Lowveld - April 2020

GET 

LOWVELD 

IT 

LIVING 

DECOR 

feel 

good 

The 

Edition 

The scent 

of autumn 

FRESH 

New ways with 

edible flowers 

Plus! 

Our annual 

Let’s eat 

SHOPPING, PEOPLE AND LIFESTYLE IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD 

APRIL 2020

RM-MO0313N

GET IT 

Editorial 

Phone 013-754-1600 

Lowveld Media 

12 Stinkhout Crescent, Mbombela 

Facebook Get It Lowveld 

Instagram Get It Lowveld 

Website getitmagazine.co.za/lowveld/ 

Editor 

Mellissa Bushby 

mellissa@getitlowveld.co.za 084-319-2101 

Contributing Writers 

Alita Steenkamp 083-695-5308 

Liezel Lüneburg 083-287-2225 

Lindi Botha 082-494-8005 

Mia Louw 073-389-9761 

Photographers 

Belinda Erasmus 082-567-0596 

Mia Louw 073-389-9761 

Tanya Erasmus 083-778-7725 

Layout 

Geraldine Reyneke • Andile Mthethwa 

Subeditors 

Jess Steyn • May Nel • Matthew Booth 

• Wahl Lessing 

Sales 

Yulandi Jansma 081-458-6034 

yulandi@getitlowveld.co.za 

GET IT NATIONAL 

National Group Editor and 

National Sales 

Kym Argo 

kyma@caxton.co.za 082-785-9230 

Facebook and Instagram: 

Get It National Magazines 

Distribution 

Get It Lowveld is distributed free of charge. 

For a full list of where to find a copy, phone 

Monya Burger on 083-555-4992 

Published by CTP Limited 

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. 

APRIL 2020 

contents 

Why don’t you... 

04 Visit a wine show, rock out to Cutting Jade or 

go on an Easter egg hunt 

05 Books + wine = happiness 

WISH LIST 

06 We love nutty spreads, spiced gin and super smoothies 

Social 

08 Ramps-to-Runway owns the catwalk 

09 Be your own kind of beautiful 

10 The marvellous Milk Tart Challenge! 

people 

12 Sanctuary of promise 

16 Deconstructing survival skills 

BEAUTY 

18 April scents 

HEALTH & FITNESS 

20 Big dreams for microgreens 

Art 

22 Coming home to roost with this year’s Chicken Challenge 

26 Concrete Creations 

Decor 

28 Living decor 

TRAVEL 

30 Exploring Kruger with a new app 

32 To wander the world 

LET’S EAT FEATURE 

36 - 43 Our revamped annual restaurant and eating guide 

Win 

06 A gorgeous Thule laptop backpack 

48 The new Clarins Double Serum is up for grabs! 

COVER LOOK 

Karin Erasmus. 

Make-up by Isabel Franken. 

Photographed by Tanya Erasmus. 

April 2020 Get It Lowveld 03

A hot date! 

Pencil these events into your April diary right now! 

If you have a date for our diary, email the info at least a month in advance to jess@lowvelder.co.za 

03 

Legendary South African rock 

‘n’ roll band, Cutting Jade, 

performs at The Pub in Mbombela at 

7pm. Tickets cost R100. Make sure you 

don’t miss out out on this fantastic 

show! Details: 013-755-4861. 

04 

It’s time to choose the 

province’s next queen. 

The glamorous Crowning Miss 

Mpumalanga 2020 takes place 

at AFM Communio Church in 

Mbombela at 6pm. Tickets are 

available through Computicket at 

R150 (general) and R450 (VIP). Details: 

Melanie Andrews on 013-752-3384. 

04 

Join us for Pro-Life Pet 

Rescue, Rehabilitation and 

Adoption Agency’s annual children’s 

Easter egg hunt and tambola. The 

Easter egg hunt starts at 11am sharp. 

Registration opens at 10:30am and 

is R25 per child. Tombola tickets 

cost R10 and every ticket wins a 

prize. Adults enter free of charge, 

but consider donating pet food or 

spoiling a rescued pet. Details: 

079-498-7971. 

10-13 

Welcome to the Oasis 

Water Easter 100 

Challenge - the most 

beautiful Easter 100 in South Africa. All 

routes lead out from and back to the 

hills around White River, so you can 

run as little or as much as you want. 

Sunday and Monday are child- and 

cyclist-friendly. Friday 20km, Saturday 

42km, Sunday Easter egg hunt 10km, 

Monday 28km. Ideal Comrades peak 

training, but all runners welcome. 

Hosted by Legogote Villagers Club. 

Tickets can be bought via www. 

entryrush.co.za. 

22 

One of our country’s greatest 

singers, songwriters and 

entertainers, Nataniël, returns to the 

Hervormde Kerk in Mbombela for 

a stellar performance. Tickets cost 

between R120 and R230 and can be 

bought at Unigrad College. The show 

begins at 6pm. Details: Riaan on 

082-559-1108. 

25 

It’s gin o’clock with the Hall & 

Bramley Lowveld Gin Fest. 

Held at Elmswood Park outside 

Mbombela, the fest begins at 

11am. Tickets are available via www. 

lowveldginfest.co.za. In addition 

to the opportunity to sip your way 

through some of South Africa’s (and 

the world’s) best and most innovative 

producers, a branded crystal gin glass, 

dedicated children’s play area and 

live entertainment are all included 

in the ticket. Make sure you don’t 

miss headline acts Goodluck and 

Spoegwolf - this year’s fest promises 

to be bigger and better! Details: 

076-674-5536. 

03-04 

Raise a glass to an annual 

Lowveld favourite - the 

Mpumalanga Wine Show. 

Held at Emnotweni in 

Mbombela from 5pm to 

9pm, tickets cost R200pp via 

Computicket or R220pp at 

the door. Ticket price includes 

unlimited tastings and a wine 

tasting glass. No entry to 

under 18s, babies and prams. 

Refreshments will be sold at the 

show. Details: 011-482-5936. 

25 

Get ready to laugh yourself 

silly with Skhumba Hlophe 

and the Big Banger Comedy tour. 

This funny man and his fellow 

comedians will have you in stitches. 

The show is 7pm for 8pm and is 

hosted at Emnotweni in Mbombela. 

Tickets are available via Computicket 

at R200pp. 

04 Get It Lowveld April 2020

Book club 

Books + wine = happiness 

Livia has a secret. It’s about her daughter, 

Marnie, who’s one of the few people she 

loves who won’t be at her 40th birthday party. 

She’s waiting until after the party to share the 

secret with her husband, Adam. Adam has a 

secret, too. He’s arranged for their daughter 

to come home as a surprise guest. But he’s 

heard some devastating news. Should he tell 

Livia now, or let her enjoy her party first. A 

heartbreaking decision in The Dilemma by 

BA Paris. Harper Collins , R305. 

Eve Dallas and her talented team - along with gorgeous 

husband Rorke - are tasked with solving a particularly tricky 

mystery in JD Robb’s Golden in Death. Why would someone 

want to kill Kent Abner, a model doctor, husband, father and 

neighbour? He’s found dead in his town house, and then so 

is a second victim. Eve is racing against time to track a serial 

killer using a weapon that could wipe out half of Manhattan. 

