JHB West - Nov

JOBURG WEST 

WIN! A case 

of white wine 

BOLD 

BEAUTIFUL 

The many layers of 

Rozanne McKenzie 

Birdwatching 

nice-to-haves 

Take a 

HIKE 

NATURE 

INSPIRED 

SHOPPING, PEOPLE AND LIFESTYLE IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD 

NOVEMBER 2020

Restore with 

our two-day 

Recharge Retreat 

Bring a friend for 

a relaxing two-day 

spa retreat. 

Single rate: R2,900 per person 

Sharing rate: R2,800 per person 

We offer a further 15% discount for 

Sunday to Thursday check-in. Rates 

include 1 night accommodation 

For bookings call 010 010 5026 

or 063 692 0665, alternatively, 

bookings@woodlandsspa.co.za. 

Day 1 

• Yoga session (1 hour) 

• Breakfast 

• 30min hydrotherapy session 

• Lunch 

• 60min full body massage 

• Dinner at Avianto restaurant 

Day 2 

• Breakfast 

• Yoga Session (1 hour) 

• 30min hydrotherapy session 

• 60min facial 

• Lunch, chill then go home!

CONTENTS 

WHY DON’T YOU... 

4 Support local markets, watch a movie or an online show 

6 Real life thrillers, great wine and a box of chocolates 

WISH LIST 

8 Spring into summer with a few of our faves this month 

GET IT 

Editorial 

Instagram: @getitjoburgwest 

Facebook: Get It Joburg West 

Website: getitmagazine.co.za/joburg-west 

National Group Editor and National Sales 

Kym Argo 

kyma@caxton.co.za 

Facebook and Instagram: 

Get It National Magazines 

Website: getitmagazine.co.za 

Layout & design Megan Brett 

Subeditor Rose Chinery, Lorraine Brown 

Contributors Rialien Furstenberg 

Head of sales 

Debbie Pienaar 

debbiep@caxton.co.za 

Distribution 

15 000 copies monthly 

Get It Joburg West is distributed 

free of charge. For a full list contact 

011 955 1130. 

Competition rules 

The judges’ decision is final. Prizes cannot be 

transferred or redeemed for cash. Competitions 

are not open to the sponsors or Caxton 

employees or their families. Get It Magazine 

reserves the right to publish the names of 

winners, who will be contacted telephonically 

and need to collect their prizes from Caxton 

Northern branch within 10 days or they will be 

forfeited. Prizewinners names are published on 

our Facebook page monthly. 

PEOPLE 

10 With a list of achievements behind her name and establishing her 

own media company, Rozanne McKenzie is on a roll 

14 Meet the inspiring Helga Tsoumbris from Mama Kasi Rural 

Rescue charity shop 

THIS MONTH WE’RE ... 

19 All about affordable designer fashion • squawking about a few 

beauty products • soaking in the (bird) bath • making safari food at 

home • and indulging in summery spoils 

DECOR & GARDENING 

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

TRAVEL 

32 We’re going birdwatching with these nice-to-haves 

38 The joy of getting out on a gorgeous warm day, taking a hike 

40 Epic mountain biking at De Hoop 

WIN 

42 We’ve got a case of white wine to give away 

COVER LOOK 

Personality: Rozanne McKenzie 

• Photographer & make-up: Willem Botha • Stylist: Lee Scott 

• Suit: Ruald Rheeder 

NOVEMBER 2020 

40 

November 2020 Get It Magazine 3

A hot date! 

Markets, movies and a mouthwatering show 

Market delights on your doorstep 

01 

The festive season is nearly upon us and if you haven’t yet bought friends 

and family their presents, you might want to consider shopping at the Die 

Groen Kat’s Christmas Market. Quality handmade goods will be on sale, not to 

mention delicious food and drinks. Taking place on the 1st from 8am to 3pm at 

11 De Wet Street, Krugersdorp North. Details: Louise on 072 315 1810. 

08 

Gather your friends and family and head over to the Cedar Tree Craft 

Market for the ultimate shopping delight. There is really something 

for everyone … think leather items, home-baked treats, handmade products, 

craft drinks, jewellery, plants clothes, gifts, kids entertainment and live music. 

Entrance is free and pets are welcome. There will be a market on the 8th and 

29th from 10am and a night market on the 13th from 5pm. Venue: Khosa Sports 

Club, corner of Shannon Road and Frederick Cooper Drive, Krugersdorp. Details: 

Chanelle on 081 500 6884 or westsidemarkets@gmail.com. 

14 28 

Enjoy a morning in the 

countryside at Field Markets 

monthly pop up market in Lanseria. 

There will be live acoustic music, kids 

activities, gourmet food vendors and 

local and handmade products. Wellbehaved 

dogs, camping chairs and 

picnic blankets are welcome. Taking 

place on the 14th from 9am to 3pm. 

Get the directions on their website. 

Details: www.fieldmarket.co.za. 

4 Get It Magazine November 2020 

Vintage lovers, collectors and 

antique seekers don’t miss 

Trouve’s first Antique Street Market. 

Come and enjoy a day of antiquing, 

shopping for hand made products 

and indulging in mouthwatering 

foods. There will be a kids play area 

and entrance is free. Taking place on 

the 28th from 9am on Long Road, 

Greymont. Details: info@trouveza.co.za 

or follow them on Facebook, @Trouvé. 

Thrilling movies 

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey 

follows Jeronicus Jangle, a toymaker 

from the charming little town of 

Cobbleton. When Jangle’s most 

revolutionary invention, a magical 

toy named Buddy is stolen by a 

former apprentice, his smart little 

granddaughter takes it upon herself 

to retrieve it and help return the 

acclaimed toymaker to his former 

glory. (November 13 on Netflix.) • Be 

prepared for plenty of twists and 

turns in the British horror film, The 

Unfamiliar. When an army doctor 

returns home after a tour of duty 

she’s ecstatic to see her family – but 

something’s not quite right. Her 

husband is acting aloof and odd, 

seemingly hating his family members. 

At first, she attributes the strange 

things she sees to PTSD. (Now 

showing at a cinema near you). 

A festive vegan show 

Get inspired and learn how to 

serve up a plant-based feast this 

holiday season with the Vegan & 

Plant-Powered Show. This online 

food and lifestyle show promise to 

be a professional, one-day visual 

and interactive experience from 

the comfort of your own home! 

Whether you live a full-time ‘VGN’ life, 

are just trying out meat-free days, 

enjoy tantalising your taste buds 

with innovative plant-based food 

or are exploring sustainable and 

eco-friendly products, this virtual 

show offers a great online experience 

you will not want to miss! You will 

even be able to engage with top 

chefs, ask them questions, join in an 

interactive masterclass and meet 

them in the Vegan & Meet area. It 

is taking place on 28 November 

from 11am to 5pm. R120. Details: 

veganandplantpoweredshow.com

STARTING 

FROM R1.6M 

Please call us to make an appointment to view. 

MORE OUT OF 

RETIREMENT 

FOR LESS THAN 

YOU THINK 

IT TURNS OUT, YOU CAN PUT A PRICE ON YOUR DREAM 

RETIREMENT AND WITH US, IT’S AN AFFORDABLE ONE… 

At Renishaw Hills, a mature lifestyle l village and celebrated coastal gem located in Scottburgh, 

KwaZulu-Natal, we deliver unmatched value that goes beyond price alone. Our Reversionary 

Transfer Obligation model (similar to Life Rights) gives you the most for your money 

so that you can retire the way you’ve always wanted to. 

From as little as R1.64 million, you’ll get more than just stunning views, spectacular 

finishes and a well-designed home that celebrates the best of Mother Nature and 

indoor/outdoor living. You’ll be enjoying our laid-back lifestyle, inclusive community, 

state-of-the-art security and glorious weather. Our popular Phase 5 is going fast and 

every home is now available at RTO prices. Want to live the holiday the way our residents 

do? Book your private tour complete with strict health and safety measures when you 

email sales@renishawhills.co.za or take our virtual tours on www.renishawhills.co.za. 

