Indwe Magazine April 2015

1INDWE
INDWE YOUR FREE COPYApril 2015
Wild About Hoedspruit
BLOEMFONTEINCAPETOWNDURBANEASTLONDONGABORONEHOEDSPRUITJOHANNESBURGPILANESBERG
GEORGEKIMBERLEYLUBUMBASHILUSAKAWINDHOEKPORTELIZABETHRICHARDSBAYWALVISBAYHARARE

CEO Letter
12
We Fly For You: Our Visions and Values
North West is Coming On Board: SA Express Fleet
115
127
Flight Schedule
Safety and Route Map
130
128
Passenger Letters
134
10 INDWE
contents
Is This the Future Face of SA Fashion?
The Boys of Soweto
46
Keep Your Kitchen in Check
Turn the Tables and Eat Healthier
99
Features
Airline Content
Cooked in Cape Town
Where to Munch in the Mother City
27
Hipster Health
2015’s Biggest Wellbeing Trends
83
APRIL
2015
Cover Image:
©iStockphoto.com
On the Cover
It’s not easy to
find a luxurious,
private Big Five
experience in the
Lowveld that’s
still affordable, but
Justin Fox manages
to sniff out four
good options a
stone’s throw from
Hoedspruit.
27
75

12
Regulars
14
contents
INDWE
Gadgets
Must Haves for Technophiles
Bits & Pieces
Travel Tips & Gorgeous Goodies
20
Travel
Events
North, South, and In Between
Bites
Restaurants & Taste Experiences
Books
New releases and Must Reads
The Bush on a Budget
Hoedspruit’s Safari Gems
24
122
124
35
An Out of Town Timeout
Countryside Hospitality
52
Take the Tour
BMW 2-Series Active Tourer
89
Motoring
Peugeot 308 on Point
Strong Challenge from 2014 European Car of the Year
102
75
69
66
61
Home of the Royal Crocodile
Shiwa Ng’andu
Old Four Legs
East London’s Coelacanth
Luxury in the Heart of the Winelands
Grande Roche Hotel
Dashing Durban
One of the Must Visit Places of 2015
Business
92
Time to Tap Tourism
Making the Most of SA’s Potential
Leveraging Load Shedding
Eskom’s Failures May be Entrepreneurs’ Gain
95
107
Remote Control
The How To’s of Working Out of Ofﬁce

14 INDWE
ceo SA EXPRESS
Communications and PR Officer
Lerato Ramango
Tel: +27 11 978 3854
Email: lramango@flyexpress.aero
Customer Care Department
Tel: 0861 729 227
Email: customercare@flyexpress.aero
Twitter: @flySAexpress
Facebook: SA Express Airways
Reservations Support
Tel: +27 11 978 9905
Email: groupsales@flyexpress.aero
Group Reservations
Tel: +27 11 978 5578
Email: reservationslist@flyexpress.aero
Sales Office
Email: sales@flyexpress.aero
INDWE
Images
© iStockphoto.com & Quickpic
General Manager and Associate Publisher
Letlhogonolo Sealetsa | nolo@tjtmedia.co.za
Publisher
Bernard Hellberg | bernard@tjtmedia.co.za
Marketing and Communications Manager
Pam Komani | pam@tjtmedia.co.za
Editor
Nicky Furniss | nicky@tcbmedia.co.za
Senior Designer
Lindsey Steenkamp | design@tcbmedia.co.za
DIRECTORS
Bernard Hellberg l bernard@tjtmedia.co.za
Obed Sealetsa | nolo@tjtmedia.co.za
Pam Komani | pam@tjtmedia.co.za
ADVERTISING SALES
Tel: +27 12 425 5800
National Sales Manager
Bryan Kayavhu | bryan@tcbmedia.co.za
+27 83 785 6691
Manager: National Sales &
Business Development
Chantal Barton | chantal@tcbmedia.co.za
+27 83 459 3086
Senior Account Managers
Nikki de Lange | nikki@tcbmedia.co.za
+27 83 415 0339
Calvin van Vuuren | calvin@tcbmedia.co.za
+27 82 5826873
Gertjie Meintjes | gertjie@tcbmedia.co.za
+27 82 757 2622
André Scharneck | andre@tcbmedia.co.za
+27 72 739 8855
Noel Sands | noel@tcbmedia.co.za
+27 74 428 7604
DISCLAIMER: All material is strictly
copyrighted. All rights are reserved. Reproduction
in whole or part is prohibited without prior
permission from the publisher. Opinions expressed
in Indwe Magazine are not necessarily those of
SA Express.
Freedoms of the African Skies
This April is important for SA Express as
we will be celebrating our 21st
year of existence
and of offering consistently safe travel. April
is also the start of the financial year, and we
are determined as ever that this new 2015-’16
financial year is one of performance, reliability
and continued safe operations.
We begin this month on a positive note as
we go full steam ahead with our “trajectory for
growth” plan for all SA Express staff. SA Express
continues to receive Government’s support, and
its confidence in the role that the airline plays
in ensuring seamless connectivity to secondary
markets is key, in addition to the role we fulfil
as a catalyst in growing rural tourism. Key
partnerships include various top tier lodges in
the Hoedspruit area near the Kruger National
Park. Our Johannesburg to Hoedspruit and Cape
Town to Hoedspruit operations have positively
contributed to occupancy rates in the area.
The airline will continue to seek such mutually
beneficial relationships with partners throughout
South Africa and the region.
In the new financial year, we are proceeding
cautiously and responsibly with our growth
ambitions. Key to our success is you – your
flying experience and safety are our key
priority. We will spare no effort to make your
experience as pleasant and memorable as
possible. We are continuously reviewing our
current network and adding new routes where
there is demand. We aim to improve efficiency
measures to enable us to provide continued
service excellence to you, our customers.
With effect in April 2015, we are launching new
routes and will begin flying to Pilanesberg and
Mafikeng airports. SA Express will operate three
weekly flights between OR Tambo International
Airport and Pilanesberg and Mafikeng airports
respectively. In addition, we will simultaneously
be launching two flights between Pilanesberg and
Cape Town. This is indeed a significant milestone
for us as an airline. These linkages between
secondary markets and the three main hubs of
Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town are aligned
with our strategy of making air travel accessible
to as many South Africans as possible. These new
routes are an integral part of our growth strategy.
To the North West Province: “le amogetswe”,
which in Setswana means “welcome”.
April has deep historical significance for South
Africa, as it also marks 21 years of democracy.
We can reflect on the importance of our
Constitution and Bill of Rights, and the
institutions
and freedoms
that come from
these founding
documents. Our
children are
growing up in
an environment
where Apartheid
is increasingly becoming a distant memory
thanks to the many transformative measures that
are being implemented by our Government. We
need to teach our children to value and cherish
these gains. And, as parents, we need to jealously
guard these important achievements and do all
we can to ensure that our country never slides
back to its painful past.
April also brings along with it various
holidays, such as Easter, which is a Christian
holiday that brings families together to celebrate
the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is
also a time where schools take a two to three week
break, which often leaves children at a loss of
what to do with themselves. SA Express can help
to take you and your children to exciting family
orientated holidays on any of our national and
regional flight destinations.
We pride ourselves on giving you a unique
experience on board our flights with a variety
of meals or snacks on all flights. You can expect
a comfortable, quality air travel experience,
with the added benefits of frequency and
excellence as we consistently strive to provide
you with the best service.
Make sure you book your flights to your
favourite Easter holiday destinations with us either
by calling reservations on +27 11 978 1111 or going
online to www.flyexpress.aero.
Interesting April trivia: April starts on the same
day of the week as July in all years, and January in
leap years. April also ends on the same day of the
week as December every year.
Make sure you follow SA Express on our
various social media platforms to find out about
what’s happening in the company and to see all of
our specials and promotions in the month of April.
Sincerely,
Inati Ntshanga
www.facebook.com/FlySAExpress
www.twitter.com/flySAExpress
www.instagram.com/flysaexpress
Insta

16 INDWE
EventsNorth
17th
April – 3rd
May
Swan Lake, Joburg Theatre, Johannesburg
Swan Lake is set to return to the stage of South Africa’s premier
theatre in April and May after an absence of several years.Showcasing
the big, bold athleticism and dynamic New World brilliance that
have become hallmarks of Joburg Ballet’s classical style, Swan
Lake features an array of leading dancers in the principal roles,
including Viengsay Valdés, prima ballerina of the National Ballet of
Cuba, Brooklyn Mack, a star of The Washington Ballet in Washington
DC, and South African prima ballerina Burnise Silvius. Joburg Ballet
blends Cuban ballet bravura and South African ballet classicism and
has been changing the face of ballet in South Africa, invigorating
what was once the Old World restraint that marked the European
and Russian ballet tradition by imparting breathtaking speed
and expansive movement, all of which will breathe new life into
Swan Lake this season. For tickets, phone 0861 670 670 or visit
www.joburgtheatre.com.
On Pointe

18 INDWE
Franschhoek Wedding Showcase, Franschhoek
Franschhoek is the perfect setting to celebrate the most memorable day
of your life. Exquisite views, world class venues, fine dining and award-
winning wines complete the package for this special day. A sneak peek
of what you can expect will be on offer at the inaugural Franschhoek
Wedding Showcase in April. A selection of wedding suppliers will be
pulling out all the stops, including venues, dresses, cakes, stationery,
music, DJ’s, photographers and wineries.An added attraction to the event
will be the launch of Franschhoek’s online wedding registry. This allows
brides and grooms to select wedding gifts from Franschhoek’s specialist
shops and wineries. Tickets are available from www.webtickets.co.za or
on the day at Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa. For more information, email
office@franschhoek.org.za.www.franschhoek.org.za.
For Winelands Weddings
25th
to 27th
April
SA Cheese Festival, Sandringham, Cape Town
When the versatility of cheese is paired with innovative ideas, you
are guaranteed an extraordinary experience that will keep your
taste buds tingling! The increasingly popular SA Cheese Festival
offers the widest variety of cheese in the country, as well as exciting
new products, cooking demonstrations, live entertainment, famous
personalities, and hours of fun for the whole family. Tickets are
available at any Computicket outlet, Shoprite or Checkers store at
R130 per day.For more information phone +27 21 975 4440 or email
cheese@agriexpo.co.za.www.cheesefestival.co.za
Say Cheese!
EventsSouth
17th
& 18th
April
Bot River Barrels & Beards, Overberg
Delight in a weekend filled with bold wines, raging beards and genuine
hospitality when the wine community of Bot River in the Overberg
celebrates their harvest with a trio of unique events. Your expedition
into the laager of this winemaking clan kicks off with a laid-back sunset
session on the stoep of the legendary Bot River Hotel on the Friday evening.
On the Saturday, serious wine lovers and cellar buffs can attend a Best
of Bot River Tasting at Luddite Wines, followed by the ever-popular Bot
River Barrels & Beards post-harvest celebration when the winemakers’
self-imposed shaving ban (which starts on 1st
February) ends on a high
and hairy note on the Saturday evening. At this annual celebration
of good food and wine, the winemakers flaunt their wacky whiskers
during an amusing “beard parade”, when the boldest beard in Bot River
is crowned by the judges – who take their job very seriously. For more
information, email nicolene@botriverwines.co.za or call +27 82 852 6547.
www.botriverwines.com
Furry Fun
APR
18th