Nail-biting stuff. Little Brown, R285. 

Grande Provence, the landmark Franschhoek heritage wine 

estate, has just launched its first Merlot. Wonderfully intense, 

Grande Provence Merlot 2018 has an earthy array of vibrant 

dark cherries and raspberries with hints of dark chocolate, 

cinnamon, cloves and orange peel. Soft, subtle and smooth, 

it’s wonderful with a herb-crusted lamb or rich meat dish. 

R170, and you can buy online at shop.grandeprovence.co.za. 

RM-VI190613NN 

Shop 69UG I’langa Mall 

Shop 73A Crossing Centre 

013 742 2267 

admin@violetrose.co.za

Wish list 

Spiced gin, nutty spreads & super smoothies 

Smooth operator 

Visit RAW at The Grove SUPERSPAR in Mbombela, a 100% fresh 

ingredients juice and smoothie bar. It offers customers a wide 

variety of smoothies, juices, infused waters, precut fruits and raw 

vegetables to go, ginger shots and some prepackaged juices 

that contain no preservatives. The bar comes with an added free 

service where any vegetables and fruits of your choice can be cut 

up as per your request. Details: 013-757-1116. 

Spread the love 

Try Ambassador Foods’ smooth and creamy cashew nut 

spread. It’s perfect as a dip, but also great for baking and 

delicious as a spread. No added salt, sugar or palm oil makes 

this the perfect treat. Make sure you also try its chocolate 

macadamia spread. Roasted macadamia nuts, ground to 

a smooth paste, mixed with melted vegan chocolate, and 

chopped macadamia pieces combine to make this the perfect 

sandwich spread, filling or dessert topping. Details: 

Ambassador Foods on 013-750-1599 or 

www.factoryshoponline.co.za. 

WIN! 

We are giving away one Thule 

backpack! To go into the draw, 

send your details to competitions@ 

getitlowveld.co.za with Thule in 

the subject line, to reach us by 

noon on April 29. Good luck! 

Gear up! 

Thule makes it easy to bring the things you care for 

most safely, securely and in style with its protective 

laptop backpacks that include the Thule 

Achiever and the Thule Chronical collections. 

Designed for secure yet stylish protection for your 

precious laptop, tech accessories and all your other 

daily gear, the new laptop backpacks are perfect for 

modern daily life and can be taken from the campus, 

to the office and out and about in the city. Priced from 

R1 499 and available in a myriad of Thule colours such as 

Rooibos, Thule Blue, Deep Teal, Fennel and Dark Slate, Thule 

Achiever and Thule Chronical, these are available to purchase 

online via www.thulestore.co.za. 


Live the tiki life 

Inspired by the tropical exotica of 1950s’ island-style cocktail bars, 

this Copeland Tiki Gin has classic London Dry ingredients (think 

juniper, lemon peel, coriander) , but also has an exotic mix of 

cloves, cassia and ginger - often associated with spiced rums. The 

addition of tonka bean, rummy molasses and real pineapple adds 

a deliciousness that takes you to the beach bar... Think tiki cocktails 

like the mai tai and the Singapore sling. And what, exactly, is tiki? 

Created in the 1950s by cocktail legend Don the Beachcomber, 

when post-war Americans were looking for escapism. Hefty pours 

of rum and potent secret syrups made the tiki experience a heady 

world to get lost in. But tiki’s not just about rum. Many of the 

cocktails included gin... so hello, Copeland Tiki Gin. Besides cocktails, 

it's perfectly happy mixed with tonic and a signature pineapple 

garnish - a dried or fresh pineapple wheel, but other exotic pairings 

are encouraged. Fresh juice blends or ginger ale garnished with the 

vibrant, the colourful and the exotic. Edible flowers, mint sprigs, 

whole star anise and cinnamon quills. Sound appealing? Add to the 

experience with a bottle of Copeland Rum. Your drinks trolley, and 

your friends, will thank you. R395 a bottle. Details: copelandrum.com. 

KR283513NM

Michaela Davel 

Own the catwalk 

Shequila Adams and Rodney Haywood 

Ramps-to-Runway recently held its annual opening at 

the beautiful La Villa Vita Boutique Hotel & Spa in 

Mbombela. The theme, “Art of Fashion”, was epitomised 

by the stunning models, and the fine dining experience 

ensured an elegant and exceptional affair. 

Nobo Mabaso and Titania Mabaso 

Tando Goba, Ilze van der Merwe 

and Manda Gomes 

Jessica Mellor, Keira Jacobs, Veronica 

da Vasconcelous and Melissa Ley 


Being 

BeYouTiful 

The Madame et Monsieur 2020 women’s event 

was recently hosted at Ikhwezi Game Lodge 

outside Mbombela. It focused on grooming 

guests to stand out and improve themselves, 

with different speakers emphasising the need 

for women to be their best. Esti Strydom, owner/ 

president of Madame et Monsieur South Africa, 

said, “I decided on the topic for many reasons. 

So many women are in abusive relationships, no 

matter whether it is physical, emotional, mental 

or financial. We as women can so easily think 

we are not beautiful enough, or because we are 

made to feel that way. However, we as women 

must realise our worth and that all of us are 

beautiful in our own unique way.” 

Nomfundu Maluleka. Photos: Yvette Smith 

Youranda Pretorius 

and Karin de Lange 

Pamela Ntuli and Shirley Mabuza 

Mpho Sekoma and Esti Strydom 

Cornelia Voogt 


We love milk tart! 

The recent Milk Tart Challenge was a major success at 

Canary Walk Mall in Mbombela. This event was held in order 

to raise funds for old-age homes in the area. Members 

of the community showed their support by entering 

traditional milk tarts and those with a twist. 

A milk tart with a chilli twist 

Nihandri Lubbe, Vida Strydom, Errieda du Toit, Anneke 

van der Merwe, Zandre Hattingh and Pieter Malan 

Mariolise le Roux 

White River Care Buddies 

Hester Schoeman 

Daniel Stemmet 


Netta Fourie and Solange Soares 

Citybug and Canary Walk’s mascots 

Albert Gryvenstein and Callum Mac Pherson 

RM-027713NH 

Chris Enslin and Jan Strydom

Haven 

OF PROMISE 

Growing up, the Lowveld’s 

Karin Erasmus wanted a farm 

more than anything else. She 

told her parents it would have 

to have lots and lots of dogs, 

plenty of space, and be 

in the Cape. 

Karin and Dino 


Text: MELLISSA BUSHBY. Photographers: LORNE BUSHBY & TANYA ERASMUS 

As she grew older, she though. 

realised that farms 

were not exclusive to 

the Cape, and also 

that having lots of 

dogs cost money. 

“My dad put his 

foot down and 

said I would have to start working to 

pay for the dogs if I wanted them at 

home,” she laughs. “He told me that 

our household wasn’t the Alberton 

SPCA, and he wasn’t going to pay 

for all the animals I took in anymore! 

Looking back, it was probably a good 

thing. I went and got a part-time job 

working at Edgars on Saturdays, and 

starting caring for them myself. It’s 

not cheap, let me tell you!” she says. 