THE START OF A NEW ADVENTURE 

Julieann: 084 514 8028 | sales@renishawhills.co.za | www.renishawhills.co.za

Book club 

Real life thrillers and in-your-dreams chick lit 

and great wine and a box of chocolates. Swoon 

The Family Holiday by Elizabeth Noble is just the most delightful book we’ve 

read in ages. It’s light and easy, with lovely characters you long to be your newbest-friends. 

Teenage angst, family tragedies, new wives and single dads and 

a holiday in a gorgeous luxury retreat in the country ... a warm, witty and really 

wonderful weekend read. • Equally as light and enjoyable is Sophie Kinsella’s 

irresistible new novel about falling in love with someone - but not necessarily 

with their life. A writing retreat in Italy and a holiday romance sounds lovely. 

But back home - with his eccentric, naked-sauna-loving family and her terribly 

behaved, shirt-shredding dog - things don’t look as rosy. We love a good chick lit 

read, and Love Your Life is really fun. 

6 Get It Magazine November 2020 

There is so much to love about Groote Post Seasalter wine ... the elegance and purity of 

fruit, the vibrant acidity, the oyster shell minerality and saline finish, typical of Sauvignons 

from the maritime cool-climate Darling Hills terroir. Even the name captured the essence of 

the wine. Seasalter 2020 has just been released ... and it’s a summer beach escape in a bottle. 

Think grapefruit and zesty lime with hints of fynbos, sea-breeze and a touch of oak. Serve it with 

seafood, of course. Around R150 from wine merchants or groote-post-wines.myshopify.com

We’ve all done it. Thought 

about what we’d do if we won 

a couple of million on the Lotto. 

Who we’d share with. What we’d 

buy. Charities we’d support. 

For years, three couples have 

played the same six numbers 

on the lottery ... never winning 

more than a tenner. They’re 

the best of mates, until an 

untruth causes a small rift. And 

soon after that, bingo ... the 

six numbers come up ... just 

under 18 million pounds. One 

couple’s got the winning ticket. 

And they don’t want to share. 

In Just My Luck, Adele Parks 

looks at the dark side of money, 

at friendship and betrayal and 

good luck gone bad. 

We know Book Club’s all about 

books and wine. But salted caramel. 

And milk chocolate. And Lindt. As 

they say ... irresistible. They’re new, 

and you’ll find them at Woolies. 

Deep-cover police agents. Drug lords, smugglers and corrupt cops. International drug ring busts and foiled bank heists. 

Attempts to destabilise the country and threats to life and accusations of being an apartheid spy. Cop Under Cover reads 

like a fast-paced thriller. It’s the story of RS536 ... a terrific read by Johann van Loggerenberg. • Petrified flesh. Frozen cheeks. 

Breaking speed records to ensure survival in a harsh Antarctic winter. Scaling Dome Charlie, one of the highest summits on 

the Antarctic Ice Sheet. A hellish race against death. But also a childhood dream come true. A story of overcoming adversity 

through sheer willpower. Of seeing what’s possible when one has the support and love of family and friends. Dream of a 

Lifetime: Crossing Antarctica is Mike Horn’s story of crossing the South Pole unassisted ... a journey across 5 100 km (being 

the longest, most challenging route) by kite-ski and sled alone. It’s a daredevil’s first-hand account of realising a crazy dream. 

• From real life tension to the latest Tom Clancy thriller, with Jack Ryan Jr. When an unexpected - and unusually unfriendly 

- meeting with an ex-girlfriend in a Barcelona cafe ends with a bomb exploding, Jack stumbles into an international 

conspiracy that could well be something more than he can handle. Written by Mike Maden, Tomy Clancy’s Firing Point is 

gripping from start to finish. 


Wish list 

Summer time ... and the living’s so easy 

Hydrating without 

weighing your hair 

down, this conditioner 

bar will make 

your detangling woes 

a distant memory 

and leave your hair 

feeling light, silky 

soft and shining with 

health (not oil!). R130 

from bebarelife.com 

Add a little shimmer to your holiday party look 

The festive season is fast upon us and this means to sparkle, glitter 

and shine. Not talking about clothes here! Party-season make-up 

lovers ... this is the time of year to go all out and not fear a thing! And 

we have just the perfect shimmer in mind. These gorgeous shades 

from Kryolan’s Holographic Pigments range will give your eyes, face 

and body a multidimensional shimmer. With intense colour payoff 

and an iridescent finish, these loose dust offer a stunning shifting 

effect that changes according to the light. R438 from Blush Academy. 

Details: 011-763-7667 or visit them at 311 Ontdekkers Road, Roodepoort. 

Tastes of Clifton 

Sun-bronzed skin. A warm Summer breeze. 

Soft golden sand. Icy, clear water that refreshes 

like no other. That’s Clifton. And we don’t need 

to be heading there these summer hols ... we 

can just make ourselves a cocktail with the 

new Clifton gin. Created by SA born Silvana 

Bottega (who describes it as liquid sunshine in 

a sip), the gin’s already won two gold medals. 

There are two versions ... Clifton 1 and Clifton 

2 (just like the numbered protected coves of 

Clifton beaches). Clifton 1 is a sipping gin, all 

orange and lemon peel, lavender and fynbos, 

and is best served on the rocks. Clifton 2 - the 

cocktail gin - is eminently mixable. With hues 

of the sea, it’s all about marine and fynbos 

botanicals, cucumber and buchu, all working 

in harmony to capture the spirit of the Atlantic 

Ocean. The gins cost between R429 and R498 

a bottle and you’ll find them at good bottle 

stores or on cliftongin.com 

8 Get It Magazine November 2020

A breath of French air 

There’s a recipe in Jan - A Breath of French Air, for 

a biltong and crisp sandwich. Made with simple 

fresh white bread and Mrs Ball’s chutney, Jan get 

tears in his eyes when he eats it. There’s also one for 

a naartjie panna cotta with Rice Krispies chocolate 

rocks. Tastes of home in Nice, France. Lots of them. 

Cape seed loaf and mosbolletjies and his mother’s 

souttert. Loads and loads of more sophisticated 

dishes too ... many of them surprisingly easy. No 

surprise at all that they’re delicious. This, Jan Hendrik 

van der Westhuizen’s second book, is page after 

page of deliciousness ... and there are dishes you’ll 

make again and again. We’re off for a biltong and 

crisp sarmie. Penguin Random House, R490 

These beaded wrap bracelets are the prettiest way to accessorise 

a Summer outfit. Made from Japanese Miyuki glass beads in 

gorgeous colours (we fancy this teal and aqua option), and dainty 

charms, they’re elasticated and wrap comfortably round the 

average wrist six times. Wear one, or a few, for a colourful boho 

look. R350 from themakerycollection.com 

Africa from the air ... a collection of extraordinary images in one magnificent book 

The continent of Africa has always held an irresistible allure and fascination for aerial photographers Jay and Jan Roode, 

who, when they’re not taking visitors on bespoke aerial safaris, roam the skies, capturing awe-inspiring images of the 

natural wonders of far-flung regions. The pair have spent thousands of hours in their specially modified aircraft, and 

for more than a decade have flown to, and photographed, some of the most remote and spectacular wilderness areas 

of southern Africa. The magnificent Aerial Art is the culmination of their remarkable journey. With a vibrant collection 

of wild and enchanting images that are instantly recognisable by their unique style and approach, the photographs 

convey an intimacy with, and reverence for, the wilderness that reflects their passion for the conservation and 

preservation of the landscapes they’ve flown over. The book has a magnetic clip hardcover case, 65 glorious doublepage 

spreads as well as a comprehensive index with a thumbnail 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 with an alternative cover, which costs R1960, 

which includes a R1000 gift voucher which can be used towards the purchase of 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 


Text: RIALIEN FURSTENBERG. Photographer & make-up artist: WILLEM BOTHA. Stylist: LEE SCOTT. 