20 INDWE
Full Steam Ahead
Stars of Sandstone Steam Heritage Festival, Ficksburg
Steam enthusiasts from across the globe will once again gather at Sandstone Estates near Ficksburg in the Eastern Free State to enjoy the steam-
driven vehicles and machines that have been restored to pristine condition in honour of transportation from days gone by. Military vehicles,
old tractors,steam lorries,traction engines,locomotives,old buses and cars will again be taking centre stage,with the backdrop of the majestic
Maloti Mountains of the Lesotho Highlands in the distance. Sandstone’s world-renowned 26 km narrow gauge railway forms the backbone of
this spectacular event,and the distinctive autumn light will provide a breathtaking backdrop ideal for photo opportunities of this vast vintage
collection.Old tractors and other agricultural relics in mint condition will also be exhibited at the 2015 festival.www.sandstone-estates.com
EventsInBetween
April
02nd
–12th
Easter Celebrations
25th
to 27th
April
The Durban Passion Play, The Playhouse, Durban
The Durban Catholic Players’ Guild will present the 14th
Durban Passion Play at
the Playhouse DramaTheatre in April.The Passion Play strives to restore the true
meaning of Easter.It is an epic scale dramatic production depicting Jesus’passion,
covering the final period of his life from his visit to Jerusalem to his execution,
and is performed by a large cast who volunteer their time and skills as part of
their Lenten preparations.The play involves seven months of commitment from
a 150-plus cast who receive no remuneration.The first Passion Play in Durban
was performed in 1952, when the mayor and community of Oberammergau in
Bavaria granted special permission to the Durban Catholic Players’Guild to stage
an abridged version of their world famous Passion Play which was first enacted
in 1634.The play is now staged in Durban every five years.Tickets are available
from Computicket. www.computicket.com.

22 INDWE
Bits&Pieces
City Sightseeing Johannesburg, the company that operates the
iconic red double decker, open top bus tours through the streets
of Joburg, has recently partnered with dynamic entrepreneur Bheki
Dube, dubbed Maboneng’s “Minister of Tourism”, to add an exciting
new extension to their existing Red City Tour that offers sightseers
a personal tour of Maboneng’s hot spots. Maboneng means “Place
of Light” and is a privately developed urban neighbourhood with
a thriving community. It is home to artists, restaurants and coffee
shops, cinemas, a community park and residential apartments.
Tour goers will now be able to connect to this vibrant area by
hopping onto the shuttle at the City Sightseeing Carlton Centre
Stop. Visitors will then be delivered to the departure point for
the Discover Maboneng Walking Tour. Each day this walking tour
has a different focus – Thursday’s offering is an architectural tour,
Friday’s tour visits hidden gems and Saturday offers a public art walk.
WWW.CITYSIGHTSEEING.CO.ZA/JOBURG
The Moroccanoil Hydration Collection is the perfect way to condition your hair this
Autumn. Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo and Moroccanoil Hydrating Conditioner
are perfect for all hair types, and gently cleanse the hair and scalp while delivering
deep moisture and hydration to repair and smooth damaged strands, so that your
hair looks and feels healthier, with increased elasticity. The collection also includes
a travel-sized bottle of Moroccanoil Weightless Hydrating Mask. This creamy, yet
lightweight deep-conditioning hair mask is rich in argan oil and nourishing ingredients
which hydrate and condition while dramatically improving hair’s texture, elasticity,
shine and manageability. The Hydration Collection is available for a recommended
retail price of R600 from reputable salons countrywide. WWW.MOROCCANOIL.COM
Classical Conditioning
Even More
of Joburg
Take a Hike
Discover the beauty of the Slanghoek Wine Valley Mountains while
hiking along the Jason’s Hill Hiking Route. Breathtaking scenery,
babbling brooks, majestic waterfalls and a host of exciting wildlife
creates the ultimate hiking experience. The 6.5 km trail offers
exquisite views of the valley, with an abundance of fauna and ﬂora
to admire along the route. The trail takes between three and four
hours and costs R25 per person. Hikers can depart from the Jason’s
Hill Private Cellar between 08h00 and 11h00 (Monday to Friday) or
between 10h00 and 11h00 on a Saturday. Hikers are provided with
a list of bird species to be found in the area, as well as pictures of
the birds to make identiﬁcation easier, especially for tourists who
are not familiar with the wildlife in the area. For more information,
email info@jasonshill.co.za.

24 INDWE
Bits&Pieces
Avondale, one of the leading proponents of biodynamic winemaking in South Africa,
are releasing their new 2007 Samsara Syrah at a particularly propitious time. The
name “Samsara” comes from the Sanskrit word meaning “to flow on” through the
endless cycle of life, and as the soil recovers from the rigours of the harvest, and
prepares – through the winter months – for the rebirth of Spring, it is a fitting time
to recognise and celebrate its reincarnation with a new vintage of one of South
Africa’s finest and most individual wines. The 2007 Samsara Syrah is an elegant wine
which focuses on refined flavours that develop over time. Sixteen different blocks of
organic grapes were used, each handled in a way specific to the soil, aspect and age
of the vines, and the wine was then aged in small French oak barrels for between
12 and 16 months. Samsara 2007 is available from the farm at R335 per bottle.
WWW.AVONDALEWINE.CO.ZA
Let the
Wine Flow
Angelic
Adornment
The Browns Guardian Angel Collection has been inspired by the miracles that happen
all around us every day. Our guardian angels are assigned to guide and protect us
as we journey through life. They keep us from danger and bring hope and comfort
in times of grief and sorrow. Sometimes these angels are unseen and at other times
they come to us as kindly strangers, dear friends or even our most loved ones. Set
in yellow, white and rose gold, the Guardian Angel necklaces can also be encrusted
with diamonds. WWW.BROWNSJEWELLERS.COM
The Durbanville Hills Restaurant has transformed its popular tasting menu to include
some favourites to match Autumn’s shorter days. Situated a mere 20 minutes from Cape
Town’s city centre, the restaurant overlooks a splendour of rolling hills, vineyards
and the unmatched vista of Table Mountain, Table Bay and Robben Island. Each of
the five courses is paired with a range of Durbanville Hills, Rhinofields and single-
vineyard wines. Starting with an amuse bouche, the prawn ceviche and smoked duck
breast or a butternut and cumin soufflé are followed by a choice of the grilled venison
loin skewer or grilled fish of the day, ending with spiced orange crème caramel. The
pairing costs R350 per person, and is available for lunch from Tuesday to Sunday
and as dinner on Thursdays and Saturdays. For more information or to book email
info@durbanvillehills.co.za.
Tastes of Autumn

26 INDWE
bites
Excellent news for those with a passion and appreciation for the finer things
in life: Now you can explore, own and savour a wealth of outstanding wines
and spirits through www.vinoteque.co.za – an online shopping experience as
rewarding as the brands it houses. Its carefully selected portfolio includes some
of South Africa’s most distinctive wines, as well as award-winning local and
international whiskies, brandies and cognac. Interested buyers can purchase
their selections immediately from the collection for delivery directly to their
door or, where appropriate, cellar their purchases at the Bergkelder Vinoteque
Wine Bank until they are ready to enjoy them. Vinotèque’s premium brands
include Allesverloren, Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky, Bisquit, Black Bottle,
Bunnahabhain, Durbanville Hills, Fleur du Cap, Neethlingshof, Plaisir de Merle,
Pongrácz, Scottish Leader, Stellenzicht Uitkyk, Van Ryn’s and Zonnebloem.
WWW.VINOTEQUE.CO.ZA
Here’s to Amarula-style spoiling with a cherry on top! Take South Africa’s favourite cream
liqueur, a splash of Nachtmusik chocolate indulgence and finish off with whipped cream.
What’s not to love?
Ingredients
¼ shot (6.25 ml) Nachtmusik
½ shot (12.5 ml) Amarula Cream
¼ shot whipped cream
Sliced Maraschino cherry to garnish
Gently layer the shooter by tilting the glass and pouring the liquids slowly down the inside
edge, or use the back of a teaspoon to pour liquids for even layers. Start with Nachtmusik,
follow with Amarula Cream and top with whipped cream. Garnish with a cherry.
Cocktail Cupcakes
Click, Click, Clink
If you’re looking for a restaurant that offers cuisine with bold
flavours, a chic atmosphere, and panoramic views of the beautiful
Mother City, then look no further than ON19, located on the
19th
floor of The Westin Cape Town. The ON19 menu boasts a
variety of dishes for every palate, ranging from ramen cuisine,
salads, seafood and meat to authentically South African “Bo-
Kaap” chicken curry. ON19’s latest special offer includes a two
course meal for approximately R260 and a three course meal for
approximately R300. For reservations, contact +27 21 412 9999.
WWW.ON19RESTAURANT.CO.ZA
Dinner With a View

29INDWE
Cooked
in the Cape
George Jardine

30 INDWE
The Farm-to-Table Enthusiast
Bruce von Pressentin
Bruce Von Pressentin is head chef at Longridge
Restaurant (www.longridge.co.za), on a wine estate
which prides itself on its organic vegetable garden.
“We do unpretentious fine-dining and we aim to be
organic by incorporating our edible garden as much as
possible, growing our own vegetables and herbs, and
even some fruit. The garden isn’t just about aesthetics
– it makes us more sustainable, and adds freshness to
the food.
“I’m a big fan of George Jardine, the award-
winning chef at Jordan (www.jordanwines.com).
His food is all about the freshness and quality of the
ingredients, as well as using simple combinations to
create masterful flavours. Babel (babylonstoren.com)
is the groundbreaker in the farm-to-table movement.
Our gardeners learnt from the fruit and vegetable
garden there. They do incredible salad combinations,
based on colours, and their sourcing of meat is also
impeccable. Directly across from us is Sweetwell Farm
(www.sweetwell.co.za), where I source our pork which
they rear with care on their farm. They also have a
lovely restaurant with garden-grown vegetables.”
The Hipster-Magnet
Lyndall Maunder
On Bree Street, tattooed lady chef Lyndall Maunder
heads up Clarke’s Bar & Dining Room
(www.clarkesdining.co.za), which takes hipster heaven
to the next level. Known for its hangover-blitzing
breakfasts, Clarke’s is about seriously tasty food with
the vibe of a neighbourhood local, but bang in the
centre of the city.
“We’re essentially an American diner made good.
America is like the whole world of food, but a bastard
version. I don’t like junk food, but burgers and fried
chicken can be done properly, and I’d like to think
we get that right here. We do a much-loved ‘All Day
Breakfast’ menu, and at night we serve hard liquor, so
there’s a permanent buzz.
“For flavoursome food and good atmosphere,
Dias Tavern (+27 21 465 7547) is an eternal favourite
with real Portuguese food and a boisterous crowd. In
Where to Munch in the Mother City
Taste of Cape Town returns to the Mother City this month (10th
to 12th
April), so
we asked seven local chefs what makes their restaurants tick, and where we can
sink our teeth into a decent meal.
Text: Keith Bain
Images © Supplied
Longridge Restaurant Clarke’s Bar & Dining Room