This was the beginning of a lifelong 

path, one that has culminated in 

Pro-Life Pet Rescue, Rehabilitation 

and Adoption Agency a well-loved 

local haven for abused, abandoned 

and ill-treated animals. 

Over the years Karin continued to 

bring in animals, always saying they 

would stay “just for a short while”. 

Of course, it was hardly ever just for 

a short while! She volunteered at a 

rescue organisation for a spell, but felt 

that she wanted to do more than was 

possible there; her hands were tied. 

When her children had grown up 

and flown the coop, she decided the 

time had come to finally start her 

animal sanctuary, and started looking 

for just the right premises. “It was 

quite difficult,” she smiles. “You can’t 

be too close to the road, because of 

the animals, but then you can’t be 

too far from it, because then people 

won’t bother to come. Also, it can’t 

be in a built-up area, because the 

neighbours will complain about the 

noise. Obviously, we also needed a 

lot of space, which was important 

because I wanted to grow the 

sanctuary over time.” 

The perfect offer came along when 

someone suggested the land near 

Chimp Eden. It had a borehole, 

although not a pump, but the space 

was what was required to fulfil 

Karin’s dream; it was close enough 

to the road and not too far out of 

Mbombela, but also not in town. 

“I had a look at it, and jumped at 

the chance. It was a lot of work 

There was nothing here, and 

everything you see today we built 

from the ground up. 

“The public have been amazing; 

most of the camps are sponsored 

by people or corporations. For 

example, the ‘fat camp’ is where the 

dogs go who need to lose weight. It 

was sponsored by Nirvana Country 

House, and they have modelled it 

to resemble their lodge. There is a 

hanging chair and dog houses, with 

aloes strategically planted to make 

the camp look just like the stoep area 

of a game lodge.” As she explains 

this, Karin also tut-tuts at the dogs 

which come running to greet her. 

“Nee, jy’s nie te vet nie, nè? Kom 

hierso, Tjoppies,” she laughs, as he 

comes running over, fat bum and tail 

wagging furiously. 

Here these animals have a second 

chance at life. Some of them have 

come from the most appalling 

circumstances, but resilience, 

hope and a little help from decent 

The kitten camp 

River chilling in the Ouetehuis 

human beings have given them the 

opportunity to fight another day. “I 

laugh sometimes when people see a 

dog with three legs, or a cat with one 

eye. It’s immediately, ‘ag shame!’ and I 

always say, why shame? Look at him, 

he’s perfectly happy. 

“Animals don’t have that self-pity we 

have. They adapt and get on with 

it. I have 31 dogs at home, and the 

one with three legs is the one that 

runs the fastest! And none of the 

others look down on him or see him 

as any different, because he’s not. I 

don’t believe in killing an animal just 

because they are unwanted. Each 

soul deserves another chance and 

if we can give it to them, we will. 

Unfortunately, the truth is that they 

need to be marketed; they need to 

be in the public eye. If people don’t 

see them, they are forgotten.” 

The cat camp is a haven of swing 

beds, hammocks and cool, shady 

spots under the trees. These beautiful 

beasties twirl and swirl around you, 


Boss surveying his domain 

and it’s rather tempting to sit down 

and spend the afternoon cutting 

the chaff with them. “People often 

tell me they want a fluffy white cat 

when they get here, and leave with 

a tabby shorthair. And when I ask, 

and now, what happened to the 

fluffy white cat, they say, well, this 

one kind of chose me. And that’s the 

way it should be; all of these animals 

desperately need a good home. 

Mostly it’s the kittens and puppies 

that go first. And for every animal we 

rehome, there is a chance for another 

one.” Sadly, there are so many, and 

Pro-Life can only take in a certain 

amount. It is irresponsible and cruel 

not to sterilise your pets. 

There are millions of homeless, 

abandoned and abused animals out 

there. Why add to it? Shelters such 

as Pro-Life and the SPCA desperately 

need all the support they can get, 

because there are so many unwanted 

animals. This situation would be 

Hawaii Camp 

14 Get It Lowveld April 2020 

dramatically reduced if everyone 

sterilised theirs. “Also, adopt, don’t 

shop. We do strict home tests, and 

all our animals that are adopted are 

sterilised and vaccinated, which is, 

overall, a considerable saving.” 

Karin bends to scoop up a dog 

who has been trying to attract her 

attention for a while. He wags his 

tail so hard, he almost wags himself 

out of her arms. She laughs and he 

whips round to give her cheek a few 

quick licks. “Look at the affection, the 

sheer joy of being alive. Animals are 

uncomplicated and giving. The only 

rule we have here is no swearing at 

each other. You can hear when they 

start to get cross about something. 

The tone of their bark changes, and 

that means they are swearing. That’s 

not allowed. We need to keep order!” 

She laughs, and all the dogs bark their 

agreement. 

This year, Karin plans on renovating 

some of the camps, and perhaps 

expanding at a later date. The upkeep 

is important, obviously, and the dogs 

are rotated so they have a change 

of scenery and meet new friends, 

so space really is of the essence. 

“We’d like to expand, but at the 

moment the main thing is making 

sure everything is still as it should 

be, fixing up here and there. General 

wear and tear means that things 

deteriorate and need replacing, or 

a new paint job is in order, which 

all costs money, not to mention 

our food and vet bills. We now have 

our clinic, but this is strictly for our 

animals. We don’t do sterilisations for 

the public.” 

These animals give of themselves 

over and over, and are so often 

discarded, as if they were worn out 

toys or old furniture. Yet they are 

often the most loyal member of a 

household. They certainly deserve 

every chance they can get at a good, 

loving home. Maybe it’s true that 

saving one animal won’t change the 

world, but it will certainly change the 

world for that animal, and at the end 

of the day, that’s a good start. 

Details 

To donate, contact 079-498-7971 

Pro-Life has a number of 

fundraisers throughout the 

year, and is always happy 

to take in any unwanted 

bits or bobs. You are 

welcome to come and 

walk the dogs or sit with 

the cats at any time. They 

love the company and the 

outing. You can also now 

take a dog along with you 

to parkrun, an initiative 

that has proven to be a 

great success with dogs 

and people alike.

RM-MO0413N

Survival skills 

deconstructed 

Text: ALITA STEENKAMP 

It is no secret that the 

young adults of today, aka 

the Millenials and Gen Z, 

are becoming progressively 

less independent, more 

indulged and cossetted 

than before. In fact, 

self-sufficiency is not 

something you could 

ascribe to many of them 

in a hurry. How many can 

change a tyre, use basic 

navigation, know basic 

self-defence or can build 

and light a fire? 

EEven though 

we live in an 

information 

age with an 

abundance of 

data right at 

our fingertips, 

many young 

people lack the 

necessary skills 

to survive in a world full of difficult 

challenges. Sharon Kruger and Roux 

de Jager of Mbombela realised the 

need for guidance while raising their 

own kids and watching them tackle 

difficult situations. 

