Ballito Umhl - NOV 2020
Let's celebrate the start of Summer and the end of 2020! Meet Umhlanga’s coolest Barista duo. WIN a weekend away for the family. African flavours at Simbithi’s Fig Tree. Amazing MAKEOVER for a Sheffield Beach bachelor flat.
Let's celebrate the start of Summer and the end of 2020! Meet Umhlanga’s coolest Barista duo. WIN a weekend away for the family. African flavours at Simbithi’s Fig Tree. Amazing MAKEOVER for a Sheffield Beach bachelor flat.
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BALLITO • UMHLANGA<br />
Meet <strong>Umhl</strong>anga’s<br />
coolest barista duo<br />
WIN!<br />
a weekend<br />
away for the<br />
family<br />
African flavours<br />
at Simbithi’s Fig Tree<br />
AMAZING MAKEOVER<br />
for a Sheffield Beach<br />
bachelor flat<br />
Let’s celebrate<br />
the start of summer and the end of <strong>2020</strong>!<br />
SHOPPING, PEOPLE AND LIFESTYLE IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD<br />
<strong>NOV</strong>EMBER <strong>2020</strong>
ONE DAY ONLY<br />
27 November <strong>2020</strong><br />
CHOOSE 3 SAMPLES<br />
AT CHECKOUT<br />
FREE DELIVERY FOR<br />
ORDERS OVER R750<br />
MAKE SURE YOU’RE ON<br />
THE LIST THAT COUNTS!<br />
Sign up for our newsletter to receive early<br />
access to our Black Friday exclusive online<br />
offers! Only at clarins.co.za<br />
18103
GET IT<br />
Editorial<br />
Phone 032 946 0276<br />
Email leah@getitnc.co.za<br />
<strong>Ballito</strong> Business Centre • <strong>Ballito</strong> Drive<br />
<strong>Ballito</strong> • KwaZulu-Natal<br />
Like our Facebook page:<br />
Get It Magazine <strong>Ballito</strong>.<strong>Umhl</strong>anga<br />
Follow us on Twitter: @GetItMagNC<br />
getitmagazine.co.za/ballito-<br />
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getitmagnc<br />
Editor Leah Shone<br />
leah@getitnc.co.za<br />
Layout and Design<br />
Nicole von Metzinger<br />
ads@northcoastcourier.co.za<br />
Advertising Justine Douglas<br />
justine@getitnc.co.za | 082 454 9222<br />
Natalie Bertram<br />
Natalie@getitnc.co.za | 082 434 3442<br />
Sales and Online Support Lisa Smith<br />
lisa@getitnc.co.za<br />
GET IT NATIONAL<br />
National Group Editor and National<br />
Sales Kym Argo<br />
082 785 9230 | kyma@caxton.co.za<br />
Distribution<br />
10 000 copies monthly<br />
Get It <strong>Ballito</strong> • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga is distributed<br />
free of charge in <strong>Ballito</strong>, Salt Rock, <strong>Umhl</strong>ali,<br />
Umdloti, <strong>Umhl</strong>anga Rocks, <strong>Umhl</strong>anga<br />
Ridge and Gateway<br />
Published by The North Coast Courier<br />
Competition rules<br />
The judges’ decision is final. Prizes cannot be<br />
transferred or redeemed for cash. Competitions<br />
are not open to the sponsors or Caxton<br />
employees or their families. Get It Magazine<br />
reserves the right to publish the names of<br />
winners, who will be contacted telephonically<br />
and need to collect their prizes from Get it <strong>Ballito</strong><br />
branch within 10 days or they will be forfeited.<br />
Prize winners’ names are published on our<br />
Facebook page monthly.<br />
Cover: Christy Ann du Plessis<br />
Shot by: Chris Allan Photo: 083 441 3144,<br />
www.chrisallanphoto.co.za<br />
Makeup: Kylie Black, @madeup_bykylie<br />
Dress: Bianca Warren, www.biancawarren.com, 031<br />
566 3570, @BiancaWarrenSA<br />
Floral backdrop: Love Laugh, <strong>Ballito</strong> Lifestyle Centre,<br />
www.lovelaugh.co.za, 083 875 4263, @LoveLaughSA<br />
Shoot location: Coco De Mer Boutique Hotel and<br />
Fiamma Grill Italian restaurant: 63 Compensation<br />
Beach Road, <strong>Ballito</strong>, 032 946 1029<br />
<strong>NOV</strong>EMBER <strong>2020</strong><br />
contents<br />
Why don’t you…<br />
2 Visit a market (yes, they’re back!), take a long, beautiful stroll on the<br />
beach (for the environment) and do your bit for the Sunflower Fund!<br />
Wish List<br />
6 Celebrating all the flavours and spoils of summer<br />
People<br />
8 Take a look at who we bumped into at two awesome<br />
North Coast events this month!<br />
12 Celebrity trainer and mother of three ... meet our cover girl<br />
from Mtunzini Christy Ann du Plessis<br />
14 Passionate about the sea and open water swimming ocean guide<br />
John McCarthy shares his priceless water safety advice<br />
Health & Beauty<br />
18 The <strong>Umhl</strong>anga trail running group has been going strong for a full<br />
decade - we meet the man who started it all<br />
20 For truly natural beauty ... try these awesome DIY beauty recipes!<br />
22 Teresa is helping people make the necessary changes to improve<br />
their health and quality of life<br />
24 Is your body summer-ready?!<br />
26 Fashion and art merge at <strong>Umhl</strong>ali’s trendy Dala Art Bar<br />
28 Fashion never felt this good - spoil yourself and give back!<br />
Food & Drink<br />
30 Meet your barista: We met up with two of <strong>Umhl</strong>anga’s coolest<br />
baristas from Rox Coffee Company on the promenade<br />
32 Venishree Mayer went from a quiet life in the small farming town of<br />
Darnall to becoming an award-winning olive oil producer<br />
38 The Fig Tree’s Kenyan-born senior sous chef Godfrey brings flavours<br />
of Africa to the restaurant’s new menu<br />
celebrations<br />
42 We discover a hidden gem tucked away from the hustle and bustle<br />
and perfect for an intimate event, gathering or celebration<br />
44 Winding down ... how are you celebrating the end of <strong>2020</strong>?<br />
46 Do something completely different with your friends or colleagues<br />
for some fun this year and host a cooking class! Take a look at ours ...<br />
50 Christmas is not cancelled ... and nor is the much-loved<br />
Christmas Fair Fund’s annual Christmas Fair!<br />
HOMES AND GARDENS<br />
52 Take a look at this marvellous bachelor flat makeover<br />
56 See how small changes really can make a big difference<br />
58 Incorporate the ancient art of macramé into your garden<br />
19910 copies distributed (January - March <strong>2020</strong>)<br />
November <strong>2020</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 01
13<br />
YEARS<br />
EXCLUSIVE MANDATE<br />
BALLITO | THE ULTIMATE BEACHFRONT APARTMENT<br />
A furnished beaut with sea views to live for. A position of note in close<br />
proximity to shops and amenities - on the beach and on <strong>Ballito</strong>’s popular and<br />
picturesque promenade/boardwalk.<br />
R 3 500 000 3 2 1 176m 2<br />
BALLITO | PRIVACY – SERENITY - SPACE<br />
Emphasis on space, privacy and outlook and independently situated in a<br />
secure complex within a gated estate. Centrally located in <strong>Ballito</strong>.<br />
4 2.5 2<br />
238m 2<br />
R 2 950 000<br />
EXCLUSIVE MANDATE<br />
SIMBITHI | FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY<br />
Magnificent, beautifully renovated apartment with 180 degree elevated sea<br />
views. Tastefully appointed luxury with huge potential for short term letting.<br />
R 5 250 000<br />
4<br />
3<br />
2<br />
300m 2<br />
Fiona Crago<br />
082 551 2607<br />
fiona@fionacrago.co.za<br />
Janelle Maritz<br />
083 694 6338<br />
janelle@fionacrago.co.za<br />
Jackie Futter<br />
083 326 7958<br />
jackie@fionacrago.co.za<br />
Invest. Intelligently.<br />
02 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga November <strong>2020</strong><br />
032 946 1439 | www.fionacrago.co.za
A hot date!<br />
Market spoils and beach walks this November<br />
If you have a date for the Get It diary page, email the info at least a month in advance to leah@getitnc.co.za<br />
07<br />
Immerse yourself in the most beautiful<br />
Little Local Market at under the trees at<br />
Sage Centre in Salt Rock on the first Saturday of<br />
every month. The market is from 9am to 1pm,<br />
entrance is free and you’ll be able to connect,<br />
eat and play with talented local vendors, traders,<br />
gypsies, makers and creators. Sip on a gin cocktail,<br />
drink great coffee and listen to live music while<br />
browsing stunning stalls and shops. Let the<br />
children run free in a safe and fun kiddies’ play<br />
area. Details: Sage, Old Fort Road, Salt Rock, www.<br />
sagecentre.co.za or 032 525 8059.<br />
13<br />
It’s nearly time for one of our very favourite<br />
days of the year … Sunflower Day. If you<br />
haven’t already, then make sure you get yourself<br />
a beautiful Sunflower Fund tope and why not<br />
consider becoming a bone marrow donor? It’s not<br />
as painful think and it’s really the ultimate gift you<br />
can give another person! According to the Global<br />
Cancer Observatory, a South African is diagnosed<br />
with a blood disorder every five minutes, and<br />
there are only under 77 000 registered donors<br />
in the country. This year, Sunflower Day will be<br />
celebrated on 13 November and you can take<br />
part by either becoming a donor or buying a Tube<br />
of Hope (TOPE) and sharing some hope. TOPES<br />
are available online or at Pick n Pay stores and<br />
selected pharmacies nationwide for R30. You could<br />
also consider planning a mini-event or fundraiser<br />
to commemorate Sunflower Day and help with<br />
much-needed fundraising efforts to grow the<br />
patient support fund. Details: www.sunflowerfund.<br />
org, 0800 12 10 82.<br />
22<br />
We are absolutely delighted by the news<br />
that the incredibly popular SA musician<br />
Jeremy Loops will be performing live at the<br />
Chris Saunders Park in <strong>Umhl</strong>anga on Sunday 22<br />
November! Yay for live music concerts being a<br />
thing again! Loops will be supported by local<br />
artists and there will be a variety of food stands as<br />
well as a fully stocked bar available. The organisers<br />
have assured us that all Covid-19 protocols will be<br />
in place to make the event a safe environment and<br />
there will be plenty of space for social distancing<br />
and sanitizing stations available. Face masks are<br />
required. No food or beverages will be allowed<br />
into the venue. Tickets are limited to 500 people<br />
and are between R180 and R200 per person. Gates<br />
open at 12. Details: www.webtickets.co.za<br />
14<br />
The Philocaly Trail (Philocaly meaning the Love of Beauty)<br />
is a KZN beach walk that was initiated by nature lover Nikki<br />
Williamson, which sees participants donating money to<br />
marine conservation charities for each day that they walk.<br />
The event first took place last year, with 285 participants,<br />
and over R60 000 was raised and donated to WildOceans<br />
Conservation, Breathe Ocean Conservation and KZN Beach<br />
Clean UP. When 420 walkers took the beach (walking between<br />
Mtunzini and Sheffield Beach over five days) in September<br />
this year, a remarkable R100 000 was raised. Due to popular<br />
demand, a ‘mini’ Philocaly Trail has been organised on 14 and<br />
15 November. Participants can walk on one or both days and<br />
the event goes from Tinley Manor Beach to Salmon Bay Beach<br />
(15km on day 1) and then Salmon Bay to Umdloti (17km on<br />
day 2). Details: FB: https://www.facebook.com/PhilocalyTrail or<br />
email: philocalytrail@gmail.com<br />
November <strong>2020</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 03
Book club<br />
Real life thrillers and in-your-dream chick lit<br />
and great wine and a box of chocolates. Swoon<br />
The Family Holiday by Elizabeth Noble is just the most delightful book we’ve<br />
read in ages. It’s light and easy, with lovely characters you long to be your newbest-friends.<br />
Teenage angst, family tragedies, new wives and single dads and<br />
a holiday in a gorgeous luxury retreat in the country ... a warm, witty and really<br />
wonderful weekend read. • Equally as light and enjoyable is Sophie Kinsella’s<br />
irresistible new novel about falling in love with someone - but not necessarily<br />
with their life. A writing retreat in Italy and a holiday romance sounds lovely.<br />
But back home - with his eccentric, naked-sauna-loving family and her terribly<br />
behaved, shirt-shredding dog - things don’t look as rosy. We love a good chick lit<br />
read, and Love Your Life is really fun.<br />
There is so much to love about Groote Post Seasalter wine ... the elegance and purity of<br />
fruit, the vibrant acidity, the oyster shell minerality and saline finish, typical of Sauvignons<br />
from the maritime cool-climate Darling Hills terroir. Even the name captured the essence of<br />
the wine. Seasalter <strong>2020</strong> has just been released ... and it’s a summer beach escape in a bottle.<br />
Think grapefruit and zesty lime with hints of fynbos, sea-breeze and a touch of oak. Serve it with<br />
seafood, of course. Around R150 from wine merchants or groote-post-wines.myshopify.com<br />
November <strong>2020</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 05
Wish list<br />
Summer time ... and the living’s so easy<br />
These beaded wrap bracelets are the prettiest way to accessorise<br />
a Summer outfit. Made from Japanese Miyuki glass beads in<br />
gorgeous colours (we fancy this teal and aqua option), and<br />
dainty charms, they’re elasticated and wrap comfortably<br />
round the average wrist six times. Wear one, or a few, for a<br />
colourful boho look. R350 from themakerycollection.com<br />
A breath of French air<br />
There’s a recipe in Jan - A Breath of French Air, for a biltong<br />
and crisp sandwich. Made with simple fresh white bread and<br />
Mrs Ball’s chutney, Jan get tears in his eyes when he eats it.<br />
There’s also one for a naartjie panna cotta with Rice Krispies<br />
chocolate rocks. Tastes of home in Nice, France. Lots of them.<br />
Cape seed loaf and mosbolletjies and his mother’s souttert.<br />
Loads and loads of more sophisticated dishes too ... many of<br />
them suprisingly easy. No surprise at all that they’re delicious.<br />
This, Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen’s second book, is page<br />
after page of deliciousness ... and there are dishes you’ll make<br />
again and again. We’re off for a biltong and crisp sarmie.<br />
Penguin Random House, R490<br />
Tastes of Clifton<br />
Sun-bronzed skin. A warm Summer breeze. Soft golden<br />
sand. Icy, clear water that refreshes like no other. That’s<br />
Clifton. And we don’t need to be heading there these<br />
summer hols ... we can just make ourselves a cocktail with<br />
the new Clifton gin. Created by SA born Silvana Bottega<br />
(who describes it as liquid sunshine in a sip), the gin’s<br />
already won two gold medals. There are two versions ...<br />
Clifton 1 and Clifton 2 (just like the numbered protected<br />
coves of Clifton beaches). Clifton 1 is a sipping gin, all<br />
orange and lemon peel, lavender and fynbos, and is best<br />
served on the rocks. Clifton 2 - the cocktail gin - is eminently<br />
mixable. With hues of the sea, it’s all about marine and<br />
fynbos botanicals, cucumber and buchu, all working in<br />
harmony to capture the spirit of the Atlantic Ocean. The<br />
gins cost between R429 and R498 a bottle and you’ll find<br />
them at good bottlestores or on cliftongin.com<br />
Compiled by KYM ARGO<br />
06 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga November <strong>2020</strong>
Taking inspiration from nature<br />
We’re lusting over this Wanderland Collective Oceanum round<br />
pouch bag. Made of velvet fabric printed with a hand-painted<br />
design inspired by the ocean - shells, textured mosses, algae and<br />
darting jellyfish - it comes with a detachable tassel and<br />
gold-coloured chain strap, which is long enough so the<br />
bag can be worn cross-body. It’s just the right size for your<br />
phone, lipstick and credit card. Plus it ticks the<br />
‘support local’ box ... it’s made here, with the design by<br />
local textile designer and artist Nicole Levenberg. There<br />
are a few colours and designs to choose from ... we fancy<br />
this Moss version. R785 from equilibrio.co.za<br />
Africa from the air ... a collection of extraordinary images in one magnificent book<br />
The continent of Africa has always held an irresistible allure and fascination for aerial photographers Jay and Jan Roode,<br />
who, when they’re not taking visitors on bespoke aerial safaris, roam the skies, capturing awe-inspiring images of the natural<br />
wonders of far-flung regions. The pair have spent thousands of hours in their specially modified aircraft, and for more than a<br />
decade have flown to, and photographed, some of the most remote and spectacular wilderness areas of southern Africa. The<br />
magnificent Aerial Art is the culmination of their remarkable journey. With a vibrant collection of wild and enchanting images<br />
that are instantly recognisable by their unique style and approach, the photographs convey an intimacy with, and reverence<br />
for, the wilderness that reflects their passion for the conservation and preservation of the landscapes they’ve flown over. The<br />
book has a magnetic clip hardcover case, 65 glorious double-page spreads as well as a comprehensive index with a thumbnail<br />
of each image and a brief description at the back of the book. The book costs R980, but there’s also a limited run of 200 copies<br />
with an alternative cover, which costs R1960, which includes a R1000 gift voucher which can be used towards the purchase of<br />
a fine art print of any image in the book. You’ll find the book at Exclusive Books or order online from hphpublishing.co.za<br />
