JHB North - Nov 2020

JOBURG NORTHERN SUBURBS 

ALLEGRO 

DINKWANYANE 

From blogger to 

serial entrepreneur 

No longer cooped up... 

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A safari for your 

taste buds without 

leaving home 

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by bike or on a hike 

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CONTENTS 

GET IT 

Editorial 

Phone 087-285-7888 

Caxton House • 368 Jan Smuts Avenue 

Craighall, Joburg 

Instagram @get_it_joburg_north 

Facebook Get It Joburg North 

Website getitmagazine.co.za/ 

joburg-north 

Editor Daniella Graham 

daniellap@caxton.co.za 087-285-8108 

Workflow & Studio Manager Megan Brett 

Sales 

Kristen Le Goff 076-080-2262 

Business Manager 

Norman Dawe 087-285-7888 

GET IT HEAD OFFICE 

National Group Editor and National Sales 

Kym Argo 

kyma@caxton.co.za 

Facebook and Instagram: 

Get It National Magazines 

Website: getitmagazine.co.za 

WHY DON’T YOU... 

05 Get a merry thrill from festive lights, be active and then kick back 

with some virtual events and movies 

06 Enjoy half a dozen reads, great wine and irresistible chocs 

WISH LIST 

08 Summertime ... and the living’s so easy 

PEOPLE 

10 Allegro Dinkwanyane is a powerhouse businesswoman. 

Intimidating, right? You’ll find she’s incredibly humble and relatable too 

12 Speaker, sales guru and entrepreneur Richard Wright has unleashed 

his vulnerability in a book, and he explains why he chose to do so 

14 So you’ve seen Carol Ofori on TV or heard her on radio. But do you 

really know her? She shares 10 unique things about herself 

THIS MONTH WE’RE ... 

18 Flying into November with optimism soaring high. From 

let’s-go-natural fashion to local designs at affordable prices, from the 

bright hues of a tropical parrot (our beauty page is all Pretty Polly) to 

relaxing bath ideas for those looking for a more hedonistic treat. 

There’s also fantastic food from Africa plus must-try Summer dishes 

and cool-off refreshments. 

GARDENING & BIRDING 

30 Gardening for small spaces and amazing macramé for your patio 

32 Binocs, books and brilliant bags ... all the essentials for birding 

Distribution 087-285-7891 

Get It Joburg Northern Suburbs is 

distributed free of charge. For a full list of 

where it is available phone 087-285-7891 

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. 

NOVEMBER 2020 

TRAVEL 

38 Take a hike! Yes, please ... an enthusiast gives the lowdown 

on the gear we need 

40 Get on your bike and enjoy the mountain biking experience at 

the wonderful De Hoop in the Cape 

WIN 

42 A case of The Garden Route Sauvignon Blanc ... 

our go-to-drink this Summer 

COVER LOOK 

Personality: Allegro Dinkwanyane 

Photographer: Katlego Mokubyane 

Make-up artist: @makeupbyzodwa 

Photographer/Image credit: 

00 Get It Sandton • Rosebank Month 08 

November 20 Get It Magazine 03

A hot date! 

Light up your life this November with these events 

07 

is a day packed with 

awesome activities 

If it’s a vibey time you’re after, then 

On the Lawn with Goodluck is 

just what you need. Kick back with 

your mates, enjoy a picnic and 

groove to some awesome beats. 

Kimon Rayne and Easy Freak will also 

perform. Marks Park Sports Club in 

Emmarentia. November 7 from 1pm 

to 6pm. Tickets limited to 500 a show. 

From R225. Details: onthelawn.co.za 

If an intimate acoustic performance 

and storytelling evening sounds just 

up your alley, then look no further 

than Arno Carstens Live at Snatch 

32. You’re sure to have a rocking 

good time. Snatch 32 is at 32 7th 

Street in Parktown. November 7 from 

6pm and on November 8 from 2pm. 

R200. Tickets are limited and booking 

is essential. Details: webtickets.co.za 

Prepare to be 

wowed by the sparkle of 

illuminated life-size animal characters at 

the Joburg Zoo Festival of Lights. You 

can catch live performances and browse 

the arts and crafts night market too. It’ll run 

from November 22 to January 3 next year. 

R150. Details: joburgtheatre.com or 

webtickets.co.za 

Put your takkies to the tarmac in a 

run that’s aimed at building unity. 

The SABig5K aims to give you the 

chance to shine and to show up in 

unity, and it takes place on the first 

weekend of November to celebrate 

the one-year anniversary of SA’s 

Rugby World Cup victory. It’s a virtual 

run on November 7. Tickets R40. 

Details: big5k.co.za or webtickets. co.za 

A webinar to inspire… 

Are you struggling to get back on top after months of lockdown? SA’s finest 

wellness expert, Lisa Raleigh, along with Get It Joburg North, is hosting the Finish 

2020 Strong webinar, where she’ll share recipes for wellness to guide readers. 

It’s on November 19 from 1pm to 2pm (perfectly timed so you can join in on your 

lunch break). Tickets are R100 through the Lisa Raleigh e-store. If you really, really 

can’t make the live webinar, you can still download it afterwards, also for R100. 

Details: lisaraleigh.com 

04 Get It Magazine November 20

Feast your eyes on all things vegan 

Get inspired and learn how to serve up a plant-based feast this holiday 

season with the Vegan & Plant Powered Show. Whether you live a 

full-time ‘VGN’ life, are just trying out meat-free days, enjoy tantalising 

your taste buds with innovative plant-based food or are exploring 

sustainable and eco-friendly products, this one-day virtual show 

offers a great online experience you will not want to miss! You will 

even be able to engage with top chefs, ask them questions, join an 

interactive masterclass and meet them in the Vegan & Meet area. 

Taking place on November 28 from 11am to 5pm. R120. 

Details: veganandplantpoweredshow.com 

Let the stage come 

to life in your own home 

You don’t need to travel to watch 

The Fall on stage as this one’s virtual. 

