Aug 2019 Jhb West

JOBURG WEST 

PEEL 

away 

those years ... 

An eye-to-eye encounter 

with wildlife at Mhondoro 

The dirt on all 

things succulents 

WIN 

a two night stay 

in the Natal 

Midlands 

WOMEN IN 

BLOOM 

A quirky hip hop artist & a running-in-heels image consultant 

SHOPPING, PEOPLE AND LIFESTYLE IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD 

August 2019

Race begins and ends at 

MARKS PARK SPORTS CLUB 

Judith Road, Emmarentia, Joburg 

GPS co-ordinates: S 26.1648° E 28.0041° 

SUNDAY 

6 OCT 2019 

START TIME: 

8AM 

DROP 

OFF A PAIR 

FOLLOW US ON 

SPAR Women’s Challenge Joburg 

@SPARJoburgRace 

@SPARJoburgRace 

the JOBURG SPAR Women’s Challenge forms part of the 

SPAR Women’s Challenge 10km Grand Prix Series 

Enter online www.sparjoburgrace.co.za | Enquiry line: 087 097 0011

GET IT 

Editorial 011 955 1130 

Caxton Building 

Corner General Pienaar Avenue 

and Ham Street, Witpoortjie 

getitjoburgwest@caxton.co.za 

Twitter: @GetItJHBWest 

Facebook: Get It Joburg West 

Website: joburgwest.getitonline.co.za 

Editor Rialien Furstenberg 

rialienf@caxton.co.za 

Journalist 

Jaco-Mari Futcher 

Subeditor 

Lorraine Brown & Beryl Kirsten 

Design studio 

Manager: Marita Janse van Vuuren 

Layout: Mukundi Mavhina 

Advertising 

Marietjie van der Merwe 011 955 1130 

marietjie@caxton.co.za 

Sales 

Debbie Pienaar 011 955 1130 

debbiep@caxton.co.za 

GET IT NATIONAL 

National Group Editor 

Kym Argo - kyma@caxton.co.za 

Facebook and Instagram - 

Get It National Magazines 

National Sales Manager 

Shirley Frattaroli 083 633 6100 

shirleyf@caxton.co.za 

Get It Joburg West is distributed free of 

charge. For a full list of where it is available 

phone 011 955 1130. 

Published by CTP Limited 

Branch Manager 

Jeanette Peach 011 955 1130 

jpeach@caxton.co.za 

Distribution 

Phillip Opperman 

Tebogo Mogorosi 

Competition rules 

The judges’ decision is final. Prizes cannot be 

transferred or redeemed for cash. Competitions 

are not open to the sponsors or Caxton 

employees or their families. Get It Magazine 

reserves the right to publish the names of 

winners, who will be contacted telephonically 

and need to collect their prizes from Caxton 

Northern branch within 10 days or they will be 

forfeited. Prizewinners names are published on 

our Facebook page monthly. 

[PAGENO] Get It Joburg West [MONTH] [YEAR] 

AUGUST 2019 

CONTENTS 

WHY DON’T YOU ... 

6 Shake off the winter chills and pencil in these events 

9 Curl up with a terrific read 

WISH LIST 

10 Winter outings and cosy finds this August 

SOCIAL 

12 For men on the go 

13 Hello new you! 

PEOPLE 

14 Claudia Witbooi might be young and petite but she has moved 

many mountains through her music and activism 

18 Nqobile Nkosi believes that you need more than smoky 

eyes and killer high heels to look great ... 

BEAUTY 

16 We find out what chemical peels are and who needs them 

FOOD 

22 Satisfy your comfort food cravings with smashing, hearty favourites 

GARDENING 

24 Not all plants are high maintenance ... In fact, some are happier if 

you leave them alone and water them less often! 

26 We’ve put together our top garden tasks and tips 

TRAVEL 

32 We love a bush getaway ... and one where ellies drink from the pool 

WIN 

17 Win a chemical peel valued at R480 

34 Take a partner for a two night, midweek break at 

Brahman Hills 

COVER LOOK 

Make up and hair by Antoinette de Beer. Photographed by Jaco 

Bothma at Avianto. Flowers by Event Inspirations. 

June 2019 Get It Joburg West 03

If you have a date for the Get It diary page, email the info at least a month in advance to rialienf@caxton.co.za 

A hot date! 

Shake off the winter chills and pencil in these events 

09 

Woman’s Day at Die 

voete van Jesus Coffee 

and Gift Shop (2 Eduard Bok Street, 

Monument, Krugersdorp) from 9am 

to 4pm. There will be demonstrations 

by professionals on quick and easy 

make-up applications, a motivational 

talk on womanhood, a new skincare 

range and how to give your image 

a boost without breaking the bank. 

Delectable cakes, pancakes and curry 

and rice will be available. Talks are free 

but booking is essential. Details: Sanet 

on 082 853 4021. 

10 

Empowerment self-defence 

workshop at Cradlestone Mall 

in the Woolworths Court from 10am 

to 11.30am. Cost: R100 (mother and 

one child). Booking essential. Details: 

084 494 4054, 082 854 1958 or info@ilead.org.za. 

11 

Visit Cedar Tree Craft Market 

from 10am to 3pm at Khosa 

Sports Club, Krugersdorp for their 

monthly market. There will be secure 

parking, no entrance fee and pets 

are welcome. Details: Chanelle on 081 

500 6884. 

15 

Jan Blohm is known as the 

Rock King of Heart but his 

latest album, Die Liefde Album, is not 

filled with sweet lyrics that drip with 

honey, but rather the raw truth that 

only Jan can grasp. At 8pm at the 

Barnyard Theatre, Silverstar. Tickets: 

R150 per person. Details: www. 

tsogosun.com/silverstar-casino. 

24 

The Clearwater Mall Lego 

exhibition, with over 50 

tables of brick-filled goodness, is sure 

to be a weekend filled with fun and 

excitement. There will be a fascinating 

variety of Lego models built by the 

members of zaLUG (The South African 

LEGO User Group). Entrance is free. 

Details: www.zalug.co.za. 

25 

30 

Join the West Side Craft & Food Market from 10am to 3pm at Ramkiki 

Country Restaurant & Conference Centre. There will be secure parking, 

no entrance fee and pets are welcome. Details: Chanelle on 081 500 6884. 

Big Bugs! exhibit at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden will 

entertain children and adults alike until 8 September. This Giant Creature 

World Expo exhibit with 10 gigantic animatronic bugs and other creatures has 

never been seen in South Africa. Various packages are available. Tickets from R85 

per person. Details: www.howler.co.za or info@giantcreatureworld.com. 

31 

The Festival of Ales 2019 from 10am to 6pm at the Greensleeves 

Medieval Kingdom, Sterkfontein. This year’s festival is sure to bring you 

more knight battles, delicious craft beer, wine, and gin. Tickets from R25 for 

children and R210 per adult. Details: www.howler.co.za or info@greensleeves.co.za. 