November <strong>2020</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 07
The Arch is open<br />
We were delighted to have been invited to the media launch of <strong>Umhl</strong>anga’s<br />
hottest new development, The <strong>Umhl</strong>anga Arch. With breathtaking<br />
ocean views, gorgeous boutique stores and an open plan market-style<br />
dining area called The Legacy Yard, this is an incredible new addition to<br />
the area and, if you haven’t already, make sure you pay them a visit!<br />
The team from Hello Hunny treated guests to a ‘royal’ hand sanitizer spoil<br />
Taryn Fleming and Sky Tshabalala<br />
Robert Mattison and Shane Yelverton<br />
at the trendy Back Yard roof top bar<br />
<strong>Umhl</strong>anga Arch developer and visionary Marc Rosenberg<br />
with Butterscotch store manager Noma Mondlane<br />
08 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga November <strong>2020</strong>
New beginnings<br />
Bubbles, beautiful clothes and happy smiles were the order of the day at<br />
the opening of Muze at the <strong>Ballito</strong> Lifestyle Centre recently. Owned by<br />
Wendy van Zyl, the beautiful boutique stocks stunning limited-edition,<br />
on-trend garments as well as accessories and gorgeous gifting.<br />
Jordan, Wendy and Seth van Zyl<br />
Caley Rosenberg and Nicola Grove<br />
Oliver and Casey Hardy<br />
Eula Barkley, Johanna Karlsson and Khosi Mathenjwa<br />
Dr Rohini Bisaal and<br />
Subashan Pillay<br />
Kim Noyce and Sue Friderichs<br />
Leigh-Ann Paterimos, Tes<br />
Jahnig and Nikki Stone<br />
10 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga November <strong>2020</strong>
Moving for your<br />
mind and body<br />
Text: Leah Shone | Photograph: Chris Allan Photo | Dress: Bianca Warren | Hair: Carlton Hair, <strong>Ballito</strong><br />
Makeup: Kylie, madeup_bykylie | Location: Coco De Mer boutique hotel and Fiamma Grill<br />
Business woman, physiotherapist and<br />
celebrity fitness trainer Christy Ann du Plessis<br />
truly believes in the healing power of moving<br />
your body. In a time when many of us need<br />
to hit the reset button and pay more attention<br />
to our health, we decided to catch up with<br />
the inspiring Mtunzini mother of three.<br />
She’s a beautiful, petite blonde with a striking smile and an incredibly welcoming nature, and it’s hard not to warm to Christy<br />
Ann within minutes of meeting her. But there is a lot more to her than just a pretty face and a super fit body.<br />
If she looks familiar, it may be because you’ve seen her on social media, where her popularity is growing on a daily basis. Or<br />
perhaps you caught her on DSTV, where she was recently featured on SuperSport’s 5 Colour Fitness workout show.<br />
Although she is a highly qualified physiotherapist and body conditioning trainer, Christy Ann’s true passion lies in helping<br />
people, women in particular, improve their mental health through physical exercise.<br />
It’s something she has had first hand experience of in her own life, and it was her strong desire to share her knowledge that<br />
led to Christy Ann starting her blog and social media pages a few years ago.<br />
A busy mom to her three sons, Arthur (4), Charles (3) and Michael (18 months), Christy Ann, with her husband Peter, moved<br />
to the small North Coast town of Mtunzini three years ago, after he took up the position of chief financial officer at the<br />
12 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga November <strong>2020</strong>
University of Zululand.<br />
The couple were living in<br />
Bloemfontein before that, which is<br />
where Christy Ann owned and ran<br />
three highly successful physiotherapy<br />
practices. Christy Ann grew up on<br />
a farm in the Eastern Cape and met<br />
her husband while she was studying<br />
in Bloemfontein. They have been<br />
married for nearly 10 years.<br />
It was a conscious decision, she says,<br />
to have their children close together.<br />
She admits, though that it has been<br />
challenging at times. Especially when<br />
they had three kids under the age<br />
of three, all still in nappies! “We are<br />
adventurous and love getting out<br />
and camping. We wanted to get the<br />
‘nappies and bottles’ stage out of the<br />
way all at once. It seemed like a good<br />
idea at the time, but there have been<br />
moments where I’ve questioned our<br />
sanity,” she laughs.<br />
Before she had children, Christy Ann<br />
spent some time training overseas,<br />
which is where she learned more<br />
about the mind-body connection. “I<br />
was specialising in women’s health<br />
and sports rehab, but I became<br />
fascinated with the concept of using<br />
physical activity to improve a person’s<br />
mental health.”<br />
Having suffered with chronic fatigue<br />
while she was studying and then<br />
post-natal depression after the birth<br />
of her first son, Christy Ann says she<br />
saw first hand how she was able to<br />
heal her mind with movement and<br />
exercise in both instances.<br />
During lockdown, Christy Ann<br />
decided to offer free online exercise<br />
classes and they grew quickly in<br />
popularity. She still offers online<br />
classes, on a subscription basis. She<br />
does a live class every day at 8am with<br />
a recording available for those who<br />
can’t join the live class.<br />
“This has been a difficult year for<br />
everyone and after everything we<br />
have been through, a lot of people<br />
are suffering with chronic stress at the<br />
moment. I truly believe that moving<br />
your body (five times a week for half<br />
an hour a day, at moderate intensity)<br />
can and will make a massive change<br />
in your mental state and your life.”<br />
When Christy Ann was approached<br />
by the Fitness Health Active (FHA)<br />
network and recruited to be part<br />
of Season 2 of The 5 Colour Fitness<br />
show, she was thrilled! FHA and sister<br />
company, the Gresham Group, hosted the programme on DSTV’s SuperSport,<br />
airing it for five weeks, giving viewers exercise routines and showcasing healthy<br />
eating options and recipes from qualified trainers from around the country.<br />
“It was an amazing experience being a part of the show. I was actually still<br />
breastfeeding during the filming, so I travelled to Johannesburg to film as a mom<br />
of three … and was surrounded by all these young trainers! But it was so much<br />
fun. I am so thankful to have fallen into this space where I am able to really realise<br />
my dreams.”<br />
So, if you are feeling quite drained and emotionally spent, how do you get<br />
yourself into a fitness regime? “My biggest tip is to get yourself an accountability<br />
partner. It doesn’t have to be someone you run or do gym with, but just<br />
someone who is going to check in on you daily and make sure you are moving,”<br />
says Christy Ann. “The next thing I recommend is that you literally block out your<br />
exercise time in your diary. And make it a repeat activity. That way, if you do have<br />
to delete it and add something else, you are forced to really think about it and<br />
consider that you are, in fact, ‘deleting’ your health!” Changing your eating habits<br />
can also go a long way to improving your energy levels and mental wellness.<br />
“Changing my eating habits really helped me unlock more energy and feel better<br />
about myself. I like to think about what I put in my mouth and avoid refined<br />
foods. I try to eat food that is as close to its natural form as possible and I try to<br />
stick to the age-old ‘plate rule’ – so half your plate is fruit and vegetables (more<br />
vegetables), a quarter healthy protein and a quarter wholegrain carbs. I think<br />
if you keep it simple, you’re more likely to stick to it. I snack on nuts and raw<br />
veggies during the day and, if we spoil ourselves, with a burger or a pizza, I try<br />
not to have the bun and only eat the top off the pizza! It’s not for everyone, but<br />
this way of eating works for me.”<br />
Christy Ann says she has seen incredible changes in some of the women doing<br />
her online workouts, and has had some amazing testimonies. One lady has<br />
already lost 20kg’s!<br />
“My biggest dream has always been to be a positive influence, health wise, for<br />
women and I feel so lucky to really be living that dream right now.”<br />
Details: www.christyann.fit, FB and IG: Christyann.fit, info@christyann.fit<br />
November <strong>2020</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 13
Be ocean safe<br />
Our proximity to the ocean, incredible climate and outdoor lifestyle means it is in<br />
inevitable that many North Coasters - adults and kids - spend a lot of time in the water.<br />
As summer arrives, we asked well-known author, adventurer and ocean recreation<br />
safety instructor John McCarthy for some advice.<br />
Text: Leah Shone<br />
A former competitive surfer and professional lifeguard, John is probably more<br />
comfortable in the water than anywhere else. Having travelled the world<br />
extensively, he is also a veteran competitive canoeist, surf ski paddler and<br />
certified Master freediver. His true passion lies in open water swimming though.<br />
John was the navigation and safety officer for South African endurance swimmer<br />
Sarah Ferguson on two of her biggest swims and he designed the Underwater<br />
Swim Free Confidence course to help people be safer and more comfortable in<br />
and under water. He is also the author of two books.<br />
John shared his <strong>2020</strong> Swim Free Water Safety Guide with us – an 18-step guide<br />
to help anyone enjoy water activities more safely. He wants parents, coaches,<br />
facilitators and anyone working with children or adults where water activities are<br />
involved to read it. “In South Africa more than 600 children die by drowning every<br />
year and many more are disabled by a non-fatal drowning incident. This is a<br />
statistic that I, as a father, struggle to accept. I encourage people to their children<br />
through the swim free guide step-by-step,” he says. “It could save their lives.”<br />
14 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga November <strong>2020</strong>
We’ve pulled out just a few of John’s tips for<br />
being safe in the water. The comprehensive<br />
18-step guide can be found on the Swim Free<br />
website (details below):<br />
* Always respect water. We can survive extraordinary<br />
things in water if we approach it with respect and are able<br />
to operate in a calm and confident manner. It is easy to<br />
perish if we are ignorant, arrogant, impatient or foolish.<br />
* When evaluating risk, think in colours: green, amber,<br />
and red. Green is safe and red dangerous. Use this<br />
mindset to assess risk when approaching a body of<br />
water – whether it’s the ocean, a dam or river or a pool.<br />
Pause before entering and take time to colour the picture<br />
in your mind. For example, in a pool, the deep end and<br />
diving boards would be amber to red and the shallow<br />
end green. In a river the rapids, fast-flowing water, weirs<br />
and blockages would be red. A dam with clear water<br />
and easy access in and out would be green. In the same<br />
dam, but with murky water where you can’t see the<br />
bottom – that would be amber. In the ocean, the rocks<br />
and the rip currents would be amber to red, where a nice<br />
shallow sand bank with gentle foamies rolling towards<br />
shore would be green. If you look at a situation and you<br />
don’t understand what is going on, then by default you<br />
automatically mark that part of the picture red. Also,<br />
remember that nature is dynamic and always changing<br />
and a picture can go from green to red very quickly.<br />
* The first rule of lifesaving is self-rescue. You also need<br />
to use the colours to gauge how you are feeling in a<br />
situation. Green means ‘I understand my situation, I’m<br />
completely calm and confident in my ability. Amber is<br />
when doubt creeps in and red is, ‘I’m out of my depth and<br />
feeling overwhelmed’. You always want to be green – if<br />
you’re amber or red try to exit. Prevention is ultimately<br />
better than cure though, so if you have any doubt, rather<br />
do not enter the water and swim another day!<br />
* When entering the water, always use the buddy rule.<br />
When you buddy up, you watch out for and stay close<br />
to each other. If one of you is swimming underwater the<br />
other must stay on the surface until you come up. If you<br />
become separated immediately alert a teacher, lifeguard<br />
or person in authority. If you are in distress, the universal<br />
signal is one arm waved slowly above your head.<br />
* A drowning person doesn’t look like what they show<br />
on TV. Most often, a drowning person will simply slip<br />
below the surface with very little splash or fuss. Either<br />
because they can’t swim or are fatigued.<br />
* Parents – watch your children in the water. Even if they<br />
can swim and regardless of how old they are. Do not be<br />
distracted by social media. Drowning is silent and you will<br />
not hear splashes or screams for help. If a child says they<br />
can swim don’t believe them unless you witness their<br />
ability.<br />
Details: For more about John’s Confidence Underwater course<br />
or to find out about his other services, go to: www.oceanchild.<br />
co.za. For the full Swim Free guide to go: www.swimfree.co.za
Promotion<br />
There’s a new skipper on<br />
board at Suncoast<br />
When you work in the demanding world of casinos, hotels and entertainment, you need to be<br />
rational and have a great sense of humour - qualities Suncoast’s new director of operations and<br />
complex general manager has. We get to know the man behind the title.<br />
ehind his mischievous<br />
grin and Bristolian<br />
humour, lurks a<br />
level-headed man<br />
who is able to make<br />
informed decisions in<br />
the fast-paced world of business and<br />
entertainment. Adam MacIntyre has<br />
been in the hotel and casino industry<br />
for 31 years, and is proof of what he<br />
believes - what you put in, you will reap.<br />
Since his days as a casino dealer back in<br />
Bristol in the UK, his hard work, effort<br />
and continued commitment have led<br />
him to running the pearl in the Tsogo Sun gaming crown, Suncoast.<br />
Adam jumped at the opportunity to be part of Durban’s most loved entertainment<br />
destination when Mike Dowsley, who steered the Suncoast ship for the last 17<br />
years, was off on a new adventure. No stranger to the position, after helming the<br />
Emnotweni Casino in Nelspruit since 2017, Adam is ecstatic to be working with a<br />
world class team, providing a world class offering, and looks forward to being part of<br />
Suncoast’s exciting future.<br />
After growing up in West Wales and Bristol and starting his career in 1989, his<br />
experience abroad included working for Stakis Hotels and contracts in Europe and<br />
the UK. In 1992, his career started in South Africa at the Wild Coast Sun and, after six<br />
years at the coast, he found himself in Gauteng. Adam was part of the opening team<br />
and pit manager of The Dome and later Montecasino, the latter where he worked<br />
his way to tables manager in 2007. Five years later, he was managing the tables<br />
department at Gold Reef City Casino, until 2016, and then spent a year back at<br />
16 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga November <strong>2020</strong>
Montecasino before steering Emnotweni Casino.<br />
Adam says he has had many high and low moments in his life, but his biggest<br />
highs have been proposing to and marrying his wife, Olivia, as well as the day their<br />
daughter, Lily-Rose, was born. The almost three-year-old is her father’s delight and<br />
makes him smile every day. “We love the coastal life and I don’t mind getting my toes<br />
wet in the sea every now and again. Lily-Rose loves the beach and the sea, and is<br />
absolutely in her element with smiles that just keep on coming.” Adam says his career<br />
journey since joining Tsogo Sun is also a definite high, and that all the low points in<br />
his life have added to who he is, and who he and Olivia are as a couple.<br />
While working and still trying to find a home, Adam is trying to get back into running,<br />
and thinks the beachfront’s Golden Mile is the perfect route to get him on track<br />
again. A lover of bush and wildlife, places like Botswana and Zimbabwe are some of<br />
his preferred holiday destinations, and the Kruger National Park was his second home<br />
while living in the Lowveld. ”KZN has great wildlife opportunities, and it’s been a<br />
while since we visited Umfolozi-Hluhluwe. Walking safaris and camping have always<br />
been a favourite pastime, and being able to have some quiet time just listening to the<br />
wind through the veld can sometimes make all the difference.”<br />
Uncovering his bliss for the bush, it is easy to understand why Adam prefers being<br />
quiet and observing from the sidelines, as opposed to being the centre of attention.<br />
“I try and remain calm and keep my sense of humour, with the stress that comes with<br />
all types of work, along with the obvious stresses that are out there at the moment<br />
as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. There is a real need to keep an even keel, and<br />
