocolate artisans filling chocolate moulds, while others sprinkle toppings on individual truffles and yet more laboriously pipe decorative patterns on others. While the factory houses a number of ingenious machines that can mould and fill chocolates at an amazing speed, Beyers prides itself on the fact that they are so hands-on with their chocolates. “We like to set ourselves a bit apart from what the other manufacturers are doing, so there is always a touch of hand-finishing somewhere along the line,” explains Kees. “It doesn’t all just roll off an assembly line. I have been in factories in Belgium that produce five times the volume we do and they only employ 30 people because there are no hand touches

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Choc

any more, it’s all robotic. It’s a good product, but it’s very uniform and with zero flexibility. So we try to differentiate ourselves in that way – we’re a family business. We make fillings in small batches, we cook fudge in small batches, and there is always a handmade element in the final product.” This allows Beyers the flexibility to not only tailormake individual ranges for the retailers it supplies (with varying degrees of hand-finishing as dictated by their customers), but also to experiment and innovate with their own range. They currently produce a range of slabs, Nutty Bites and boxed selections – including delicious Scottish Whiskey Truffles and Carvo Caramel Vodka Chocolates – plus Kees and his team are always testing new ideas and flavours (wouldn’t you love that job?). South Africans consume 60,000 tonnes of chocolate a year, and while Beyers may not have the biggest slice of this pie, they have been producing some of the country’s most popular chocolates for years, and look set to have great success with their own Beyers brand too. “We like to think of ourselves as the local Lindt,” says Kees. “We’re a good quality chocolate that compares very well with overseas brands and which is locally made and well priced.” Plus there is something to be said about chocolate that’s handmade with love and smiles – somehow it just tastes better. For more information, visit www.beyerschocolates.com.

Growing Vines,

Transforming Lives

Solms-Delta Wine Estate Text: Melissa Jane Cook/mediaclubsouthafrica.com Images ÂŠ Solms-Delta Wine Estate

Among the tendrils of grape vines and the plump, juicy green and tempting, sultry red orbs, the workers at the innovative Solms-Delta Wine Estate get to crush the fruit and have their taste of the profits too.

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KNOWN FOR ITS PRIZE-WINNING wines, wine tours and tastings, Solms-Delta, a farm with a rich history, leads one to believe that a happy worker is a productive worker. This philosophy is evident in the farm’s accolades. Solms-Delta is known as one of the country’s most progressive wine estates, and one that generates real results. Located in the Franschhoek Valley, in the heart of the Western Cape’s winelands, it acknowledges and recognises that everyone is the boss. The 180 inhabitants who live on the land are all shareholders in the business, and they all benefit from the wine-making and the numerous other activities the farm offers. Mark Solms bought the 320-year-old farm in 2001. He learned about its history, which is deeply rooted in slavery, and from the start he knew he wanted to run the farm differently. For Solms, it was about empowering others through co-ownership, and ensuring the brutality of slavery and the indignity of being exploited would never happen again.

British philanthropist Richard Astor and owner of Lübeck farm, took out bonds on their properties to secure a loan for the workers to buy the adjacent Deltameer farm. It was an unprecedented move, transferring their equity into a trust and putting up their land as collateral. Solms-Delta is now made up of three farms, and all three share in the profits. Solms, Astor and the farm workers and residents are all beneficiaries. Of the combined Solms-Delta, Solms, Astor and the trust each own a third. Profits from Solms-Delta, which produces 30,000 cases of wine annually, allow the workers and tenants to pay for health care, school fees, as well as a social worker to tackle issues of alcoholism and domestic violence. The workers who create the wine are now also able to read about the lives of their slave ancestors who planted the first vines. “You can’t take on the ownership of such a property and not also take on its history,” explains Solms.