In this production, seven drama 

graduates from the University of Cape 

Town share their experiences during 

the various student movements 

during 2015 and 2016, including 

#RhodesMustFall and #FeesMustFall. 

It’s said to be a frank and honest 

production. It runs on YouTube for the 

month of November. Tickets are R30. 

Details: webtickets.co.za 

There’s a chance to learn even 

more about the student protests... 

Freedom The Musical tells the 

story of a Tshwane University of 

Technology student and leader of the 

#FeesMustFall movement. The musical 

is by the State Theatre’s artistic director, 

Aubrey Sekhabi, and has a 47-member 

cast accompanied by a 13-piece band. 

It runs on YouTube for the month of 

November. Tickets R30. 

Details: webtickets.co.za 

A trio of movies for a gripping night in 

The holiday season is around the corner and we’ve got just the right movie to 

get you into the spirit. 

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey follows Academy Award-winner Forest 

Whitaker's Jeronicus Jangle, a toymaker from the charming little town of 

Cobbleton. When Jangle's most revolutionary invention, a magical toy named 

Buddy is stolen by a former apprentice, his smart little granddaughter takes 

it upon herself to retrieve it and help return the acclaimed toymaker to his 

former glory. On Netflix from November 13 • Be prepared for plenty of twists and 

turns in the British horror film, The Unfamiliar. When an army doctor returns 

home after a tour of duty, she is ecstatic to see her family – but something’s 

not quite right. Her husband is acting aloof and odd, seemingly hating his 

family members. At first, she attributes the strange things she sees to PTSD. 

But too many false memories and eerie happenings occur for it to be just her 

suffering. Now showing in cinemas. • If you’re in the mood for action, intrigue, 

and danger then In No Time Die you will get just that! Bond has left active 

service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when 

his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission 

to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than 

expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with 

dangerous new technology. In cinemas from November 27. 

If it’s a laid-back evening of soulful 

sounds you’re craving, then look 

no further than the virtual concert 

of Sibongile Khumalo. This awardwinning, 

talented musician will 

undoubtedly amaze audiences 

with songs from her albums Ancient 

Evenings, Breath of Life, Quest, Immortal 

Secrets, Sibongile Khumalo, Songs for the 

Soul, Whole Worlds and The Essentials. 

Catch her performances on YouTube 

for the month of November. Tickets are 

R70. Details: webtickets.co.za or 

statetheatre.co.za 


Book club 

Real life thrillers and in-your-dreams chick lit 

and great wine and a box of chocolates. Swoon 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

read, and Love Your Life is really fun. 

06 Get It Magazine November 20 

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

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

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

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

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

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

We’ve all done it. Thought 

about what we’d do if we won 

a couple of million on the Lotto. 

Who we’d share with. What we’d 

buy. Charities we’d support. 

For years, three couples have 

played the same six numbers 

on the lottery ... never winning 

more than a tenner. They’re 

the best of mates, until an 

untruth causes a small rift. And 

soon after that, bingo ... the 

six numbers come up ... just 

under 18 million pounds. One 

couple’s got the winning ticket. 

And they don’t want to share. 

In Just My Luck, Adele Parks 

looks at the dark side of money, 

at friendship and betrayal and 

good luck gone bad. 

We know Book Club’s all about 

books and wine. But salted caramel. 

And milk chocolate. And Lindt. As 

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

and you’ll find them at Woolies. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

gripping from start to finish. 


Wish list 

Summertime ... and the living’s so easy 

These beaded wrap bracelets are the prettiest way to accessorise 

a Summer outfit. Made from Japanese Miyuki glass beads in 

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

dainty charms, they’re elasticated and wrap comfortably 

round the average wrist six times. Wear one, or a few, for a 

colourful boho look. R350 from themakerycollection.com 

A breath of French air 

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

and crisp sandwich. Made with simple fresh white bread and 

Mrs Ball’s chutney, Jan get tears in his eyes when he eats it. 

There’s also one for a naartjie panna cotta with Rice Krispies 

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

Cape seed loaf and mosbolletjies and his mother’s souttert. 

Loads and loads of more sophisticated dishes too ... many of 

them surprisingly easy. No surprise at all that they’re delicious. 

This, Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen’s second book, is page 

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

again and again. We’re off for a biltong and crisp sarmie. 

Penguin Random House, R490 

Tastes of Clifton 

Sun-bronzed skin. A warm Summer breeze. Soft golden 

sand. Icy, clear water that refreshes like no other. That’s 

Clifton. And we don’t need to be heading there these 

summer hols ... we can just make ourselves a cocktail with 

the new Clifton gin. Created by SA born Silvana Bottega 

(who describes it as liquid sunshine in a sip), the gin’s 

already won two gold medals. There are two versions ... 

Clifton 1 and Clifton 2 (just like the numbered protected 

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

orange and lemon peel, lavender and fynbos, and is best 

served on the rocks. Clifton 2 - the cocktail gin - is eminently 

mixable. With hues of the sea, it’s all about marine and 

fynbos botanicals, cucumber and buchu, all working in 

harmony to capture the spirit of the Atlantic Ocean. The 

gins cost between R429 and R498 a bottle and you’ll find 

them at good bottlestores or on cliftongin.com 

Compiled by KYM ARGO 


Taking inspiration from nature 

We’re lusting over this Wanderland Collective Oceanum round 

pouch bag. Made of velvet fabric printed with a hand-painted 

design inspired by the ocean - shells, textured mosses, algae and 

darting jellyfish - it comes with a detachable tassel and goldcoloured 

chain strap, which is long enough so the bag can 

be worn cross-body. It’s just the right size for your phone, 

lipstick and credit card. Plus it ticks the ‘support local’ box ... 