keeping my sense of humour does that for me.”<br />
What does it take for an<br />
operations director to function<br />
in this fast-paced environment?<br />
To continue the success of this<br />
incredible property, I need a<br />
passionate and dedicated team<br />
around me. I am lucky to have exactly<br />
that here at Suncoast.<br />
What are the demands of<br />
working in the business of<br />
entertainment?<br />
We need to offer an experience that<br />
leaves each and every guest coming<br />
back for more.<br />
What qualities do you need to<br />
work at Suncoast?<br />
As we work in the ‘people’ industry,<br />
common courtesy and decency<br />
cost nothing, so we have to treat<br />
each other with respect always, be<br />
it a fellow team member or a guest<br />
visiting our property. Sometimes<br />
the thing we do in our lives, or the<br />
way we treat someone, may appear<br />
unimportant to us, but can have a<br />
massive impact on those around us.<br />
It’s kind of like the ‘pay it forward’<br />
principle - doing good things for<br />
people, when there is nothing in it for<br />
you, is a reward all on its own. Maybe<br />
we should all be doing that just a little<br />
bit more.<br />
What are your goals for<br />
Suncoast?<br />
To keep pushing and building the<br />
Suncoast brand. We all have to<br />
weather a storm at the moment, both<br />
personally and in the business world,<br />
as a result of Covid-19, but this storm<br />
will end at some point and we are<br />
ready and eager to get back to full<br />
capacity and do what we do best, and<br />
that is entertain in true Suncoast style,<br />
with thrilling gaming, exciting events<br />
and the full entertainment offering for<br />
the entire family.<br />
Adam and Olivia MacIntyre and daughter Lily–Rose.<br />
November <strong>2020</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 17
A decade on the trails<br />
This month marks 10 years since Buzz Bolton started the Riverside Trail Running<br />
Group, which sees more than 70 people running together on a weekly basis,<br />
exploring the beautiful trails of <strong>Umhl</strong>anga and its surrounds. We found out a bit<br />
more about the group and the man behind it.<br />
Text: Leah Shone<br />
After more than 30 years as a<br />
dedicated road runner, with 20<br />
Comrades marathons under his belt,<br />
Buzz Bolton accidentally entered a<br />
50km trail running race in 2007 ... and<br />
inadvertently discovered his new life’s<br />
passion.<br />
Afterwards, he signed up to join a<br />
friend in the gruelling Cape Odyssey<br />
event, comprising a 210km run over<br />
five days. “This not only introduced<br />
me to multi-stage trail running, but<br />
sent a loud and clear message to say<br />
that I was now obsessed, hook, line<br />
and sinker with trail running.”<br />
After two years of running on trails,<br />
Buzz took it upon himself to start<br />
a formal trail running group in<br />
<strong>Umhl</strong>anga. “Trail running is so big in<br />
the Cape, and with so many beautiful<br />
open spaces available to us, I couldn’t<br />
understand why we didn’t have any<br />
organised runs here.” And so began<br />
the Riverside Trail Running Group.<br />
The popularity of trail running has<br />
grown immensely in South Africa over<br />
the past decade, and the North Coast<br />
in particular has a wide selection of<br />
beautiful trails available to runners.<br />
For most trail runners, Buzz says,<br />
the real draw card is the simple<br />
pleasure of being able to immerse<br />
yourself in nature. “Unlike road<br />
running, trail running is not really<br />
about beating your previous time.<br />
Every run is different, with rivers to<br />
cross or mountains to climb, and we<br />
often stop along the way to take a<br />
photograph … and catch our breath,”<br />
he laughs.<br />
Buzz’s appreciation for the outdoors<br />
stems back from a childhood spent<br />
on sugar cane farms and in game<br />
reserves and on his wife (of 47 years)<br />
Hildegard’s family farm in Namibia.<br />
“This outdoor life was peaceful,<br />
interesting and ever-changing. Mud<br />
fights in the river, playing sticks with<br />
18 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga November <strong>2020</strong>
other boys and running in the sugar<br />
cane were the order of the day. In later<br />
life witnessing the beauty of nature in<br />
Namibia added to my appreciation for<br />
the beauty that surrounds us and its<br />
preservation.”<br />
When he first started the Riverside<br />
Trail group, Buzz says the interest and<br />
support wasn’t quite what he had<br />
thought it would be. “It became clear<br />
that trail running only appealed to a<br />
limited few and the mass envisaged<br />
support from local clubs did not<br />
happen. Very few joined on any of<br />
our training and pioneering runs.”<br />
But, they numbers grew slowly as the<br />
sport grew in popularity, both in the<br />
area and the country.<br />
In an attempt to grow the club faster,<br />
Buzz met with <strong>Umhl</strong>anga Tourism’s<br />
Peter Rose and together with other<br />
stakeholders they came up with the<br />
idea of including a trail run as part<br />
of the annual Summer Carnival in<br />
December. This was a turning point<br />
for the club.<br />
“Our Wednesday regulars group grew<br />
to around 30 and Saturday runs 15<br />
and, as time progressed and we did<br />
more <strong>Umhl</strong>anga trail runs, so did the<br />
There are so many<br />
things to love about<br />
trail running. It<br />
really allows us to<br />
enjoy the natural<br />
beauty around us<br />
numbers.”<br />
Apart from their love of running, Buzz<br />
says, the now tight-knit group of<br />
runners have other things in common<br />
too - including a shared passion for<br />
nature and a cappuccino problem!<br />
There are organised trail runs on<br />
Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays<br />
and Saturdays, always at 5.15am and<br />
starting at different points. Thursdays<br />
7km ‘stamina run’ is the most popular<br />
with between 60 and 70 runners<br />
taking part. “There are both fast and<br />
intermediate groups and you can<br />
even start off walking,” says Buzz, who<br />
has taken part in almost every single<br />
run over the past 10 years.<br />
The Virginia Bush and Izinga Ridge<br />
routes are among the group’s<br />
favourites and their Monday morning<br />
runs often take place along the beach<br />
if the tide is low enough.<br />
“There are so many things to love<br />
about trail running. It really allows us<br />
to enjoy the natural beauty around<br />
us. It also makes you super fit and<br />
time just seems to go by so fast when<br />
you’re on the trails.”<br />
The Riverside Trail group has become<br />
an integral part of the community<br />
and Buzz says it’s extremely rewarding<br />
to see people enjoying parts of the<br />
area they might never have seen<br />
otherwise, whether it’s running or just<br />
walking their dogs.<br />
Asked what’s next on his own<br />
personal bucket list in terms of<br />
running, Buzz says that while he<br />
doesn’t do too many long runs<br />
any more, he would like to try the<br />
beautiful Mnweni 40km in Bergville in<br />
the Drakensberg … at least once.<br />
Details: For more information or to<br />
join a run, contact Buzz via Facebook:<br />
RiversideTrail or on 082 777 7073
Naturally beautiful<br />
You’re staying safely at home this month. But - horror - you’ve run<br />
out of beauty essentials. We’ve rounded up some help ... straight out<br />
of the pantry. Here are 25 home-made recipes that actually work<br />
Body beautiful<br />
To soften bathwater, throw a cupful of milk powder beneath the<br />
running taps. If you like, add your favourite aromatherapy oils, but<br />
the milk in itself is beautifully skin-softening because of the lipids it<br />
contains.<br />
Olive oil is a fantastic body moisturiser (add a few drops of a<br />
favourite essential oil if the scent’s a bit grassy for your taste).<br />
You can create a spa-like experience in your shower. Choose a<br />
relaxing essential oil (think lavender) or an uplifting oil (neroli’s a<br />
great choice) and add a few drops to a damp flannel or sponge.<br />
Place this on the floor in front of you as you shower to allow the<br />
steam to release the scents.<br />
To create a free body scrub, mix in leftover coffee grounds with your<br />
usual shower gel and use in the shower for a free pamper session.
Kissable lips<br />
Exfoliate your lips gently – try a soft toothbrush or a damp washcloth. Apply a<br />
thin layer of raw honey on your lips before going to bed, then wake up to soft,<br />
smooth lips.<br />
Use cucumber to soothe chapped lips — mash a few slices and apply directly<br />
to your lips like a mask. You can also gently rub with slices of the cooled veggie.<br />
Leave the juice on your lips for 10 minutes before washing away with water.<br />
Replenish and hydrate your lips by mixing one teaspoon of honey with two<br />
teaspoons mashed avocado! Apply lavishly, leave on for a few minutes and<br />
rinse. Great to treat smoker’s lines.<br />
After steeping green tea, remove the bag and rub it over your lips to exfoliate<br />
them. Not only is green tea rich in antioxidants and minerals, but also<br />
reduces inflammation.<br />
Eyes bright<br />
Mix one tablespoon of turmeric and<br />
one tablespoon of buttermilk, apply<br />
the orange-coloured mixture to<br />
your dark circles with a brush – and<br />
expect to look infinitely better-slept<br />
after just 15 minutes.<br />
Caffeinated teabags have been<br />
shown to reduce under-eye<br />
puffiness. Steep two bags, squeeze<br />
out the excess liquid, allow them to<br />
cool, and you’re good to go.<br />
Bright smile<br />
Calling all coffee, red wine and<br />
fizzy drink lovers — if strawberries<br />
don’t quite do the job of whitening<br />
your teeth, then try rubbing apple<br />
cider vinegar on them and rinsing<br />
(thoroughly) with water.<br />
Get an A-list smile for less with a bit<br />
of lemon juice and bicarb of soda.<br />
Mix them together and rub over your<br />
teeth then rinse. If you do it every<br />
day you’ll see whiter teeth in as little<br />
as a week.<br />
Face fabulous<br />
Those of us who haven’t been blessed with tiny pores are always looking for<br />
ways to make them less noticeable. Combine two to four drops of lemon juice<br />
with one spoon of tomato juice, apply and leave on for 15 minutes.<br />
Say hello to papaya, your new BFF. This fruit acts as a natural exfoliator and<br />
reduces blemishes while hydrating the skin. Mash it up with a dollop of honey<br />
and yogurt and you’ll have one multitasking face pack.<br />
Apple cider vinegar can also double up as a pore-perfecting toner. It can<br />
regulate your skin’s natural pH, meaning your skin will fight breakouts and<br />
strike the perfect balance between dry and oily. Dilute the vinegar with two<br />
parts water and swipe over the skin with a cotton wool ball.<br />
Turmeric is great for helping to fade skin discoloration and post-acne scarring.<br />
Simply mix it with a few drops of lime juice and leave on the skin for 20<br />
minutes.<br />
Do you suffer from blotchy, oily skin? Whip up an egg white until frothy, apply<br />
it to your face and let it dry. Repeat and add another layer and leave it on for 15<br />
minutes. Finally, rinse with warm water.<br />
Show-off hands & nails<br />
Mash together an avocado and small<br />
banana (they’re mineral-rich and<br />
full of anti-oxidants) and pop inside<br />
plastic gloves (or sandwich bags)<br />
to minimise mess. Not only will it<br />
make your hands super-soft, but the<br />
mixture will nourish your nails and<br />
cuticles, too.<br />
A manicure wouldn’t be complete<br />
without showing your cuticles some<br />
TLC and there’s no better way to kick<br />
them into touch than with some<br />
cooking oil spray. Yep. Just make sure<br />
it’s garlic-free!<br />
Lemon’s a wonder product and a<br />
great nail strengthener — rest hands<br />
in a bowl containing lemon juice and<br />
warm water to strengthen nails and<br />
remove any leftover colour.<br />
Playing footsie<br />
Cracked heels? Warm a cup of honey<br />
and stir in two tablespoons of milk.<br />
Add juice from half an orange to<br />
form a paste. Apply on your heels<br />
and leave on overnight. Wear socks,<br />
obviously!<br />
For soft feet you’ll need a half cup of<br />
vinegar, pinch of salt, a half cup of<br />
Listerine mouth wash (yes, really), one<br />
cup of hot water and a few drops of<br />
peppermint oil. Soak your feet for 15<br />
minutes. With a brush or pumice rub<br />
the dead skin right off.<br />
Help for your hair<br />
Put the life back into limp or damaged hair by combining one teaspoon apple cider vinegar with two tablespoons olive<br />
oil and three egg whites. Rub into your hair. Keep your hair covered for about 30 minutes, shampoo and rinse.<br />
Revitalise your hair with bananas. Simply blend together two ripe bananas and half a cup of coconut milk. Coat your hair<br />
in the mixture and let it sit for half an hour, then wash the mask out of your hair.<br />
You may think of tea as a sore throat remedy, but you can also use it to give hair a natural shine. Use a cup of warm,<br />
unsweetened tea (freshly brewed or instant) as a final rinse after your regular shampoo.<br />
Compiled by: RIALIEN FURSTENBERG<br />
November <strong>2020</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 21
Holistic healing<br />
It is quite fascinating to see a drop of your blood being analysed under a microscope. In a<br />
time when many of us are suffering from ill health and chronic stress, <strong>Ballito</strong> holistic health<br />
specialist Teresa Vos is using naturopathic microscopy as a way of determining the root cause<br />
of people’s health problems and finding practical solutions to get them back to health.<br />
Text: Leah Shone<br />
Millions of people suffer from<br />
ongoing, sometimes chronic illness<br />
that they just cannot get under<br />
control. Very often though, simple<br />
lifestyle and diet changes are all that<br />
are needed to address the cause of<br />
these problems (rather than just the<br />
symptoms) and ultimately lead to<br />
happier, healthier lives.<br />
Easier said than done though, right?<br />
Well, maybe not. A visit to Teresa’s<br />
Topform Holistic Health clinic in<br />
<strong>Ballito</strong>, we recently discovered,<br />
is a great way to get a clear and<br />
undeniable view of what is happening<br />
inside your body. And then finding a<br />
way to remedy it.<br />
Teresa started her Topform Holistic<br />
Health, Body Scan, Lifestyle and<br />
Weight Loss Clinic more than 12<br />
years ago and she has helped heal<br />
and transform the lives of literally<br />
hundreds of people since then.<br />
From weight loss to bringing under<br />
control serious health problems like<br />
stress, immune challenges, insomnia,<br />
gut issues, anxiety, post-nasal drip,<br />
eczema and skin conditions and a<br />
wide range of other illnesses and<br />
ailments, Teresa says she is ultimately<br />
driven by a passion for helping others.<br />
With the use of her body scan, live<br />
blood analysis and years of experience<br />
and knowledge she is able to create<br />
specialised and individual solutions<br />
for every person she meets.<br />
“I added the live blood analysis two<br />
years ago, mainly to help people to<br />
see for themselves the anomalies in<br />
their blood and to be able to confirm<br />
possible root causes of a number of<br />
symptoms. Some people find the<br />
answers they have been looking for<br />
for years and their families understand<br />
their health journeys better as a result.”<br />
Teresa says seeing the live blood<br />
results also helps inspire them to take the corrective measures needed to fix the<br />
problem.<br />
An analysis starts before you even arrive for your appointment, when you<br />
complete the comprehensive health assessment questionnaire (this is optional).<br />
On the day, Teresa does an electronic body scan, which is incredibly interesting<br />
and informative and afterwards, you have a quick and painless finger prick and<br />
then the live blood screening. It’s exciting (and quite sobering) having your<br />
blood analysed right in front of you. There’s no denying science after all.<br />
Teresa explains that toxins can lead to degradation and, in turn, trigger or are<br />
associated with chronic degenerative illnesses. “The cause of many health<br />
problems can be attributed to prolonged exposure to various toxic agents in<br />
22 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga November <strong>2020</strong>
Changing your eating habits and taking the correct<br />
supplement will immediately improve your health<br />
and can help bring chronic illness under control<br />
our environment and ‘bad’ foods. Some health challenges<br />
may be related to impairments or imbalances in your<br />
body’s ability to properly detoxify and remove these toxic<br />
compounds.”<br />
A lot of what is wrong with us, she says, can ultimately be<br />
fixed simply by eating the right foods in the right amounts<br />
and supplementing correctly. “Certain foods burden the<br />
detoxification machinery of your body, whilst other foods<br />
