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regulars Editor’s Letter - Welcome to Ultimate Africa
De Hoop - Cape Nature Conservation
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Reuben’s - Food and Family in Franschhoek
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Villiera Wines - Wine the Right Way
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Meerkat Adventures - Safari with Meerkat Man
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Photography Wildlife Photography - Finding Wild Dogs
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Read - School of Life
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Hear - The Great South African Trip
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See - Life & Times of Chris Hani
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Guide- South Africa’s Top Properties and Services
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Directory- Grouped Luxury Property Listing
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E ditor ’ s L etter Ultimate Africa Publisher TCB Publishing PO Box 11273, Hatfield, 0028 Tel: +27 861 THE MAG Fax: +27 88 012 346 2367 mail@tcbpublishing.co.za
where Credit is Due The journey starts here
The darkest thing about Africa has always been our ignorance of it. –
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George Kimble (Mangwanani Private African Spa will could quite possibly be the only editor sort you out), if you’re into animals and/ who is not including some kind of or plants (De Hoop Nature Reserve and spread about the Olympics in her Marine Protected Area boasts a spectacular publication, particularly seeing as array) or if you think you might be able Cameron van der Burgh (or his new piece to stomach the creations of South Africa’s of metal at least) has become the new top chefs and winemakers. Just make sure Table Mountain overnight. that you read The School of Life, watch the Okay, so there I went and mentioned it. Chris Hani documentary and listen to The But only because I always feel as if I have Great South African Trip in their entireties dived, jumped, swung, cycled, sprinted and wrestled my way through the creation before you come, as there is an entrance exam at passport control. of each month’s edition. Not because [Everybody laughs] I don’t enjoy what I do (we all know by now that I am the first to boast that my job Speaking of laughter, we are proud to have wildlife photographer Mark Tennant must the best in the world), but because I of Animal Planet’s Mad Mike and Mark on get so swept up in the excitement of it all board to write our monthly photography that by the time I actually have to draw column. His ways of writing about the my curtains (the view of Van der Burgh wild are about as bizarre as his experiences mountain is exquisite) and sit down to therein, but there is always something write, I am already exhausted because valuable to be learned (we love you, it feels like I have enjoyed a lifetime of Mark). experience in a month. Yes, I do admit Ok that’s all from me (on this page at that there are times when I feel like some least). Turn over for a treat! boxing, wrestling and fencing (little girls don’t hold guns) is necessary to get the PS If you even consider buying a meerkat job done, but the exhaustion I feel when I present my little gold medal each month is as a pet, you will be subject to my wrath. The good news is that I have been kind always accompanied by 93% elation (5% enough to provide a fun alternative. See is an overwhelming desire for a bed and a inside for more! pizza and we won’t get into the last 2%). I know you don’t feel as excited about each edition as I do (if you do, please don’t contact me as I will think you are weird), but I do hope that we are able to get you excited about your next trip Ultimate to our beautiful continent. You can come if you’ve had a hard few months
Lara .
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Managing director Bernard Hellberg | bernard@ultimate-africa.com Publisher Wilhelm Loots | wilhelm@ultimate-africa.com Editor-in-Chief Rodger Whittle | rodger@ultimate-africa.com Editor Lara Potgieter lara@ultimate-africa.com | +27 82 979 2395 +27 21 552 2829 Creative Director Henco Meintjes henco@ultimate-africa.com | +27 82 957 9495 +27 12 425 5800 Digital Manager Phillip Sylvano phillip@ultimate-africa.com | +27 83 858 3014 +27 21 552 2829 Advertising Sales sales@ultimate-africa.com | +27 12 425 5800 Ananda du Toit ananda@ultimat-africa.com | +27 83 631 7185 +27 21 552 2829 The Ultimate Guide to Southern Africa is published monthly by TCB Publishing. Opinions expressed in the publication are not necessarily those of TCB Publishing or any of their clients. Information has been included in good faith by the publisher and is believed to be correct at the time of going to online. No responsibility can be accepted for errors and omissions. No material (articles or photographs) in the publication may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without specific written permission from the Editor. Submissions of articles and photographs for publication are welcome, but the publisher, while exercising all reasonable care, cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage. Please ensure that all material is posted by registered mail to PO Box 11273, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028. Copyright © 2012. All copyright for material appearing in this magazine belongs to TCB Publishing and/or the individual contributors. All rights reserved.
A uniquely African experience of earth-based healing and traditional entertainment at Mangwanani Private Spa Meerkat Adventures • The Elusive Wild Dog • Exploring De Hoop
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Healing Africa through African Healing
Text & Images: © Mangwanani
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M a n g wa n a n i S p a Mangwanani Private Spa offers a unique combination of relaxation, wellness and traditional African entertainment.
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his year, Mangwanani celebrates ten years of responsible tourism, social responsibility, committed sustainable development, women empowerment and successful job creation. Boasting six luxury spa retreats and nine retail outlets nationwide, Mangwanani’s total workforce for the year 2010/2011 amounts to 800 permanent employees and 400/500 seasonal staff, of which 98% are women from previously disadvantaged groups. Mangwanani has successfully carried out its mission to employ women from local underprivileged communities nationwide and to train them to become certified Mangwanani therapists in an effort to empower and uplift society and encourage sustainable economic growth. Mangwanani is a household brand amongst discerning and novice spa goers, claiming ‘Spa of the Year’ for nine consecutive years. Mangwanani prides itself on providing exquisitely traditional African hospitality. Their signature collection of spa products comprises only the finest quality ingredients so that each guest is able to take a bit of the decadent spa indulgence home. The world-class Mangwanani signature treatment packages include an opulent fully inclusive African Revitalisation Day Spa and a Magical Moonlight Night Spa experience. These weave rejuvenating Ancient
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African healing massage techniques with Western wellness therapies. Each spa experience is complete, with convenient return transfers, traditional African entertainment, delicious meals and a complimentary bar service. A fully-day African Revitalization package offers no less than seven deeply relaxing therapies, including welcoming traditional singing and drumming on arrival with a delicious breakfast including tea, coffee and fresh fruit juices. The Magical Night Spa package includes snacks, dinner, complimentary bar service and three stressrelieving treatments. The massage therapies include: Ubuso Revitalising Facial Spa - Uses ancient African pressure-point massage techniques to relax and clear the mind. Thlapiso Full Body Cleansing – A full body scrub based on an old African Rite of Passage used to purify and bless the body as you enter into a new chapter of life. Izimanga Full Body Hot Stone Massage – An ancient African energizing ritual that uses hot stones believed to channel positive energy from the earth’s core to the healing hands of the therapists. Molala Head, Neck & Shoulder Massage – A sacred North African healing practice which uses ancient pressure-point massage techniques together with lemongrass and sesame oil. Neo Maoto Foot Massage – A blessed Royal African tradition that uses a rose petal wash, sugar & grape seed scrub and Mangwanani’s signature massage cream to bless the feet. Neo Matsogo Hand Massage – A sacred Royal African custom that uses a rose petal wash, sugar & grape seed scrub and Mangwanani’s signature massage cream. Mangwanani caters for individuals, couples and groups on any occasion. They also have a mobile spa and offer home, teen, kids and men’s spa services. For more information or to make a booking, visit www. mangwanani.co.za.
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The De Hoop Nature Reserve is one of the largest natural areas managed by Cape Nature Conservation and a favoured destination for tourists and nature lovers. It is an essential
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elsewhere in the face of a growing demand for land and food.
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refuge for the conservation of plant and animal species that are rapidly disappearing
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De Hoop Nature Reserve & Marine Protected Area
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Activities The reserve offers a myriad of activities including guided and self-guided horse riding, mountain biking, bird watching and snorkelling, interpretive game viewing, dune walks and flora walks as well as childminding. Accommodation Accommodation facilities range from camping to luxury five star accommodation with all meals included. All of the facilities have been carefully designed and equipped for your comfort and are managed by the De Hoop Collection.
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he reserve is situated in the Overberg, the region of the Western Cape near the southern tip of Africa. The largest nearby towns are Caledon, Bredasdorp and Swellendam. The approach to the reserve is through an ever-changing mosaic of grain fields and pastures so typical of the Overberg - neat patches of rust, a palette of greens and the gold of harvest time. De Hoop is a jewel of undisturbed veld conspicuously populated by birds, bontebok and other animals, with turquoise waters and dazzling white sands along the coastline.
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Text & Images: Š De Hoop Collection
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Swap the red tape for the red carpet
Passion • Integrity • Excellence
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Habitats and Vegetation De Hoop comprises seven major habitat types: rocky coast and marine reserve, beaches, sand dunes, coastal plain, limestone hills, De Hoop vlei and the Potberg Mountains and surrounds. The vegetation of the reserve comprises a wide variety of fynbos species, as well as some non-fynbos and rare, threatened and endemic plant species. Animals The many different terrestrial habitats and plants in the area support a diversity of animal groups. The marine environment is likewise home to a variety of life forms. The reserve has abundant amphibian and reptile life. Amphibians occur virtually throughout the reserve, but the majority of species are associated with either seasonal or permanent water bodies. Cape river frogs, raucous toads, spotted grass frogs and common cacos are some of the more commonly recorded species. Rain frogs, interestingly, are terrestrial, burrowing species which do not survive in wet, inundated habitats. Toads are wide-ranging, and often found some distance from water. Lizards including rock agamas, Cape girdled lizards, common skinks, Cape speckled skinks and marbled geckos are fairly common in the reserve. Rock agamas and Cape girdled lizards are confined to rocky habitats. Angulate (rooipens) tortoises are commonly seen, especially on the roads, and are locally reputed to become more active with the approach of rain. Cape terrapins have been recorded in the De Hoop Vlei. Mountain tortoises were introduced in the past and do not occur naturally in this region. The most commonly encountered snakes in the reserve are the larger species including puff adders, Cape cobras, boomslangs and mole snakes. Smaller species such as whip snakes, herald snakes and skaapstekers are also fairly common, but less frequently seen. The reserve is well-known for its large variety of resident and migrant bird species. They occur in terrestrial environments as well as in the vlei and coastal areas. Their feeding habits vary widely, from the large omnivorous ostriches, to scavengers like the Cape griffon vulture. Many fynbos birds, such as sunbirds, typically have small bodies and feed on nectar. Other birds eat the seeds of sedge-like plants or find their food in the ground. Plants with fleshy fruits attract fruit-eating birds. De Hoop is important for the conservation of a number of rare and endangered species such as bontebok and Cape mountain zebras. There are relatively few larger mammal species, and many large predators like leopards have now disappeared. Caracal still occur but are seldom seen. Baboons, eland, bontebok, grey rhebuck, duiker, steenbok and yellow mongoose (meerkat) are a common sight on the flats. Bats frequent the De Hoop caves in large numbers.