32 INDWE
Tamboerskloof, Hallelujah
(www.hallelujahhallelujah.co.za) is owned by Adam
Whiteman, who has a flawless eye for detail. The
style of food – experimental Asian – is pretty much
everything I love in a nutshell, plus they serve craft
beers and Cape bubbly.
“Something really special is Oep ve Koep
(+27 22 752 2105) in Paternoster – the chef
experiments with foraged ingredients, including
things you’ve never heard of. Lots of wild, raw stuff
from the shoreline, and true farm produce.”
The Comfort Food Enthusiast
Natasha Wray
Natasha Wray is head chef at 96 Winery Road
(www.96wineryroad.co.za), a Winelands stalwart
with unfussy, delicious food alongside a formidable
selection of wines.
“We’re a home-from-home place where you chill
with friends and family and hopefully feel utterly
relaxed. We do comfort food. Real food. Nothing
fancy, but super-yummy, we hope. Ingredients
inspire us, and we use what’s local and in season.
Some long-serving favourites include our succulent
96 Beef Burger (topped with brie and sautéed black
mushrooms), and our dry-aged steaks.
“I’m a mom, so my two youngsters determine
where we eat out, but we are spoilt for choice in the
Winelands. A favourite is The Millhouse Kitchen
at Lourensford (www.lourensford.co.za) with its
local neighbourhood vibe and scrumptious wood-
fired pizzas, pork belly, and springbok loin. Mont
Marie (www.montmarie.co.za) is super-casual and
does special options for children. At Vergelegen,
there’s Stables (www.vergelegen.co.za), a super
contemporary bistro.”
The World Traveller
Jacques Erasmus
Erasmus is the owner and head chef at Hemelhuijs
(www.hemelhuijs.co.za), where the dramatic décor changes
every few months, and the menu is always evolving.
“I’ve been cooking since I was five years old with
my grandmother. I’ve always loved eating well and
trying new things in the kitchen. I don’t do a specific
kind of cuisine. I draw from everywhere. It’s classic
food with influences from my travels all over the world
– whether it’s Japan or Cambodia.
“When I eat out I prefer simple food – all I want is
a seriously good meal, very simple, very flavourful. For
Japanese food, Nobu (www. noburestaurants.com) is
unbeatable – there are certain things that you only get
there. Dynasty Chinese Restaurant (+27 21 434 0065)
in Sea Point is definitely not fancy, but makes the best
Szechuan cashew chicken in the world.”
The Latin Spirit: Riana Robertson
Riana Robertson is the chef at Cosecha
(www.cosecharestaurant.com), a Latin-inspired
restaurant serving dishes from Mexico and California.
It’s at Noble Hill, a wine estate in Klapmuts, roughly
midway between Paarl and Franschhoek.
“Cosecha means ‘harvest’ in Spanish, and we try
to stay true and authentic to the region that inspires
us. So we do corn tortillas filled with beer-battered
kingklip and serve Huevos Rancheros. But we
experiment regularly in the kitchen, coming up with
things like char-grilled coffee-cocoa pork ribs. A big
Hemelhuijs Cosecha

34 INDWE
hit is our guacamole, which is prepared fresh at the
table. At Taste of Cape Town, we’ll be serving our
fish tacos, our lamb barbacoa with green rice, and our
chicken enchiladas with tomatillo sauce.
“One of my favourite dining destinations is Spice
Route (www.spicerouterestaurant.co.za) just outside
Paarl. Chef Bertus Basson has a spot there where he
does all kinds of old family recipes, like ‘Ouma Jossie’s
baked tongue with slaphakskeentjies and organic
beetroot’. I love LUST Bistro & Bakery
(www.lustbistro.com) at Vrede & Lust. You feel so at
home there and the views are gorgeous. Latin American
restaurants have taken off in Cape Town. Keenwä
(www.keenwa.co.za) is a Peruvian restaurant doing
home style quinoa dishes. On Bree Street, Orinoco
(www.orinocoflavours.co.za) serves South American
food that’s found nowhere else in the country.”
The Magician: George Jardine
Edinburgh-born George Jardine heads up Jordan
Restaurant (+27 21 881 3612), overlooking a lake and
terraced valley on a pretty wine estate just outside
Stellenbosch. Adjoining this is Jardine’s latest venture,
The Bakery @ Jordan, serving artisan breads, pastries,
breakfasts, and light lunches.
“I’m inspired foremost by the ingredients – the
fresher, the better. At The Bakery, we’re all about
simple dining, and I change the menu all the time.
Jordan Restaurant has its own charcuterie, so we use
meat from there for our platters with local cheeses, and
there are child-friendly meals, too
“Great food needn’t be fancy. Try Mzoli’s in
Gugulethu on a Sunday and your mind will be blown.
Hundreds of people turn up to socialise and party
while they tuck into meat braaied for them by hard-
working chefs. The Belgian beer and bone marrow
at Den Anker (www.denanker.co.za) at the V&A
Waterfront is always a good call, as is fish and chips
from The Salty Sea Dog (www.saltyseadog.co.za) in
Simon’s Town. The pizza at Buratta
(www.burrata.co.za) is stand-out.”
The Avant-Gardist
Luke Dale-Roberts
Dale-Roberts, owner and head chef at The Test
Kitchen (www.thetestkitchen.co.za) in Woodstock,
is considered by many to be the country’s most
interesting chef.
“Two keys ingredients that should underscore
any dining experience are localism and provenance.
Produce should be locally sourced, and care should be
taken in knowing where ingredients come from. It’s
a great adventure cooking here, because there is no
particular food style that’s intrinsic to South Africa. It
means that all chefs are free to experiment and set their
own trends. This might explain the diversity in Cape
Town’s culinary scene. A recent experiment at The Test
Kitchen is steaming langoustine in an oven bag with
sea water, ginger and lemongrass. This is done via a
Bunsen burner and a flask with a tube leading into the
oven bag. So it even looks like an experiment.
“A current favourite place to eat out in Cape Town
is Carne (www.carne-sa.com) in Constantia, where it’s
all about meat, meat, meat. I have a thing for Asian
cuisine, so I do love Downtown Ramen (+27 21 461
0407), the first noodle bar of its kind in Cape Town.
And the original Haiku (www.bukhara.com), in the
city centre, is an old favourite.”
Luke Dale-Roberst

37INDWE
on a Budget
The Bush
These days, top-end private lodges in the Kruger Park region are charging in excess
of R14,000 per person per night. It’s not easy to find a luxurious, private Big Five
experience in the Lowveld that’s still affordable, but Justin Fox manages to sniff out
four good options a stone’s throw from Hoedspruit.
Text & Images ©: Justin Fox
Hoedspruit’s Safari Gems

38 INDWE
MY SA Express flight, direct from Cape Town,
landed at Hoedspruit’s Eastgate Airport and I stepped
off the plane into a duvet of early summer heat. The
first rains had fallen and everywhere the bush showed
green flushes. It was a time of thunderhead skies,
cloud-wracked sunsets and leafy iridescence, a time of
new life with the first foals, cubs and calves gambolling
out in the open. In other words, the perfect time to hit
the bush.
nThambo Tree Camp
This pretty lodge is located in Klaserie Private
Nature Reserve, which shares unfenced borders
with the Kruger National Park and Timbavati Game
Reserve. The camp is small and intimate, sleeping a
maximum of ten guests in five tented and thatched
chalets raised on wooden stilts. There’s a lounge and
dining area under thatch which offer great views of a
plain with a waterhole in front of the camp, as well
as the Drakensberg etched on the western horizon.
The game drives at nThambo were most
rewarding. There were mud-splattered rhinos up
close, two gorgeous lionesses with fluff-ball
cubs, and an elephant herd protecting a
newborn that insisted on charging our vehicle, but gave
up when it received no support from the spoilsport
big’uns. Best of all was a graceful serval on the hunt,
slinking through the long grass and occasionally
standing on its hind legs to peer at prospective prey.
She was all sinuous, feline grace.
The birdlife was also good: a Saddle-billed
stork fracking the mud for tasties amidst a bevy of
cacophonic Egyptian geese (the worst named birds
in the world, confided our field guide, as they’re
apparently Indian ducks). There was a dead Leadwood
tree thronged with Grey herons, Spoonbills and Yellow-
billed storks, like feathered Christmas decorations. The
first of the summer migrants, such as the Woodland
kingfisher and European bee-eater, had just arrived and
were showing off their gorgeous livery.
Africa on Foot
As the name suggests, this rustic bush camp in
Klaserie specialises in walking trails. The lodge has five
traditional rondavels, two of which are for families.
There’s a small garden (frequented by hippos at night)
and a splash pool. A favourite among guests is a tree
house which offers the opportunity of spending a
First Page: A dazzling zebra
collage at one of the waterholes
at Nokana Safari Camp.
This Page: Guests while away
the heat of the day in the
attractive, open-sided lounge at
nThambo Tree Camp.
Next Page Top: Day trips
from Nokana Safari Camp take
you to Tsau, the White Lion
Reserve, where you have the
chance to get close and personal
with the big, snowy cats.
Next Page Bottom: A baby
elephant gets up and has a
luxurious stretch during a game
drive from Africa On Foot
bush camp.

40 INDWE
night under the stars on a platform high in the branches
of a false Marula tree.
Our guide, Patrick Leyden, led us repeatedly to a pair
of lionesses that were overdue for a hunt. One morning he
skidded into camp and ordered everyone onto the vehicle:
The girls had just taken down a warthog. We drew up
beside the kill. The hog’s flesh looked unnaturally scarlet
and the cats’ faces and paws were painted in blood. There
was the rasping of tongue on hide, the sawing of heavy
breathing, the crunch of cartilage and the snap of sinew.
Despite the gore, it was mesmering.
The daily walks were first rate. More often than not,
we were on our haunches looking at tracks: the clover
leaf of hippos, square marks for warthogs, dog-like
hyena prints, and the big hoof spoor of giraffe. Patrick
pointed out interesting trees and plants, describing their
many uses. The magic Gwarrie is a good fire beater and
toothbrush. Just snap off a branch, peal away some bark
and add paste to the bristles. The best bush toothpaste
is the ash of a leadwood mixed with water, explained
Patrick, running the Gwarrie over his teeth.
nDzuti Safari Camp
This lodge lies in central Klaserie and offers an
intimate safari experience with a focus on one-on-one
hospitality. Run by Bruce and Judy Meeser, this is a
traditional, colonial-style setup in a large thatched house
with only four en suite, air-conditioned guestrooms. For
hot summer days there’s a lovely swimming pool and
a well wooded garden of tall Baobab, Knob thorn and
Fever trees.
It’s easy to while away the heat of the day on a
poolside lounger listening to the insistent Morse code
of woodpeckers, the squawking of go-away birds and
the shrill squirrels that come to plunder Judy’s rusks.
Meals on the deck beside the pool offer views of a
well-trafficked waterhole and we were treated to large
elephant herds bathing, slurping and jousting.
Up early, our open 4x4 traversed quartzite hills and
the verdant banks of a great oxbow sweep of the Klaserie
River, accompanied by the sounds of the glug-glug of
Green-spotted doves, the rusty hinges of Spurfowl and
the trill of laughing doves. Klipspringers and waterbuck
guarded the high ground, an elephant polished off a tall
salad in the riverbed and a gorgeous reed frog wearing
striped pyjamas made an appearance at the breakfast
picnic. Sometimes it’s not a member of the Big Five that
makes your day.
Nokana Safari Camp
Nokana lies northwest of Hoedspruit in the Blyde-
Olifants Conservancy in rolling country dotted with
granite koppies. This lodge offers a different experience
in that it takes guests on daily tours of the surrounding
private game reserves and the Kruger Park itself. This
means that safaris cover a large area of diverse habitats
and wildlife. Apart from game drives, there are bush walks,
close encounters with habituated animals, a visit to white
lions, and even a boat cruise on the Olifants River.
The lodge itself comprises safari-style tents
and thatched chalets in a reserve free of
SAEXPRESSCONNECTSYOUTOHOEDSPRUITSEEFLIGHTSCHEDULEFORMOREINFORMATION.

