TravelMagSa Issue02

SHIVER – SHARK FINNING IN MOZAMBIQUE KNYSNA ELEPHANT PARK “AMBASSADORS OF WILDLIFE” PLIGHT OF THE ELEPHANTS IN BOTSWANA A NEW ERA IN COMBATING RHINO POACHING CELEBRITY TRAVEL – BUSH OR BEACH OR BOTH? FABULOUS BUSHVELD DESTINATIONS

ISSUE02

THEATRE / ART / WILDLIFE / PHOTOGRAPHY SHOPPING / EXPEDITIONS / EVENTS / MORE

WIN

10 DOUBLE TICKETS TO THE DREAMGIRLS SENSATION. WHITE SHARK DIVING AND VIEWING TRIP. MORE INSIDE...

EDITORS

DESTINATION OF CHOICE FOR 2011SEYCHELLES ARCHIPELAGO

CHERRYBERRYBLUEPUBLISHING.COM

2011001

For reservations please email cathleen@airseychelles.co.za

www.airseychelles.com

Insights

EDITORS VOICE 2011 has thus far been an incredible year and we would like to share with you our trip to the Seychelles Islands – this is definitely a little piece of paradise not to be missed.

Travelmagsa was incredibly fortunate to be invited to the Carnaval International de Victoria and this fantastic event is definitely one to diarise for 2012.

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This exciting second issue brings you some of our local well known SA celebrities and where they go on holiday, share the talents of a Cape Town Artist, and a Wildlife Photographer from the Lowveld. Enter our competitions - 10 Lucky readers can win double tickets to the Dreamgirls Theatrical Sensation and 1 lucky reader can win a White Shark Diving and Viewing Trip for two.

This issue boasts some fabulous Bushveld destinations, why not combine them with a sojourn in the Seychelles Indian Ocean Islands, sounds like the perfect Bush and Beach combo holiday to me.

Follow Riaan Manser on his ‘Iceland Inspiration’ expedition and find out more about the Wildlife Film Festival.

This issue brings you some thought provoking material which our contributors have been hard at work putting together; we hope that you will stop for a moment to consider the beautiful creatures that share our planet with us.

And God said, Let the water teem with living creatures and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky. So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems...And God said let the land produce creatures that move along the ground and wild animals each according to its kind. And it was so. And God saw that it was good. Genesis: 24-25.

Let us think of those in Japan and appreciate all that we have and all those that we love.

Be Blessed beyond Measure

JUSTINE

Index to Advertisers & Contributors & Sponsors 2 / 37 32 31 61 56 36 30 37 18 33 18 20 47 18 38

Air Seychelles, Johannesburg, South Africa Allamande Hotel, Mahe’, Seychelles Banyan Tree Seychelles, Mahe’ Seychelles Classique Spa, Johannesburg SA Debra de Souza, Big Concerts Denis Island, Seychelles Divers Lodge Guest House, Mahe’, Seychelles Elite Club, Mahe’ Seychelles First Car Rental, Cape Town, SA Hotel L’Archipel, Praslin Island, Seychelles Imagine Africa Safaris, Hoedspruit, SA Infoaid. SA Jembisa African Bush Home, Waterberg, SA Kingdom House, Cape Town, SA Knysna Elephant Park, Garden Route, SA

34 La Domaine de L’ Orangeraie, La Digue Island, Seychelles 58 Lee Dicks Photographer 46 Pam Golding SA 42 Raptors Lodge, Hoedspruit, SA 18 Reward if Found. SA 53 Riaan Manser 62 Sarah Madison, Johannesburg, SA 37 Seychelles Tourist Office, Johannesburg, SA 30 unset Beach Hotel, Mahe’ Seychelles 37 The Holiday Factory, Johannesburg, SA 21 Travel Buddy. SA 17+19 White Shark Africa, Mossel Bay 44 Zandspruit, Hoedspruit, SA

4 From the Editor

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Cover photograph taken on Mahe' Island Seychelles by Luke Engelbrecht.

Celebrity Travel

10 Contributors

SHIVER – SHARK FINNING IN MOZAMBIQUE KNYSNA ELEPHANT PARK “AMBASSADORS OF WILDLIFE” PLIGHT OF THE ELEPHANTS IN BOTSWANA A NEW ERA IN COMBATING RHINO POACHING CELEBRITY TRAVEL – BUSH OR BEACH OR BOTH? FABULOUS BUSHVELD DESTINATIONS

ISSUE02

THEATRE / ART / WILDLIFE / PHOTOGRAPHY SHOPPING / EXPEDITIONS / EVENTS / MORE

WIN

10 DOUBLE TICKETS TO THE DREAMGIRLS SENSATION. WHITE SHARK DIVING AND VIEWING TRIP. MORE INSIDE...

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EDITORS

DESTINATION OF CHOICE FOR 2011SEYCHELLES ARCHIPELAGO

CHERRYBERRYBLUEPUBLISHING.COM

2011001

cherryberrybluepublishing.com

Shopping

19 Competition - WIN a White Shark Diving and Viewing Trip

22 Feature - A new era in combating Rhino Poaching

24 Feature - At large Botswana’s Critical Mass

28 Travel Seychelles – Editors Destination of Choice for 2011

38 Travel Garden Route - Knysna Elephant Park -Ambassadors of Wildlife – Perspectives of an Elephant

40 Travel Bushveld – Lowveld & Waterberg

50 Events & Expeditions – What’s happening!

54 Art Introducing Cape Town Artist – Belinda da Fonseca

56 Theatre DreamGirls, theatrical sensation – WIN Tickets

58 Photography - Cats on Canvas

59 Book Reviews

Photo Credit

Link to video

Url ( link to website)

CHERRY BERRY BLUE PUBLISHING SA CC, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA EDITOR: Justine Engelbrecht EDITORIAL DESIGN CONCEPT, PRODUCTION & LAYOUT: One2love.co.za, Plettenberg Bay WEBSITE DESIGN TRAVELMAGSA.COM: One2love, Plettenberg Bay FREELANCE WRITERS: GINA HARTOOG, HENDRINA WESTOLL, AARON GEKOSKI, ALLY LAMB (NEE’ PACE), PENN JOLLIFFE. SALES DIRECTOR: Luke Engelbrecht, National PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANT: Pat Buchan PHOTOGRAPHER: Luke Engelbrecht E-PUBLISHED 2010 © QUARTERLY BY CHERRY BERRY BLUE PUBLISHING SA CC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. EMAIL: info@cherryberrybluepublishing.com MOBILE: 0744408668 TELEPHONE: 011 615 66 63 Mornings only FAX: 086 658 7936 TRAVELMAGSA IS REGISTERED BY CHERRY BERRY BLUE PUBLISHING SA ISSN 2220 – 413X While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information in this edition of Travelmagsa, no responsibility can be accepted for quality of goods and services supplied by advertisers. The publisher accepts no responsibility for material submitted by any client for reproduction, in regard to all relevant laws and regulations. Concept, text, covers and title of Travelmagsa is Copyright © and may not be reproduced by any process without the prior written permission of the publisher.

The Publisher would like to thank all photographers, contributors, sponsors, advertisers and all parties involved for this exciting second edition.

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Feature - Shiver

Celebrity Travel

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LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT KICKBACK SPOT IN MZANSI?

We asked four celebrities for their favourite local holiday destinations and it’s a toss up ... beach or bush or both!

Life in the Laan

Melanie du Bois, aka Felicity Daniels in 7de Laan, and husband Regi Botha are taking daughter Roxy to the beach.

Tell us about your favourite holiday spot...

South Africa is so beautiful that it is difficult to pick just one spot. The West Coast, Cape Town and the Winelands are favourites. We also love camping. Regi and I love visiting the smallest towns because it always feels like a home away from home.

What outdoor activities do you enjoy?

As a family we love the outdoors, so mountain climbing, as well as swimming (especially for Roxy). She’s also recently taken to horse riding.

What do you love most about holidays?

Holiday time is about spending time with family and building memories. The adventure starts as soon as we get on that plane. Roxy loves to go on holiday and usually doesn’t want to go home again! The day we have to leave is filled with tears and promises that we will return one day. She really loves Cape Town.

What is it about the Cape that you find refreshing?

Going to Cape Town, whether for work or play, is always an enriching experience not only because of the beautiful scenery, but also for the warm and friendly people.

BY GINA HARTOOG

Port Alfred– Courtesy of Port Alfred Tourism

Home brew

Liezel van der Westhuizen of Idols and Expresso fame is heading east to friends and family in Port Alfred.

Why have you chosen Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape?

I spent almost every school holiday there as a child and I enjoy returning each year. Firstly because my cousins all live there and it’s wonderful to spend time with my family, and secondly, because I enjoy the relaxed atmosphere that the town has to offer.

What activities do you enjoy around the town?

I am an outdoor person and there is so much to do in the area.

I normally go scuba diving, surfing or hiking. The mountain biking trails are also great and there are various game farms which I enjoy spending time at.

Anything special you like to do while taking a break?

It used to be bodysurfing... surfing the waves without a board, however one holiday this came to an end, when I bodysurfed a wave and lost my bikini top. I found it quickly and I doubt that too many people saw, but since then I have decided to take up surfing and wear a wetsuit when I go out!

What rejuvenates your spirit?

I find the combination of sea and bush to be soothing and relaxing. Especially after a busy year, I like to head to my cousin’s farm and just relax and unwind.

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Robertson Winery – Courtest of Graham Robinson

Kruger Park Lodge – Courtesy of Legacy Hotels.

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Alviro Petersen test opener for the Proteas cricket team enjoys a few holes on the golf course while taking in the sights and sounds of an inspiring Lowveld.

What’s your favourite holiday spot?

For us it’s either Kruger Park Lodge or Cape Town. Cape Town because we love the beach and chilled back lifestyle and the Lodge for a relaxing time with everything right there...from golf to wildlife to a Mauritius feel around the pool.

What activities do you enjoy there?

In Cape Town we enjoy the beach, Table Mountain and the night clubs. At Kruger Park Lodge, I love the golf course, the water sports and the Kruger National Park just around the corner.

What is it about the bush that you love?

Our wonderful wildlife that roams free. The last time we were the in Kruger Park we saw a cheetah relaxing on a rock and it wasn’t even bothered by our presence. We even had photos with a cheetah on our wedding day!

Celebrity Travel

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Kruger Park– Courtesy of SANParks

Fair Weather Forecast

SABC senior broadcasting meteorologist and 50/50 presenter Simon Gear says that few places recharge his batteries like South Africa’s biggest game park.

What’s your top spot and why?

I overwhelmingly love the Kruger National Park. It is a world class facility here on our doorstep and I don’t think South Africans have a clue how lucky we are to have it. My kids would probably prefer the beach or perhaps Sun City, but as they get older I am sure they will see just how much the Park has to offer.

What do you look for in a holiday destination?

I don’t think I look for much beyond peace and quiet, although now with the family in tow other considerations come into play ... so things for the kids to do and flush toilets for the wife have become important.

