I Love SA Video

We have some fantastic fans who absolutely love South Africa. One such fan is Annabel Biggar and she made a great short video of how much she loves this beautiful country and she has shared it with us so we can share it with all of you. Her video takes us on a journey of some of the awesome things to do and places to visit. Thank you Annabel! Continued

We Bust 5 Travel Myths About South Africa

Pack your bags!

There are travel myths that the seasoned around-the-world traveller will encounter:

You must have a backpack if you’re visiting more than one country; women shouldn’t travel alone; the plane will crash if you use your cell phone on board; train travel is always cheaper than air travel in Europe…

These have been well and truly explored, and most of them debunked.

But what about travel myths in South Africa – the type the average visitor might encounter whilst enthusiastically planning to fly to our shores? Continued

5 Favourite Travel Books

Great Travel Reads

What better way to get in the mood for travel than from your armchair. For those in your life who, either won’t get moving and need more than a gentle prod, or are addicted to journeying in any way possible, here is a list of classics and great reads that are guaranteed to deliver wanderlust.

EAT, PRAY, LOVE by Elizabeth Gilbert

- because I couldn’t put it down

I’ll start with my recent favourite. Written with a mixture of wit, intelligence and self-introspection with which many women will identify, Elizabeth Gilbert’s travels through Italy, India and Bali to find a balance in her life are at once interesting and thoroughly evocative. Whilst some critics have called it at best ‘narcissistic New Age reading’, others, like Oprah Winfrey, have devoted two whole shows to it, and TIME praised it, suggesting that it is ‘as close as you can (get) to enlightenment-by-proxy’. Made into a film of the same name, 10 million copies of the book have benn sold worldwide. Love it or not, you can’t put it down. If you have a weekend to kill then this will definitely get your travel juice buds going. Continued

Great tips for using your DSLR – PART TWO

Get the perfect shot

I’ve just started using my DSLR and want to get the hang of modes other than auto. Whilst playing around trying to find out where to start and where best to focus, I’ve written a few pointers to share with others who also want to do more than simply point and click:

BUY A UV FILTER FOR YOUR LENS

This is one of the tips I picked up from the journalist fellow I mentioned in part one. Our hike at the time was along the coastline on the beach, thus exposed to typical beach fog, rain and the inevitability of a dropping or scratching the camera. It is cheaper to replace the filter than it is to replace the lens (do I need to add that I have yet to do this!) Continued

Great tips for using your DSLR – PART ONE

Learn how to use a DSLR

I’ve had a DSLR, or digital SLR, for over a year now. And I confess, I still use it on good old auto.

Translated: I border on pathetic when it comes to skilled photography, obviously. Luckily for me, the gorgeous Canon I have literally does most of it for me. So I just line up what I think is creative and the camera seems to do the rest.

And I manage to walk off with better shots than those I used to capture on my point-and-click. But I know I’m not doing the camera justice.

I wonder how many of us there are out there. Those of us with gorgeous cameras  whose younger, tech-savvy sisters-in-law easily make look gormless in less than five minutes, without the use of the manual, when they simply pick up the equipment and get the hang of it. Continued

Something For the South African Rose Aficionado

Roses are red, violets are blue, this isn’t a Valentines, but an exclusive Rose tour for you!Calling all South African garden and rose enthusiasts, if that sounds like you then listen up!

You may already be familiar with Ludwig’s Roses, perhaps you have already visited Ludwig’s Roses in Egoli, the Ludwig’s Winelands branch or perhaps you are closer to the Ludwig’s Rose Farm in Pretoria North, there are also branches in Lynnwood and Hillcrest.

Today we bring you something a little different and we take you out of South Africa and all of it’s splendour and give you a little taste of this 10-day tour in Italy – gardens, roses, cooking and culture – organised by the team at Ludwig’s Roses.

Continued

How social media can ‘find’ you a holiday

Facebook

One mother’s journey to find a house swop on Facebook – the ins and outs, pros and cons

We recently found someone with whom we are swopping houses. Or, as she puts it, swopping lives. Because when you move into someone else’s home, use their car, feed their cat, flick through their photo albums on a rainy day, stock their fridge with your food, and sleep in their beds, then you’ve practically taken on their lives, haven’t you? Continued

The cutest little Indie Coffee Shop in Africa – Wolves

Wolves Café

Wolves Café in Illovo, Johannesburg, is the brainchild of three friends and creatives, and is undoubtedly one of the hippest hangouts in the city. One of the talented owners, Angie Batis, is not only the stellar creative force behind a popular blog as well as the Creative Head of a well-known ad agency; she also bakes the coolest cupcakes and delectables for Wolves. Co-owner and husband, Shane Durrant, is the lead singer of popular local band, ‘Desmond and the Tutus,’ and together with a friend, they create the magic that Wolves is known for. Continued

Humanearth – local, young artists with a conscience – ’til Saturday in Cape Town

Humanearth

Wessel Snyman Creative describes itself as a ‘progressive fine art gallery on Bree Street’. I find the building with relative ease, considering I usually have to orientate myself thoroughly on Google maps before venturing into the Cape Town city bowl – I’m such a suburban, I am ashamed to say. When I’m all grown up and finished driving my five-year old from a to b, I’ll stay a while in the centre of Cape Town and get to know it better.