The Power of Three

He hired historians to identify the original slaves on the farm and to research their genealogy. Archaeologists excavated and studied the site’s 7,000-year-old history and found intricate Stone

Just three years after buying ZandvlietDelta farm, Solms and his neighbour,

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Archaeological Diggings

Age tools that belonged to the indigenous Khoisan people, whose descendants are still among the workers on the estate today. “We set about, literally and figuratively, digging up the past,” says Solms, who is a sixth generation landowner in this vine-carpeted valley. For years, he and his team went about retracing the complex history of the 30 hectare plot of land, searching for clues that would help him better understand the lives of the workers and their slave ancestors. Eventually, they came across the remains of a 7,000-year-old civilisation, not more than 50 m from Solms’ bedroom. The workers and tenants say Solms’ project has transformed their lives. “He has changed everything on this farm,” says Medwin Pietersen, a 31-year-old descendant of slaves who was born on the farm and now serves as its brand ambassador at international wine shows.

Slavery It is a historical fact that the magnificent wine farms of the Western Cape – major tourist attractions – were built on the misery of human slavery. Solms wanted to expose

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what really happened on his idyllic vineyard. To retell the story, a museum was created in the historic wine cellar at Solms-Delta. Once a place of punishment where 18th century slaves were beaten regularly, it is now a place of learning that documents the slaves’ legacy. “The wine industry was built on slavery,” Solms says. “We had to tell our stories so we could learn what went wrong and how to put it all right... Slavery was absolutely fundamental to the working and building of all these farms, and we’re still living with the consequences today.” He explains that slaves were first brought to the Cape from West Africa and the Dutch East Indies in the middle of the 17th century. “By the time slavery was finally abolished here in 1838, an estimated 63,000 slaves had been imported.” After these farm workers were “freed”, they were still restrained by a merciless system that traded wine for labour, known as the dop (meaning a drink) system, which kept them in a permanent state of alcohol dependency. Added to this misery, the workers were oppressed by Apartheid in the 20th century, and even today Cape farm workers are generally among the poorest paid in the country, often relegated to uninhabitable housing, without

electricity or water, vulnerable to eviction, and exposed to unsafe pesticides. Solms cares greatly about quality, profits, and working conditions. His philosophy embraces everything to do with the farm – the soil, the mood of the worker who picks the grapes, and the final product.

A Glass for Everyone The golden thread isn’t simply to improve worker pay and benefits, he points out, but actually to involve disadvantaged workers at all levels of production and give them equity for their work. “Our fates are inextricably linked to each other. We must recognise our mutual needs and find a way they can be met, because they most certainly can be,” he says. The history and the people who have lived on the land for generations, Solms says, are South Africa’s cultural terroir. Without doing right by them, “you can’t make honest wine, much less great wine. Wine is made by hand, and the attitude of the labourers affects what is in the bottle, from the way they tend the vines and select the grapes. If someone is preparing it with resentment and hatred, what will he make?”

A Subtle Styling

Step Up

Hyundai Elantra Facelift

Text: Bernard K Hellberg Images ÂŠ Quickpic

Korean car maker Hyundai deserve to be applauded for taking the evolutionary route, rather than indulging in frequent and radical design changes for their product range.

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THE STYLING changes are so subtle in the latest generation Elantra that most people will have a tough time spotting the difference when compared to the previous generation. With famed German car styling guru Peter Schreyer (initially hired by Kia) now applying his considerable talents to the Hyundai product range, the Elantra is now even more sleek and attractive than ever, with a redesigned front and rear. The model’s total vehicle length of 4,55 m is 20 mm longer than the previous model. This adds to rear passenger legroom comfort, placing the Elantra firmly in the passenger comfort zones claimed by some of its significantly more expensive rivals. It also helps to give the Elantra a more stable and balanced look. The exterior design, described by Hyundai as “fluidic sculpture”, may be somewhat pretentious, but it remains one of the most attractive cars in the mid-range segment. Similar in looks to its bigger brother Sonata, the Elantra is aimed at the heart of a market segment where other delectable vehicles such as Toyota’s Corolla and VW Jettas sell in vast numbers. Since the first-generation Hyundai Elantra was launched in 1990, the model has accumulated global sales exceeding 8,77 million units. The Elantra has also won a series of coveted awards, including the 2012 North American Car of the Year and 2012 South African Car of the Year awards. Cosmetically, the Elantra has served notice that it intends playing in the big league by the addition of