help the process. Your body needs to rid itself of these<br />
dangerous substances and so your ability and capacity to<br />
detoxify is of critical importance to overall holistic health.”<br />
Teresa says, over the years, toxins build up in fat, tissues,<br />
joins and the brain, potentially leading to a variety of<br />
health concerns. And no two people are the same, which<br />
is why it’s important to ensure that you are putting the<br />
correct things into your body, for you.<br />
“A healthy weight, nutrition and digestion play a huge role<br />
in health. Psychological and emotional stress relate directly<br />
to the gut-brain axis, linking our emotional and cognitive<br />
centres of the brain with the intestinal functions.<br />
While her knowledge and experience are vast, one of<br />
Teresa’s strongest points is her heart for people. She<br />
genuinely cares and wants you to be healthier and<br />
happier. “My biggest wish is just to help the many<br />
desperate people out there by taking a holistic, integrative<br />
approach with functional food and medicine to address<br />
the root causes. There is an effective solution for everyone<br />
Details: Teresa is currently offering free 15-minute<br />
consultations on an appointment basis only (in person,<br />
telephone call or on Zoom). Contact her on: teresa@<br />
topformbodyscan.co.za; FB and IG: TopFormSA, 082 452 7936<br />
November <strong>2020</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 23
Promotion<br />
GET SUMMER READY<br />
Shake off that ‘lockdown look’ and get yourself ready for summer … and the festive season!<br />
Here are just a few great ways to get yourself looking and feeling ready for the party season.<br />
A summer glow …<br />
From a beach babe summer glow to tongue-waggingly<br />
gorgeous nails and best brows in town … national awardwinning<br />
Perfect 10 <strong>Ballito</strong> is so much more than just a beauty<br />
salon. They offer superior advice from medically-trained<br />
skincare experts for everyone from teens to grans, Biotek<br />
microblading, peels to suit every skin type and concern<br />
and anti-inflammatory massage therapy to address medical<br />
concerns. They stock Dermalogica, Guinot, Nimue and<br />
Placecol and have monthly specials to make it easy on your<br />
pocket. They also offer loyalty points on their exceptional<br />
rewards program. Perfect 10 <strong>Ballito</strong> has strict hygiene<br />
protocols and a wonderful ambience and are definitely worth<br />
a visit! Details: Perfect 10 <strong>Ballito</strong>, <strong>Ballito</strong> Junction,<br />
032 586 3368, 072 390 2239<br />
Reset your health<br />
The Thrive 10-Day<br />
Health Reset was<br />
designed by Alex Royal<br />
Dietetics to give you the<br />
foundation for optimal<br />
health. The program<br />
aims to nourish and<br />
support your body<br />
using wholefoods<br />
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while also embracing a fully holistic approach to helping you<br />
achieve optimal health. Sign up with the Get It discount code<br />
to save 10% on your summer reset. Use the discount code<br />
ThriveWithGetIt at checkout. Details: www.thrive-wellness.co.za<br />
Emphasis on the eyes<br />
They say the eyes are the<br />
windows to the soul. With<br />
all emphasis on the eyes this<br />
summer (especially with the<br />
constant use of masks and<br />
hours of online meetings),<br />
a visit to Dr Harisha Karpath<br />
Aesthetics is a must. Facial<br />
rejuvenation improves sagging<br />
skin, pigmentation, wrinkles and improves skin health and<br />
Dr Karpath has various treatments available to suit each skin<br />
type and aging concern, with results that are sustainable with<br />
appropriate maintenance. Details: 032 586 3318, reception@<br />
ballitoaesthetics.co.za, 6 Sanhall, Kirsty Close, <strong>Ballito</strong><br />
Sun and summer ready<br />
The gorgeous new Skin Renewal<br />
<strong>Umhl</strong>anga Aesthetic Clinic is situated<br />
at the recently opened <strong>Umhl</strong>anga<br />
Arch … and we highly encourage you<br />
to pay them a visit to get your skin sun<br />
and summer ready! In the meantime,<br />
go online and get one of these<br />
Heliocare 360 Gel Oil-Free SPF 50’s - an<br />
ultra-light, mattifying gel that absorbs<br />
into the skin quickly. This will leave your<br />
skin with the necessary hydration, but<br />
dry to the touch, R450. Details: www.<br />
onlineskinshop.co.za, 0861 SKIN SA<br />
A little pampering spoil<br />
Don’t let <strong>2020</strong> get the better<br />
of you! Show some self-love<br />
and take a break … a little<br />
pampering pick-me-up so to<br />
speak. Visit Simply Be Spa and<br />
enjoy one of their amazing<br />
treatments. From massages<br />
and facials to waxing, manis<br />
and pedis, they even have<br />
packages for the kids! Their location at Sugar Rush Park makes<br />
for an ideal setting to enjoy a morning or afternoon of spoils<br />
… think coffee, treatments and fresh air! Details: Simply Be Spa,<br />
Sugar Rush Park, Esenembe Road, <strong>Ballito</strong>, 064 374 5654, hello@<br />
simplybespa.co.za, www.simplybespa.co.za<br />
24 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga November <strong>2020</strong>
NEW LOCATION - <strong>Umhl</strong>anga Arch<br />
part of renewal institute<br />
<strong>Umhl</strong>anga Arch, Shop 3, High Street Level, 1 Ncondo Pl, <strong>Umhl</strong>anga Ridge, <strong>Umhl</strong>anga.<br />
Tel: 031 566 3590 • Mobile: 079 183 1107 • umhlanga@skinrenewal.co.za<br />
0861 SKIN SA<br />
0861 7546 72<br />
onlineskinshop.co.za<br />
• www.skinrenewal.co.za • www.bodyrenewal.co.za • www.brainrenewal.co.za •<br />
• www.healthrenewal.co.za • www.sleeprenewal.co.za •<br />
111088
Creative<br />
spirits<br />
With beautiful, locally-sourced<br />
artworks adorning the walls and<br />
trendy items of clothing hanging<br />
on the rails, we thought you<br />
might like to know a little more<br />
about this cool new spot, tucked<br />
away in <strong>Umhl</strong>ali.<br />
The Dala Art Bar team, Gustaf, Claire, Caleb and Anthony<br />
Text: Leah Shone<br />
26 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga November <strong>2020</strong>
They are a group of kindred, creative<br />
spirits who have come together to<br />
form a space for artists, designers and<br />
pretty much anyone who has the<br />
courage to put themselves out there<br />
and create something.<br />
The Dala Art Bar, situated at Burnedale<br />
in <strong>Umhl</strong>ali, is, by day, a pop-up type<br />
shop featuring local South African<br />
talent in the form of artwork and<br />
clothing and, by night, a vibey<br />
outdoor bar and place to come<br />
together and enjoy good food, music<br />
and chilled, laid back vibes.<br />
Started by Gustaf Swart, Anthony<br />
Yared, Claire Howell and Caleb<br />
Swanepoel, the vision for Dala has<br />
evolved over the past few months<br />
and what was originally going to be<br />
a ‘book and pizza’ hangout, has now<br />
become this ever-changing creative<br />
hub.<br />
“We want this to be a space where we<br />
can celebrate art, clothing and people<br />
who are brave enough to create,”<br />
says Gustaf, who studied Geomatics<br />
We want this to be<br />
a space where we<br />
can celebrate art,<br />
clothing and people<br />
who are brave<br />
enough to create<br />
at UCT and was a cartoonist for the<br />
varsity newspaper.<br />
Fashion designer Claire, who heads<br />
up the fashion side of Dala, says the<br />
ultimate goal is to uplift and give<br />
creatives a platform from which they<br />
can hopefully connect and grow.<br />
The art and clothing in the store are<br />
sourced locally and they change on a<br />
monthly basis. They are also starting<br />
to introduce locally-made jewellery<br />
and other items.<br />
“It’s more about forming relationships,<br />
building connections and helping<br />
each other out than it is about<br />
competing or trying to make money,”<br />
says Claire.<br />
Having all been involved in events in<br />
The locally-sourced art and clothing<br />
change on a monthly basis<br />
one way or another in their lives, the group have also started hosting their own<br />
Dala events in the beautiful gardens at Burnedale. The ‘outdoor bar’ is the perfect<br />
setting for socially-distanced mingling with delicious food, good music and a<br />
dance floor always on the lineup! “The art is a big part of these events,” says Claire,<br />
“people can buy items on the evenings as well.” Apart from these events, they will<br />
also be hosting regular ladies and singles night get-togethers.<br />
While they are currently keeping the items in store quite local, the Dala team say<br />
they are looking forward to expanding their offering with items from other South<br />
African and African artists and designers.<br />
“We’ve already been approached by quite a few artists and we really want more<br />
people to come forward and show us their work. Artists often tend to be slightly<br />
introverted and not keen to ‘show off’ their work, which means they struggle to<br />
put a value to it. This is a great way for them to get exposure,” says Gustaf.<br />
The Dala Art Bar team would like to encourage local artists and fashion designers<br />
to make contact with them.<br />
Details: FB: dalaartbar; IG: @dala_art_bar<br />
November <strong>2020</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 27
Text: Elana Wagner<br />
28 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga November <strong>2020</strong>
Shopping has never<br />
felt this good<br />
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure - a saying that Durban North fashionista<br />
Vanessa Osterroht has turned into her sustainable shopping motto. Now, she has taken<br />
it one step further by turning her recycled fashion passion into a side hustle that will<br />
update your wardrobe and help out a stranger all in the name of Poppin Tags.<br />
e pinned <strong>2020</strong><br />
as the year of<br />
vision. Instead, it<br />
became the<br />
year of the virus.<br />
Bucket-list travel plans<br />
- cancelled. Getting that promotion<br />
- denied. Saying “I do” surrounded<br />
by your closest - postponed. Besides<br />
robbing us of our freedom, Covid-19<br />
also killed businesses - big and small<br />
- and forced people into dark places.<br />
We have had to reinvent ourselves to<br />
survive, start a side hustle to pay the<br />
bills or turn the pocket-money maker<br />
into the bread and butter winner.<br />
After seeing first-hand how businesses<br />
and people were struggling during<br />
lockdown, Vanessa realised that<br />
relying on her corporate day job was<br />
not secure enough. She saw a gap in<br />
the shopping industry and knew her<br />
thrifting hobby could be the answer.<br />
“Who can afford clothes nowadays?<br />
Seriously?! I started thrifting a while<br />
ago and now, pretty much my whole<br />
wardrobe is thrifted! I love a good<br />
deal, especially when it is a high<br />
quality, niche item that you won’t find<br />
anywhere else. Thrifting is life and I<br />
want to share that!”.<br />
Noticing that other thrift stores were<br />
upping their prices too much, she<br />
took a leap of faith and in July started<br />
her own feel-good start-up business<br />
called Poppin’ Tags. “I was inspired by<br />
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ hit song<br />
Thrift Shop. I had this vision of me<br />
wearing a big fur coat - not that I<br />
could wear fur because I love animals<br />
- being this cool pimp of a thrift shop,<br />
poppin’ tags all day long,” laughs the<br />
30-something, bubbly blonde. She<br />
Being able to pay it forward to a stranger<br />
and spread that sense of a community<br />
that cares is so healthy in these times.<br />
has taken savvy shopping to the next level by buying gently-worn clothes from<br />
overseas and selling them for a fraction of the usual retail price on her Insta shop.<br />
“I basically buy a massive lucky packet and have no idea what is in it. When I’m<br />
done with my day job, I come into my little shop room, blast some French jazz<br />
and unpack all the clothes. My evenings are spent sorting, washing, steaming<br />
and uploading the newest items on Insta.”<br />
Her clothes range from cute Mango tops to gorgeous Burberry cardigans and<br />
soon-to-arrive summer dresses. Pants, however, are a total no-no. “I have a golden<br />
rule - if it’s been on your bottom, it is rotten!”<br />
And for each item you buy, you get a free one to donate. “I am very serious about<br />
quality and super straightforward about what condition the clothes are in,<br />
because I have felt conned before. The items I don’t feel comfortable selling go<br />
to the donation side. When you buy an item, you get your biodegradable baggie<br />
to take home and enjoy and you get a second one to donate to anyone who<br />
crosses your path. You don’t know what is in there and it is not for you to open.”<br />
First-time shoppers are generally quite surprised by this novel idea and even<br />
feel rather startled. “Lauren Ginn, for example, is one of the ladies who randomly<br />
came through to buy a top one day. I gave her a second baggie and she was<br />
confused. At that moment, there was a mama going through the rubbish across<br />
the road and I suggested that she give the baggie to her. She did and it was such<br />
a happy moment. She put up this amazing post on social media and just blew<br />
me up out of the water. I owe a lot to her!”<br />
Giving people the opportunity to share in these tough times is what makes<br />
Vanessa’s day. “I wanted to change people’s mindsets and it has taken off<br />
incredibly well. It has created something that is way bigger than me, it is a<br />
movement. Being able to pay it forward to a stranger and spread that sense of<br />
a community that cares is so healthy in these times.” Feeling part of that local<br />
love network is a newly discovered feeling for Vanessa and one that she intends<br />
to grow. “As awful and destructive as this lockdown has been, it has brought<br />
back a sense of community. People are hustling. They have to and it is bringing<br />
us closer. We are getting to know our neighbours and we are supporting each<br />
other. We are bringing back that village living feel. Starting Poppin Tags has made<br />
me support local small businesses and I love it! The whole shift has been violently<br />
rewarding.”<br />
Details: Instagram: @poppin_tags031<br />
November <strong>2020</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 29
Meet your barista<br />
If you live in <strong>Umhl</strong>anga and frequent the promenade, chances are you have enjoyed a<br />
cup of Rox coffee at some point. If not, then it’s time you did! This month, as part of our<br />
‘meet your barista’ series, we chatted to two of Rox Coffee Company’s most popular and<br />
talented resident baristas.<br />
Meet baristas Bongani Sikhakhane and Njabula Bekwa<br />
Text: Leah Shone<br />
Serving up coffee on the promenade<br />
at what is arguably one of the most<br />
beautiful beaches in the country<br />
might sound like a laid-back vibe ...<br />
but let us assure you, it’s anything but.<br />
In fact, when we arrived to interview<br />
Rox Coffee Company baristas Njabulo<br />
and Bongani on a random Tuesday<br />
morning, both were hard at work<br />
whipping up lattes and iced coffees<br />
and serving freshly baked croissants<br />
and giant pretzels. Amazingly, they<br />
were each doing so with a big smile<br />
and even a little dash of pizazz … two<br />
things that, in our opinion, go a long<br />
way towards making a truly great<br />
barista.<br />
When things settled down at around<br />
9.30am, we were able to sit down and<br />
30 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga November <strong>2020</strong><br />
spend some one-on-one time with<br />
the two baristas who make the magic<br />
happen at this popular coffee spot.<br />
Rox Coffee was started by Tregue<br />
Minaar who grew up in <strong>Umhl</strong>anga -<br />
an area that has lovingly been referred<br />
to as ‘Rox’ by locals for many years.<br />
He and his wife Bonnie now run the<br />
coffee shop with their hard working<br />
team. What started out as just a place<br />
to grab an excellent coffee and fresh<br />
croissant has evolved to include a<br />
wide range of beverage options, as<br />
well as delicious pastries and muffins<br />
and even footlong hotdogs (on the<br />
weekends). They also have delicious<br />
deli items such as biscotti, fudge<br />
and even some new plant based<br />
milks! Their fantastic coffee, however,<br />
remains the most popular item on<br />
their menu.<br />
“Rox Coffee is a family-owned<br />
and run business and we strive to<br />
maintain excellent service and well<br />
made coffees. We pay attention to<br />
small details like our jazz playlist and<br />
freshly baked pastries each day. We<br />
have a new branch on the R617 on<br />
route to the Underberg. It’s slightly<br />
bigger with a sit down area, open<br />
fire place for chilly days and a slightly<br />
more extensive menu. We are in the<br />
process of launching a deli section<br />
there, which will be fully stocked<br />
with beautiful pastas, olives and jams.”<br />
Definitely sounds like somewhere<br />
we’ll be stopping in at on our travels!