7 

Minimalist interiors, bold wallpapers, dried botanics and reinvented 

archways … Decorex Joburg is ready to introduce you to all the 

latest trends set to take over home and office interiors across the city. 

Taking place at the Gallagher Convention Centre until 11 August from 

10am daily. Tickets: R120 per person. Details: www.decorex.co.za. 

6 Get It Joburg West August 2019

WOMEN’S 

MONTH 

Spoil the women in your 

life with our Women’s 

Month promotion 

Our signature Love and Gratitude 

Journey includes: 

30min facial, which leads into a 

60min full body warm rose 

quartz massage 

Light lunch and 30min steam 

room session for FREE! 

All for only R950 per person! 

To make a booking, contact us by 

telephone on 010 010 5026 or 

063 692 0665, or email us at 

bookings@woodlandsspa.co.za 

Valid for bookings in August 2019 only and not valid 

on Saturdays and public holidays. 

010 010 5026 · 063 692 0665 ·bookings@woodlandsspa.co.za 

www.woodlandsspa.co.za

Book club 

Curl up with a terrific read this August 

Sheila O’Flanagan’s novels are always 

fabulous options for those who love 

a little chick-lit (don’t we all?). In Her 

Husband’s Mistake, perfect couple 

Roxy and Dave McMenamin first 

kissed when Roxy was 16, and they’ve 

been in love ever since. They have 

a great marriage and wonderfully 

happy life. Until the morning after 

Roxy’s father’s funeral, when she 

walks in on Dave in bed with their 

next-door neighbour. Time, it seems, 

for Roxy to make some big, lifechanging 

decisions. Lovely, warm, 

funny ... a wonderful book for a 

weekend read. Headline UK, R325. 

Also look out for the best 

Jack Ryan thriller yet! 

Tom Clancy’s Oath of Office, written 

by Marc Cameron, is a roller-coaster of 

heart-stopping action ... a thriller that 

will get your adrenalin going from 

the first chapter to the last. When 

US President Jack Ryan asks his new 

Secretary of Homeland Security what 

frightens him, Mark Dehart answers 

‘Three things’. Which three? ‘Any three. 

If they all happen at the same time.’ 

From a quiet beach in Portugal where 

a beautiful woman kills a French 

arms dealer, to protests against the 

oppressive regime in Iran, to the 

Russian troops and ships massing 

on the borders of the Ukraine, across 

the world a conspiracy is brewing ... 

one so darkly brilliant that no one has 

joined the dots. There’s a madman 

with a plan ... a plan more devastating 

than President Ryan can imagine. 

This is the latest (and may well be the 

best) in Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan series. 

Penguin, R275. 

Oh. A new Catherine Alliott novel. 

Yay! Just the thing for a chilly 

weekend curled up on the sofa 

with a box of biscuits. In A Cornish 

Summer, Flora’s been in love with her 

husband, Hugo, for two decades. Just 

a small problem ... for 15 of those years 

he’s been married to someone else. 

Now she’s been invited to paint her 

ex-father-in-law at the family home in 

Cornwall. It promises to be a blissful 

summer ... except for her awful exmother-in-law, 

and ... oops ... it appears 

her ex-husband and his (admittedly 

lovely) second wife are going to be 

there too. Not so blissful after all. A 

few lovely twists, great characters, 

many laugh-out-loud passages and 

you’ve a brilliant chick-lit read. LOVED 

it! Penguin, R290. 

A nine-month-old baby is hard work. Sleep-deprived Carolina and 

uncommunicative Aksel are having a tough time, but know things will get 

better. One evening they go to sleep, Carolina thinking ‘we have thousands of 

days ahead of us’ ... but they don’t. Aksel dies in his sleep, leaving Carolina’s world 

upside down. Based on author Carolina Setterwall’s own experiences, Let’s Hope 

For The Best is all about life’s small moments. It’s about motherhood and family, 

love and death. An emotional, honest, unforgettable read. Bloomsbury, R295 . 

August 2019 Get It Joburg West 9

Wish list 

Check out our roundup of fab finds 

The Hartz-Verloren 

Body & Soul range 

consists of hand and 

body wash/ cream, 

soap, bath salts, room/ 

linen sprays, scatter 

cushions, jewellery 

pouches and luxe 

tablecloths. Their 

gorgeous handbags 

immediately caught our 

eyes – R795 from Hoppy 

Hearts & Hartz-verloren. 

So many beautiful reasons to be hoppy! 

The quaint, French-inspired Hoppy Hearts & Hartz-verloren gift boutique 

and coffee shop on Viljoen Street is every bunny-hugger and fashion 

lover’s dream. Between their breathtaking décor items and clothes, you 

will be sure to walk away with a shopping bag and a smile. Most of their 

décor has a vintage feel and you will fall in love with the cute and timeless s 

bunnies that they are known for. Whether you’re a trendsetter or a plain 

Jane, you will find the perfect clothing item for your wardrobe. Don’t 

forget to take a look at their jewellery section before you leave – you 

might just find chic earrings to go with your new outfit ... Details: Visit them 

at 29 Viljoen Street, Krugersdorp or visit www.hoppyhearts.co.za. 


Design for 

your sign 

We’re so buying the 

ceramic astrology cup 

range from Love Milo 

… Why? It has customdesigned 

illustrations 

for each star sign 

decorating the inside 

as stars spill out over 

the edges, giving you 

a galaxy of magic and 

knowledge between 

your hands as you sip 

on a cuppa. R300 for the 

cup and saucer. Details: 

www.lovemilo.com. 

Freshest fragrances EVER ... this 

sensational Solinotes range 

includes Pomelo and Oranger. 

LOVE! R298 from Foschini. 

SoyLites Lip Balm with lemon 

essential oil is fresh and leaves 

your lips feeling as if they’ve 

just been kissed by nature. 

R55 from soylites.co.za. 

A duo of 

great wines 

Right now we’re really 

enjoying Pinotage, and 

are just loving the latest 

vintages released by 

Delheim … the new 

Delheim Pinotage 2017 is 

a wine of alluring mystery 

and complexity, while the 

Pinotage Rosé 2019 is 

fun and floral in character. 

You’ll find the Pinotage 

Rosé for between R80 and 

R85, and the Pinotage 

for about R145 to R150. 

Details: www.delheim.com. 

When you go against the (rye) grain, you 

end up with a hand-crafted American 

bourbon with a signature smooth, full, 

flavour. Topped with one-of-a-kind red 

wax – the Maker’s Mark – this easy 

to drink, full-flavoured bourbon came 

about when the brand founder, Bill 

Samuel, replaced rye grain with soft red 

winter wheat, resulting in the delicate 

sweetness the drink is known for. It’s 

the perfect choice for a chilly winter 

day … choose from the four variants 

– Maker’s Mark (R329), Cask Strength 

(R485), Maker’s Mark 46 (R2 195) and 

Private Select (for sale on request at the 

distillery). Details: www.makersmark.com. 

