Mzanzitravel Magazine - Issue 9

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ecame his close confidante and friend. After the war Smuts became instrumental in establishing the League of Nations, a forerunner to the later United Nations. Smuts served as South Africa’s prime minister from 1919 to 1924, and again from 1939 to 1948. Inside the Smuts house at Irene With his political career now over, he retired to his farm Doornfontein, a tranquil place on the outskirts of Pretoria where he spent 40 years of his life. But Smuts also had a ruthless side: he once used air force planes to bomb striking workers who tried to stage a rebellion, and as a Boer commander he ordered the executions of traitors. Initially he was an ardent segregationist, but later renounced his early racial policies, and warned the National Party government of DF Malan, who succeeded him, not to implement apartheid. On the Bovenplaats section of the original farm Ongegund outside Riebeek West in the Western Cape, stands Smuts House, the cottage where he was born and spent his childhood. In 1975 it was proclaimed a national monument. The cottage, maintained pretty much as it was in Smut’s childhood, now contains among other interesting things an exhibition of photographs of his life. It is open to the public from Tuesdays to Sundays. Jan Smut’s study, just as it was in his lifetime Even more fascinating is his Doornkloof home, now called Smuts House Museum. It is a simple wood and iron farmhouse that was built in Britain, shipped to India where it served as an officers’ mess, and then shipped to South Africa where General Smuts bought it for £300. The house also served as a mess for his Boer War foe and scorched earth architect, Lord Kitchener, in Middelburg, Transvaal, during the Anglo Boer War. Smuts renovated it on his farm and later added several rooms. The house is surrounded by the trees and shrubs on which Smuts fed his After his studies ended Smuts practiced law in Cape Town, became more and more involved in politics and journalism, then befriended and went to work for Cecil John Rhodes in his De Beers mining company. But Smuts became outraged when his friend, mentor and employer launched the Jameson Raid in 1895–96 with the aim of overthrowing the South African Republic’s (Transvaal) government of Paul Kruger. Smuts left De Beers and became state attorney of Kruger’s government in Pretoria. With the outbreak of the second Anglo Boer War in 1899, Smuts joined the Boer forces to fight against the invading British forces who vastly outnumbered the Boers. After a year of bitter fighting, with many Boer fighters now captured and their farms and homes destroyed by the ‘scorched earth’ policy of the British commanders, the Boers turned to a guerrilla phase of warfare that lasted almost another two years. The remaining Boer fighters had split up into small, highly mobile commandos that conducted lighting hit-and-run strikes on British forces, their military block houses, supply trains and other targets, seriously disrupting the British war campaign. A commando led by Smuts penetrated as far south as Saldanha Bay on the West coast of the Cape Colony. Of all the Boer guerrilla commanders Smuts became arguably the most legendary, becoming a huge problem for the British imperial forces. After the war Smuts returned to active politics, serving in the first Union government of Louis Botha, another former Boer general. When World War I started, now fully reconciled to Britain’s control of South Africa, Smuts launched the Union Defence Force and fought German forces in Southwest-Africa (Namibia) and Tanzania, before serving as a general in Lloyd George’s War Cabinet in London. Smuts’ review of the British Air Services led to the creation of today’s Royal Air Force. During World War II Smuts commanded British and South African forces as a Field Marshall of the British army. He served in Winston Churchill’s War Cabinet and 34 |ISSUE 9|www.mzanzitravel.co.za | MZANZITRAVEL Statue of Jan Smuts outside Parliament, Cape Town
