Nestled amongst 20,000 acres in the Timbavati Game Reserve in South Africa’s Limpopo province, lies Tanda Tula, a tented safari lodge and home to the Big 5.

After a much anticipated flight from Cape Town to Nelspruit, a short lodge hop to the landing strip in the Timbavati was the only thing between us and the life of wild. I was über-excited to be back in the bushveld; this was going to be another epic trip and Facebook was waiting for any update. Upon arrival, there was no sign of our transfer so my friend and I took the opportunity to stage an impromptu monochrome photo shoot next to our six-seater prop plane, channelling the likes of Karen Blixen and Louis Vuitton. Our host for the next four days, Dale Jackson, arrived tout de suite to whisk his charges away and so began our latest bush adventure.

The Timbavati Reserve is new territory for me. To its south is the Sabi Sand Reserve, one I am more familiar with and to the east, the great Kruger Park lies, its fences down, allowing a plethora of animals to roam freely (as it should be) between the two. It was not long into our transfer to the lodge before the towering sight of an elephant came into view on the main road to Tanda Tula. These giants of the bushveld are the pedestrians and to them, one must give way. The consequences can be eventful and expensive!

On arrival at Tanda Tula, we were greeted by the cheeky smile of Thabo, he basically runs the place, or so he would like one to think. He promptly set my luggage aloft on his head for transport to my tent; his little trick to try to impress the ladies! Next were our ranger, Civilized, and his tracker, Jack; a fine team that the animals cannot elude. A quick refreshing welcome drink and we were off to be shown our lodging for the next four days. Tanda Tula is a tented camp and we were certainly not disappointed by the beautifully appointed rooms, all with porches overlooking the dry riverbed. We were shown the ins and outs of securing the entry to our tent to avoid the mishaps associated with curious, mischievous monkeys who will grasp any opportunity to run amok in the tents.

We arrived in time to enjoy a little poolside lunch with views of the watering hole where impala and warthogs munched happily away. I will say this for Tanda Tula – they probably have one of the BEST chefs in the bush. This food is Michelin star worthy and Chef Ryan and his team create the most organic, uncomplicated, mouth-watering dishes. Ryan’s homemade pesto was a constant at every meal because it made absolutely everything even better. It was so good I wanted to take some home to put under my pillow! I have attempted to recreate it now that I am back at home (the recipe is on the website) but it is just not the same! Ryan’s attention to detail and his enthusiasm when he explains each meal is infectious and the anticipation you are left with is quickly satiated with the first forkful. He is a true genius at his craft. Meals are especially exceptional at Tanda Tula. Breakfast was always served in the bush overlooking the dried riverbed and the offerings were plentiful from bacon, eggs and sausage to pancakes, sautéed mushrooms and a cold buffet. Dinner at the lodge always led to late night conversations with new acquaintances accompanied by a glass (or two) of Amarula, the Bailey’s of the bush and one of my vices!

Have I mentioned that each night when I go to bed I wish I was waking up to a game drive? It’s true! So when that blessed time actually comes, there is no boundary to my excitement. In jest, I mentioned to Civilized and Jack that there were three sightings on my must-see list this time around – the white lions of the Timbabvati, a pangolin and a honey badger. Now, for those who have yet to embark on their first safari, this may sound achievable but I promise you, this is no easy task hence why it was ‘in jest’. BUT, on the afternoon of our 2nd day, Civilized announced he had a surprise for us but we would have to hurry and forego any sightings for the next twenty-five minutes if we wanted to see it. The word was out that the white lions had been spotted so off we sped to catch a glimpse! I have been on I would say close to fifty game drives and when you see an animal for the first time, it takes your breath away. The white lions were no different. Oh, I have seen plenty of lions in the wild but the white lions are something very special. They are not albino but instead a recessive ‘white’ gene has been inherited from both parents causing the fur to be white and the eyes and skin to pigment. The condition is rare and the Timbavati is one of very few places in Africa that these lions inhabit. My anticipation was limitless for the twenty-five minute drive and then we saw them; a pride of female lions, in which two were white lions. As we eked closer to them, stopping about twelve feet away, I sat quietly in awe of them before I remembered that I had to get footage to prove that they were in fact real. Simply beautiful.

Our four days at Tanda Tula were full of amazing sightings and watching heart-pumping interactions. From lionesses stalking cape buffalo only to be scattered like cockroaches when the tables turned to a 29-strong pack of wild dogs tempting fate with a mating herd of elephants complete with hyena on the periphery. We followed leopards to their kills and watched the young with their mothers yet the pangolin and the honey badger remained elusive. That was no surprise. We fell asleep to the call of lions and awoke to grazing nyalas an arm’s length away. With a different locale each evening for dinner, from the beautiful boma with its warming fire to the poolside lawn aglow with lanterns, Tanda Tula gave us a new experience in every way on every day.