dangerous game. Thus mammals such as zebras, wildebeest
and warthogs wander through camp at all hours of the
day. Horses are kept on the property and pay daily visits,
especially at meal times, which can make for some hilarious
scuffles over the muesli.
A full, seven-day itinerary encompasses all that
Nokana has to offer, but a shortened three to four day
stay will still give you a pretty diverse taste. The owner
and manager, Michel Laforet, is a colourful Frenchman
who does everything from guiding to cooking, and even
playing the piano.
Fast Facts
How to get there: SA Express flies direct to
Hoedspruit daily from Johannesburg and every day
except Saturday from Cape Town.
Visit www.flyexpress.aero to book.
What it costs: nThambo Tree Camp has a full-board
rate of R2,650 per person, per night sharing. At
Africa on Foot it’s R2,195, while nDzuti costs R2,150
and Nokana R2,700. These rates include all game
activities, but exclude alcoholic drinks and transfers.
How to book: Contact Sun Destinations on
+27 21 421 8433, email reservationssundestinations.co.za
or visit www.sundestinations.co.za.

43INDWE
De nos jours, les loges privées haut de gamme du parc Kruger des alentours exigent
des tarifs de R14 000 ou plus par personne par nuit. Il n’est pas facile de trouver
une loge privée permettant de vivre l’expérience des Big Five (les cinq grands
mammifères d’Afrique) sur les bas plateaux qui soit encore abordable, mais Justin
Fox a flairé quelques bonnes options à deux pas de Hoedspruit.
Safaris à Hoedspruit : des trésors cachés
Voyager en brousse
avec un
budget limité
Text & Images ©: Justin Fox

44 INDWE
JE PRIS un Vol SA Express allant directement du Cap à
l’aéroport d’Eastgate à Hoedspruit et descendis de l’avion
dans la chaleur enveloppante du début d’été. Grâce à
l’arrivée des premières pluies la brousse exhibait des traces
de verdure un peu partout. C’était la période des ciels
orageux, des couchers de soleils encombrés de nuages et
des feuillages aux reflets changeants, un temps de
renouveau voyant gambader dans les champs les premiers
poulains, veaux et autres petits. Autrement dit, le meilleur
moment pour aller en brousse.
nThambo Tree Camp
Cette loge ravissante se trouve dans la réserve naturelle
privée de Klaserie, adjacente au parc Kruger et à la réserve
de Timbavati et non clôturée. Ce petit camp intime ne loge
que 10 hôtes à la fois dans des tentes et chalets sur pilotis
à la toiture de chaume. Le salon et la zone réservée aux
repas, qui se trouvent sous un toit de chaume, offrent des
vues superbe de la plaine et du point d’eau juste en face
du camp, et l’on peut aussi apercevoir la silhouette des
montagnes du Drakensberg sur l’horizon à l’ouest.
Les safaris à nThambo furent des expériences
formidables. On y rencontra des rhinocéros couverts
de boue, deux magnifiques lionnes avec leurs lionceaux
pelucheux, et un troupeau d’éléphants qui protégeait
un nouveau-né s’efforçant de nous foncer dessus, mais
qui renonça finalement dû au manque de soutien des
adultes rabat-joie. Mieux encore fut le serval parti en
chasse, se faufilant dans les hautes herbes, et se dressant
occasionnellement sur ses pattes arrière pour vérifier si
une proie se trouvait dans les parages. Quelle souplesse
et quelle grâce.
Africa on Foot (L’Afrique à pied)
Comme le nom l’indique, ce camp rustique de la
réserve de Klaserie se spécialise dans les safaris à pied.
La loge comprend cinq cases traditionnelles (rondavels),
dont deux pouvant loger des familles. Il y a un petit jardin
(dans lequel les hippopotames se promènent la nuit) et
une piscine. Ce que les hôtes préfèrent cependant, c’est la
cabane perchée dans un faux marula et l’opportunité de
passer la nuit à la belle étoile sur une plateforme dans ses
hautes branches.
Les promenades à pied en brousse y furent de premier
ordre. La plupart du temps, on se retrouvait accroupi,
étudiant les traces laissées par les animaux : l’empreinte
en forme de trèfle de l’hippopotame, les empreintes carrées
des phacochères, les empreintes des hyènes, similaire
à celles de chiens, et la grosse empreinte de la girafe.
Notre guide, Patrick Leyden, nous indiquait les plantes
et arbres intéressants et nous décrivait leurs nombreuses
utilisations. Les branches du Gwarrie magique peuvent
servir à éteindre les feux et peuvent aussi servir de brosse à
dent. Il suffit de casser une branche, d’en enlever l’écorce et
d’en ébouriffer les fibres puis d’y mettre du dentifrice. Le
meilleur dentifrice de brousse se trouve être un mélange de

46 INDWE
la cendre de leadwood (dit « arbre de plomb ») incorporée
à de l’eau nous expliqua Patrick, faisant une démonstration
avec une branche de Gwarrie.
nDzuti Safari Camp
Cette loge se trouve au milieu de la réserve de Klaserie
et propose des safaris intimes, mettant l’accent sur une
approche individuelle. La loge, gérée par Bruce et Judy
Meeser, est une grande maison traditionnelle de style
colonial au toit de chaume qui comprend quatre chambres
avec salle de bain attenante et air conditionné. Pour les jours
de chaleur, une belle piscine est à la disposition des hôtes
ainsi qu’un jardin arboré garni de baobabs, d’acacias et de
gommiers bleus (ou « arbre à fièvre »).
Debout aux aurores pour un safari en 4x4 ouvert, on
roula à travers des collines de quartzite et le long des
berges verdoyantes des méandres de la rivière Klaserie,
accompagnés du chant des tourterelles émeraude, des
hurlements des francolins criards et du roucoulement des
tourterelles maillées. Les oréotragues et les antilopes sing-
sing surveillaient les hauteurs tandis qu’un éléphant se
gorgeait de verdure en bord de rivière et qu’une magnifique
grenouille de roseaux en pyjamas rayés nous honora de sa
visite lors du petit déjeuner pique-nique. Comme quoi il
n’est pas nécessaire de rencontrer l’un des Big Five pour
être enchanté.
Nokana Safari Camp
Nokana se trouve au nord-ouest de Hoedspruit dans
le site de conservation de la nature de Blyde-Olifants, sur
un terrain vallonné parsemé de petits massifs granitiques.
La loge offre une expérience un peu différente des autres
du fait que l’on propose aux hôtes des visites quotidiennes
dans les réserves privées environnantes aussi bien qu’au parc
Kruger. Ceci signifie que l’on a accès à de grands espaces qui
comprennent de nombreux habitats et de nombreuses espèces
animalières. À part les safaris en voiture, on y propose des
promenades en brousse à pied, des rencontres rapprochées
avec des animaux habitués aux humains, une visite à des lions
blancs et même une croisière sur la rivière Olifant.
La loge comprend des tentes de style safari et les chalets
au toit de chaume dans une réserve sans animaux dangereux.
On y rencontre de ce fait des mammifères tels zèbres, gnous et
phacochèresàtouteheuredujour.Onytrouveaussideschevaux
qui rendent chaque jour visite aux hôtes, plus particulièrement à
l’heure des repas, ce qui peut produire des situations hilarantes
surtout lorsque le muesli est au menu.
Vols directs SA Express de Johannesburg à Hoedspruit
chaque jour et vols depuis le Cap chaque jour sauf le samedi.
Visitez www.flyexpress.aero pour faire une réservation.
Contactez Sun Destinations au +27 21 421 8433, ou par e-mail
à reservations@sundestinations.co.za ou visitez
www.sundestinations.co.za.

49INDWE
Text: Lisa Witepski
Images © Supplied
Is This the
Future Face
of SA Fashion?
International style icons are a dime a dozen. Blogs like The Sartorialist
have made wardrobe-peeking a pastime we never tire of, and people like Tavi
Gevinson have seen their love of clothes push them right into the fashion front
row. But what’s happening here in South Africa? Quite a bit, actually.
Text: Lisa Witepski
The Boys of Soweto

50 INDWE
W
hat might surprise you is that the
cradle of South African couture
isn’t the glittering emporia of, say
Sandton. Rather, style is being
birthed on the streets of Soweto,
and because of that, it has an urban grittiness that makes
it as irresistible as it is eye catching, like a brash girl with
an attitude and a killer smile to match.
As the founder of the Boys of Soweto movement,
Bob Ndima – better known as Bob The Stylist – is one
of the pioneers of this trend. Bob epitomises the new-age
stylista. His love of fashion isn’t simply about well-made
seams and the aesthetic joy of a beautiful outfit. Rather,
it’s about using clothing as a form of self-expression and
a vehicle for raising consciousness.
This makes sense, given how this love story unfolded.
“Growing up in Soweto, brands were a big thing,”
Ndima explains. He and his crew – Kronic Nhleko,
Mbali Bangwayo, Manti Moholo and Steja Kgobane, the
eponymous “Boys” – were fascinated by the amapantsula
(young men in their neighbourhood who took care to
look sharp and dapper at all times, in spite of being
unemployed). This planted the seed and the boys became
obsessed with image, trekking through to Sandton
malls on the weekend, where they would pore over the
international fashion magazines that weren’t available in
the township. From there, the next step was purchasing
the brands that were in hot demand, and selling them to
their neighbours at a profit.
By now, Bob was truly entrenched in the world of