What do you like to do while chilling out?

I am pretty boring on holiday. My work life is so busy that I try to go to environments that offer as little as possible in terms of distractions. As long as I have somewhere quiet to sip a cold beer and read a book, I am generally happy.

What is it about the bush that renews your spirit?

Being in the bush always invigorates me. I have been going to our national parks since I was tiny, so there is a strong family connection as well. I just feel completely at home in any of the SANParks resorts.

CONTRIBUTORS

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AARON GEKOSKI

Aaron Gekoski is a wildlife filmmaker, writer and photographer. A former model agency owner in London, Aaron now spends his time documenting conservation initiatives and travel writing, a career that has seen him journey extensively through Africa, Asia, Europe and America.

His work has appeared in publications such as National Geographic Traveller, Africa Geographic, Men's Health and FHM. Aaron is a regular contributor for diving publications and blogs for www.divesite.co.za and www.sportdiver.co.uk. Aaron has just finished working on "Shiver", a documentary on Mozambique's shark finning crisis. Aaron and pro-

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duction companies Moz Images and Sangue Bom are currently raising funds to shoot an English language version of the film that will take them to the heart of the shark finning industry, Hong Kong. Aaron is also founder of Marine Madness (www.marine-madness.com), a conservational marine clothing line featuring such hilarious (well, if you are into corny fish puns) characters as Cod Almighty, Tina Tuna, Trigger Happy Fish and many more. To see more of Aaron's work, or view a trailer of the film, you can visit www.aarongekoski.com or email info@ aarongekoski.com.

I started my career as a photographer but my passion for the written word soon wiggled its way to the surface and eventually I had to put pen to paper. Journalism was an obvious starting point and looking back ten years later I have about 700 published articles and a fiction novel. I am currently a full time freelancer and mother of three – two daughters and a son. I am an avid reader, devouring anything in the mystery/super sleuth genre –Patricia Cornwell, Sue Grafton and James Paterson being favourites. My husband Bram and I have been married for 13 years and still going strong! He is the love of my life and between him and my kids – they’re my reason for getting up in the morning!

Contributors

S// PENN JOLLIFFE

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Originally born in the United Kingdom. Having spent most of her youth and adult life in South Africa, she has an intense passion for Africa and its wildlife. Having travelled to Kenya a few times and around South Africa just enhances this. Having had experience in various industries, marketing and IT mainly, she now resides in Cape Town and is a freelance writer, photographer & artist. Always having had a love for wildlife, conservation and travelling, experiencing the diversity of South Africa makes for fascinating subjects.

HENDRINA WESTOLL

ALLY PACE

Ally Pace was born and educated in the UK, and began her professional career as a ‘suit’ in an advertising agency. After six years of dealing with a stream of blue-chip clients whose briefing techniques mainly resulted in repetitive demands for larger typography and giant logos, Ally threw in the advertising towel and became a freelance writer. By this time she was living in Dubai and was finally able to combine her love for writing, her love for travel, and her love for having at least a little spare change in her purse. After seven years in the Middle East, Ally finally made her way to the depths of Africa where she now lives in a dusty frontier town in the heart of Botswana’s Okavango Delta, runs a woefully underfunded animal charity and has added a fourth dimension to her life’s ambition; writing about wildlife. www.allypace.com

From weddings to engineering, from healthcare to financial services, from human resources to entertainment and sport, everything is grist to the mill for Hendrina Westoll’s writing skills. Her expertise covers everything from press releases to profiles and from brochures to books, spanning almost every business and industry sector in the country. “Writing is a road to constant growth, deepening your understanding of people, what they do, how they think and how they interact to create societies. It’s an ongoing experiment to find the right words and tone to convey an infinite spectrum of concepts, achievements, theories, realities and dreams, the visible and invisible to cover the entire human experience. There’s not an aspect of life it can’t plumb. So yes, it’s a passion!” Hendrina is a freelance writer and among her clients are numbered business-to-business publications, PR agencies, organisations in both public and private sectors as well as private individuals.

Ocean Awareness

shiver

BY AARON GEKOSKI

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It is up to us as advocates of the ocean to spread the word: in what would surely go down as one of the greatest tragedies of the modern era, the shark could very soon be consigned to the history books.

Just north of Tofo lay a remote fishing community who were actively targeting sharks for their fins...

Dave Charley had been based in Tofo for the past six On the beach the fins are removed and taken away to be years, during which time he had set up Mozambique’s first dried, before being sent on to a middleman. The remainunderwater film company Sangue Bom (meaning ‘good der of the shark is cut up and distributed amongst the blood’ in Portuguese). Over this period, he had witnessed female members of the community, who either sell the a steep decline in shark populations. ‘People are aware meat at local markets or use it to feed their families. that sharks are being targeted, but know little of the details – where shark finning is occurring, which species are being ‘The remote settings, the conditions the fishermen braved targeted and where the fins are headed.’ day in day out, the ruthless efficiency of the longlines, the vast array of species being caught, the scenes as the Following a tip-off about a finning camp, Dave and his women argued and wrestled for the resulting catch. This business partner (and founder of Moz Images), Chris was powerful stuff. We came away with breathtaking and Scarffe armed themselves with cameras and headed deeply moving imagery,’ remembers Chris. north. What they found was a camp like so many in Mozambique - a small fishing community that use long- Back in Tofo, this footage was turned into a short film and lines (stretches of line attached with a multitude of baited formed the basis of a pitch to shoot a larger documentary, hooks) to catch sharks. Braving often perilous conditions entitled Shiver (which is the collective noun for sharks). and armed with only small wooden boats, the fishermen ‘Clearly Mozambicans were catching on that shark finning set the lines, leave them overnight, and return at the crack could be big business. We wanted to find out the extent of of dawn to pull in their catch. the problem, but without pointing fingers,’ explains Dave.

‘Many people rely on the protein-rich meat to feed their Longlines do not discriminate between species; spot- families and the income generated by selling the fins far ted eagle rays, giant guitarfish, reticulated rays, baby tiger exceeds the average national monthly wage (estimated at sharks and bull sharks are all caught on them. Once R700). So can we really blame the fishermen?’ hooked -and unable to pump oxygen-rich water over their gills - many sharks suffocate to death on the lines. //

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Ocean Awareness

Facts:

Sharks are targeted for the oil in their livers, their cartilage, teeth, skin, flesh and fins.

1kg of fins fetches as much as US$700 /kg on the Hong Kong market.

30 percent of shark species are listed as threatened – many of them critically.

90 percent of large predatory fish have been eradicated in the last 50 years.

In Asia, shark fin soup is a delicacy, served at weddings and business functions, and is used to demonstrate the host’s wealth and social status. Now the world’s second biggest economy, Chinese nationals have more money than ever.

The result is that the demand for shark fin soup has escalated to unsustainable levels. In order to meet this demand, shark fishing has been spreading across African waters, countries trading their fishing rights in return for roads, hospitals and schools. And now, with its endless coastline and vast array of marine life, it would appear that Mozambique is very much on Asia’s radar.

Touching on these sensitive issues, Dave and Chris’s documentary pitch was snapped up by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Maputo,

who recognised the gravity of Mozambique’s shark finning crisis. With funding in place, all the team needed was a charismatic presenter who felt as passionately about Mozambique and the plight of its sharks as they did.

Mozambique’s first ever scuba instructor, Carlos Macuacua, is 6’7”. He is a giant of a man, with a personality to match. Carlos was the logical choice to present Shiver. As for me, I was lucky enough to arrive in Tofo just as Sangue Bom were assembling their team. Chris and Dave blew me away with their dedication and drive to create a film that would make a genuine difference to this unique stretch of ocean.

Instantly, I volunteered my experience as a photographer and underwater cameraman. It was a choice I was never to regret.

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During our grueling shoot schedule, reports started to surface of manta rays being caught in large numbers in another remote fishing village. So once again we loaded our equipment and headed to the camp. The Fishermen spared the pleasantries: they were in a hurry, so if we wanted to film underwater as they brought in their vast fishing nets, we had

to be fast. They made it clear to us that there would be no second takes.

footage that would be used to help protect the animals we love.

No sooner had Carlos and I kitted up and been dropped off in the water, than the fishermen began to haul in their nets from all around us. Fins, camera, breathing apparatus – anything that stuck out was snared in this ruthless barrier. This was the ultimate fish-eye view, and it became abundantly clear that once caught up in the nets, there would be no escape. More than 200 metres of net was dotted with marine life, their bodies glistening, caught by sporadic beams of sun that traversed the water. For a marine filmmaker, a scene like this is bitter sweet. The sheer scale of the slaughter was harrowing, it broke our hearts. Yet we came away with sensational

Next on our agenda was to address one crucial question: by targeting sharks for their fins and then eating the meat, were the fishermen poisoning themselves?

On one of our trips to a finning camp, we were joined by eminent shark scientist, Dr Simon Pierce. Dr Pierce would be responsible for removing a sample of shark meat and sending it to a lab in Johannesburg to test for traces of the lethal toxin Methylmercury.

//

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From January to March 2010, we embarked upon filming. Our visits to shark camps were studded with incident and drama - it was shattering work, conducted in 40°C and 70% to 80% humidity. Filming frequently involved 16-hour days, with 3am wake up calls to ensure we could film the fishermen launching their boats. The sea air, salt, sand and sun battered our equipment.

Ocean Awareness

Some two months later and the test results were ready. The results blew our minds.

They showed that a 300-gram serving of meat from that particular shark contained more than 50 times the levels of Methylmercury recommended for human consumption.

sophisticated machinery, are plundering our seas of their top predators.

The results of this could be catastrophic. As apex predators, sharks regulate finely balanced marine ecosystems. Take this case in the North Atlantic. An increase in shark

marine conservationists such as Chris and Dave who often work in the face of extreme adversity for little financial gain, spurred on by the passion to make a difference.

We need more of them, before our oceans are damaged beyond repair. As for Mozam-

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Methylmercury Facts:

Bride

Dangerous for pregnant women, Methylmercury bypasses the mechanism that separates the mother’s bloodstream from the embryo, accumulating in the embryo’s developing brain and other vital organs. This can lead to problems in the nervous system, kidney failure, and in extreme cases severe mutations and brain damage.

Traditionally, Mozambican’s do not eat shark meat. But now - with sharks increasingly targeted for their fins - the meat has become the primary source of protein for many communities. Tragically, as a result of supplying fins to Asia, Mozambique’s fishermen are not only poisoning themselves, but also their families and future generations.

The issue of shark finning is slowly capturing the attention of the media and general public. We are beginning to wake up to the fact that our oceans are being emptied of sharks. The damage, however, is not being done by artisanal shark fishermen, who are merely trying to survive and put food on their tables. Their impact on this coastline is minuscule in comparison to the huge industrial vessels, which operate with such silent efficiency, far out at sea. These illegal vessels, with their vast capacities and

fishing meant that cownose rays, sharks usual prey, proliferated. Now, cownose rays (demonstrating remarkably good taste) like nothing more than to munch on scallops. Their resulting feasting put all of the local scallop factories out of business.