Pencil in your diary! 

There’s nothing better than 

a snifter of brandy to put 

some fire back into your 

veins. Which is why we were 

thrilled to discover that KWV 

will be part of a brandy and 

Frey chocolate pairing in the 

Summerhouse Restaurant at 

Misty Hill Country Hotel on 3 

August, from 6.30pm. R395 per 

person includes the pairing 

with a five-course meal. Details: 

011 950 6000 or mistyhills.co.za. 


Martin Headger and 

Nonhlanhla Kunene 

Kesantha Naidoo and 

Terence Mthembu 

For men on the go 

Sorbet Man Clearwater 

celebrated its store-opening 

with complimentary treatments 

like male grooming, haircuts, 

manicures (and the list continues!) 

and excellent skin-and-haircare 

tips and advice by Dermalogica 

and Blue Beards Revenge. Offering 

the full gamut of on-trend male 

treatments at value-for-money 

prices, Sorbet Man, with its 

unintimidating and inviting space, 

is the place to go for any gent. 

Armand du Plessis 

Theodore Jantjies 

Leo Da Silva and Kyle Clark 

Alisha Mahmood and Georgina Kanyanda 

Pat Mochapa and Kele Maimane 

Lesley Mofokeng and Emmanuel Tjiya 


Sheila Ndamase, MC Coetzer and Alice Mohutsiwa 

Mariska Potgieter, Anri Smith and Bianca Botha 

Hello new you! 

Ansa Basson and Adri Schutte 

Hair by Anri and Hello Beautiful have relaunched in 

celebration of the new and exciting expansions and 

upgrades at their salon situated at the much-loved Hoppy 

Hearts in Krugersdorp. They now have a Hello Beautiful 

team, who are master make-over specialists, and boast some 

stunning renovations to make your beauty experiences even 

better than before. The morning called for champagne, eats 

and envy-worthy prize giveaways at the pop of a balloon! 

Tuané du Preet, Shané 

de Koker and Rudi Fett 

René and Maryke Scheepers 

Hanelle Vrey, Nuschka Schutte and Karin Barnard 

Tania Smith and Tasha Schoeman 

Karen Bredenkamp 

and Lois de Wet 

Vasti and Carmi Kruger 


Text: JACO-MARI FUTCHER. Photographer: JACO BOTHMA. Hair and make-up: ANTOINETTE DE BEER. Venue: AVIANTO. Flowers: EVENT INSPIRATIONS. 

Q ueen 

OF HIP HOP 

14 Get It Joburg West August 2019 

Don't underestimate 

Krugersdorp's Claudia 

Witbooi. She might be 

young and petite but 

she has moved many 

mountains through her 

music and activism. We 

caught up with her in 

between her studio time 

and mommy duties. 

This dainty gal shocked the 

country with her honest lyrics and 

unique beats when she made a 

name for herself as award-winning 

Afrikaans hip hop artist, Yoma. She 

is bright, playful and has a heart 

of gold. One of the songs on her 

brand new album, Moedertaal, 

is called My Blom, and is all 

about growth. 

'We grow as women and as 

mothers. During my own 

pregnancy, I grew on an 

emotional and spiritual level and 

I realised that no matter what 

happens in your life, God will 

help us grow and we will all 

eventually bloom.' 

Music with a message is what got 

her through some of the toughest 

times in her life. She said that 

music has always been a part of 

her life but things only started to 

fall into place a few years ago. 

'I don't remember my very first 

special encounter with music but 

my mother told me how I used 

to put on a show for the whole 

family when I was little. My love 

for music never stopped. I wanted 

to be a singer but my family made 

it clear that I didn't have a singing 

voice so that dream was out the 

door. I loved writing poetry and 

decided to use this talent and 

freestyle rap over a rap beat, and 

that's when the magic happened.' 

Back then, there weren't a lot 

of female hip hop artists in her 

hometown and Claudia couldn't 

imagine doing something that 

hadn't been done before. 

'A family member introduced me 

to the hip hop crowd. My mind

was blown when I learned more 

about the hip hop culture because 

what they do is use rhythm and 

poetry in a very special way to 

address issues in their community. 

‘I love hip hop, because it is honest 

and that's why people resonate 

with this type of music. My music is 

honest. It is who I am.' 

Unfortunately, her family was 

nervous about her becoming a 

hip hop artist so she had to study 

somatology after school to at least 

make a living while pursuing her 

dream career. Claudia changed her 

family's minds when she started to 

make a name for herself. One of the 

things that make her stand out in 

the music industry is that fact that 

she always takes chances. 

‘People have a 

misconception that 

hip hop is noisy and 

a bunch of 

gibberish.’ 

'I stepped out of my comfort zone 

with every song I recorded on 

my recent album. People have a 

misconception that hip hop is noisy 

and a bunch of gibberish. If that's 

the case, I do a bit of a cappella and 

people realise that this genre isn't 

that bad once you get used to it.' 

She has crossed paths with a 

lot of interesting people. Claudia 

works with Besembos Productions 

and is honoured to have met and 

worked with Giga, Hooflig, Ixa, Oxijin, 

Coenie de Villiers, Whaden Johannes, 

DJ Ready D and Hemelbesem. 

Originally from George, Claudia fell 

in love with Pasella presenter Simon 

Witbooi, also known as Hemelbesem, 

when she met him at the annual 

African Hip-Hop Indaba in Cape 

Town. The two love-birds finally got 

hitched and moved to Krugersdorp 

in 2016. When they aren't working 

on new music together, they are 

raising their beautiful daughter. 

Motherhood hasn't slowed her 

down – instead, she is glowing. 

Claudia was pregnant when she 

recorded her recent album and was 

still performing two months before 

she gave birth. Her precious baby 

has been at her side ever since she 

was born. 

'She is only 18 months old but she 

loves to dance to her mommy's 

music. She has helped me grow and 

since she came into my life, I have 

grown closer to God as well.' 

Claudia has always had a soft spot 

for children, but since her baby was 

born, she feels like a mother to all 

children. Through her work at the 

ATKV Crescendo, she also helps 

children who dream of being in the 

music industry. 

Through all of this, she found the 

time to be a MUD ambassador and 

to write a blog for Rooi Rose during 

her entire pregnancy. Right now, she 

is also an activist for women. 

'Women should help build up other 

women. There are a few different 

issues which I raise while addressing 

women and the youth. The general 

message I want to give women is 

that everything you need is already 

inside you. This message is powerful 

because once you realise this, you 

won't be searching for acceptance 

in the wrong places. Women carry a 

big responsibility in the way Mother 

Earth functions. The whole world 

will be a better place if we all knew 

what our value is.' 