But for now I find my way around via a combination of car ticket distributors (what do you call the guys who charge you to park in town – they’re not exactly metre maids, now, are they?) and maps on the Internet. I can’t do map books, they’re too confusing. Continued

It takes only one person – the story of Zulufadder

Zulufadder

“The world is filled with children and adults who need help. I was never terribly concerned by foreign aid work, nor by Africa, says the founder of Zulufadder, Mari Maurstad. “But when you meet with children of whom you had previously only seen pictures, then another room in your heart opens. You then realise that all the energy you use to satisfy unnecessary entertainment, that same power can be used for something so much more rewarding.”

Zulufadder is a children’s trust started six years ago to help children marginalised by HIV and AIDS in the rural areas around Eshowe in Zululand. It began when the former Norwegian actress, Mari Maurstad, met Aurelia Mhlongo, whom she calls a ‘female version of Nelson Mandela’ where she was struggling to feed children soup once a week in the Umlalazi Reserve … Continued

Christmas without the turkey …

Have you ever noticed how inappropriate a huge meal (turkey and all) is in our warm South African climate? The thought of toiling over a stove and oven for hours only to produce a hot meal to consume on a boiling day is fast losing its allure for many. Add to this the concern for the ordeal though which the turkey goes in order to make it onto our table, and it becomes apparent why there is a growing upsurge of turkey-less Christmas dinners. This is not a rant about eating a vegetarian meal (even if modern meat production is energy and resource intensive and anything but humane). I risk much ire from meat-loving family, friends and readers if I begin to expound.

However, one can choose to know more about where one’s meat comes from, if you do decide to go for a joint of ham or a chicken. A number of small farms are now producing organic and truly free range meat, sold more often than not at local markets (although Woolworths is known to stock the odd organic chicken, and Wellness Warehouse in Cape Town stocks Spier free range chickens). … Continued

Get away from it all this ‘xmas – retreats for the soul

@ Temenos

If I could, I would gladly escape the mad over-commercialisation of Christmas this year and opt for time-out in a retreat in the back of beyond. Whilst this isn’t possible – I have family commitments – I can provide, for those lucky souls amongst you who can choose from the wonderful options below to head for the hills, a list of retreats that provide a real space for introspection.

Whilst many accommodation options call themselves retreats, the word has come to mean a space away from it all with little to encourage individual exploration and meditation. A retreat in this article means a withdrawing, a retirement or a period of retirement for religious exercise or meditation. Any of the following places will allow you  ‘time out’ and some will even provide guided retreats. Whilst spiritual, none are religion-specific, and everyone is welcome … Continued

3 very quick, perfect for summer, local meals (and a dessert)

I’m not fond of cooking. No, let me rephrase that. I actually enjoy whipping up a meal, particularly if I can use ingredients from the garden. I don’t like labouring over it. It must be fun to make, and it must taste good. And most importantly, I mustn’t have to spend half the preparation time trying to translate things like deci litres into something more measurable.

I’ve put together a list of three such recipes – they’re quick, they produce a really tasty meal (usually) and they’re from local cook books (well, most of them). If they’re not local, then at least they include easily sourced local products … Continued

Give the gift of a Heartwood Tree … or get one for yourself

Heartwood Trees

OK, so here we are a few short weeks to Christmas Day and I haven’t done one stitch of Christmas shopping.  Not only have I not done any Christmas shopping but I also don’t have the faintest idea of what to get my family members.  If anyone else is in my boat then read on because you might be interested in Heartwood Tree Gifting.  I think it’s a genius idea and as Alexander Smith said, ‘Trees are your best antiques.’

Heartwood was founded in 2009 by Jenni Rowe and was created with the idea that small things do count and that gifts should not be instantly forgettable.  A gift can be a sustainable symbol and what better gift than a tree; it’s the gift that keeps on giving!  There are so many wonderful trees: the wise Oak, the peace giving Olive tree and the mournful Weeping Willow. Continued

New manager for renovated Tswalu Kalahari Spa

Corli Schoeman

Corli Schoeman has been appointed manager of the newly renovated Tswalu Kalahari Spa. Corli comes to Tswalu from the award-winning Pezula Spa & Gym, Knysna, where, as Spa Manager, she headed a team of 25. Previously she managed the Wellness Centre at Marlin Lodge, Mozambique where she introduced a collection of natural, island inspired products and treatments.

“With her international experience and extensive training Corli will provide an outstanding spa experience to guests, individualised to exceed expectations,” says Tswalu MD, Russel Binks. “I’m pleased that she has joined us at the same time as we have completed our outdoor treatment area and indigenous spa garden to expand the spa and offer guests another dimension to the experience.” Continued