these bags are made in Joburg, with this design is by local 

Joburg textile designer and artist Nicole Levenberg. There 

are few colours and designs to choose from ... we fancy 

this Moss version. R785 from equilibrio.co.za 

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

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

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

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

decade have flown to, and photographed, some of the most remote and spectacular wilderness areas of southern Africa. The 

magnificent Aerial Art is the culmination of their remarkable journey. With a vibrant collection of wild and enchanting images 

that are instantly recognisable by their unique style and approach, the photographs convey an intimacy with, and reverence 

for, the wilderness that reflects their passion for the conservation and preservation of the landscapes they’ve flown over. The 

book has a magnetic clip hardcover case, 65 glorious double-page spreads as well as a comprehensive index with a thumbnail 

of each image and a brief description at the back of the book. The book costs R980, but there’s also a limited run of 200 copies 

with an alternative cover, which costs R1960, which includes a R1000 gift voucher which can be used towards the purchase of 

a fine art print of any image in the book. You’ll find the book at Exclusive Books or order online from hphpublishing.co.za 


The allure 

ofAllegro 

Allegro Dinkwanyane is a force to be reckoned with in the business world. In fact, 

her success is rather intimidating. Yet beyond the boardroom, she embraces 

motherhood, Instagram and all foodie things in the most humble and charming ways. 

ou can 

learn 

a lot about 

Allegro 

Dinkwanyane 

from her 

Instagram grid… 

She’s a mother, 

bookworm and 

fashionista – honestly, 

her shoes are to die for! 

She’s humble, candid and 

most definitely a foodie 

– the pics of her dishes 

are droolworthy! She’s 

a savvy businesswoman, influencer 

and serial entrepreneur – seriously, 

she built her business from a 

blog to nine entities under one 

umbrella group. 

To put it frankly, Allegro is an 

absolute powerhouse. And she’s 

refreshingly authentic too. 

What you see on Insta is what you 

get in real life – or, as this Waterfall 

City resident and businesswoman 

puts it, ‘I really just post what I like 

and I guess the likeminded people 

or people who find my content 

interesting will follow.’ And they do 

– her following is substantial, yet 

she says she doesn’t obsess over 

social media numbers. 

‘I love the opportunities social 


media offers us to connect with 

people we probably would have 

never met. I personally just like 

sharing some parts of my life as 

well as my business so that my 

followers either relate or see a 

different side to me they never 

knew existed.’ 

It’s unsurprising then, that 

this social media-savvy 

businesswoman’s background 

is in media. Allegro majored in 

communications and philosophy 

for her Bachelor of Arts degree at 

the University of Johannesburg 

(UJ) and she has a social media and 

marketing qualification from the 

University of Cape Town too. Yet, 

a lot of her business knowledge 

comes from on-the-job learning 

as, during the final year of her 

degree at UJ, the then-21-year-old 

Allegro started her blog, Orgella 

Entertainment. 

‘I took the leap of faith to start 

my business with no prior work 

experience because I wanted to 

learn from a young age and have 

the opportunity to make all the 

mistakes that needed to be made 

in the early stages of my business,’ 

explains Allegro. 

‘A lot of people told me that I’m 

too young and inexperienced 

to run my own media company 

but I did it anyway. I don’t regret 

the step I took, although it 

was not easy, it has been 

rewarding.’ 

Seated at coffee 

shops in those 

early days, and 

later converting 

a bedroom into a 

home office, Allegro 

built up her business. 

Soon she added a 

charity foundation and public 

relations agency to form the 

Orgella Group. 

Just nine years later, nine entities 

now fall under the Orgella Group, 

including events management, 

private property and farming. 

Allegro has hired staff and moved 

into office space in Waterfall City. 

‘Every business in Orgella Group 

is something that I am passionate 

about and saw a gap in the 

market to offer something unique 

or simply a service that people 

needed as a better alternative.’ 

Her business is most certainly a 

passion project – so much so that 

the name ‘Orgella’ is Allegro spelt 

backwards. ‘The name itself was 

inspired by Oprah Winfrey. She has 

a company called Harpo, which

is her name backwards, so I also 

used my name Allegro backwards 

to name my company.’ 

Her goal is for the Orgella Group 

to be one of the biggest 100 

per cent black female-owned 

companies in Africa. ‘We’re 

going to achieve this by being 

consistent in the work we do and 

always showing up.’ 

Already within this first decade 

of running her company, Allegro 

has been ‘showing up’ in business 

circles for her efforts. In 2017, she 

was named as a Forbes Africa 30 

Under 30 honouree. ‘It’s one of 

my great business accolades and 

it all happened when I was 27! 

It goes to show that sometimes 

all you really have to do is put 

in the work, and the accolades 

will follow. The right people are 

always watching.’ 

Entrepreneurship runs in Allegro’s 

veins as she says she was raised 

by a family of entrepreneurs. 

Her uncles and aunts ran 

supermarkets, and her mother, 

who is a teacher, also 

started her own 

business on the side. 

‘It was encouraging 

and I knew back 

then that one 

day I would 

also like 

to create 

a legacy of 

my own in the 

business world.’ 

Building a legacy and 

creating jobs for youth 

are the best parts of being an 

entrepreneur for Allegro. These 

are also what feed the Orgella 

Group’s ethos, as Allegro says the 

group aims to be informative, 

empowering and entertaining. 

‘It always comes back to leaving 

a great impact, changing the 

people around us for the better 

and empowering not just the 

consumers or audience but also 

ourselves as a team.’ 

Yet, Allegro admits it’s a journey that 

isn’t for the fainthearted and can be 

lonely. She says her team, family and 

small circle of friends are a great 

support system, while her biggest 

motivator on those tough days is 

her 22-month-old son, Elohim. 

One of the advantages of 

lockdown due to the Covid-19 

pandemic for Allegro has been 

that she’s been able to spend 

more time with Elohim inbetween 

working from home 

and, being a ‘foodie by nature’, 

she has enjoyed spending time in 

the kitchen. ‘I love food, cooking 

and trying new recipes. And 

now that I have a little human 

being to share my food with, I 

love creating different dishes for 

him to try. My favourite things 

to make include pasta, seafood 

dishes, healthy treats or snacks 

and baked goodies.’ 