Before meeting her hubby, she was 

searching for acceptance in the 

wrong places and was stuck in an 

emotionally abusive relationship for 

two years. 

'I didn't understand why it 

happened or why I didn't leave 

earlier, but at least I got out. There 

are a lot of other women in the 

same painful situation and I want 

to give them hope. I will be raising a 

lot more awareness on this topic in 

the future.' 

After their break-up, she had to build 

herself back up again. During this 

time, her family and friends were 

her rock. 

'I have friends that have been with 

me since as far back as preschool. 

My friends and my mother are 

always there for me and they are 

my anchor when things get tough. 

Family and friends are what keep 

me going.' 

Claudia might seem larger than life 

but she is a down to earth mother 

and wife who enjoys cooking for 

her family, cleaning the house and 

getting creative with a brush and 

a canvas. In the next 10 years, she 

hopes to become a much better 

painter and be the best of the best 

in the music industry. 

'One day, I will get on stage 

and the crowd will be so big that 

there won't be space for a single 

extra person.' 

She has done more in 26 years 

than most people do in a lifetime. 

Claudia's boldness is contagious 

and her future is big and bright. 

We look forward to watching her 

change the world over the next 

few years. 

Moedertaal is available at Musica, all 

digital platforms or can be ordered 

from Besembos Productions. Details: 

078 246 5799 or info@besembos.co.za 

/ yoma@besembos.co.za or follow her 

on Facebook, YOMA. 

Short & sweet: 

1. If you could share the stage 

with anyone, who would you 

choose? Singer, songwriter and 

rapper Lauryn Hill. 

2. What is your guilty 

pleasure? Whiskey and a good 

red wine. 

3. What are your pet peeves? 

I love my husband dearly but I 

dispise the way he stirs coffee 

because the sugar never 

dissolves. I also can’t stand it 

when people are dishonest. 

4. What do you always have 

with you when you leave 

the house? It might sound 

superficial, but I can’t leave the 

house without my cellphone! 

5. What would you do if you 

won R1 million tomorrow? I’d 

be disappointed because it’s so 

little money. Haha, I’m joking 

... When I get any amount of 

money and all my needs are 

met, I always think of who 

needs a blessing. 


hemical 

Miracle of 

peels 

With 29 years of experience in the beauty industry, Ruimsig's 

Rachel Rodrigues surely knows all the ins and outs of facial 

treatments. We had a quick chat with her to find out what 

chemical peels are and who needs them. 

Text: JACO-MARI FUTCHER. Right hand page image: RIALIEN FURSTENBERG 


WHAT IS A CHEMICAL PEEL? 

Peels remove the outer layers of dead skin, 

revealing a new skin layer with improved 

tone, texture and colour. A series of peels can 

help treat a range of skin issues. They are very 

popular because they offer nearly immediate 

results and can be performed during a lunch 

break. I think chemical peels are great, and 

I'm not saying that just because they are part 

of my repertoire as an aesthetic therapist. I 

like to think of them as a reboot for your skin, 

allowing healthy skin to appear. 

WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR A 

CHEMICAL PEEL? 

Anyone wanting to alleviate acne, smooth 

wrinkles, improve skin texture, eliminate age 

spots and reduce the effects of sun damage 

can benefit from having a chemical peel. 

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO BEFORE 

HAVING A CHEMICAL PEEL? 

People who get cold sores should start 

on antiviral medications one week prior 

to treatment and continue taking these 

for two weeks after therapy to prevent 

reactivation of the cold sores. All patients 

are encouraged to use high SPF sunscreens 

prior to and after peeling. Those with darker 

skin may also require pre-treatment to avoid 

hyperpigmentation. 

HOW MANY PEELS WOULD I NEED? 

Generally, it is best to get a peel every four to 

six weeks. But if you suffer from acne there are 

some peels that you can do every two weeks 

until you get the results you want. It is a great 

idea to buy a series of four or five peels up 

front so that you can achieve the treatment 

results that you want. 

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT? 

The skin may feel warm directly after your 

treatment. Depending on the peel that 

you have had you might experience some 

superficial flaking that could last for two to five 

days. It is essential to stay out of the sun 

during and after the healing process as the 

skin may remain sun-sensitive for some time 

after the peel. 

Rachel Rodrigues, owner 

of Heaven on Earth 

THE POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS? 

Although rare, the complications of chemical 

peels include scarring, infection, reactivation of 

herpes simplex infections and post-traumatic 

hyper-pigmentation. 

Always do your research before you have 

more advanced treatments. Check that the 

products being used are of a high standard 

and a recognised brand. Don’t be scared to ask 

questions, because you are placing your best 

feature in the hands of someone else. Always 

ask for relevant qualifications before receiving 

treatment. All too often we see that unqualified 

people are passing themselves off as therapists 

without the relevant training or experience. 

Details: Heaven on Earth – Skin, Body, Laser Studio 

on 011 662 2473 or visit them at Ruimsig Country 

Office Park on Hole-in-One Avenue. 

Rachel is giving away two chemical peels valued at R480 each to 

two readers. To enter, visit Facebook (Get It Joburg West), like the 

competition post and you’ll be in the draw. Entries close 23 August. 


Fiercely feminine 

Text and images: JACO-MARI FUTCHER. 

Trending now ... 

Coral is the new black and 

it is so hot right now. It also 

looks like the burgundy 

trend is going to stay with 

us through all the seasons. 

Firstly, you should find a 

shade that goes well with 

your skin tone. If you can’t 

find anything that suits you, 

you can always bring in a pop 

of colour by accessorising. 

A burgundy belt or a coral 

scarf can jazz up your 

whole outfit. 


Constantia Kloof’s fashionista, Nqobile Nkosi believes that you need more than smoky 

eyes and killer high heels to look great ... 

After chatting to Nqobile, we 

can honestly say that she is the 

embodiment of style. Not fashion. 

Style! Which is that rare combination 

of intelligence, beauty, grace and 

wit. After 17 years she has kissed the 

comfort of a corporate job goodbye 

to pursue her lifelong dream of 

combining her love for all things 

fashion with her desire to help 

women. Nqobile founded Divine 

Elegance Image Consultancy in 2008 

and has since used this platform 

to empower women and young 

girls through fashion and public 

speaking. Between her job and her 

family, she always finds the time to 

dress as if she is about to conquer 

the world. This ambitious mother of 

three works hard to be a role model, 

not only for her own two daughters 

and son, but for every woman in 

her community. 

How did you go from being 

a banker to becoming an 

image consultant? 