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such goodies as projection headlamps, LED running lights, and stunningly beautiful 17” two-tone alloy wheels. Add the LED read combination lamps, and it’s clear why the Elantra stands out from the crowd. Interior design elements were modified with the aim of improving usability, reflecting feedback from customers of the previous Elantra model. As a result, the centre air vent position has been moved upward on the dash, while the front centre armrest position has also been raised. Hyundai engineers have also worked their magic to reduce cabin noise, and the Elantra is now one of the smoothest (and quietest) mid-range passenger cars currently available. High density carpeting has been added and even the A-pillars have received the foam injection treatment to reduce cabin noise even further. Even the Elantra’s 96 kW four-cylinder engine is now so well balanced that one needs to keep an eye on the rev counter at idle to see of the engine is still running – a remarkable engineering achievement, especially at R248,000 and R263,000 for the manual and automatic versions respectively. Fuel consumption of 6,4 litres/100 km has been measured officially for the manual transmission derivative, while the automatic version recorded 6,9 litres/100 km in a combined (urban and open, rural roads) test cycle. The CO2 emissions are 152 g/km and 163 g/km respectively for the manual and automatic derivatives. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes 10.1 seconds in

the manual version, while the automatic derivative accelerates to 100 km/h in 11.6 seconds. The Elantraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top speeds are 200 km/h for the manual and 195 km/h for the automatic. A noteworthy feature of the launch drive is that Hyundai have managed to tighten up steering response for significantly improved handling. Sadly, there are only two airbags â&#x20AC;&#x201C; driver and front passenger. However, ultra high-tensile steel reinforced safety-critical areas and other safety features such

as ISOFIX child seat anchors come standard, as do ABS brakes, Brake Assist and EBD. The latest generation Hyundai Elantra now offers that irresistible combination to prospective buyers: a beautiful design, reliable engineering, and reasonable pricing. Plus, included in the price is Hyundaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s class-leading fiveyear/150,000 km warranty and five-year/90,000 km service plan.

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Zombie Workers

Are South A frican Emplo yees Just T uning Out?

Text: Jessica Hub bard/Finweek Images © iStockp hoto.com

aced with a sputtering economy and an overwhelmingly negative outlook, many business leaders are desperately seeking ways to merely stay afloat – let alone prosper. From small start-ups to sprawling mining and retail empires, companies are battling to achieve sustainable growth. While the tendency is to blame tough external conditions – which certainly do play a major part – many executive teams pay scant attention to what is going on internally. More specifically, they often overlook their greatest resource: staff. Disengaged and Disinterested This management pattern was highlighted by a recent survey conducted by PDT, a local technology and communications company, which found that 85 % of South African workers believe that their companies “could do significantly more to engage their employees to increase motivation and performance”. The study, which took a rare, in-depth

look into workplace engagement among mid-sized to large businesses, underscored the fact that many South African execs are missing a trick, and a critical one, at that. “Our survey reveals a similar pattern that we have tracked in international research,” explains Cornel van Lingen, CEO of the PDT Group. “Of the more than 1,000 survey participants, almost one in five felt ‘largely disinterested’ at work and almost

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70 % felt that their managers could provide stronger guidance and communicate better with their teams.” In addition, 60 % of employees said that their companies struggled to implement change and gain internal buy-in, while 62 % complained about the lack of regular feedback on company performance against goals. “This points to perceived leadership failings and an alarming lack of communication in South African businesses,” adds Van Lingen. This seemingly acute lack of communication, many experts argue, is producing a disengaged and therefore costly workforce. Kevin Liebenberg, MD of Actuate, a specialist internal marketing and communications agency, points to an oft cited study conducted in the United Kingdom which pegged the cost of “disengagement” at a whopping £60 billion per annum. “On a more practical note, disengaged employees are more likely to leave their jobs,” says Liebenberg. “Simply replacing a person can cost between 50 % and 200 % annual compensation in attraction, recruitment and training, as well as lost productivity.”