AIRCRAFT CHARTER Gabby van Staden, frequent charter client.
BEECHCRAFT KING AIR 350i
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“NAC’s VIP Charter service always makes me feel like a rock star! They think of everything I could possibly need and pay special attention to detail, when it comes to my safety, security, privacy and comfort. Wherever I’m headed, NAC’s fleet of long and medium range jets and twin turbine aircraft get me there on time, without the added aggravation of having to deal with check-in queues, waiting for baggage or having to wade through red tape at airport terminals.”
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So if you’re considering chartering a flight, speak to NAC, and they’ll make you feel like an A-lister on the red carpet!” – Gabby van Staden
For more information contact: Charter +27 (0) 82 891 4639 (24 hours) • charter@nac.co.za Lanseria +27 11 267 5000 • Rand +27 11 345 2500 • Grand Central +27 11 312 0360 Cape Town +27 21 425 3868 • Pretoria +27 12 567 5161 • Durban +27 31 571 8316 • Gaborone +267 397 5257 Australia +61 89 429 8881 • USA + 1 316 685 8660 • ISO 9001:2008 Quality Assured • www.nac.co.za
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Marine mammals including dolphins, whales and seals occur in the waters off the coast. The marine reserve provides a much-needed sanctuary for the threatened southern right whale which mates and calves there each year. Conservation and Ecotourism De Hoop represents a treasure-house of natural assets which are protected in a relatively undisturbed state. The diversity of 1 500 plant species is amongst the highest in the Cape Floristic Region, with a large percentage of rare/ threatened/endemic species. The discerning botanical visitor is privileged to walk amongst pristine fynbos vegetation and view the plants at close quarters. Much of the invertebrate animal wealth is as yet undocumented but probably equally diverse. Among the 260 bird species are included the endemic African black oystercatcher, the rare Damara and Caspian terns, the vulnerable Cape griffon vulture and Stanley’s bustard and the globally threatened Blue Crane. The De Hoop Vlei is a Ramsar site of international importance where aquatic birds and other organisms can breed and feed without disturbance. A safe refuge is provided for rare mammals such as the bontebok and Cape mountain zebra, as well as for smaller predators and various bat species, the latter in a large breeding cave. The limestone cave systems are unique and preserved in a relatively pristine condition. The De Hoop Marine Reserve is one of the world’s most important calving grounds for the southern right whale and an important nursery area from which depleted angling species such as galjoen may be replenished. De Hoop has great scientific value as a research centre as it is one of the Western Cape’s last remaining natural areas and serves as a benchmark for measuring environmental change elsewhere. De Hoop represents an important stronghold where natural processes such as the purification of air and water can continue unhindered. The mission of Cape Nature Conservation is to conserve the natural and cultural heritage of the Western Cape for the benefit, well-being and enjoyment of present and future generations. For more information or to make a booking, visit www. dehoopcollection.co.za
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“Reuben prides himself in the fact that his menu is spontaneous, reminding us that a good cook gets excited about the fresh ingredients available on any particular day.”
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euben Riffel loves his mom. has always been an integral part of everyday life. When He also loves music, old cars and pop art. Oh, and other little boys were kicking footballs around, Reuben and food. his siblings delighted in throwing beans into the air and As Chef de Cuisine and co-owner of one of South Africa’s seeing who could catch them in their mouths. Pea-picking, top ten restaurants, Reuben’s love of food probably ranks preserve-bottling and bread-baking were all daily activities, a close second in his personal list of top ten favorite things. with Reuben’s regular allocated chore being to chop the His mother, however, will always take first prize. wood that his uncle Tol would bring in from town for the Mothers always seem to know what is needed to relieve wood-burning stove. cold, fatigue and, of course, hunger. Sitting next to a cozy Reuben recalls spending hours in his grandfather’s fire enjoying a potato, leek and aged cheddar cappuccino vegetable garden next to the railway line, and today he only (yes, you read correctly) in Reuben’s welcoming and uses the freshest available local produce in his kitchen. He comfortable restaurant, I quietly thank Reuben’s mom still uses herbs from his mother’s garden, as well as her tasty for the years of love and comfort that now manifest in his home-baked bread. restaurants. The joyful atmosphere at Reuben’s could owe in part Reuben grew up on a ‘stofstraat’ (dirt road) in Groendal, to its family orientation. Reuben’s sister is the manager, and even as one of South Africa’s top chefs today, the his brother is a host and patrons are all treated like family experiences of his childhood still play a significant role in members too (although the effortless discipline and his work. professionalism, for which Reuben jokingly thanks his He loves to cook with fruit because of the fruit trees that grandmother’s leather belt, is admirable). Perhaps that’s they used to grow in the community, and the scent of why the restaurant is always buzzing, with every table pears drying in the sun or the taste of preserved grapes stir full and at least a dozen names on the waiting list. I have the kind of nostalgia that sees him preparing his dishes no doubt, though, that however lovingly prepared and with a lot of fondness. The impressive wine list at Reuben’s presented, it is the exceptional taste of the dishes that also attests to his love of fermented fruit, with Reuben attracts people to one of Franschhoek’s favorite restaurants. attributing his preference of sweet wine to the smell of My favorite tale from Reuben’s is of the Mexicans who the pink apples that his uncle used to ferment under the returned each day for the duration of their stay to enjoy floorboards of his home. the black bean soup that Reuben had ‘thrown together’ at Text:preparation Lara Potgieter Images: ©an : ?????????????????????????? For Reuben’s family, the enthusiastic of |food ad hoc request. Reuben prides himself in the fact that
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his menu is spontaneous, reminding us that a good cook gets excited about the fresh ingredients available on any particular day. My meal at the restaurant was exquisite, with a ginger and rooibos tea-scented butternut soup providing a delightful prelude to the butternut and artichoke gnocchi with roasted pine nuts and parmesan foam that I relished for mains. My partner enjoyed a Lyonnaise onion, blue cheese and spinach tartlet with tomato-chilli jam and dehydrated grapes for starters and the pan-fried line fish with mushroom sabayon, creamy tarragon pasta and hazelnut chutney for mains. Of course, when it came to dessert, I had to go through my ritual of trying at least three different dishes. Although the tangerine sorbet with vanilla foam and Amarula-flavored malva pudding were absolutely decadent, I had to stick with the traditional South African sticky bread and butter caramel pudding as favorite. My partner, who was simply rolling in the decadence of it all, decided that the upside down pear and walnut tart would be the ‘healthy’ choice to make (oh I love how we delude ourselves). Simple, tasty, fresh food prepared with love by a top chef at a comfortable, stylish, award-winning restaurant? Doesn’t sound too bad to me. Visit www.reubens.co.za to make a booking or for information on Reuben’s other restaurants.
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Text: Lara Potgieter | Images: © Villiera Wines
It’s Thursday morning and the tasting room at Villiera Wines near Stellenbosch is already buzzing with groups of visitors chatting animatedly over glasses of bubbly, making their way through generous cheese boards and returning
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man wielding a saber at the entrance makes me feel rather uncomfortable, until I see him use it to open a champagne bottle (at which point I just feel rather inept). A sign with the words ‘110% Green’ confuses me a bit too, but not enough to inspire me to stop to ask about sustainability practices when there is a selection of beautiful bottles of my favorite wines (red, sweet and bubbly) waiting for me at a table inside. I am treated to a tasting with Cathy Brewer (formerly Grier), a member of the over-achieving family who own Villiera wines. While Cathy spends her time keeping thirsty journalists entertained, her brother Jeff makes the wine and her cousin Simon ensures the sustainability of the farm. The Grier family bought the farm in 1983 when Cathy, Jeff and Simon were still in their early twenties (oh dear, I have given it away) and they have built it up from a small, rundown piece of land producing 4000 cases a year to one of the largest family-run businesses in South Africa, producing 100 000 cases a year. I can assure you, though, that their
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production quantities certainly do not compromise the quality of their wines. In true Villiera style, I too get to start my morning on the farm with some fizzytherapy. The best part is that I get to indulge in it with virtually zero guilt, enjoying the uncompromised taste of the additive-, sulphur- and sugarfree bottle-fermented Villiera Brut Natural. I am told that I have the two lengthy fermentations and extended period of yeast contact to thank for the magical sparkle and maximum development of the award-winning 100% Chardonnay sparkling wine. I can only imagine the pure bliss of enjoying it with a decadent Sally Williams creation at one of Villiera’s nougat and bubbly pairing events.
After this delightful aperitif, I learn why the Villiera Merlot is such a top seller in the South African market. Its cherry and plum fruit notes, spicy character and slight bitter chocolate sweetness combined with the very soft tannins make it an easy-to-drink wine that is particularly suited to people who aren’t looking for high alcohol levels. My next treat is the farm’s flagship red, the Villiera Monro. With fewer bunches per vine, higher concentration, grape varietals only from Bordeaux and two years in new barrels followed by up to seven years of waiting, this wine really is a ‘serious’ one. I was lucky enough to savor the 2005 vintage, picking up the cedar wood spice, blackcurrant and cigar box notes for which it is famous.
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For more information, visit www.villiera.com.