Beautifying women has been 

my dream job for as long as I can 

remember. While I still had my 

corporate job, I attended women's 

gatherings during the weekends and 

talked about beauty. But the biggest 

turning point was when I was doing 

ministry work and visited the Chris 

Hani Baragwanath Hospital. They 

had a special ward for women who 

were depressed and stressed out. 

The women I spoke to in that ward 

had been in abusive relationships 

or had a tough time overall and had 

given up on life. That made me think 

that I could help women like this if I 

pursued my true passion. 

How do the two career paths 

compare to each other? 

What I do now doesn't feel like 

work at all. I enjoy talking to people 

and seeing their faces light up. I 

enjoy contributing to somebody's 

happiness or their acquisition of new 

knowledge. The beauty industry is 

quite inundated and you have to 

find a way to stand out. 

How do you support, mentor and 

train the young women? 

I've seen a lot of young women with 

no plans for the future, and women 

getting involved with men who are 

trouble, because they need money. 

To solve this problem, I train young 

women to do make-up and nails. This 

way, they can make their own money 

and contribute to their households. 

What role does fashion and makeup 

play in your own life? 

My mother always said to me that you 

are as old as you want to feel. When I 

got married, she told me that I should 

never stop dressing well and looking 

beautiful. August is my birth month 

and I will be 43, but a lot of people say 

that I look so much younger. That's 

because I am always conscious of how 

I look after myself and how I dress. I will 

never follow trends, because fashion 

comes and goes, but my unique style 

is who I am. 

What is the one thing that people 

don’t know about image consulting 

but definitely should? 

Most women think that in order to go 

and see an image consultant you have 

to earn a lot of money. Other women 

say that they dress appropriately 

and are fine with their make-up 

routine, but they don’t realise what 

a difference using the correct makeup 

for your skin tone or the correct 

clothing for your body type can make. 

Image consulting is about all of you. 

It starts with the inside, because what 

you feel inside shows on the outside. 

My business mantra is ‘Bringing out 

your inner beauty’ and you certainly 

don’t have to break the bank to look 

and feel good. 

What drives you to continuously 

empower women through 

public speaking? 

I love people and making a difference 

in a person's life makes me feel so 

fulfilled. I do a lot of public speaking 

but I also help other women public 

speakers to look their best, be 

confident and excited before going on 

stage by helping them with make-up 

tips suited to their skin undertones, 

and also styling tips suited to their 

body shape and size. This will help 

them make a lasting impression. 

What big challenges have you faced 

and how did you overcome them? 

Working with a lot of women, I have 

realised that not every woman is 

interested in wearing make-up. I 

respect that, so I show them how 

to pull off a minimalistic make-up 

look that they will be comfortable 

with. All women are beautiful but 

sometimes we need a little make-up 

to help us look fresh, professional 

and youthful. On the business front, 

I find it challenging that I have to 

convince some people to pay for 

image consultancy services because 

they don't all realise the importance of 

taking care of yourself. 

Details: Nqobile on 083 567 8581, 

nqobile@divinee.co.za or follow her on 

Facebook, NqoDivineImage 

One on one with Nqobile... 

How would your friends describe you? 

I am a person of excellence and very particular about how things are done. 

On the other hand, I’m a visionary and I’m open to change. It’s always good 

to have a Plan B. 

Are your children following in your footsteps? 

My eldest daughter is 22, my son is 17 and my youngest daughter is six. My 

eldest daughter is a fashion designer and assists me at big events. The little 

one is obsessed with watching YouTube videos about make-up and says that 

she wants to be a vlogger. 

With August being Women’s Month, what important message do you 

have for your daughters about womanhood? 

Take care of yourself. Take care of how you see yourself and how the world 

sees you. Make sure you are healthy and happy. The world needs strong 

women. We do so much for everyone else, but we need to focus on 

ourselves sometimes. 


EST. 1991 

JOHANNESBURG 

AFTER 28 YEARS, WE HAVE DECIDED TO REBRAND 

OUR IDENTITY. 

Same Quality. Same Service. New Look ! 

MANUFACTURING JEWELLERS 

Rock Cottage Center, Honeydew 

www.pedrodasilva.co.za 

082 855 0700

PROMOTION 

A CUT ABOVE THE REST 

What started out as a way to 

earn pocket-money soon turned 

into a passion and lifelong 

career for the talented creator of 

fine jewellery … Pedro da Silva. 

Designing beautiful things has been in his 

blood from a young age as Pedro began 

collecting crystals and gemstones at the 

age of 10, making jewellery on request 

from his school friends for pocket-money. 

When he was about 13 years old, he used 

to watch his brother-in-law design and 

create gorgeous handmade jewellery. 

‘I fell in love with the industry and knew 

from that moment that it was going to be 

my dream career. Now … 28 years later, 

I am still here … designing high-quality 

pieces of jewellery that are irresistible and 

will mesmerise you once you see them. 

Pedro owns a charming business in 

Honeydew and after all these years his 

favourite part of his job is the reaction 

he gets when a client sees their jewellery 

for the first time. ‘Special moments like 

that puts the whole team on such an 

emotional high. It’s one of the greatest 

feelings, knowing that you put a smile on 

someone’s face.’ 

Pedro is always up for any challenge and 

said that the large variety of designs they 

make keeps the work interesting. His aim 

is to make every person who wears his 

jewellery feel special. 

‘We value our customers as important 

and special. We manufacture our 

jewellery with special attention to the 

craftsmanship and we put huge amounts 

of effort and care into our jewellery so 

that we can offer something unique and 

handcrafted.’ 

After 28 years, Pedro decided to use the 

Da Silva family crest as their logo and 

so their new look was born. ‘My family 

crest has always been important to me 

and I wanted to share our longevity and 

trusted name in the jewellery industry in a 

more personal way. I am proud that now, 

people see my name alongside my family 

crest. What hasn’t changed is our service, 

quality and expertise and the shop 

interior which is still loved by whoever 

visits our store.’ 

His proudest achievement came about 

when they ran a survey among all their 

clients in 2018 and asked them if they 

thought that their shop was the best 

manufacturing jewellers in Johannesburg 

and more than 1 000 voted 'yes'. 

‘We are very proud that our clients think 

so highly of us. What sets us apart from 

other jewellery designers is loads of effort 

and consistent hard work. 

We put masses of effort and love into 

our manufacturing, our quality and our 

service.’ 

Details: Call Pedro da Silva on 082 855 0700, 

email him at info@pedrodasilva.co.za, visit 

his website at www.pedrodasilva.co.za or 

visit him at Shop 16, Rock Cottage Centre, 

corner of John Vorster and Christiaan de 

Wet Roads, Honeydew. 

Pedro at work: 

I’m inspired by … Harry Winston, a 

famous diamond dealer and jeweller. 

My favourite metal is … platinum. 

My favourite stone is a … fancy 

yellow diamond. 

Would like to design a jewellery 

item for … Jeannie D. 