Meet Njabula Bekwa<br />
He is friendly, approachable and quite<br />
trendy - and 24-year-old Njabula<br />
knows how to make a mean cup<br />
of coffee. Having joined Rox Coffee<br />
Company in December last year,<br />
Durban-born Njabula has been<br />
making coffee pretty much since he<br />
left school. He’s passionate about the<br />
work he does and says his favourite<br />
part is meeting new people and<br />
getting to know the regulars. Njabula’s<br />
favourite coffee to make is a Cortado,<br />
which he makes with two double<br />
shots of coffee and the same amount<br />
of milk. Rox Coffee Company uses<br />
their own brand of Arabica coffee<br />
beans and Njabula makes everything<br />
from cappuccinos to lattes and<br />
everything in between. How does<br />
he like his coffee? Strong, and not<br />
too hot. Njabula hopes to one day<br />
own his own coffee shop because he<br />
believes it’s a good business to be in –<br />
and he really loves what he does. We<br />
asked Njabula what he thinks make<br />
a good barista, “I think character and<br />
personality are a big part it,” he said.<br />
We couldn’t agree more!<br />
Rox Coffee Company is situated on the<br />
beautiful <strong>Umhl</strong>anga beach promenade<br />
Meet Bongani Sikhakhane<br />
Also born and bred in Durban,<br />
Bongani says he absolutely loves what<br />
he does. He started making coffee<br />
more than 10 years ago and has been<br />
working at Rox since 2017. One of<br />
Bongani’s career highlights was being<br />
named ‘Best Barista in Glenwood’ in<br />
2009. One of his favourite coffees is<br />
a Cafe Mocha, which he makes with<br />
espresso, chocolate powder and milk,<br />
but his absolute favourite is his own<br />
creation called Bongani’s Bliss, which<br />
is made with goji berries, coconut<br />
milk, chocolate powder and coffee!<br />
Yum! While Bongani says he doesn’t<br />
necessarily want to own his own<br />
coffee shop one day, he does hope to<br />
have his own business in the coffee<br />
industry . . . perhaps sourcing and<br />
supplying coffee. Asked where he<br />
thinks the best coffee beans come<br />
from Bongani says definitely Ethiopia<br />
… somewhere he dreams of one day<br />
visiting!<br />
Details: Rox Coffee Company, <strong>Umhl</strong>anga<br />
Beach Promenade, <strong>Umhl</strong>anga Rocks, FB:<br />
Rox-Coffee-Company, 076 886 0107<br />
November <strong>2020</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 31
Liquid gold<br />
From her humble beginnings in the small sugar cane<br />
village of Darnall to a multi-award-winning oil producer<br />
and the owner of Fraaigelegen Farm in the Cape<br />
Winelands, Venishree Mayer is proud to be the first Indian<br />
South African woman to produce extra virgin olive oil.<br />
Text: Leah Shone<br />
aving recently won<br />
two silvers and one<br />
gold medal at the<br />
SA Olive Association<br />
awards, Venishree<br />
is celebrating by<br />
sharing her love for the liquid gold<br />
that is found in almost every kitchen<br />
in the world.<br />
Since the launch of her brand, Adhara<br />
Evoo premium extra virgin olive oil<br />
in 2018, Venishree and her husband,<br />
Juergen, have been the recipients of<br />
five awards and, as a small producer<br />
with just under 3000 trees, she is<br />
thriving on their ground-breaking<br />
success and her active role in the<br />
industry.<br />
She is also a strong advocate of the<br />
health benefits of olive oil. “There is<br />
a high rate of heart-related diseases,<br />
diabetes and arthritis within the<br />
Indian community. Olive oil is a rich<br />
source of antioxidants, reduces the<br />
risk of heart disease and is good for<br />
both the skin and hair. It should be a<br />
staple in all Indian kitchens. In fact, it<br />
should be a staple in every kitchen.”<br />
The youngest of four siblings,<br />
Venishree is a third-generation Indian<br />
South African who grew up heavily<br />
involved in the Indian culture and<br />
cooking, with lots of typical large<br />
family gatherings.<br />
She spent most of her childhood in<br />
the small, close-knit community of<br />
Darnall and both her parents were<br />
very involved in the community<br />
cultural and religious affairs. Her father,<br />
a dancer and musician, organised a<br />
number of events both locally and<br />
out of town and Venishree started<br />
dancing at four years old. “Growing up<br />
in Darnall shaped me and who I have<br />
32 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga November <strong>2020</strong>
ecome and I have so many fond<br />
memories of living there.”<br />
After completing a law degree,<br />
Venishree went into sales and<br />
marketing before heading to the<br />
United Kingdom where she did<br />
volunteer work with Oxfam and<br />
married Juergen. In 2011 Venishree<br />
took a sabbatical, spending time<br />
learning Spanish and giving<br />
Business English language lessons<br />
to entrepreneurs venturing abroad,<br />
before heading back into a corporate<br />
as global head of communications for<br />
a US company.<br />
“In 2015 Juergen and I resigned from<br />
our corporate roles and ambled off on<br />
a spontaneous road trip through nine<br />
European countries, after which we<br />
planned to move back to SA.”<br />
Venishree says their shared desire<br />
to ‘Carpe Diem’ increased after<br />
her mother was diagnosed with<br />
Parkinson’s and dementia. “It was<br />
time to be selfless and do something<br />
different, maybe run a guest house,<br />
live life, redirect and rejuvenate.”<br />
When they returned to SA,<br />
Venishree and Juergen fell in love<br />
with Fraaigelegen Farm in Tulbagh.<br />
Owning a farm was never on their<br />
‘to do’ list and they still refer to<br />
themselves as virgins at farming! They<br />
set about restoring the vineyards,<br />
olive groves and guest cottages.<br />
“It was quite a learning curve. Passion,<br />
determination and a few failures got<br />
us through the first two years. The<br />
farm was severely run down on both<br />
the farming and the accommodation<br />
side and there were multiple<br />
unforeseen challenges.”<br />
Much of the couple’s hard-earned<br />
savings went into restoring<br />
Fraaigelegen Farm. But it was worth<br />
it. Today this is a successful agritourism<br />
destination. “The ultimate aim<br />
is to attain a balanced relationship<br />
between the terroir and farming<br />
philosophy – we farm with the land<br />
not against it.” This is, she says, to<br />
improve the organic carbon content<br />
to sustain the soil’s life and fertility.<br />
“Through harmony and balance we<br />
strive to regenerate the soil biology so<br />
that we don’t need chemical fertilizers,<br />
pesticides, insecticides and fungicides.<br />
We have already started seeing the<br />
benefit of this farming method. It<br />
has been a long, but very rewarding<br />
journey.”<br />
For recipes for<br />
Venishree’s favourite<br />
simple Lemon Olive Oil<br />
Cake and Green Salad<br />
Vinaigrette visit our<br />
website: getitmagazine.<br />
co.za/ballitoumhlanga<br />
The couple’s motto and driving force became ‘quality over quantity’ and by 2017,<br />
a deal was signed with Paserene Wines (Franschhoek) as the exclusive grape<br />
producer.<br />
“Our focus turned to extra virgin olive oil and we launched Adhara Evoo in 2018.”<br />
Venishree broke the glass ceiling in the industry as the first female person of<br />
colour to win an award, as owner and producer! In 2019 she joined the SA Olive<br />
Association as a board member and director.<br />
Recently Cape Good online shop was launched in Germany, with the aim of<br />
bringing premium quality extra virgin olive oils of SA to Europe and a plan to<br />
extend the portfolio with authentic, premium goods from South Africa, like wine,<br />
tea and décor etc. Next on the list is the launch of their own wine label.<br />
Venishree is proud of the quality of the extra virgin olive oil they produce and<br />
says that SA ranks with the best in the world in terms of superior quality and<br />
taste.<br />
“There are so many health benefits from extra virgin olive oil. In spite of having<br />
Parkinson’s, diabetes, dementia and arthritis, my 83-year-old mum is still strong,<br />
and I’m convinced it’s because she gets olive oil in some form in her diet, every<br />
single day.”<br />
When Venishree is not receiving guests, hand-harvesting olives or grapes,<br />
helping build a shelter for the farm animals or volunteering with local NGO’s, she<br />
is very much at home in the kitchen.<br />
“At home we use extra virgin olive oil in many ways – in curries, to fry all our<br />
delicious Indian sweet and savoury treats (Murkoos to Gulab Jamuns) and even<br />
to make roti! I bake cakes with extra virgin olive oil - it really is so versatile. Olive<br />
oil is very stable when heated. It is a carrier of flavour and does not disturb the<br />
authentic Indian flavour and spices but heightens them.”<br />
Although she loves her farm, Venishree admits to still missing Durban and her<br />
view from her university residence that overlooked the harbour.<br />
“What an unforgettable view! What I miss more though is the never-ending<br />
opportunity to get fresh Indian veggies and authentic Durban spices, and most<br />
of all… a really good bunny chow!”<br />
Details: Adhara Evoo is available for nationwide deliveries. Email: info@adharaevoo.<br />
com or via WhatsApp on 071 404 2766. www.adharaevoo.co.za.<br />
November <strong>2020</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 33
Mocktail anyone?<br />
There is an indisputable trend amongst millennials to cut back on alcohol, with more and more people<br />
enjoying low- or no-alcohol beverages for various reasons. If you’re looking for a drink that has all the<br />
fun but none of the booze this festive season, then here’s one to try! We asked the talented team of<br />
mixologists at Alchemy at the <strong>Ballito</strong> Lifestyle Centre to give us a yummy alcohol-free adult drink that<br />
would make our taste buds soar … and they didn’t disappoint!<br />
Strawberry Nojito (Mojito<br />
without the Rum)<br />
Ingredients<br />
10 mint sprigs, 4 fresh strawberries,<br />
juice of 2 fresh limes, ice, soda water,<br />
chilled, extra mint sprigs, lime slices,<br />
and fresh strawberries for garnish<br />
Photograph: THE SHANK TANK; @theshanktank, www.theshanktank.com<br />
Instructions<br />
In a cocktail shaker, combine the<br />
mint sprigs and sliced strawberries;<br />
muddle. Add the lime juice and ice.<br />
Shake to blend and chill. Pour into<br />
a coupe glass half-filled with ice<br />
(Tip: crushed ice makes it that much<br />
better). Top with the soda water and<br />
stir. Garnish with mint sprigs and a<br />
fresh strawberry quarter.<br />
(This can easily be made into an<br />
alcoholic version by adding a good<br />
quality white rum of your choice into<br />
your cocktail shaker!)<br />
Details: Visit Alchemy Bar at the <strong>Ballito</strong><br />
Lifestyle Centre and try their wide<br />
variety of fantastic bespoke cocktails<br />
and craft spirits. They also have yummy<br />
bar snacks! @Alchemy<strong>Ballito</strong>, www.<br />
alchemybar.co.za, 032 648 0032<br />
November <strong>2020</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 35
Out of an<br />
AFRICAN KITCHEN<br />
Eating on safari ... dishes from Uganda and Zambia and Kenya for you to make at home<br />
How can you possibly feed guests who, when not on safari, eat in the best<br />
restaurants on the planet? This was the dilemma faced by Nicky Fitzgerald,<br />
founder and owner of Angama Mara, the glorious, extraordinarily exclusive safari<br />
lodge that sits high above Africa’s Great Rift Valley, overlooking Kenya’s Maasai<br />
Mara, considered by many to be the loveliest game reserve on the continent.<br />
The decision, finally, was to create dishes that were less fiddly, more authentic,<br />
with fewer imported ingredients, more home-grown, never fancy, always good.<br />
And whether the meals were served as a picnic in the middle of the grass plains<br />
of the Maasai Mara, in the kitchen garden where guests are encouraged to pick<br />
their own veggies and toss their own salads, or in a lantern-lit forest listening<br />
to the call of the hyena, they were always delicious and memorable Out of<br />
an African Kitchen is an anthology of recipes, reminiscences, anecdotes and<br />
stories from this bush kitchen ... it’s a book to linger over, earmarking recipes<br />
like North African casseroles and Moroccan minestrone, Maasai honey biscuits<br />
and Swahili chocolate pots, Goan fish curry and Ugandan Rolex (a flavoured<br />
omelette wrapped in a chapatti ... rolled eggs ... get it?). It’s safari food at home ...<br />
an absolute joy. PenguinRandomHouse<br />
Swahili muhamri coconut ice cream sandwich<br />
Everyone loves fried dough ... the Italians with their bomboloni, the<br />
French and beignets, koeksusters from South Africa and jelebi from<br />
India, for example. In Kenya there are two ways of frying dough,<br />
mandazi from the hinterland and the lighter, more elegant and<br />
utterly delicious muhamri from the coast. We’ve included the recipe<br />
for the Swahili muhamri on getitmagazine.co.za, but here’s the rich,<br />
delish and really easy coconut ice cream.<br />
COCONUT ICE CREAM<br />
You’ll need: 2 cups fresh cream; 1 x 400ml can coconut milk; 1 x 385g<br />
can sweetened condensed milk<br />
To make: Whisk the cream until soft peaks form, then fold in the<br />
coconut milk and condensed milk. Freeze until ready to scoop into<br />
the muhamris.<br />
36 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga November <strong>2020</strong>
Chilled beetroot soup<br />
All the fresh fruit and veggies at the lodge are<br />
grown in the shamba (the Swahili word for kitchen<br />
garden), where the challenge is not the successful<br />
growing, but keeping out the elephants and eland,<br />
the porcupines and baboons, and the nondescript<br />
speckled mousebird (the biggest thief of all).<br />
This beetroot comes straight from the shamba.<br />
You’ll need: 6–8 medium-sized beetroots, thoroughly<br />
washed; 2 cups cold water; 2 cups vegetable stock<br />
1 Tbsp sugar; 300ml buttermilk; 200ml yoghurt plus<br />
an extra 50ml for serving; 1 Tbsp lemon juice; salt and<br />
freshly ground black pepper; fresh dill, finely chopped.<br />
To make: Peel the beetroot then roughly grate (wear<br />
gloves!). Put the beetroot into a large saucepan and<br />
cover with water (use more if necessary – it must be<br />
covered). Bring to a boil slowly, then turn down the<br />
heat and leave to simmer very gently for 20 minutes<br />
(they must not boil too rapidly). Once the beetroot<br />
has softened, add the stock and sugar. Stir well and<br />
refrigerate until completely cold (for at least 4 hours).<br />
Before serving, liquidise the soup and add buttermilk,<br />
yoghurt and lemon juice. Season well. Serve with a<br />
swirl of yoghurt and dill (serves 6).<br />
Kitchen notes: At Angama Mara all the soups are made<br />
with their own vegetable stock (but a good storebought<br />
one in liquid form works well). This soup can<br />
also be prepared with a good chicken stock.<br />
Gazpacho with olive tapenade<br />
This recipe is from the lodge ... where guests dine out on<br />
the deck, looking down into the reserve, where they’ll see<br />
giraffe journeying across the open grasslands, a family of<br />
elephant and another of buffalo. We can’t help you with<br />
the view, but can give you the recipe.<br />
GAZPACHO<br />
You’ll need: 2 ½ cups diced cucumber; 1 cup diced red<br />
pepper; 2 cups diced ripe tomatoes; ½ cup diced red<br />
onion; 4 cloves garlic; 2 cups tomato juice; ½ cup olive<br />
oil; 2 tsps sugar; 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce; salt and<br />
freshly ground black pepper to taste<br />
To make: Blend all the ingredients together and chill.<br />
Garnish the soup with a generous blob of tapenade and<br />
a swirl of good olive oil. (Serves 1)<br />
OLIVE TAPENADE<br />
You’ll need: 1 cup pitted black olives; 2 Tbsps capers; 2<br />
cloves garlic; ½ tsp chilli flakes; ½ cup fresh basil; ½ cup<br />
fresh parsley; 2 Tbsps olive oil<br />
To make: Blend all the ingredients in a food processor<br />
until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use. Will keep for<br />
up to a week.<br />
Compiled by: KYM ARGO<br />
November <strong>2020</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 37
Flavours of Africa<br />
We were taken on a wonderful taste adventure when we attended the launch<br />
of Simbithi Fig Tree restaurant’s new menu recently. One of the most fascinating<br />
elements, however, was the influence of East African flavours introduced by<br />
senior sous chef, chef Godfrey Kinyanjui. We met up with him a few days later.<br />
Text: Leah Shone | Photograph of Godfrey: Clinton Friedman | Food photographs: Chris Allan Photo<br />