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Duiker and Zebra roam the area, and guests can go out on game drives with a qualified game ranger. The farm also sports twelve dams with thriving fish populations, as well as an abundant display of birdlife. In true Villiera style, the Wildlife Sanctuary is also off the national electricity grid and boasts an Environmental Education Centre in which children and adults can learn about sustainability. Villiera believes in sound social practices too, and a crèche for the staff’s young children, an afterschool club for the older learners and an office for the Pebbles Project for Children with Special Needs are all important centres on the farm. They are also actively involved with the Anna Foundation for Farm Children and Freedom Enterprises, a business that makes gift bags from old newspaper, is a project run by their staff in Bloekombos. Another family over-achiever, David Grier, is also an extreme sportsman and motivational speaker who runs for the Miles for Smiles Foundation. Happy palette, happy earth, happy people? Have a look at this
I must admit, though, that the Villiera Inspiration sweet wine, with its honey, orange peel and dried peach notes, was my favorite of the day. I swear Noble Rot never tasted so good. After my three decadent delights, I finally mustered the courage to ask about the credibility of that ‘110% Green’ sign. Although the 110% alludes to the Democratic Alliance Party’s ‘100% effort for 10% green’ philosophy, Villiera has held high sustainability credentials since long before it become trendy to so do. The farm is working towards being carbon neutral, and their practices are so ‘green’ that a local conservation student actually wrote her thesis on them. Villiera has planted 70 000 indigenous trees, many of which are of the super carbon binding spekboom species. The cellar, living areas and storage facilities are all off the national power grid, apart from at night and during peak periods in harvest. They boast the largest roof-mounted solar panel in South Africa, and solar domes provide light in the roofs of all the storage areas. While we are doing the tasting, a computer screen flashes information about how much solar power is being converted into electricity at that very moment. Whirlybirds are used to suck extra heat out of areas such as the boardroom so that the need for air-conditioning is significantly reduced. They have a no-landfill policy, and the water waste from the cellar is filtered through a marsh area to such an extent that the little bit that does run out is actually okay to drink. They don’t waste water in the vineyard itself either, as probes give computer read-outs of the water levels so drip irrigation methods are only used when it looks like the quality of the vine is being threatened. Villiera haven’t sprayed their vineyard with insecticides for fifteen years, and their pest-control team consists of a group of enthusiastic ducks. They are accredited by the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative, which means that they return a sizeable chunk of their property to its natural state. And, of course, they have 230 hectares of Wildlife Sanctuary too. Eland, Bontebok, Steenbok, Springbok,
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On Safari
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Meerkat Man The concept of a Meerkat Safari simply thrilled me. I had never heard of
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anything like it before and am, like most women, excited by the prospect of anything cute and furry.
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Text: Lara Potgieter | Images: © De Zeekoe
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“We reached a seemingly random spot, set up our camping chairs and sat back as if venturing into the middle of a veld on an icy morning just to sit in a chair and ponder upon life was the most normal thing to do.”
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arrived in Oudtshoorn later than I had expected, as the Klein Karoo Garden Route 66 offered many marvelous distractions along the way (I must admit that the famous Ronnie’s Sex Shop was one of them). I arrived in that special kind of darkness, silence and cold that can only be found in the Karoo, and was delighted to find that my suite at De Zeekoe Guest Farm, with its regal bathtub, princess bed and thick velvet curtains, was more than comfortable. Needless to say, waking up at the crack of dawn the next morning was not easy, and I silently cursed Devey Glinister for insisting that his famous Meerkat Adventure expeditions be early sunrise tours. We drove out to the little creatures’ stomping grounds, stopping for a South African-style coffee-off-a-bakkie before heading out on foot to find these members of the Shy Five in their natural habitat. I must say, Devey was immensely entertaining and managed to get a few laughs out of me even at that time of the morning. The fact that the sharp wit came from somebody who looks a lot like Crocodile Dundee (bless his soul) made it all the merrier a journey. We reached a seemingly random spot, set up our camping chairs and sat back as if venturing into the middle of a veld on an icy morning just to sit in a chair and ponder upon life was the most normal thing to do.
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And then it happened. On a little sand mound right in front of me appeared a perfect specimen of a meerkat. And then another, followed by some tentative meerkat calling that resulted in a few little heads popping out of the burrow. I was completely enraptured. I didn’t expect to see them so close and I really could have sat there just watching them all day. Eventually the whole family was out and about, surveying the scene, frolicking around in the sand and turning their little solar-paneled chests to the warmth of the sun. Although the ‘guard’ stood alert at all times, the meerkats were not at all phased by our presence. This was only, of course, because we were the admiring company of meerkat whisperer Devey, who has been coming out and spending time with this particular family for years. The meerkats are completely accustomed to the sound of his voice and he was even allowed to walk around them to take photographs of us ‘hanging out’ with them (a priceless keepsake), but as soon as one of us mere mortals made a move to stand up, they would all disappear before we could remember our rightful place in their territory and sit back down again.
I like to imagine that they know that Devey is there to defend them, to allow access to their private lives on their own terms, educating people on their magnificence in the wild. I stress this circumstance as Devey has been fighting a battle against the illegal trade of meerkats as pets, particularly from South Africa to the UK, where an advertising campaign, Compare the Meerkat, has inspired a surge in the demand for this unnatural co-habitation. What many ‘customers’ don’t realize is that, although they are incredibly cute, meerkats are not at all suitable as domestic animals. Aside from the fact that they suffer under such unnatural conditions, meerkats actually prove to be quite unpleasant pets, making a lot of noise, smelling wretched and (quite understandably) attacking people ‘at random’. They’re beautiful wild creatures and can be appreciated without being appropriated. What a spectacular experience. For more information and bookings, visit www.meerkatadventures.co.za. For information on the conveniently-located De Zeekoe Guest Farm, visit www.dezeekoe.co.za
Premier Lounge whiLe waiting For your FLight, reLax in comFort and avoid the crowds. smoking rooms avaiLabLe Premier Lounges avaiLabLe in or tambo internationaL, caPe town internationaL, king shaka internationaL, Port eLizabeth, east London and george airPorts.
All Are welcome • www.bidvestlounge.co.zA 30
with Mark Tennant
An adult Wild Dog uses its huge ears to listen for running prey
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“Looking for dogs from June through to about mid-September works for me, as they are limited by the young puppies and stay in the same areas during this time of denning.”
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Not every hunt is successful. Here the Wildebeest have the upper hand.
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My favorite place to track Wild Dogs is in Northern Botswana and the Okavango Delta, as these areas play host to the largest populations of Wild Dog in Africa. When I do a safari tracking Wild Dogs, the first thing I do is get my guests trigger happy with their cameras. One should always remember that the film or memory card is the cheapest part of a holiday, and that composition, light and shutter speeds can be worked on later. An 80 - 200 lens (2.8 if possible) gives me flexibility, as dogs are often running all over the place and I usually do not have to change lenses.
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n May the shortening of daylight hours triggers testosterone levels in the adult male of the most common antelope in Southern Africa, the Impala. The males fight violently and herd the females territorially in an exercise called the RUT. Males join bachelor herds and spar with each other, practicing to fight the dominant males that control between 30 to 100 (sometimes more) females. The males fight all day and mate at night, with the victorious fighters spreading their genes with as many females as possible. The condition of the victorious males’ health deteriorates quickly, as there is not enough time to eat with all this sex and fighting going on. This allows other males to come in and breed, which is good for the gene pool. That being said, it is still only a dismal 20% of male Impala that have the opportunity to breed in their lifetimes (bet you’re happy to be human now). To add insult to injury, Impala herds are disrupted during this time, with males sometimes ending up alone without any company at all. Here’s where the Wild Dogs come in. This time of manic fighting, breeding and consequent isolation of Impala provides an even better opportunity for Wild Dogs to find food than when the mother dog has her puppies. During the latter period of time, the pack (which can include anything from three to 35 members) will all work together, under the control of the male and female Alpha Dogs, to raise the litter. The mother will den for three to four months, depending on predator pressure and food availability. The pups are born at the end of May, with the average litter including 11 to 14 pups (although litters of up to 19 have been recorded). While the mother spends most of her time with the pups, the rest of the pack goes hunting. When they catch an Impala they eat it and run back to the den and regurgitate the meat to the mother and puppies, who start eating meat at three-and-a-half weeks. By the end of July, the pack with all the new mouths to feed often has to hunt twice a day to keep up with the demands. This window of opportunity gives me a chance to get into some action photography. Wild Dogs roam large areas of about 450 square kilometres per pack. With only about 3500 Wild Dogs left in the wild of Africa, this high-energy species is often difficult to find. Looking for dogs from June through to about midSeptember works for me, as they are limited by the young puppies and stay in the same areas during this time of denning.
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The pups are born black, with a whited-tipped tail and tan marking starting to show after a couple of weeks. Like our finger prints, these markings are unique to each individual dog.
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Change Your Work,
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Change Your World
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immediately drawn to the title, as I really couldn’t be happier in my current job (as you may have gleaned from each month’s Letter from the Editor). Nonetheless, it still seemed like the most important one to begin with, as the majority of people’s lives are structured almost entirely around the work that they do. The book is surprisingly engaging, with its thoughtprovoking historical examples and inspirational philosophical gems. Author Roman Krznaric focuses on what he calls the universal history of career confusion, urging us to remember to take advantage of the freedom of choice that we have inherited. As put by Management Expert Charles Handy: ‘For the first time in the human experience, we have a chance to shape our work to suit the way we live instead of our lives to fit our work…We would be mad to miss the chance.’ Krznaric asks the vital question – ‘What is your current work doing to you as a person - to your mind, character and relationships?’ He answers the questions in his own life, urging us too to examine where we find meaning. Do you find it in money and status, in cultivating your talents and passions, or in knowing that you are making a difference to the world at large? Dostoyevsky once said that the most terrible punishment for any human being would be if they were condemned to a lifetime of work that was ‘completely and utterly devoid
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The School of Life Presents…
he School of Life, a ground-breaking enterprise, in conjunction with Pan Macmillan, has launched an innovative experiment: a six-book series of intelligent, rigorous, well-written self-help books, put together by some of the leading minds in the field. The books systematically examine the great issues of life - love, money, emotional maturity, sexuality, the workplace and self-esteem, and do so in a way that is at once highly accessible and conceptually bold. Set up in 2008, The School of Life’s philosophy is to offer good ideas for everyday living. The School runs seminars in London and writes a weekly column for the Observer. The teaching faculty of The School comprises a host of well-known names from the fields of philosophy, the arts, technology, psychology and journalism. Morgwn Rimel, Director of The School of Life, states that ‘there is no more ridiculed literary genre than self-help… it wasn’t always like this. For two thousand years in the history of the West, the self-help book stood as a pinnacle of literary achievement. The Ancients were particularly adept practitioners – just think of Epicurus, Seneca and Marcus Aurelius. And now, in an age of moral and practical confusions, the self-help book is crying out for reinvention. We are proud to announce its rebirth.’ My introduction to the teachings of The School of Life came in their volume How to Find Fulfilling Work. I wasn’t
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as is Flintoff himself, whose magazine story about Camilla Batmanehelidjh, founder of the London-based charity Kids Company, helped to change government policy. The reader is given some ‘homework’ that follows the lessons and examples of everyone from Tolstoy to Mao to Buddha to Russian astronauts. A lingering message is that ‘love helps’ and that beauty and fun are necessary too. For more information or to order your copies, visit www. panmacmillan.co.za.