I always dread my last morning at any lodge. I have never been a fan of goodbyes and Tanda Tula was no different. The attention to detail that the staff goes to to ensure that your stay lacks for nothing is a testament to the African people. I will never tire of their names; Civilized, Dolphin, Pretty, Pinky, Happiness, to name just a few. As I prepared myself for the farewell embraces before entering our van that would whisk us back to reality, I encouraged my sunglasses onto my nose to hide my welling eyes. It happens every time, only to be shed again upon my next visit. Thank you, Tanda Tula, and all of your charges for another magical notch in my travel bucket list.

The best part about leaving Africa is knowing when you’re coming back!

Best,

Zoe Mulholland

**This African adventure, as with all of my others, was designed by Roar Africa - look no further when booking your travels to Africa.

Thankfully it seems to be all about rescues this past week: rhino, elephant and now a lion cub.
This just in from Mugie Conservacy in Kenya:

"This little 3 week old cub was first seen 3 days ago marooned on a small island in the river bed below the Mugie dam (been flooding for over a week now), but was described a being 3 months old or more, we waited to see if the floods would subside and if mum would appear. Today, I sent Papa 1 & Frank to wade into the river to get close enough to throw pieces of meat on to the Island and hopefully it could survive for while longer whilst we would be monitoring what might happen. But when they got close they could see how much younger it is and went on to the island and picked him up & brought him in. Ol Jogi have all necessary to rear such a little creature so they sent a plane over and he is now receiving rehrydrents over there."

There is of course debate about interference with wildlife - man should not meddle. However, many people are of the opinion that where man has created a survival problem interference is warranted (especially snares, fences etc..). Since Mugie is one of the core study areas of the ‘Laikipia Predator Project, a research study aimed at improving the conservation of large carnivores throughout Africa (desperately needed we might add), a lion rescue is perhaps appropriate and they are also uniquely qualified to act.
Hopefully this little one can be reintroduced to the wild in time.

Congratulations to The South Luangwa Conservation Society (SLCS), Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) and Norman Carr Safaris (NCS) who rescued a mother elephant and calf.  We were hosted by NCS just last month when we took National Geographic's Boyd Matson to visit South Luangwa.  We were touched by this rescue story so we put the photos and text into a slideshow to share.

More on the NCS blog post here.

And you can support SLCS's excellent work here.

ROAR AFRICA

I wrote about my visit to Zimababwe's Singita Pamushana back in November, so it is with great pride that I am able to share the news that Singita Pamushana has been awarded "Global Winner" at the World Travel & Tourism Council's Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.

One of Singita Game Reserve's nine low-impact/high-end game lodges in southern and East Africa, Singita Pamushana is often referred to as 'one of southern Africa's best kept secrets'. It was selected as winner in this prestigious global competition amongst two other outstanding finalists in the Conservation category: Frégate Island in the Seychelles; and The Jane Goodall Institute/Budongo Ecotourism Development Project in Uganda.

Singita Pamushana was established with the core purpose of making a meaningful contribution towards the cost of conserving the extraordinary 130,000 acres Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve in south-eastern Zimbabwe. This confident venture into a world-class tourism product for Zimbabwe impressed the panel of international judges as a model for private tourism practice that uniquely subsists solely to generate income via high value tourism. The goal is to make a major contribution to the national goal of rehabilitating the country's wildlife and tourism industries.

The natural habitat in the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve has now been rehabilitated to its original state, and today Singita Pamushana has the finest quality wildlife in Zimbabwe. These range from endangered Black Rhino to Roan Antelope and Lichtenstein's Hartebeest. Under Singita Pamushana's sensitive management, the wildlife populations have shown exhilarating growth after the carefully managed reintroduction.

Luke Bailes, CEO of Singita Game Reserves says:

"It is a great honor to be recognized by an organization such as the World Travel & Tourism Council for our approach to conservation, and for the conservation-related programs that are in place at Singita Pamushana. These create the context within which our guests can experience African wildlife at its very best. Singita Pamushana exemplifies our approach to sustainable tourism and is a paradigm of how we can contribute meaningfully to conserving vast ecological zones, in so doing preserving these areas and their wildlife for future generations."

One day in 1998, in South Africa, I followed a yellow-billed kite into a thermal on my paraglider. We soared together close enough that I could see the individual feathers on its wingtips making adjustments. I still get goosebumps more than a decade later.

Watch this beautiful footage of Kerri Wolter doing it for the joy AND for a cause: the protection of the Cape Vulture. Less than 2,900 breeding pairs remain. Conservationist Kerri Wolter and paraglider pilot Walter Nesser fly with them. The footage is sublime.


