Travelmagsa issue 16

16 01 December 2014 - 01 February 2015

ISSN 2220 – 413X

Jozini Tiger Lodge & Spa - Editor’s Review

Kurland

- A unique luxury destination

Take the Lead from Chobe Game Lodge

Fancourt

- An idyllic Golfing Playground

Fairtrade Celebrates a decade of sustainability

Jurgens S a fa ri X T 1 6 0 R e v i e w, T he at r e a n d mo re . . .

Travelmagsa • Issue 16 1 Read online for FREE • www.travelmagsa.com

EMAIL: info@idube.com

•

info@lukimbi.com

WEBSITE: Lukimbi Safari Lodge: www.lukimbi.com • Idube Game Reserve: www.idube.com Tel: +27 11 792 6165 • Fax: +27 11 792 5026 P.O.Box 2617, Northcliff, 2115, South Africa

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Travelmagsa • Issue 16

Publishers Details: Team of Professionals Publishing (Pty) Ltd, Johannesburg, South Africa

Note from the publisher We are pleased to announce that TravelmagSA is now owned by

Director & Editor: Justine Engelbrecht justine@travelmagsa.com • 074 440 8668 Contact for all Editorial enquiries.

Team of Professionals Publishing (Pty) Ltd, aka T.O.P Publishing.

Advertising & Art Director: Eva Govender eva@travelmagsa.com • 071 059 8301

Team of Professionals Publishing is a digital publishing company,

Contributors in this Issue: Johan Bruwer - Chobe Game Lodge Penn Jolliffe - Freelance Writer travelmagsa@telkomsa.net

owned by Justine Engelbrecht, Director & Editor and Eva Govender Advertising & Art Director.

We are very excited to bring you this exciting 16th Issue of

Media Partnerships: Media Partner TEP - Hidden Treasures Media Partner - Fair Trade Tourism (FTT) Working Partner - Fairtrade ®

TravelmagSA and we look forward to taking you to some fantastic destinations and venues in 2015 and keeping you informed along the way.

Read our Blog: www.travelmagsa.com for latest News, Articles and Posts.

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/Justine Engelbrecht •

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contents Idube Game Reserve

INSIDE FRONT COVER

Environment Take the Lead from Chobe Game Lodge

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Golf Fancourt - An idyllic Golfing Playground for all! 4 Travel South Africa Jozini Tiger Lodge & Spa Kurland - A unique luxury destination

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Fair Trade Tourism

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Review Jurgens Safari XT160

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Theatre

INSIDE BACK COVER

Ithembelihle LSEN School

BACK COVER

e-Published 2014 © Bi Monthly by Team of Professionals Publishing (Pty) Ltd All rights reserved. Travelmagsa is registered by Team of Professionals Publishing (Pty) Ltd SA. ISSN 2220 – 413X While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information in this 16th edition of TravelmagSA, no responsibility can be accepted for quality of goods and services supplied by advertisers and sponsors. 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 16th edition.

Environment

Take the lead from

Chobe Game lodge has many initiatives in place that have played an integral part in considerably reducing their Carbon and Waste Footprint. Johan Bruwer, Director of Chobe Game Lodge shared their key focus areas with TravelmagSA, and we hope that you will follow their lead and implement some of Johan Bruwer Director Chobe Game Lodge these initiatives, it is never too late to start to make a difference.

Solid Waste - Food - The amount of wet waste generated by the kitchen is weighed daily and they dispose of +- Five tons of wet waste a month. All food waste is collected in plastic bins and sent to the onsite Biogas plant where it is processed and fed to two Biogas reactors for the production of Methane gas and used for cooking food in the staff canteen.

Glass, plastic, carton/polystyrene packaging and metal cans are separated at the bars and kitchen and disposed of as follows: Glass – All glass and broken ceramic tableware is sent to our RR&R (recycle, reuse & reduce) area where a glass pulverizer reduces all waste to the consistency of sand. This is stockpiled and use for moulding bricks together with cement.

These bricks are matured and stored for future use.