“The person who said there will be 

Sharon Kruger and Roux de Jager 


‘We decided that we won’t 

attract the necessary attention if 

we act as Sharon and Roux, so 

the Bat and the Cat were born’ 

better intelligence once there is 

better information available, certainly 

got it wrong. In an hour we are now 

bombarded with the same amount 

of information that a 39-year-old 

gathered in his lifetime in the Middle 

Ages, yet the more we know, the 

more we don’t know,” says Roux. He 

and Sharon thought about the idea 

of presenting adult survival skills 

courses at the secondary schools 

in the area. After grasping that it 

would not be possible due to a lack 

of interest and a huge amount of 

red tape necessary for them to be 

allowed to work with the kids, they 

decided to tackle it in a different 

manner. Their own children are 

perfect examples of teenagers 

spending hours on YouTube, surfing 

the net or playing online games. 

“Roux and I realised that we still 

would be able to reach not only the 

teenagers, but a wider audience if 

we make use of videos and YouTube. 

In this way, we can share tips on 

surviving difficult situations and 

teach anyone who watches the 

videos these adult survival skills. We 

also decided that we won’t attract 

the necessary attention if we act 

as Sharon and Roux, so the Bat and 

the Cat were born. I love Catwoman 

and Roux likes Batman, so we got 

ourselves a Bat and a Cat costume 

and started making our own videos,” 

Sharon says. 

From there a whole new adventure 

started. They loaded a few 

informational videos on YouTube that 

varied from teaching people how 

to change a tyre and brake pads, to 

foraging for food making use of a 

shopping list, as well as various videos 

on relationship survival. Their channel 

soon blossomed into informational 

videos on various kinds of adventures 

like shark cage diving, self-defence 

videos and a meeting with a jackal 

buzzard. The Bat and the Cat have 

also visited local festivals like Innibos 

where Jason Goliath from Comedy 

Central spotted them and decided to 

feature them on his reality show. 

Their aim at the moment is to have 

fun and to share the information, 

knowledge and skills they have 

acquired over the years. They plan to 

do a lot more in the line of survival 

skills and plan on incorporating 

a number of professional people 

in the future, making use of a 

number of different platforms. The 

one thing that these two don’t 

want to do is merely exist, to go to 

work from Monday to Friday with 

no adventure or fun in their lives. 

They are constantly looking for 

new experiences and when the 

opportunity arises, they grab it and 

make sure to catch it on camera in 

order to share it with the world. Ask, 

believe and receive, is a motto that 

they both believe in firmly. Roux also 

likes to use the words of Theodore 

Roosevelt as an affirmation to inspire 

him every day: Do what you can, with 

what you have, wherever you are. 

Getting your message heard isn’t 

always easy, but the pair believe 

they have a winner with their 

unorthodox manner of getting their 

point across. Sharon laughs when 

she says that at first, it wasn’t easy 

to don a Catwoman mask and walk 

into a function hall filled with people. 

“But the more I do it, the easier it 

becomes. I turn into someone else, 

with a lot more confidence the 

moment I put on my mask. When we 

get back home and start to edit the 

videos, it’s almost like a painting, you 

can only judge it once you have the 

finished product. We are extremely 

proud of everything that we have 

done so far. The Bat and the Cat are 

here to stay.” 

Details 

Follow their YouTube channel: 

www.youtube.com/channel/ 

UCmarSoxw3z07Hl3KDjQBy5w/featured 

RM-HA011213N

Rugged and textured notes 

make this Guess 1981 fragrance 

a favourite choice for men. 

R649 from Truworths. 

Pepe Jeans Celebrate 

for Him exhibits sensual 

freshness by combining 

the aromatic potency of 

juniper and cardamom 

with subtle notes of gin. 

R799 from Truworths. 

And for her... a 

lovely Guess 1981 

too. R649 from 

Foschini. 

Compiled by KYM ARGO. Photographer: MEGAN BRETT 

Bold, fresh and woody, the original Creed 

Aventus became a worldwide favourite... the 

new Aventus Cologne is bound to be as 

popular. From R4 599 at Edgars. 

The alluring Maxima 

fragrance is infused with 

notes of immortelle 

flower, nectarine and 

jasmine sambac. R450 

from www.my.avon.co.za. 

April 

scents 


All bitter orange and juicy pear, with gardenias 

and cactus flowers, Coach Dreams is our new 

fave fruity, floral fragrance. From R805 at Clicks. 

The sophisticated Women’s 

Secret Rose Seduction has notes 

of orange blossom, apple and 

tangerine... gorgeous. R499 from 

foschiniforbeauty.co.za. 

Bergamot, 

pink pepper, 

orange flower, 

hibiscus and 

lily of the 

valley... all 

our favourite 

scents in 

one bottle. 

Abercrombie 

& Fitch First 

Instinct Sheer 

is a joy. R875 

from Dis-Chem. 

A gorgeous floral 

fragrance for April... 

we’re loving Berdoues 

Collection Grands Crus 

Péng Lái Eau De Parfum, 

R1 595 from Foschini. 

Sensual, intense 

(and the most 

gorg bottle)... we’re 

wearing Pepe Jeans 

Celebrate for Her 

which has lively notes 

of popcorn, black 

pepper and apple. 

R799 from Truworths.. 


Spending his days tied to his desk, 

Jan-Hendrik du Plessis longed to get 

his hands dirty out in the sunshine. 

Intended as a hobby to offset his IT job, he 

started experimenting with microgreen 

production. But, quick to spot a gap in the 

market for this vibrant superfood, his wife, 

Melanie, turned his hobby into a business 

with budding results. 


Big 

DREAMS FOR 

MICROGREENS 

Text and photographer: LINDI BOTHA 

Energetic, with multiple job titles, Melanie does 

not shy away from a new challenge - or hard work. 

Besides assisting Jan-Hendrik in his IT business, graphic 

designing, content creation and fundraising for their 

church, she is also the mother of a two-year-old. Now 

she has added the title “farmer” to her repertoire, too. 

Regarding the latter title, she laughs. “As an Afrikaner, 

or Boer, I always grew up wondering what the concept 

of being a ‘boer’ was. I never thought I would be a real 

bona fide boer who farms. Now I am farming and it’s 

exciting. I’m not just a Boer in blood and heritage, I 

actually farm now, too!” 

The project started in 2018 when Jan-Hendrik started 

researching hobbies to do in their home town of Sabie, 

to offset long hours spent in front of a computer. After 

seeing a YouTube video on microgreen production, he 

decided to test it out. After the first six trays he planted 

had been a success, he started increasing production. 

At this stage Melanie sold and distributed honey 

sourced from local farmers. “But the honey supply 

dropped drastically in recent years, so when I realised 

that Jan-Hendrik’s ‘hobby’ was turning out to be a great 

success, I decided to load my car with microgreens 

and go looking for a market. I approached fine dining 

restaurants in the Lowveld and after receiving our first 

orders, Bumblebee Organics was officially on track. 

Today we supply around 10 restaurants and a few 

supermarkets in the area,” she smiles. 

Far from being just a garnish, microgreens are classified 

as a superfood and contain 40% more nutrition than 

vegetables. Benefits range from beet that promotes 

heart function, to radishes promoting digestion and 

weight loss, and sunflowers aiding cellular recovery to 

assist with reducing ageing. The colourful leaves pack 

a punch in terms of flavour and can be used in salads, 

as a tasty snack or added to a range of dishes to add

freshness and flavour. 