Sharks have been around for over 450 million years. And they remain a vital part of our present - and future. It is our hope that Shiver will show people that sharks are not the monsters most people think they are. Shiver was a genuine labour of love.

Sangue Bom and Moz Images worked tirelessly for years to make a documentary to raise awareness of the plight of Mozambique’s sharks. In doing so, they risked the backlash of fishing communities and an influential Asian presence. They filmed in dangerous conditions and deprived themselves of sleep for weeks on end. Our planet, our oceans are lucky to have dedicated

bique, we can only hope their endeavours will make a genuine difference here. For these seas, and all they contain, are truly remarkable.

To watch the full version of Shiver, please visit www.aarongekoski.com. The filmmakers are currently in the process of raising funds to shoot an international version.

For more information email info@aarongekoski.com.

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MOSSEL BAY

White Shark Diving & Viewing Mossel Bay is without a doubt one of the best White Shark sites in the World.

Experience our sensational Ocean Safari... Witness the Great White Shark and countless other magnificent ocean wildlife in their natural environment, above and below water.

Your day trip... What’s included & some friendly advice!

• Buffet breakfast at launch site • Light lunch, snacks and refreshments on the boat

A “mouthful” of adrenalin!

Please don’t eat foods with loads of fibre, figs or plums before going on

• Diving & Viewing

a shark trip with us...

• Wetsuits & dive equipment supplied in all sizes

The next client using

• Afternoon tea upon arrival back at the harbour • Certificate of your White Shark Experience

the wetsuit might not appreciate the result!

Bookings: +27 (0) 44 691 3796 | Cell: +27 (0) 82 455 2438 | Fax: +27 (0) 86 693 9834 | info@whitesharkafrica.com www.whitesharkafrica.com | Address: Prince Vincent Building, Cnr. Church / Bland Street, Shop 22, Mossel Bay

Travelling to Southern Africa provides endless choices and we hope our shopping page will narrow this down for you; putting you in direct contact with a few of the exciting, innovative and talented tour companies and operators in South Africa. Imagine Africa Safaris, Backroads to Africa, African Cape Tours, Kingdom House English Language Tours are specialists that should not be left out of your holidays plans. If it is adventure, specialised safaris, day and overnight tours while learning the English language, guided safaris, self-drive tours, accommodation bookings and fly-in packages these operators can assist you.

IMAGINE AFRICA

REWARD IF FOUND

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TAG YOUR VALUABLES FOR ADDED PEACE OF MIND The honesty incentive initiative

KINGDOM HOUSE

Taking that long deserved holiday overseas? Worried about how you’re going to keep track of all your personal items?

Now you can travel worry-free in the knowledge that your luggage can be tagged and tracked with the unique RewardIf-Found tagging system. And not only does this ingenious system benefit the person who has lost a valuable item, it benefits the person who finds it too.

Reward-If-Found allows you to tag your valuables such as cellular phones, laptops, travel wallets, keys, golf bags, travel bags, passports and suitcases for added peace of mind. And, if found, the finder stands in line to be rewarded for his or her honesty.

If-Found (Pty) managing director, Steve English, says the Reward-If-Found tags present an honesty incentive for people who find missing valuables. “I strongly believe the majority of people want to do the right thing and return lost items. This product gives them the opportunity to do so and be rewarded in the process,” he says.

The Reward-If-Found tags, have unique codes that are linked to your name, contact details and the relevant item when you register with Reward-If-Found online or via sms. There are three types of tags – iron-on tags (R29.95), sticker tags (R39.95) or stainless steel “keyring” tags (R59,95) – which are all easy to apply. Each single pack incorporates a one-year subscription.

FIRST CAR RENTAL

Book your leisure and corporate car rental here now in real-time by clicking on the logo

Reward-If-Found products are available at all Dischem stores nationwide – look out for the packs with a bright orange carrot.

For more information, visit www.reward-if-found.co.za or call 0860carrot (227768).

So, remember to add these tags to your shopping list and enjoy a hassle-free holiday!

Bride

Shopping

TRAVELMAGSA ONLINE WINE SHOP BUY WINE HERE NOW! (CLICK HERE) In association with grapefuel.co.za Travelmagsa can now offer you instant access to South Africa’s latest and arguably the user-friendliest online wine shop. Internet shopping is starting to take off in our country and buying wine online is enjoying its fair share of consumer interest out there …

People, however, are still reluctant to part with their credit card details when shopping online.

We acknowledge this fact, so when buying wine online you can keep your credit card in your wallet. The day after you have placed a wine order a friendly human being by the name of Bridgette will give you a call to confirm grapefuel.co.za banking details for you to process an EFT at your leisure. Easy as that!

The site is a pleasure to navigate and prices include VAT and delivery to your doorstep. In

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other words, the price you see is the price you pay, making your wine buying experience simple and easy.

With almost 1000 wines to choose from and new wines and vintages being loaded constantly, we focus on bringing you the best, the South African wine-lands has on offer.

If you are looking for a specific wine that is not on the site? No problem. All you have to do is send an email to fillup@grapefuel.co.za and post your request. Someone will answer you the same day and before you know it your favourite wine will be on your doorstep.

Shopping online has many benefits, not least of which is convenience - no parking hassles or getting to the store only to find your favourite wine is out of stock. Not to mention carting and carrying cases to your car and then into the house …

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A wine experience has to be exciting and fun.

Now you can buy when it’s convenient for you, whatever time of day or night, with the freedom to browse and seek out new finds! One thing is for sure – all the wines on the site are in stock, ready and waiting for your click, to be delivered to your home.

Travelmagsa makes wine shopping for both your corporate and leisure functions or personal pleasure, just that little bit easier…Enjoy!

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COMPETITION! a White Shark Diving & Viewing trip for two with White Shark Africa in

MOSSEL BAY Mossel Bay is without a doubt one of the best White Shark sites in the World.

Experience our sensational Ocean Safari... Witness the Great White Shark and countless other magnificent ocean wildlife in their natural environment, above and below water.

Question: Name one of the best White Shark sites in the world?

A “mouthful” of adrenalin!

Email your entry competition to: competition@brideessence.com. Closing date 15 May 2011.

Terms & Conditions: Final entries drawn by the 15th July 2011. Judges decision is final. Prizes not redeemable for cash. Prize is valid for 6 months.

Booking dates are subject to availability. Flights are not included. Prizes not collected cannot be replaced.

Innovation

INFOAID© G2

Recent world events have highlighted the need for standardized processes for incident management communication that span organizational, geographic, and political boundaries.

The hurricane Haiti disaster, and the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 and now the earth quakes and tsunami’s in Japan are just a few examples of large-scale catastrophes that underscore the need for technologies and procedures to help enable on-the spot decision-making, mass coordination, and the ability to rapidly adapt to changing and often dangerous circumstances.

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Communication and co ordination between responders is a critical element of incident management. With the above in mind the INFOAID© G1 and G2 were created with the basic communication

needs of rescue workers and victims of such tragedies in mind. From the creator of Infostrap we would like to introduce the INFOAID© G2.

The band carries important pictograms, and by pointing to these pictograms they enable the wearer / rescue worker (who is in a situation where the language spoken is foreign to their own) to request certain items or obtain valuable information about the environment they are in.

For more information Contact: Deidre Geldenhuys brelamanufacturing@gmail.com

INFOAID© “That a person communicates is much more important than how he communicates” - Assistive communication and Rehabilitation with Advanced Technology INFOAID © Enhancing the lives of those around us Worldwide, stroke is the second leading cause of death, responsible for 4.4 million (9 percent) of the total 50.5 million deaths each year. Approximately two-thirds of these individuals survive and require rehabilitation. The goals of rehabilitation is to help survivors become as independent as possible and to attain the best possible quality of life. Even though rehabilitation does not “cure” stroke in that it does not reverse brain damage, rehabilitation can substantially help people achieve the best possible long-term outcome.

INFOAID© is a silicone/pvc strap attached by plastic poppers and worn on the wrist it houses important pictograms AND BY POINTING TO THE PICTOGRAM OF NEED, we wish to link sufferers of aphasia to caregivers, therapists and doctors. Not only does the INFOAID © help the wearer communicate basic needs, it promotes the PACE (Promoting Aphasic’s Communicative Effectiveness) method of

rehabilitation which has shown to be one of the most effective methods of rehabilitation in stroke or aphasia victims.

In general terms, aphasia is a disturbance in the production, processing, or understanding of language due to brain damage, most commonly from stroke.

The pictograms shown are just a few of the 14 thought to be the most important basic needs of a patient recovering from any trauma of the brain, Larynx and chest, causing an inability to communicate. We hope the Infoaid will be an inexpensive aid in helping survivors and caregivers the world over in improving the quality of their lives. We hope it will assist therapists and doctors in their endeavors to diagnose and rehabilitate.

For more Information Contact: George Scola - Stroke Survivors Foundation – 0823063214, www.strokesurvivors.org.za

Have you hugged a tourist today?

Linking each tourist to a powerful national network during their stay, including the hospitality and tourism industries and the South African Police Services; eblockwatch's Travel Buddy embodies a spirited community attitude towards tourists’ peace of mind. The travelbuddy.co.za strategy has always been about an effective, affordable and communitycoordinated response to the needs of a tourist. At the simple push of a button, a prospective tourist could mobilize the collective clout of the South African community to track and trace them to within a few metres of where they are. Combining the skills and energy of each community, Travel Buddy provides a hotline for tourists for when it really counts.

TRAVEL BUDDY SUPPLIES TOURISTS WITH: • A dedicated Travel Buddy button on their cell phone • A direct link to a national network of tourist support • Links to over 70 000 eblockwatch members willing to assist anywhere, anytime.

Contact Andre Snyman on 082 561 1065 for further details Are you visiting South Africa as a tourist? Register here for the Travel Buddy button http://www.travelbuddy.co.za/index.php?view=register Are you in the South African tourism industry? Register here to be a Travel Buddy Please help South Africa become the friendliest country in the world. Become a Travel Buddy and volunteer your support if a tourist near you needs good South African hospitality.

NB: you need to be an eblockwatch member in order to become a Travel Buddy. If you are not an eblockwatch member yet then the registration process will take you through the steps to first become an eblockwatch member. http://www.eblockwatch.co.za

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Promotion

Wildlife & Nature

A NEW ERA IN COMBATING RHINO POACHING

Rhino poaching is high-tech big business worth millions of dollars. In South Africa alone, 333 rhino were killed in 2010, three times the number slaughtered in 2009, and on 31 January it was officially reported that 21 had already fallen victim to poachers during the first month of 2011.

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RESEARCHED AND WRITTEN

BY HENDRINA WESTOLL

Organisations to combat rhino poaching proliferate in both government and private sectors, yet each year, the number of animal’s massacred increases. Why? It could well be because the war is being fought with outmoded technology, strategy and methodology by a generation mired in traditional, conventional thinking and plagued by vested interests and personal agendas. It has been suggested that egos, rather than poachers, are killing the rhinos.