Plastic – All plastic water bottles are collected and sent for recycling to Aquarite, their mineral water supplier.

Carton boxes / polystyrene packaging and punnets are sorted, cleaned and returned to Ron’s fresh produce, for reuse. They receive money for these returns, which in turn is exclusively applied to their staff wellness programs.

Tins/metal drinks cans are collected in bags provided by a local recycling company based in Kasane. They separate drink cans from other tins and compress these in blocks for recycling. They provide collection and transport to their facility in Kasane free of charge - local small business support, they can also crush cans on site. Other combustible materials are incinerated on site in a well ventilated incinerator. The ashes are removed, sieved and used as fertilizer on the lawns.

No viable opportunities exist at present to recycle used mineral oils therefore they use all used mineral oils as fuel for the

incinerator. Waste paper is recycled by using both sides for photo copying and shredding for use as packaging protection for curios.

Energy – Electricity - Chobe Game Lodge monitors its electricity consumption on a regular basis. Steps are taken to reduce the amount of electricity consumed and they have switched over from normal incandescent bulbs to using CFL (compact florescent lights) energy saving bulbs exclusively throughout. They have installed 24 solar water heater panels in all the guest accommodation blocks, and they have installed digital timers that disconnect power to the electric elements in the geysers from 6 am to 6 pm – ensuring 12 hours of solar heating exclusively and a max of 12 hours electricity availability to the geysers. They further enhanced the hot water supply by installing a closed return system that ensures a minimum 40 degree water temperature, via a digital thermostat and agitator pump network in our entire hot water articulation. This reduces the sudden cold water shock on their geyser network, further reducing electricity consumption.

Johan says, “Chobe Game Lodge draws its electricity from the main Kasane grid which is generated at the Victoria Falls hydro electricity scheme. This in itself is a sustainable clean electricity supply source that leaves no carbon footprint.”

Refrigeration of all perishable foodstuffs in the main kitchen was also modernised to be more energy efficient and they have reconfigured their freezer/fridge outlay as well.

Cold Kitchen refrigeration is done by ducting that leads into a day storage refrigerator. Cold air is pumped from here into the cold kitchen, thus eliminating the need of Air Conditioning units saving electricity.

Fuel - Chobe Game Lodge consumes around 3000Lt of Diesel and 600Lt petrol per month. Most of the fuel is consumed on game viewing activities,to reduce the amount of vehicles and boats on activities, they allocate the maximum number of guests per boat or vehicle taking into consideration guest’s comfort and special requirements and they are looking at

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Environment

Chobe Game Lodge refurbishing the vehicles and increasing seating capacity from 10 to 13 pax. The vehicles were also repainted powder beige to blend with the environment. All game viewing vehicles have satellite tracking units, monitoring speed, distance and behavioral patterns. They analyse the data to assist with maximizing fuel saving and reduction of wear and tear and have switched to more fuel efficient modern four stroke fuel injection outboard motors on their five skimmer boats. They are actively pursuing utilising electrically powered skimmers and game drive vehicles (Freedom3 is already operational with two more vehicles to follow). The result will be Zero fuel consumption & Zero emissions for their guest activities.

Another pursuit is the acquisition of a biodiesel plant which can supplement diesel requirements by transforming used cooking oil acquired from the kitchen and the hotels in Kasane into biodiesel. LPG (Liquid Propane Gas) Chobe Game Lodge consumes on average 384 kg LPG per month (the equivalent of 8 X 48kg gas bottles). To ensure minimal waste through leakage they have their gas supply line and equipment serviced regularly. All gas piping is colour coded and marked clearly as per SABS standards and staff is continuously trained on the correct and safe usage of the equipment. Biogas – Methane (CH4) - Chobe Game lodge has its own modern Biogas three phase production facility.