Since the microgreens are harvested 

at a young age after only a few days’ 

growth, the crop obtains all of its 

nutrients from the seed and are 

harvested before they get to a 

point where they need a further 

boost. They also don’t require any 

fertilisers or pest control, resulting in 

an organic crop. 

Jan-Hendrik is responsible for the 

production and notes that the good 

thing about farming microgreens is 

that the cycle is quick, so you learn 

faster. “If you make a mistake this 

week, you can fix it next week, which 

makes it an ideal crop for first-time 

farmers like Melanie and I.” 

The microgreens are produced in 

a simple but effective greenhouse 

that Jan-Hendrik constructed 

adjacent to their house. The whole 

greenhouse is five metres in length 

and two-and-a-half metres wide. 

He explains that different microgreens 

require different temperatures 

for optimal growth, with sunflowers 

needing warmer temperatures. “The 

Sabie climate has worked out well for 

microgreen production. In summer 

it averages between 27°C and 32°C 

with high humidity. 

“Winter averages 17°C in the day with 

minimums as low as -1°C. We do get 

frost, but with the greenhouse we 

can close the sides so the frost does 

not affect the crop. They grow slower 

in winter so we shift our harvest on 

with about two days.” 

The microgreens are harvested and 

delivered to clients once a week, with 

Melanie handling the bulk of the sales 

and marketing. She says much of her 

and Jan-Hendriks’ time is spent trying 

different things out to see what works 

best. “Much of what we are doing is 

in test phase, and we have various 

different projects on the go to see 

how we can optimise production.” 

They are currently in the process 

of certifying the crop as organic, so 

that they can supply a wider range 

of supermarkets and reassure their 

customers that the microgreens are 

produced correctly. 

Melanie says, however, that for the 

market to grow, consumer education 

is needed on the benefits and uses 

of microgreens. “As Jan-Hendrik and 

I continue to dream, we are positive 

about the future of Bumblebee 

Organics, and with so many new 

plans, I believe we will go from 

strength to strength.” 

Details 

info@bumblebeeorganics.co.za 

Jan-Hendrik and Melanie du Plessis 


Chick on the wire - Len Verdorn 

Coming 

home to roost 


Famous for its quirky 

creations, the Lowveld’s 

annual Chicken Challenge 

really does put the funky 

into "funky chicken". Hip, 

trendy and wonderfully 

creative, these chickens 

are works of art. 

Text: MELLISSA BUSHBY 

The initiative is now 

in its sixth year and is 

part of the fundraising 

effort in support of 

Hands at Work in 

Africa, a non-profit 

organisation based in 

Mbombela, that assists orphaned and 

vulnerable children in southern Africa. 

“In its founding year, 2014, the Chicken 

Challenge had 67 chickens on display, 

generating around R30 000. Since 

then, it has gone from strength to 

strength, with 101 chickens auctioned 

last year, raising R83 126 for Hands at 

Work in Africa,” says Reinette Fourie, 

Chicken Challenge founder and 

Mbombela-based artist. 

Reinette, who developed the 

challenge with Karin Daymond 

and Marlize Meyer, says its defining 

Thembi Nkosi 

moment is its professional 

online auction of the uniquely 

decorated chickens. All the 

proceeds are donated to Hands 

at Work in Africa. The 3D stylised 

The rough beast’s time has come - Peruda Florit and Reinette Fourie 

chicken-shaped canvas was inspired 

by Polish sculptor, Dariusz J Nowak, 

and provides the perfect vehicle for 

artistic expression and interpretation. 

The only people involved in the 

Chicken Challenge who are paid 

are the two crafters who make 

the canvases, Thembi Nkosi and 

Nhlanhla Mabunda. Other than that, 

it is organised and facilitated by 

volunteers and expenses are carried 

by donors and corporate sponsors. 

Both of these crafters were trained by 

Reinette, who studied graphic design 

but worked mostly in puppeteering 

and developing craft products. 

Nhlanhla started making chickens in 

2014 and Thembi joined him soon 

after. They have made about 800 

canvases to date. 

“Thembi excels as a master 

crafter and is now responsible for 

creating most of the canvases,” 

says Reinette. “She lives in Mpakeni, 

near Mbombela, and works for 

Siphamandla, a home-based care 

organisation, in the mornings. She 

creates the chicken canvases in the 


Hope springs eternal - Karen Krumm 

afternoons. She is skilled, meticulous 

and efficient - her creations now 

take her less than an hour to make, 

from start (tearing up egg boxes) 

to completion. Her equipment is 

modest - a table, wooden mortar 

and pestle (usually for maize) and a 

handful of ordinary kitchen utensils. 

She uses a coffee tin on an open fire 

to boil the Maizena corn flour glue.” 

Thembi has honed her skills over the 

years and has chicken canvas-making 

down to a fine art. “They are exquisite 

works in themselves - perfectly 

executed every time,” Reinette smiles. 

Shelter - Solinde du Plessis 

All the 

proceeds are 

donated to 

Hands at Work 

in Africa 

Hands at Work in Africa 

The organisation is active across 

eight African countries, in more than 

60 communities, serving villages and 

slums and helping the poorest of 

the poor. 

“Burdened by the effects of HIV and 

Aids, as well as extreme poverty and 

low or non-existent infrastructure, 

orphans and vulnerable children in 

these communities are in dire need 

of help,” says Reinette, whose focus 

for the past six years has been on 

raising funds for charity through 

Untitled - Danielle Janse van Rensburg 

Chicken dreams - Barry Wasserman 


artwork. “Hands at Work in Africa 

mobilises and equips local men 

and women in these communities 

to care for the most vulnerable 

children around them,” she adds. 

The organisation’s goal is to create 

locally owned life centres in these 

communities - places of refuge that 

leave a community strengthened 

and sustained for the future. 

How to participate 

Purchase your chicken canvas 

for R180 from Mopani Pharmacy 

(White River or Crossing Centre, 

Mbombela) or online at 

www.chickenchallenge.co.za. 

Transform it into a work of art 

and drop it off at either of the 

participating Mopani pharmacies 

by the submission date of May 15. 

Details 

Visit The Chicken Challenge and 

Lowveld Chicken Challenge on 

Facebook. 

Clothed in splendour 

- Carol Strydom 

The feathered friends 

- Kathy Jay 

Make sure that when 

this year’s online auction 

comes around, you 

are ready to bid on the 

perfect chicken to take 

home. It takes place 

from June 26 to July 

26, so pen the dates in 

your diary now. A select 

number of chickens 

will also be exhibited 

at White River Gallery, 

from July 11 to 26, and 

members of the public 

are invited to visit the 

gallery to see which 

chicken they want to 

bring home to roost. 

The Lord’s sunshine - Rachel Guthrie 

Past mile - Anneke Ritter 

Antipodean traveller - Tabita Sales 


C 

reative 

creations 

Text and photographer: MATTHYS FERREIRA 

The Concrete and Garden Creations' entrance is decorated 

with multiple award certificates, and once the sound 

of the many water features reaches your ears, your body 

rhythm slows down - as if on cue from nature herself. 