of usefulness and meaning’. Krznaric revisits the idea that meaning is not to be found on the ‘hedonic treadmill’, and that it is usually our fear of change that keeps us reflecting instead of acting on this. He guides the reader through a concrete set of steps to bring about change, reminding us all the way that a vocation often needs to be ‘grown’ and citing Marie Curie’s career as an example of this. The book offers motivational insights as well as practical advice on creating a ‘bespoke career’, emphasizing that ‘having it all does not mean having it all at once.’ The philosophies and practices seem to have helped him find freedom in his own career, as he has been named by the Observer as one of Britain’s leading lifestyle thinkers, and advises organizations including Oxfam and the United Nations on using empathy and conversation to create social change. Krznaric’s philanthropic feats inspired me to read The School’s How to Change the World next. How to Change the World combines insights from Tolstoy, Ghandi and Sartre and outlines a refreshing theory of political power, giving examples of successful non-violent action from across the world, from the start of recorded history to the present day. Of course, we don’t all need to topple dictators, but any attempt to disrupt the status quo requires us to overcome inertia, indifference and perhaps active hostility from people who feel threatened. The book explores the idea that we can break down our goals into small pieces, and highlights that there will never be a better time to start. Bursting with ideas, it gives one a sense of what might just be possible, as well as the inspiration and courage needed to go about improving and changing the world we live in. Author John-Paul Flintoff gets us thinking about what drives us, and what exactly it is that we want to change (e.g. political corruption, environmental degradation or poverty). He uses Einstein’s Chaos Theory (wherein seemingly insignificant initial circumstances can effect global, even universal events) to remind us that, even if we think our efforts may not be decisive, it’s imperative that we try. He suggests that ‘what we need is often exactly what we have’, and that anything from being the first to dance at a concert to simply pitching up at the Berlin Wall can mobilize mass action. The book includes the full list of Gene Sharp’s 198 Ways to Act, a menu of non-violent actions known to have been influential in several non-violent revolutions, but also less dramatic social, artistic and political change. Flintoff posits the notion that hope is not a passive thought but an action, citing Rosa Parks as poster girl for this. The book remains practical throughout, tackling the issue of finance directly. Hippie-turned-millionaire Dale Vince of Ecotricity fame is mentioned as an example of somebody who was able to flourish in a career that made a difference,
A Manifesto of Human Aspiration - E.F. Schumacher (from How to Find Fulfilling Work) I don’t want to join the rat race. Not be enslaved by machines, bureaucracies, boredom, ugliness. I don’t want to be a moron, robot, commuter. I don’t want to become a fragment of a person. I want to do my own thing. I want to live (relatively) simply. I want to deal with people, not masks. People matter. Nature matters. Beauty matters. Wholeness Matters. I want to be able to care.
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he great South African Trip, Volume 3, forms part take a look at some of the most well-known artists and the of a series of best-selling compilations that present songs of theirs that feature in the compilation. the best music in South Africa. Showcasing iconic Known throughout the world as Mama Afrika, Miriam legends and luminaries like Hugh Masekela, Busi Mhlongo, Makeba is a legend who lived an extraordinary life. Born Jabu Khanyile, Miriam Makeba, Mango Groove, Lebo in South Africa in 1932, she first made her name as a Mathosa, Khumbula, Soweto String Quartet andd Ringo as featured vocalist with the Manhattan Brothers in 1954. well as current hitmakers like HHP, Thandiswa Mazwai, JR, Makeba’s incredible voice won her the lead role in King Gang of Instrumentals, Mafikizolo, Gold Fish, Slikour and Kong, a Broadway-inspired South African musical, together Freshlyground plus music from the sell-out plays Sarafina with Hugh Masekela, her future husband. She went on and Africa Umoja, this double album is an absolute mustto conquer America and in 1963, after testifying against have for every South African music fan. apartheid before the United Nations, she was exiled. The mix of musical legends and fresh talent is really Makeba returned to prominence when she performed with Text:Penny Lane | Images: © Gallo Record Company impressive, but for the purposes of this exposition we’ll just Paul Simon on 1987’s Graceland tour. Her 2000 album 42
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quartet offering. The award-winning group plays contemporary and traditional songs in their repertoire, some original and some borrowed. The last few years have seen the Soweto String Quartet perform around the world. As Mandela’s favorite group, they performed at his presidential inauguration in 1994. Kofifi is from the 2000 album Millennia. The hit play Sarafina! commemorated the watershed event of 16 June 1976, which saw student protestors killed by apartheid police in Soweto. It is a story of determination, perseverance and courage against tremendous odds. The original Broadway production of Sarafina! opened in New York in 1988 and was nominated for a prestigious Tony Award for Best Musical, Score and Actress. It was also adapted into the 1992 movie starring Leleti Khumalo, Whoopi Goldberg, Miriam Makeba and John Kani. Goldfish is one of the most exciting live electronica acts in the world right now with a cult-like following across the globe. Hailing from Cape Town, their dance music contains elements of jazz and African music, combining live instruments like double bass, saxophones, keyboards, flute and vocals with samplers, effects and synths. In 2009 they set a new SAMA record for most nominations, clinching Best Producer and Best Dance Album. The Real Deal is off their 2006 album Caught in the Loop. Freshlyground is a South African Afro-fusion band that was formed in Cape Town in 2002. The band members are from South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Stylistically, Freshlyground incorporates elements of traditional South African music (such as kwela and African folk), blues and jazz, as well as features of indie rock. Lead singer Zolani Mahola’s distinctive voice contributes much to the band’s unique sound. Among other awards, MTV Europe Music Awards awarded Freshlyground Best African Act 2006. This made them the first South African musical act to be awarded an MTV award. Zulu Lounge is taken from their 2007 album Ma’Cheri. The song is given a funky revamp by the Afronauts, a collective of some of South Africa’s most cutting-edge musicians who specialize in creating eclectic and unique mixes of African grooves. The compilation features so many other outstanding artists who are really worth discovering. For more information or to order a copy, visit www. africancreammusic.com.
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Homeland was Grammy nominated. Finally in the late 1980’s she returned to her homeland as a free South African and continued to tour, perform and thrill audiences worldwide until her recent death in 2008. A Luta Continua is a song of resilience dedicated to the people of Mozambique. Born near Johannesburg in 1939, Hugh Masekela is a legend in his own time and has won numerous Grammy Awards. Masekela’s distinct musical signature is evident throughout his five-decade recording career that spans everything from jazz and pop to R&B and dance music. He’s best known, however, as a “world music” artist for his extraordinary gift of wedding the musical traditions of South Africa with the sounds he loves from all other parts of the world. All the township music styles from the 1930’s to the 1960’s form an intrinsic part of his musical roots. After the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre, Masekela left the country and began recording extensively with Miriam Makeba, eventually relocating to America where in 1968, he released his biggest hit ever, Grazing in the Grass. By the beginning of the 1970’s, Masekela had attained international fame, selling out all of America’s festivals. Heeding the call of his African roots, he moved to Guinea, then Liberia and Ghana. Masekela was finally able to return home, following the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990. He continues to record as well as perform regularly throughout the world. Mango Groove’s career has spanned an exciting and turbulent time in South Africa’s history. Since their first iconic multi-platinum release in 1989, the band, together with its charismatic lead singer Claire Johnston, has gone on to become a household name in South Africa. To date, Mango Groove has sold over 750 000 albums in South Africa alone. Hometalk (1990) was one of their most popular hits. The group says, ‘This is a song about missing home. It was written at a time when many political exiles were starting to return to South Africa.’ The lyrics read, ‘The moon meets the breaking day. The dreams have all gone away. Though the memories tear me apart, they will always be here in my heart. Hometalk takes me home.’ Hailing from Soweto, The Soweto String Quartet fuse the dance rhythms of Kwela, the syncopated guitars of Mbaqanga, the saxophones and trumpets of swaying African jazz and the voices of people singing in joyous, easy harmony. A unique blend of traditional rhythms, township jazz, pop songs, jazz fusion and strong classical influences, they present a truly unique African string
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“He was a dedicated son and brilliant pupil who completed standards five and six in one year, obtaining the top results in both standards.”
Hani was murdered by a Polish far-right immigrant and a senior South African Conservative Party M.P. in an attempt to derail negotiations to end apartheid. According to the documentary, Hani was, in effect, killed because he posed the ‘threat’ of achieving equal rights for all. It seems unfathomable today. But the chilling footage of African National Congress (ANC) and Afrikaner Weerstand Beweging (AWB) frontline clashes is a sobering reminder of the hatred and injustice that thwarted South Africa not too long ago. Experts have blamed the Hani assassination on the misconceptions bred by the media in its portrayal of the South African Communist Party (SACP) leader and Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) political commissar. Labels like
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“And when my eyes have filled their sight Do not run away from fright If I crumble to dust again.”
and share more abstract ideas in a simple and accessible way. Not surprisingly, Hani was actively involved in the protests against the transfer of Fort Hare to Bantu Education. For all his education and intellect, Hani certainly did not lack in bravery and action. From driving around with pamphlets on the then-illegal ANC to leading guerrilla troops in high-risk military interventions, Hani was not only a thinker among thinkers but a soldier among soldiers too. Hani underwent military training in the Soviet Union in 1963, and reports from Moscow praised him as an outstanding soldier. It is little wonder that the man who rode a bike from South Africa to Botswana, crossed the Zambezi in a canoe and lead a political revolution at the age of 25 was hailed as the ‘South African Jesus Christ’. But he was also a husband, a father and a friend. The documentary traces the immense personal sacrifices that Hani made for the
struggle, including living with the knowledge that each day could be the day his wife and children became the targets of those working against him. It was not only a military camp that became euphoric when he walked in, but also a home. His widowed but strong wife finally cracks in the documentary when she speaks about their Soviet and German family holidays – the only time when he could just be with his family in time, space, mind and heart. When Martin Thembisile “Chris” Hani was gunned down in his own driveway on that fateful day in South Africa in 1993, a very big family – a nation, in fact – lost a lot of their hope for a peaceful South Africa. Many believed that Hani was going to be the future of the country. According to the documentary, when one hateful, deluded man killed Chris Hani, he killed a significant part of the future of an entire country. Rest in Peace, Comrade Chris. Gone but never forgotten.