Rhino poachers are equipped with the latest and best technology: cellphones and their various derivatives, night vision goggles, helicopters, silencers, tranquillisers, sophisticated photographic equipment and software to plan and monitor incursions, plus a wide network of intelligence gatherers and collaborators at almost every level of society. It reminds one a bit of the First World War, when the elderly generations tried to fight modern weapons and tactics with their 19th Century strategic mentality. It simply doesn’t work.

As an example, he describes some of the successes achieved by eBlockwatch. “We have over 70 000 people on our database from all walks of life and there are countless numbers who want to make some contribution to fighting crime. There’s no room for them on official committees and in bureaucratic organisations. But they can bring their special skills to bear within minutes when an appeal for help is launched.” eBlockwatch has for example enjoyed unprecedented success in finding missing children, tracking criminals and locating hijacked cars, even catching a renegade pet tiger! “It’s the age of connectivity,” he smiles. “So let’s use it.”

When a rhino has been attacked, eBlockwatch follows the electronic trail, tracing people from the lowest ranks of the poaching operation right up to the syndicate leaders.

“We can map their whole hierarchy,” Snyman claims, “Pinpoint who and where they are, because today, every single person leaves a digital footprint, through cellphones, electronic devices, car parks, ATMs, shopping centres, credit “We’re in a new era, confronting criminals who use a profes- cards – the list is almost endless.” sional, high-tech strategy at every stage of their operations,” Andre Snyman Founder of eBlockwatch, points out. “We The vast web of eBlockwatch connectivity then has innucan beat them only if we use the tools and resources that merable indirect links, as members tap into their own technology and an evolving society have made available.” business and social networks to spread the word. “It’s And foremost among these is the amazing power of what amazing what skills, expertise, resources, equipment and can loosely be called “social networks.” technology different individuals can contribute at the shortest notice. I thought to myself ‘If I were a rhino, what “In this dimension, the ordinary person has a voice which kind of people would I dream of who could help and procan be heard,” Snyman continues. “You don’t need com- tect me?’ So I call these teams of committed volunteers mittees and summits and endless meetings, just a call to ‘dream teams’, whose composition can vary quite fundaaction.” The Orange Revolution and uprisings in Iran, mentally from one project to the next, depending on what Tunisia and Egypt have given a dramatic demonstration is needed to resolve each one.” of how effective that can prove. “Apply the same principle to combating rhino poaching,” he urges.

Highly flexible, able to react at a moment’s notice, interconnected, incredibly mobile and fired by passion and conviction, these networks are perhaps the solution to organised rhino poaching, rather than the ponderous committees encompassing various, often conflicting, interests which are slow in making decisions and taking action.

“The appetite for rhino horn is not going to decrease,” Snyman says. “Certainly we need cooperation at higher levels, between countries, to fight this crime, as well as the initiatives and resources of many committed national and international anti-rhino-poaching organisations, but I am convinced that for the greatest results, we must harness the phenomenon of social networks and give people who want to contribute a chance to do so.”

Photographs supplied by eblockwatch

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eBlockwatch has already been instrumental in tracking and capturing several poachers, most still in possession of the stolen horns, as well as operators in higher, often official, positions, and is far advanced along the path of identifying the top echelon of more than one syndicate.

at large BOTSWANA’S CR

Botswana has the largest elephant population remaining on the African continent. The reco achievements of the last half-century, but ironically, this accomplishment has led to growing Wildlife & Nature

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RITICAL MASS

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overy of this country’s elephant population is one of the greatest conservation g concern about how to manage this elephantine population, writes Ally Pace.

Wildlife & Nature The background of the African elephant makes for startling reading. In 1979 the continent was home to an estimated 1.3 million elephants.

Today, that figure is closer to half a million, with some authorities estimating the number to be significantly lower.

Killing and poaching elephants for their ivory has been the main factor in the elephant’s demise, with natural habitat loss a contributing factor: human population has tripled in elephant range states since 1970.

However, in Botswana the decline of the elephants has been reversed.

Largely protected from hunting and with an efficient Anti Poaching Unit in place, the government’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks estimates the elephant population has increased by 6% each year since censuses began twenty years ago.

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Today, with the country home to a third of the continent’s population, conservationists are beginning to worry that elephants have recovered in greater numbers than the environment can sustain. Recent estimates number the country’s elephants at around 150,000, 99% of which are concentrated in the northernmost section. As a result, the spatial range of elephant migrations has expanded well beyond the boundaries of protected areas and into increasing contact, and thus conflict, with human populations. Increased elephant forays into areas of human settlement mean people are afraid to collect firewood, cut grass, move from their home, or even walk to work or school. There are increasing complaints of crop loss and damage to property.

But it’s not just humans that are suffering. A fully grown elephant eats around 300kg of plant material every day, from ground level to the tree canopy. Foraging elephants play a significant role at the ecosystem level, and greatly modify their own habitat - and consequently the habitat of other species. With a daily water intake of around 150 litres each, elephants also displace other species in situations where surface water is limited, as elephants completely dominate waterholes during droughts.

The environment, too, is at risk. At higher densities thickets are destroyed and trees knocked down, turning fragile forests into open grasslands and changing the composition of the ecosystem. Anyone who has ever seen an elephant in the wild can bear witness to their phenomenal power and seemingly-indiscriminate desire to fell trees.

Most people are in agreement that Botswana’s elephant population has reached critical mass. But what can be done about it?

The obvious solution is to cull. But how does a country set about taking out 60,000 animals? Elephants form matriarchal breeding herds, and experts agree that the only way to humanely cull is to take out the entire herd, mothers and babies alike. Whilst controlled culling of adolescents is controversial, this prevents traumatised elephant calves from growing up motherless, lacking social structure and potentially becoming rogue elephants.

Culling was practised in South Africa’s Kruger National Park for decades, but was discontinued in 1992 due to international pressure and concern over the effect it was having on the remaining elephants.

Many had become nervous, fearful, and at times aggressive, traits which do not go hand-in-hand with tourism.

Fencing the elephants into protected areas does not work: Botswana deploys a veterinary fence to separate wildlife from domestic live-

stock, and yet studies show elephants spend 65% of their time outside protected areas. Electrified fences prove ineffective as elephants soon learn that their tusks don’t conduct electricity, plus fencing does not reduce numbers, rather it compounds the problem into a smaller space. Forced translocation and contraception have also been dismissed as impractical, ineffective and expensive.

The most effective and humane option to be put forward comes courtesy of the organisation, Elephants Without Borders (EWB). Botswana’s elephant hotspots are located around the Okavango Panhandle, and from here the elephants historically migrated along trans-boundary ‘corridors’ in search of grazing. These corridors provide migration routes from Linyanti and Moremi through Namibia’s Caprivi Strip to Angola, and from Savute and Chobe to Zambia. EWB hopes to realign fences to determine a large scale, protected wildlife conservation area that would help disperse elephants and other wildlife species back to their historical ranges.

EWB’s idea has been touted as a possible solution to the problem, though many people question whether the opening up of ancient migration routes is too little, too late. And as the debate rumbles on, so do the elephants.

FACTS & FIGURES

100 elephants poached in Africa every day Ivory in Africa: $40 per kilo Ivory in the Far East: $1,500 per kilo Largest land mammal Lifespan of around 70 years

TIMELINE

1976: Placed on Appendix III, subsequently moved to Appendix II 1979: 1.3 million elephants in Africa 1983: 35,000 elephants in Botswana 1989: Commercial import of ivory banned in North America and Europe 1990: 600,000 African elephants remain (55,000 in Botswana) 1990: Moved up to Appendix I 1996: 90,000 elephants in Botswana 1997: Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe populations downgraded to Appendix II 2009: 470,000 African elephants remain (130,000 in Botswana)

CITES CLASSIFICATIONS Appendix I: Species threatened with extinction and affected by trade. Can be traded internationally if permits are issued by the importing and exporting country, and not for commercial reasons.

Appendix II: Species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but may become so unless trade is subject to strict regulation.

Species are monitored in case trade does impact survival.

Appendix III: Species listed after one CITES member country has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in trade control. Species not necessarily threatened with extinction globally and may be traded commercially.

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Travel Seychelles

EDITORS

‘A little piece of paradise’ The Seychelles Archipelago must not be confused with any other destination on earth; this idyllic cluster of islands offers an experience to a visitor that is completely unique.

When you arrive at Seychelles International Airport on the island of Mahe’ you are greeted with friendly smiles from a people that are a little reserved in nature; but that have an incredible passion for their country which they are enthusiastic to impart to visitors.

Seychelles beaches are described as paradise and aptly so as the soft white sandy beaches, picture postcard boulders and an ocean that is so blue that the term ‘azure’ does it no justice; the ocean is turquoise and clear and temperate and deliciously inviting in the sultry island sun.

Whether you are on Mahe’ walking on the very popular Beau Vallon or snorkelling at Fairyland or laying on the beach at Anse Louis you will have a taste of the magic that is Seychelles. Coconut Palms envelope the beaches while endemic birds bustle in the foliage. Fishermen bring in boats laden with the days catch; Red Snapper and Marlin to name a few are enjoyed by locals and hotel guests.

Seychellois have a hearty diet of fish, grilled or curried and served with rice and chutneys made from the local fruits. The hotels have an abundance of fresh tropical fruits and fish dishes from which to choose, this combined with necessary amounts of water to ease the humidity make for an enviable way of living.

The ambience, scenery and language of the Seychellois people and their islands combined with their curvy French accents and the international influences of three continents- Europe, Asia and Africa create a colourful, extraordinary and exotic melange’.

Whether it is romance, privacy, exclusivity or activities including fishing, diving, snorkelling and swimming - there is something for everyone on the Islands of Seychelles.

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DESTINATION OF CHOICE FOR 2011SEYCHELLES ARCHIPELAGO

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MAHE’

The Island of Mahe is 27 kilometers in length and home to 87,000 inhabitants, tourism is one of the two main industries in Seychelles and there is an assortment of hotels and guest houses from which to choose.

We spent an incredible six nights in Seychelles of which three of them were on the Island of Mahe’.