In fact, Allegro enjoys cooking so 

much she has an Insta account 

dedicated to showcasing the 

mouth-watering treats she whips 

up in her kitchen. 

Beyond the boardroom, Allegro 

says she’s actually ‘quite the 

introvert’ and she maintains her 

positive mindset by praying, 

meditating and spending time 

with loved ones, and, at the 

end of a long day, she loves 

to soak in a bubble bath. She 

finds journaling therapeutic, 

and, to cope with the pressure 

of running her business, she 

takes time to rest every so often. 

‘I unplug, travel to somewhere 

with a beach, spend a few days 

there just relaxing and praying 

and recentring myself then come 

back to tick more goals off my 

vision board.’ 

This really characterises Allegro: 

She’s a dynamic businesswoman 

who’s focused on growing her 

company to greater heights, yet 

she’s humble and genuine which 

makes her so relatable. 

‘I just want to be the best version 

of myself in this new decade of 

life and be the best mother my 

son could ever ask for.’ 

Details: Follow Allegro on 

@allegro_d as well as her foodie 

delights @allegroskitchen and find 

out more about the Orgella Group 

on orgellagroup.com 

Text: DANIELLA GRAHAM. Photograph: KATLEGO MOKUBYANE. Make-up artist: @MAKEUPBYZODWA 


CHAPTERS OF RAW HONESTY 

For many years, Richard Wright had 

wanted to pen a book. And now he has. 

Yet the story he ended up telling isn’t 

the one he’d expected to write. Life took 

a turn. He shares his vulnerability and 

how he shifted his mindset in the face of 

extreme adversity to overcome all odds. 

Text: DANIELLA GRAHAM. Photographer: JAMES PUTTICK. 

For Richard Wright, The Power of Purpose is so 

much more than a book he wrote. It’s the vessel that 

holds his vulnerability. 

‘I laid myself bare,’ says the Randpark Ridge resident, and he 

did so for his two daughters. 

‘I firmly believe that our job as parents is to provide a 

platform for our kids that enables them to become better 

humans than we could ever be. It’s an account of my 

failures, mistakes, shortcomings, struggles, victories and 

unbecoming. When they are ready to read it, I hope that 

they will resonate deeply and that they will take something 

from it that will enrich their lives. We have many profound 

and meaningful conversations and always have but having 

it in a book is different.’ 

He explains The Power of Purpose isn’t an autobiography, 

nor is it a self-help book. ‘It’s a weird hybrid, which is pretty 

apt because I’ve never really fitted into any of the usual 

categories either.’ 

Richard is a renowned international speaker, sales guru 

and entrepreneur who believes ‘family time is a joy’. He 

has triumphed over what seemed like near-impossible 

adversity, and now, with raw honesty, he details his story. 

He was first diagnosed with rare pituitary cancer four years 

ago, and it was then that he defined the power of his 

purpose as, ‘How much it meant to me to survive, for my 

girls to have a dad, how badly I wanted it. How much I was 

prepared to endure to achieve that. That meaning, burning 

desire and tenacity became my purpose which, in turn, 

unleashed immeasurable power in mindset changes. 

‘We become what we think.’ 

Over the next few years, Richard’s cancer returned a further 

two times – and both times, he beat it. ‘Early in 2016, the 

first tumour was discovered and was surgically removed. It 

had already spread, and I was told it was terminal. Later that 

year I went into remission, only for the cancer to return six 

months later. In December 2017, I heard that I had beaten 

it again. 2018, bout number three arrived, again terminal. 

March 2020 – remission number three! So, spoiler alert, I 

made it out the other side of the book [and am] currently 

free of cancer.’ 

On top of the uphill battle to beat cancer, Richard – who 

Make sure you grab a copy of Richard Wright’s 

The Power of Purpose. Tracey McDonald Publishers, R275. 

loves the outdoors and says that cycling out in The Cradle 

of Humankind is a treat on any day – took on some of the 

world’s toughest endurance races. These included five 

full Ironman triathlons – his favourite competition. ‘I was 

fortunate to have many years of endurance sport behind 

me so my body is accustomed to the load. Mostly it was 

a conscious decision to force myself to get out the front 

door. Purpose played a massive role. Some days it was 

just physically impossible. But every day is a new day and 

another opportunity to abandon the past, control our fear 

of the uncertain future and live in the moment. Control 

the controllable.’ 

Through writing the chapters of his book, Richard relived 

these events, rediscovered the lessons he’d learnt and 

found new ways to express them better – which, he says, 

was the best part of the process. 

Writing a book is something Richard had wanted to do for 

many years. Yet, the story he ended up telling isn’t quite 


the one he’d expected to write. ‘Isn’t that so true about life? 

We put something out into the universe and expect exactly 

what we had in mind. Life always has other ideas.’ 

He also found it difficult to say more by writing less, and he 

references Mark Twain’s words, ‘I didn’t have time to write a 

short story, so I wrote a long one instead.’ Yet, it didn’t take 

him very long to write. ‘My name isn’t “Richard last-minutedot-com” 

and “If-there’s-no-pressure-it-ain’t-gonna-happen 

Richard” for nothing! My deadline for the final manuscript 

was the last week of January this year. I started writing on 

the seventh of December 2019.’ 

He’s written his story with extreme frankness – or, as he puts 

it in his prologue, ‘I have shared my nakedness.’ There’s tact 

behind this strategy as he’s found his social media followers 

resonate more with his posts when he is candid. 

As a result, his vulnerability is inescapable, and he says this 

is what readers comment on the most. ‘To know that my 

openness has had such a huge impact is humbling.’ 

Writing with raw honesty came with its challenges too, 

and he says his childhood was particularly tough to write 

about. ‘I haven’t expressed much about the deepest most 

painful parts to many in my life so that was big for me. Also 

knowing that my parents would read it. Writing about the 

affair was equally tough. It’s something that I freely talk 

about and everybody who is close to me knows the story. 