Biggest engagement and wedding 

trend now … rose gold is creeping 

in and diamonds are still the most 

popular stone by far. 

EST. 1991 

JOHANNESBURG

B OOST 

YOUR 

MOOD FOOD 

Satisfy your comfort food cravings with smashing, feel-good, 

hearty favourites at Shack Express – Coffee & Art. 

Text and images: RIALIEN FURSTENBERG. 

Waffle stacks – for dessert or breakfast? You decide ... Fluffy on the inside, crispy on the outside and topped with fresh bursts 

of blueberry, perfectly creamy ice cream and a dash of syrup. 


Take a look at what 

we found, tasted and 

LOVED … 

SHACK EXPRESS – Coffee & 

Art is the perfect country-style 

eatery for those who want to feel 

like they’ve escaped the city while 

remaining in it. We can easily 

define their food as homely, heartwarming 

and belly-filling … the 

kind of nosh that is well worth the 

drive. We were hugely impressed 

by their simple menu – not too 

many choices but enough to cater 

for everyone’s taste. Smashing 

breakfasts, consistently good 

coffee, Cheezas, a Shack-style 

burger (made with a freshly baked 

waffle instead of a bun), gourmet 

shakes (think lavender and rose or 

coconut Lindt!) and cake tasting 

platter are well renowned. A lovely 

nursery offers a perfect excuse 

to do some plant shopping, not 

to mention the home décor shop 

– there’s local hand-made and 

painted art, antique finds, pots, 

concrete décor, chalk paint … the 

list is endless! And bring the kids 

along – there is a dedicated play 

area and loads of space to run 

around! Head on over, you will not 

be disappointed! Details: Contact 

them on 082 824 6960 or visit them 

on the M5, Muldersdrift. 

The chicken, fig, halloumi and blue cheese really make this salad sing. 

Cheeza with bacon, feta 

and peppadew 

INGREDIENTS: 

1 slice of bread (any of your choice); 

250ml grated Cheddar; 45–60ml tangy 

mayonnaise; 1 spring onion (green and 

white parts), finely chopped; 125ml 

chopped bacon; 125ml roughly chopped 

peppadews; Danish feta; salt and pepper 

to taste 

METHOD: 

Heat the oven to 160°C. 

Fry the bacon until cooked. 

Mix the cheese, mayo, spring onion, salt 

and pepper well. 

Spread a little butter on the slice of bread. 

Spoon the mixture onto the slice of bread 

as evenly as possible, ensuring that you 

cover the bread right to the edges. 

Place the bread in the oven for about five 

minutes or until the cheese in the centre 

starts to melt. Top with the peppadews, 

bacon and feta. Garnish with microgreens. 


Succ 

cculents 

co 

me 

in many 

shapes 

es, si 

ze 

s and 

colo 

ur 

s. Bri 

ng 

the 

omb 

mbre 

tr 

en 

d to your ga 

rden 

by 

disp 

spla 

layi 

ng a bed of succul 

ents 

arra 

rang 

nged 

by colo 

ur 

spect 

rum. 

Th 

is arr 

rran 

ange 

ment 

wou 

ould 

work 

wel 

ell as a tab 

ableto 

top 

de 

co 

rati 

on or a piece 

of wal 

l art. 

SUCCULENT SUCCESS 

Not all plants are high maintenance ... In fact, some are happier if you leave them 

alone and water them less often! Succulents are those plants ... 

Avoid killing your succulents 

LIGHT: You’d think that cacti and other 

plants that are found naturally in hot, 

dry climates would like as much sun 

as possible. Not quite. Try to find spots 

where your succulents are close to a light 

source, but not in the hottest direct sun, 

which can burn tender, fleshy leaves. Play 

around with your pots and take notice of 

which succulents do best in certain spots. 

You’ll know if your plant isn’t getting 

enough light because it will ‘stretch’ 

toward the light, with leggy, long stems 

that look like they’re leaning. You can 

avoid this by moving your plant closer 

to the light and/ or rotating the pot now 

and then to expose both sides. 

WATER & DRAINAGE: We’ve all heard that 

succulents don’t require as much water 

as other plants. And over-watering can 

indeed be a problem, because succulents 

store water in their fleshy stems and 

leaves. Too much water can cause plants 

to rot. But less water doesn’t mean no 

water. Your succulents need a little love 

24 Get It Joburg West August 2019 

to flourish. For smaller pots, water about 

once a week, or when the soil feels dry. 

For larger pots, about once every two 

weeks, or when the soil feels dry. If your 

pots have drainage, put them in the 

sink or tub and give them a good soak. 

You can skip moving your plants if they 

have a tray or dish for runoff. If your pots 

don’t have drainage holes (think antique 

wooden crates, coffee cups or terrariums), 

give them a drink, enough to wet the soil 

without water pooling at the top. 

SOIL: Succulents need soil that drains, 

so regular potting soil or dirt from your 

garden won’t do. Mix potting soil with 

sand, pumice, or perlite. The key to the 

success of any soil mix for succulents is 

crumbly structure. To test your soil mix, 

moisten it and then squeeze with your 

hands: the mixture should not form a 

lump, but instead should crumble loosely. 

! 

If you notice large gaps on the stem 

in between the leaves, your succulent 

isn’t getting enough light. Move it to 

a sunnier position. 

Succulents love the 

direct sun, but if yours 

are sitting in the same 

spot day after day, it’s 

probable that only 

one side is getting 

enough light. Rotate 

the plants often. 

Succulents will lean 

towards the sun, so 

rotating them 

will help them stand 

up straight.

Crassula muscosa or ‘Rastafari) grows 

10–15cm high and is named for its dreadlock-like 

stems covered in overlapping 

scales. It’s happy in sun and semi-shade. 

Its unusual texture and colour make a 

good contrast to other crassulas in mass 

plantings. Get it for R29 and R295 for 

the planter from the Rusty Rose Nursery. 

Details: 064 686 0669, rustyrose.nursery@ 

gmail.com or visit them at Antique Shack 


Gasteria is a medium-sized succulent 

that grows 18cm tall. Typically it has dark 

green, sharp, triangular leaves, channelled 

on their upper surface and with 

sharp points at their tips. Gasteria succulents 

need little water. Fertiliser should 

be limited to once in spring, both for 

houseplants and those planted outdoors. 

Get both the succulent and planter for 

only R200 from the Rusty Rose Nursery. 

Details: 064 686 0669, rustyrose.nursery@ 

gmail.com or visit them at Antique Shack 


Spread the love 

PROPAGATE FROM CUTTINGS 

Using a clean, sharp blade, cut the stem where your plant is trying to grow a 

shoot. Take your cutting, let it callus over for a few days, and then place it in a 

container with succulent-specific soil. Gently cover it with the soil, without fully 

burying it. Just as you do with your full-grown succulent plants, don’t over-water 

these delicate babies. 