No-airs 

trailblazer 

Currently presenting on VIA channel’s 

Kopskuif, a reality show about health 

and wellness, you might not have 

known that presenting is not the only 

thing Rozanne McKenzie has tried her 

hand at – and succeeded! 

Rozanne McKenzie Media is 

producing Rozanne’s first TV show, 

Omgee-engele also on VIA which is 

an extension of Jacaranda FM’s 

Good Morning Angels featured on 

Breakfast with Martin Bester every 

Wednesday morning. 

‘Omgee-engele being on air is a 

dream come true. I still get emotional 

whenever I watch the show … It’s 

not as if I haven’t already seen the 

episodes a hundred times in the edit! 

‘The show revisits some of the 

incredible stories that listeners have 

heard on Good Morning Angels over 

the past few years. Presented by 

Martin and Dianne, the TV show goes 

back to the beneficiaries and we chat 

to them about how they’re doing 

now and how their involvement with 

Good Morning Angels has changed 

their lives. These guests in every 

episode then get the opportunity 

to identify someone else in need 

and pay it forward by making a cash 

donation. There are increasingly more 

wonderful people out there – rays 

of light in the darkness – who are 

changing the world for the better!’ 

If financing was not an issue, Rozanne 

would love to produce a show about 

pole dancing. Ever since watching the 

movie Hustlers (which follows a crew 

of savvy former strip club employees 

who band together to turn the tables 

on their Wall Street clients), she’s been 

fascinated by this art form. 

As a news anchor, presenter, 

actress and voice over artist 

Rozanne McKenzie has 

come a long way (well 15 

years to be exact!) since 

she entered the fast-paced 

media and broadcasting 

industry. With a list of 

achievements behind her 

name and establishing her 

own media company, she is 

on a roll, and not planning 

to stop anytime soon. 

‘I’ve met and interviewed the most 

incredible pole instructor on the TV 

show, Besigheid wat saak maak on 

VIA. I’ve started taking lessons since 

and even have a pole in my garage. 

I just love the strength and creativity 

aspect of pole dancing. It is such a 

beautiful art form and I would love to 

do a documentary series about going 

from knowing nothing about pole 

dancing to competing.’ 

Being in this industry for so many 

years and not planning to leave 

anytime soon, Rozanne admits it is 

because her career offers variety, 

with no two days being the same. 

From juggling meetings to coaching 

sessions with voice-over clients 

to shoots for programmes and 

interviews or commercials, then 

heading over to Jacaranda FM 

where she is on air with Alex Jay 

make her tick. 

‘This is what I’ve wanted to do my 

whole life. Getting paid to do it is 

something I’m so grateful for. I work 

hard, but doing what I love makes 

the long days worth it. There is so 

much that I still want to achieve and 

if the next 15 years are anything like 

the first 15 … then I’m in for one 

adventurous ride.’ 

Rozanne can be seen as a trailblazer 

in the media industry, paving the 

way for women who want to follow 

in her footsteps. 

‘It’s taken us a long time to be in the 

room where the decisions are made, 

and when we get to be decisionmakers, 

we shouldn’t back down. We 

are powerful but often made to feel 

like we are less. We aren’t less. We are 

so much more than we think we are 

and we shouldn’t forget this. 

Rozanne is indeed running a tight 

and very organised ship, and admits 

that even at home with her husband 

Chris and two kids, James (6) and 

Fallon (3) she is the organiser. 

‘I get things into the diary and 

make sure everything happens 

when it’s supposed to. I live in my 

mom uniform (tracksuit pants and 

a T-shirt), so much so that James 

has asked me more than once, ‘Why 

are you going to the shop in your 

pyjamas mommy?’ 

‘I always try to be as present as a 

mom and wife as I can … It is not 

always easy though, because my 

mind is often occupied 


y all the things I need to get done 

for work. But I love our house; it makes 

me happy when I get to be home 

with them, wearing my tracksuit pants.’ 

Where some prefer to sip on wine 

or lie on the couch, the best way for 

Rozanne to unwind is to break a sweat 

at the gym. 

‘I read a post once that said, ‘Wearing 

myself out for an hour at the gym is 

the most relaxing part of my day’. I 

identify with that. Training is my time 

… where all I have to think about is 

the next rep. It really clears my mind 

when I’m in a gym session.’ 

Not one bit self-conscious to post a 

real, no-filter gym selfie embracing 

her body’s imperfections, she is an 

inspiration to the many women who 

follow her on social media. 

‘As I’m getting older, I’ve realised that 

this body is the only one I have and 

I need to be grateful for it, no matter 

how it looks. I think as women, we 

have this idea that if we have rolls, 

cellulite and stretch marks our bodies 

are not perfect. Actually, all those 

things make our bodies perfect for us. 

We need to celebrate it and not be 

ashamed of all the things that make 

us unique.’ 

Always smiling, (even when she 

exercises!) there are no airs and 

graces about Rozanne. 

‘I wear my heart on my sleeve. 

Honestly, I would suck at poker 

if I ever played it. Life is hard 

enough. Yes, I do have my dips 

when smiling is the last thing on 

my mind, but when I’m happy, I 

will show it. As for smiling when I 

exercise, it somehow helps me get 

through my sessions, especially 

when there are burpees involved. 

Then I’m smiling because in my 

mind I’m swearing! 

‘If there is one thing that wipes 

away my smile in an instant is when 

people are rude or condescending. 

It is so important to me to be a 

decent person. You don’t have 

to be fake, just be decent. That’s 

something my mom taught me 

from a very young age. As we say in 

Afrikaans, wees net ordentlik.’ 

Details: Follow her on Facebook, 

@rozannemckenzie and Instagram, 

@rozannemckenziemedia. 

The happy family, Rozanne, 

James, Fallon and Chris. 

Like: 

Buying new gym clothes – I have so 

many gym outfits, but whenever I see 

something I like, I’ll buy it. 

Twitter – This is my favourite social 

media platform. I follow such 

interesting people and it’s so great to 

engage on the platform. I get all the 

latest news and I laugh so much at 

the tweets, videos and memes. 

HIIT – I’ve been doing High Intensity 

Interval Training for about nine years 

and I love it. It’s such a powerful 

feeling being able to push myself 

further in every session. 

IGN’s Crushing on Podcast – I have 

never really been a podcast listener, 

until this one. It’s about pop culture 

and entertainment. I love listening 

to it. It’s presented so well and I feel 

like the host, Caryn Welby-Solomon is 

chatting directly to me. 

Survivor – I love the American 

version of this show. It’s had 40 

seasons and it’s still fresh and current 

and fun. The host, Jeff Probst is 

just excellent. He’s also one of the 

producers. My dream one day is to 

produce a show that I’m presenting. 

Dislike: 

Any melon fruit – I don’t eat any 

fruit in the melon family. I just can’t 

handle the smell and the thought of 

the texture. 

People who drive in the emergency 

lane – It’s so inconsiderate and if an 

actual emergency vehicle needs to 

get through it can’t. Don’t do this! 

Mom shamers – So many moms have 

opinions now, especially on social 

media, and go as far as telling other 

moms how they should be parenting. 

We are all trying to do the best we 

can for our kids and having someone 

else think they can do a better job of 

raising my kid makes my blood boil. 

Mountain biking – I had to do 

mountain biking on a shoot once and 

I hated it. Being on a bike is just not 

my thing. 

Chipped nail polish– I got into 

having my nails done regularly and 

now if there is a crack or a chip or 

something that can’t be fixed, I have 

to get them redone completely. 


MAMA KASI 

TO THE RESCUE 

Text: NATASHA PRETORIUS. Photographer: RIALIEN FURSTENBERG. 


In the heart of Muldersdrift you will find a quirky and quaint hidden treasure 

stocked with antiques, books, decor, clothes and anything else you can think of. 

The difference with this shop is that the profits from the sales do not go to the 

owner, but are meant for the animals in the surrounding informal settlements. 