Effluents and emissions - All sewage and waste water generated by the Lodge is captured in a network of 21 closed septic tanks. No grey water is allowed to escape into the environment through soak-aways or French drains. They have their own Closed above ground Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP). All grey water is channeled through a network of pipes and secondary septic tanks to the STP through gravity and submersible station pumps. The grey water is stored in 2 X 10 000Lt black balancing tanks that act as reservoirs for surplus untreated grey water. Levels drop dramatically at night and peak late afternoons. From the balancing tanks untreated grey water is pumped to 4 x 10 000Lt Bio processing tanks where an aerobic bacterial process breaks down the grey water and feeds on dissolved solids purifying and clearing up the grey water. The processed dissolved solids that are now harmless settle as sludge on the bottom of the Bio tanks which are flushed out once a month. The clear processed sewerage water flows into 2 X 5 000Lt Ozone tanks where Ozone is bubbled through the treated sewerage water to kill off any remaining harmful pathogens. From the Ozone tanks the clear treated water flows into the Irrigation tank from where it is pumped to our Irrigation reservoir and mixed with river water and used for garden irrigation. They have an inline water flow meter that they take readings off daily to determine waste water output per bed-night which helps to look at ways to mitigate wastewater output and water input. Storm water drainpipes running into the river are also monitored to ensure no foreign pollutants are emitted into the Chobe River. Smoke and gases emitted into the environment mainly consists of exhaust gases by Lodge vehicles and boats, the standby generators, kitchen and incinerator. The switching over of boat engines from two stroke to four stroke and soon electric (with the assistance from FreedomWON) will have much less emissions, water and air borne. The incinerator is well

aired with a system of blowers forcing air into the combustion chamber ensuring high temperatures and efficient combustion of waste. Most harmful gasses are eliminated in this way.

Boat fuel tanks are also refueled away from the river to avoid the chance of spillage into the river system. They have a central fueling station which is well suited to capture accidental spillages so that no fuels seep away into the environment.

Water - Chobe Game Lodge draws its water from boreholes for general human consumption, and from the river for irrigation of the gardens. Water consumption is monitored by taking regular readings of water meters, which assist them in detecting any leaks, the average water consumption is 45 Cubic Lt per day

Lodge Operations - They follow the practice of Locavore as best they can. All suppliers and contractors are sourced locally taking into account the cost and quality available.

There are many challenges in the sense of a supplier base, due to their remote location. The lodge use as far as possible environmentally friendly, biodegradable detergents, staff is recruited locally so as to ensure the local community in Kasane benefits from the Lodge’s presence. Johan tell us that

“Chobe Game Lodge has also made a commitment to employing female staff in especially the Guides Department to give ladies an opportunity in a predominantly male dominated field of work.”

Social Impact – They support a local orphanage and Chobe Game Lodge is actively engaged on all levels of their local community. This includes the Traditional Authority Council and VDC (Village Development Committee). They have a full time doctor that sees to all employees’ medical welfare, and supplies them with basic medication free of charge. They also have a Staff Wellness Policy in place, fully trained Peer Educators and a Wellness Committee.

Natural Environment - They are actively involved with LACOM, the Local Advisory Committee as well as Chobe National Park with regards to supplying labour and equipment wherever needed. Chobe Game Lodge is a also the ears and eyes for the Department of Wildlife.

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Golf

FANCOURT - an idyllic

Families heading for the Garden Route for a summer vacation that includes some quality golfing can take a sho’t left to Fancourt, the leading leisure and golfing destination on this scenic stretch.

It’s an idyllic vacation playground for families, with three of the top golf courses in the country to explore, making it perfect for parents who are keen golfers. The Academy, Fancourt’s new stateof-the-art golf training facility, offers a range of new facilities that bring a renewed challenge and sense of fun to coaching and practice sessions as the best golf training centre in all of South Africa.

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oungsters staying at Fancourt with their parents have complimentary use of most services offered at The Academy. They can be found practising their swing on the Putting, Chipping and Pitching Greens, or at the Driving Range, or playing a round of golf at the new four-hole Parkland Course. The only ‘paid for’ service is a professional coaching session. Children of all ages are welcome to use the facilities, though those under 16 years need to be accompanied by an adult who is familiar with golfing etiquette.