A Flawed Approach Interestingly, Liebenberg argues that many South African corporates – especially those with a strong service focus – have always known that the employee/client interface “is the last sustainable competitive advantage”, but it is the flawed implementation of so-called employee engagement strategies that trips them up. “Like many management trends, employee engagement has become a phrase du jour which attempts to unpack the many variables that lead to more ‘engaged employees’,” he explains. “It is, however, in danger of becoming overused and applied so broadly that it becomes meaningless. It is vitally important that, before any initiatives are rolled out in corporates to improve employee engagement, everyone involved needs a common definition and framework of what it actually is.” According to PDT’s Van Lingen, a fully engaged employee is one that positively and proactively influences business operations. “They are innovative problem-solvers and, as research worldwide shows, they

contribute significantly to productivity and the profitability of their companies,” he says. Indeed, research out of global workplace consultancy Towers Watson has demonstrated that companies with engaged workers have up to 6 % higher net profit margins.

Back to Basics So what is the magic formula that will produce employees with laser-beam focus and loyalty to the cause? The answer is surprisingly straightforward. “The best strategy to boost engagement is to run your business properly,” says Liebenberg. “Actuate has been asked to investigate and propose ways of improving engagement levels many times (often, the actual request is to improve employee engagement survey scores). It is often the case that the biggest issue is the leadership paradigm and day-to-day management practices, along with little to no line of sight between what the employee does and what the business objectives are.” He adds that there are several studies that show that organisations with good communication strategies and practices have more engaged employees. A recent Deloitte Best Company to Work For survey discovered that “good communication” was the second-most important priority for employees in terms of drivers of engagement (the first was “having the skills and resources to do my job properly”). “It largely boils down to leadership (not management) and how company leaders communicate with their teams or staff in general,” agrees Van Lingen. He identifies management buyin as the biggest obstacle to improving engagement levels, and worries that South African execs consistently fail to make the connection between engagement and profitability. As business leaders continue to look for the all-important market differentiators and get ahead of competitors, they would do well to take note of former Campbell Soup CEO Doug Conant’s advice: “To win in the marketplace, you must first win in the workplace.” Copy courtesy of ‘Finweek’. Call 0860 103 911 to subscribe.

Defining Employee Engagement A widely used definition of employee engagement is the emotional commitment that employees have for an organisation and what it stands for. An engaged employee puts in “discretionary effort”. In other words, an employee occasionally goes beyond doing the bare minimum, even when the boss isn’t watching.

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g n i d a Le xample by E

rom F s r e d a e dL l i u B o t w ion t a Ho s i n a g r rO Within You

ed Text: Suppli m co o. ot ckph Image © iSto

Building up employees in the workplace and developing people from the ground up has become a prominent way to grow an organisation.

SKILLS MANAGEMENT programmes – also known as talent management programmes – are designed to leverage the skills that already exist in an organisation by developing each one to its full potential. Programmes such as these integrate human resource (HR) components by attracting, selecting, developing, appraising, rewarding, and retaining the best people in an organisation. “HR departments should formulate and tailor a skills management programme according to the organisation’s needs, but in effect, management should be the ones driving and implementing each step,” says Neville De Lucia, New Business Development Director at Dale Carnegie Training. An effective skills management programme will be a guide to building leaders up from within an organisation. To ensure the success of any skills management programme

nine steps should be implemented:

Get Commitment A skills management programme needs the support of the senior executive or CEO, as they should be the ones driving the programme in order for the desired outcome to be reached. However, getting the CEO on board may take a little convincing. It’s a good idea to communicate the goals to the CEO so that they are fully aware of the drive behind the skills management programme. At this stage the objectives of a skills management programme should be set. The overall objectives should be to prepare employees for promotion and for future challenges, and to create an environment for mentoring

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key employees as a way to monitor and nurture their skills.

Analyse the Work and the People Analysing each department in an organisation and evaluating each employee’s role is crucial. The aim is to find out which employees are currently successful in their roles and which ones may need a little extra help. While job descriptions have many flaws, they are still necessary to clearly explain work activities and the results essential to good work performance.

Recruit and Select Skills There are two ways to source skills. Recruit new employees with experience in a specific field or cultivate and develop skills from within an organisation. However, when recruiting individuals from outside, a certain amount of training and up-skilling will need to commence anyway, as individuals will still need to be developed if they are to keep their skills current.