fashion, to the extent that he and his group developed
their own subculture, is’bhujwa. Roughly translated,
the name means “bourgeoisie”. Bob says that he’s still
unsure if the people who dreamed it up felt that his crew
thought they were better than everyone else. Even if that
wasn’t the case, Bob himself soon tired of brands and
the consumerist culture they encouraged, and he turned
to a more authentic style. “At the time, I was heavily
influenced by Rastafarianism, which emphasised a more
spiritual way of life,” he explains. The accent may have
been less on outward appearances, but – ironically – it got
Bob thinking about the way Africans perceive themselves
and follow international trends, rather than embracing
their own identity. “For example, I started wearing an
Afro instead of shaving my head like most black guys do,
because it’s more natural.”
Is’bujwa was the birthing place of Boys of Soweto.
Years later, Bob, now 30, is still determined to get South
Africans to step up to the fashion plate. “That’s what
Boys of Soweto is about,” he says, noting that although
the crew’s blog – featuring immaculately styled shots
of the guys in their not-to-be-ignored threads – is their
primary focus, it’s certainly not the only one. The gang
have been involved in a number of brand collaborations,
and most recently Bob has been asked to give his input
in the development of a line of denim wear. He’s also
joined forces with local milliner Chanel, with whom he is
designing a range of fedoras. Another exciting project sees
him designing his own range of suits to complement his
T-shirt collection, which has already gained a following
overseas – in fact, Bob estimates that most of the garments
purchased are by tourists.
The beauty of these projects, he says, is that they bring
one of the most important challenges facing South African
design into the spotlight. “There’s no doubt that we have
the talent and the creativity. Where we’re lacking is in
our craft – the construction of our garments can’t stand
up to international designers, and this is where we need
to improve.” Bob hopes that by bringing South African
design to more people’s attention, he’ll highlight issues
of this nature.
In the meantime, Boys of Soweto is slowly expanding
beyond shirts and suits. They recently established a book
club, and although it currently has a limited membership,
he’s keen to see its numbers grow. “The point is to create
a platform where we can discuss the issues we face daily,”
he says, adding that one of the strengths of the initiative
is that, as members of different professions – from law
to fashion – they bring together a multitude of reference
points. “I was surrounded by so many truly talented
people when I was growing up. They were all in different
fields – some were soccer players, others were academics
– but so few of them flourished. We need to stop that, and
that’s what Boys of Soweto is all about, forging the kind
of relationships that help us mentor each other through
the tough times.”
It may sound idealistic, but then Bob is, on the whole,
a dreamer. Or, at the very least, an enthusiastic optimist.
“It’s a great time to be a creative in Africa. The world is
looking to our continent for inspiration. It’s time for us
to shine,” he says.

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54 INDWE
An Out of Town
Timeout
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55INDWE
While the bright lights of the big city may be enticing for some,
even the most fast paced of city dwellers occasionally need a little
time out of the rat race to reconnect with nature and soak up a little
relaxation, country style. Here are two of our top picks for getting
away from it all.
Text: Nicky Furniss
Images © Oaklands Country Manor & De Hoek Country House

56 INDWE
Oaklands Country Manor, Harrismith
There is nothing quite like the feeling of achieving
something you never thought you would. Like cantering
around an arena on a beautiful horse – not walking,
mind you, or even trotting, but full on cantering! For an
inexperienced rider such as myself, it was a dream come
true, and all thanks to a superbly well trained horse and
an excellent instructor.
The owners and staff of Oaklands live and breathe
horses – polo ponies (and a resident pet donkey), to be
precise. For almost two decades, Oaklands has been one
of South Africa’s premier polo venues, and as a result it
offers a very unique type of holiday for those looking
to hone their polo skills. Thanks to world-class facilities
– including a floodlit polo arena, a polo pit, a wooden
horse, and fully equipped classroom – brave guests can
opt to learn the sport from scratch, while experienced
players have somewhere to go to practise their favourite
sport, especially as a number of the staff are always keen
to make up numbers for a chukka or two.
Those not as adept on a horse – but still equine lovers
– can opt instead for a more sedate outride, which is
made all the more enjoyable by the dramatic mountain
scenery which adds to Oaklands’ magical quality. This is
also why mountain biking, hiking, fishing, bird watching
and paddling on the dam are equally enticing outdoor
pursuits here – when not cheering on the polo players
from the sidelines, glass of wine in hand.
And when the mist and the rain rolls in – as it is wont
to do in this hilly part of the country, at the top of the Van

58 INDWE
Reenen’s Pass that connects the Free State to KwaZulu-
Natal – you can retire to one of the lounges to warm your
toes by the fire and your hands on a steaming cup of hot
chocolate. You’ll have company too, in the form of a pack
of resident Great Danes, but be sure not to steal one of
their sofas, as they have laid claim to a fair few! There’s
also Dennis, an arthritic little mongrel with a distinctive
jerky gait who will very quickly become one of your
favourite residents, as he is for a fair number of Oaklands
guests, many of whom return year after year.
It’s little wonder too, as besides its beautiful setting
and horsey attractions, Oaklands really does feel like a
home away from home. This is in large part because it is
very much a family run establishment, with four siblings
– Caroline, Annie, Kathy and Simon – each contributing
their own talents to running Oaklands, from hospitality
and marketing to cooking up a storm in a kitchen. It is
their special brand of relaxed warmth that makes guests
feel like they really can put their feet up without any need
to stand on occasion – which is a rarity at most hotels.
And while you are putting your feet up, you may as
well feast, because once you’ve tasted Kathy’s cooking,
how could you not? Kathy Romer-Lee is a well known
chef with a host of top restaurants and lodges on her
CV, and she continues to produce world class cuisine at
the family hotel. With a passion for the concept “veld
to plate”, Kathy uses only locally sourced ingredients
(as well as growing others herself) to conjure up tummy
warming breakfasts, tasty lunches and really hearty,
home-style cooked dinners – such as her famous Dargle
Valley pork ribeye roast – cooked and plated to five-
star perfection.
Once you’ve rolled yourself out of the dining room,
and had a friendly drink or two at the bar with other
guests and the family, a warm fire and a cosy bed await you
as you drift off to sleep dreaming of decadent chocolate
bomb desserts, horses and Great Danes.
For more information, visit www.oaklands.co.za.
De Hoek Country House, Magaliesburg
“Sanctuary” is a word often bandied about in tourist
brochures and on hotel websites, but in the case of De
Hoek Country Hotel, it certainly lives up to the term.
Situated just an hour from Johannesburg and Pretoria,
it feels miles away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
As you drive slowly down its tree bedecked driveway or
wander through its beautifully landscaped gardens, it’s
easy to get lulled into living life – at least for the weekend
– at a more sedate pace, more akin to nature’s natural flow.
And nature certainly takes centre stage here. The
original sandstone Main House is nestled in a lush garden,
shaded by mature trees and scented by the fragrance of
rose bushes. The more recently added New Quarter
Suites offer expansive views of the rolling hills of the
Magaliesberg in the distance, while the Superior Suites
come complete with the soothing sounds of water from
the nearby river which flows through the estate.
Activities here also make the most of the hotel’s
beautiful surroundings, with archery and croquet on
offer in the garden, guided mountain and river walks on

60 INDWE
the property, as well as cycling trails for mountain bike
enthusiasts in the surrounding area. Perhaps the best way
to truly experience De Hoek’s picturesque setting is from
the air, and what better way to do it than from the basket
of a hot air balloon, as it wafts quietly and gently through
the air, offering its passengers a bird’s eye view of the
patchwork of green below.
All of this fresh air is guaranteed to work up an
appetite, which is sure to be satiated by De Hoek’s Swiss-
trained Master Chef, Michael Holenstein. Guests have a
choice of two restaurants onsite.
The glass enclosed Bridge Bistro offers pretty
views to enjoy while dining on a light menu, while The
Conservatory promises some of the best fine dining in the
Magaliesberg area, if not in the country. This beautiful,
glass fronted dining room catches the early morning light
and opens out onto the pond and garden, making for
a warm and cosy atmosphere as guests enjoy a hearty
breakfast of both delicious continental and cooked
options. It truly comes alive in the evenings, though,
when soft candlelight sparkles off the glittering silver
service and superbly trained wait staff top up your
wine, before serving plate after delicious plate of the
evening’s five course dinner. With only the best local and
international ingredients to work with, Chef Holenstein
and his team (which includes a number of chefs who are
enrolled in the hotel’s in-house chef’s academy) whip up
culinary masterpieces, with sauces and stocks made from
scratch, and pastries and bread baked fresh every day.
Another highlight of De Hoek’s dining experience is
the daily afternoon tea, served in the garden and made up
of such delights as traditional scones with jam and cream,
finger sandwiches, éclairs and muffins, and even a cake
drenched in melted chocolate still warm from the oven.
And adding a homely touch are the hotel’s resident dogs,
who will pad around looking for the odd dropped crumb
and wagging their tails warmly at guests.
After a day of soaking up the great outdoors and
indulging in the kind of food one wants to photograph
and blog about, you can retire to your suite to have a
good long soak in your bathtub, and then slip between
the percale linen sheets of an expansive king size bed.
De Hoek is truly a country sanctuary in every sense
of the word.
For more information, visit dehoek.com.

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Dashing
DurbanOne of the Must Visit Places of 2015

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DURBAN rocks. It has the glamour of the Durban July
and its International Film Festival, and boasts year-long
balmy weather that allows you to sip cocktails on the pier
and to sunbathe, swim and surf at the city’s famous beaches.
Yet the beaches – described by the New York Times
as “lovely, but a touch gauche” – are not all Durban
is about. According to the city’s tourism website,
eThekwini is a trendsetter, and a mature and liveable
city “offering great lifestyle, speckled with adventure
activities, and blessed with natural beauty”.
Africa’s busiest port is a gumbo flavoured by British
explorers, Indian merchants and Zulu traditions. It can
rightly claim to be South Africa’s most African city. You
can enjoy a sub-tropical evening listening to Zulu choirs
practising in any open space they can find, or visit the
Indian Spice Market in central Durban. The old City
Hall with its wood panelled library, art museum – the
first in the country to start collecting African art – and
diorama-filled natural museum are housed in a building
which was described as “bold and progressive” when it
was built in 1903.
A World Cup host city, Durban began a major
facelift while building its sleek stadium and revitalised
the beachfront to make it more pedestrian friendly. Once
home to the biggest surfing event in Africa, Durban still
claims the mantle of the sporting capital of South Africa.
Its wealth of stadiums and sports clubs and its butter
yellow sand attest to a city best experienced outdoors.
Whether it’s a lazy cycle along the new beachfront
promenade or a soothing dip in the warm Indian Ocean
Text: Sulaiman Philip/mediaclubsouthafrica.co.za
Images © iStockphoto.com
D
urban is stepping out of the shadow of Cape Town, traditionally
South Africa’s tourist Mecca. Durbs, as it is affectionately known,
is a melting pot of Zulu, British colonial and Indian culture, and
it is seventh on the New York Times list of places to visit in 2015.

after completing the Comrades Marathon, Durban
offers everything for the active lifestyle.
Laid out in a grid, the CBD has seen better days, but
it has an abundance of impressive art deco constructions
and extravagant colonial buildings. Daytime Durban is a
buzzing, gritty city with a languorous African cadence.
News network CNN described the city’s
wharfside as “the sort of neighbourhood where movie
mobsters might dispose of a corpse, but it’s both safe
and worthwhile”. It is home to the BAT Centre, a
community centre that celebrates the region’s artists
and craftsmen. It also hosts a very successful Sunday
Jazz Sundowners event that has sparked the city’s live
music scene back into life.
Florida Road provides a feast of international
PREMIER2

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cuisine, but the city is famous for its bunny chow, a
popular, convenient meal of curry overflowing its
hollowed-out white bread container. The bread is torn
off in hunks to sop up the curry, as there is only one
rule when it comes to bunny chow: You eat with your
hands. Manilal Patel runs Patel’s, one of two Durban
restaurants recognised for perfecting the art of the bunny
chow. He sells 500 bunnies a day out of his tiny shop,
some to customers who travel from across the country
to enjoy the vegetarian curries on which the shop has
built an excellent reputation over its 80-year existence.
Durban really does offer something for everyone,
whether you are a first time visitor or a seasoned
Durban veteran. As the New York Times says: “Familiar
cities offer new reasons to visit.”
Interesting Facts
About Durban
the town of Howick, in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands,
and thus began his 27 years of incarceration.
Mandela returned to KwaZulu-Natal in 1994 to
begin a new journey when he chose to cast his
first vote as a free man in Inanda, Durban.
movement, Mahatma Ghandi, began his political
journey in Durban.
in 1893 by the sugar magnate Sir Marshall Campbell.
Rickshaw pullers, often dressed in traditional Zulu
regalia, have been operating in Durban for more than
100 years.
diving sites.
Mabhida Stadium.