Before I had an affair I was extremely critical of those who 

had cheated on their partners. I’m aware that many reading 

the book might feel the same about me.’ 

His biggest hope is that The Power of Purpose gives readers 

a chance to pause for reflection – and perhaps even see 

ultra-endurance races and their abilities in a new light. 

‘The thoughts that we put in our own heads are both 

the most powerfully crippling and the most powerfully 

advantageous. Your choice. 

‘The choice will determine the outcome.’ 

Details: iamrichardwright.com or @thewrightrich on Twitter. 


BEHIND THE 

MICROPHONE 

From dreams of being a game ranger to a zest for travelling and 

a love of reality TV, here are 10 things you probably don’t know 

about radio and television personality Carol Ofori 

Radio and TV personality Carol Ofori 

has cemented herself as one of the 

most formidable women in the local 

media space. 

Throughout her 20-year career, the 

Randburg resident has been gracing 

airwaves on a multitude of stations. 

While radio has always been Carol’s 

first love, she is also known as a 

seasoned television presenter and 

voice-over artist. 

She’s currently hosting the parenting 

series, Raising Babies 101 every 

Monday at 9am on SABC 2 and 

continues to push the limits when it 

comes to her brand and creative flair. 

Now, Carol opens up and shares 

some tidbits about herself which 

many may not know about her. 

1. She’s travel-obsessed 

Carol is a massive lover of 

international travel and, having 

travelled to 20 countries around the 

world, she counts this feat as one 

of her biggest achievements in life. 

‘I am so blessed to have had the 

opportunity to explore the world and 

it’s one of my favourite things to do,’ 


Carol says. ‘To date, I have travelled 

to Nigeria, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, 

Mozambique, Botswana, Tanzania, 

Kenya, Ghana, Mauritius, Zambia, 

Germany, the UK, France, the USA, 

Mexico, Switzerland, Italy, Indonesia, 

Thailand and Dubai, and I am proud 

that around half of those are African 

countries.’ 

2. Carol simply can’t choose one 

favourite place to visit. So her top 

two destinations are... 

‘South Africa, its Mpumalanga. 

‘The waterfalls are so majestic and 

there is so much greenery, mountains 

and wildlife. It’s such a gem!’ 

Internationally, her favourite place to 

visit would be Cancun in Mexico. ‘My 

husband and I had the best time ever 

when we visited. Everything from the 

sight-seeing to the nightlife to the 

food was incredible there.’ 

3. She had dreams of being a 

game ranger 

While she’s hosted a stint of radio 

shows on multiple stations and a 

variety of television shows, Carol 

admits that when she was younger, 

she did not plan to be in the 

entertainment space. ‘At first, I wanted 

to be a game ranger. 

‘I love animals and I couldn’t think of a 

better way to earn money.’ 

However, things quickly changed. 

‘After that, I wanted to be a 

policewoman and then a lawyer. I 

ended up studying to be a journalist 

and now I am a broadcaster and 

I couldn’t think of anything else I 

would rather be doing.’ 

4. She fell in love with radio during 

her university days 

Fresh out of high school, Carol went 

to study at Rand Afrikaans University 

– now known as the University of 

Johannesburg. 

During her time there, she got 

involved with the campus radio 

station where she worked as both 

the DJ manager as well as an on-air 

presenter. It was then when she fell in 

love with the medium and pursued a 

career in radio. 

5. She’s had some interesting jobs 

over the years 

Carol’s had a multitude of different

5 

4 

2 

3 

67 

9 

8 

1 

10 

jobs throughout her career. She 

used to be a waitress and a personal 

assistant to an insurance broker 

before she landed an internship in 

a newsroom. 

Since then, she has honed her 

skills and pushed to become the 

formidable presenter she is today. 

6. Her most embarrassing moment 

saw her with her pants down 

We’ve all had some incredibly 

embarrassing moments during our 

time, but for Carol, that fateful day 

was during a day out with friends. ‘I 

was wearing some fancy pants that 

tie in the back while on a day out and 

when exiting my friend’s car, that tie 

got jammed in the seat. 

‘As I stepped out the car, a passer-by 

held their mouth in shock and when 

I looked down my pants were on the 

floor and I was just in my undies. 

‘I will never forget the woman’s gasp, 

ever! I wanted to hibernate with the 

bears forever!’ 

7. Carol’s childhood is laced with 

memories of her grandmother 

Carol says she has some remarkable 

childhood memories and they’re 

all thanks to her grandmother. 

‘Mommy D’, as her grandmother was 

affectionately known, had a loving 

relationship with Carol and often 

baked the most delicious scones and 

magwinya for her. ‘Her hugs were 

soothing and her laugh hearty. 

‘Rest in peace, Mommy D.’ 

8. Carol’s dream gig would be 

hearing her voice at the world’s 

biggest events 

Carol is one of South Africa’s most 

successful voice-over artists and, as 

she continues to dominate the field 

locally, she would love to be the voice 

for an event as big as the Oscars or 

the Grammys. 

‘These are the biggest nights in 

entertainment so that would be a 

dream come true.’ 

She also has sights on expanding her 

radio career locally. ‘I would love to 

host a breakfast or drive radio show – 

I am working very hard to see at least 

one of these realised.’ 

9. She loves reality TV 

While she is an exceptionally hard 

worker, when she gets home, she 

loves to unwind by catching up on 

her favourite reality TV shows with a 

glass of wine. Her favourites include 

The Real Housewives of Atlanta and 

Potomac, Love and Hip Hop, Marriage 

Bootcamp and 90 Day Fiancé. 

10. She’s a family woman with a top 

parenting tip to share 

Carol is fast-cementing herself as a 

leader in the parenting space. She is 

a big family woman as well and says 

she loves to spend time with her 

children while giving them unlimited 

supplies of hugs and kisses. 

There’s one parenting tip that’s 

worked wonders for her, which is 

that parents need to mean what they 

say when speaking to their children. 