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‘communist’ did not sit very well with South Africa’s rightwing, and Hani was portrayed as a ruthless terrorist. The power of propaganda over people’s image of who he was and what he stood for is highlighted in the documentary, which shows Hani as a genuinely popular leader and effective revolutionary who was passionate about his beliefs but always willing to accept, should you be able to prove (with difficulty), that he was wrong. An active communist for thirty years, the documentary describes Hani as a rare example of a leader who knew the difference between real passion and power-hungry ambition. Hani was born in a small rural village in the Transkei. He was one of three of his mother’s six children who survived their births. His father was a migrant worker. He had to walk 20km to school and to church. He grew up amongst the poorest of the poor, and still managed to become an international figure in 1991. What lies at the heart of Hani’s popularity is the fact that he never forgot his humble beginnings. The young Hani is described as kind, quiet, helpful and pious. He was a dedicated son and brilliant pupil who completed standards five and six in one year, obtaining the top results in both standards. Hani originally wanted to become a priest, but his father vetoed the idea, advising (rather wisely) that he should rather try to help in the here and now. Hani became involved in the Young League of Unity and then the ANC Youth League at an early age, not realizing that he was to spend the rest of his short life in the struggle. Hani studied Latin and English at Fore Hare University, encountering Marxist ideas that exposed him to the scope of the racist-capitalist system. The values he acquired as a peasant boy were shaken by his studies and acceptance of Marxist literature. He was able to articulate himself sharply
he Life & Times of Chris Hani opens with a chilling statement from Nelson Mandela himself: ‘The cold-blooded murder of Chris Hani has sent shock waves throughout the country and the world. Our grief and anger are tearing us apart’. The freedom fighter’s real name was Martin Thembisile Hani. He adopted his brother’s name, Chris, for his passport because he was known for political arrests within South Africa.
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Text: Lara Potgieter | Image: © SABC/Afravision
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The Views Boutique Hotel
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• Call: +27 (0) 41 407 1000 • E-mail: reservations@mantiscollection.com • Website: www.views.co.za / www.mantiscollection.com.
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20km from George Airport
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Designed with chic and contemporary interiors, all 21 rooms and suites are styled for comfort, luxury and exclusivity. The hotel boasts a sophisticated fine dining restaurant, spa facilities with a full range of therapeutic treatments, a fully equipped gym, a roof-top cocktail deck offering possible sightings of whales breaching or dolphins surfing the waves, a heated rim flow pool, business facilities and wi-fi connectivity throughout. Nothing is left to chance and all needs are anticipated and catered for with impeccable service.
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Along the famous Garden Route, set on the Wilderness dunes overlooking the Indian Ocean, the Views Boutique Hotel offers panoramic beach and ocean views.
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The StrandTower Hotel
many internationally celebrated restaurants. The five-star intimate hotel is in an exclusive area just one minute’s drive from the chic Constantia Mall’s fashionable shops and restaurants. An easy approach to freeways gives guests superb access to all the Cape’s scenic delights, from Simonstown and the False Bay beaches to the City Centre, Waterfront and beyond.
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• Call: +27 21 794 6561 • E-mail: info@thelastword.co.za • Website: www.thelastword.co.za
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access 25-minute drive from Cape Town
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• Call: • E-mail: • Website:www.strandtowerhotel.co.za
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access Located in Strand Street, in the heart of the city of Cape Town
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Word Constantia is close to seven of South Africa’s top wine estates and
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Situated in the Cape’s oldest and most beautiful wine valley, The Last
The Strand Tower hotel offers guests 242 rooms in Standard, Superior, Executive and Deluxe styles. The hotel offers a range of features and facilities to ensure that guests have everything they need at their fingertips. The divine pool deck overlooks Strand and Loop Streets, and is an oasis-like location for a late afternoon dip after a long day of sightseeing. There is also a restaurant, a gym, sauna and steam room overlooking Table Mountain and the city centre on the 17th and 18th floors respectively, a newly renovated bar and lounge, an Executive Lounge, conferencing facilities for up to 200 people, 24-hour reception, porterage, a concierge and a coffee shop. The Strand Tower Hotel has everything you need for your stay in Cape Town, whether you are visiting for business or pleasure!
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Word Constantia, which is a mere 25-minute drive from Cape Town.
The Strand Tower Hotel is located in Strand Street, in the heart of the city of Cape Town.
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Vibrant indigenous flora and vivid exotic plant life create a serene ambience at The Last
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QuartersHotel Hermanus
• Call: +27 11 314 4350 • E-mail: • Website: www.taugamelodge.co.za
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up to 45 people are available and include wi-fi access and a private boardroom. The hotel is situated close to popular shops and boutiques,
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are all on offer in the area.
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• Call: +27 28 313 7700 • E-mail: • Website: reservations@quartershermanus.co.za.
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90-minute scenic drive from Cape Town International Airport
restaurants, and a wellness centre. Golfing, whale-watching and hiking
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eclectic ambience. Business and conference facilities accommodating
WiFi
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Four-hour drive from Johannesburg or 50-minute daily scheduled flight from Johannesburg International airport.
In true “Quarters” style, the hotel offers an understated elegance and
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spectacular views from its eighteen spacious rooms.
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Boasting 27 major species of game, Madikwe is the fourth largest game reserve in the country. The perfect South African luxury safari holiday destination, Tau Game Lodge offers both Big Five and birdwatching safaris. Overlooking a vast natural waterhole, it offers an idyllic wedding as well as conference venue. Adults can indulge in a range of decadent treatments at the Tau Spa while children enjoy the myriad of kiddies’ activities available.
Hermanus’s superbly positioned Quarters Hotel overlooks the village’s historic harbour, boasting
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The privately-owned Tau Game Lodge is situated in the Madikwe Game reserve in the beautiful Great Marico area on the far northern border of South Africa.
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De ZeakoeGuest Farm
Conveniently situated on the longest wine route in South Africa, namely Cape Route 62, De Zeekoe’s unique charm attracts guests of a different kind. People from all walks of life visit this stylish African farm in search of a unique experience. De Zeekoe is an owner managed farm of 2000 hectares only 8 km from Oudtshoorn, in the Klein Karoo and situated on the longest wine route - R 62. De Zeakoe is a working farm with ostriches, springbuck,Bonsmara cows and Lusern (alfalfa). It boasts stunning views of the mountains and riverbed (Olifant’s River), and offers a chance to see over 162 species of birds. De Zeakoe is located in part of the 17 hotspots of the world, with overlapping flower zones. It offers 16 stylish rooms and 4 rustic log cabins situated on the water’s edge.
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• Call: +27 44 272 6721 • E-mail: info@dezeekoe.co.za • Website: www.dezeekoe.co.za
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access 8 km from Oudtshoorn, in the Klein Karoo and situated on the longest wine route - R 62
National Airways Corporation
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• Call: +2782 891-4639 (24 hours) • +2711 267-5427 (Office hours) • E-mail: charter@nac.co.za • Website: www.nac.co.za
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Contact our experienced Charter Sales team to package your next African adventure.
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Our extensive fleet of charter aircraft (average aircraft age 5 years) caters for any requirement – from lodge transfers to overborder flights into Africa. Our turboprop charter aircraft fleet consists of the Pilatus PC12; Cessna Grand Caravan; King Air 90, 200, 350; Embraer 120 and Beechcraft 1900C and D. Our jet fleet includes the Premier 1; Embraer Phenom 300, LearJet 45XR, 60; Hawker 800XP, 1000, 4000 and a Challenger 300.
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As the oldest general aviation company in South Africa, NAC not only comply to strict safety and operational regulations from the SA Civil Aviation Authority, but NAC has also passed various international audits, with approvals from not only the mining and resource sector, but also corporate institutions worldwide. Over and above our top standing with these regulatory bodies, NAC is also the only ISO9001:2008 general aviation company in South Africa.
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Peermont
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Durban. Regionally, 1time airline is the only low cost airline in South Africa to offer budget flights to regional destinations in Southern Africa. These include Zanzibar and Zambia. A flight to Kenya has also recently been added to the schedule.
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company that operates in South Africa and Botswana. Peermont has an excellent track record in the design, development, management, ownership and operation of multi-faceted integrated resorts, including hotels, casinos, convention centres, retail centres, health spas, restaurants, bars and other sport and entertainment facilities.
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• Call: +27 86 8000 • Website: www.1time.aero
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Services Guide
Johannesburg, Cape Town, George, Port Elizabeth, East London and
Peermont Hotels, Casinos and Resorts is a hospitality and gaming
Accommodation directory
1time airline currently travels to six South African destinations, including
Africa and Botswana.
• Call: +27 11 557 0557 • E-mail: info@peermont.com • Website: www.peermont.com
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Services directory
airfares and the best service – a need that is summarized in their company ethos of “More Nice, Less Price”.
Peermont Hotels, Casinos and Resorts is a hospitality and gaming company that operates in South
in the know
Since its inception, 1time airline has satisfied the public’s hunger for an airline that is focused on the lowest
Accommodation guide
Inspirations
1time
The Luxury Travel Guide
PHOTOGRAPHY
Ultimate Africa -
Guide Services
Regulars Features
Signature Life Hotels
facilities or just relax with a drink and a snack. There are smoking and non-smoking rooms to suit your style. You can find a Premier Lounge in every local and international departure terminal of all major South African
Signature Life offers the hospitality industry, particularly the owners of hotel and leisure properties, unique and profitable hospitality solutions. The goal of the group is to operate sustainable, profitable, well-developed hotels throughout Africa. All Life Hotels, Quarters Hotels Signature Safaris and Signature Hotels fall under Signature Life
leaving to 30 minutes after the last flight has left from O R Tambo, Cape
Hotels management.
Accommodation directory
airports. The lounges are open daily from one hour prior to the first flight Town, King Shaka, George, East London and Port Elizabeth airports.
contact
• Call: +27 86 124 3247 • Email: rosalynb@bidair.co.za • Website: www.bidvestlounge.co.za
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contact
Services Guide
Avoid the crowds, make a phone call in peace, surf the net, use business
Awards in 2010.
• Call: +27 31 312 6250 • E-mail: info@lifehospitality.com • Website: www.signaturelifehotels.com
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Services directory
across South Africa.
Signature Life Hotels was named Africa’s leading Innovative hospitality company by the World Travel
in the know
Premier Lounge is the business lounge service of choice for high-end business and leisure travelers
Accommodation guide
Inspirations
Bidvest Premier Lounges
The Luxury Travel Guide
PHOTOGRAPHY
Ultimate Africa -
Guide Services
Regulars Features
ThreeCitiesInternational Hotels
In 2010 alone, The Blue Train won the coveted accolade of “Africa’s Leading Luxury Train” at The World Travel Awards, and was voted “Condé Nast Traveller Reader’s Favourite Specialist Train.” The routes of The Blue Train – both scheduled and chartered – take guests through some of the most breathtaking countryside to be found anywhere in the world. Routes include Cape Town/Pretoria; Pretoria/ Durban and Pretoria/Pilanesberg.