Welcome to Mama Kasi’s Rural Rescue 

charity shop, a bright and cheerful 

place. The inspiring Helga Tsoumbris, 

who has had a passion for animals as 

long as she could remember, runs the 

Mama Kasi Rural Rescue organisation. 

About six years ago, Helga was 

overweight, and had spent four years 

on the couch in agonising pain. She 

realised she had to do something to 

improve the quality of her life and 

eventually went for gastric bypass 

surgery. The result was a miraculous 

weight loss of 67kg. 

This new lease on life made her 

want to do something 

meaningful with her life 

and her new body. Her 

love of animals steered her 

in the right direction and 

Helga started volunteering 

and helping out on 

sterilisation days in informal 

settlements. 

Helping out eventually 

grew into a full-time 

rescue mission for Helga, 

and in 2018 she officially 

registered her own rescue 

organisation. 

‘In the townships they used to call me 

‘mother’, and that is where the ‘Mama’ 

comes from. ‘Kasi’ is colloquial for 

lokasie and that is how Mama Kasi was 

born.’ 

Her motto in life is, ‘I do what I love 

and love what I do’, something that 

becomes apparent when you listen to 

her talk about her animals. 

The next step was funding, and 

depending on donations alone was 

not going to cut it, so Helga knew she 

had to make a plan. 

She opened the charity shop to make 

her organisation self-sustainable. 

‘Everything in Mama Kasi’s shop is 

donated by the community. I do not 

turn down any donations; instead, 

if I cannot use it I pay it forward to 

other organisations, recycle or sell it at 

auctions. If something is old or broken 

and I think it still has potential I will 

gladly refurbish it.’ 

She gives new life to something 

forgotten, just like she brings new life 

to the animals around her. 

‘I’m currently involved with five 

informal settlements and all the dotted 

rural areas in Muldersdrift. 

In the townships they used to call 

me ‘mother’, and that is where 

the ‘Mama’ comes from. ‘Kasi’ is 

colloquial for lokasie and that is 

how Mama Kasi was born. 

‘Education is extremely important 

– people don’t always know about 

deworming, vaccinations or 

sterilisation. A woman came to me 

asking why her dog was losing so 

much weight even though he eats a 

lot. We dewormed him and he was 

perfectly fine afterwards. 

‘Mama Kasi pays for the sterilisations, 

vaccines, deworming, parasite control, 

vet care and surgery, and every Mama 

Kasi dog also goes home with a kennel, 

blanket, food and water bowls. We do 

not have a shelter, but should we find 

abandoned dogs or dogs that need to 

be re-homed, we take them to 

a vet until a suitable forever family 

is arranged.’ 

But it does not end there. Helga 

continues with check-ups and helps 

when needed. Her organisation works 

closely with the local vet to ensure her 

organisation’s dogs are being cared for. 

During lockdown, the charity shop was 

moved to bigger premises, a beautiful 

old building, and Helga’s dream for the 

organisation also grew bigger. 

‘Apart from the charity shop I also plan 

on opening a second-hand furniture 

store where I can provide functional 

furniture, like shelving, 

to the communities in 

the area. I’ve realised 

that there is really a 

need for this. So, when 

we do receive furniture 

donations we will paint or 

refurbish it to be sold. 

There is also a type of 

country market in the 

pipeline, where local 

vendors can come and 

sell their goods.’ Helga 

does not only support 

the pets in her community, she tries to 

lend a helping hand wherever she can. 

Sometimes she sells some of the 

communities’ products in her 

shop – these profits then go to the 

community and not the organisation. 

The words kind, generous with a heart 

of gold do not even come close to 

describing Helga and the work she 

does. Next time when you’re vigorously 

decluttering your home, remember 

Mama Kasi Rural Rescue – anything will 

be greatly appreciated. 

Details: 082-333-8431 or follow them on 

Facebook, Mama Kasi Rural Rescue. 


Have you popped into Truworths lately? 

If not, you’re missing out. Rail after rail 

of bright, cheerful, happiness. Loads 

of florals, eye-catching plains ... not for 

wallflowers! All online, too, for easy, safe 

shopping. Details: truworths.co.za 

Compiled by: KYM ARGO 


LET’S GO 

NATURAL 

This season let’s get back to nature, 

with shades of pumpkin and 

apricot, with coconut and honey 

... it’s all about feel-good 

fashion and beauty. 

We like good stuff. So we’re 

obviously big fans of the Good 

Stuff ... and honestly, what’s 

not to like? Heavenly scented 

bath soaks and hand creams, 

soaps and body lotions and 

so much more. And this 

festive season there are 

some exceptional gift packs 

... easy presents that will 

be massively appreciated, 

and that won’t break the 

budget. Win. Win. Win. All 

from Dis-Chem. 

Mix up your brights with 

some neutral accessories. 

We love this Daniel 

Hechter natural bucket 

hat, R250 from truworths. 

co.za • This season’s all 

about the wedge ... tan 

slip-on Ruby leather 

mule wedge, R1199 

from Witchery at Woolies 

• Add a whimsical touch 

to your outfit with this 

floral print scarf, R99.99 

from woolworths.co.za 



Let’s hear it for 

LOCAL TALENT 

SA designer fashion at affordable prices ... 

local really is stylish this season 


Exclusive collections by talented young 

local fashion designers. Affordable 

prices. Limited editions. Tick tick, and 

tick. The new Pick n Pay Clothing 

launch of designer clothing in 

collaboration with South African artists 

ticks all the right boxes. Small and 

select - each of the ranges has only 

around seven items - the idea is make 

designer clothing more accessible to 

all South Africans, at great prices (and 

they are ... the first garments we saw 

ranged from R279,99 to R399,99). Each 

of the designers will be mentored 

by Gavin Rajan - itself a major career 

highlight, and this new collaboration 

will give some of our many talented 

local designers, who don’t have 

a platform to grow their brands 

commercially, a way to promote their 

ranges to a large audience. The first 

collection was by the uber talented 

Julia Buchanan, this one is from 

29-year-old Katekani Moreku, which 

captures his perspective of a united 

South African heritage, and was 

inspired by he many local cultures he’s 

encounter moving across provinces. 

Next up will be an exclusive, limited 

edition range by Gavin Rajah. We 

can’t wait. The ranges are available 

in selected PnP Clothing stores, and 

online. Details: picknpayclothing.co.za

Who’s a 

PRETTY 

POLLY 

Beauty products worth 

squawking about 

We admit, we’ve gone a little bird 

mad this month. We’re loving - 

and took inspiration from - this 

vintage Broad Tailed 

Parrot print ... available in 

loads of sizes to suit 

your space. From 

R480 to R4980 from 

bespokehome.co.za 

Compiled by: KYM ARGO

Wink. wink, kiss, kiss. For dramatic 

eyes, Elizabeth Arden High Drama 

Eyeliner in Midnight Dream 

(R280), and for our favourite gloss ... 

Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Colour 

Liquid Lip Gloss in Red 

Door VIP. R280 and R295 

respectively from 

Woolworths. 

Let’s be honest. If you’re looking for intense colour, you 

don’t really need look much further than MAC. This, In the 

Shadows vibrant blue eyeshadow, is highly pigmented for 

pure colour and fits neatly into the MAC Pro Palette case. 

R150. And if green with envy’s more your scene, then this 

New Crop vivid hunter green powder eyeshadow with 

pearl will do the trick. It applies evenly, blends well, and 

ticks the eye-catching box. R280 from maccosmetics.co.za 

One for the boys. Amouage has just unveiled Interlude Black Iris Man. Inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe’s famous painting of 

the eponymous name, Black Iris is spicy, woody Eau de Parfum ... with the pay-off line being ‘tranquillity born in a moment of 

chaos’. Very apt. R5550 from Woolworths, Truworths and Edgars • Created by French perfumers, Artistique Magnolia en Fleurs 

is one of three new fragrances from Avon. This one’s a symphony of Chinese magnolias ... a joyful scent with dewy notes and 

soft musks. R600 from myavon.co.za • A fiery, seductive fragrance, Narciso Rodriguez Rouge is a bouquet of Bulgarian rose 

and iris, with vivid amber woody notes. R1105 from Woolworths • The latest creation from Hermés, L’Ombre des Merveilles. 