‘Parenting has no room for empty 

threats and promises. Once you say 

something to your children, stand by 

it – both when you reprimand and 

reward your children. 

‘Oh, and there is a lot more room for 

hugs, kisses and saying I love you.’ 

Details: Follow Carol Ofori on 

Instagram @carolofori 


Have you popped into Truworths lately? 

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

of bright, cheerful, happiness. Loads 

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

wallflowers! All online, too, for easy, safe 

shopping. Details: truworths.co.za 

Compiled by: KYM ARGO 


LET’S GO 

NATURAL 

This season let’s get back to nature, 

with shades of pumpkin and 

apricot, with coconut and honey 

... it’s all about feel-good 

fashion and beauty. 

We like good stuff. So we’re 

obviously big fans of the Good 

Stuff ... and honestly, what’s 

not to like? Heavenly scented 

bath soaks and hand creams, 

soaps and body lotions and 

so much more. And this 

festive season there are 

some exceptional gift packs 

... easy presents that will 

be massively appreciated, 

and that won’t break the 

budget. Win. Win. Win. All 

from Dis-Chem. 

Mix up your brights with 

some neutral accessories. 

We love this Daniel 

Hechter natural bucket 

hat, R250 from truworths. 

co.za • This season’s all 

about the wedge ... tan 

slip-on Ruby leather 

mule wedge, R1199 from 

Witchery at Woolies • 

Add a whimsical touch to 

your outfit with this floral 

print scarf, R99.99 from 

woolworths.co.za 


Get It Magazine November 20

Let’s hear it for 

LOCAL TALENT 

SA designer fashion at affordable prices ... 

local really is stylish this season 


Exclusive collections by talented young 

local fashion designers. Affordable 

prices. Limited editions. Tick tick, and 

tick. The new Pick n Pay Clothing 

launch of designer clothing in 

collaboration with South African artists 

ticks all the right boxes. Small and 

select - each of the ranges has only 

around seven items - the idea is make 

designer clothing more accessible to 

all South Africans, at great prices (and 

they are ... the first garments we saw 

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

of the designers will be mentored 

by Gavin Rajan - itself a major career 

highlight, and this new collaboration 

will give some of our many talented 

local designers, who don’t have 

a platform to grow their brands 

commercially, a way to promote their 

ranges to a large audience. The first 

collection was by the uber talented 

Julia Buchanan, this one is from 

29-year-old Katekani Moreku, which 

captures his perspective of a united 

South African heritage, and was 

inspired by he many local cultures he’s 

encounter moving across provinces. 

Next up will be an exclusive, limited 

edition range by Gavin Rajah. We 

can’t wait. The ranges are available 

in selected PnP Clothing stores, and 

online. Details: picknpayclothing.co.za 

November 20 Get It Magazine

Who’s a 

PRETTY 

POLLY 

Beauty products worth 

squawking about 

We admit, we’ve gone a little bird 

mad this month. We’re loving - 

and took inspiration from - this 

vintage Broad Tailed 

Parrot print ... available in 

loads of sizes to suit 

your space. From 

R480 to R4980 from 

bespokehome.co.za 



Wink wink. Kiss kiss. For dramatic 

eyes, Elizabeth Arden High Drama 

Eyeliner in Midnight Dream 

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

Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Colour 

Liquid Lip Gloss in Red 

Door VIP. R280 and R295 

respectively from 

Woolworths. 

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

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

Shadows vibrant blue eyeshadow, is highly pigmented for 

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

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

New Crop vivid hunter green powder eyeshadow with 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Ultimate spoil ... hours soaking in the 

(BIRD) BATH 

Water’s warm. Bubbles in. 

Candle lit. And relax. 

A bathroom needs plants. If you 

really can’t grow your own, this faux 

stem looks just like the real thing. 

And it never dies! R249 from 

@home.co.za 

This handpainted, 

porcelain Scented 

Island Tahiti Footbath could be 

used as just that, but we’d rather 

show it off with a pot plant, or use 

it to store rolled up face cloths 

and bathroom essentials, instead. 

R899 from uniqueinteriors.co.za 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


The William Dabs range offers well priced 

luxury. This Orange Blossom and Rose bath 

soap soothes with vitamin E and glycerine. 

R32.99 from Checkers. 

This Tourmalina Planter is great for 

an indoor plant (try a fern or a peace 

lily), but equally useful to pile up with 

pretty soaps or bathroom essentials. R659 

from uniqueinteriors.co.za • Soak in the 

steam of a sweetly- spiced bath with Molton 

Brown Fiery Pink Pepper bath and shower 

gel, R149 from purance.co.za • This 100 per cent natural 

and biodegradable sea sponge is soft, absorbent and 

luxurious. R350 from bespokehome.co.za 

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

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



Out of an 

AFRICAN KITCHEN 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

like North African casseroles and Moroccan minestrone, Maasai honey biscuits 

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

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

an absolute joy. PenguinRandomHouse 

Swahili muhamri coconut ice cream sandwich 

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

French and beignets, koeksisters from South Africa and jelebi from 

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

mandazi from the hinterland and the lighter, more elegant and 

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

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

delish and really easy coconut ice cream. 

COCONUT ICE CREAM 

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

can sweetened condensed milk 

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

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

the muhamris. 


Chilled beetroot soup 

All the fresh fruit and veggies at the lodge are 

grown in the shamba (the Swahili word for kitchen 

garden), where the challenge is not the successful 

growing, but keeping out the elephants and eland, 

the porcupines and baboons, and the nondescript 

speckled mousebird (the biggest thief of all). 

This beetroot comes straight from the shamba. 

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

washed; 2 cups cold water; 2 cups vegetable stock 

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

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

freshly ground black pepper; fresh dill, finely chopped 

To make: Peel the beetroot then roughly grate (wear 

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

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

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

heat and leave to simmer very gently for 20 minutes 

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

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

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

Before serving, liquidise the soup and add buttermilk, 

yoghurt and lemon juice. Season well. Serve with a 

swirl of yoghurt and dill. (Serves 6) 

Kitchen notes: At Angama Mara all the soups are made 

with their own vegetable stock (but a good storebought 

one in liquid form works well). This soup can 

also be prepared with a good chicken stock. 