Evaluate Performance Evaluating performance also refers to performance management, which is the process of planning, managing and appraising employee performance over time. This step is vital in a skills management programme because no organisation wants to promote people who are not performing their current jobs effectively. Each employee should be evaluated based on the results they have achieved on their current productivity, competencies and behaviours. However, having said that, success of an employee in a current position does not guarantee that they will perform well at a higher level of responsibility.

Analyse the Work and People Needed in the Future “It hardly needs to be said that the business world is a dynamic place. Change is the only constant. For this reason, the job descriptions and competency models prepared today do not necessarily indicate what work requirements and competencies will be needed in the future, if the organisation is to achieve its strategic objectives,” explains De Lucia. Every skills management programme should be aligned with the organisation’s strategic objectives, as these outline the work to be performed.

Evaluate Potential It’s not always fair to judge employees based on past performance, because higher-level positions require employees to possess certain competencies that in a lower-level position they may not have needed to perform. How does an organisation then

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determine whether individuals are promotable? Potential assessments can be implemented, which is an objective way to assess each employee’s performance at a higher level of responsibility.

Develop People The key to developing employees is to ensure that it is a daily occurrence, as most development occurs on the job and in the context of work activities. The challenge for managers is to build individuals’ capabilities and at the same to encourage them to tackle new challenges that build their competencies, to help prepare them for the future.

Retain the Best People Once skilled individuals have either been recruited or developed, the focus needs to be shifted to retention efforts. Just as time and effort has gone into developing the right individuals, so should as much time and effort be put into a well-planned retention strategy. De Lucia explains: “In short, how managers interact with people is important in the ‘stay or leave’ decisions of employees. When individuals feel that they have been mistreated by a supervisor, they begin looking for alternative employment.”

Evaluate Program Results Success of the skills management programme is determined by the results. The results can be measured by answering the following questions: • How well is the program achieving the measurable objectives established? • How many people are available and ready to perform when any vacancy occurs? • How quickly can those qualified people be identified, selected, and oriented? • What kind of people are available and ready to perform when any vacancy occurs? For more information, visit www.dalecarnegie.co.za or email info@dalecarnegie.co.za.

Dale Carnegie Training With over nine million graduates globally and representation in 80 countries, Dale Carnegie Training is arguably the world’s most famous corporate training programme. The organisation provides internationally renowned and accredited training to the corporate and private sectors with the aim of equipping delegates with the skills necessary to improve their performance in the workplace.

The RAV4 Ramps it Up

Tackling the Sani Pass with Toyota

Text & Images © Bernard K Hellberg

oyota’s RAV4 remains one of South Africa’s most popular SUVs with impressive sales figures of 463 units just in July this year. Equipped with a potent (110 kW) 2.2-litre, four-cylinder diesel, this popular little SUV was my natural vehicle of choice recently when I decided to tackle the challenging Sani Pass in the Southern Drakensberg.

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AS AN ALL WHEEL-DRIVE vehicle it passed the SAP test on the South African side of the border (in terms of existing regulations, no two wheel-drive vehicle is permitted to undertake the “up” route). Officials in Lesotho are much more lenient, however, and allow virtually any type of vehicle to descend to the valley floor which, incidentally, is some 1,200 m lower than our intended destination: the iconic “Highest Pub in Africa”. Developing 340 Nm of torque, the RAV4 dealt with the tricky 19 km ascent without missing a beat. Its excellent turning circle, likewise, enabled this mid-sized SUV to travel up the pass with only a single three-point manoeuvre required on the last kilometre. The trip up Sani Pass was also made easier by its automatic CVT transmission, which worked flawlessly and enabled the driver to concentrate

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on the rather dodgy road surface which, at times, presented a challenge to the RAV’s ground clearance and its 255/65 R17 Michelin Latitude tyres. Although more suitable for on-tar work, these tyres conquered the pass with flying colours and with never a hint of a puncture, despite the many sharp and pointy stones and rocks on this so-called road. The ascent was also made easier by the fact that the RAV4 is equipped with an inter-active high-speed control system which manages torque to all four wheels on an ongoing basis. There was only the slightest hint of wheel spin on one occasion, which was in a spot with particularly loose gravel. The pass itself is dangerous and requires constant concentration by the driver (no texting!). As a result, the Ministry of Environmental Affairs recently announced that the final 5 km of the Sani