SUNSET BEACH HOTEL

Sunset Beach Hotel on the northern part of the island welcomed us to Seychelles with a hearty breakfast and a provided a comfortable respite for a few hours after the late night flight. This hotel boasts a magnificent bar area which is built overhanging the ocean; glass walls allow you to enjoy the plethora of fish swimming in the clear blue waters below. This is a haven for snorkelling and is the perfect destination for a romantic interlude with promises of breathtaking sunsets. Contact: Email: sunset@seychelles.net Tel: +248 261111 www.sunset-beach-resort.com

If you are looking for affordable and comfortable accommodation then the Divers Lodge Guest House North of Mahe’ close to the bustling beach of Baie Beau Vallon, Mare Anglaise is a must. The Boat House Restaurant is within walking distance and provides a delicious Creole buffet. This accommodation provides easy access to their own beach across the road and to Beau Vallon. This destination is perfect for diving, snorkelling and fishing. Boat excursions in the marine park in a glass bottom boat can be arranged – this day trip is a definite on my list for my next visit to Seychelles. Contact: Lisette Hoareau Tel: +248 26 12 22 E-mail: diverslodge@seychelles.net

DIVERS LODGE

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Travel Seychelles

BANYAN TREE SEYCHELLES If you prefer a little more exclusivity and are wanting to be indulged then Banyan Tree Seychelles invites you to ‘Savour the moments of a lifetime’... we enjoyed one of the 22 Beachfront Spa Pool Villa’s situated on the edge of the Intendance Bay Beach and it is the closest you will get to indulging in a little piece of paradise. Situated on the south western coastline of Mahe’ it provides magnificent views of the Indian Ocean from 60 luxuriously furnished Villa’s. Facilities include infinity pools, signature amenities, the Banyan Tree Spa, a health club, gymnasium and various dining experiences. The Award Winning Saffron restaurant offers Thai Cuisine, La Varangue tasty tapas and the Chez La Mer allows guests to indulge in the flavours of the local Creole cuisine. There are other exotic options available to guests at Banyan Tree Seychelles and their friendly and professional staff will ensure your every need is well attended. Contact: Tinaz Wadia Tel: +248 383 500 E-mail: tinaz.wadia@banyantree.com , www.banyantree.com

ALLAMANDA HOTEL

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The Allamanda Hotel not far from Anse Royale is popular with Italian guests and we enjoyed a delicious dinner of fresh salads, succulently Grilled Red Snapper paired with Italian dishes of moussaka and pastas. We spent our last evening in the Seychelles Pineapple Majota and Champagne Cocktails in hand staring into the midnight-blue of the clear star speckled skies with the romance of the Milky Way just above the tips of the palms. The Allamanda Hotel has various types of rooms from standard which is incredibly comfortable with spacious sea-view balconies, to rooms boasting jacuzzis and clawed copper baths. Contact: Juliette Hoareau Tel: +248 388800 E-mail: salesexecutive@allamandatclubseychelles.com

A visit to the craft market in Victoria provides tourists an array of curios to choose from, handmade yachts made from local wood, printed sarongs and t- shirts, hats, soap and oils made from the coconut and endless other goodies ensure that no one at home is left wanting for a curio from the Indian Ocean Islands of Seychelles.

A lunch at the Marie Antoinette Restaurant on Mahe’ is a must and this is the perfect destination to eat, taste and thoroughly enjoy the local Seychellois food.

MAHE’ CONTINUED

A trip to Mahe’ is not complete without a visit to Mrs Georges Spice Garden ‘Jardin du Roi’ with its abundance of fruits and spices... do take the time to chat with her, enjoy a smoked fish or octopus salad and revel in the balminess of a warm island afternoon.

Travel Seychelles

PRASLIN Flying from Mahe’ to Praslin is a mere 20 minutes flight and the skilled pilots ensure that island hopping is as easy as it sounds. This indigenous Island with its endemic flora and fauna is an untouched paradise with only 8000 people; the island is 11km in length and 4 km across.

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HOTEL L’ARCHIPEL We were fortunate to be hosted by the private Hotel L’Archipel –and as the owner Louis D Offay says “doing nothing and doing it well is one of life’s last luxuries” L‘Archipel is indeed the perfect destination for just that. Spacious and comfortable rooms some 150 m2 ensure that you can completely relax. The staff is without question exceptional and friendly, it is as if they already know you or they will never forget you...sip cocktails, relax around the infinity pool, indulge in the gastronomic delights as they provide some of the best cuisine in Seychelles and enjoy the sounds of international and Creole music. The following adjectives rightly describe this perfect destination – ‘Tropical, Charming, Romantic, Captivating, Elegance’ there can be no better place from which to discover some of the delights of the Island of Praslin. Contact: Cynthia Hoareau & Flavy Prudence, Tel: 284700 Email: archipel@seychelles.net marketing@larchipel.com , www.larchipel.com

ANSE LAZIO While on Praslin a visit to Anse Lazio which is said to be arguably the most beautiful beach in the world is a must, I have to say I have never seen so many arguable beautiful beaches but this one does notably compare. Another stop is to the Vallei de Mai a UNESCO World Heritage site, sadly we ran out of time but apparently the prehistoric vegetation is an experience not to miss. Make sure that you have a couple of hours available to indulge in seeing the vegetation as it was a million years ago.

LA DIGUE

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Is the third largest Island with 3000 people, as with the other islands its main industry is fishing and tourism. This is a fabulous little island with its own unique appeal; bicycles with shopping baskets provide the main source of transport as do Ox carts.

There are taxis and the one we recommend for an informative and skilled tour of this little piece of paradise is Cliff Pirame ‘La Passe La Digue’, you can contact Cliff on cpirame@hotmail.com for a guided tour which will not only save your legs on the hills but will ensure that you see the entire island.

A trip to L’ Union is essential, here you will see the coconuts being husked and the coconut being placed into a hot furnace and being made into ‘Copra’ which is then crushed in a Ox drawn mill to release the natural oil. The oil is used to apply on sunburn and suntan, for massaging and a tip from local suggests it stops hair from going grey – ‘now that is worth a try’. At L’Union you will see the Aldabra Tortoise; there are an estimated 170,000 giant tortoises in Seychelles.

Anse Source D’Argent (Beach – Source of Money) is a popular picture perfect postcard beach and it is heavenly...we were there to shoot some photographs but it beckons return as does the entire Island of La Digue.

Travel Seychelles

We stayed at the new Hotel Le Domaine de L’ Orangeraie and it is without question one of the most spectacular venues in Seychelles. It adds a new dimension to the island of La Digue and will without a doubt put this ‘little piece of paradise’ on the global map. Le Domaine may not be for everyone but it definitely has a serenity that no one should miss out on. Influences of zen and local architecture are blended with textures of granite and wood. The Villa de Charme offers an exotic and peaceful stay that is unrivalled on the Island. Garden Villas are also available as are the Villa de Charme Elegance and the Villa Presidentialle.

‘Imagine a day starting with Ginger and Lemon Iced Tea, a pampering in the Eden Rock Wellness Centre and Spa high up in the mountain.

Take a leisurely walk into the little town area of La Digue where shops display curios and local fare, followed by a lazy afternoon in your very own Jacuzzi where tropical forests of endemic plant life abound and local birds fly and nest as if you were not there.’

This is tranquillity at its best...open air showers, Jacuzzi’s in the tropics, romantic dinner on the edge of the ocean,’ beach sand in the toes’ restaurant, bar seats immersed in the swimming pool for sheer island indulgence, buffet style Creole foods with exceptional service combined with French or South African wine followed by Espresso or Citronella tea. This is paradise at its best.

Bike excursions, scuba diving, picnics and beach services are offered at Le Domaine.

Contact : Philippe Cornaille Tel: + 248 299 999, http://www.orangeraie.sc

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LE DOMAINE DE L’ ORANGERAIE

DENIS ISLAND The flight from Mahe’ to Denis is 30 minutes and it can only be combined with an air of anticipation as you fly 90km into the Indian Ocean. Denis Island can be compared to a Robinson Crusoe experience in that it is a privately owned almost self-sustained island - a definite little piece of paradise in the middle of nowhere.

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On arrival guests are taken to the hotel in island buggy’s where a fresh juice and canapés welcome you before discovering your private Villa. Villa Prince Denis complete with day bed, massage area, outdoor bathroom with claw bath and outdoor shower provided us with the perfect indoor/outdoor island living experience with the beach just a few steps away.

The rooms are air conditioned however this beautiful island with 96 staff living on it has an open door policy. There are no keys provided and guests can enjoy the serenity of the island without having to worry where they left their keys.

After a delicious lunch of creole tastes, chilli, fish, lentils and aubergine...a visit to the resident ambassador of Denis Island is essential. He is 150 years old and he is an elegant old man called ‘Toby’ - this Aldabra tortoise is a gentle giant if you are kind to him and Toby is an exceptional creature as he chooses to pose for his photographs. He is in a sense an icon of Seychelles as he lives on in his quiet unassuming way.

WATCH THE VIDEO We missed the turtles on Denis Island but here is a remarkable video of a turtle laying her eggs on the island and then returning to the turquoise waters.

Travel Seychelles HOW TO BOOK YOUR SEYCHELLES HOLIDAY Wishing to exceed your expectations, The Holiday Factory team will ensure that your holiday is both enjoyable and unforgettable. We believe that your holiday experience begins long before you travel, together we will imagine, create and facilitate your unique holiday ranging from sublime indulgences to unforgettable experiences. The Holiday Factory is where dreams are made. Contact: Flora Fubbs Tel: +27 011 233 2300 Email: flora@theholidayfactory.co.za, www.theholidayfactory.co.za Photograph supplied by Air Seychelles

Endemic plants provide medicinal qualities, the pink Peri-winkle purifies the blood and increases appetite in young children who refuse to eat, Lemon grass is used as a digestive, the Balinbi plant is a lemon supplement in cooking and is used for insect bites, removing the poison and preventing swelling.

Denis Island grows its own spices and herbs, chilli, thyme, oregano and rosemary; golden apples, mango and papaya grow abundantly.

Denis Island produces its own coconut oil and it has its own breeding program for the Aldebra tortoise. In addition this incredible little island village makes jams from rose, apple, passion fruit and papaya. The Island has a hydroponics farm where fresh cucumber, tomatoes and green salad ingredients are grown. Poultry, rabbits, pigs and cows for milking are all farmed on the island.

Endemic Birds are prolific and they have various interesting and exciting projects.

There is so much to write about on Denis Island and I highly recommend it as a leisure destination for diving, fishing, snorkelling, swimming or merely taking long walks and swims in the turquoise waters while enjoying sublime sunsets and succulent cuisine in surreal surroundings.

Denis is a family friendly destination which offers unequalled service levels in an exceptional luxury island lodge style setting.

Contact: reservations@denisisland.com Tel: 00248 288963 www.denisisland.com

AIR SEYCHELLES Comfortable Flights, however I suggest sleeping in the afternoon before the midnight flight so as to arrive fresh as the Seychelles is two hours ahead of us and this can make all the difference. The service on the plane is friendly and the staff are busy accommodating passengers throughout the 4, 5 hour flight. The return flight in the morning is efficient and the only negative is leaving the Islands behind you. Air Seychelles flies to a total of 8 destinations on 3 continents. Mahe’ Seychelles, Praslin Seychelles, Rome, Milan, Johannesburg, London, Mauritius, Singapore, Chennai. Choose Air Seychelles when flying to this ‘little piece of paradise.’ Contact: cathleen@airseychelles.co.za , www.airseychelles.com

GETTING AROUND SEYCHELLES We were hosted by the Elite Club – highly recommended for complete peace of mind and stress free island living. The Elite Club makes you feel exactly as they say ‘part of an elite club’. They will fetch you and take you to your destination/s, ensure that you are comfortable and taken care of and they will attend to any of your needs. To give you an idea our incoming plane from Denis island was early and our outgoing plane to Praslin was later in the day than expected, leaving us with 3,5 hours at a very humid and empty airport. A quick call to the Elite club and our host Priscilla was at our disposal for this entire time. Nothing was too much trouble and their kindness and professionalism was notably a highlight of our stay in the Seychelles. I would not do it again without them! You will arrive a stranger and leave a friend. Contact: Priscilla Ah-Shung Tel: +248 321122 E-mail: priscilla@hostandguest.travel www.hostandguest.travel

SEYCHELLES TOURIST OFFICE PRETORIA Tel: 27 12 348 9072 Mobile: +27 72 602 0648 Fax: +27 348 12 3959 // CAPE TOWN Tel: (+27) 21 551 5855 Fax: (+27) 21 551 5898 Mr. David Germain – Director for Africa & America Email: seychelles@stoza.com www.seychelles.travel.com Special Thanks to Marsha Parcou from Seychelles Tourist Office and Seychelles Tourism Board for inviting Travelmagsa to discover this little piece of paradise.