Packaged in an intense and luminous blue bottle resembling a magnifying glass, the fragrance was inspired by the union of 

day and night ... it’s mysterious, woody, oriental and enveloping. From R1905.

Ultimate spoil ... hours soaking in the 

(BIRD) BATH 

Water’s warm. Bubbles in. 

Candle lit. And relax. 

A bathroom needs plants. If you 

really can’t grow your own, this faux 

stem looks just like the real thing. 

And it never dies! R249 from 

@home.co.za 

This handpainted, 

porcelain Scented 

Island Tahiti Footbath could be 

used as just that, but we’d rather 

show it off with a pot plant, or use 

it to store rolled up face cloths 

and bathroom essentials, instead. 

R899 from uniqueinteriors.co.za 

Luxurious Molton Brown candle with a blend of bergamot, Sevillian orange oil and mandarin, and a 

hint of lemon and ginger. R919 from purance.co.za • From Clarins ... the Tonic Bath & Shower 

Concentrate invigorates with aromas of rosemary, mint and geranium ... and tones while you relax. If 

you’re tense, instead select the Relax Shower & Bath Concentrate, with soothing aromatic vapours of 

basil, chamomile and petitgrain. Enriched with calming lime tree and valerian extracts, this bath foam 

relaxes sore muscles after a stressful day. R355 each from clarins.co.za • Rich in essential nutrients, the Inoar 

Argan Oil range is 9 per cent pure argan – the purest of all brands on the market, it works on everything 

from eliminating frizz to promoting hair growth to protecting and healing the scalp. It’s also cruelty-free, 

sulphate-free and vegan, so ticks all the boxes. Shampoos, conditioners, masks and oils, from R340.

The William Dabs range offers well priced 

luxury. This Orange Blossom and Rose bath 

soap soothes with vitamin E and glycerine. 

R32.99 from Checkers. 

This Tourmalina Planter is great for an 

indoor plant (try a fern or a peace lily), 

but equally useful to pile up with pretty 

soaps or bathroom essentials. R659 from 

uniqueinteriors.co.za • Soak in the steam of 

a sweetly- spiced bath with Molton Brown 

Fiery Pink Pepper bath and shower gel, R149 

from purance.co.za • This 100 per cent natural 

and biodegradable sea sponge is soft, absorbent 

and luxurious. R350 from bespokehome.co.za 

Would you ever get out of the bath? The Birdcage is a wallpaper design from Cara Saven which can be redesigned to suit 

your wall size and shape ... even to the colour and scale. Not that we’d change a thing. Details: carasaven.com 


Out of an 

AFRICAN KITCHEN 

Eating on safari ... dishes from Uganda and Zambia and Kenya for you to make at home 

How can you possibly feed guests who, when not on safari, eat in the best 

restaurants on the planet? This was the dilemma faced by Nicky Fitzgerald, 

founder and owner of Angama Mara, the glorious, extraordinarily exclusive safari 

lodge that sits high above Africa’s Great Rift Valley, overlooking Kenya’s Maasai 

Mara, considered by many to be the loveliest game reserve on the continent. 

The decision, finally, was to create dishes that were less fiddly, more authentic, 

with fewer imported ingredients, more home-grown, never fancy, always good. 

And whether the meals were served as a picnic in the middle of the grass plains 

of the Maasai Mara, in the kitchen garden where guests are encouraged to pick 

their own veggies and toss their own salads, or in a lantern-lit forest listening 

to the call of the hyena, they were always delicious and memorable Out of 

an African Kitchen is an anthology of recipes, reminiscences, anecdotes and 

stories from this bush kitchen ... it’s a book to linger over, earmarking recipes 

like North African casseroles and Moroccan minestrone, Maasai honey biscuits 

and Swahili chocolate pots, Goan fish curry and Ugandan Rolex (a flavoured 

omelette wrapped in a chapatti ... rolled eggs ... get it?). It’s safari food at home ... 

an absolute joy. PenguinRandomHouse 

Swahili muhamri coconut ice cream sandwich 

Everyone loves fried dough ... the Italians with their bomboloni, the 

French and beignets, koeksisters from South Africa and jelebi from 

India, for example. In Kenya there are two ways of frying dough, 

mandazi from the hinterland and the lighter, more elegant and 

utterly delicious muhamri from the coast. We’ve included the recipe 

for the Swahili muhamri on getitmagazine.co.za, but here’s the rich, 

delish and really easy coconut ice cream. 

COCONUT ICE CREAM 

You’ll need: 2 cups fresh cream; 1 x 400ml can coconut milk; 1 x 385g 

can sweetened condensed milk 

To make: Whisk the cream until soft peaks form, then fold in the 

coconut milk and condensed milk. Freeze until ready to scoop into 

the muhamris.

Chilled beetroot soup 

All the fresh fruit and veggies at the lodge are 

grown in the shamba (the Swahili word for kitchen 

garden), where the challenge is not the successful 

growing, but keeping out the elephants and eland, 

the porcupines and baboons, and the nondescript 

speckled mousebird (the biggest thief of all). 

This beetroot comes straight from the shamba. 

You’ll need: 6–8 medium-sized beetroots, thoroughly 

washed; 2 cups cold water; 2 cups vegetable stock 

1 Tbsp sugar; 300ml buttermilk; 200ml yoghurt plus 

an extra 50ml for serving; 1 Tbsp lemon juice; salt and 

freshly ground black pepper; fresh dill, finely chopped 

To make: Peel the beetroot then roughly grate (wear 

gloves!). Put the beetroot into a large saucepan and 

cover with water (use more if necessary – it must be 

covered). Bring to a boil slowly, then turn down the 

heat and leave to simmer very gently for 20 minutes 

(they must not boil too rapidly). Once the beetroot 

has softened, add the stock and sugar. Stir well and 

refrigerate until completely cold (for at least 4 hours). 

Before serving, liquidise the soup and add buttermilk, 

yoghurt and lemon juice. Season well. Serve with a 

swirl of yoghurt and dill. (Serves 6) 

Kitchen notes: At Angama Mara all the soups are made 

with their own vegetable stock (but a good storebought 

one in liquid form works well). This soup can 

also be prepared with a good chicken stock. 

Gazpacho with olive tapenade 

This recipe is from the lodge ... where guests dine out on 

the deck, looking down into the reserve, where they’ll see 

giraffe journeying across the open grasslands, a family of 

elephant and another of buffalo. We can’t help you with 

the view, but can give you the recipe. 

GAZPACHO 

You’ll need: 2 ½ cups diced cucumber; 1 cup diced red 

pepper; 2 cups diced ripe tomatoes; ½ cup diced red 

onion; 4 cloves garlic; 2 cups tomato juice; ½ cup olive 

oil; 2 tsps sugar; 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce; salt and 

freshly ground black pepper to taste 

To make: Blend all the ingredients together and chill. 

Garnish the soup with a generous blob of tapenade and 

a swirl of good olive oil. (Serves 1) 

OLIVE TAPENADE 

You’ll need: 1 cup pitted black olives; 2 Tbsps capers; 2 

cloves garlic; ½ tsp chilli flakes; ½ cup fresh basil; ½ cup 

fresh parsley; 2 Tbsps olive oil 

To make: Blend all the ingredients in a food processor 

until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use. Will keep for 

up to a week. 


SUMMER 

TASTES 

Ocean Basket has added some new dishes to 

its menu ... and they’re completely drool-worthy 

We must be honest … when we first saw the new additions 

to Ocean Basket‘s menu for summer, we didn’t linger over the 

new sticky rice dishes. The falafel starter – yes. Panko zucchini – 

absolutely. And as for the salmon salad with avo and feta – our 

mouths were already watering! But sticky rice didn’t sound quite 

summery. Boy, were we wrong! 