Kerri founded the Vulture Conservation Program in Magaliesberg, South Africa. A beautiful place to fly! Support the program here.

This was also part of the filming of the documentary series Path into the Future.

New Yorkers take note - March 23–August 14, 2011!
In an upcoming MoMA exhibition called Impressions from South Africa, 1965 to Now, nearly 100 prints, posters, books, and wall stencils will be on view—many for the first time in the United States—providing striking examples of how printed art can be used as a tool for social, political, and personal expression.

Impressions from South Africa is organized around five themes: the use of linoleum cut, which exemplifies the accessibility and bold expressiveness of printmaking; the suitability of printmaking, particularly screenprint and offset lithography, for disseminating political statement; the use of intaglio, which has a strong history of graphically narrative work full of political allusion; the integration of photography and printmaking to expand on the notion of the documentary; and, finally, the variety of topics and formats present in post-apartheid printed works, many of which revitalize these other techniques and strategies.
Many of the works were acquired after the worldwide cultural boycott of South Africa dissolved in the 1990's, and the collection is a firs-of-its-kind look inside South Africa's turbulent era of social upheaval.
For more detail see the MoMA press release here.
Dates: March 23–August 14, 2011
The Museum of Modern Art: 11 West 53 Street, New York, NY | www.MoMA.org

I was very proud to read The Huffington Post article by Shari Cohen; "South Africa Rolls Out the Ubuntu in Abundance". It's wonderful to see the spirit of South Africa appreciated and having such a deep impact on a self-described cynic. It's also reassuring to know that we can teach the world something. Please read the full post on their website here. I have copied a few touching quotes below.

"To say that I have been blown away at the hospitality South Africa has shown the rest of the world would be an understatement."

"The questions and conversations are in earnest. They are honest. And they are had with enthusiasm and a thirst to know more. South Africans are drinking deeply from the cup of humanity that has been brought to their doorstep."

"I'm a little teary just writing this because I leave for home next weekend and I will be leaving a little piece of myself here in South Africa. I just hope I have learned enough to bring back a little piece of Ubuntu to my homeland."

"Thank you South Africa, for giving me this unexpected gift. I am humbled. "

*****

To all of our avid Africa fans,

One of our partners, Londolozi - owned and run by the Varty family, is a unique and special place in the Sabi Sands, South Africa. Much of the preservation today in southern Africa and beyond is a result of Dave Varty's tremendous insight and efforts in conservation. Still there is great risk...

• The population of the African elephant, has declined by more than 99% since the 1930s, when as many as 10 million of the great creatures roamed free there.
• Only 10,000 Rhinos exist around the world, down 85 percent since just 1970.
• The continent’s lion population has fallen off by half since the early 1950s when there were an estimated 40,000 “kings of the jungle”.

"Londolozi’ means Protector of all living things. True to our values, we present to you our conservation event for 2010. Five individuals from Londolozi have come together with a mission to raise R500 000 for an endangered species and for literacy. Ultimately, for us, Africa is about the fusion of people and animals and about reconnecting the human spirit back to the wilderness." Londolozi

...and so Shan, Bronwyn & Boyd (Varty), Rich Laburn and Brett Roux are embarking on a grueling challenge to raise funds and continue this relentless endeavor; a 7-day 330km bicycle ride through the northern Namibian desert. Donations will go to Save the Rhino and The Good Work Foundation.

Any donation would be greatly appreciated and anyone who can

donate $600 or more stands a chance to win a 2 night stay at Londolozi’s Private Granite Suites worth $40,000!

To Donate, click here and scroll down:

http://www.marthabeck.com/LEAP/

Please refence your donation with 'C4AC' and then 'your name'.

For more information:

Contact Boyd Varty:

Tel: +27 (0)13 735 5653

E-mail: boydatlondolozi@gmail.com

Links (click for more):

Londolozi
Londolozi Granite Suites
Save The Rhino

Last week ROAR AFRICA hosted a cocktail party at the home of Henry Buhl. This was a celebration of our 5th anniversary and the upcoming FIFA World Cup which is being hosted South Africa. In this vein we honored our friend and artist Joseph Peter. With his partners Coca-Cola and FIFA, Joey traveled 53 countries in 75 days with the FIFA trophy and produced an amazing work of art; The African Book of Happiness. What a wonderful project to share the inherent optimism of the African people instead of what we see on the news every day.

Many people wanted further information on Joey's book so he has kindly written up some more detailed information that I have attached. (Click each page below to enlarge).

It was a great honor to celebrate his incredible work and we look forward to the many new editions that will follow as Joey covers the globe.

www.theafricanbookofhappiness.com

All photographs copyright Joseph Peter.
www.josephpeter.com

This morning a friend Murray alerted me to a wonderful sequence of dolphin photographs by Greg Huglin. Have a look at them on the Daily Telegraph here.