PROPAGATE BY LEAVES 

The key to this method is to gently pluck off the plump, healthy leaf, right where 

the leaf meets the stem. Be sure not to break or rip it – if you do, it won’t grow. 

As with the stem cuttings, allow the leaves to callus over before placing them on 

top of a bed of soil. Don’t cover them with soil, just keep them damp. After three 

or so weeks, baby succulents will sprout, and eventually the mother leaf will dry 

up and fall off. This is an indicator that the baby plant needs to be potted. 

Succulents are very 

trendy right now 

and can be used 

in wedding decor, 

bridal bouquets or as 

thoughtful gifts for 

guests. They can give 

a wedding a rustic feel 

and you don’t have 

to worry about your 

flowers wilting before 

your big day is over. 

Hoya kerrii is a semi-succulent, with 

thick waxy leaves, flowers and stems 

and is extremely easy to care for. 

They like to live in bright sun (but can 

tolerate bright indirect light) in a welldrained 

pot and don’t need tons of 

water. Water every two or three weeks, 

or when soil is completely dry and the 

leaves start to wrinkle. Happy to climb 

up a trellis or cascade over the sides 

of its pot, Hoya kerrii is one of those 

must-have plants for any collector. R25 

from the Rusty Rose Nursery. Details: 

064 686 0669, rustyrose.nursery@gmail. 

com or visit them at Antique Shack on 

the M5, Muldersdrift. 


guide 

Garden 

We've put together our top 

garden tasks and tips for the month. 

We’re planting … 

Osteospermum ecklonis (sometimes referred to as African 

marguerite) ‘Purple Sun’, a new variety with vivid flowers that 

announce the beginning of spring. The blooms feature several 

shades of orange that fade into a deep purple ring at the centre 

of the flower. Forms a compact, well-branched plant, 25cm high 

and 40cm wide, with an abundance of flowers. Grow ‘Purple Sun’ 

in full sun and in ordinary garden soil that’s been well composted. 

They also look good in containers and hanging baskets. In coastal 

gardens, plants should be sheltered from the wind. Fertilise in 

spring and again in autumn. Water regularly but don’t over-water 

as the plant can tolerate moderately dry soil. 

Garden tasks: 

• August is a windy 

month; secure 

climbers and stake 

newly planted 

trees. Check the 

ties of standard roses 

and all other standard 

plants that are supported 

by stakes. 

• In very cold areas, delay 

winter rose pruning 

until the middle or 

end of August. 

• Increase watering to 

once a week for most 

plants. 

• Fertilise all plants. Flowering 

plants should get 5:1:5 or 

3:1:5 and shrubs and trees 2:3:2 

(or their organic alternatives). 

Fuchsias like a nitrogen-rich 

fertiliser at the beginning of 

the season. 

• Remove the spent flowers of 

primulas, petunias, pansies and 

violas to encourage them to keep 

on flowering. 

• Give the lawn its spring treatment. 

Rake out all the dead grass and then 

Small 

cut the lawn with the lawnmower 

on its lowest setting. The compacted 

ground can be spiked with a garden 

fork or a hollow tine fork. Apply lawn 

fertiliser and water in well. 

• If the lawn has hollows, is uneven or 

there are dead patches, level it with 

lawn dressing. Fertilise and water well. 

• Remove leaves from gutters and fix any broken 

ones. Why not call in a plumber to set up a system 

that diverts rainwater from the gutters into a tank? 

• Clean the garden furniture and treat any wooden 

garden furniture. Check with your paint shop for 

suitable products. 

Spekboom, 

R39,99, 

Woolworths 


The amazing Porkbush 

According to the gardening guru, Garden World’s 

JJ Jansen van Rensburg, we have all heard about 

the amazing Spekboom/ Porkbush, but here are a 

few reasons why you should plant one ... today! 

1. Indigenous – Everybody loves planting 

indigenous and what better plant than this 

wonderful versatile indigenous beauty. 

2. Waterwise – With it being a succulent, it 

most definitely is waterwise, meaning it needs 

a lot less water than most plants to survive. 

This makes it drought tolerant and unknown to 

most, it can also withstand a lot of wind. 

3. Carbon footprint – So what exactly does the 

Porkbush have to do with our carbon footprint? 

This plant has the ability to absorb and store 100 

times more carbon than most other plants of 

the same size – neutralising and absorbing our 

overproduced CO₂ air pollution. 

4. Edible – Yes! This sour-tasting leaf makes a 

wonderful salad and conversational topic for any 

dinner party. 

5. Does well in most gardens – this is very true. 

You could live on a koppie, in a valley, close to 

the coast or way inland in the Free State, and 

this plant will grow and thrive with you. 

6. Firebreak – Yes, if you are able to plant a 

wide hedge around your smallholding, this 

will help to prevent smaller veldfires burning 

through to your property. 

7. Could be used as a container, garden, 

focal or general plant – No excuses! We 

should all be planting this in our gardens. 

Even more fantastic is the fact that it makes 

stunning clusters of white or pink flowers in 

summer, so yes, it is not only beautiful to us, but 

it brings in an abundance of wildlife. 

Indoor/ patio plant of the month … 

Is the beautiful indoor mini arum lily (Zantedeschia) that 

is now available in sizzling shades of pink, deepening into 

burgundy. The trumpet-like flowers are available in eight 

different colours and many varieties have shaded or speckled 

leaves. They enjoy a warm, sunny room as plants can take 

some morning sun. Water the plants as soon as the soil’s 

surface is slightly dry. During spring and summer, add liquid 

fertiliser to the water about every two weeks. The leaves are 

toxic to cats and dogs so keep the plants out of reach. 

Diarise this! 

It is that time of the year again – when 

art, design and nature have merged 

to bring you loads of gardening ideas 

and inspiration at Garden World's 

Spring Festival until 1 September. 

Both the new and make-over designer 

gardens will showcase the latest 

garden trends and clever solutions 

for small outdoor spaces, using a 

diversity of plants and natural hard 

landscaping products. The emphasis 

in the make-over designer gardens 

section is on re-invent, re-decorate 

and re-vamp. This section will offer 

plenty of inspiration for gardeners 

with a limited budget. Plus ... there are 

loads of super-interesting workshops 

taking place, so keep an eye on their 

Facebook page, Garden World Nursery. 

Details: Contact them on 011 957 2545 

or visit www.gardenworld.co.za. 


GET IT DIRECTORY 

To advertise here call 011 955 1130


To advertise here call 011 955 1130


To advertise here call 011 955 1130 

We make families 

SMILE 

since 1993 

Dr Annely Bonnet, Dr Elsje Nel & Dr Evanti Sims 

76 Shannon Road, Noordheuwel 

admin@thedentalhouse.co.za | 011 954 2460


To advertise here call 011 955 1130 

Dressmaking & Designing School 

CANNAMED 

“ Life happens .... 

cannabis helps” 

Cannabis oil infused health and beauty 

products (CBD and THC capsules, 

vape oils, oil), imported under medical 

licence from Canada. 