The Academy offers an exceptional Junior Golf programme, headed up by junior golf specialist Adam McKinlay, who specialises in youth development, based on cutting edge research by leading experts in this field. He is a PGA qualified AAT golf professional, with sterling credentials that include TPI (Titleist Performance Institute) Golf Fitness Instructor Certification and TPI Junior Golf Coach Certification.

Already popular with parents wanting to develop their youngsters’ potential, this programme in particular benefits from the expertise and experience of Dr Olivia McKinlay. She is a former triathlete and graduate of the British School of Osteopathy, and she uses her expertise to perform a selective functional movement assessment (SFMA) to establish any physical barriers that may affect a young player’s swing, which are then addressed in their individualised training programme.

With one of the most spectacular settings in the country and a variety of resort facilities and activities, Fancourt offers plenty of other outdoor action and opportunity to explore the resort along scenic paths and Leisure Trails, while mountain biking, horse riding, picnics and hikes are also available.

With added attractions such as nature reserves and glorious beaches to explore nearby, it’s little wonder that Fancourt is fast becoming the ‘go to’ destination for aspiring young golfers and their parents visiting the Garden Route.

Bookings may be made on 044 804 0010 or email Reservations@fancourt.co.za

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Golf

Golfing Playground for All BRANDEN GRACE TEAMS UP WITH FANCOURT TO LAUNCH ELITE JUNIOR GOLF TEAM

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ancourt, South Africa’s premier golf and leisure destination on the Garden Route, has launched the Fancourt Branden Grace Golf Team. 24-Year old Grace, who is one of South Africa’s star professional golfers, shot to global prominence in 2012 with back-to-back triumphs when he claimed victory at both the Joburg Open and the prestigious European Tours’ Volvo Golf Champions that same year. He has represented Fancourt on the international golf circuit for the past two years, displaying the Fancourt logo on both his shirt and golf bag wherever he goes.

The idea behind the golf team, which is an initiative of the Fancourt Golf Academy in partnership with Grace, is to create an elite team of golf ambassadors from the Junior Fancourt Members who will proudly represent this top golfing destination at the various golf events and tournaments on the local and international circuit.

The Branden Grace Junior team comprises Fancourt Members who are under the age of 18 and live within a 100km radius of Fancourt. Potential Fancourt Junior Members are put through a skills test programme and have to gain a Level 8 pass to qualify

for a place on the team. The inaugural team members are Bradley de Beer, Norman Seton and Alex Van Wyk. The Fancourt Branden Grace Golf Team has unlimited access to Fancourt’s world-class golfing facilities, including the Outeniqua and Montagu courses, as well as the Golf Academy, which is rated as one of the best in South Africa. Grace will be working with the Fancourt Golf Academy to provide these talented and committed young individuals with top notch coaching, mentoring and training by some of the best PGA Professionals in the country. A practice session with ‘Amazing Grace’, as he is fondly referred to by the media, is motivation enough for any young golfer, of course.

Says Fancourt General Manager for Golf, Sport and Leisure, Lloyd Martindale:

‘Fancourt provides the ideal golfing environment to hone the champions of the future, and Branden is a fine example of this. We are proud to have him as a driving force behind our young team.’ @FANCOURTSA @BrandenGrace

Director of Coaching at the Golf Academy at Fancourt Adam McKinlay, has been selected to represent the Professional Golfers Association of South Africa in the international Team Championship to be held in Turkey in December 2014. He was selected by order of merit, after winning the PGA Teaching Professional of the Year title for the Southern and Eastern Cape region recently.

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Travel South Africa

Jozini Tiger Lodge TravelmagSA Editor visited Jozini Tiger Lodge & Spa in the heart of the Zulu Kingdom to experience this luxury getaway first hand.

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nly three and a half hours from Durban and six hours from Johannesburg Jozini Tiger Lodge provides the perfect destination for a week-end sojourn. Situated on Lake Jozini the Hotel is strategically placed ensuring spectacular panoramic views of the lake, and the Lebombo Mountain Range, that surrounds in lush splendour.