The Three Cities Group offers specialized services in the tourism industry, managing and marketing over 30 quality tourism and leisure properties with a strong network of sales and marketing specialists working out of Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town and London. The group’s distinctively unique portfolio of properties includes city hotels, resorts, exceptional safaris and three campuses of The International Hotel School.
contact
contact
• Call: +27 12 334 8459 • E-mail: info@bluetrain.co.za • Website: www.bluetrain.co.za
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• Call: +27 31 310 3333 • E-mail: developments@threecities.co.za • Website: www.threecities.co.za
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Services Guide
in the tourism industry.
Accommodation directory
world’s unsurpassed travelling experiences.
Services directory
The Three Cities Group was formed in 1988 as a hospitality group offering specialized services
in the know
For more than 60 years, The Blue Train has enjoyed an international reputation as one of the
Accommodation guide
Inspirations
The Blue Train
The Luxury Travel Guide
PHOTOGRAPHY
Ultimate Africa -
Guide Services
Regulars Features
Reuben’s Restaurant & Bar
sourced each day. Head Chef Pasch du Plooy is a leading figure in the culinary world of the Cape Winelands, pioneering the way with his exciting mix of local Dutch and Eastern cuisine.
contact
The menu offers staunch South African favorites as well as specials that are updated daily to take advantage of the finest ingredients on the market. In the heart of the South African winelands, the restaurant boasts an excellent wine menu. Reuben’s restaurant and bar combines all the
• Call: +27 21 876 3547 • Website: www.dutcheast.co.za
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contact
Accommodation directory
ingredients for the perfect get together.
Services Guide
At Dutch East, fresh is best and the freshest available ingredients are
laid-back restaurant in Franschhoek.
• Call: +27 21 876 3772 • E-mail: reubens@mweb.co.za • Website: www.reubens.co.za
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Services directory
integrity of the main ingredient of a dish.
Chef Rueben Riffel’s passion for creating fine yet uncomplicated cuisine is celebrated at his top yet
in the know
The Dutch East restaurant in Franschhoek believes in the values of simplicity and preserving the
Accommodation guide
Inspirations
Dutch East Restaurant
The Luxury Travel Guide
PHOTOGRAPHY
Ultimate Africa -
Guide Services
Madikwe Game Lodge
Regulars Features
The Luxury Travel Guide
The privately-owned Tau Game Lodge is situated in the Madikwe Game reserve in the beautiful Great Marico
towards a commercial license and conversions and type ratings at a CAA approved training facility.
area on the far northern border of South Africa.
It also offers aerial game viewing and management opportunities as well as flights to
Boasting 27 major species of game, Madikwe is the fourth largest game reserve in the country. The perfect
celebrate special occasions. Their Alert HeliTrack service provides air support to assist in
South African luxury safari holiday destination, Tau Game Lodge offers both Big Five and bird-watching
tracing the perpetrators of rhino poaching and farm attacks. Indigo Helicopters is situated
safaris. Overlooking a vast natural waterhole, it offers an idyllic wedding as well as conference venue. Adults
in Onverwacht and offer lodge-style accommodation.
can indulge in a range of decadent treatments at the Tau Spa while children enjoy the myriad of kiddies’
contact
contact
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Services directory
• Call: +27 11 314 4350 • E-mail: taugame@mweb.co.za • Website: www.taugamelodge.co.za
in the know
• Call: 082 927 4031 • E-mail: Gerhard@indigohelicopters.co.za • Website: www.indigohelicopters.co.za
Accommodation directory
activities available.
Services Guide
Indigo Helicopters offers helicopter pilot training (CAA/0348) by PPL and CPL instructors, hour building
Accommodation guide
Inspirations
IndigoHelicopters
Ultimate Africa -
West
PHOTOGRAPHY
G uide North
Guide Services
Services directory
Accommodation directory
Services Guide
Accommodation guide
Inspirations
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PHOTOGRAPHY
A concise, grouped luxury property listing for your convenience
in the know
Features
D i r e c t ory Regulars
River Lodge
Location: 1 Sidbury Farm, Sidbury, Makana District, Port Elizabeth Tel: +2742 203 1400 E-mail: reservations@kwantu.co.za Web: www.kwantu.co.za
Location: 8 Frank Road, St Francis Bay Tel: +2742 294 1888 Email: thesands@pehotels.co.za Web: www.thesands.co.za
Location: Kariega Game Reserve, Kenton-on-Sea Tel: +2741 581 2606 E-mail: reservations@kariega.net Web: www.kariega.co.za
Location: Olivenfontein Farm, Kommadagga, Addo Elephant National Park Tel: 0800 468 357 or +2711 806 6888 E-mail: hotels@legacyhotels.co.za Web: www.legacyhotels.co.za
Tsala Treetop Lodge
Tenahead Mountain Lodge & Spa Location: Naudes Nek Pass, Rhodes Tel: +2745 971 8901 E-mail: reservations@riverhotels.co.za Web: www.riverhotels.co.za/tenahead
Location: Hunters Estate, Harkerville, Plettenberg Bay Tel: +2744 501 1111 E-mail: res@hunterhotels.com Web: www.hunterhotels.com
Moya Manzi Beach House Location: 17 Toevlugs Place , Paradise Beach, Jeffery’s Bay Tel: +2742 292 0780 E-mail: info@moyamanzi.com Web: www.moyamanzi.com
Blue Lagoon Hotel & Conference Centre
Regulars Services Guide
Location: Blue Bend Place, Beacon Bay, East London Tel: +2743 748 4821 E-mail: reservations@bluelagoonhotel.co.za Web: www.bluelagoonhotel.co.za
Mpekweni Beach Resort Location: R72 Coastal Rd, Between Port Alfred and East London Tel: +2740 676 1026 E-mail: info@mpekweni.co.za Web: www.mpekweni.com
Quarry Lake Inn
Prana Lodge
Kichaka Private Game Lodge
Location: Chintsa East. Wild Coast Tel: +2743 704 5119 E-mail: info@pranalodge.co.za Web: www.pranalodge.co.za
Location: Assegaai Bush, Grahamstown Tel: +2746 622 6024 E-mail: reservations@kichaka.co.za Web: www.kichaka.co.za
Services directory
Location: Quartzite Drive, off Pearce St, The Quarry, EL Tel: +2743 707 5400 E-mail: info@quarrylakein.co.za Web: www.quarrylakeinn.co.za
Accommodation guide
Kuzuko Lodge
Inspirations
PHOTOGRAPHY
The Sands
Accommodation directory
Eastern Cape
Kwantu Game Reserve
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in the know
accommodation
The Luxury Travel Guide
Features
Ultimate Africa -
directory Accommodation
Corporate Boutique Hotel
Location: Bethlehem Tel: +27 58 303 1673 E-mail: info@lavenderhillestate.co.za Web: www.lavenderhillestate.co.za
Location: C/O Third Ave & Brill St, Westdene
 Bloemfontein Tel: + 27 51 406 0900 E-mail: info@cbhc.co.za Web: www.cbhc.co.za
Location: 109 Henry Street, Park West, Bloemfontein Tel: +27 51 444 5075 E-mail: info@lizard.co.za Web: www.lizard.co.za
Oranje Guest Farm Location: Fouriesberg Tel: +27 58 223 0412 Email: oranjegh@mweb.co.za Web: www.oranjegasteplaas.co.za
De Stijl Gariep Hotel
Hobbit Boutique Hotel
Location: 2 Aasvoel St, Gariep Dam Tel: +27 51 754 0060 Email: info@destijl.co.za Web: www.destijl.co.za
Location: 19 President Steyn Avenue, Brandwag Bloemfontein Tel: +27 51 447 0663 E-mail: info@hobbit.co.za Web: www.hobbit.co.za
De Oude Kraal Country Estate and Spa
Wild Horses Mountain Lodge
A Summer Place Boutique Guest House
Regulars Services Guide
Location: 35km South of Bloemfontein Tel: +27 51 5640 733 E-mail: info@deoudekraal.co.za Web: www.deoudekraal.co.za
Location: Amanzi Amakhulu Estate, Sterkfontein Dam Harrismith Tel: +27 58 622 7000 E-mail: hawkinsgroup@telkomsa.net Web: www.wildhorses.co.za
Accommodation guide
Lazy Lizard Guest House
Inspirations
PHOTOGRAPHY
Lekoa Game Lodge Location: Wolfenfontein Farm, Villiers, Helibron Tel: +27 58 821 0601 E-mail: riette@lekoalodge.com Web: www.lekoalodge.com
Emoya Hotel & Spa San Rock Guest House
Location: Frans Kleynhans Drive, Groenvlei Tel: +27 51 436 8471 E-mail: info@emoya.co.za Web: www.emoya.co.za
Location: Clarens Tel: +27 83 292 3371 E-mail: janetjam@netactive.co.za Web: www.sanrock-guesthouse.com
Services directory
Location: 18 Stegmann St, Universitas, Bloemfontein Tel: +27 51 522 2412 E-mail: info@thesummerplace.co.za Web: www.thesummerplace.co.za
Accommodation directory
Free State
Lavender Hill Country Estate
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in the know
accommodation
The Luxury Travel Guide
Features
Ultimate Africa -
directory Accommodation
accommodation & Services
Soweto Hotel on Freedom Square
Idwala Guest House
Sheraton Pretoria Hotel
Location: Cnr Union Ave & Main Rd, Kliptown, Soweto Tel: +27 21 794 9050 E-mail: reservations@sowetohotel.co.za Web: www.sowetohotel.co.za
Location: 13 Garrick Rd, Darrenwood, Johannesburg Tel: +27 11 888 1437 E-mail: info@idwala.com Web: www.idwala.com
Location: 643 Corner of Church & Wessels Streets, Arcadia, Pretoria Tel: +27 12 429 9999 E-mail: pretoria@sheraton.co.za Web: www.sheratonpretoria.com
Goodnight Lodge
The Michelangelo Hotel
The Westcliff Hotel Location: 67 Jan Smuts Avenue, Westcliff, Johannesburg Tel: +27 11 481 6000 E-mail: reservations@westcliff.co.za Web: www.westcliff.co.za