The caption on one of the photographs (reproduced below) states:
'He [Greg Huglin] said: "I believe they do it for fun but it may also have something to do with mating and chasing potential partners. It might also be something to do with hiding from predators - the wave sounds help mask their location'

This reminded me of an experience I had surfing with dolphins from which I have deduced categorically that Greg is correct - they often really do surf for the pure joy of it. OK, I don't have a PhD in animal behavior or any scientific evidence to back this up, but I do have some personal experience to share.

One day I was surfing with a friend at my favorite place, Natures Valley. We were floating beyond the breakers when a pod of dolphins cruising down the coast paused (that is as much as dolphins ever 'pause') to investigate us or, it seemed, to say hello. After a minute the pod moved off except for three who hung back swimming around us and playing in the waves. They'd surf a wave and then return to us as if to encourage us to do something. We did our pathetic best to comply.

We had the most incredible time surfing with them, sometimes riding next to them on the same waves -a mind-blowing experience. Then they'd race back out jumping through the waves and wait for us ungainly terrestrial creatures to labor through the surf before riding the next wave together.

For the next two days we were granted this rare privilege. At about the same time of day each day a pod would come past and three dolphins - we presume the same ones- would stay back to surf. After a few good waves they would dart off to rejoin their more graceful friends.

I'm sure dolphins sometimes surf to catch a fish or impress a mate, but I have no doubt that this was all about fun. It would be hard to have any more fun than surfing with dolphins. maybe that's why they always look like they are smiling.


Natures Valley is on the Garden Route in South Africa. The Garden Route is a beautiful section of the southeastern coastline which starts a few hours east of Cape Town.

The Summit on the Summit expedition is the brainchild of singer and producer Kenna. His father suffered from waterborne diseases as a child in Ethiopia. A group of celebrities signed on to climb the continent's highest peak — Mt. Kilimanjaro — to raise awareness about the need for clean water worldwide. The team all summitted the 19,340 foot mountain last week after six days of climbing.

ROAR AFRICA is proud of our clients on the trip who are now enjoying some well-deserved relaxation at a beautiful lodge in Tanzania. Prior to climbing, Jessica Biel said she was astonished to learn that more than a billion people across the globe have no access to clean water.

"This is a basic human necessity that needs to be addressed now," Biel said in a statement, adding that she's proud to climb Kilimanjaro with the celebrity team "to help any way I can in order to raise awareness toward the life-threatening clean water crisis happening not only in Africa but around the world."

Donate to the cause directly through the United Nations Foundation.
1 cent = 1 litre of clean, safe drinking water. 5,910,300 liters donated at the time of writing.

People tend to think predominantly of the Cape Peninsula and Hermanus as the places to watch whales. There's good reason for that -they are incredible places to observe the Southern Right Whale between June and November. However there are other whale wathcing opportunities around South Africa and Mozambique.

The St Lucia tourism board are operating frequent excursions out to see to watch the Southern Right Whales traveling through St Lucia en route to the warmer Mozambiquan waters to give birth. The tours last two hours but will take three hours of your time because the trip out and back in are a half hour each.

So don't miss out on this lovely and rare opportunity to see these majestic creatures in their natural environment.

Venue: Meet in McKenzie Street, St Lucia
Date: Offer ends Monday, 30th of November, 2009 three trips a day, 06h00; 08h00 and 10h00
Cost: R770 per person

I had the most enriching experience last week at Camp Jabulani. 'Camp Jabulani' is the extraordinary tale of an orphaned baby elephant, and a herd of Zimbabwean elephants which once faced a grissly fate. Paul Coetze took us to visit the wild but trained 16 elephants under his charge.

This had to be another one of life’s privileges. Out in the open are elephants just eating minding their own business but with handlers around to ward off lions etc. A 28 year old bull Sebakwe (of Amarula Cream advertisement fame) allows us to slowly walk up to him and start to talk to and touch him. Touching his trunk, his tusks (he is left handed/tusked-uses his left tusk the most), then his ears front and back, feeling the blood vessels, then around his face and eye. His eye was over 7 feet off the ground. Elephants are big seen from a vehicle but from the ground they reach way up into the sky. In training these animals Paul Coetze works on the reward system. So when we had run out of adrenalin Sebakwe was given a handful of pellets, into his trunk which he then gently blew into his mouth. We were able to touch his tongue and check the wear on his second set of molars of which elephants get 6 sets in their 60 odd years of afterwhich they then wither away and die at about 65 or so.

Little Limpopo a 2 year old female came forward for a chance free handful of pellets. She was asked to lie down so as to earn her reward but was so hungry and excited that she slid along the ground half on her side and half on her stomach while reaching out with her trunk desperately for the pellets. Just as a teenager working a point would do.