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office. There is also a gym, and children can be taken care of in the playroom while Mom and Dad enjoy an indulgence. The rim flow pool is the perfect setting to enjoy afternoon lunch, and there is small children’s pool and jungle gym area where theycan indulge in some adventure of their own. I enjoyed a relaxing morning having breakfast by the pool while my daughter played in the kids pool and play area within view.

The ideal destination, the hotel promises attentive and personalised service, catering to the needs of the whole family. A perfect day at Jozini could start with a fishing trip, as Jozini Tiger Lodge is well known for its superb Tiger Fishing opportunities.

Our week-end at the lodge proved this to be true, my husband and son, first time Tiger Fishing, caught 16 fish between them, under the careful supervision of Sya their guide.

Meals are enjoyed in the restaurant, which has stunning views, and while an al a carte menu is available, a generous buffet is on offer for both Breakfast and Dinner. Meals are also served on occasion in the Lodge Boma which would provide for a romantic African feel. Jozini Tiger Lodge caters for many different cultural needs and tastes and there is a little something for everyone.

The Tiger fish is one of the most exciting fresh water game fish, and Lake Jozini provides the perfect occasion to try your hand at this ‘catch and release’ sport.

While we were there they hosted a wedding, and the staff seemed to put it all together with tremendous ease, while still displaying friendly service to the many other guests in the hotel.

Alternatively a revitalising visit to the Mangwanani Spa with its menu of treatments could enervate you after a long week at the

Conference and banqueting facilities beckon the prospective bride and groom and incentive group, and this idyllic setting

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Travel South Africa

& Spa

would definitely provide an occasion to remember, whether it is a quick week-end getaway, or a longer vacation, conference group or wedding party, Jozini Tiger Lodge provides the perfect backdrop and has the facilities to accommodate 182 guests in comfortable and equipped suites.

A relaxing day at the lodge should not be without the sundowner cruise, which takes 40 guests and a gentle cruise into the vastness of this great lake is a must. Ambling along with the Lebombo Mountain range on either side, or the gentle breeze in your hair, presents the perfect two hour escape.

Wanting to get out of the city and adventure into the outdoors, try your hand at some Tiger Fishing, Hiking, Abseiling, Kayaking, Boat Cruising or just good old fashioned relaxation, all of these things are possible at Jozini Tiger Lodge.

In closing I would like to thank Craig, Sala, Johan, Senzo, Sya and all the staff at Jozini Tiger Lodge for their friendly smiles and attentive service, even in the midst of a very busy weekend. My family are already planning their return.

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Travel South Africa Penn Jolliffe spent a few days discovering Kurland Hotel nestled in the renowned Nature’s Valley just outside of Plettenberg Bay, and experienced first-hand the uniqueness of this ‘home from home’ luxury destination.

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onveniently situated close to the scenic beaches on the Indian Ocean, in the beautiful Garden Route of South Africa, Kurland Hotel’s uniqueness is that it is run by the Behr family and has been in the family for many generations, having become a true legacy.

Rated as one of the most prestigious 5 star hotels in the world, Kurland offers its guests an exceptional holiday experience. The welcoming atmosphere of the Hotel creates an ambience of the enchanting old, intermingled with the innovative new, thus catering for a variety of different tastes and needs.

Peter Behr says with passion about his families legacy,

“We endeavour to do the very best that we can for our guests so they have a remarkable and memorable stay at Kurland, one that draws them to return time over.”

The Hotel, which prides itself in its privacy, being of utmost importance to its guests, resides on an enormous 700 hectare private estate and offers 12 luxurious exquisitely decorated, spacious countryside suites. The spectacular flora and fauna of the gardens surrounding these suites are continually maintained to a very high standard and many indigenous plants, shrubs and trees are found, including the Kurland Roses, which have won

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many awards over the years. The Suites all have their own pools, which are in private courtyards or have fabulous views of the mountains and forests of Nature’s Valley.

The Mediterranean climate that Kurland’s superior facilities are situated in, cater for various types of vacations from family holidays, weddings, family celebratory reunions and intimate romantic getaways, which can be enjoyed all year round.