Pass – the most technically challenging section – would be upgraded at a cost of R887 million. This should result in something of a tourism boost, not only for the pub and lodge at the top of the pass, but also for the villages of Himeville and Underberg down in the valley. On the other hand, those who shudder at the ongoing advent of “civilisation” will be saddened to experience the Sani with its sophisticated new coat of tar. Realists will also know in their hearts that this upgrade will come at a cost – probably in the form of some ridiculously expensive toll gate. In this respect, however, the Lesotho Government have pipped us to the post. At the top, before you have had time to park your vehicle, you have to pay a visit to a shabby hut manned by a civilian-clad “official” who gladly accepts your R30 “toll fee” and then studiously ignores his own signage next to the counter,

which reads: “Remember to insist on a receipt!” With the RAV as our vehicle of choice, we were also thoroughly spoilt by the many luxury features built in as standard. Automatic climate control, touch screen capabilities, and parking proximity warnings all form part of the RAV’s standard features list. Our VX-specced vehicle also included full leather seats, seat warmers (useful when it’s snowing outside), a reverse camera, and keyless Smart Entry. At a recommended retail price of R463,000, the VX certainly isn’t cheap, but it definitely will get you there and back for many years to come. The price also includes a three-year/100,000 km warranty and a five-year/90,000 km service plan. As for the “Highest Pub in Africa”... Well, it certainly serves the weakest hot chocolate brew on the continent. You have been warned!

Travel Safe

The Benefits of Buying Travel Insurance Text: The Automobile Association of South Africa Images ÂŠ 123RF

assport? Check. Airline tickets? Check. Foreign exchange? Check. Travel Insurance..? If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re planning an overseas trip sometime in the near future, be sure to add travel insurance to your preparations checklist.

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ONE OF THE MOST important elements to note when travelling overseas is travel insurance. “Travel insurance should be bought in conjunction with purchasing your air tickets. While cover for most of the benefits will only be activated from the date that you depart on your trip, cover for the possible cancellation of your journey starts from the date that you purchase your travel insurance policy,” says the Automobile Association of South Africa (AA). There are different kinds of travel insurance: insurance for leisure travel (holidays); for youth travel (when travelling abroad for study or casual work purposes, 16 to 30 years); senior citizens (citizens over 70 years of age); and for business travel. Travel insurance is extremely important as many things can go wrong on a trip. You could be injured in an accident, fall ill and need medical attention, or even worse, require hospitalisation. This could become very expensive and, depending on the treatment needed or the duration of the required treatment, costs could run to hundreds of thousands of Rands. In addition, you could lose personal items or have to cancel the entire trip, or part of the trip, due to illness. Travel insurance aims to cover these unforeseen circumstances. “There are, however, some limitations and conditions, as travel insurance cannot cover absolutely everything that could go wrong, so be sure to read through the terms and conditions so you understand clearly what is and what is not covered,” the AA advises. The maximum duration for cover on a leisure or youth policy is one year, while business and senior cover is only provided for up to 92 days. The premium for travel insurance depends on the type of travel insurance and level of cover you select, as well as the duration of your journey. Costs could range from R360 for the most comprehensive policy covering a week’s travel, to around R940 for the most basic policy to cover a month long trip. All countries are covered, except where a travel warning has been issued by the US, UK or Australian governments advising against all but essential travel. Travel warnings are issued to advise of security threats in specific countries. If a travel warning has been issued before a policy is bought and the warning is not lifted by the time the traveller visits the area, medical cover for injuries related to a security or terrorist incident will not be covered. If however, a warning is issued after the policy is bought and a journey needs to be cancelled, the traveller can claim on the policy for any nonrefundable portions paid for the travel ticket and accommodation. If a warning is issued while the traveller is in the specific area, they will still be covered for medical emergencies, but should try and leave the area within seven days of the warning being issued. “When looking for the right cover, check the limits of cover provided, for example under cancellation and loss of baggage, to ensure that you will be adequately compensated for any loss that you may incur, should you need to submit

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a claim. This will give you the peace of mind needed before and during your trip,” the AA concludes. Travel insurance can be purchased online from the Automobile Association of South Africa’s website. If you need any assistance, contact the AA Travel Insurance call centre on 0861 900 801. For more information please visit www.aa.co.za.