From the moment our sticky rice dish landed on our table – served 

in one of those traditional Ocean Basket pans – we knew we were 

in for a special treat. Think sushi rice with zucchini, tomato and 

crispy onion sprinkles. We chose the fish option – which was a 

real winner – and you can try this dish with prawns and mussels 

or there’s a vegetarian version too. It’s light enough for summer 

and so moreish … we wouldn’t blame you if you found yourself 

scraping the pan for the very last morsel of rice. No wonder it’s 

named the pick of the season on the menu. 

We paired our rice dish with the new salmon salad with avo 

and feta which we couldn’t wait to taste … it was scrumptious. 

The salmon is lightly seared and pairs beautifully with creamy 

avo and a really tasty salad dressing. Sharing the rice dish and 

salad between two people is ideal … and a glass of Chardonnay 

really tops it off. 

The new starters on the menu are definite must-tries. 

We’re dreaming of the falafel with tzatziki, and we so 

enjoyed dunking the panko zucchini into the 

delicious zesty mayo. Also new on the starter 

menu is the Ocean’s meze platter which 

consists of tzatziki, zesty mayo, feta, 

tomato, cucumber, panko zucchini, 

falafel, crumbed prawn tails, hake 

goujons and paprika whitebait. It 

certainly sounds delicious, and we 

suspect it’s really good for sharing. 

If you’re looking for a real 

summery spoil, we suggest 

you pop into your local Ocean 

Basket … what a treat it is to 

dine out again after months of 

lockdown restrictions. 

Details: oceanbasket.com

Our go-to summer wine 

Cool climate Constantia Glen Sauvignon Blanc is perfect for hot summer days. Made in 

the Constantia Valley – known for its exceptional cool-climate wines – it has a wonderfully 

appealing underlying perfume of elderflower. The wines cost R195, and you can order online 

at constantiaglen.com. The wine is served at the estate’s restaurant with its famous, crispy 

flammkuchen – a thin, crisp flatbread layered with crème fraîche and a variety of delicious 

toppings. They generously shared the recipe with us ... you’ll find it on getitmagazine.co.za 

Saluti 

Ginato, the Italian gin that’s just launched on 

our shores, is the very essenza dell’ Italia, with its 

effortlessly chic, timeless, sunshine-drenched way 

of life, distilled in a bottle. Ginato Pompelmo 

is a fresh, bright gin distilled using the peel 

of sun-ripened Sicilian pink grapefruit and 

blended with juniper berries and Sangiovese 

grapes, while Ginato Clementino combines 

grapes, juniper berries, and Southern-Italian 

clementines that give the liquid its signature, 

vibrant orange colour. It’s like summer in a 

glass. Around R385 a bottle. 

Details: trumanandorange.com 

Compiled by: KYM ARGO and DANIELLA GRAHAM 

Did someone say birds? 

Count us in. Love these 

birchwood trays, table 

mats and coasters. 

Designed by Emma J 

Shipley, they’re from 

the turquoise Rousseau 

range, but there are 

other, equally lovely, 

designs, too. From 

R100 to R590, and you 

can buy online from 

parchaus.co.za 


YOUR RING 

ADVERTORIAL 

OF SECURITY 

Ring Africa is on a mission to make your neighbourhood a safer 

place with their new range of innovative and affordable indoor 

and outdoor home security cameras. 

Ring Africa, whose mission is to make neighbourhoods safer, has officially launched 

a range of innovative and affordable indoor and outdoor home security cameras. 

Their suite of security options has been designed to provide a seamless ring of 

security in and around the homes of all South Africans. 

All Ring Africa’s home security offerings utilise HD cameras that connect to your 

smartphone via the Ring app. Ring cameras take less than 15 minutes to install, 

come in battery and wired options and start at an entry price point of R1299. You 

can even connect certain cameras to a Ring Solar Panel for non-stop power. 

Ring’s smart cameras have a stylish design and are perfect for business owners, 

parents, pet owners, families and students. Watch over your office, house, kids, 

nanny, pets, gate, boundary walls and more when at home or away. Popular features 

include Live View and two-way talk, motion-activated recording, night vision, a 

1080p HD camera and a siren. 

“At Ring, we are constantly pushing the boundaries on bringing the most innovative 

devices and features to our customers,” said Jamie Siminoff, Ring’s founder and Chief 

Inventor. “With our growing line-up of both indoor and outdoor cams, varying in 

size and functionality, our customers have choices when determining how best to 

secure their homes.” Ring Africa products are now officially available in South Africa 

through the following retailers – Takealot, Builders Warehouse, iStore, Incredible 

Connection and Leroy Merlin. 

With its compact design, the Ring 

Indoor Cam can be mounted just 

about anywhere in the home 

and features up to 1080p HD 

video, motion zones, night vision, 

two-way talk and Live View, and 

motion-activated recording. Ring 

Indoor Cam. RSP R1499. 

The new Ring Video Doorbell 3 has improved motion detection and enhanced dualband 

wifi alongside the features Ring users know and love, including a 1080p HD 

camera, two-way talk and Live View. Great features, including a new, adjustable motion 

zone, called near zone, which can detect motion within 1.5 to 4.5m of the front door. 

Ring Video Doorbell 3. RSP R3 999.

BACK TO NATURE 

Garden tasks for November 

• Water the garden at least once 

a week, and mulch to reduce 

evaporation. Early morning or evening 

watering is best. 

• There’s still time to sow quickgrowing 

annuals such as alyssum, 

cosmos, marigolds, nasturtiums, 

portulaca and zinnias, all of which are 

sun-lovers. 

• For shady spaces, plant out bedding 

begonias, Impatiens Beacon - a highly 

disease-resistant variety - and New 

Guinea impatiens. 

• Plant summer flowering perennials 

such as coreopsis, rudbeckia, 

gaillardia, gaura, Shasta daisies, 

penstemon and perennial salvia. 

• Get ready for the festive season by 

filling containers or hanging baskets 

with red calibrachoa, begonias or 

impatiens. 

• Make sure hydrangeas get plenty of 

water and feed with hydrangea food 

to boost flowering in December. 

• Water shrubs and trees deeply 

once a week and mulch to reduce 

evaporation. 

A taste of Little Sicily 

If you love tomatoes but don’t have 

the space to grow them, patio 

tomato Little Sicily can change 

that. It’s a compact, tidy grower that 

flourishes in a mid-sized container 

on the patio or balcony. Being a 

bush tomato, it’s a compact, tidy 

grower that stays at a manageable 

height of 60cm with healthy, green 

leaves that always look good. It 

needs sun, and the best position is 

morning sun and afternoon shade. 

Water daily in hot weather. The soil 

should not dry out. Feed with a 

liquid fertilizer once a week or every 

second week. The medium-sized, 

bright red fruit is packed with flavour 

and the first fruit should be ready for 

picking within 60 to 65 days. 

Details: www.ballstraathof.co.za 

Patio plant of the month 

Fuchsia Bella is a compact-growing pot fuchsia with 

gorgeous two-tone flowers that are carried throughout 

summer. There are nine different varieties, all with 

distinctive colours. They like bright shade and can take 

some morning sun. Water regularly, so the soil remains 

moist but not soggy. Plants don’t like to stand in water. 

Pour water directly into the pot, early in the morning 

or late in the evening. Feed with a liquid fertilizer 

once every two weeks and remove faded flowers to 

encourage new flowers. Details: www.ballstraathof.co.za 


The ancient art of macramé 

The origin of macramé stretches back thousands 

of years ... it’s an ancient, timeless art that, over the 

past year or so, has come back into fashion. We 

recently discovered Tide, a local business that 

creates bespoke, beautiful macramé art. Being 

hand-crafted, pieces are all one of a kind, each 

more lovely and intricate than the one before. 