If you are planning a fairytale wedding, The Kurland Polo Pavilion with its breathtaking views of the mountains and countryside accommodate up to 60 guests, and with the marquees up to 200 guests. Providing the ideal setting to create your day to be remembered, and with the experienced expertise of the Kurland staff and the Chef’s exquisite cuisine all the fine details are well catered. If a more intimate wedding reception is required this can be held anywhere in the Hotels gardens, restaurants, the alfresco Courtyard or even on the Homestead Verandah.

Kurland makes it pleasurable and easy to have a family vacation.

The family homes on the estate have beautifully designed, fun loft bedrooms for children. The Hotel welcomes families and offers a range of activities, which have been specifically planned for children of various ages and they have facilities, which endeavor

Travel South Africa

to give them their own space and privacy. Children are offered the opportunity to dine by invitation at the Chef’s table in the kitchen or in the Children’s Dining Conservatory, Playroom or their own rooms.

Exclusivity and privacy is the key to the exquisite Cape Dutch Kurland Villa, which is an accomplished and fashionable hideaway in the midst of the 700 hectares of Kurland. The Villa accommodates as many as sixteen guests between the Villa’s house and cottage which is suitable for families and friends, with large expansive gardens and pool, making for a fabulous holiday for all.

Kurland esteems itself in having staff that have an offering that will cater for your desires and special requests. The Kurland Luxury Spa, designed by Sanctuary Signature Spas, offers individual and personalised service, which allows guests to untwine and relax while utilising the outstanding facilities.

Whilst the award winning, fine dining Kurland Hotel Restaurant, designs mouth-watering meals that will satiate any palate, for exclusive, intimate dining these can be held in any one of the fine areas of the Hotel from the cosy library, airy and beautifully furnished verandah, to the sparkling pool, courtyard, your private

terrace, in the heart of the bustling kitchen itself or the sweet smelling exquisite rose gardens, the choice is yours for the picking.

Katarina’s Kitchen & Bar, offers the French bar with a light Bistro menu full of delicious variety, seating up to 100 guests, the verandah overlooks the lush lands of Kurland and the mountains and welcomes residents and non-residents to experience its tasty offerings.

There are numerous events throughout the year at Kurland.

Highlights are the various polo tournaments from December until April, especially the Kurland International Polo Test, being regarded as one of the top ten polo matches in the world, attracting international patrons, professional players and polo enthusiasts from around the globe.

You can also enjoy monthly food and beverage experiences, throughout the year, all which are enjoyed immensely by local and international guests.

www.kurland.co.za

Travelmagsa • Issue 16

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Tourism

Fair Trade Tourism celebrates a decade of sustainability in promoting responsible tourism NGO Fair Trade Tourism praised by partner organisations for its work over the past 10 years in promoting responsible tourism in southern Africa and beyond.

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air Trade Tourism (FTT), the world’s only tourism fair trade certification programme, is celebrating its 10th year as a sustainable organisation.

FTT was initiated as a project of IUCN-South Africa in July 2001, with core funding by the UK Department for International Development (DFID).

In 2004 FTT transitioned into a stand-alone non-profit company.

In 2011, FTT was the first tourism certification programme in Africa to be recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and remains the only standard in sub-Saharan Africa to have attained this status.

FTT is a market development organisation, assisting businesses to transform their operations in a manner that ensures that the people who contribute their knowledge, labour and land towards tourism reap the benefits. FTT-certified businesses gain market advantage in connecting with sustainability-savvy trade partners and consumers.

FTT’s broader contributions to the industry include awareness raising, advocacy and small business development.

The organisation’s programme has been rolled out in Madagascar, where Salary Bay, Hotel Le Paradisier, Mantasoa Lodge, Bush House and Tsara Camp have recently become FTT-certified, and plans are underway to roll out the FTT programme in Mozambique.

By selecting an FTT-certified experience, travellers are assured that their holiday benefits local communities and contributes to improved quality of life in the places they love to visit. This leads to tourists having a more fulfilling holiday experience.