A Showstopper of a Sedan Audi A8 4.2 TDI L Text: Bernard Hellberg Images ÂŠ Audi/Quickpic

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owadays it is a foregone conclusion that when you purchase Audiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s state-of-the-art A8 sedan, you buy into an experience of luxurious driving pleasure. The 4.2-litre TDI long-wheelbase version of it adds a lot of thrilling performance on top of that too. We spent a few days checking it out.

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THE CAR’S Audi Space Frame (ASF) design and the lightweight manufacturing techniques employed to build it, set it apart from the “others” in the German luxury saloon market. In long wheelbase 4.2 TDI format, this upper hand translates into a spectacular driving experience, underscored by Audi’s obvious excellent grasp of diesel technology. Audi has used their compression-ignition advantage to the full in this car, creating a fuel-sipping super sedan that not only delivers thriftiness in spades, but also refinement in heaps. Make no mistake; the A8 L is Audi’s absolute flagship sedan. Longer than the “ordinary” A8 by 130 mm, it manages to take what is a perfectly acceptably sized interior and stretch it out into ballroom territory. It is quite amazing to see what a difference it makes, but less amazing to know that you will sacrifice an additional R161,500 for the privilege. The 4.2-litre TDI A8 L ranks front and centre in the A8 L pricing structure for South Africa. At R1,592,000, it straddles the 3.0-litre TDI at R1,295,000 and the uppercase 6.3-litre W12, which comes in at R1,936,500. Our test car was also fitted with R79,900 worth of extra spec, in the form of Matrix LED headlights, Night Vision Assist, seat heating and Park Assist with autonomous parking. It should be no surprise that the 4.1-litre turbodiesel engine embedded in the A8 generates plenty of torque. Despite its own weight (2,720 kg which remains best in class), the turbodiesel overcomes lethargy quite briskly, reaching 100 km/h from rest in a snappy 4.9 seconds. Yes, this is a luxury saloon that will get you from robot to robot in less time than it takes some supercars, and it will only top out at 250 km/h because it’s governed, but ultimately you

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won’t choose the long wheelbase Audi for its pavement-scorching abilities. Diesel propulsion is more about consumption than acceleration (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it), and in that area, the TDI scores well in the A8 L line-up. Driving the car for little less than a week, I recorded consumption figures during five daily commutes – using the car’s own on-board plotter – to better understand how the A8’s different driving

modes may affect fuel use during normal operation. While the results were by no means surprising, it was enlightening to try and achieve similar numbers as those quoted by the manufacturer for the combined cycle (see the results to the right). To an extent an argument can be made, though, that the affluent market likely to buy this car would care least about fuel economy when compared to other buyers. In day-to-day driving, the TDI’s torque comes in handy, aided very competently by an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic ‘box. Using Sport mode is seldom necessary to achieve great performance, but should you want to intervene with the paddles, you’re likely to find them responsive enough to make the experience fun, and the big sedan delivers the same eager handling – again despite its weight. What did take away from the overall experience in the A8 L, however, was the traditional hydraulic power steering. Although it is quick and accurate – and gives enough tactile feedback to keep the most spirited drivers in touch with every nuance of the road – it displays a similar heaviness observed in some other larger Audis when energetically cornering at low speeds. It is not a serious enough issue to be concerned over, however, and the many other, beautiful attributes this car possesses will certainly keep most drivers engaged enough to never notice. The A8 4.2 TDI L is a satisfying, enjoyable vehicle to drive. It is super-sized without being heavy or cumbersome, is sumptuously appointed, and boasts enough interior room to have your next board meeting in. Well done on this one, Audi.

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DAY 1

Audi A8 4.2 Biturbodiesel

DAY 2 DAY 3 DAY 4