Location: 153 West St, Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton Tel: +27 11 806 6888 E-mail: michelangelo@legacyhotels.com Web: www.michelangelo.co.za
Location: 13 Arterial Road, West Oriel, Bedfordview Tel: +27 11 615 8363 E-mail: res@goodnight.co.za Web: www.goodnight.co.za
Accolades Bed and Breakfast Location: 72 Dale Road, President Park, Midrand Tel: +27 11 022 3668 E-mail: accommodation@accolades.org.za Web: www.accolades.org.za
De Hoek Country Hotel
The Winston Hotel
Location: Plot 7, Zeekoehoek, Magaliesburg Tel: +27 14 577 9600 E-mail: reservations@dehoek.com Web: www.dehoek.com
Location: 6 Tottenham Avenue, Melrose Estate, Sandton Tel: +27 11 268 3140 E-mail: info@thewinstonhotel.co.za Web: www.thewinstonhotel.co.za
Regulars Services directory
Location: Malibongwe Drive Extension, Lanseria West Rand Tel: +27 11 790 8000 E-mail: shumbavalley@shumbavalley.co.za Web: www.shumbavalley.co.za
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in the know
Shumba Valley Lodge
Accommodation directory
Services Guide
Head Office: Lanseria, Johannesburg Tel: +2782 891-4639 (24 hours) Tel: +2711 267-5427 (Office hours) E-mail: charter@nac.co.za Web: www.nac.co.za
Accommodation guide
National Airways Corporation
Inspirations
PHOTOGRAPHY
Gauteng
The Luxury Travel Guide
Features
Ultimate Africa -
directory Accommodation & Services
Amakhosi Safari Lodge
Location: 2 Lighthouse Rd, Umhlanga Rocks, Durban Tel: : +27 21 794 9050 E-mail: info@oysterbox.co.za Web: www.oysterbox.co.za
Location: AmaZulu Private Game Reserve, Pongola Northern Zululand Tel: +27 34 414 1157 E-mail: info@amakhosi.com Web: www.amakhosi.com
Location: 12–14 Walnut Rd, Durban Central Tel: +27 31 336 8100 E-mail: Web: www.hilton.com/durban
Beachcomber Bay Location: 75 Marine Drive, Ramsgate, South Coast Tel: +27 39 317 4473 E-mail: info@beachcomberbay.co.za Web: www.beachcomberbay.co.za
Hartford House
Thanda Game Lodge & Tented Safari Camp
Location: Hlatikulu Rd, Mooi River, Natal Midlands Tel: +27 21 794 9050 E-mail: info@hartford.co.za Web: www.hartford.co.za
Location: Thanda Private Game Reserve, Between Hluhluwe & Mkuze Tel: +27 86 184 2632, E-mail: reservations@thanda.co.za Web: www.thanda.com
Ammazulu African Palace
Regulars Services Guide
Location: 20 Windsor Road, Kloof, Durban Tel: +27 31 764 8000 E-mail: info@ammazulupalace.com Web: www.ammazulupalace.com
The Gorge Private Game Lodge & Spa Location: Lot 14, Pengaan Farm, Oribi Gorge, South Coast Tel: +27 39 687 4000 E-mail: info@thegorge.co.za Web: www.thegorge.co.za
Upton Hall Boutique Guesthouse
Isandlwana Lodge The Vineyard on Ballito
Location: Isandlwana, Zululand Tel: +27 34 271 8301 E-mail: www.isandlwana.co.za Web: www.isandlwana.co.za
Location: 1 Ashley Road, Ballito, Dolphin Coast Tel: +27 32 946 1204 E-mail: info@vineyardonballito.co.za Web: www.vineyardonballito.co.za
Services directory
Location: 16 Eastbourne Road, Morningside, Durban Tel: +27 31 303 7987 E-mail: info@uptonhall.co.za Web: www.uptonhall.co.za
Accommodation guide
Hilton Durban Hotel
Inspirations
PHOTOGRAPHY
The Estuary Country Hotel Location: Old Main Road, Port Edward, South Coast Tel: +27 39 311 2675 E-mail: reservations@estuaryhotel.co.za Web: www.estuaryhotel.co.za
Accommodation directory
Kwa-Zulu Natal
The Oyster Box Hotel
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in the know
accommodation
The Luxury Travel Guide
Features
Ultimate Africa -
directory Accommodation
Witwater Safari Lodge and Spa
Location: R522 from Louis Trichardt to Vivo, Louis Trichardt Tel: +27 15 516 0220 E-mail: info@madiathava.com Web: www.mountainfarmlodge.com
Location: Melkrivier Road, Between Melkrivier and Vaalwater Tel: +27 14 755 4170 E-mail: enquiries@nkonkabushlodge.co.za Web: www.nkonkabushlodge.co.za
Location:Marken / Witwater Dirt Road, Naboomspruit Tel: +27 11 675 0000 E-mail: info@witwater.com Web: www.witwater.com
Regulars PHOTOGRAPHY
Nkonka Bush Lodge
Angasii Game Lodge Location: Koedoeskop Road, Northam Tel: +27 14 784 0497 E-mail: info@angasii.co.za Web: www.angasii.co.za
Makalali Private Game Lodge Location: Harmony Block, Gravelott Road, Hoedspruit Tel: +27 15 793 9300 E-mail: reservations@aha.travel Web: www.makalali.co.za
Pondoro Game Lodge
Zebula Golf Estate & Spa
Location: Balule Game Reserve, Hoedspruit District, Greater Kruger National Park Tel: +27 31 764 5049 E-mail: pondoro@mweb.co.za Web: www.pondoro.co.za
Location: Bela Bela Tel: +27 14 734 7700 E-mail: reception@zebula.co.za Web: www.zebula.co.za
Bivack Game Lodge
Mopane Bush Lodge
Zwahili Private Game Lodge
Location:Olienhout Street, Nylstroom Tel: +27 14 717 3737 E-mail: admin@nylstene.co.za Web: www.waterbergconventioncentre.co.za
Location: Modimolle / Nylstroom Tel: +27 12 653 4340 E-mail: zwahili@iafrica.com Web: www.zwahili.co.za
Services directory
Location: Matjiesfontein, Kopermyn Road, Polokwane Tel: +27 82 808 9205 E-mail: info@diellagamelodge.co.za Web: www.diellagamelodge.co.za
Waterberg Convention Centre
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Di-Ella Game Lodge
Location: R572 Musina Pontdrif Road, Mapungubwe Tel: +27 83 633 0765 E-mail: info@mopanebushlodge.co.za Web: www.mopanebushlodge.co.za
Accommodation directory
Services Guide
Location: Alldays Tel: +27 12 343 0115 E-mail: reservations@bivack.com Web: www.bivack.com
Inspirations
Limpopo
Madi a Thavha Mountain Lodge
Accommodation guide
accommodation
The Luxury Travel Guide
Features
Ultimate Africa -
directory Accommodation
Umbhaba Lodge
Location: Ohrigstad Tel: +27 (0)13 238-8900 E-mail: relax@iketla.com Web: www.iketla.com
Location: Pilgrim’s Rest Tel: +27 13 768 1241 E-mail: shebares@foreversa.co.za
 Web: www.mountsheba.co.za
Location: Hazyview Tel: +27 13 737 7636 E-mail: reservations@umbhaba.co.za Web: www.umbhaba.co.za
Regulars PHOTOGRAPHY
Mount Sheba Country Lodge
Blyde River Canyon Lodge Location:Blyde River Botanical Reserve, Panorama Route Tel: +27 15 795 5305 E-mail: canyon@worldonline.co.za Web: www.blyderivercanyon.co.za
Jock Safari Lodge Location: Halfway between Skukuza & Malelane Kruger Park Tel: +27 41 509 3000 E-mail: reservations@jocksafarilodge.com Web: www.jocksafarilodge.com
Porcupine Ridge Guest House
umSisi House
Location: 5 Vanaxe Estate, Hazyview Road, Sabie Tel: +27 (0)82 818-0277 E-mail: stay@porcupineridge.co.za Web: www.porcupineridge.co.za
Location: Portion 38 Farm, Peebles, White River Tel: + 27 82 479 9700 E-mail: amanda@umsisihouse.co.za Web: www.umsisihouse.co.za
Francolin Lodge
Komati Gorge Lodge
Walkersons Hotel and Spa
Location: Skukuza, Kruger National Park Tel: +27 11 880 9992 Email: tinga@morehotels.co.za Web: www.tingalodge.co.za
Location: Walkersons Private Estate, Dullstroom Tel: +27 13 253 7000 E-mail: reservations@walkersons.co.za Web: www.walkersons.co.za
Services directory
Location: 1 Highgrove Avenue, Kiepersol Tel: +27 13 764 1844 E-mail: house@highgrove.co.za Web: www.highgrove.co.za
Tinga Private Game Lodge
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in the know
Highgrove House Country Hotel
Location: Farm Waterval JT424, Machadodorp, Tel: +27 17 843 3920 E-mail: komatigorge@telkomsa.net Web: www.komatigorge.co.za
Accommodation directory
Services Guide
Location: 4 Du Preez St, Nelspruit Tel: +27 13 744 1251 E-mail: info@francolinlodge.co.za Web: www.francolinlodge.co.za
Inspirations
Mpumalanga
Iketla Lodge
Accommodation guide
accommodation
The Luxury Travel Guide
Features
Ultimate Africa -
directory Accommodation
Protea Hotel Mafikeng
Location: 38 Scott Street, Schoemansville, Hartbeespoort Dam Tel: +27 12 253 2532 E-mail: info@stirling-manor.com Web: www.stirling-manor.com
Location: Madikwe Game Reserve Tel: +27 11 805 9995 E-mail: reservations1@aha.travel Web: www.thakadurivercamp.com
Location:80 Nelson Mandela Drive, Mafikeng Tel: +27 18 381 0400 E-mail: res2@phmafikeng.co.za Web: http://www.proteahotels.com/protea-hotelmafikeng.html
Buffalo Ridge Safari Lodge
Impodimo Game Lodge
Location: 2Buffalo Ridge, Madikwe Game Reserve Tel: +27 11 805 9995 E-mail: reservations@buffaloridgesafari.com Web: www.buffaloridgesafari.com
Location: Madikwe Game Reserve Tel: +27 18 350 9400 E-mail: reservations@impodimo.com Web: www.impomdimo.com
Tuningi Safari Lodge
Shepherd’s Tree Game Lodge
Location: Madikwe Game Reserve Tel: +27 11 781 5384 E-mail: reservations@tuningi.co.za Web: www.tuningi.com
Location: Pilanesberg National Park Tel: +27 11 781 1661 E-mail: res@shepherdstree.co.za Web: www.shepherdstree.co.za
Regulars PHOTOGRAPHY
Thakadu River Camp
Kedar Country Hotel Location: R565, Boekenhoutfontein, Phokeng Tel: +27 11 679 2994 E-mail: reservation@kedarcountryhotel.com Web: www.kedarcountryhotel.com
Leopard Lodge Location: R560 Scheerpoort, Kosmos, Hartbeespoort Dam Tel: +27 12 207 1130 E-mail: info@leopardlodge.co.za Web: www.leopardlodge.co.za
Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge
Scott’s Manor Guest House
Services directory
Location: 42 Witstinkhout Avenue, Rustenburg Tel: +27 14 533 3783 E-mail: guest1@boschdal.co.za Web: www.boschdal.co.za
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Boschdal Guesthouse
Location: 21 Bree Street, Lichtenburg Tel: +27 18 632 0255 E-mail: scottsmanor@intekom.co.za Web: www.scottsmanor.co.za