SAFE and effective 

for children! 

 

Stitching Studio | Design & Dressmaking School | Online Fashion Shop 

www.taniasutherland.co.za | info@taniasoutherland.co.za | 082 566 0602 

Sew for fun 

teens & all ages 

Bridal 

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Business startup 

4 x workshops

Mhondoro 

We love a bush getaway ... and one where ellies drink from the pool, 

the rooms are OTT comfy and the food’s five-star really is a special treat. 

When you’re sitting having lunch on the verandah and an ellie 

strolls past, stopping to drink from the pool in front of you, you 

know you’re at a special spot. 

More so when an hour later on a game drive you see a leopard 

stalk, then chase and bring down a springbok, her five threemonth-old 

cubs chasing after her as if to cheer her on. 

We’ve just spent a couple of days at Mhondoro Safari Lodge & 

Villa in the Welgevonden Game Reserve, and it was indeed a 

special treat. 

Although the 

area’s malaria-free, 

mosquito nets still 

drape the beds. Very 

Out of Africa! 

The Honeymoon Suite ... 

romance in the bush 

Very casually strolling by ... the ellies are 

regular, and hugely welcome, visitors to the 

lodge and, more specifically, the swimming pool. 


The Welgevonden area is fairly 

rocky and hilly, but the lodge is 

built overlooking a flat plain, with a 

waterhole in front to which animals 

drift all day ... families of warthog 

and a dazzle of zebras ... the ellies 

appear to ignore it completely and 

head straight for the pool, much to 

the delight of the guests – most of 

whom are international, so imagine 

the thrill! 

Besides what turned out to include 

some sensational animal sightings, 

a highlight of our stay was also the 

food ... this five-star lodge prides itself 

on the fine dining options offered, 

and deservedly so. While the boma 

dinner was been-there-eaten-that, 

other meals were exceptional ... 

think eggs Benedict with truffle oil 

hollandaise or French toast with 

thyme-infused honey and nuts for 

breakfast, or later in the day a dish of 

beetroot elements (pickled beetroot 

and beetroot sorbet, goat’s cheese 

and rocket, topped with pumpkin 

seed ... bliss), a wonderful wild 

mushroom risotto with truffle oil and 

Parmesan, and quite possibly the 

best rack of lamb we’ve ever eaten. 

As much of this as possible comes 

from the lodge’s large, flourishing 

veggie and herb garden – and it’s 

leaning towards being totally selfsufficient 

and off-the-grid within the 

next year or so. 

Accommodating just 26 guests in 

total, there are a few chic-African and 

edgy European-decorated suites to 

choose from, as well as a romantic 

Honeymoon Suite, which has a 

Honestly. Is there anything 

more dramatically wonderful 

than an African sunrise or 

sunset? We think not! 

Fine dining with a view. 

heated plunge pool and outside 

deck with day bed that overlooks 

the waterhole. The suites – think 

mosquito-net-draped beds and 

roaring fireplaces – sleep either 

two or four guests ... but there’s a 

magnificent three-bedroom villa. A 

marvellous choice for a family or 

group of friends, the villa comes with 

a private butler, chef and ranger, 

is exceptionally equipped with a 

pool, lounge, dining and outdoor 

entertainment areas, (it even has its 

own gym, for heaven’s sake). 

Other standout features at the 

lodge, where children of all ages are 

welcome, include the underground 

waterhole hide, which is connected 

to the main lodge by a tunnel, 

allowing you to safely race off and 

see the animals close up, a lovely 

spa for those who need even 

more spoiling than being out in 

the bush provides, a heated pool 

and sauna and two great areas 

for youngsters – one indoors, one 

out. There’s a shooting range, and 

rock art excursions, bush walks and 

rhino tracking, and really brilliant 

yoga retreats can be arranged – get 

together six or more yoga friends 

and experience yoga in the bush at 

dawn or sunset ... how amazing! 

Rates range from R5 675 a person 

a night, sharing, with children under 

two free; three to nine paying 50 per 

cent of the adult fee, 10 upwards 

paying full rate. The Villa exclusive-use 

rate is R45 455 for four guests, R9 091 

per extra adult and R5 051 per extra 

child between three and 11. There are, 

however, often specials, so keep an eye 

on the website. All rates are inclusive 

of meals, selected house drinks, two 

game drives a day and reserved 

entrance, as well as scheduled transfers 

from the Welgevonden main gate. 

Children can’t go on regular game 

drives, but Bumble Drives can be 

arranged and there are babysitters, 

as well as fun activities. The area is 

malaria-free, and the drive is a little less 

than three hours from Joburg and OR 

Tambo airport – unless you happily 

drive along in a daze and miss the N3 

turn-off, when you could, as we did, 

take the road (much) less travelled, in 

which case add, oh, say two hours or 

so to your drive time! 

Details: res@mhondoro.com, 

087 150 2314, mhondoro.com 


Spoil 

August 

A two night stay for two 

in the Natal Midlands 

If you’re jolly lucky, you’ll have already visited Brahman Hills in the heart of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. 

This spot, in the 1 000 hectare Blue Crane Reserve, has for a while been a top choice for weddings, 

conferences and idyllic country escapes. Now the 4-star destination has just added a new option we can’t 

wait to experience ... Springholm Cottages. Just four-and-a-half kms from the hotel, these cottages are 

self-catering, but you’re close enough to the main venue to enjoy, if you wish, the extensive facilities - we’re 

talking two great restaurants, two lovely chapels (the Glass Chapel overlooking a lake, and the new Valley 

View Chapel, built partially underground), a purpose-built venue for conferences and private functions, and 

a state-of-the-art spa (trust us, you’ll want to book something relaxing and pampering here). If you can 

bear to leave, you can visit the Midlands Meander and the neighbouring The Windmills Kitchen. Details: 

www.brahmanhills.co.za or 033 266 6965. We’re giving one reader the change to take a partner for a two 

night, midweek break in one of these new self-catering Springholm Cottages at Brahman Hills. The prize, on 

a bed and breakfast basis, includes a dinner at 89 on Copper. To enter, simply visit Get It National Magazines 

on Facebook, like our Springholm Spoil post, and tag a friend. Entries close August 25. 


Couple: Lothar & Jeanette 

Photograph by: Chantelle Van Der Merwe Photography 

The Most Gorgeous Venue 

Timeless Beauty,Country Cuisine, 

Superior Service, 

Outstanding Value 

Photography by: Bernice Fisher, Light Flair Photography

Aug 2019 Jhb West

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