Gazpacho with olive tapenade 

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

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

giraffe journeying across the open grasslands, a family of 

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

the view, but can give you the recipe. 

GAZPACHO 

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

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

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

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

freshly ground black pepper to taste 

To make: Blend all the ingredients together and chill. 

Garnish the soup with a generous blob of tapenade and 

a swirl of good olive oil. (Serves 1) 

OLIVE TAPENADE 

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

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

fresh parsley; 2 Tbsps olive oil 

To make: Blend all the ingredients in a food processor 

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

up to a week. 



SUMMER 

TASTES 

Ocean Basket has added some new dishes to 

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

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

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

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

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

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

summery. Boy, were we wrong! 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

named the pick of the season on the menu. 

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

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

The salmon is lightly seared and pairs beautifully with creamy 

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

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

really tops it off. 

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

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

enjoyed dunking the panko zucchini into the 

delicious zesty mayo. Also new on the starter 

menu is the Ocean’s meze platter which 

consists of tzatziki, zesty mayo, feta, 

tomato, cucumber, panko zucchini, 

falafel, crumbed prawn tails, hake 

goujons and paprika whitebait. It 

certainly sounds delicious, and we 

suspect it’s really good for sharing. 

If you’re looking for a real 

summery spoil, we suggest 

you pop into your local Ocean 

Basket … what a treat it is to 

dine out again after months of 

lockdown restrictions. 

Details: oceanbasket.com 


Our go-to Summer wine 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Saluti 

Ginato, the Italian gin that’s just launched on 

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

effortlessly chic, timeless, sunshine-drenched way 

of life, distilled in a bottle. Ginato Pompelmo 

is a fresh, bright gin distilled using the peel 

of sun-ripened Sicilian pink grapefruit and 

blended with juniper berries and Sangiovese 

grapes, while Ginato Clementino combines 

grapes, juniper berries, and Southern-Italian 

clementines that give the liquid its signature, 

vibrant orange colour. It’s like Summer in a 

glass. Around R385 a bottle. 

Details: trumanandorange.com 

Compiled by: KYM ARGO and DANIELLA GRAHAM 

Did someone say birds? 

Count us in. Love these 

birchwood trays, table 

mats and coasters. 

Designed by Emma J 

Shipley, they’re from 

the turquoise Rousseau 

range, but there are 

other, equally lovely, 

designs, too. From 

R100 to R590, and you 

can buy online from 

parchaus.co.za 


ADVERTORIAL 

YOUR RING 

OF SECURITY 

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

place with their new range of innovative and affordable indoor 

and outdoor home security cameras. 

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

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

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

security in and around the homes of all South Africans. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1080p HD camera and a siren. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Connection and Leroy Merlin. 

With its compact design, the Ring 

Indoor Cam can be mounted just 

about anywhere in the home 

and features up to 1080p HD 

video, motion zones, night vision, 

two-way talk and Live View, and 

motion-activated recording. Ring 

Indoor Cam. RSP R1499. 

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

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

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

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

Ring Video Doorbell 3. RSP R3 999.

BACK TO NATURE 

Garden tasks for November 

• Water the garden at least once 

a week, and mulch to reduce 

evaporation. Early morning or evening 

watering is best. 

• There’s still time to sow quick 

growing annuals such as alyssum, 

cosmos, marigolds, nasturtiums, 

portulaca and zinnias, all of which are 

sun-lovers. 

• For shady spaces, plant out bedding 

begonias, Impatiens Beacon - a highly 

disease resistant variety - and New 

Guinea impatiens. 

• Plant summer flowering perennials 

such as coreopsis, rudbeckia, 

gaillardia, gaura, Shasta daisies, 

penstemon and perennial salvia. 

• Get ready for the festive season by 

filling containers or hanging baskets 

with red calibrachoa, begonias 

or impatiens. 

• Make sure hydrangeas get plenty of 

water and feed with hydrangea food 

to boost flowering in December. 

• Water shrubs and trees deeply 

once a week and mulch to reduce 

evaporation. 

A taste of Little Sicily 

If you love tomatoes but don’t have 

the space to grow them, patio 

tomato Little Sicily can change 

that. It’s a compact, tidy grower that 

flourishes in a mid-sized container 

on the patio or balcony. Being a 

bush tomato, it’s a compact, tidy 

grower that stays at a manageable 

height of 60cm with healthy, green 

leaves that always look good. It 

needs sun, and the best position is 

morning sun and afternoon shade. 

Water daily in hot weather. The soil 

should not dry out. Feed with a 

liquid fertilizer once a week or every 

second week. The medium sized, 

bright red fruit is packed with flavour 

and the first fruit should be ready for 

picking within 60 to 65 days. 

Details: www.ballstraathof.co.za 

Patio plant of the month 

Fuchsia Bella is a compact-growing pot fuchsia with 

gorgeous two-tone flowers that are carried throughout 

summer. There are nine different varieties, all with 

distinctive colours. They like bright shade and can take 

some morning sun. Water regularly, so the soil remains 

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

Pour water directly into the pot, early in the morning 

or late in the evening. Feed with a liquid fertilizer 

once every two weeks and remove faded flowers to 

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


The ancient art of macramé 

The origin of macramé stretches back thousands 

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

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

We recently discovered Tide, a local business that 

creates bespoke, beautiful macramé art. Being 

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

more lovely and intricate than the one before. 

Artist Gabi Morrell-Smith travels to the coast 

to collect the shells and driftwood she uses in 

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

garlands, shopping or beach bags. We’re after 

one of these plant hangers and are equally 

besotted with these little jar covers. Great, 

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

Christmas). Tide has a really fabulous range, 

but if you want something specific, chat to Gabi 

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

from R200 up to around R750. Details: Follow tide 

macrame on Instagram or Facebook for more ideas, or mail 

tidemacrame@gmail.com 

No space to grow your own veggies? 