The menu features a range of snack platters, which are<br />
served with signature onion rings and shoestring fries<br />
38 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga November <strong>2020</strong>
hether you’re<br />
a Simbithi<br />
resident or a<br />
North Coast<br />
local who enjoys<br />
popping in now<br />
and then to enjoy a meal, there is<br />
a very strong chance that, at some<br />
point, you would’ve met the Fig Tree’s<br />
senior sous chef, chef Godfrey. You<br />
can’t miss him ... he always has a big,<br />
welcoming smile and a spotlessly<br />
clean chef’s outfit!<br />
Kenyan-born Godfrey has been<br />
working at Simbithi for 10 years. While<br />
executive chefs have come and gone<br />
over the years, Godfrey has been a<br />
comforting constant for both the<br />
kitchen staff and the loyal patrons<br />
of ‘The Fig’. We sat down for a cup of<br />
coffee with the incredibly humble<br />
42-year-old chef.<br />
Godfrey grew up in Nairobi and<br />
discovered his love for cooking when<br />
he was just a young boy. One of six<br />
children, he spent much of his time<br />
in the kitchen with his mother before<br />
she passed away when he was just 12<br />
years old. Then, he says, it was up to<br />
him to cook for his younger brothers.<br />
Chef Godfrey always<br />
has a beaming smile<br />
Chef Godfrey’s Stuffed Lamb Shoulder stuffed<br />
with Pimento, Dates and rolled in Dukkha Spice<br />
“I started experimenting with my<br />
mother’s recipes and really enjoying<br />
cooking.”<br />
Godfrey loved growing up in the<br />
country’s busy capital city, which<br />
he says is still one of the friendliest<br />
cities he’s ever known. After school,<br />
he completed a two-year travel and<br />
tourism diploma, before starting his<br />
own event and catering business,<br />
which is still running successfully, 20<br />
years later, headed up by his brother.<br />
Losing his mother at a such a young<br />
age was very hard for Godfrey, but<br />
discovering his passion for food and<br />
cooking was, he says, somewhat of a<br />
silver lining.<br />
When a friend of his visited South<br />
Africa and told him about Durban,<br />
Godfrey’s interest was piqued. “I<br />
wanted to come to South Africa and<br />
qualify as a professional chef here.<br />
South Africa is considered the best<br />
country in Africa when it comes to<br />
chef training.”<br />
He came to Durban in 2004 and<br />
started his training at a chef’s college<br />
in West Street. After doing work<br />
November <strong>2020</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 39
experience at Coastlands Convention<br />
Centre, Godfrey worked at two busy<br />
Durban beach front hotels before<br />
reaching one of his ultimate chef<br />
dreams in 2008, when he was given<br />
a job working under well-known top<br />
South African chef, Dean Uren at the<br />
five-star Zimbali Lodge.<br />
“Working under chef Dean was<br />
amazing. He is such a fantastic chef<br />
and he taught me so much. He<br />
introduced me to fine dining and I<br />
worked at both the lodge and the<br />
country club.”<br />
When Simbithi opened the Fig Tree,<br />
Godfrey moved across and began<br />
working under another celebrated<br />
South African chef, Gerard van Staden.<br />
“I was incredibly happy to move<br />
here. It really does feel like we are a<br />
big family. I think chef Gerard turned<br />
me into a real chef. I learnt so much<br />
from him and he promoted me to<br />
sous chef and then senior sous chef.”<br />
Godfrey has since worked under two<br />
other executive chefs at Simbithi -<br />
Darren Bowers and Gary Opperman<br />
“I have a little bit of all the top chefs<br />
that I’ve been so lucky to work with in<br />
my career inside of me … they have<br />
all made me who I am today,” says<br />
Godfrey, who is currently doing an<br />
advanced diploma with the hopes of<br />
one day becoming an executive chef<br />
himself.<br />
Commenting on the Fig’s newly<br />
launched menu, Godfrey says putting<br />
it together was a team effort. “I’m<br />
incredibly blessed to work with such<br />
a strong group of chefs, all of whom<br />
had input and gave us their ideas for<br />
the new menu.”<br />
While they have kept many of<br />
the restaurant’s firm favourites on<br />
the menu, they have also added a<br />
few surprises – our favourite being<br />
Godfrey’s own Kenyan-inspired<br />
Stuffed Lamb Shoulder with pimento,<br />
dates and a wonderful Dukkha<br />
spice. “We eat a lot of meat in Kenya,<br />
especially lamb. There is also a lot of<br />
Arabic influence, thus the Dukkha<br />
spice.”<br />
Asked what he enjoys about being a<br />
chef, Godfrey says he loves learning<br />
new things all the time. “At the<br />
moment I am working on my pastry<br />
skills under the watchful eye of our<br />
own pastry queen, Philile Dlamini.”<br />
Despite his humility, chef Godfrey is<br />
no stranger to the spotlight and was<br />
Lemon & Herb or Peri-Peri<br />
Grilled Half Chicken<br />
Decadent Duo Mousse Slice<br />
even featured in author Erica Platter and photographer Clinton’s Friedman’s most<br />
recent cookbook, Durban Curry: Up 2 Date. The book features a dish inspired by<br />
Godfrey’s Kenyan heritage called Kuku Bizari Ya Pwani, which, in Swahili means ‘a<br />
chicken curry from the coast’.<br />
When he’s not at work, Godfrey and his partner Lungile (who is also a sous chef at<br />
Simbithi) enjoy cooking healthy food at home. Strangely enough, this man who<br />
is so skilled at serving up delectable meat dishes rather enjoys eating salads!<br />
Pop in to the Fig Tree and try out some of the wonderful new dishes on the<br />
menu. We highly recommended the Lamb, the Eisbein or the Chicken Tikka<br />
Burger ... and you can’t go wrong with their famous Cashew Nut Chicken or any<br />
one of the amazing curries!<br />
Details: The Fig Tree, Simbithi: 032 946 540, or to get yourself a copy of Durban Curry:<br />
Up 2 Date go to: www.durbancurry.co<br />
40 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga November <strong>2020</strong>
Tranquil<br />
creative<br />
The Place owner and<br />
founder Michelle Sykes<br />
moments<br />
Tucked away within a quiet<br />
nursery setting near Sheffield<br />
Beach, this tranquil spot is<br />
more than just a venue … it’s a<br />
creative space where memories<br />
are made, occasions celebrated<br />
and ideas and good food shared.<br />
Text: Leah Shone<br />
With its warm, slightly rustic and<br />
eclectic interior and almost entirely<br />
glass greenhouse-type structure, The<br />
Place is anything but average. It’s<br />
obvious, from the moment you arrive,<br />
that true love and passion has gone<br />
into the conception of this space.<br />
Owner Michelle Sykes opened The<br />
Place five years ago when she saw<br />
the opportunity for a creative venue<br />
where people could host all types<br />
of celebrations, business meetings,<br />
product launches, and intimate<br />
weddings.<br />
Although she was born in Eshowe<br />
and grew up on a sugar and citrus<br />
farm on Nkwaleni Valley, Michelle<br />
spent countless holidays and<br />
weekends in Shaka’s Rock and Salt<br />
Rock with her parents and three<br />
sisters. Which is why, she says, the<br />
area is incredibly close to her heart.<br />
“Although it has grown, Salt Rock<br />
still has a quaint, village appeal.<br />
From playing tennis tournaments<br />
at <strong>Umhl</strong>ali Country Club at the age<br />
of 10, to teenage discos at the Salt<br />
Rock Country Club and movies at<br />
the Salt Rock Hotel, this area formed<br />
an integral part of my childhood and<br />
life.” She married Darren in 1994 and<br />
moved to Somerset West in the Cape<br />
42 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga November <strong>2020</strong>
where both her sons, Justin and Shane were born.<br />
One of the biggest drawcards at The Place, as with any venue, is the incredible<br />
food on offer. Although she works closely with a number of top North Coast<br />
caterers for events, Michelle also has a background in food and catering and<br />
loves whipping up fresh scones or crepes for those just stopping by for a cup of<br />
tea or coffee.<br />
“My interest in food started while we were in the Cape, with the help of the Food<br />
Network on TV and plenty of reading and experimenting. I started an Asian Deli,<br />
ZoMoZ Pantry&Taste, which stocked all the items needed to make sushi and I<br />
even hosted sushi classes, private dining and wine-tastings in our cottage in the<br />
garden.”<br />
When the family moved to a family farm in Malelane in Mpumalanga in 2000,<br />
Michelle says oranges, grapefruit, paw paws, bananas, litchis and mangoes were<br />
in endless supply! She also worked at Leopard Creek Country Club for five years.<br />
When they made their final move to <strong>Ballito</strong>, they settled in Dunkirk Estate, where<br />
they still live. The Place is a culmination of Michelle’s experience and passion for<br />
hosting events and her love for the North Coast.<br />
“Over the years, The Place has hosted product launches, business meetings and<br />
all sorts of celebrations from surprise engagements to bridal and baby showers<br />
and birthday parties. It is perfect for anything from 16 to 50 guests but, with a<br />
marquee option over the lawn, we can host up to 80 people.”<br />
The beauty of this venue, Michelle says, lies in how easily it lends itself to almost<br />
any type of event. “Everyone’s function requirements are different. It can be<br />
as simple as just using the space and adding a few fresh flowers amidst the<br />
greenery to completely decorating to achieve your theme. We are open to<br />
collaborations and invite people to bring their ideas to The Place.”<br />
Good food is key to any event and Michelle has a number of catering options<br />
available, including catering yourself and simply using their cutlery, crockery and<br />
glassware – depending on numbers. From an intimate tea party, canapés and<br />
bubbly or a three-course meal or seasonal table, well-known caterers like Olive<br />
Twist, The Delish Sisters, Food Matters, Rocket Catering and ZoMoZ Pantry&Taste<br />
all have menus available to suit any client.<br />
You don’t have to be hosting an event to visit The Place. Since post-lockdown,<br />
The Place is now open from 9am to 4pm, Tuesday to Friday, and 9am to 1pm<br />
on Saturdays. They offer cappuccinos, a selection of teas, cream scones, cheese<br />
melts and crepes in the most magnificent, quiet setting with free WiFi. Definitely<br />
a hidden gem for anyone looking for a peaceful spot to get some work done<br />
away from home or the office.<br />
They have also started hosting ‘order and collect’ markets, which evolved during<br />
lockdown, on Saturdays between 10am and 12. Follow them on social media to<br />
find out more.<br />
Details: The Place, Claremont Farm, Sheffield Beach Road, <strong>Umhl</strong>ali, www.theplacekzn.<br />
co.za, FB and IG: ThePlaceKZN, theplacekzn@icloud.com, 083 775 8537<br />
Ros Ivey from Olive Twist<br />
is just one of the many top<br />
caterers available at The Place<br />
The Place really is the ideal<br />
spot for a business meeting,<br />
conference or intimate event<br />
November <strong>2020</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 43
Promotion<br />
Winding<br />
down<br />
It’s been an upside year in many respects and<br />
we think that makes celebrating the end of<br />
<strong>2020</strong> with staff and colleagues even more<br />
important. If you haven’t booked your yearend<br />
gathering yet, make sure you do so soon.<br />
Simbithi Country Club<br />
With a variety of bespoke conferencing<br />
and event venues, exquisite views<br />
and expertly crafted menus, Simbithi<br />
Country Club is the perfect spot to<br />
celebrate your year-end. Give them<br />
a call today, to bring your event to<br />
life. Details: events@simbithi.com,<br />
032 946 5409 www.simbithi.com, IG:<br />
@simbithicountryclub, FB: Simbithi<br />
Country Club and Fig Tree Restaurant<br />
44 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga November <strong>2020</strong><br />
The Chef’s Table<br />
The Chefs’ Table, located in the heart<br />
of the <strong>Umhl</strong>anga village, is beautifully<br />
designed and offers gracious hospitality<br />
and a sophisticated dining experience,<br />
while remaining contemporary and<br />
approachable. The open plan kitchen is<br />
at the heart of the restaurant, allowing<br />
diners to watch the chefs at work!<br />
Whether it’s for pre-drinks at the bar or<br />
a visit to the world class wine cellar, the<br />
mixologist and sommelier are always on<br />
hand. Details: The Chef’s Table, Protea<br />
Mall, Chartwell Drive, <strong>Umhl</strong>anga Rocks,<br />
031 001 0200, info@thechefstable.<br />
co.za, www.thechefstable.co.za, FB:<br />
chefstableZA, IG: thechefstableza<br />
Mindgame Escape<br />
Unleash your inner detective! Your<br />
detective expertise is needed! Bring<br />
your friends and colleagues to form<br />
your own team of adventurers -<br />
gather clues, solve puzzles, combine<br />
information, decipher secret meanings<br />
and trigger hidden mechanisms.<br />
Mindgame Escape is all about mystery,<br />
intrigue, and adventure with a twist.<br />
Details: adventure@mindgame.co.za<br />
087 238 2524 www.mindgame.co.za
&<br />
Giggles, wine<br />
a cooking class!<br />
Imagine turning your dining room and kitchen into a beautiful event location for a yearend<br />
DIY cocktail party with your closest girlfriends or colleagues. Well, that’s exactly what<br />
we did with the help of some awesome local experts! Here’s what went down …<br />
Jen adds the finishing touches<br />
to the Loaded Hummus<br />
Text: Leah Shone<br />
46 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga November <strong>2020</strong>
Lots of laughter and fun as<br />
everyone takes turns trying<br />
their hand at cooking<br />
Our host, Roots Cafe & Deli<br />
owner Jennifer Swanepoel<br />
Wine chilled. Candles lit. Music on.<br />
Sounds like the start of a lovely, laidback<br />
dinner party, right? Well, that’s<br />
exactly what it was … sort of!<br />
Instead of coming together to just<br />
eat dinner though, the Get It girls<br />
were about to learn how to make our<br />
own delicious cocktail canapés (all<br />
plant-based!) with the help of Roots<br />
Café & Deli owner and our host for the<br />
evening, Jennifer Swanepoel.<br />
To add to the ‘glam’ factor and for a<br />
little extra interactive fun, instead of<br />
sitting down to a beautifully laid table,<br />
we also styled our own stunning<br />
cocktail benches with décor supplied<br />
by the team from The Creativity Lab.<br />
After the first glass of wine – and lots<br />
of selfies – the girls settled down and<br />
Jen told us a little about herself and<br />
what we were going to cook. She split<br />
us into three teams – starters, mains<br />
and dessert – and the dessert team<br />
had to get going first! Aprons were<br />
donned and the oven switched on.<br />
More wine may have been poured at<br />
this point.<br />
On the menu for evening? Polenta<br />
Bites with Avocado Dip, Summer<br />
Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce,<br />
Falaffel Balls, Loaded Hummus, a<br />
Cream Cheese Ball with Crackers and<br />
Pecan and Apple Blondies with Salted<br />
Caramel Sauce for dessert!<br />
A qualified teacher who has owned<br />
her own preschool and worked with<br />
children for more than 17 years and<br />
a mother of two, Jen actually has no<br />
formal chef training. This ended up<br />
Homemade Falafel Balls<br />
Fresh fruit and vegetables<br />
being one of the things we liked most about her! She cooks from the heart and<br />
manages to make every dish seem easy and unintimidating … even for the most<br />
culinary-challenged among us!<br />
Jen loves chatting and she loves people, which is one of the reasons, she says,<br />
she always dreamed of owning her own coffee shop. “I love getting to know<br />
people, and there really isn’t a better place to do that than around good food.<br />
There is something comforting and transparent about conversations that are<br />
shared around a meal.”<br />
When she opened the doors to Roots Café in <strong>Umhl</strong>ali in November last year, Jen’s<br />
vision was to introduce people to delicious food that was both nutritious and<br />
free of any animal products. “I wanted to show people that following a plantbased<br />
diet doesn’t mean you have to live on lettuce leaves and broccoli!”<br />
Located in the beautiful garden setting at Burnedale, Roots Café offers a wide<br />
variety of plant-based lunches brekkies, desserts and dairy free smoothies and<br />
freshly squeezed juices. They also, apparently, have the best carrot cake ever!<br />