Our next encounter was with Mambo, a 6 week old baby male -300 pounds in weight- he came to show us how he could carry a stick in his mouth. Then he showed how clever he was by lifting his front left foot, holding down the stick while trying to take off the bark to eat. Much laughter as he took us through his routine. Realised we were impressed by his skills he then, just like a young child started, showing off to the crowd. Walking backwards and deliberately bumping in to a handler repeatedly. Now that he had the crowds attention he started skipping about waving the stick and really just clowning around. He stayed near his mother when offered pellets, his nerve could not take him the distance to eat out of a strange bipedal hand.

All of us humans need to stop and realise how intelligent the elephants are and for us to show much more respect to all our wild life. They do not want confrontation, none of them, it is just us the greedy ape that wants it all, all of the time and some more.

*****

Camp Jabulani:

Elephant back safaris are but one of the offerings at Camp Jabulani. Home to the Big Five and a myriad of other animals and plants, the reserve offers unequalled opportunities to experience the tranquillity of the bush. The reserve incorporates the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre, which is widely known for its contribution to the conservation of wildlife. Conceptualised to support a herd of 13 orphaned and abandoned elephants, this is an operation which promises a unique and completely interactive elephant safari.

Real life Dangermouse was a dirty rat!

This didn't happen in southern Africa but it does involve an African leopard and it is an amusing story. It was captured on film by photography student Casey Gutteridge shortly after feeding time at the Santago Rare Leopard Project in Hertfordshire, England.

The Daily Mail recites the events as follows:

The little rat - thought to be only two to three months old - was spotted scampering into the leopard's enclosure shortly after feeding time at the Santago Rare Leopard Project, in Hertfordshire. So intent was the plucky rodent on its mission to snatch a tasty snack, that it seemed not to notice that its path was taking it within a whisker's breadth of 12-year-old Sheena.

Clutching a corner of raw meat with its tiny paws, the rat busily tucked in, until it sensed one of those whiskers moving in. Sheena, bemused by the interloper coming between her and the remains of dinner, padded over on paws big enough to wreak vengeance with a single swipe. But rather than giving the thief at very least the hearty set down it deserved, she gingerly lowered her nose for an exploratory sniff. Rattus paused, lifted its dainty pink claws in submission, then - obviously deciding on a nothing-ventured-nothing-gained approach - continued to tuck in. And after another tentative investigation, Sheena gave the leopard equivalent of a shrug and turned away.


Mr Gutteridge, 19, from Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, thought the rodent was a mouse. Mr Gutteridge said: 'I have no idea where it came from - he just appeared in the enclosure after the keeper had dropped in the meat for the leopard. 'He didn't take any notice of the leopard, just went straight over to the meat and started feeding himself. 'But the leopard was pretty surprised - she bent down and sniffed at it and flinched a bit like she was scared. 'It was amazing, even the keeper who had thrown the meat into the enclosure was shocked - he said he'd never seen anything like it before.'

An expert at the Wildlife Trust said the creature was in fact a young and 'inexperienced rat', identifiable by its big paws and ears and more importantly its bald, scaly tail with a thick base.


Leopard project owner Jackie James added: 'My son threw meat in for the photographers and it just appeared. Sheena batted it away but it just came back. The determined little thing took no notice and just carried on.' Sheena was brought in to the Santago Rare Leopard Project from a UK zoo when she was just four months old. She is one of 14 big cats in the private collection started by Jackie's late husband Peter in 1989.

*****

The African leopard can be found in the continent's forests, grasslands, savannas, and rainforests. The leopard is the most elusive of all the big cats. They are solitary animals and are primarily nocturnal - preferring to hunt at night. The species is also a strong climber and is capable of killing prey larger than itself. The leopard's prey ranges from fish, reptiles and birds to smaller mammals such as hares and monkeys. A stealthy hunter, leopards are known to stalk close to their prey and run a relatively short distance on the hunt. They kill by grabbing their prey by the throat and biting down with their jaws, and store their larger kills in trees - out of the reach of prowling lions and hyenas.

We're proud to announce that Southern Africa (and the Indian Ocean islands), the home of Roar Africa, has 11 entries currently competing for inclusion in the New7Wonders of Nature. Of those 11 the Kalahari Desert (Botswana/Namibia/South Africa) is the current front runner. We have two coming in at number 7: Sossusvlei (Namibia) and Table Mountain (Cape Town, South Africa). Not bad!