Congratulating FTT on reaching its 10-year mark, Arianna Baldo, Director of South Africa’s national Fairtrade organisation, Fairtrade Label South Africa, says: “We congratulate our friends

“I am inspired on a daily basis by the certified businesses themselves, by concerned and committed donors, by industry affiliates who share our passion for sustainable development, and by FTT’s executive director, Jennifer Seif, who founded an organisation that is now firmly established as a model of best practice in the southern African region,” says Bergs.

Louise Twining-Ward, president of Sustainable Travel International, also lauds FTT for the work the organisation has done in promoting responsible tourism. “At Sustainable Travel International,

we believe partnerships are critical to achieving largescale social change. Collectively we are harnessing the power of tourism to enrich people’s lives, strengthen communities, and conserve natural resources, culture, and heritage. We are honoured to call Fair Trade Tourism a long-time partner. We have admired the work of FTT in southern Africa over the past 10 years, and its efforts have raised awareness of social equity in tourism globally.” Twining-Ward goes on to applaud FTT’s certification program for “supporting essential practices, including the promotion of labour standards, fair distribution of economic benefits, and respect for culture and the environment”.

“FTT has come a long way over the past decade and will continue working to develop the market for Fair Trade Tourism in southern Africa and beyond, to the benefit of people, business and the environment,” says Bergs.

www.fairtrade.travel

and colleagues from FTT on their 10-year anniversary, and especially for the work done in establishing the first fair trade model for the tourism industry in the world! We work closely together developing the market for fair trade and increasing awareness among consumers. It has been wonderful to work with likeminded organisations, like FTT, which have a vision to transform the world into a more equal and sustainable place! Cheers to another 10 years!”

FTT’s general manager, Kathy Bergs, says “it has been a privilege and an honour to have been involved with Fair Trade Tourism.” Bergs first worked with FTT when she was general manager of Motswari Private Game Reserve, which became FTT-certified in 2006. Bergs has been FTT’s general manager since 2011.

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Review

Enjoying the outdoors with the King of the Great off-road

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t the best of times camping is not for the feint hearted. In my twenties, having anything more than a two man tent, a sleeping bag, friends, fire, a pot to boil water, Milo and marshmallows seemed a waste, especially as we were probably going to have to carry it in the back pack as we hiked off to find a waterfall or follow a river bank.

Twenty plus years later with two children, camping takes on a whole new level, and well as we get older a few comforts are required. Spending a week-end recently in the Borakalolo South African National Park, took on a whole new level with the Jurgens Safari XT160 trailer – King of the great off-road.

We arrived at night, which was something I recommend you do not do, putting up the Trailer Tent by the light of some LED torches was a little challenging, to say the least, but saying this, had we been in a camp site that offered electricity it could have been a breeze. While putting up the trailer tent initially seemed disheartening, in hindsight it is actually well manufactured and relatively straight forward in its process of assembling and dissembling.

I did have to smile as my husband and son fumbled around in the blackness of an overcast and rainy night sky trying to find place for tent pegs etc. So my first tip for camping

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is leave the office early, and get there while the sun is still up and daylight is your friend. Once everything was assembled, it was a pleasure to have a built in crockery and cutlery cupboard close at hand, and my favourite, a hot and cold water tap providing 20 L of pre-filled water.

So there was no worry about whether we could drink the local water. A conveniently situated two-plate gas stove, and slide hatch with its 90L dual fridge / freezer made cooking and preparation easier than you would imagine.

In the afternoon we went for a walk to the dam wall and got caught in a thunderstorm, arriving back at the tent and climbing onto the bed (that can sleep four) to wait out the storm was a welcome respite, as the heavens opened and we feared the week-end was over. In typical Gauteng Summer, we had all four seasons that day, and before we knew it the sun was shining, and the fish were jumping (literally).

A wonderful and relaxing week-end was had by all, and the Jurgens Safari XT160 definitely proved that with its many features, even rainy weather cannot dampen its spirit.

www.jurgenstrailers.co.za

Theatre

Family Fun at the

SILVERSTAR KING TUT EXHIBITION

Calling all budding Egyptologists and their families. The internationally acclaimed exhibition ‘TUTANKHAMUN - His Tomb and His Treasures’ opens at Silverstar from Tuesday, 2 December 2014 and runs throughout the festive season, into the early part of 2015.