Discover Discover South Africa The old Royal Hotel, Riebeek Kasteel - Grobler du Preez / shutterstock.com love of nature and interest in botany. The hill behind the house is where he went for solitude and meditation. Among the many famous visitors he entertained at his house, was the British Royal Family in 1947, including the current Queen of England. While in Cape Town the Royal Family took the cable car up Table Mountain and were met on top by a spritely 77-year old Smuts who, as an avid hiker, had chosen to rather walk up to the top. The high-ceilinged rooms still contain all the original furnishings that Smuts and his wife, Ouma Isie brought to it, as well as his study with his vast library of books that includes books on Darwinism, Buddhism and botany, and many relics and mementos on display of his extraordinary career. In a shed outside stands the Cadillac he used when prime minister of South Africa. There is a tea garden for visitors too and a regular market is held on the grounds. The house is open to visitors on weekdays and weekends. For more information contact: Smuts House, Riebeek West, Tel +27 (0)22 461 8000 or Mobile +27 (0)83 348 2587; and Smuts House Museum, Doornkloof, Irene, at email info@smutshouse.co.za, or on Tel +27 (0)12 667 1176 or +27 (0)12 667 1659, or contact Gauteng Tourism Authority. Riebeek Valley… a tale of two towns, two churches and two prime ministers Just and hour’s drive north of Cape Town lies the fertile Riebeek Valley, home to two intriguing little twin towns with a fascinating history…Riebeek Kasteel and Riebeek West. The two villages, named after the Cape’s founding Dutch commander, Jan van Riebeeck, will charm any visitor with all they have to offer. Capping the story of these two towns is the legendary ‘feud’ between their respective church congregations, and the fact that two South African prime ministers were born here, both leaving an indelible mark on the country’s history, but in very different ways. Today artists, writers, restaurateurs, pub and shop owners, young professionals who commute to Cape Town, alternate life-stylers and computer-based entrepreneurs live here alongside retired farmers. MZANZITRAVEL| www.mzanzitravel.co.za|ISSUE 9 | 35
Page 1 and 2: Mzanzitravel Apr 2018 Apr 2018 - Is
Page 7: C O NTENTS 28 20 38 09 EDITOR’S N
Page 11 and 12: Autumn/Winter 2018 The year is cert
Page 13 and 14: Hop On - Hop Off South Africa The B
Page 15 and 16: Experience the best entertainment d
Page 17 and 18: Cathay Pacific flies non-stop to Ca
Page 19 and 20: News & Information Africa’s large
Page 21 and 22: Extraordinary presents a distinctiv
Page 23 and 24: Hiking South Africa is blessed with
Page 25 and 26: Diepwalle overnight hut, Outeniqua
Page 27 and 28: Hiking beauty of the Cape Peninsula
Page 29: Telephone: +27 (0) 82 318 1894 West
Page 32 and 33: Discover Karoo Highlands Route …
Page 34: Hiking Smut’s beloved house at Do
Page 39 and 40: Discover Discover South Africa Vint
Page 41 and 42: Limpopo is South Africa’s norther
Page 43 and 44: BIG CAT EXPERIENCE LIMPOPO Email: i
Page 45 and 46: Discover Mzanzi In the south-wester
Page 48 and 49: Responsible Tourism Minimum disrupt
Page 50 and 51: Animal rehabilitation programmes be
Page 52 and 53: Responsible Tourism creation throug
Page 54 and 55: The Albany Hotel, we ensure our gue
Page 56 and 57: By Stef Terblanche Watch mesmerized
Page 58 and 59: Explore Africa Masai warrior on the
Page 60 and 61: Explore Africa Stone Town, Zanzibar
Page 63 and 64: ACCOMMODATION - TARIFFS PER PERSON
Page 65 and 66: FOOD & WINE
Page 67 and 68: FOOD & WINE Cellar on Vergelegen Wi
Page 69 and 70: FOOD & WINE MAKING TRAVELLING ACCES
Page 71 and 72: Local Travel South Africa’s iconi
Page 73 and 74: Have a South African Travel Experie
Page 76 and 77: Old ruin in Baviaanskloof Wildernes
Page 78 and 79: FOOD & WINE This is ostrich country
Page 80 and 81: Staff Writer Francois Loubser / shu
Page 82 and 83: Country Travel In the Western Cape
Page 84 and 85: Country Travel with a country-style
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Discover Africa By Stef Terblanche
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Discover Africa FLAMINGOS, LICHEN F
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Discover Africa are a strange black
Page 93 and 94:
Getaways great winter breaks Winter
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Luxury Accommodation • Five Star
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yourself to a variety of massage an
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