Wonder, Country, Current Rank
Kalahari Desert, BOTSWANA/NAMIBIA/S.AFRICA, 1
Sossusvlei, NAMIBIA, 7 (group A)
Table Mountain, SOUTH AFRICA, 7 (group C)
Mount Karthala, COMOROS, 11
Okawango Delta, BOTSWANA, 18
Victoria Falls, ZAMBIA/ ZIMBABWE, 25
Aldabra Atoll, SEYCHELLES, 26
Malolotja Nature Reserve, SWAZILAND, 29
Mount Nyangani, ZIMBABWE, 30
Avenue of the Baobabs, MADAGASCAR, 35
Maletsunyane Falls, LESOTHO, 57

And we can think of far more than 11 reasons to visit southern Africa!

The New 7 Wonders of Nature will be determined by votes from the public.
Vote here.

Why elect the New7Wonders of Nature?
The campaign to choose The Offcial New7Wonders of the World was a resounding success, in which more than 100 million votes were cast and which took democracy to a new, global level. The New7Wonders of Nature campaign will raise awareness of the incredible variety and beauty of nature around us. “If we want to save anything, we first need to truly appreciate it!” This is something that is very important - more awareness and more tourism income means that these natural treasures can be better preserved for future generations.

The New7Wonders Foundation, which is behind the New7Wonders campaigns, has the express aim of undertaking documentation and conservation works of monuments worldwide under the motto: "OUR HERITAGE IS OUR FUTURE". The Foundation was established in 2001 by the Swiss-born Canadian filmmaker, author and adventurer Bernard Weber to contribute to the protection of the world’s human-built and natural heritage and to foster respect for the cultural diversity on our planet. Fifty percent of net revenue raised by the New7Wonders Project is to be used to fund monument documentation and conservation efforts worldwide.

Singita Lodge in Kruger National Park has implemented a creative way to help the community, develop their staff and staff their kitchen with exceptional talent. It was born out of the remoteness of their Kruger Concession locations (Singita Lebombo and Sweni Lodges) and their desire to help the community. We visited the remarkable school last month and congratulate them on their creative program and success. Here's their story.

SINGITA SCHOOL OF COOKING - HISTORY, PURPOSE AND FUNCTION

Background

Four factors came together to create the Singita Cooking School:

• Singita Kruger National Park’s real desire and that of many of its guests, to assist in the active development of local communities was proving challenging because of the very remoteness of the lodge. The villages where most of their staff had their homes were a 3 hour drive away.
• Staffing its kitchens with skilled, inspired and qualified chefs meant recruiting from the far away cities. Local staff with the right foundation skills to thrive and progress were proving almost impossible to locate. There were very few success stories of local enthusiastic staff moving up through the kitchen ranks. This was a situation which needed to change.
• The Singita staff village had a kitchen large enough to accommodate 8 chefs operating comfortably in their own workspace.
• Kurt Abrahams, a Senior Sous Chef at Singita Sweni, SKNP, of 4 years service with the company and possessing outstanding culinary skills and a passion for staff development, put forward a proposal that he commence training “interns” from the local community, in parallel with his normal work.
  

From these 4 strands the Singita Cooking School was born.

Such a program was practical – we had the committed trainer to hand and the perfect facility. Such a program was a hands-on practical way to assist the distantly-situated community in a sustainable way. One up-skilled person with a good job and sound prospects has a multiplying effect on his/her immediate family and the broader community. Besides the income provided, they can also provide much needed inspiration, energy and leadership to depressed under-developed areas.

As a result, at the end of 2007, Kurt vacated his position as Sweni Head Chef and became the full-time trainer and mentor. The kitchen was equipped with all the necessary equipment to house a full-scale cooking school for up to 10 trainees. An advertisement went out to the local community for youth who were passionate about cooking and becoming trained Commis Chefs. And the first group of trainees started “school” in January 2007 ensuring that the Singita Cooking School “started cooking”!

How the Cooking School works

1. The Singita Cooking School is a community development program aimed at equipping 8 youth from the local community – over each 12 month period - with an enthusiasm for cooking and the foundation skills required to commence a successful career as a Chef.

2. It is a 1 year full time Learnership program for 8 students.

3. The program is advertised in the local community – by word of mouth, posters and flyers.

4. Each student receives a chef’s uniform and essential kitchen equipment and is provided with either transport or accommodation to ensure their daily attendance at classes. Students are paid a monthly stipend during their training.

5. The program is a combination of theoretical and practical training, aimed at building knowledge, skills and confidence to enable the trainee to take up a Commis Chef position in a professional kitchen and to drive their own careers into the future.

6. Students gain practical skills by “practicing” on Singita staff and, on occasions, by working in the Singita Lebombo kitchen to gain exposure on the preparation of food for guests. Staff have benefited from the far healthier preparation of their food and an enhanced “culinary experience”.

7. In addition to the culinary aspect, the program includes the development of life skills and a focus on improving spoken English.