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Denis Island provides the perfect tranquil destination from which to discover and enjoy the benefits of being on an Island, and it is an education for those of us that live in the cities and rely on all our resources to come from the local supermarket.

WRITTEN COURTESY OF PENN JOLLIFFE

Knysna Elephant Park -

“Ambassadors of wildlife” Perspective of an Elephant “The sun rises above the tree tops in the Garden of Eden, stretching its golden rays across the fauna as we slowly saunter along, warming ourselves in its glow. Twelve Elephants are in our family, I am Harry.”

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“Sally and I were rescued in 1994 from the Kruger National Park in South Africa after we lost our parents in a cull; we were only 5 years old.

Owners Ian and Lisette Withers founded the Knysna Elephant Park (KEP) in 1994 to help rescue orphaned Elephants like ourselves, and they have rescued and rehabilitated many others since then. They are assisted by people with similar passions for wildlife, particularly Elephants, and they have created a place for us that we call home.

Greg Vogt, who has worked closely alongside the Withers since the parks inception, epitomises the true sense of our conservation. He is completely involved in all aspects of the park and has an enormous passion that people will understand “Conservation through Education” which is one of the programs we offer.

Everyday people from all over the world visit us. Our visitors who experience the Daily Tour feed us fruit and vegetables and they walk and interact with us while we graze.

Other times like now I have a handler and two visitors on my back. We are taking them for an early morning sunrise Elephant Back Ride.

You can also have a sunset ride with sundowners or we can organise exclusive safaris.

Weddings are something we love to celebrate. We offer a fantastic venue with a rustic chapel and lapa boasting spectacular views of the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountains and forest. We love blessing weddings and interacting with the guests on these special occasions.

It is time for my riders to climb off my three meter high back so they can sit on my foot and have some photographs taken. I and the other Elephants have been in photographic shoots as well. I have been in films such as

Travel Garden Route

King Solomons Mines starring Patrick Swayze and IMAX The Magic Tale.

Now I am going to join the other Elephants and relax for awhile.

The visitors may walk up to the Elephant Park Restaurant and indulge in our delicious cuisine by prominent and renowned chef Simon Ash. Our in-house photographer will organise their DVD while they browse in the Elephant Curio shop.

This afternoon new students who are studying conservation at our African Elephant Research Unit (AERU) arrived and came to interact with us. You too can become a Volunteer and do research and study Us, and also participate in skills transfer at the local school, or you can join the ‘Become a friend of the Knysna Elephant Park Club’ and your children can join the ‘Big Foot Kids Club’, you will receive lots of exciting news about us and will be supporting us in our quest.

Sometimes we hear of Elephants in trouble.

Ian, Lisette, Greg and the team get involved in assisting these Elephants. They are taken to our rehabilitation centre in Alexandria, our Orphaned Elephant Park. The Elephants either remain there or are relocated to another reserve or park. This is the primary reason behind what I and the other Elephants do every day. Your investment in visiting us aids us at KEP in turn to help our fellow Elephants to survive.”

As daylight turns to dusk, the park becomes quiet. We have visitors walking alongside us as we saunter slowly up the path, to our evening beds. You can experience the uniqueness of sharing luxurious Elephant themed accommodation with us, at the Elephant Lodge. Spend the evening in the Elephant lounge overlooking us and have dinner and

refreshments, as we settle into our beds.

By morning you will know if Elephants lie down when they sleep!

To know US is to be TOUCHED by Us. We look forward to your visit.”

Elephant Blessings Harry

Knysna Elephant Park Information: Tel: 044 532 7732 info@knysnaelephantpark.co.za www.knysnaelephantpark.co.za Knysna Elephant Park Offerings: Tours and Elephant Back rides info@knysnaelephantpark.co.za Daily Tours Elephant Back rides or walks Sunset or Sunrise Elephant Back Rides Sundowners & Snacks Elephant Back Safaris Restaurant – email: eat@mweb.co.za Accommodation –email: info@knysnaelephantpark.co.za Elephant Lodge Accommodation: Conferences: functions@ knysnaelephantpark.co.za Film Shoots & Photography – Greg Vogt gvogt@mweb.co.za Clubs: info@knysnaelephantpark.co.za Research & Conservation: research@knysnaelephantpark.co.za

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Photograph supplied courtesy of Knysna Elephant Park www.knysnaelephantpark.co.za

LUKIMBI SAFARI LODGE

Travel Bushveld

‘Peace and tranquillity combined with some of the best game viewing in South Africa’

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Lukimbi is a Five Star luxury safari lodge boasting 15000 hectares of unspoilt bush within the southern Kruger National Park of South Africa.

Guests can enjoy a true wilderness experience in unspoilt bushveld and they have exclusive use of 120 km of road on which no more than 5 vehicles are on the roads at any one time, guests can even enjoy a little off road game driving under controlled conditions ensuring that they have that up close and personal experience. At Lukimbi guests enjoy open vehicles with guided game drives and bush walks as part of their daily routine.

For the more adventurous all day walking safaris have been introduced and these depart from the lodge in the morning and return late afternoon.

These walks are available in the winter months only and must be booked well in advance. Lukimbi is built along the Lwakhle River and all sixteen suites have fabulous views across the river to the open plains beyond. Two suites have private plunge pools and there is one wheelchair friendly room.

For those that need to keep in touch while on safari, all of the suites have laptop connections and telephones; for those who like to keep fit Lukimbi has a fully equipped gym with the best view in the world and a stunning swimming pool for cooling down. Other facilities include 5 break-away rooms for conferencing and a beautiful chapel for those special safari weddings, the wedding coordinator can also arrange weddings under a huge Jackalberry Tree for those who prefer something a little different. Spa treatments can be organised and arranged when making a reservation.

The lodge itself has a whimsical sense of fun throughout and there are wonderfully different plaster carvings on the chimneys and in the lounge and dining rooms. It is a lodge that brings a smile to the guest’s faces and yet it has every luxury imaginable.

Lukimbi is home to two breeding sites of the endangered Ground Hornbill.

These sites are carefully monitored by both SANParks and Endangered Wildlife Trust and at the time of writing both nests have chicks. These wonderful birds can often be seen flying over the lodge early in the morning and in the evening.

Research and monitoring is also being conducted on a rare species of Swazi Impala Lily that is found in the grounds of Lukimbi Safari Lodge.

A stay at Lukimbi is one of peace and tranquillity combined with some of the best game viewing in South Africa.

Contact: Tel: +27 11 431 1120 / Fax: +27 11 431 3597 Email: res@lukimbi.com / www.lukimbi.com

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Email us www.lukimbi.com

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Travel Bushveld

in the valley of the olifants...

A decade ago if you drove through the town of Hoedspruit and blinked your eyes, you would miss it. Now due to the town’s enthusiasm and the passion of many of its inhabitants it is a gateway to the Kruger National Park and Private Game Reserves that home some of the most prestigious game lodges South Africa has to offer.

Hoedspruit is situated at the base of the Klein Drakensberg Mountains, a place where looming cliffs meet endless expanses of bushveld, Marula, Acacia, Combretum and Mopane woodlands, providing unspoilt beauty and home for a prolific diversity of wildlife.

One such game lodge is Raptors Lodge, the perfect respite from which to explore the diversity and abundance of this Limpopo region. Beautifully decorated luxury chalets provide for your every modern convenience. Guests enjoy still afternoons in splendour of the views of the Drakensberg Mountains and the intoxicating sounds of the bushveld. A day spent exploring and discovering the area and its many offerings is relieved by a cool soak in the swimming pool, allowing the heat of the day to be washed away before the evening sundowners beckons with the flicker of firelight and happy companionship. Raptors lodge will ensure your creature comforts are satisfied.

Hoedspruit also provides the solution to the dream of unspoilt living and wilderness areas have become available for people to buy their own little piece of South African bushveld.

RAPTORS LODGE FACT FILE - EACH LUXURY UNIT COMPRISES THE FOLLOWING: • 2 Bedrooms (One king size bedroom & 1 bedroom with 2 single beds) • En-suite bathrooms with indoor bath • Outside showers in garden setting • Fully equipped kitchen for self catering – including cutlery and crockery, stove, microwave, fridge and freezer • Tea and coffee replaced daily • Lounge/sitting room with TV & DSTV (selected bouquet) • Mosquito nets hanging over all beds • Thatched wooden deck • Private Braai area • Linen and towels provided • Air-conditioning & fans • Serviced daily • Swimming Pool with sun bathing area with bathrooms and stunning mountain views.

• Booking service for Activities.

Contact Us www.raptorslodge.co.za

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On the banks of the Sandspruit River a travelling pioneer threw his hat into the water and declared it home...

Youtube Our Brochure www.zandspruit.co.za

Travel Bushveld

ZANDSPRUIT ESTATE

....is one such offering providing a haven where people can live in quiet abundance with nature and are ensured of secure living on a Bush or Aero Estate. Bush stands offer pristine seasonal riverbed frontage, spectacular mountain views and the feeling of truly being a part of the 650 hectares of natural wilderness. Imagine living in an environment where your children can walk and be schooled in a carefree living environment where plains game abounds freely. Seems like a dream come true - with 161 bush stands and 38 aero stands and architectural guidelines to suit all needs, Zandspruit is providing the perfect bushveld living destination for anyone.

FACT FILE ZANDSPRUIT • • 44 \ TRAVELMAGSA.COM

•

• •

• •

• An untouched wilderness area of 650 ha for game 4.5 hours drive from Johannesburg viewing on old farm roads Main tar road access from Johannesburg, Nelspruit • Sundowner locations within the wilderness area and Phalaborwa • Zandspruit Equestrian Centre for all levels of equesClose to all amenities and schools (next door to Southtrian adventures ern Cross Schools, providing unique nature based • Birdhides, view points and walking trails education) • Acacia Combretum bushveld Free roaming plains game • Sandspruit Riverbed meanders through the Estate An old hunting camp restored to a bush camp for sun- • Breathtaking mountain views downers with friends above the Sandspruit river bed, • A hard surfaced private runway complete with it’s own pool • State-of-the-art security and perimeter fencing is speZandspruit River Lodge with restaurant and health spa cifically designed for the estate so as to not detract facilities from the abounding natural beauty.