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THIS small luxury hotel provides a space for rest and
relaxation, where guests can enjoy panoramic views of the
Paarl Valley and Drakenstein Mountains as they savour a
meal on the terrace or lounge in the opulent interiors before
exploring the surrounding winelands.
A proud member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the
World, Grande Roche Hotel features 28 elegant and
comfortable suites situated amongst the vineyards of a
working fruit and wine farm – combining historical Cape
country living with modern-day comforts.
Upon arrival, guests are warmly greeted with a welcome
drink and escorted through the beautiful gardens to their
rooms. Friendly service is paramount, and each visitor is
made to feel instantly at home.
The suites reflect the history of the hotel, with each
named after their function 200 years ago, such as
Stable and Carriage. Modern conveniences include
complimentary Wi-Fi, air conditioning, under floor heating
and heated towel rails.
Heritage and history are the underlying charms of the
hotel. Carefully restored buildings trace the passage of time,
from the slave bell and the site of the old outdoor oven to the
unique setting of the tiny chapel – one of the oldest buildings
in South Africa and perfect for intimate wedding ceremonies.
A journey of culinary delight awaits diners in the award-
winning Bosman’s Restaurant, where the hotel’s Executive
Chef Roland Gorgosilich works his magic. Award-winning
and Michelin-trained, Gorgosilich infuses classic cuisine with
innovative and imaginative twists. His gastronomic delights
are enhanced by inspired wine pairings, and a sommelier is on
hand to assist with recommendations from the 425 varieties of
wines available from the hotel’s private cellar.
Other dining options include the relaxed and casual
atmosphere of the terrace and the poolside Bistro Allegro,
Grande Roche Hotel
Text & Images © Grande Roche Hotel
of the Winelands
Luxury in the Heart
Located a convenient 40-minute drive from the centre of Cape Town is the
historic country village of Paarl. Known as the gateway to the Cape Winelands,
Paarl is the perfect base from which to explore the best of the Cape countryside.
And nestled at the foot of the magnificent Paarl Rock Mountain is the five-star
Grande Roche Hotel.

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both of which invite informal eating, but can be
transformed into elegant al fresco experiences. Value
for money, inspired menus and fresh ingredients are
hallmarks of the Bistro taste experience.
Grande Roche Hotel is situated just a short stroll
from the town of Paarl. From this central base, visitors
can enjoy a wide number of activities, exploring the
valley on foot, by bicycle, on horseback, or from a hot
air balloon. There are also wonderful golfing estates
in the area.
With facilities that accommodate up to 120
delegates, Grande Roche Hotel offers the ideal
conference and meeting venue away from the
commotion of the city. The hotel’s capable team takes
care of all event arrangements.
Grande Roche’s location and ambience offers
couples a truly historic and unique setting in which
to host an elegant wedding reception. Along with
its private chapel and manicured gardens, the hotel
boasts a professional functions and events team that
will ensure that wedding days are carefree events.
All told, the hotel offers a peaceful escape from
the hustle of daily life, while delivering on a promise
of service excellence in every respect.
For further information and bookings call
+27 21 863 5100 or visit www.granderoche.com.

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In 1938, an official at the East London Museum, Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer,
is credited with saving the Coelacanth for science – a fish thought to have been
extinct for over 65 million years. The ancient fish, and Latimer’s Landing in
East London, are named after the intrepid Miss Courtenay-Latimer.
Text: Keri Harvey
Images © The East London Museum & iStockphoto.com
Old Four Legs

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SAEXPRESSCONNECTSYOUTOEASTLONDONSEEFLIGHTSCHEDULEFORMOREINFORMATION.
ON 22ND
December 1938, the young Marjorie
Courtenay-Latimer received a phone call that a strange
fish had been brought in with Captain Hendrik Goosen’s
catch. She hotfooted it to the harbour to investigate and
then wrote: “I picked away at the layers of slime to reveal
the most beautiful fish I had ever seen. It was five foot
long, a pale mauvy blue with faint flecks of whitish spots.
It had an iridescent silver-blue-green sheen all over, was
covered in hard scales, and had four limb-like fins and a
strange puppy dog tail.”
The inquisitive Courtenay-Latimer took the fish back
to the museum to try to identify it through books, but
couldn’t. Then she hauled it to the local morgue in an
attempt to preserve it, but was turned away. Her only
recourse to conserve the strange-looking fish was to send
it to a taxidermist. Then she penned a letter to Professor
JLB Smith, world renowned ichthyologist at Rhodes
University. It read:
23rd
December 1938
Dear Dr Smith
I had the most queer looking specimen brought to
notice yesterday. The captain of the trawler told me about
is so I immediately set off to see the specimen which I had
removed to our Taxidermist as soon as I could. I, however,
have drawn a very rough sketch and am in hope that you
may be able to assist me in classing it. It was trawled off
Chalumna Coast at about 40 fathoms. It is coated in heavy
scales, almost armour like; the fins resemble limbs, and are
scaled right up to a fringe of filament. The spinous dorsal
has tiny white spines down each filament.
I would be so pleased if you could let me know what
you think, though I know just how difficult it is from a
description of this kind.
Wishing you all happiness for the season.
Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer
Professor Smith arrived in East London on 16th
February 1939 and knew immediately that it was a
coelacanth. Smith gave the ancient fish the scientific name
Latimeria chalumnae after his friend Miss Courtenay-
Latimer as well as the Chalumna River, just south of East
London, where it was found. Another coelacanth was not
seen for another 14 years, until one was caught off the
Comores in 1952.
Called “the living fossil” or “Old Four Legs”, scientists
claim fossil records show coelacanths have remained

unchanged for 350 million years. They’re nocturnal and
hide in caves by day – usually at a depth of about 200 m,
but they can also live at depths of up to 600 m – and can
swim up to 8 km a night in search of food.
Coelacanths have been observed doing headstands when
looking for food, which is thought to be a way to detect
food using a sensory organ in their snouts. They have also
been noted swimming upside down and backwards in a bid
to detect prey. Coelacanths pretty much eat anything they
can fit in their mouths, from sharks, eels and bony fish
to cuttlefish, and need little food to maintain their large
bodies, as their metabolic rate is extremely low.
These fish are also particularly calm, move slowly and
use the tandem movement of opposite fins to swim. This
movement resembles legs walking on land, but they do not
actually “walk” on their four fins. Coelacanths are related
to lungfish and tetrapods, ancient animals that are part of
the evolutionary link between sea and land creatures. The
leg-like fins of the fish actually have bones that resemble
toes, and its armour plate-like scales are only found on
prehistoric fish.
Like fish fingerprints, coelacanths each have unique
white patterned markings so that individuals can be
recognised. They’re surprisingly big fish too, and can

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reach a length of up to 2 m and weigh up to 80 kg.
Underwater they are deep blue in colour and have
specialised eyes for seeing in low light conditions.
Their eyes also glow in the dark, like those of cats and
dogs. Interestingly, they give birth to live young, called
pups, producing up to 25 offspring after a gestation
period of 13 months. It’s believed that coelacanths
reproduce until age 20, but can live to be 60 years old.
It’s difficult to know for sure, but scientists
estimate there are only about 500 coelacanths left in
the ocean. They live in the waters of Sodwana Bay,
KwaZulu-Natal, and have been seen by scuba divers at
a depth of 104 m. A living fossil off the South African
coast is noteworthy. Getting your head around this
fish that has been on earth virtually unchanged for
over 350 million years, and has fins like fingers or toes,
is something else completely.
The original fish is still in the East London
Museum, where it is still a popular draw card.

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Home of
the Royal
Crocodile

78 INDWE
SAEXPRESSCONNECTSYOUTOLUSAKASEEFLIGHTSCHEDULEFORMOREINFORMATION.THIS palatial anomaly set deep in the heart of
the African jungle was the brainchild of an English
aristocrat, Sir Stewart Gore-Browne, who fell in
love with the area while on a boundary commission
determining the border between Belgium Congo
and Northern Rhodesia in 1914.
Arriving one day beside a small lake of the
same name, Gore-Browne knew immediately that
he had found the perfect site to begin his life-long
project. He bought 10,000 acres of land around
the lake for two shillings an acre and began the
painstaking task of constructing the most lavish
estate north of the Limpopo River. It was a task
made nigh impossible by the fact that the nearest
railroad was over 400 miles away at Ndola, the
principal town on Zambia’s Copper Belt. There
were no roads either, so Gore-Browne had to
construct them, as well as dozens of bridges to
ford the innumerable rivers and swamps of the
area. In all, over 500 local Bemba residents were
employed, and slowly – over the next three decades
– a veritable community began to form around the
estate, which came complete with a schoolhouse,
a hospital, a post office, shops and playing fields.
Gore-Browne himself was actively involved in
politics and supported a fully independent Zambia.
He successfully opposed the amalgamation of
northern and southern Rhodesia and was a close
friend of Zambia’s first president, Kenneth Kaunda.
At his death Sir Stewart, nicknamed Chipembere
(the rhinoceros), was given a state funeral – the only
European in Zambia to be awarded such an honour.
Text: Adam Cruise
Images © John Werich
Deep in the remote recesses of northern Zambia, as far from
civilization as one can get, lies one of Africa’s most extraordinary
sites. It’s extraordinary because Shiwa Ng’andu is a grand English
country manor estate complete with gatehouse, tower, tennis courts,
colonnaded porticoes, courtyards, grand rooms, and formal gardens.
Shiwa Ng’andu