8. Students are assessed as they progress and have to be found competent in all modules in order to graduate from the School.

9. On completion of the training program, students are assisted to apply for positions as Commis Chefs within Singita and with other lodges situated close to or within the Kruger National Park.

10. To ensure the continued development of those trainees that it employs into its kitchens, Singita is now rolling out a Part B to this program: a 2½ year Commis Chef development program run by the Head Chefs of each Singita kitchen. All Commis Chefs will be equipped to fill any new Chef d’ Partie vacancies that might arise.

Our Cooking School trainees – two examples:

Mavis Mongoe – a past student

One of the students from the first Singita Cooking School class is Mavis. She lives in a village called Welverdient, which is very close to the Singita’s road exit from the Reserve. She was 21 when she joined the program. One of 4 siblings, since leaving school she had had a short stint of experience working as a general assistant in a Burger ranch when she had traveled to Johannesburg to try and find work after leaving school. She reports that her future was looking bleak. She was selected to join the Cooking School because of her enthusiastic attitude and an interest in cooking. She was obviously intelligent, an organized approach and had good interpersonal skills.

Once she concluded the course she was offered a position in the Singita Lebombo kitchen where she continues her training under the beady eye of Clinton Drake, the Head Chef who was recently recognized as an Relais & Chateau “Rising Star”. She has a bright future ahead. Clinton says of Mavis: “She has real potential and is growing in confidence and skill on a daily basis. I am struck by the difference to her life that resulted from her applying to be part of the fledgling Singita Cooking School. She says that without it she would either still be at home doing nothing or would be looking for work in the far away city. The Cooking School has given her the very real chance to fulfill her own potential.”

Adelari Ndlovu – a past student

Adelari is one of the 8 students selected to participate in the 2nd Singita Cooking School program, which commenced in the latter part of 2007. After leaving school he had sought work and had managed to get a casual position as a gardener at a lodge in the Kruger Park. His home is also in Welverdient, where his mother raised him and his 10 siblings completely on her own. As such there were no funds available for any further education. He is a shy and retiring young man but the selection panel chose him because of his obvious determination to get ahead. He had a real interest in working in the kitchen which was awakened when working at the lodge. Another point that impressed the selection panel was his commitment to his local community. He was personally campaigning for the installation of running water and electricity to his village. (This is reportedly about to become a reality!) Since commencing the program he has shown a real tenacity and commitment that augurs well for his future.

To date:

Since its opening in January 2007, the Singita School of Cooking has had 14 students complete its course. Of these, Singita has absorbed 6 of them into its own kitchens. Tskakani Mathebula, a student from the very first intake, was voted as Employee of the Month at Singita Sabi Sands. Other students have been assisted to find employment in other lodges, with several of them currently working in lodge kitchens. Yet others have gone on to continue their studies still further.

A contribution?

The Singita Cooking School was made possible by Singita’s practical commitment (funding, expertise and resources) to making a difference to the lives of local, unemployed youth and, in no small part, to the financial contributions made by some of its concerned guests. Such funding helps ensure both the sustainability of the program and determines the number of students the School can accommodate.

I'm not sure which was the greater thrill; cowering in front of a massive silverback appropriately named Marvel on the slopes of a Virunga volcano, or that evening- my 23rd birthday- too thrilled to be tiered, basking in the afterglow of the experience with a banana beer in my hand and staring out at the red glow from Tonga volcano erupting in the valley below... our next destination.

With one of Oscar's harem, 1992

A lot of people have seen the Mountain Gorillas in Central Africa. Many, though undoubtedly far fewer, have seen Lowland Gorillas. All that's really required today is the desire and money. This sometimes makes my moment seem less special though certainly no less treasured by me. The fact is it was pretty damn special.

I think what added to the reward was that it was a high point of many months of travel across Africa. Relatively speaking this safari (Swahili: journey) was made without money. I was 22 when my friend Oren Kaplan and I, having just finished University, set off hitchhiking in South Africa with a sign saying "Cape to Cairo". It was 1992. We were two young, white South African males headed north at the tail-end of Apartheid. We loved the fact that we were sometimes the first of our demographic to arrive at a place (even receiving "first" visas) and that we were something other than what was expected of us when we got there.

We were rewarded with generosity and growth because let's face it; nobody is who you expect when you get there. We used only local means of transport which often meant legs but always meant that we were thoroughly immersed in, no... we were part of the experience. After a few months, and years of experiences, we reached the Gorillas in central Africa.