Zandspruit Village, a themed shopping and entertainment centre

WHAT TO DO IN HOEDSPRUIT: • Kruger National Park Drives – Access to Phalaborwa and Orpen Gates.

• Panoramic Day tours • Boat Safaris • Walking Safaris or Game Drives in Big Five Reserves • Elephant Back Safaris • Visits to research & Breeding Centres • Galleries • Restaurants • Local shops and crafts and Tourist Centre • Rafting • Abseiling • Hiking • Mountain Biking • 4x4 trails

Malaria Area – precautions should be advised by your local GP before travelling to the area.

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TIP: Hoedspruit is a low

LAUNCH PHASE

Stands priced from R990 000 incl

Your big game heritage near the town of Hoedspruit Purchase a 1-hectare freehold title stand in Leadwood Big Game Estate situated within the 15,000-ha Blue Canyon Conservancy and enjoy a lifestyle where big game roams freely.

Leadwood is just 7 kms from Hoedspruit and 25 minutes from Eastgate Airport with twicedaily flights to O R Tambo.

So stake your claim today. Secure your stand and traversing rights over 2 300-ha.

Contact Jordan Properties on +27 (015) 793 0471 or Mike on (mobile) +27 (0) 72 226 2191 (email) mike.lawrie@pamgolding.co.za www.leadwood-wildlife-estate.co.za or www.jordanprops.co.za E & OE

JEMBISA AFRICAN BUSH HOME WATERBERG

Email us Our Brochure www.jembisa.com

A unique opportunity awaits you - A mere 3 hours out of Johannesburg, within the vast and beautifully scenic Waterberg Biosphere Reserve Jembisa African Bush Home has earned its part in the history of this highly significant area.

//

Photographs supplied by: Jembisa African Bush Home and Luke Engelbrecht

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Travel Bushveld

Travel Bushveld

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Jembisa offers its guests such a comfortable experience that nostalgia mingles with reflection, the floor boards creak with familiarity and the plush furnishings invite and entice. This combined with unassuming and friendly service provides an indelible experience that provides for even the most discerning taste, ensuring that guests are not only welcome they are in fact an integral part of the essence of what makes Jembisa so incredibly special.

The owners of Jembisa African Bush Home have opened the doors and the heart of what was once their home and combined with three thousand hectares of pristine and lush, malaria free wilderness, created a Lodge that offers the true romance of the African bush, family adventure, close encounters with wildlife and a complete experience surrounded by unsurpassed scenic beauty.

There is a diversity of activities in the surrounding area that provide the opportunity of adventure and exploration, from horse safaris to elephant back safaris Jembisa staff will assist in arranging your itinerary.

Travelmagsa spent two days at Jembisa....Share with us some of the incredibly special moments that were shared!

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JEMBISA FACT FILE • 3 hours drive from Johannesburg • S23° 57.596 - E28° 23.029 • Children Welcome • 7km of the Palala River meanders through the reserve • Five luxury Private Bedrooms, three with balconies, Children’s Bunk room • Bathrooms have showers and baths • Picnics in the bush, lunch on the terrace, dinner under the stars • Weddings up to 40 guests • Self-catering Accommodation • Rhino, Leopard, Hippo and more • Abundant Birdlife, • Massages • Tennis Court & Swimming Pool • Game drives, Bush walks & Camp Outs • Reading room and Games Room

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carnaval international de victoria

Seychelles the land of ‘sun, sea and sand’ is now offering more to its visitors with the introduction of the new ‘Seychelles brand’ and it’s ‘Carnival of Carnivals’.

showcased their new UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition Flags were flown from each country of the European Union and the South African Tourism Body, RETOSA.

The Carnival represents a new forum in economic development for Seychelles and with the support of foreign participation endless opportunity exists.

The Goodwill Ambassador Dionne Warwick of the United Nations ATB Food Agricultural Organization (FAO) flew to Seychelles to be their official representative for the carnival.

Delegations flew in from China, Korea, Indonesia, Hawaii, United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Brazil, as well as delegations from Zimbabwe, Tanzania Zanzibar and South Africa.

The 2011 Seychelles “Carnaval International de Victoria" was officially launched on Friday the 4th March by the Island’s President, Mr. James Michel.

The Indian Ocean Islands of La Reunion and Madagascar also presented their floats and La Reunion

On the 5th March the float parade took place in a kaleidoscope of colour.

Seychelles is described as a ‘melting

pot’ of cultures and the day of the ‘Carnaval’ was a true reflection of a colourful display of both locals and visitors. The streets were lined with electric enthusiasm as the largest recorded amount of spectators gathered along the streets of Victoria, the capital of Seychelles.

Our Photographer Luke Engelbrecht shares with you some of the memories of the Seychelles Carnival below – Diarise March 2nd to 4th 2012 - this is an event not to be missed.

For More information on the ‘Carnaval International de Victoria’ you can contact: Alain St. Ange, CEO, Tourism Board, Email: alain.s@seychelles. com

Photographs taken by Travelmagsa Photographer Luke Engelbrecht.

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Events & Expeditions

wild talk africa

Not many people have lived deep in the Alaskan Wilderness with grizzly bears, penetrated the underwater lairs of the Nile crocodile, or dived 65 metres into the depths of our oceans on a single breath.

Wild Talk Africa is the place that these extraordinary souls come together.

Wild Talk Africa is one of the world’s leading wildlife film festivals and takes place Bi’ennially in South Africa. It offers a forum for networking, debating and negotiating with commissioning editors, distributors and producers. The last Festival, held in 2009, attracted 350 delegates from 22 countries. This year the event was held from March 28th-March 31st, at picturesque Spier - the ideal backdrop to hear tales of man’s remarkable relationship with nature.

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Day one commenced with an open discussion with the leading players in the world of wildlife filmmaking. Cameraman and presenter Richard Terry amused the crowd with his stories of encounters with wild Alaskan bears during his filming of Stranger Amongst Bears. Roger Horrocks re-laid the sheer terror of following gigantic crocodiles deep into their underwater tunnels in Into the Dragon’s Lair. And Hanli Prinsloo spoke eloquently about free diving with vast schools of sharks.

Filmmakers and aspiring filmmakers converge here from all corners of the globe, hoping to turn their dreams into tangible products.

Pitching sessions throughout the festival allowed these hopefuls the opportunity to showcase their work in front of commissioning editors from the major wildlife television networks.

I was at Wild Talk to pitch our new film on the shark finning industry, Shiver, which you will read about in this and future issues of Travelmagsa. Every year 100 million sharks are butchered for their fins. At this rate, our oceans will be empty of sharks within 10-20 years. Our plan is to get deeper into this brutal trade than any film crew has ever gone in a bid to cease the demand for shark fins from South East Asia.

Other pitches focused on wild dogs of the Transkei, a sanctuary for rescued lions, the adventures of two crazy pilots, and rhino poaching. The session was held in front of an esteemed panel of judges that included Andrew Jackson from the BBC, Michael Mavretic from National Geographic and Vyv Simpson from NHU Africa.

Nerves in the room were frayed; five minutes to summarise years of hard work seemed an impossible task. Thankfully it went as well as we could have hoped, with our pitch receiving unanimous support from the judges. Since then, major distributors have shown interest in funding Shiver. Fingers crossed we will commence shooting very soon.

Along with nerve-wracking pitching sessions, delegates attended workshops on everything wildlife – from scriptwriting and story telling, through to camera work and marketing your film. The latest filming technology was showcased, with a lot of hype surrounding 3D cinema and television. The crowd even got to meet a tame cheetah during one of the evening functions and eat their way through lavish banquets.

With the networking over, the industry had the rare chance to scrub up and let their hair down for the prestigious ROSCAR’s awards ceremony, the wildlife equivalent of the Oscars. It is our hope, our dream that the next ROSCAR’s will feature a certain film on shark finning. And then it will be us up on stage, smiling proudly as we cradle an award.

To see the pitch for Shiver, please visit www.aarongekoski.com

Events & Expeditions

THE ICY ADVENTURE BEGINS...

In the past nine years Riaan Manser has re-written the definition of tenacity and become the epitome of determination. Riaan rose to prominence when he became the first person to cycle around the entire perimeter of Africa. For over two years, he pedalled a mammoth 37,000kms through 34 countries; some of which rank as the most dangerous places on Earth. It was a feat that earned him the title OutThere Adventurer of the Year 2006 and made his resulting book, ‘Around Africa on my bicycle’, a best-seller. In July 2009 Riaan again set another world first when he became the first person to circumnavigate the world’s fourth largest island of Madagascar by kayak; another expedition achieved alone and unaided.

Now Riaan plans to take on mystical Iceland and her arctic waters. A change of temperature and scenery, yes, but even more notable is that this time he will be partnered. Another special journey that will see Riaan conquer new worlds while his partner, Dan Skinstad, a partial cerebral palsy sufferer, conquers his own physical disabilities.

Around Iceland on Inspiration is a circumnavigation of the 5,000km coastline of this diverse land; it will be a journey that will push both explorers to the edge of their physical and mental abilities over a 4 month period. The expedition started on Sunday, 27 March 2011. They left on their kayak, cutting through the icy waters and will return as the first Africans to circumnavigate Iceland. They leave with only determination and supplies and will return with stories and experiences to inspire us all.

Follow “Around Iceland on Inspiration” on Riaan’s website www. riaanmanser.com, Facebook and Twitter.

For further information contact: Shea van Tonder: PA to Riaan Manser / +27 72 236 7408 / shea@riaanmanser. com / Bradley Loubser: Expedition Manager / +35 48 60 6820 / brad@riaanmanser.com Photo’s courtesy of “Around Iceland Media”

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After finally answering the question on everyone’s lips ‘what’s next for Riaan Manser?’ He is on Icelandic soil, ready to begin another epic journey.

Art

BELINDA DA FONSECA CAPE TOWN ARTIST

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I was born into a certain melancholy, as many artists are…

I don't really think it has all that much to do with depression, not with me anyway. It just has more to do with a deeper thinking on a very emotional level. My personal work involves my emotional state. I find beauty and hope in sadness because it makes us more human. If the world only had more compassion and sadness, we wouldn’t hurt others as much. In sympathy we find humility. Sadness teaches me that I am so much more fortunate than most others and I should be grateful for what I have, and sadness reminds me to remember those less fortunate in the first place.

If I paint it is important to show more than just a picture. If an artwork stirs no emotion, it’s like a stamp on the wall. That would be my ultimate achievement…to make a real difference in people’s lives, be it through art or any other medium….which is something I have always been searching for and will continue to search for. Let’s call it a calling in my life, something I have always known, something that lies deep within me.

The easiest way for me to explain it would be to listen to a beautiful piece of music and almost always, I listen to the pieces playing in the background as opposed to the foreground. I am not as interested in the lyrics as I am to the emotions that the melody stirs.