Unfortunately, after Gore-Browne’s death
Shiwa Ng’andu began to fall into disrepair. This
accelerated when Sir Stewart’s daughter and son-
in-law, who managed the estate, were murdered in
1992. Besides, the sprawling estate was extremely
difficult to manage. Its remoteness, as well as
the miasmic tropical climate made commercial
agriculture of any form impossible.
Shiwa Ng’andu was destined to become a kind
of Lost Legend relic lost in the African jungle. That
is if it weren’t for Sir Stewart’s eldest grandson,
Charlie, and his wife, Jo, who somehow had the
temerity to lovingly restore the estate to its former
glory. It was a massive undertaking, and remains an
ongoing task to this very day. It was not just the
manor house that was in dire need of attention, but
also the workers’ houses, hospital and the essentials
to run a commercial farm and a disillusioned
community of over 11,000 people.
Charlie and Jo Harvey decided to convert the
estate into a game ranch, alongside cattle ranching,
complete with an airstrip so that guests can now
access this eccentric remote site from Lusaka,
Ndola and Mfuwe by charter flight. Horseback
safaris are now offered to the experienced rider
keen on a different perspective of the African bush.
Visitors to Shiwa Ng’andu can enjoy the
accommodation of four comfortable en suite rooms
in the manor house, furnished with most of the
original and ornate pieces from Gore-Browne’s era.
Simple hardwood fittings with unique paintings

and photographs decorate the walls, and each
one provides a story and memory to be recounted
during afternoon tea or sundowners on the
lake shore.
Meal times are an opportunity to sample
delicious farm produce and sit at the original
dining room table that Gore-Browne frequented
in full dress – Sir Stewart always dressed formally
at mealtimes while entertaining various dignitaries,
including Zambian presidents, European royalty
and friends from around the world.
There are other activities too. On the estate are
the Kapishya Hot Springs, which are surrounded
by lush tropical vegetation and tall raffia palms.
The hot water bubbles out from the white sands
of a crystal clear pool and flows into the Manshya
River. The Harveys have built four small thatch
chalets there and serve meals in the old farmhouse.
Nachipala Bareback Hill is a three hour walk
from the estate. It provides a magnificent view
of Lake Shiwa Ng’andu. David Livingstone
apparently took his bearings from here on his final
ill-fated expedition in 1867. It is also possible to
take boat trips on Lake Shiwa Ng’andu. A full or
half-day trip on rubber rafts is offered, cruising
around the lake, birdwatching and taking in the
spectacular sunrise or sunset.
For something truly unique in a country
brimming with matters and things unique, a visit to
Shiwa Ng’andu will truly add something special to
the quintessential Zambian Safari.

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Fancy a cup of bone broth or sipping on a matcha latte? Ever heard
of spiralizing? Here’s a round-up of 2015’s biggest health trends.
Hipster
Health
2015’s Biggest Wellbeing Trends
Text: Dominique du Plessis
Photos © iStockphoto.com
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Text: Dominique du Plessise du Ples
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86 INDWE
Eat This: Bone Broth
It may not sound particularly appetising, but
this nutrient-dense brew is making waves in the
health industry. In part due to the popularity of the
low-carb, high-fat way of eating made famous by
Tim Noakes here in South Africa, bone broth has
been popping up at health food stores around the
country. But it’s not just locally that this warming,
nutritious delight is having it’s time in the limelight.
The trend is growing globally too – in New York
there’s even a bone broth café called Brodo. So why
are nutritionists, health specialists and beauty gurus
recommending it?
It provides a mega dose of the good stuff,
including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, gelatin,
and collagen, as well as many essential amino acids
that are all easily absorbed by the body in this form.
It’s great for your gut, since the collagen protects
and soothes the lining of the digestive tract, while
gelatin promotes probiotic balance and growth. The
amino acids glycine and proline, along with collagen,
help fight ageing and cellulite, and support healthy
hair and nails. And, as if this isn’t enough, studies
have shown that bone broth also has fantastic anti-
inflammatory effects and boosts the immune system.
So drink up!
Try This: Spiralizing
Those in search of the latest in health-conscious
cooking are going mad for spiralizing. Forget the
traditional calorie-laden pastas and carb-heavy
noodles, this year is all about maximising your
veggie intake in the most delicious and easy way
possible – by spiralizing. A spiralizer works by
transforming vegetables into pasta-like strips.
Zucchini, as well as other veg like beets, butternut,
turnips and sweet potatoes can be transformed and
substituted in anything from Italian and Indian
to Thai and other Asian cuisines. It’s a great low-
carb, low-calorie alternative that’s delicious raw
and crunchy in salad, or cooked and covered in a
sticky sweet and sour sauce.
Cut This Out: Sugar
With some studies likening sugar addiction to
being on cocaine, it’s not surprising that this year the
focus will be on reducing and eliminating sugar from
our diets. With no nutritional benefits whatsoever
and a host of ugly negatives, sugar replaces fat as the
devil in our diets. This sweet poison is responsible
for a host of health problems. Apart from the
obvious – obesity, tooth decay and diabetes – it has
also been linked to immune suppression, cancers,
gut disorders, yeast infections, heart disease and
disorders like depression, schizophrenia and
dementia. 2015 is definitely the year to shun sugar.
Supplement With This: Matcha (Green
Tea) Powder
Green tea is no new kid on the health block,
but this year it’s making a comeback in a new,
nutritionally enhanced form. Matcha powder, made
from finely milled high-grade green tea leaves, boasts
significantly higher antioxidant levels than regular
green tea, since the entire leaf, rather than just the
brewed water, is consumed. Health benefits include
improved memory and concentration, more energy
and increased metabolism, as well as its ability to
fight against the negative effects of UV radiation.
Chlorophyll, which gives the powder its bright green

88 INDWE
colour, is also great at detoxifying the body, and
the catechins in matcha have antibiotic properties.
Studies have shown that matcha may even have
the ability to inhibit the attacks of HIV on human
T-cells. For something delicious, add the powder to
steamed milk for a nutritious matcha latte.
Think About This: Fat Is
Not the Enemy
This year will see more nutrition seekers
than calorie counters in the bid to get healthy.
The growing popularity of the paleo, LCHF and
Banting diets has challenged traditional perceptions
of what it means to be healthy, with the emphasis
being on cutting carbohydrates rather than fat. Fat
is being encouraged as essential to good health. A
recent study published in the journal PLOS ONE
revealed that carbohydrates, and not fats, are
associated with heightened levels of a fatty
acid linked to increased risk for diabetes and heart
disease. “There is a widespread misunderstanding
about saturated fat. In population studies, there’s
clearly no association of dietary saturated fat and heart
disease, yet dietary guidelines continue to advocate
restriction of saturated fat. That’s not scientific and
not smart,” senior author Jeff Volek of Ohio State
University explained.
Working closely with the philosophy of fat is
good, is a focus on clean eating, returning to the
unprocessed foods of our ancestors. Banting has
taken the country by storm, with more and more
restaurants serving low-carb, high-fat options. The
folks at the high-end Cape Royale even changed the
name of their kitchen to The Banting Kitchen. Less
gluten, less sugar, less GMO foods and more grass-
fed, free-range, antiobiotic- and hormone-free eats
will be making their way into kitchens as the trend
gathers steam.

91INDWE
Text: Bernard K Hellberg
Images © Quickpic
Like many other major German car manufacturers, BMW has become increasingly
passionate about model range expansion. Not even the slightest gap in the market –
which could let the opposition in by the back door – is allowed to remain unoccupied.
Take the Tour
BMW 2-Series Active Tourer

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With the introduction of the 2-Series Active Tourer, BMW
has departed from its traditional rear wheel-drive philosophy
to bring to market a premium compact offering with class-
leading small engines that deliver excellent power outputs and
good fuel economy, without compromising on the safety aspect
of quick-response power when required.
Launched in two derivatives, the 218i and the 225i, these
cars, despite their departure from the BMW norm, now offer
the individual buyer access to a BMW without a breathtaking
price premium.
When one is confronted with the reality of a 3-cylinder,
1.5-litre engine – and that in a BMW, nogal – sceptics will be
hard to convince that this powerplant (also used in the MINI
range and by various other manufacturers) is a true wolf in
sheep’s clothing. With a deliciously gruff and grumpy sound,
the 100 kW unit ticks all the right performance boxes. It has
a claimed top speed of 205 km/h, and is said to complete
the 0-100 km/h sprint in 9.2 seconds, while emitting a
tax-dodging 118 grams of CO2
per kilometre. The fuel
consumption, when driven in a civilised fashion, is a superb
5.1 litres/100 km. Standard on the 218i is a smooth-shifting
six-speed manual gearbox.
Theengineismountedintransversefashiontoaccommodate
the front wheel-drive, and derives its considerable power
courtesy of BMW’s twin turbo technology. This means,
in effect, that the turbo-enhancement will neutralise the
Highveld’s 17 % altitude energy losses that normally aspirated
cars have to endure.
The bigger-engined 225i features a powerful 170 kW four
cylinder with the ability to see off the 0-100 sprint in a mere
6.6 seconds. For good measure, the top speed has been rated
at 240 km/h, while fuel consumption is said to be in the region
of 5.9 litres/100 km. The 138 gm/km CO2
rating oversteps the
Government’s tax threshold by a mere seven grams, adding an
insignificant R598,50 to the retail price.
This competent newcomer features lightweight engineering
and goodies such as auto stop-start function, brake energy
regeneration, and what BMW calls an integrated air curtain in
which two vertical air inlets in the front bumper direct cool air
to the front wheels to keep the brakes happy and operating at
optimal level.
In terms of appearance, the 2-Series Tourer comes across
as somewhat boxy in its design, but this, of course, leads to
desirable features such as more than adequate headroom for
both front and rear passengers. Visually the 2-Series is very
much a BMW, as evidenced by the slightly forward-slanting
BMW kidney grille and an unusually short front overhang.
With Tourer as its model designation, the 2-Series has a huge
luggage space of 468 litres, which may be enhanced to 1,510
litres with the rear seats folded down. Practicality is also evident
in the design of the rear backrest, which may be adjusted for
added comfort for the rear passengers or as extra luggage space.
The driving experience during launch underlined both
models’ competent on-road behaviour, courtesy of independent
front and rear suspensions. The single-joint spring strut axle
in front and the multi-link rear axle have been fine-tuned for
optimum driving dynamics and precise steering feedback.
Indications that the 2-Series Tourer has been designed to
find favour with young, upwardly mobile professionals is
evident by the comprehensive luxury features included in the
overall package, such as Head-Up display, leather trim, and
various infotainment features collectively known as BMW
ConnectedDrive.
However, some work on the 2-Series remains to be done,
especially the fact that the front seatbelts are non-height
adjustable and tend to catch occupants across the throat.
Likewise, the 225i seems to have higher road noise levels than
the 218i. It may be that the more powerful model, with its
superb eight-speed automatic box, has been equipped with
lower profile tyres than those fitted to the 218i which seemed
quieter than the top-end model.
The BMW 2-Series Active Tourer has been developed and
brought to market to counteract similar efforts by rival
manufacturers. The result is a competent, well built, quality
vehicle that meets most requirements and which should give
many years of trouble-free motoring.