Artist Gabi Morrell-Smith travels to the coast 

to collect the shells and driftwood she uses in 

her pieces ... work of art wall hangings, pretty 

garlands, shopping or beach bags. We’re after 

one of these plant hangers and are equally 

besotted with these little jar covers. Great, 

great gifts (if you’re like us and already thinking 

Christmas). Tide has a really fabulous range, but 

if you want something specific, chat to Gabi and 

she’ll make up a custom piece for you. Prices from 

R200 up to around R750. Details: Follow tide macrame 

on Instagram or Facebook for more ideas, or mail 

tidemacrame@gmail.com 

No space to grow your own veggies? 

Think again. These ready-to-use pocket 

panels hang on the wall and are 

perfect to grow herbs and vegetables. 

There are a few sizes available, from 

two pockets for those really short of 

space, to 15-panel options. Priced from 

R195, they’re lightweight and durable. 

Details: verticalveg.co.za 

Compiled by: KYM ARGO and ALICE COETZEE 


Twitchers are all a-quiver 

The 5th revised edition of the Sasol The Larger Illustrated Guide to Birds 

of Southern Africa has just been released ... bigger, expanded and brought 

fully up-to-date by its expert author panel, with additional contributions 

from two new birding experts. Ian Sinclair, Phil Hockey, Warwick Tarboton, 

Niall Perrins, Dominic Rollinson & Peter Ryan (whew ... quite a line-up) have 

made sure this best-selling guide maintains its place as one of Africa’s most 

trusted field guides. With more than 3000 illustrations (more than 800 new), 

a scan-and-play bird-call feature using a free downloadable app (which 

contains more than 1000 calls for 866 species), fully revised text, maps and 

plate annotations and a comprehensive coverage of the region’s birds, this 

edition is in a larger format, making it far easier to use. R450. • For those 

who prefer it, the new, vastly improved and really easy-to-use Sasol eBirds 

Southern Africa App is a superb option. The app covers all 989 bird species 

in line with the latest taxonomical changes, has loads of updated info from 

the existing and new contributing authors, more than 1000 bird calls and 

more than 2700 photographs (with no in-app purchase required) and 

plenty of new illustrations with finer attention to detail. With text in English 

and Afrikaans, the app also has distribution maps updated with the latest 

known ranges and Quick-Play bird calls right from the menu. The app will be 

updated regularly, and freely, constantly improving the content, features and 

functionality. Download on the App Store or get it on Google Play. 

Brilliant bags for birders 

This Mellville and Moon 

Ornithologist Bible Bag, which 

can be worn over your shoulder or 

attached to your belt, has room for 

not only your bird book, but also has 

handy pockets for all the extras you 

need to take on a birding outing ... 

water and a notepad, your GPS and 

sunnies, perhaps a hip flask and the 

odd cigar. It comes in khaki or black, 

and is R1500. If it’s a little more than 

what you need, you may prefer the 

Bird Book Cover ... what Mellville 

and Moon call the plain LBJ 

version. Also available in khaki or 

black, it’s got a shoulder/ body 

strap for carrying your book on 

your birding outing. R1200. Both 

from melvillandmoon.com 

Binocs worth tweeting about 

Let’s pretend, just for a minute, that 

money’s no probs. We’d take up birding 

just to own these sexy Swarovski EL 

10x42 O-Range Binoculars. They offer, 

obviously, the very best combo of longrange 

optics and ergonomic design along 

with razor-sharp images, precise range, 

perfectly balanced weight. They come in 

at a jaw-dropping R72 000. But .... orange. 

You’ll find them, and a whole host of more 

affordable, perfectly adequate, boringly 

black binocs at takealot.com 


Birds of a feather 

... flock together, with essential and nice-to-have accessories 

Skilly’s sketches 

You know we like to support local 

... and when local = uber-talented 

... well, what’s not to love? Mike 

Schilperoort, more affectionately 

known as Skilly, spent his days 

putting his architectural design 

degree to good use - designing, 

building and project managing 

the construction of new homes in 

various parts of South Africa. But it 

was his passion for flying - mostly 

to the Okavango Delta - that led 

him to his love of the bush and for 

sketching, drawing and painting 

watercolours. These desirable and 

sought-after paintings (check them 

out on Instagram @skilly.art) are 

now available as originals, or as 

high-quality prints on canvas. The 

print options are huge ... from large 

canvases to hang on the wall to 

little versions to use as gift cards. 

Prices range from R50 for the little 

cards to around R2500 for the 

largest print; contact him for prices 

of originals. Details: 078-657-7827 or 

mikeschilperoort.com 


If we’re going out into the bush, 

birding or otherwise, we’re going 

to wear this sassy little khaki woven 

seagrass pith helmet. Cute overload. 

R575 from elizabethsummer.com 


GET IT DIRECTORY 

To advertise here call 011 955 1130


To advertise here call 011 955 1130 

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FAB FIT CLASSES 

BROUGHT TO YOU BY 

Tue - Fri | 7am - 8am | Piazza 

Boot Camp, Yoga & Fitness Classes 

Visit quicket.co.za to book your spot 

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Hiking by numbers 

Energetic and challenging or slow and rambling, depending on your mood 

and fitness levels, there’s not much to beat getting outdoors and enjoying a hike. 

Still suffering a little fear of going out? Definitely. Fear of heading to the great outdoors? Never. While the world’s topsy turvy, 

one thing will never change. The joy of getting out on a gorgeous warm day, taking a hike, and enjoying one of the amazing 

hiking trails our country has to offer. Be it a soul searching solo walk for a few hours, or a day out with the family, having 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 

happier and less stressed than when you set out. We chatted to Thule’s resident hike enthusiast, who gave the low down on 

the gear we need. 

Three things to look for 

when buying a hiking backpack: 

1. A hiking backpack needs to distribute weight evenly. 

The most important factor to keep in mind is comfort. No 

matter how many cool features it has, if the bag does not sit 

comfortably on your back and shoulders, then it is not the 

right hiking bag for you. 

2. Size does matter. The size of the backpack is all important 

- work out if you’d prefer a bag that is wider and shorter 

or longer and thinner. Obviously, a bag that isn’t absurdly 

huge is first prize, but think about the duration of your 

hikes and how much you would practically need to take 

with you for a short day hike (snacks and water) versus a 

full-day hike (light lunch, water, additional clothes). Internal 

storage becomes a big component here, as it means the 

difference between having enough room or potentially 

having to take multiple bags. 

3. Padding. The key to a comfortable backpack is a balanced 

load. Too little padding will not protect your body from the 

strains of weight and can cause painful chafing. Similarly, 

too much padding will cause awkward and uncomfortable 

pressure against your body, which might lead to soreness 

… or you standing in a strange way to ease the pressure. A 

decent backpack should have padding on the back panel, 

shoulder straps and hip belt strap. 

Six hiking essentials ... 

1. Comfortable shoes and socks 

2. A hat which covers your face and the back of your neck 

3. Sunscreen - the higher SPF the better 

4. Water 

5. Snacks or a light lunch 

6. A Thule hiking backpack and accessories 


5of the best hiking trails we 

can do in the West Rand 

Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden has a wide variety of flora, 

birdwatching opportunities (look out for the Verreaux’s eagles), 

a waterfall and other natural delights. There are various easy 

walking routes, the longest being a 3,5km nature trail. Open 

daily from 8am. Entrance fee: From R20 per person. Details: 

www.sanbi.org or follow them on Facebook Walter Sisulu National 

Botanical Garden South Africa. 

Kings Kloof Trails offers four (6km, 10km, 19km and 25km) trails, 

which range from easy to technical, through beautiful valleys. 

You can expect river crossings, natural water pools, mountain 

terrain, dense thickets, and spectacular views. Open Saturdays, 

Sundays and public holidays from 6.30am. Entrance fee: From 

R20 per person. Details: www.kingskloofvenue.co.za or follow them 

on Facebook Kings Kloof. 