A first for South Africa and the continent, this captivating exhibition gives visitors of all ages the unique opportunity to experience the treasures of the tomb at their moment of discovery. On entering the exhibition visitors are shown a fascinating multimedia presentation that illustrates the story behind the exploration and excavation by British archaeologist, Howard Carter, the history of TUTANKHAMUN and the culture of ancient Egypt.

TUTANKHAMUN offers families a truly exceptional experience as they are guided through the exploration “journey” with the help of an audio guide (included in the ticket price) for adults and children which makes the experience informative, enjoyable and fulfilling.

Walking on Sunshine dances into cinemas in December!

If you are a spring chicken and slightly missed out on some of the greatest hits of the 80’s or want to take a trip down music memory lane, this musical romcom might be your refreshing glass of lemonade this summer. Ster Kinekor Entertainment brings you a musical which is set to dance its way to South African cinemas on 12 December 2014.

Introducing rising stars Annabel Scholey, Hannah Arterton, and Gullio Berruti as the tangled threesome Maddie, Taylor and Raf. They are joined by one of the UK’s top funny women Katy Brand, Greg Wise and multi-award winning and Grammy® nominated singer/songwriter, Leona Lewis who makes this musical extravaganza her debut film role.

After a whirlwind romance, Maddie, fresh from a long-term relationship, is preparing to marry gorgeous Raf and has invited her sister Taylor to the wedding in Italy. Unbeknownst to Maddie, however, Raf is Taylor’s exholiday flame, and the love of her life and that is just one of the set-backs on their road to happy ever after. Set to the music of popular hit songs from the 1980s in a beautiful coastal village of present day Italy, Walking on Sunshine has a running time of 1 hour 37 minutes.

For a preview of the trailer visit www.imdb.com or

Ticket prices range from R80 to R160 per person and there is a special discounted family package of four tickets for just R440. Children of five years and younger are admitted free of charge. Furthermore, for added convenience and ease of access to the exhibition, tickets are sold in dedicated time slots. Visitors may choose when to arrive within the time slot they have selected while booking online or at the box office. Purchased tickets are valid for the entirety of the booked day as visitors might arrive before or after the booked ‘time slot’. Once entered the exhibition, visitors are welcome to stay as long as they want within opening hours. The exhibition is open seven days a week, except for Christmas Day. Tickets are now on sale at www.tut-exhibition.co.za and www.silverstarcasino.co.za.

Hurry, take advantage of the special early bird discounted offer of R20 off ALL ticket prices valid for the exhibition dates from 2 December until 15 December inclusive. Moms and dads who purchase the already discounted family package will enjoy a further R80 off their purchase of four tickets. It takes about two hours to walk through the exhibition, although many visitors stay for longer. There’s a shop carrying official programmes, mementos made in Egypt and other quality merchandise. The fascinating “King Tut” family educational entertainment outing at Silverstar is nothing short of spectacular.

After a leisurely stroll through the exhibition why not pop in to one of Silverstar’s new restaurants including Spur, Calisto’s, Col’Cacchio Pizzeria and Vigor and Verve for a snack or a hearty meal. Thereafter, the new facilities especially designed for family entertainment includes a large Magic Company with the latest arcade games, a 12-lane bowling alley and laser-tag games. All this and a Movies@ cinema complex boasting the latest 3D technology are a short walk from the TUTANKHAMUN exhibition. There’s lots of family fun at Silverstar these holidays.

From kids to tweens and teens; from moms and dads to grandparents and extended family members, visitors to the TUTANKHAMUN - His Tomb and His Treasures are bound to be mesmerised by the exquisite exhibits, exciting video footage and fascinating revelations at this phenomenal exhibition. Take a day out, head to Silverstar this December.

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Travelmagsa • Issue 16

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Travelmagsa • Issue 16