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Time to Tap
TourismText: Shoks Mzolo/ Finweek
Tourism may be a major contributor to jobs and economic activity,
but South Africa has huge untapped potential and could even see a
decline in the sector due to controversial new visa rules.
FROM an economic angle, visitors – here for leisure,
business, medical and other reasons – added a total
R323 billion to the GDP (9.5 %), the latest available
statistics from the World Travel & Tourism Council
(WTTC) show. This is expected to rise by 3.6 % per year
to R478.3 billion (9.8 % of GDP) by 2024, it said. The
sector directly supported 645,500 jobs (4.6 % of total
employment), a figure that is expected to rise by 2.4 % per
year to 840,000 (5.1 % of overall employment) in 2024.
However,asthingsstand,SouthAfrica“isnotscratching
the surface” in the overseas market, WTTC CEO David
Scowsill said during a recent visit to Johannesburg.
Of 184 countries, South Africa, with $33.4 billion,
lies 29th
when ranked based on the total contribution,
in absolute terms, of travel and tourism to GDP. This
is substantially below the world average of $55 billion,
but ahead of Africa’s average of $18 billion, according to
WTTC statistics.
As a meetings destination, it has dropped 14 places
since 2000, to 34th
. This is important, as business travellers
typically spend a lot more than holidaymakers, contribute to
breaking seasonality patterns, and usually have a high level of
return visits. The recently concluded Mining Indaba, which
brings in thousands of high-end spending delegates to Cape
Town every year, has contributed an estimated R700 million
to the city’s economy over the last decade.
Research by Grant Thornton has showed that new
visa and immigration rules could shed 100,000 jobs and
erase R2.4 billion in tourism revenue. In terms of the
new rules, prospective travellers should apply in person
at South Africa’s foreign missions where fingerprints and
photographs are captured. It’s a marked change from the
time when travel agents applied on behalf of travellers.
“Among the affected countries, some are affected much

more than others, like China, because it’s geographically
large. It’s not the cost of the visa that’s at issue. The problem
is getting yourself, physically, in a very large country, to a
visa issuance centre (Beijing or Shanghai). Depending on
which part of China you are in, it can take up to three hours
to fly there. But they are not issued on the spot,” tourism
minister Derek Hanekom tells Finweek. “It’s a serious
inconvenience factor.”
Hanekom warned the parliamentary portfolio
committee on tourism that rules that would force visitors
under 18 to travel with unabridged birth certificates could
also have a negative impact on the sector. Implementation
has been delayed.
Also on Hanekom’s radar is South America. Incoming
visits from Brazil have quintupled in 15 years to 90,000.
From a low base, granted, Brazil’s compounded annual
growth rate since 2000 is 12 %, versus the 4 % by Germany
and France, SA’s third- and fifth-largest overseas markets
respectively, according to the Tourism Department. Lying
fourth is China, one of only two markets (including India)
in the overseas top 10 not to be visa-exempt.
Generally, visits from the rest of Africa are low. Aware of
this, SA Tourism is opening offices in countries like Nigeria
(85,000 annual visitors), whose uber-rich tends to overlook
their southern-most neighbour for overseas markets. That’s
partly because they feel unwelcome. For instance, Lagos-
based media and entertainment entrepreneur Clara Okoro
applied three times before she was granted a visa.
“I had a lot at stake as the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
and conferences I was coming for were quite important
to me, hence the persistence in re-applying,” she says.
Holidaymakers would simply switch to countries where
visas are not an issue.
“I also feel Africans are not doing enough to bridge the
gap between their borders. We need to see more cultural
exchanges, business delegations and exhibition exchanges,
and special offers for those willing to invest in some sectors
(on the continent),” says Okoro.
Copy courtesy of ‘Finweek’.
Call 0860 103 911 to subscribe.

97INDWE
Leveraging
Load Shedding
Text: Karl Kumbier, CEO, Mercantile Bank
Eskom’s Failures May be
Entrepreneurs’ Gain
The electricity crisis in South Africa is on everyone’s lips at the moment. Household
consumers are fed up and feel inconvenienced, while for business owners the
situation has become more than just a mild irritation. This is understandable,
as the energy shortage is a concern for entrepreneurs who are already under
pressure as a result of slow economic growth.

98 INDWE
B
UT INSTEAD of jumping on the
bandwagon to lament the situation
further, I would like every small and
medium enterprise in South Africa to
consider this challenge: The energy
shortage is a major opportunity
to increase profits, take advantage of new income
generation avenues, diversify an existing business
or even start a new one – what are you as a business
owner doing to do to capitalise on this?
The crisis could lead to the next stimulus the
economy needs, where the private sector takes control
in establishing sustainable alternative sources of
energy on a broad scale. This could create a whole new
growth sector around the supply and maintenance of
alternative energy.
Now is the ideal time for entrepreneurs to
innovate. For example, many businesses are installing
generators and this presents opportunities for forward-
thinking entrepreneurs to sell, install and maintain
such equipment. Generators are not always readily
available, and we have seen challenges in the market
to provide an appropriate after sales service due to the
limited skill set available. Secondary activities such as
selling fuel wholesale and transporting it are another
possibility. Then, enterprises will need to call on
experts to wire up generators – this means electricians
will get more business.
My message is that it is critical for business to
think creatively. For years, South Africans were
accustomed to a reliable, cheap energy supply. This is
something that many countries don’t have, and it isn’t
only African nations that struggle with a constrained
energy supply.
Large economies have also had their fair share of
problems. California, for example, had a shortage
of electricity in 2000 and 2001 which caused large-
scale blackouts, and one of the state’s largest energy
companies collapsed. This severely affected many
businesses dependent on a reliable electricity supply.
Energy traders also took power plants offline for
maintenance in days of peak demand.
business should ensure that their operations are
resilient enough to cope with prolonged electricity
cuts. This means that, in addition to looking for
solutions to deal with energy instability, entrepreneurs
should look beyond South Africa’s borders to expand
their reach. There are high-growth economies in Africa
who don’t have established manufacturing sectors,
and consumers in these countries need products that
South Africans are making.
Consider differentiating product offerings to take
new market share. This is one area where smaller
businesses can really benefit, as they can change
direction more quickly to take advantage of emerging
needs in the market.
Entrepreneurs shouldn’t sit back and wait, as
there are no quick fixes to address these problems.
Be bold with new business ideas. Just think
how many successful businesses were born as a result
of spotting a need in the market.
Take a look at these business ideas that changed
the world: Micro-thin metallic film technology
developed by a local professor made solar electricity
five times less expensive than the previously used
solar photovoltaic cells. This made solar power more
affordable and environmentally friendly than coal.
The Smartlock Safety Syringe, which makes it close to
impossible for medical practitioners to be pricked by
needles, was developed in response to the prevalence
of transmittable diseases in South Africa. A local
physicist developed the CAT Scan, technology that
the medical industry worldwide cannot do without.
The Kreepy Krauly swimming pool cleaner used by
just about every pool owner was invented by a South
African hydraulics engineer.
These are business ideas that changed the world.
What’s stopping our entrepreneurs from finding solutions
for South Africa’s energy crisis? Anyone with an
entrepreneurial mindset has the ability to think of ideas
that can bring about a big change in our economy.

101INDWE
Keep Your
Kitchen
in Check
Keep Your
Kitchen
in Check
Text: Ula van Zyl, Property24.com
Turn the Tables and Eat Healthier
The autumn season has arrived, and is also a notorious time for gaining a little
extra weight. It makes sense, as you spend lazy weekends snuggled up with a mug
of hot chocolate and floating marshmallows while binge watching your favourite
series. That’s what cold weekends are all about, aren’t they? But have you ever
considered that your kitchen could be encouraging or limiting your food intake?
According to food psychologist and bestselling author, Brian Wansink, where we
eat has a very big influence on how much we eat.

102 INDWE
In his recent book, Slim by Design, Wansink gives
advice on how to utilise your kitchen space to decrease
bad eating habits, thereby curbing weight gain. By
following these tips, you can avoid at least some of that
winter weight gain.
Don’t Lounge in the Kitchen
Avoid turning your kitchen into a lounge. The more
comfortable your kitchen is, the more time you want to
spend in it, ultimately leading to large bowls of crisps,
extra slices of pizza and tumblers filled to the brim.
Avoid placing a television or comfortable lounge-like
chairs in the kitchen, and always keep your kitchen neat
and tidy. This will encourage you to cook healthy meals
as opposed to opting for takeaways.
Reach for the Healthier Option
Surrounding yourself with healthy snacks will
encourage healthy eating. We often keep jars of
cereal, cookies and sweets on our kitchen
counters for easy access. Why not replace them with jars
of nuts, muesli and bowls of fresh fruit? Not only will
these options add pops of colour to your kitchen, but
replacing your jars will also help you to avoid reaching
for the less healthy options.
Don’t Fill Your Pantry
Studies have shown that the more we have of a certain
food, the more quickly we are tempted to eat it. So avoid
the urge to fill up your pantry this weekend. Instead, just
buy what you need when you need it.
Be in the Mood for Good Food
Lighting is a tricky matter when it comes to managing
eating habits. Too much lighting encourages fast eating,
which means that you eat more before realising that
you’re full. If your lighting is too low, on the other hand,
we tend to eat for longer. Wansink says that it is best to
have different and varied sources of light throughout your
kitchen. This will allow you to have enough light while

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cooking, but then you can tone it down when eating.
Setting the Table, Setting the Pace
According to research conducted by Wansink, if your
food is the same colour as your plates, you eat 20 %
more of that food type. This is very problematic when
it comes to white plates and starchy foods like pasta,
bread, rice and potato salad. So why not buy colourful
crockery? Green crockery could work very well, especially
if it encourages you to eat 20 % more green salad, peas
and broccoli.
Something else to consider is the type of drinking
glasses you use. Although you might think that using
shorter glasses inhibits drinking, the opposite is true.
Shorter glasses are normally wider than their taller
counterparts, and we tend to refill them more often, as
we perceive them to hold less fluid. So, by using shorter
glasses, we trick ourselves into drinking more.
Finally, remember that moderation is always good.
So take your healthy eating plan one day at a time.

105INDWE
Peugeot 308
on Point
Text: Bernard K Hellberg
Images © Peugeot
Strong Challenge from 2014
European Car of the Year
VISUALLY, the first impression is that of a modern and
roomy mid-sized four-door which has done away with the
swoopy, over the top Peugeot styling of the past. Even the
famous Peugeot Lion has gone on a diet and has been
trimmed down in size, without the GT Line (which was
driven during launch) losing its traditional French character.
Acknowledging that Peugeot has a mountain to climb in
South Africa – in terms of sales –Managing Director Francis
Harnie presented the new 308 as the car to spearhead the
company’s challenge. Referring to the car’s achievements in
taking the European Car of the Year title in 2014, Harnie
added that the new 308 was one of the most technologically
advanced cars ever to have been produced by the company.
“The arrival of the new generation 308 represents a
quantum leap for the brand in the highly competitive
C-segment hatchback market,” he said.
The launch route, which took us from King Shaka
Airport north of Durban to the Natal Midlands, illustrated
the car’s brilliant ability to accelerate in higher gears
without having to gear down. Power always seemed to be
readily available, and this feature added considerably to
peace of mind when it came to overtaking, which the GT
Line achieved with little effort.
Apart from the smooth and uncluttered interior, the
supportive seats, more than adequate boot space, and even
a full-sized spare wheel, the perfect blend of engine and
transmission was the stand-out feature of this car.
As a three cylinder, 1.2-litre power house with
W
ith the market awash with small capacity engines, it’s becoming
increasingly more difficult to find a particularly outstanding
version in this cluttered market. The all new Peugeot 308 is, I
believe, one of those rare finds – a compact car that feels solid
and well built, as well as offering excellent road holding and interior quality
worthy of much pricier brands.

Indwe Magazine April 2015

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