I am fascinated by aged themes. I am very drawn to the past right back to the days when choice was simple and variety was

a big word. I love beautifully crafted antiques and old withered misty memories, memoirs and memorabilia.

Musical instruments, faded wild flowers, horses, dancers, angels and dreamers and sunsets sent from a God most High are amongst my favorite subjects. I am highly influenced by great photography and superb lighting. I see the breeze and not the still shot. I don’t see clouds, I see artworks in the sky and I’m a daydreamer where my dreams are filmed in Sepia and black and white. A portrait is not complete until you see emotion in the eye.

I am influenced and inspired by classical music or any music that speaks to my soul; music that takes me on a journey and vibrates in my heart.

Most of my work done has been on a commission basis. Most of what I have painted is sold and scattered around the country in homes and guesthouses. These paintings have ranged from private to corporate commissions. My largest commission was a project for MonteCasino which involved 29 individual paintings of all the managers.

This year I would like to see this change, in that I paint a series of paintings that I will be able to exhibit. I would definitely push for the exhibition to be more than a series of paintings on the wall. Being a perfectionist by

nature with my work I have already planned all the fine little details, stored and entertained them in my right brain. I would like to invite the audience into an emotional realm.

Emotions are the experiences that define our life and living on this earth.

Interplay of sensory receptors, thoughts and memories contribute to the feelings a person carries with him from day to day. Indeed, emotional tones define personality, life experience, and quality of life as a whole. I would combine music tracks without lyrics, so that each person viewing the art piece can tap into his/her own individual emotions. That is the beauty with art. Everyone will hopefully see it in a different light. It is what makes us all unique and genuine. It should have nothing to do with the superficial and everything to do with the deep profound truth we sometimes choose to ignore, but deep within we each have our own voice, even if no one else gets to hear it. My intention is not to awaken public emotion but rather personal emotion.

I studied Fine Art for four years and majored in drawing, photography and Print-making and then I then studied digital media at Vega To see more of Belinda’s work or to contact her visit www.sketch.co.za

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dreamgirls,

Theatre

Do not miss the Smash Hit Musical

COMPETITION

To Win Tickets to this fabulous show....email us at competition@ cherryberrybluepublishing.com

5

Lucky Winners in Johannesburg (Teatro Montecasino) and Five Lucky Winners in Cape Town (Artscape) can win Double Tickets to Dreamgirls. Tickets are valid, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights).

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TERMS AND CONDITIONS: 1. Tickets are valid only for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday performances.

2. Tickets must be collected from the box office at the venue from one hour prior to show-time.

3. Tickets are subject to availability and may not be exchanged for cash or for any other performance.

4. By entering the competition, prize-winners accept the terms and conditions as detaile 5. Judges decision is final.

on stage!

Travelmagsa had the pleasure of attending the opening Gala Performance in Johannesburg at the Teatro Montecasino and never more has a standing ovation been deserved. This South African Star Cast proves that we are up with the very best in the industry - this show is Exceptional and you will be thrilled and entertained!

A little more about Dreamgirls: Previously on stage at Harlem’s world famous Apollo Theater in New York City and a critically-acclaimed tour of the USA, a brand new, sensational stage production of DREAMGIRLS featuring an all-South African 26-member cast premiered at the Teatro Johannesburg on 11 March 2011. The show runs until 22 May 2011, thereafter moving to Artscape, Cape Town, opening on 8 June 2011 for a limited season.

This is the first time an international show of this scale is showcasing exclusively black South African performers. Dreamgirls is produced by leading South African Producer, Hazel Feldman (Chicago, We Will Rock You, MAMMA MIA!, Beauty & the Beast) of Showtime Management and American Producer, John Breglio, for Vienna Waits Productions. There are some 450 costumes and 180 wigs in this sizzling production – as well as construction of a state-of-the-art, hi-tech stage design and LED screens.

Full of onstage joy and backstage drama, DREAMGIRLS tells the rags-to-riches story of an up and coming, 1960s girl group, and the triumphs and tribulations that come with fame and fortune. With music by Academy® Award nominee Henry Krieger and book and lyrics

by Tony® and Grammy®-Award winner Tom Eyen, DREAMGIRLS features the unforgettable hits: "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," "One Night Only" and "Listen." Broadway director and choreographer Robert Longbottom (Bye Bye Birdie) and co-choreographer Shane Sparks (TV's So You Think You Can Dance), along with some of Broadway's top designers, re-envision this Tony® and Academy® Award winning musical so it sparkles like never before!

This revival of Dreamgirls brings back the original show, but acknowledges and embraces the almost 30-year journey since its creation but with fresh, contemporary movement and style.

Dreamgirls has introduced Lindiwe Bungane (winner African continent television reality show - Project Fame, multiple award winning singer) as Effie White and feature, as The Dreams, Cape Town born Tracey Lee Oliver (Motown Magic, Sisters in Song) as Deena Jones; Candida Mosoma (Jesus Christ Superstar, The Lion King, Let There be Rock) as Lorrell Robinson and Hayley Christian (The Best of Girl Talk, Motown, Sisters in Song) as Michelle Morris with Aubrey Poo (Scandal!, Muvhango, All You Need is Love, Rent and upcoming movie, Winnie – a life) as Curtis Taylor. Introducing a brilliant new face in musical theatre, Bjorn Blignaut (Pop star group winner; Idols competition top 6; Barnyard Theatre shows) as the coveted James “Thunder” Early; Lebo Toko (Mamma Mia!, Ragtime the Musical, Boys in the Photograph) as C.C. White, Shane “Duke” Wellington (feature movies - Mr Bones and Surviving Katrina, MC FIFA Confederations Cup 2009) as Marty Madison. At certain performances, Caroline Borole (GirlTalk 005, top 10 SA Idols 2007, Generations) will play the role of Effie White. The show gives these musical theatre performers the opportunity to literally live the Dreamgirls dream.

Photo Credits: Joan Marcus

“All you have to do is Dream”. Book now at Computicket. For more information, please visit the official DREAMGIRLS website at www.dreamgirls.co.za

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Photography

LETTING THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG

Photography is all about waiting for the right moment to come along, in order to capture that perfect shot.

Through his patience and perseverance waiting for those shots, Lee Dicks has decided to reveal his Cats on Canvas Collection.

As a child, Lee always had an affinity with photography as well as wildlife.

Whether it was exploring Namiba, holidays in Wilderness or hiking in the Cedarberg, Lee was always looking for opportunities to shoot off some film. These interests came to light at the London Zoo, where Lee studied Animal Ecology & Conservation. He bought his first camera, a Minolta manual focus SLR and began photographing African wildlife – albeit in an un-natural environment.

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In 2001, Lee began his career as a qualified field guide in the Greater Kruger area. Through living and guiding in this environment, he had the opportunity to capture wildlife on camera almost on a daily basis. He moved on to the Thornybush Private Game Reserve where he started up a photographic club for field guides, both motivating others and acting as a mentor for beginners.

Being a self-taught photographer, Lee has gained knowledge through hours of reading & practical work, as well as spending time with prominent wildlife photographer, Martin Harvey. Lee has moved into the professional era of guiding & photography as he approaches almost 10 000 hours of experience in both of these fields. Having travelled Southern Africa extensively with a sound knowledge of mammal behavior as well as having an eye for the perfect framed shot, he knows how to get you into the perfect position at the right time, for the ultimate photograph.

Lee’s drive and ambition on realizing his dream to photograph wildlife was spurred by the achievement of reaching the semi-finals of the BBC Wildlife Photographer early on in his photographic career. This pushed him forward to realize that with the combination of opportunity and confidence, he should pursue his talent.

Currently studying his diploma in photography, he is moving his career from guiding & hospitality management into specialized photographic safaris & workshops. He has recently joined forces with a few of South Africa’s professional wildlife photographers and naturalists through Natural Exposure Safaris www. naturalexposuresafaris.com “I have come to realize when looking through my library of photos, I can recall the exact location of all of the great shots I have ever taken. I believe that I share this experience with so many other photographers out there. Capturing the natural world and treasuring it forever – be it in my mind or through the lens, is truly a gift I need to nurture.”

With the launch of his Cats on Canvas Collection, Lee being an opportunist has set out to publish several coffee table books on these magnificent creatures of our planet.

Cats on Canvas Collection can be viewed at www.thatphotographer. biz/ or you can contact Lee directly on 073 025 0808 or leedicks@ hotmail.com

READ

BOOK REVIEWS BY GINA HARTOOG

1

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT (A South African checklist for the brave) by Getaway editor and writer David Bristow is the culmination of 40 years of travelling the length and breadth of South Africa. From the game parks and mountain ranges to many of the small towns that dot the landscape. The book describes the best (and a little of the worst) South Africa has to offer from wildlife and geography to history, art and culture. Readers can learn more about where to stay, biking and foot trials and routes to discover by car. There are 860 entries in the book and if you can tick off just one tenth of them, you’re qualified to wear the T-shirt, says Bristow. Struik Travel & Heritage. ISBN: 9781770078758. R290.

2

3 GETAWAY GUIDE NAMBIA (3RD EDITION)

By Mike Copeland is a must if you are planning a visit to Namibia. It is an up-to-date companion for travellers wanting to explore majestic Namibia, a kaleidoscope of diverse people, rugged mountains, moon landscapes, canyons and coastline. The book covers the entire county, both on and off the beaten track. Detailed street maps and area maps as well as GPS co-ordinates are included. Find details for accommodation, information on the national parks, hiking, birding, 4X4 trials, history and tips on health and safety. Sunbird Publishers. ISBN: 9781920289362. R160.

4 SLACKPACKING, A GUIDE TO SOUTH AFRICA’S TOP LEISURE TRAILS

By Fiona McIntosh (edited by David Bristow) is a full colour guide with maps and photographs and covers all aspects of our country’s best leisure trails. Slackpacking is backpacking without the bulk...you travel light while someone else takes care of your gear. Each hike is covered in detail and provides information on distance, walking times, accommodation contacts and what to take with you. The book covers all types of trails – self-guided and guided, catered and self-catered, luxury and community run trials. Sunbird Publishers. ISBN: 9781920289140. R195.

For more information: Struik Travel & Leisure Book visit: www.randomstruik.co.za; Sunbird Publishers (an imprint of Jonathan Ball Publishers – www.sunbirdpublishers.co.za).

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PICTURESQUE WINELANDS

By Tanja Farber is another book in the picturesque series. This full-colour souvenir book takes the reader on a visual journey through some of South Africa’s most charming and historic towns in the heart of the Winelands. Winemaking has been a fundamental part of the area for the past 350 years and its essence is captured in the book. Discover Stellenbosch, Franschoek and Paarl, beautiful Cape Dutch homesteads, cellars, eateries and picnic spots in the area. Other titles in the series include Drakensburg, Garden Route and Remembering Robben Island. Struik Travel & Heritage. ISBN: 9781770078833. R93.

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Fairy Tern Photograph by Luke Engelbrecht on location in Seychelles.

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