"We want to create a space - a sanctuary even - where 

people can really and truly, if they so wish, just slow down. 

This is our everyday experience. It has returned a wonderful 

sense of peace and softness to all of us who work here," 

says owner Claudia Boshoff. “We love plants, people and to 

create beauty.” 

The idea for this award-winning enterprise came about 

after Claudia left the employ of the post office some years 

ago. Hubby Piet owned a brickmaking business in 

Barberton. Cement - bricks - pots? The can’t-sit-still Claudia 

had a light-bulb moment and, well, the rest is history. 

She started with making pots first. This was in 1998. In 2004 

they moved to Nelspruit, bought this land and started the 

business. They added the gift shop in 2006 and the nursery 

in 2008. 

It was a steep learning curve, though. But, says Claudia, 

“I have wonderful, knowledgeable, experienced and 

passionate-about-nature-and-plants staff, and if we are not 

planting, we are making friends. Yes, friends - many friends 

- Mbombela is still platteland, you know!” 

To stimulate and encourage creativity and learning, she 

presents her staff with themed garden challenges. These 

create powerful visual contrasts and delights as you 

browse your way through the garden centre. If you have 

an interest in DIY, up- and down-cycling, pot gardening 

and more, you may well be overstimulated when you 

reach the till point. 

“With budgets being tight, we want to supply quality 

products that will not cost you your grandmother. We will, 

however, not sell that which we are not prepared to use or 

suggest to our customers. 

“The awards that we have won thus far, confirm and 

illustrate our total commitment and passion for what we 

do. The economy is tough, so we will consolidate what we 

have and concentrate more on presenting workshops to 

empower people to become creative gardeners and doers 

of beautiful things. 

“We feed off good responses from our customers and this 

helps us to create delight. This environment creates 

mindfulness and we encourage people to design 

water-friendly gardens so as to stay close to nature. And 

besides - gardening heals and plants teach patience.” 


The whole family are now involved with the business. Piet is responsible for the 

concrete and pots department, Reinier for customer service and marketing, and 

daughter Vanessa for admin and then some. 

If you or your garden need some TLC and grounding, Claudia “No Brakes” 

Boshoff and her team will introduce you to a range of plants and more that will 

be good for your garden, wallet and soul. 

Also, watch this space because Get It and Concrete and Garden Creations are 

about to share some rewarding ideas and DIY projects with you over the 

coming months. 

Tel: 013-745-8386 or 082-375-4501 

CO1213NE 

The Concrete Creations team 

Some wise words from the staff: 

Joseph Nkuna 

“I have been a gardener from when I was little. The knowledge I have 

gained over many years has nurtured and matured this love, and I 

always encourage customers to care for nature and especially our 

indigenous plants. My favourite plant is the spekboom.” 

Daisy Mbokane 

“My mum worked in a nursery. I started working there during school 

holidays and progressed to full-time employment, and I have never 

regretted following this journey. I started with propagating cycads 

and seeds. Later I did landscaping. As a team, we have established a 

beautiful garden space that nourishes the soul.” 

We conclude with some food for thought on plants and humans by Mokokoma 

Mokhonoana: “Plants are more courageous than almost all human beings. An 

orange tree would rather die than produce lemons, whereas instead of dying, 

the average person would rather be someone they are not.” 

SOMETHING 

FOR EVERYONE 

• Concrete products • Gift shop 

• Chalk paint / Stencils and workshops 

• Garden Centre: plants and garden 

décor • Tea garden and space for small 

functions, children’s parties, etc 

Open 7 days per week 

Monday to Friday: 07:00-16:30 

Saturday: 07:00-14:00 

Sundays and Public holidays : 08:00-13:00 

Entrance 25, R40 Barberton Road, Nelspruit 

www.concreteandgardencreations.co.za

Greendecor 

Rediscover the beauty and benefits of indoor 

plants. Plants are natural living decor, bringing 

a room to life, changing the mood, and adding 

colour and texture. They are also good for us, by 

cleaning the air and helping us to relax. Here’s 

how to use indoor plants to create a beautiful, 

tranquil space. 

Indoor elegance 

There is nothing more graceful 

or elegant than Phalaenopsis 

(moth orchid). Grow plants 

in glass containers to display 

the roots. Plants flower for up 

to three months and are easy to 

care for. They need strong, bright 

indirect light, and high humidity for 

the best growth and flowers. Drop 

two ice cubes on the top 

of the plant once a week; 

this will supply enough 

water. Alternatively, run water 

through the potting mix for one 

minute every three to 10 days, 

depending on the season. 


Indestructible anthuriums 

You don’t need green fingers to keep 

anthuriums alive. They last indoors for many 

years, needing bright indirect light in a warm 

room. Let the soil dry out slightly between 

watering and don’t let the plant stand in water. 

There are large as well as dwarf varieties in 

a great colour range from dark red/black, to 

salmon, pink, yellow, shades of red and white as 

well as bicolours.

Good for beginners 

Sansevieria “golden futura” always looks 

elegant, doesn’t wilt, and doesn’t take 

up much space, which is why it has 

become such a popular indoor plant 

with interior designers. It is happy in a 

well-lit room or home office, and only 

needs watering when the potting mix 

feels dry. 

Peace in the home 

The peace lily (Spathiphyllum) not 

only removes certain household 

toxins but also filters unpleasant 

odours and produces clean 

oxygen. This compact, well-shaped 

plant fits into any decor style. 

Needing only low light to grow, 

it’s ideal for bathrooms, bedrooms 

and kitchens. Water once a week, 

and don’t overwater. It is sensitive 

to cold. 

The dark side 

ZZ plant (Zamioculcas) 

grows just about anywhere, 

including in areas of low light, 

although it does better in 

brighter light. It is also valued 

for its air-purifying qualities. 

Plants can survive an amazing 

amount of neglect, because 

they need very little water, 

especially if grown in low 

light. Let the soil dry out 

between watering. A spritz 

of water on the leaves helps 

with humidity and removes 

dust. Give them a liquid feed 

once in spring and again in 

summer. 

Trending trees 

Indoor trees are the hottest trend in 

interior scaping. Weeping fig (Ficus 

benjamina) is a popular indoor tree, 

growing up to 2m, with arching 

stems and glossy green leaves. Good 

for a light corner, on either side of 

a window, well-lit passage or patio. 

Plants need moderate watering, 

and liquid fertiliser once a month 

in summer. Spritz the leaves to 

keep them dust-free. Light green 

leaves indicate a lack of nutrition. 

Leaf drop may be caused by underor 

overwatering or a change in 

temperature. 

Tips for indoor plants 

• Don’t overwater. More plants 

die from overwatering than 

underwatering. 

• Keep plants away from direct 

sunlight. Most do well with bright, 

indirect light. 

• Keep plants out of draughts and 

away from heaters in winter. 

• Don’t let pots stand in water, as the 

roots will rot. Rather place the pot on 

a bed of pebbles, so that the water is 

away from the base. 

• Spritz or wipe the leaves every now 

and them to improve humidity and 

remove dust from the leaves. 


Mysterious sightings in Knysna. Exploring the Kruger 

National Park. We do live in a marvellous country. 