The Fearsome Ninja: Napping and up close

The first Gorillas I saw were Eastern Lowland Gorillas in Congo (then Zaire). Very few people were visiting the country back then because most consulate websites had warnings not to due to unrest. That was intriguing in itself but that's a different tale; one about guerrillas. Perhaps it was slightly reckless but it was the most rewarding month of the journey. The Lowland Gorillas were in Kahuzi-Biéga National Park, west of lake Kivu which borders Rwanda. We spent about 2 hours tracking Ninja, his harem and "kids". It was like hiking through a giant bowl of salad after which you suddenly found out that they were all around you. What a moment that was! Ninja was unfazed by our presence. In fact Ninja the Napper would have been an appropriate name. He had mastered the art.

The first photo in this post of me with one of "Oscar's girls" was actually taken weeks later on the Zaire/Congo side of the Virunga volcanoes further north. This is my favourite safari moment captured perfectly on film by my friend and travel buddy Jim Buckley. Of course it was months before we actually saw that he did nail the picture because we had no digital camera back then. We spent a few days up at Djomba Hut on the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes and visited two Mountain Gorilla families whilst there. The entry in my diary on May 25th begins "It's so pleasant here we're having difficulty leaving...".

If I go back I will probably never be as close to the gorillas as I was then. Visits were not as controlled back then and we were not as conscious of the possibility of spreading flu or something to the gorillas. The babies actually came and crawled onto us licking our arms where they could taste the salt from our sweat. They reminded us of children as they clambered about testing things and each other. Pulling sticks, hanging on branches... learning what does and doesn't work with some amusing results usually preceded by a loud cracking sound.

Of the three families we visited only one had a silverback, the 35 year-old Marvel, who showed any aggression. We followed protocol cowering and avoiding eye-contact. It got a little intense being curled up with a 400 pound silverback leaning right over us. It worked out fine though- apparently Marvel always knew he was the boss and didn't have to prove it. (Most Intense Safari Moment for sure.)

The More Fearsome Marvel

It's no wonder that banana beer brewed in a pit tasted so good that night; dead flies and all. We had tracked down our cousins on the side of this dormant volcano in the Rift Valley. In four days time we would have completed our walk across this valley to the source of that red glow, complete with gushing lava, and we would witness and contemplate the great continent rifting live in front of us.

Yesterday our friends at Lion Sands witnessed a wonderful and very private affair: an elephant mother giving birth to a healthy calf.

Elephants seek a secluded place to give birth and are accompanied by other females to act as guards. The tiny calves (av. 120kg and 90cm at shoulder) are subject to predation and will stay very close to the mother even walking under her belly and between her legs. The photos show the protective lager the elephants formed for the occasion as well as the tiny new addition safely ensconced between them.

Photos with permission. For the full story, more about elephant gestation, and additional pictures visit Lion Sands Safari Journal.

This weekend Yvette Taylor, Executive Director International of The Earth Organization drew my attention to an article "The elephant man" in The Observer, Sunday 22 February 2009.

David Adam tells the fascinating story of Lawrence Anthony's work from rehabilitating elephants on his game reserve Thula Thula in South Africa (see previous post Elephants free captive antelope) to rescuing the animals from the Bagdad Zoo during the Iraq War. This story, outlined in Babylon's Ark, a 2007 book which Anthony wrote with journalist Graham Spence, has attracted the attention of Hollywood, with a major film, Good Luck, Mr Anthony, in the works.

"I knew Baghdad had the biggest zoo in the Middle East and I couldn't stand the thought of the animals dying in their cages. I contacted the Americans and the British and said, 'You have any contingency plans?' Nobody was interested. I couldn't get any support from anybody so I thought, I'll just go. I went there for the animals."

The article includes a link to a picture gallery and the recording of David Adam telling the story.
Listen here.

Some of you attended and enjoyed the premier of The World Unseen with ROAR Africa here in New York last year. [See previous post] The film has been doing excellently and we encourage you to see it. If you're in South Africa or have friends there who might be interested, please pass on the this message from the Writer/Director Shamim Sarif. Many thanks, Deborah

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Feb 13th, 2009

Hello Everyone

Today our movie, The World Unseen, is released in South African cinemas and I wanted to ask you to please go and see it, and to encourage everyone you know to see it also.

We won 11 SAFTA awards last Saturday, in addition to the 9 other awards we have picked up internationally.

Below is the link to the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlD3EprZp5M&feature=channel_page

And these are the cinemas where you can see The World Unseen:
Nu Metro Hyde Park – Johannesburg
Nu Metro Canal Walk – Cape Town
Ster- Kinekor Rosebank Mall – Jhb
Ster-Kinekor Gateway Nouveau – Durban
Ster-Kinekor V&A Nouveau – Cape Town
Ster-Kinekor Brooklyn Nouveau – Pretoria

I have also attached a review sheet.

Thank you so much for all your support up till now, and I hope you will forward this to everyone on your email lists!

Best wishes
Shamim

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Acclaim for The World Unseen Film
(click to expand)