Shelter Rock’s trail takes you through a scenic forestry ravine 

and gradually meanders up the hillside to The Shelter Rock. The 

full trail is 8km but can be cut short by just visiting The Shelter 

Rock at 5km where you’ll find a 1 000-year-old wild olive tree 

and an iron-age village. Open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and 

public holidays from 7.30am. Entrance fee from R50 per person, 

cash or EFT only. Booking essential. Details: www.shelterrock.co.za 

Rustig is a well-established family farm and offers enough 

variety for hikers with magnificent views from the Magaliesberg 

Mountains. The farm has five hiking trails – 3km, 5km, 9km, 

13km and 18km. Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 8am. Entrance 

fee: From R65 per adult mid-week, from R70 per adult on 

weekends. Online booking essential. Details: www.rustig.co.za 

Sable Ranch Hiking Trail is spread across the lower slopes of 

the foothills of the Magaliesberg. This picturesque large game 

farm offers 5km, 8km, 10km and 12km trails. The trail starts by 

meandering through farmland before making a steeper incline 

up a winding rocky path quickly revealing sweeping views. 

Open daily from 7am. Entrance fee: From R30 per person, cash 

only. Details: 064-528-9339 or www.sable-ranch.co.za 

4of the best backpack 

collections to choose from 

The Thule AllTrail collection is a must for a day hike, 

as it gives you a singular pack for all your hiking needs. 

An adjustable torso fit is built into the back panel and 

combined with breathable shoulder straps, hipbelt 

padding and back panel to make even the toughest 

day hike extra comfortable - and allow you to stay cool. 

All your gear is within reach thanks to the easy access 

side zippers and front shove-it pocket. The dedicated 

hydration sleeve frees up space for other essentials 

like keys and snacks. There’s even an integrated rain 

cover. This versatile all-rounder is available in men and 

women specific models and comes in various sizes for 

you to choose what works best for you. 

For something more lightweight, look at the Thule 

Stir range. A simple, clean design offers quick 

access via the top zippered mesh pocket and über 

organization for all your items. If you want it even 

more streamlined, simply remove the sternum strap 

and hip belt. Stash water bottles and other essentials 

in the expandable side pockets. With a weather 

resistant coated nylon fabric and the breathable 

backpanel and shoulder straps to keep you cool, it is 

a bag that will see you through all seasons of outdoor 

adventures. Again, different sizes and men and women 

specific models. 

For the ultimate in comfort, opt for the Thule 

Capstone collection. The tensioned mesh back 

panel provides unparalleled breathability, keeping 

you cool on your trail, while the high-visibility rain 

cover keeps your gear dry during storms. There’s 

even a customizable hipbelt that is compatible 

with interchangeable VersaClick accessories (sold 

separately). There are a host of pockets – on the top 

and the side – to keep all your items for the day, no 

matter how many family members you are keeping 

things for. You can even lash gear to the front of the 

pack using the durable button hole webbing. 

If you’re hiking with young kids the Thule Sapling 

(and Sapling Elite) is an absolute lifesaver. This child 

carrier is safe and comfy, plus quick and easy to adjust 

to fit both parents, so you can take turns carrying. 

On-the-go adjustments are made even easier, as 

you can load your child from the top or the side of 

the carrier. The deployable sunshade means that 

your precious cargo is protected from the harsh sun. 

Store water, nappies, clothes and other bigger items 

in the zippered compartment and use the extra 

roomy zippered mesh pockets for emergency items 

like snacks, toys and keys. The ergonomic seat is 

height adjustable - the Elite model even comes with 

removable stirrups for your little one to rest their feet 

on and a viewing mirror – and a breathable padded 

backpack and support at critical contact points for 

you. All this means a cool and comfortable trail for 

everyone. Details: Available online from thule.com 


Mountain biking 

experience at De Hoop 

Intimate groups of 10 on guided rides through the De Hoop 

reserve ... a not-to-be-missed opportunity for experienced 

or more relaxed mountain bikers, and their families 

Compiled by: KYM ARGO. Photo: JACQUES MARAIS. 


f you’re a keen mountain biker, have we found a treat for you! This year, the De Hoop Vlei MTB 

Experience will take the format of a guided mountain bike ride, and with no racing and timing 

elements, the event will be your chance to take advantage of enjoying the exceptional scenery and 

routes at one of Cape Nature’s flagship nature reserves, De Hoop. 

All vast open spaces, whale watching, drives out to the beach at Koppie Alleen, this area, teaming with 

wildlife, is an exceptional spot to explore, making it much more attractive than the usual mountain bike 

riding weekend away. It’s a weekend for not only bikers, but their husbands and wives, children and 

friends ... a serious treat after our months of lockdown. 

The decision to change the experience to a more relaxed, guided ride format is due to the Covid-19 

restrictions, which also means there’ll be a limited field of 50 riders. Small groups of 10 riders, each 

with a professional guide, will depart every quarter of an hour, fastest going first, so there’ll be no crowding. 

The event will involve challenging but rewarding riding, along a combination of jeep and single tracks, with 

limestone and protected vegetation areas that add to the challenge. 

The weekend starts with a 19km Sunset Scramble fun ride on the Friday, which will loosen the legs and 

shake off any cobwebs ahead of the first stage, with the second day seeing a 55km Flat Out on The Rock 

ride. This route includes a new track which goes all the way up to Buchu Bush Camp, and is known as the 

Flatrock single track. Riders can take in panoramic views of the entire Vlei, unparalleled and unspoilt sunrises 

over the Potberg area and open flood plains that stretch as far as the eye can see towards Arniston and 

Struisbaai. Then, after riding through local farm land, following some interesting cattle tracks and trails, riders 

will climb back over Denice The Menace, which is the most technical and steep climb of the day. Sounds 

too hectic? There’s a shorter option on day two for the more relaxed, non-technical riders - a 32km De 

Mond-Melkkamer Dash. The highlight of the weekend is the 62km Trails to Whales ride. Starting at De Hoop, 

riders will be heading out to the Potberg side, and climbing back to De Hoop with the iconic Vaalkraens. This 

is the signature and main Strava climb for the day, and takes you to the Eastern half of the reserve, where 

whale watching opportunities reign supreme. 

The weekend entry fee package is R2650 a person, which includes two dinners, lunches and breakfasts at the 

Fig Tree restaurant at De Hoop Collection, a bottle of Lomond wine, a goodie bag with nutrition supplies from 

Enduren and snacks, a complimentary massage by EPT recovery, and a bike wash after each ride. It excludes 

the Cape Nature entrance fee (payable at the gate) and a Ciovita rider jersey (optional extra). There are also 

special accommodation rates at the De Hoop Collection for this weekend, starting at R375 a person a night, 

with options of fully equipped cottages that sleep four or six. 

Details: Race entries on dehoopvleimtb.co.za; reservations can only be made through email at 

nicola@dehoopcollection.co.za. For more info visit dehoopvleimtb.co.za and dehoopcollection.com 


Spoil 

November 

Summer in a glass 

High up above the picturesque Gamka River Valley 

near Calitzdorp, you’ll find the De Krans Wine Cellar ... 

a farm with history dating way back to 1890. With the 

first grapes being planted mainly for the production of 

raisins and some sweet wine, De Krans quickly became 

well-known for quality ports and Muscat sweet wines, 

as well as dry table wines. The vineyards lie between the 

peaks of the impressive Outeniqua Mountains, planted 

in rocky granite soils on four-wire Perold trellis more 

than 600m above sea level. And the wines are among 

some of our favourites. This month we’re drinking the 

wonderful Garden Route Sauvignon Blanc 2019. 

This wine, with its clear, crisp translucent colour, has a 

lovely bouquet of beautiful fresh green pepper, cut grass 

and fynbos, with a little passion fruit and guava fruit 

salad. You’ll taste fresh tropical fruits and cut grass and 

a hint of green pepper. It’s really excellent with something 

like fresh cob or stumpnose, served with a lime dressing, 

but also works well with any pâté or salads ... so perfect for 

these long warm summer days. R75 from dekrans.co.za. 

We’ve got a case to give away ... to stand in line to 

win, simply like our Facebook or Instagram page (Get 

It Joburg West), tag a white wine-loving friend in the 

comments section and you could be one of our winners. 

Entries close November 25.

JHB West - Nov

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