Of Otangs 

and Apps 

Compiled by KYM ARGO 

It’s like having a game ranger in your pocket... 

try the amazing KrugerExplorer App 

Regular readers know how much we love a bush escape... and we’ve 

just discovered the ultimate App for visitors to the Kruger National Park. 

KrugerExplorer contains a massive amount of info... it’s like having your own, 

private, very knowledgeable guide (with all the insider secrets guides seem 

to know) in your pocket. This field guide has hundreds of details you need... 

from animal profiles (did you know the civet is semi-dependent on water, so 

if you want to see one you need to look near a reliable water source?) to selfdrive 

routes (more than 70 of them, so you won’t hit the same dirt road twice), 

new accurate and up-to-date maps of the park and so much more. There’s 

info on mammals and birds, reptiles and 

invertebrates, on the flora and ecozones 

you’ll experience in the park. The routes 

include those for camps which are 

useful for overnight visitors, as well as 

routes more suitable for day visitors. 

With more than 400 high-res images, 

and 300 000 words of content, this 

App is perfect for using while in the 

reserve, as well as for planning before 

you leave home. It’s also marvellously 

educational... so great for kids. The 

App was created by Danny Broome 

and Charlotte Kirke, who are from 

the UK but have a love of Africa in 

general and the Kruger in particular. 

“We’re very conscious that part of 

the wonderful experience of the 

Kruger is escaping the bustle and 

stresses of life - and for many people 

this means being offline. Ensuring 

the App works completely offline 

once downloaded adds a 21st 

century polish to a Kruger visit, 

while not impacting the bush 

escape experience,” they say. The 

KrugerExplorer App is available 

for mobile and tablet devices and 

can be downloaded from the App 

Store and Google Play. Details: 

krugerexplorer.com. 


“Otangs” in the 

Knysna forests 

Possibly best known for his work 

on African lions, environmentalist 

and independent wildlife researcher 

Gareth Patterson has spent more 

than quarter of a century working on 

the protection of our wildlife. 

He’s author of more than 10 books... 

including The Secret Elephants, a 

culmination of many years of research 

into the secretive Knysna elephants. 

The recently released Beyond the 

Secret Elephants continues this story, 

but also reveals his startling discovery 

of a much more mysterious being 

than the elephants - a relict hominoid 

known to the indigenous forest 

people as the Otang. 

The possible existence of relict 

hominoids is gaining momentum 

worldwide with ongoing research 

into Bigfoot in North America, the 

Yeti in the Himalayas and the Orang 

Pendek in Sumatra, and eminent 

conservationists and scientists - 

Dr Jane Goodall, Dr George Schaller 

and Prof Jeff Meldrum - have said 

they’re open-minded about their 

possible existence. Gareth has 

heard many accounts, which he’s 

documented in this new book... most 

of them, he says, were spontaneous 

and unprompted. Fascinating - an 

exceptional natural history book 

(also available as an e-book). Tracey 

McDonald Publishers, R270.

RM-UFO13N

TO WANDER 

THE WORLD 

Four years ago, Get It 

visited Annel Strydom to 

find out more about the 

challenges of caring for 

a spina bifida child. We 

loved Annel’s positive 

spirit and can-do attitude, 

and when we found out 

how much further this 

feisty and inspirational 

family of four have come 

since then, we decided to 

catch up with them and 

find out for ourselves. 

Reuben, Annel, Tertius and Anika Strydom during their five-week sit 

in Mauritius 

Text: MELLISSA BUSHBY 

Annel and her husband, Tertius, 

of Mbombela are just like any 

other family, but with a few small 

differences. Their first daughter, Anika, 

was born with undiagnosed spina 

bifida in 2010. 

“As a result, Anika has been to the 

operating theatre 28 times in her 

young life for back, foot and brain 

operations, and is a wheelchair 

user,” says Annel. Their second 

daughter, Esti, was born in 2012 with 

hypoplastic left-heart syndrome, and 

sadly only lived for 36 hours. In 2015 

the family was blessed with Reuben, a 

healthy, busy little boy. 

Life, as always, carries on, and in 2017, 

the Strydoms decided it was time for 

change. They sold their company, 

started online businesses (courses 

and products), and then, they hit the 

road. For nearly two years, this family 


of four have been travelling - full-time 

- around the world. Their somewhat 

unusual nomadic way of life seems to 

fit this happy family perfectly. “Some 

doors in our lives closed and others 

opened,” smiles Annel, “enabling 

us to travel as a family and share 

testimony of Anika, living a full and 

happy life amid challenges,” she says. 

”My daughter has overcome so many 

obstacles and achieved so much 

more than what doctors prepared 

us for at birth. And that’s why we’re 

doing what we’re doing. We just 

knew that we had to share our story 

of hope with the rest of the world. 

“Tertius and I have always loved 

travelling, and to combine family life, 

ministry, work and school for this 

season of our lives was the perfect 

option, well, with one exception, 

budget! To travel, especially abroad, 

is expensive. So, we looked at several 

options and found a way to make it 

work. The answer to our predicament 

was house-sitting.” 

There are a number of different 

house-sitting websites where you 

register a profile and apply for 

advertised house-sits all over the 

world. The owners then work through 

all the applications and appoint a 

house-sitter to look after their home, 

and sometimes pets, while they are 

away on vacation or business trips. 

“It’s a win-win situation for both 

parties,” says Annel. “The owner can 

rest assured that everything at home 

is taken care of, while the housesitters 

can stay for free (sometimes it 

even includes the use of a car) while 

staying in someone’s house instead 

of a hotel room.” The family initially 

started with a three-month trip to

Europe. “We did house-sits in France 

and Belgium, which worked well for 

us, and after three months in Europe 

we didn’t feel that the time was right 

to settle down again. There were 

more places to go, more people to 

meet. Now, we’re at almost two years 

and counting!” she laughs. 

Up until quite recently, the Strydoms 

had house-sat in France, Belgium, 

Mauritius, Luxembourg, Ireland and 

in the United States of America (New 

York, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, 

Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia 

and Texas), and can’t wait to do a 

few in South Africa. “Every day is an 

adventure. When we stayed in France, 

‘We’ve met 

amazing folks 

along the way 

and made 

friends for life’ 

Wandering the streets in France. Europe is still one of their most loved 

destinations, with Ireland being their favourite so far! 

we stayed next to a chateaux, which 

belongs to the winemakers in the 

area, for nine weeks and made friends 

with the owners. They invited us over 

to plant merlot vines with them, and 

we even helped to mix a new blend 

of wine! 

“People blessed us with homecooked 

dinners, local treats, toys, 

and even warm winter jackets for the 

kids when we had an unexpected 

snowstorm in Michigan.” 

Anika loves the wayfaring. An 

adventurous girl, she is always willing 

to try something new. She went 

kayaking on the Dordogne River, 

bum boarding and dog sledding in 

the South of France, snorkelled in the 

deep sea in Mauritius, experienced 

her first-ever wheelchair basketball 

match and sled hockey in America. 

She even attended school with 

newfound friends in Luxembourg 

and America. 