November <strong>2020</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 47
Polenta Bites with Avocado Dip<br />
Natalie and Nicole<br />
showing off their skills!<br />
Dessert was delicious!<br />
It was after she had quite a big<br />
health scare and was diagnosed with<br />
renal failure in 2015 that Jen started<br />
following a plant-based lifestyle (she<br />
does occasionally throw in some dairy<br />
and eggs). “While I was on dialysis, I<br />
had to make very specific changes<br />
to what I was eating and drinking.<br />
After my kidney transplant (my sister<br />
lovingly shared her spare one with<br />
me), I started having gut issues and<br />
was diagnosed with Inflammatory<br />
bowel disease. After much trial and<br />
error with medication, I decided to<br />
follow a plant-based diet. I felt so<br />
much better within a few weeks. I<br />
have been in remission ever since and<br />
haven’t had any issues or relapses.”<br />
Jen says it’s important to remember<br />
that people choose plant based<br />
lifestyles for various reasons, whether<br />
it’s for health, weight loss, to lessen<br />
their carbon footprint or a love for<br />
animals. “We need to remember to<br />
The Get It girls: Justine Douglas, Lisa Smith, Natalie<br />
Betram, Nicole von Metzinger and Leah Shone<br />
48 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga November <strong>2020</strong>
DIY party<br />
décor!<br />
The Creativity Lab supplied beautiful<br />
ready-to-unpack boxes so each lady<br />
could set up her own place<br />
show kindness and consideration towards everyone and not make<br />
uninformed judgements if this is a not a lifestyle we would consider.”<br />
Meanwhile, back at our Get It girls night of fun … we were nibbling<br />
away and instead of sitting down to eat, we snacked (and sipped!)<br />
throughout the evening as each dish was ready. We took turns<br />
stirring, blending and plating up the yummy dishes and were all<br />
amazed at how delicious everything was, even without a single meat<br />
dish.<br />
While our evening took on more of a ‘cocktail party’ feel, Jen says her<br />
cooking classes can be adapted to suit whatever theme or vibe the<br />
host or hostess wants. The classes are held during the week and she<br />
can host groups of between five and 15 people. “We always have<br />
loads of fun and everyone learns a new cooking skill or two. We<br />
also change things up according to what you want: some people<br />
want to get down and dirty and be involved in the prep, others<br />
want a cooking demo and some just want to sit back and enjoy the<br />
delicious food and a glass of wine!”<br />
As for us? We felt like we did all three! The favourite dishes on the<br />
night (although they were all great) were definitely the Falafel Balls<br />
and Summer Rolls (which were so much easier to make than we<br />
thought), and we finished off with a coffee and delicious Pecan<br />
Blondies. Let’s just say the dessert team were very proud of their<br />
accomplishment!<br />
The most important thing to remember when hosting a dinner party<br />
or cooking experience like this, according to Jen, is to have enough<br />
wine! Haha! “It’s also important to create an atmosphere where<br />
people feel comfortable and at ease and make sure you know about<br />
any food allergies.”<br />
Details: Roots Cafe & Deli, Burnedale Farm, <strong>Umhl</strong>ali, 082 822 9754; FB:<br />
rootscafedeli<br />
Instead of sitting down to a table that has<br />
been set for them, guests will love The<br />
Creativity Lab’s new DIY Cooking Class Box<br />
offering. Owner Tash Sutherland says, “The idea<br />
behind this was to ensure that we provide<br />
the essentials from concept to inception for<br />
each person to be able to ‘master’ the cooking<br />
class in their own space (at home) making sure<br />
they are equipped with their own cutlery and<br />
crockery, minimizing contact with each other.”<br />
We were thrilled when the team delivered<br />
and set up everything required for us for our<br />
cooking class. Tash’s team cleverly opted for<br />
a minimalist feel with earthy tones combined<br />
with a pastel pink … super feminine and on<br />
trend!<br />
Tash’s <strong>2020</strong> celebration trends:<br />
Sustainable Events<br />
This theme has been trending for the last few<br />
years, but it is more prevalent now that ever.<br />
It’s all about using sustainable solutions that<br />
promote a lower carbon footprint – like using<br />
glassware and linens instead of disposable<br />
options.<br />
Bohemian (BOHO) themes:<br />
The outdoors and nature are coming in strong<br />
for décor this year. ‘Boho chic’ has always<br />
been around, but is returning to support the<br />
outdoor and sustainable entertaining vibe.<br />
Boho promotes a simple, neutral colour palette,<br />
which includes natural elements - tans, cream<br />
and brown tones will definitely be dominating<br />
the festive season.<br />
The Outdoors<br />
Taking celebrations outdoors is sure to be a<br />
hot new trend – especially after being locked<br />
away for the past few months due to Covid-19.<br />
Space will be a new, important trend at events<br />
industry. From hosting events at your home,<br />
revamping you backyard for a baby shower or<br />
a full set-up corporate launch at a park … make<br />
sure you bring that ‘outside element of space<br />
to all your events!<br />
Details: The Creativity Lab: www.thecreativitylab.<br />
co.za, FB: creativitylab10, tash@thecreativitylab.<br />
co.za, 031 171 0895<br />
November <strong>2020</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 49
Christmas<br />
is still ON!<br />
It’s been a standing a joke for a few months now. Considering all that has<br />
gone wrong this year … would Christmas be cancelled? Well, we had a little<br />
chat to Santa and we can categorically say that it is still on!<br />
Oh, and so is our very favourite Christmas Country Fair!<br />
Text: Leah Shone<br />
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Africans have in large doses and can best be described in the word ‘ubuntu’,<br />
which means, ‘I am who I am because of who we all are’. This is the heartbeat<br />
behind the Christmas Fair Fund – together making a difference in our North<br />
Coast community in need.”<br />
Michelle says the Christmas Fair team have been inundated with requests<br />
for stalls by new creatives looking for a space to showcase their designs and<br />
products. “If there is anything positive to take out of Covid-19, it’s this: lockdown<br />
cleared space for creative thinking and follow through – the results of which we<br />
are so looking forward to showcasing at this year’s fair.”<br />
As always, the Christmas Fair ladies are hard at work creating a beautiful range of<br />
Christmas accessories and gifting items, as well as baking up a storm to sell their<br />
popular Christmas cakes and puddings – all of which will be available on the<br />
Christmas Fair stand.<br />
Christmas Country Fair<br />
convenor Michelle Blake<br />
It might be a few months late, but<br />
one of the North Coast’s most<br />
beloved traditions, the annual<br />
Christmas Country Fair, is set to take<br />
place at Collisheen Estate once more.<br />
The fair is going to be held over three<br />
days this year, from 2 to 4 December,<br />
9am to 5.30pm daily.<br />
Run by the dedicated team of<br />
volunteers at the Christmas Fair Fund,<br />
which has been going for more than<br />
65 years, the fair is always a highlyanticipated<br />
fixture on the calendar<br />
and is known for its huge offering of<br />
high quality, handcrafted gifts.<br />
Convenor Michelle Blake says, “It was<br />
touch-and-go at one stage and we all<br />
thought Christmas would be a nonevent<br />
this year, but this is certainly not<br />
the case. It’s with huge excitement<br />
that we confirm the dates for this<br />
year’s fair.”<br />
RESILIENCE AND CREATIVITY<br />
This year the organisers have aptly<br />
chosen ‘resilience’ as the theme for<br />
the fair. “This is a quality we as South<br />
ON TREND THIS CHRISTMAS<br />
As they are Christmas ‘specialists’ and always keeping their eyes on local trends<br />
and colour forecasts, we thought we’d ask the Christmas Fair Fund ladies to share<br />
their thoughts on this year’s Christmas trends.<br />
“We always keep an eye on global and local trends, focusing on colour pantones<br />
and trends within design, homes, gifting and the fashion world – as well as<br />
annual Christmas trends,” says Michelle.<br />
“We usually visit fairs, markets and design shows around the country to keep<br />
us up to date, but this year has been a little different with everything being<br />
cancelled. What we have found though, is that a response to the effects of this<br />
pandemic has been a desire not only for self-expression, but a strong need for<br />
hope, stability and well-being in a world overflowing with turmoil.”<br />
Because of this, Michelle says, the trend of recreating, recycling and upcycling<br />
has exploded. “Our team have fully embraced the trend for handmade<br />
repurposed and sustainable gifting and our Christmas Fair ladies are stitching,<br />
preserving and baking up a storm!”<br />
In terms of colour, Michelle says the team were gifted with off cuts of fabric<br />
and natural fibres in hues like saffron, ‘lush lava’, white, blue and various shades<br />
of green to work with – but they are still bringing in hints of the traditional red<br />
associated with this time of year in their décor range. “We are making a range<br />
of wreaths to compliment your Christmas Décor and Scandinavian-inspired<br />
Christmas tree décor and accessories that can be added to traditional trees, or<br />
used to create an elegant, contemporary tree from branches in your garden.”<br />
BOOK YOUR TICKETS<br />
Tickets for the fair are available online only and the price is R55 per person.<br />
Numbers have been limited per day to abide by Covid-19 protocols (which is<br />
why the fair is extending trading from two to three days). Vistors can look forward<br />
to 100 stall holders and a bigger food and beverage set up! As per last year,<br />
for everyone’s safety, this is a cashless event and only cards and Zapper will be<br />
accepted.<br />
Details: Buy your tickets at www.Quicket.co.za<br />
Some of the hardworking volunteers at last year’s fair<br />
Saffron is one of the<br />
trending colours this year<br />
November <strong>2020</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 51
Modern, masculine makeover<br />
The transition of this one-bedroom Sheffield Beach bachelor flat from dated, dingy and<br />
cramped to modern, masculine and functional is quite remarkable. We spoke to the<br />
designer responsible for this incredible apartment makeover.<br />
Text: Leah Shone<br />
When designer Margaret Berichon<br />
was first shown this old, Sheffield<br />
Beach apartment, it was in desperate<br />
need of an overhaul. Owner Iain<br />
Cochrane had bought the flat from an<br />
elderly gentleman who had owned it<br />
for many years. He wanted to update<br />
and modernize it, while still preserving<br />
the basic structure.<br />
Margaret, the owner of Margaret<br />
Berichon Design, has a special interest<br />
in residential renovations and loves<br />
challenges like this one, which allow<br />
her to look back afterwards and see<br />
the remarkable transition a space has<br />
undergone.<br />
“I just love how this apartment turned<br />
out. It was really old an drab and<br />
in need of a new look and I think<br />
we managed to achieve it without<br />
doing anything too drastic. This flat<br />
has looked the same, I think, with the<br />
same built-in-cupboards and floors,<br />
for more than 30 years.”<br />
Although Iain had a clear idea in mind<br />
of what he wanted, Margaret says he<br />
was happy to hand over the reins and<br />
allow her and her team the freedom<br />
to create and design the new look.<br />
The first step was to remove the wall<br />
that separated the kitchen from the<br />
entrance area, opening up the entire<br />
kitchen, dining and living area. They<br />
also bricked up and removed one<br />
other wall, leading from the lounge<br />
into the bedroom. The builders<br />
chosen for the project were MCC<br />
Construction.<br />
Iain wanted to preserve the high<br />
ceiling and beautiful exposed beams,<br />
says Margaret, which now (especially<br />
with the beams painted black) is an<br />
eye-catching feature of the home.<br />
The kitchen, done by Blue Olive<br />
Design, is inviting and modern with<br />
wonderful unique features that are<br />
well-suited to the home’s owner. “Iain<br />
is a tall man and he lives alone, which<br />
means we were able to use the high<br />
The solid oak bathroom cabinets were<br />
custom made and parts of the original brick<br />
wall retained to add texture to the room<br />
52 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga November <strong>2020</strong>
After<br />
Margaret Berichon<br />
ceilings to our advantage and put in<br />
beautiful floating shelves and high<br />
cupboards.”<br />
Working in an apartment of just<br />
110m², the team had to find creative<br />
and clever ways to use the space<br />
they had. “It is not a big space, so we<br />
had to find ways around different<br />
things. One of the things we did was<br />
to include a cupboard in the kitchen<br />
for Iain’s inverter. We also added<br />
sliding cupboard doors to hide the<br />
appliances,” says Margaret.<br />
The striking black Franke Kubus<br />
range of sanware in the kitchen is<br />
both contemporary and masculine<br />
and gives a dramatic effect when<br />
coupled with the unique solid wood<br />
oak worktops. LED lights were added<br />
underneath the floating shelves for<br />
extra lighting, as they couldn’t put in<br />
downlights with the high beams.<br />
The once-stuffy bedroom and ensuite<br />
bathroom was completely<br />
redone and is now a contemporary<br />
masterpiece, which would sit<br />
comfortably in any brand new home<br />
or estate.<br />
After knocking out a small wall and<br />
adding a steel eye beam, the team<br />
managed to retain some of the<br />
original brick wall. Margaret decided<br />
to keep and paint it, bringing in<br />
texture and keeping some of the<br />
original feel.<br />
The shower, bath, basin and toilet<br />
were all gutted and replaced with<br />
a stunning double-volume toilet<br />
(complete with funky, striped<br />
Before<br />
wallpaper) and a fantastic, oversized shower with black sanware and towel rails.<br />
The simple herringbone tile pattern in the shower finishes off this beautiful<br />
bathroom feature.<br />
The solid oak bathroom cabinets were custom-made and the old tiles<br />
throughout the apartment chipped off and replaced with oak veneered flooring.<br />
Shutters were used to block off the bedroom from the living area and the sliding<br />
doors were replaced and new security shutters and a wooden deck put in to<br />
finish off the patio, which has the most exquisite sea view overlooking Sheffield<br />
Beach.<br />
One of the best things about the revamp, Margaret says, is that they were able to<br />
retain and use most of Iain’s old furniture. He brought a beautiful antique writing<br />
table with him, which has pride of place underneath the flat screen television in<br />
the lounge.<br />
Margaret’s company doesn’t only do renovations. They also specialise in new<br />
builds and their services include project management, full interior specifications,<br />
kitchens, built-in-cupboards, cabinetry and bespoke furniture design.<br />
“There are so many old apartments in the Salt Rock, Sheffield Beach and <strong>Ballito</strong><br />
areas and it really doesn’t take a massive amount of money or big changes to<br />
update and modernize them,” says Margaret. “It’s amazing how far a new coat of<br />
paint and maybe taking out one or two walls can go to change the whole look<br />
and layout of an apartment!”<br />
Details: www.bdesignstudio.co.za, margaret@bdesigndstudio.co.za, 082 716 6914<br />
November <strong>2020</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 53
Promotion<br />
Small change<br />
big difference<br />
Isn’t it amazing how new curtains, a change of rug or a fresh coat of paint can spruce things up<br />
and make the world of difference? As we ready our homes for the holidays we’re looking at making<br />
some small changes that will make a big difference.<br />
Dandelion Design<br />
If you feel like there is something missing in<br />
a space, or want to bring a pop of life into a<br />
room, why not add a wallpaper? There are a<br />
number of wallpapers on the market that are<br />
affordable, wipeable and even sometimes,<br />
reusable! Wallpapers can be customised to<br />
the tones, hues and design style you love!<br />
Let the Dandelion Design team help you find<br />
the right one for your space. Details: www.<br />