Accommodation directory
Services Guide
Location: Pilanesberg National Park Tel: +27 21 794 9050 E-mail: kwamaritane@legacyhotels.com Web: www.kwamaritane.co.za
Inspirations
North West
Stirling Manor Boutique Guest House
Accommodation guide
accommodation
The Luxury Travel Guide
Features
Ultimate Africa -
directory Accommodation
Location:15 Piet Retief St, Sutherland Tel: +27 23 571 1115 E-mail: bookings@skitterland.co.za Web: www.skitterland.co.za
Location: 3 Boschendal Avenue, Barkley West Tel: +27 83 235 1993 E-mail: info@mattanu.com Web: www.mattanu.com
Regulars PHOTOGRAPHY
Location: 7 Lodge Street, Belgravia, Kimberley Tel: +27 53 83 22 668 Email: kimjo@absamail.co.za Web: http://www.theestate.co.za
Skitterland Guest House
Mattanu Private Game Reserve
@Belurana River Manor Location: 2 Brug St, Upington Tel: +27 54 332 4323 E-mail: belurana@mweb.co.za Web: beluranaupington.com
The Kimberley Club Location: 35 Currey Street, CBD, Kimberley Tel: +27 53 832 4224 E-mail: Linda@kimberleyclub.co.za Web: www.kimberleyclub.co.za
New Holme Karoo Guest Farm Location: 20km North of Hanover & 50km South of Colesberg Tel: +27 (0)53 643-0193 E-mail: info@karoogariep.co.za Web: www.karoogariep.co.za
Tswalu Kalahari Private Game Reserve Location: 1Kalahari Desert, Near Kuruman Tel: +27 52 781 9331 E-mail: info@tswalu.com Web: www.tswalu.com
Daisy Country Lodge
Kuilfontein Stable Cottages
Vergelegen Guest House
Location:The Kimberley Big Hole, Circular Rd, Kimberley Tel: +27 53 802 8200 E-mail: info@phkimberley.com Web: www.proteahotels.com/protea-hotel-kimberley
Location: On N14, 3km before Kakamas, Near Augrabies Falls Tel: +27 54 431 0976 E-mail: vergelegen@electronet.co.za Web: www.augrabiesfalls.co.za
Services directory
Location: 4 Airport Boulevard, Rooipad, Kakamus Tel: +27 54 451 9200 E-mail: info@dundilodge.co.za Web: www.dundilodge.co.za
Protea Hotel Kimberley
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Dundi Lodge
Location: Route N1, Colesberg Tel: +27 51 753 1364 E-mail: info@kuilfontein.co.za Web: www.colesbergtourism.co.za
Accommodation directory
Services Guide
Location: 25 Blesjesfontein, Springbok Tel: +27 27 712 3335/7 E-mail: info@daisylodge.co.za Web: www.daisylodge.co.za
Inspirations
Northern Cape
The Estate Private Hotel
Accommodation guide
accommodation
The Luxury Travel Guide
Features
Ultimate Africa -
directory Accommodation
Romney Park Hotel
Location: 180 Kloof Rd, Bantry Bay Tel: +2721 430 3200 E-mail: info@ellerman.co.za Web: www.ellerman.co.za
Location: 7 Bob Bouwer Crescent, Bayview, Mossel Bay Tel: +27 44 695 1846 E-mail: info@africanoceans.co.za Web: www.africanoceans.co.za
Location: Cnr Hill/Romney Rd, Greenpoint, Cape Town Tel: +27 21 439 4555 E-mail: info@romneypark.co.za Web: www.romneypark.co.za
Location: Pakhuis Pass Road, Clanwilliam Tel: +2727 482 8200 E-mail: lodge@bushmanskloof.co.za Web: www.bushmanskloof.co.za
Ivory Heights Boutique Guest House
Lodge on the Lake Location: 746 North St, Wilderness Tel: +2744 877 1097 E-mail: info@lodgeonthelake.co.za Web: www.accommodation-wilderness.com
Location: 17 Louis Botha Avenue, Somerset West Greater Cape Town Tel: +27 21 852 8333 E-mail: info@ivoryheights.co.za Web: www.ivoryheights.co.za
Bellavista Country Place Location: Stanford Tel: +27 82 901 76 50 E-mail: Bellavista@hermanus.co.za Web: www.bella.co.za
Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
Regulars Services Guide
Location: Montagu, Breede River Valley Tel: +2741 509 3000 E-mail: reservations@sanbona.com Web: www.sanbona.com
Asara Wine Estate & Hotel Location: Polkadraai Rd, Stellenbosch Tel: +27 21 888 8000 E-mail: info@asara.co.za Web: www.asara.co.za
Steenberg Hotel
Altes Landhaus Country House
The Robertson Small Hotel
Location: Oudtshoorn, Klein Karro Tel: +2744 272-6112 E-mail: altes.landhaus@pixie.co.za Web: www.alteslandhaus.co.za
Location: 58 Van Reenen St, Robertson Tel: +27 23 626 7200 E-mail: info@therobertsonsmallhotel.com Web: www.therobertsonsmallhotel.com
Services directory
Location: 10802 Steenberg Estate, Tokai Rd, Constantia Tel: +2721 713 2222 E-mail:info@steenberghotel.com Web: www.steenberghotel.com
Accommodation guide
Bushman’s Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Retreat
Inspirations
PHOTOGRAPHY
African Oceans Manor on the Beach
Accommodation directory
Western Cape
Ellerman House Hotel
84
85
in the know
accommodation
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Features
Ultimate Africa -
directory Accommodation
Bus
Greyhound (+27 83 915 9000), InterCape (+27 21 380 4400) and Translux (+27 861 589 282) are the three main bus services in South Africa. All flights and bus tickets can be booked via Computicket at www.computicket.com or by calling +27 83 915 8000.
Trains
For budget trips across the country, Shosholoza Meyl is the best service available. Book online at www.shosholozameyl.co.za and enquiries can be directed to +27 86 000 8888. If you decide to splurge, though, there are three outstanding options. The famous Blue Train (+27 12 334 8459), Rovos Rail (+27 12 315 8242) and Premier Classe (+27 86 000 8888) are luxurious liners with all the bells and whistles.
Cars
Most of the main car rental companies have outlets at the international airports and in major centres. In South Africa, we drive on the left side of the road. The general speed limits are 120 km/h on the freeways, 100 km/h on major roads outside built-up areas and 60 km/h in built-up areas. Foreign members of the Automobile Association (AA) can register as a temporary member in South Africa at any local AA branch. For more information, phone +27 83 843 2222.
Europcar
+27 21 935 8600
+27 11 394 8831
Hertz Car Hire
+27 21 935 3000
+27 11 390 9700
Tempest Car Hire
+27 21 935 8650
+27 11 578 0160
04
Foreign Embassies and Consuates
in South Africa
USA +27 12 431 4000 Canada +27 12 422 3000 UK +27 12 421 7500 Germany +27 12 427 8900 Netherlands +27 12 425 4500 Japan +27 12 452 1500 China +27 12 342 4194 Australia +27 12 423 6000 New Zealand +27 12 435 9000
| www.southafrica.usembassy.gov | www.canada.co.za
| www.pretoria.diplo.de | www.dutchembassy.co.za | www.za.emb-japan.go.jp | www.chinese-embassy.org.za | www.australia.co.za | www.nzembassy.com
02Useful Numbers Police
10111
Ambulance/Fire
10177
Travel Clinic
+27 21 419 3172 (Cape Town) +27 11 647 3654 (Johannesburg)
86
Travel Vaccine Helpline
+27 860 160 160
National Info & Safety Line
+27 83 123 2345
Airport Information (ACSA
+27 86 727 7888
Weatherlin
082 162
Time
1026
Enquiries Local numbers
1023 or 10118
Enquiries International no.
10903
Tourist Info
+27 83 123 6789
87
Regulars Features
+27 11 230 1200
Inspirations
There are several domestic airlines in South Africa, including South African Airways, South African Express, Interlink, Airlink and British Airways. Low-cost carriers include: 1time, Kulula and Mango.
+27 861 021 111
+27 21 380 3140
A Note for Smokers South Africa became one of the first countries in the world to ban smoking in public places in 2000 when it introduced its Tobacco Products Control Amendment Act. The Act prohibits smoking in restaurants, pubs, shopping centres and offices where there are no separate, enclosed smoking rooms. Smoking in partially enclosed public places such as covered patios, verandas, balconies, walkways and parking areas is also prohibited. Children under the age of 18 are prohibited from entering designated smoking areas and purchasing cigarettes. There are stiff penalties associated with anti-smoking legislation in South Africa, including hefty fines for both the smoker and venue operator. Be aware that smoking is banned on all domestic flights in South Africa. Keep a look out for ‘no smoking’ signs and only smoke in designated smoking areas.
Accommodation guide
Air
+27 21 934 0330
Budget Rent-a-Car
Services Guide
• Do not to walk alone at night. • Do not flaunt your possessions when you are out in public. • Only allow clearly uniformed guards and personnel to handle your possessions. • Be aware of what is happening around you. • If anything should happen do not hesitate to phone the police.
03Travel Options
Avis Car Rental
Accommodation directory
02Safety
JOHANNESBURG CENTRE
Services directory
S
ince most of the activities in South Africa happen outdoors, sunburn is a potential health hazard. Cover up and use sun screen lotion whenever you are outside. Malaria risk areas include Northern KZN and Zululand, the Northern Province and Mpumalanga. The risk of contraction in South Africa is minimal when the proper precautions are taken. These include taking malaria tablets, using insect repellent and mosquito coils, and wearing long sleeved clothing. Tap water in most areas is safe to drink, but be sure to double check with your hosts first. One of the biggest health risks in South Africa is HIV and Aids. If you plan to be sexually active during your stay in South Africa, be sure to take necessary precautions. Check out www.redribbon.co.za for more information. Visit www.brillianttan.co.za for a safer way to obtain that holiday tan.
CAPE TOWN CENTRE
in the know
01Healthsunburn is a potential health hazard
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