“Even though the places and usual 

tourist attractions like the Eiffel 

Tower, Disneyland Paris, the Statue 


Anika bundled up warmly 

An adventurous girl, Anika 

is always willing to try 

something new 

Disneyland was definitely one of the highlights for Anika 

of Liberty and Times Square in NYC and 

much more have been amazing, the best 

part of our travels have turned out to be 

more about the people, not so much the 

places. We’ve met amazing folks along the 

way and made friends for life. It amazes 

us how individuals all over the world are 

inherently kind.” 

The Strydoms share their story through 

play dates and dinners with locals, 

chats with people while queuing at the 

supermarket and having conversations 

with strangers on the subway or bus. 

They stick to the children’s tried-andtested 

routines as far as possible, and 

always take some of their special toys, 

pillowcases, books and soft toys with 

wherever they go. “We try to live a normal, 

day-to-day life. We work and do schooling 

on most days, and choose special days to 

go out and explore.” 

Tertius and Annel have also found a way 

to combine their skills and passions to 

create online courses about topics they 

love and have dealt with themselves. 

Topics they’ve covered include housesitting, 

reclaiming your joy after emotional 

trauma, travelling with confidence, and 

taking the trauma out of travel for young 

children. 

“Obviously, the journey does have its 

challenges too,” muses Annel. “Living out 

of suitcases limits the number of things 

we own at this stage, but that has made 

us realise that we don’t need that many 

things! It’s also challenging to work, play, 

homeschool and live in the same space... 

especially with a busy four-year-old. 

We’ve learnt to think twice before buying 

anything, as our South African currency is 

very weak against the Euro and US dollar. 

We’ve become much better at shopping 

for bargains than we used to be! Also, 

the language barrier can sometimes be 

problematic, especially in France - thank 

goodness for Google Translate.” 

The family have also had to learn to 

adapt their eating habits to the area 

they are in. “When you eat like the locals, 

you tend to spend less,” Annel says. “In 

France for instance, milk, yogurt, cheese, 

cold meats and cream were very cheap. 

In Ireland and some areas in the USA, 

we could afford red meat and in France 

and the USA chicken is much cheaper 

than in South Africa. We’ve made our 

own boerewors and we love to spoil the 

locals with milk tart, braaibroodjies, malva 

pudding and bobotie. The lamb, however, 


will have to wait till we’re home. And yes, home is still and 

always will be the Lowveld! 

“We really miss our friends and family. We make friends 

wherever we go, but always look forward to going home 

to the people we love. Luckily, we need to return to South 

Africa every three to six months to apply for and renew 

tourist visas, so we get to see the friends, family and 

grandparents whom we love and miss so much. We have a 

wonderful support network in Mbombela, which enables us 

to have alone time whenever we need it. While we’re abroad, 

we’re with each other and the kids 24/7. Even though we 

love spending time together as a family, I think all of us will 

appreciate a bit of a break from one another when we get 

back!” she laughs, but with a definite twinkle in her eye. 

“Obviously, we won’t be travelling nomads forever, and 

we’ll settle again. But we’re thankful for this adventure and 

the precious memories we’ll get to cherish forever. The 

journey has taught us so much about life, about what really 

is important, about one another, about adapting to change, 

about facing challenges, about choosing joy after emotional 

trauma, having faith, and making the best of your situation - 

every single day.” 

Details: Follow The Unconventional Family on Facebook. 

Annel and Anika also write children’s books about animal 

characters with special needs and challenges, called the 

Okey-Dokey Series. The books are available on Annel’s blog, 

Divinely Different, on Facebook. 

Many years ago in Mozambique. The couple have 

always had itchy feet. 

RM-WE151313R

LET’S EAT 2020 

Let’s 

eat 



Beyond 

the boundaries of taste 

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April 2020 Get It Lowveld 37 

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AMBASSADORS 

Chemicals, along with loads more. 

The famous little nut shop, so 

well-known to the local community 

and travellers from all around the 

country, is moving again. 

Ambassador Foods, a well-known 

business in White River that has 

supplied top-quality dried nut and fruit 

products to the South African retail 

market for the past 30 years, is now 

part of the Libstar group of companies. 

With a new sense of adventure, the 

renowned nut factory shop will 

integrate products from the group of 

companies, delivering a wider range 

of goods to its loyal factory shop 

customers. 

Consumers will have access to a 

much wider range of products, not 

just their favourite fruit, nuts and 

granolas. They will stock brands such 

as Lancewood, Cape Herb and Spice, 

Khoisan tea, Denny Mushrooms, Cari 

rusks, Montague’s famous condiments, 

household cleaning liquids from Chet 

According to Lorraine Kruger, 

Ambassador Foods’ key account 

manager, the new shop will be 

home to around 400 products, which 

come directly from the factories that 

manufacture them, and customers 

will be spoilt for choice when it comes 

to filling their baskets. Ambassadors 

wants to make sure that its loyal 

clients continue to experience an 

enjoyable shopping experience, just 

as they always have. 

The new shop will be open to the 

public on April 3, at Bahati Centre, 

on the corner of the R40/Sabie Road 

turn-off. Many of the new products 

will also be made available online 

(factoryshoponline.co.za). 

Ambassadors will continue to 

welcome bulk buying from restaurants 

and local businesses. Pop in and 

pay the shop a visit. You will be sure to 

come away with a full bag of goodies! 

RM-AM03113NE 

RM-AM03113NE 

RM-AM03113NE


RIVER GROVE 

River Grove Restaurant is the latest from the thriving Greenway Woods, 

which also boasts ATOWA as part of its stable. Conveniently situated, 

River Grove is attached to the hotel, and its spacious interior can 

accommodate up to 120 people, both inside and out. Outside seating 

is situated on the deck area and overlooks the beautiful gardens. 

While the menu has a fairly South African slant (you can order 

braaibroojies as a starter) and there are a number of traditional 

favourites, such as eisbein, grilled chicken and a variety of burgers, 

starters and salads, River Grove’s speciality is pizza, of which it sports 

quite a few variants. 

You can order the Bushveld; which includes 

riblets, pineapple chutney, sweet peppers and 

barbecue; or perhaps try the Inkhukhu; which 

consists of grilled chicken with peri peri, chorizo, 

peppers and tomato; and the GWW is butternut, 

grilled cheese and rocket. The Afrikana is a 

favourite, with boerewors, grilled onion, crushed 

tomato and mustard mayo. 

River Grove is open seven days a week, from 

breakfast to dinner, and locals are welcome! 

RM-GR02313N


RM-GR02213N 

013 751 1094 

Info@atowarestaurant.co.za l www.atowarestaurant.co.za 

Pine Lake Drive, White River 1240 

RM-GR02213N.indd 1 2020/03/10 15:47:08 



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April 2020 Get It Lowveld 41 

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To advertise in this supplement, contact Yulandi Jansma 

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Spoil 

April 

This month we’re all about looking more 

radiant, with firmer skin and fewer visible fine 

lines. Which is why we’re raving about the 

new Clarins Double Serum. This complete 

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this serum acts on the appearance of major 

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To be in the draw, simply visit our Facebook 

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Entries close on April 24. 


RM-BD324513NN

RM-KI0313N

Lowveld - April 2020

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