dandelionsa.co.za, Caryn: 072 7077016 or Kath:<br />
072 8258418.<br />
Homestead Décor<br />
If you are unsure where to start and<br />
your budget is limited ... buy a rug!<br />
It is an investment for your home<br />
and can hide old horrible tiles,<br />
creates warmth and give a room<br />
a homely feel. Look at Homestead<br />
Décor’s beautiful range of décor and<br />
accessories for more inspiration!<br />
Details: www.homestead-decor.co.za<br />
(Image: Vanilla Photography)<br />
Onstyle Design<br />
Onstyle is an online e-design<br />
service which gives you access to<br />
the experience and expertise of an<br />
interior designer, regardless of your<br />
location or budget. Whether you’re<br />
looking to refresh, revive or revamp,<br />
the Onstyle Design team can guide<br />
you along the way. Details: www.<br />
onstyledesign.com, 084 505 3039,<br />
hello@onstyledesign.com<br />
56 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga November <strong>2020</strong>
The Design Group<br />
The Design Group is a personal<br />
interior design studio in<br />
Salt Rock whose services include<br />
spacial planning, custom design,<br />
specification and procurement of all<br />
finishes, fittings and furniture.<br />
Let them help you come up with<br />
ideas to make the changes your home<br />
needs! Details: www.thedesigngroupsa.<br />
com, 079 501 8244,<br />
hello@thedesigngroupsa.com<br />
Refreshed Designs<br />
By changing a light fitting or adding<br />
one, giving a room a fresh coat<br />
of paint or wallpaper, may be all<br />
that’s needed to make that fresh,<br />
new impact that you need. Speak<br />
to the qualified team at Refreshed<br />
for assistance with design & décor<br />
needs. Details: 032 815 2707, tracy@<br />
refresheddesigns.co.za, www.<br />
refresheddesigns.co.za<br />
Shaves Paint & Décor<br />
There is nothing quite like a fresh<br />
coat of paint! The new Shaves<br />
Colour Collection is a curated<br />
collection of 48 beautiful, timeless<br />
colours which allows you to give<br />
your home a new life.<br />
Details: Shaves Paint + Décor<br />
<strong>Umhl</strong>anga, 031 566 5020<br />
Greenhaus<br />
A bold display of wallpaper or some<br />
new accent furniture can give your<br />
home an instant, dramatic change!<br />
Greenhaus also offer a wide range of<br />
beautiful handcrafted furniture,<br />
faux plants, mirrors, rugs, lighting and<br />
décor. Visit them at The Litchi Orchard<br />
or browse online!<br />
greenhausshop.com<br />
greenhausliving<br />
greenhausliving<br />
0825652819<br />
November <strong>2020</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 57
Back to nature<br />
Garden tasks for November<br />
• Water the garden at least once<br />
a week, and mulch to reduce<br />
evaporation. Early morning or evening<br />
watering is best.<br />
• There’s still time to sow quick<br />
growing annuals such as alyssum,<br />
cosmos, marigolds, nasturtiums,<br />
portulaca and zinnias, all of which are<br />
sun-lovers.<br />
• For shady spaces, plant out bedding<br />
begonias, Impatiens Beacon - a highly<br />
disease resistant variety - and New<br />
Guinea impatiens.<br />
• Plant summer flowering perennials<br />
such as coreopsis, rudbeckia,<br />
gaillardia, gaura, Shasta daisies,<br />
penstemon and perennial salvia.<br />
• Get ready for the festive season by<br />
filling containers or hanging baskets<br />
with red calibrachoa, begonias<br />
or impatiens.<br />
• Make sure hydrangeas get plenty of<br />
water and feed with hydrangea food<br />
to boost flowering in December.<br />
• Water shrubs and trees deeply<br />
once a week and mulch to reduce<br />
evaporation.<br />
A taste of Little Sicily<br />
If you love tomatoes but don’t have<br />
the space to grow them, patio<br />
tomato Little Sicily can change<br />
that. It’s a compact, tidy grower that<br />
flourishes in a mid-sized container<br />
on the patio or balcony. Being a<br />
bush tomato, it’s a compact, tidy<br />
grower that stays at a manageable<br />
height of 60cm with healthy, green<br />
leaves that always look good. It<br />
needs sun, and the best position is<br />
morning sun and afternoon shade.<br />
Water daily in hot weather. The soil<br />
should not dry out. Feed with a<br />
liquid fertilizer once a week or every<br />
second week. The medium sized,<br />
bright red fruit is packed with flavour<br />
and the first fruit should be ready for<br />
picking within 60 to 65 days.<br />
Details: www.ballstraathof.co.za<br />
Patio plant of the month<br />
Fuchsia Bella is a compact-growing pot fuchsia with<br />
gorgeous two-tone flowers that are carried throughout<br />
summer. There are nine different varieties, all with<br />
distinctive colours. They like bright shade and can take<br />
some morning sun. Water regularly, so the soil remains<br />
moist but not soggy. Plants don’t like to stand in water.<br />
Pour water directly into the pot, early in the morning<br />
or late in the evening. Feed with a liquid fertilizer<br />
once every two weeks and remove faded flowers to<br />
encourage new flowers. Details: www.ballstraathof.co.za<br />
58 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga November <strong>2020</strong>
The ancient art of macramé<br />
The origin of macramé stretches back thousands<br />
of years ... it’s an ancient, timeless art that, over<br />
the past year or so, has come back into fashion.<br />
We recently discovered Tide, a local business<br />
that creates bespoke, beautiful macramé art.<br />
Being hand-crafted, pieces are all one of a kind,<br />
each more lovely and intricate than the one<br />
before. Artist Gabi Morrell-Smith travels to the<br />
coast to collect the shells and driftwood she<br />
uses in her pieces ... work of art wall hangings,<br />
pretty garlands, shopping or beach bags.<br />
We’re after one of these plant hangers and are<br />
equally besotted with these little jar covers.<br />
Great, great gifts (if you’re like us and already<br />
thinking Christmas). Tide has a really fabulous<br />
range, but if you want something specific, chat<br />
to Gabi and she’ll make up a custom piece for you.<br />
Prices from R200 up to around R750. Details: Follow tide<br />
macrame on Instagram or Facebook for more ideas, or mail<br />
tidemacrame@gmail.com<br />
No space to grow your own veggies?<br />
Think again. These ready-to-use pocket<br />
panels hang on the wall and are<br />
perfect to grow herbs and vegetables.<br />
There are a few sizes available, from<br />
two pockets for those really short of<br />
space, to 15 panel options. Priced from<br />
R195, they’re lightweight and durable.<br />
Details: verticalveg.co.za<br />
Compiled by: KYM ARGO and ALICE COETZEE<br />
November <strong>2020</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 59
GET IT DIRECTORY<br />
PeppermintPix<br />
WEDDING & FAMILY<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
www.peppermintpix.co.za<br />
peppermintpixstudio@gmail.com
GET IT DIRECTORY<br />
If you love the idea of camping, but not the<br />
actual ‘sleeping on the floor in a tentʼ part,<br />
then perhaps glamping is more your style!<br />
Hluhluwe Bush Camp should definitely be your<br />
glamping destination of choice. A privately<br />
owned farm, the camp has five luxurious<br />
self-catering glamping tents, two adventure<br />
tents and 4x4 camping facilities. It overlooks<br />
False Bay and is only a 25-minute drive from<br />
the Hluhluwe/ Imfolozi Park.<br />
www.hluhluwebushcamp.com,<br />
trienke@hluhluwebushcamp.com<br />
078 396 931 | 079 107 5273<br />
Somerset Lodge Care Centre<br />
Home based care now offered to residents of Somerset Valley Estate<br />
• Assisted Living for adults of all ages<br />
• Care of the Aged and the Infirm<br />
• Frail Care<br />
• Alzheimer and Dementia Care<br />
• Palliative Care<br />
• Step down/post Hospitalisation Care<br />
• 24-hour Nursing<br />
• COVID-19 Screening in place<br />
Call us for tariffs and information<br />
031 940 1601
Hiking by numbers<br />
Energetic and challenging or slow and rambling, depending on your mood<br />
and fitness levels, there’s not much to beat getting outdoors and enjoying a hike.<br />
Still suffering a little fear of going out? Definitely. Fear of heading to the great outdoors? Never. While the world’s topsy turvy,<br />
one thing will never change. The joy of getting out on gorgeous warm day, taking a hike, and enjoying one of the amazing<br />
hiking trails our country has to offer. Be a it a soul searching solo walk for a few hours, or a day out with the family, having<br />
fun without a screen or a digital device in sight, you’ll come back maybe a little stiff, hopefully a little tired, and certainly a lot<br />
happier and less stressed than when you set out. We chatted to Thule’s resident hike enthusiast, who gave the low down on<br />
the gear we need.<br />
Three things to look for<br />
when buying a hiking backpack:<br />
1. A hiking backpack needs to distribute weight evenly.<br />
The most important factor to keep in mind is comfort. No<br />
matter how many cool features it has, if the bag does not sit<br />
comfortably on your back and shoulders, then it is not the<br />
right hiking bag for you.<br />
2. Size does matter. The size of the backpack is all important<br />
- work out if you’d prefer a bag that is wider and shorter<br />
or longer and thinner. Obviously a bag that isn’t absurdly<br />
huge is first prize, but think about the duration of your<br />
hikes and how much you would practically need to take<br />
with you for a short day hike (snacks and water) versus a<br />
full-day hike (light lunch, water, additional clothes). Internal<br />
storage becomes a big component here, as it means the<br />
difference between having enough room or potentially<br />
having to take multiple bags.<br />
3. Padding. The key to a comfortable backpack is a balanced<br />
load. Too little padding will not protect your body from the<br />
strains of weight and can cause painful chafing. Similarly,<br />
too much padding will cause awkward and uncomfortable<br />
pressure against your body, which might lead to soreness<br />
… or you standing in a strange way to ease the pressure. A<br />
decent backpack should have padding on the back panel,<br />
shoulder straps and hip belt strap.<br />
Six hiking essentials ...<br />
1. Comfortable shoes and socks<br />
2. A hat which covers your face and the back of your neck<br />
3. Sunscreen - the higher SPF the better<br />
4. Water<br />
5. Snacks or a light lunch<br />
6. A Thule hiking backpack and accessories<br />
62 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga November <strong>2020</strong>
3 great local hiking trails<br />
We undoubtedly have some of the most beautiful hiking<br />
spots in the country right here in KZN. Here are some close by<br />
options and, of course, the spectacular Drakensberg Mountains<br />
are not too far away either …<br />
Giba Gorge MTB Park The serious hiker will enjoy hiking<br />
upwards to the upper Mackintosh waterfall destination. This<br />
is a short 8.4km or 3-hour return hike and the rewards are<br />
bountiful. The extremist will add a few more kilometres and<br />
find another larger waterfall and perhaps even the early Rock<br />
Shelter predating all modern history in the area. Details: www.<br />
gibagorge.co.za<br />
Amblers Hiking Club<br />
Every person of any age group is welcome to join Amblers<br />
Hiking Club on Wednesday as well as Saturday mornings<br />
and on Sunday afternoons from 2pm to 5pm as they hike<br />
about seven kilometres, enjoying some beautiful scenery<br />
in and around the greater Durban area. Details: www.<br />
amblershikingclub.co.za<br />
Phezulu Safari Park<br />
With beautiful scenery and views, amazing animals and birds,<br />
you can feel the rhythm of Africa, face your fears and enjoy a<br />
day out with the family at Phezulu Safari Park. A Phezulu Hiking<br />
Pass is R50 and trails include: The Reptile Walk - a 1km Full Stop<br />
Rock Route; There & Back Trek – 2km; and the Game Reserve<br />
Loop - 3km. Two kid’s bike tracks are included. No mask,<br />
no entry and social distancing recommendations must be<br />
adhered to. Details: www.phezulusafaripark.co.za<br />
4of the best backpack<br />
collections to choose from<br />
The Thule AllTrail collection is a must for a day hike,<br />
as it gives you a singular pack for all your hiking needs.<br />
An adjustable torso fit is built into the back panel and<br />
combined with breathable shoulder straps, hip belt<br />
padding and back panel to make even the toughest<br />
day hike extra comfortable - and allow you to stay cool.<br />
All your gear is within reach thanks to the easy access<br />
side zippers and front shove-it pocket. The dedicated<br />
hydration sleeve frees up space for other essentials<br />
like keys and snacks. There’s even an integrated rain<br />
cover. This versatile all-rounder is available in men and<br />
women specific models and comes in various sizes for<br />
you to choose what works best for you.<br />
For something more lightweight, look at the Thule<br />
Stir range. A simple, clean design offers quick<br />
access via the top zippered mesh pocket and über<br />
organization for all your items. If you want it even<br />
more streamlined, simply remove the sternum strap<br />
and hip belt. Stash water bottles and other essentials<br />
in the expandable side pockets. With a weather<br />
resistant coated nylon fabric and the breathable<br />
backpanel and shoulder straps to keep you cool, it is<br />
a bag that will see you through all seasons of outdoor<br />
adventures. Again, different sizes and men and women<br />
specific models.<br />
For the ultimate in comfort, opt for the Thule<br />
Capstone collection. The tensioned mesh back<br />
panel provides unparalleled breathability, keeping<br />
you cool on your trail, while the high-visibility rain<br />
cover keeps your gear dry during storms. There’s<br />
even a customizable hip belt that is compatible<br />
with interchangeable VersaClick accessories (sold<br />
separately). There are a host of pockets – on the top<br />
and the side – to keep all your items for the day, no<br />
matter how many family members you are keeping<br />
things for. You can even lash gear to the front of the<br />
pack using the durable button hole webbing.<br />
If you’re hiking with young kids the Thule Sapling<br />
(and Sapling Elite) is an absolute lifesaver. This child<br />
carrier is safe and comfy, plus quick and easy to adjust<br />
to fit both parents, so you can take turns carrying.<br />
On-the-go adjustments are made even easier, as<br />
you can load your child from the top or the side of<br />
the carrier. The deployable sunshade means that<br />
your precious cargo is protected from the harsh sun.<br />
Store water, nappies, clothes and other bigger items<br />
in the zippered compartment and use the extra<br />
roomy zippered mesh pockets for emergency items<br />
like snacks, toys and keys. The ergonomic seat is<br />
height adjustable - the Elite model even comes with<br />
removable stirrups for your little one to rest their feet<br />
on and a viewing mirror – and a breathable padded<br />
backpack and support at critical contact points for<br />
you. All this means a cool and comfortable trail for<br />
everyone. Details: Available online from thule.com<br />
November <strong>2020</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 63
Spoil<br />
November<br />
Game farm splendour<br />
WIN!<br />
Fancy a visit?<br />
You could win two<br />
nights bed and breakfast<br />
in a self-catering unit for a<br />
family of four (including a<br />
game drive). Enter on our<br />
Facebook or Instagram<br />
pages:<br />
GetItMagNC<br />
If you’re looking for a quick getaway but<br />
don’t fancy a long drive, then a weekend at<br />
the magnificent Rain Farm Game & Lodge<br />
should definitely be on your radar. Founded<br />
on what was once a wildlife sanctuary, Rain<br />
Farm is a luxurious game lodge situated just<br />
15 minutes inland from <strong>Ballito</strong>. Not only do<br />
they have ten self-catering and six tree-top<br />
tent units, but they also have a wonderful<br />
restaurant and loads of fun activities on site<br />
for the kids. With game drives, paintball,<br />
archery, rock climbing, putt putt and a kids’<br />
play area, there is definitely no shortage<br />
of entertainment for the smaller members<br />
of the family while mom and dad sit back<br />
and enjoy a sundowner overlooking the<br />
stunning African plains. Rain Farm Game<br />
& Lodge also offer conferences and team<br />
building, events and weddings. Details:<br />
www.rainfarm.co.za, info@rainfarm.co.za,<br />
032 815 1050<br />
64 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga November <strong>2020</strong>
STARTING<br />
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THE START OF A NEW ADVENTURE<br />
Julieann: 084 514 8028 | sales@renishawhills.co.za | www.renishawhills.co.za