Think again. These ready-to-use pocket 

panels hang on the wall and are 

perfect to grow herbs and vegetables. 

There are a few sizes available, from 

two pockets for those really short of 

space, to 15 panel options. Priced from 

R195, they’re lightweight and durable. 

Details: verticalveg.co.za 

Compiled by: KYM ARGO and ALICE COETZEE 


Twitchers are all a-quiver 

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

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

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

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

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

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

field guides. With more than 3000 illustrations (more than 800 new), a scanand-play 

bird-call feature using a free downloadable app (which contains 

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

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

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

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

Africa App is a superb option. The app covers all 989 bird species in line with 

the latest taxonomical changes, has loads of updated info from the existing 

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

2700 photographs (with no in-app purchase required) and plenty of new 

illustrations with finer attention to detail. With text in English and Afrikaans, 

the app also has distribution maps updated with latest known ranges and 

Quick-Play bird calls right from the menu. The app will be updated regularly, 

and freely, constantly improving the content, features and functionality. 

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

Brilliant bags for birders 

This Mellville and Moon 

Ornithologist Bible Bag, which 

can be worn over your shoulder or 

attached to your belt, has room for 

not only your bird book, but also has 

handy pockets for all the extras you 

need to take on a birding outing ... 

water and a notepad, your GPS and 

sunnies, perhaps a hip flask and the 

odd cigar. It comes in khaki or black, 

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

what you need, you may prefer the 

Bird Book Cover ... what Mellville 

and Moon call the plain LBJ 

version. Also available in khaki or 

black, it’s got a shoulder/ body 

strap for carrying your book on 

your birding outing. R1200. Both 

from melvillandmoon.com 

Binocs worth tweeting about 

Let’s pretend, just for a minute, that 

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

just to own these sexy Swarovski EL 

10x42 O-Range Binoculars. They offer, 

obviously, the very best combo of longrange 

optics and ergonomic design along 

with razor-sharp images, precise range, 

perfectly balanced weight. They come in 

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

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

affordable, perfectly adequate, boringly 

black binocs at takealot.com 


Birds of a feather 

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

Skilly’s sketches 

You know we like to support local 

... and when local = ubertalented 

... well, what’s not to love? Mike 

Schilperoort, more affectionately 

known as Skilly, spent his days 

putting his architectural design 

degree to good use - designing, 

building and project managing 

the construction of new homes in 

various parts of South Africa. But it 

was his passion for flying - mostly 

to the Okavango Delta - that led 

him to his love of the bush and for 

sketching, drawing and painting 

watercolours. These desirable and 

sought-after paintings (check them 

out on Instagram @skilly.art) are 

now available as originals, or as 

high quality prints on canvas. The 

print options are huge ... from large 

canvases to hang on the wall to 

little versions to use as gift cards. 

Prices range from R50 for the little 

cards to around R2500 for the 

largest print; contact him for prices 

of originals. Details: 078-657-7827 or 

mikeschilperoort.com 


If we’re going out into the bush, 

birding or otherwise, we’re going 

to wear this sassy little khaki woven 

seagrass pith helmet. Cute overload. 

R575 from elizabethsummer.com 


GET IT DIRECTORY 

FEED YOUR BODY, 

FEED YOUR SOUL. 

Summer is here and so is an abundance of summer 

produce! Fruit is a great choice for a healthy snack that 

packs a nutrient punch. And if you buy from Jackson’s 

Market, you’re also supporting local, independent 

farmers and artisan producers – so you can feel good 

about your choices in more ways than one! 

Bryanston & Kyalami (and 7km surroundings) 

Market & Eatery Operating Hours: 

Monday to Fridays: 07:30am – 18:30pm 

(Eatery kitchen closes 6pm) 

Saturday & Sunday: 07:30am – 17:00pm 

(Eatery kitchen closes 16:30pm) 

NEW MENU ITEM 

LC LOW-CARB|KETO 

DAIRY-FREE 

VEGAN 

GF GLUTEN-FREE 

VEGETARIAN (incl. O vo, 

Lacto and Pescatarian) 

FIBRE SOURCE 

ANTI-OXIDANT 

GUT-HEALING 

Shop online or order Take-Aways from Eatery at 

www.jacksonsrealfoodmarket.co.za

GET IT DIRECTORY 

WE’RE 

NEW 

Hello, we are Sokho 

A lifestyle brand of 

quality gifting and 

stationery products 

that allows you to 

express your Christian 

faith. An uplifting 

gifting company from 

South Africa. 

Sokho is a feel good 

company which 

through its products 

wants to spread a 

positive message, 

create meaning rich 

moments of joy and 

mindfulness. 

www.sokho.co.za 

info@sokho.co.za 

sokho.upliftinggifting 

+27 (0)31 035 0119 

Call 011 792-NUDE (6833) Email info@nude-sa.com 

www.nude-sa.com

GET IT DIRECTORY

GET IT DIRECTORY

Hiking by numbers 

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

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

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

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

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

having fun without a screen or a digital device in sight, you’ll come back maybe a little stiff, hopefully a little tired, and 

certainly a lot happier and less stressed than when you set out. We chatted to Thule’s resident hike enthusiast, who gave 

the lowdown on the gear we need. 

Three things to look for 

when buying a hiking backpack 

1. A hiking backpack needs to distribute weight evenly. 

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

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

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

right hiking bag for you. 

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

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

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

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

hikes and how much you would practically need to take 

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

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

storage becomes a big component here, as it means the 

difference between having enough room or potentially 

having to take multiple bags. 

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

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

strains of weight and can cause painful chafing. Similarly, 

too much padding will cause awkward and uncomfortable 

pressure against your body, which might lead to soreness 

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

decent backpack should have padding on the back panel, 

shoulder straps and a hip belt strap. 

Six hiking essentials ... 

1. Comfortable shoes and socks 

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

3. Sunscreen – the higher SPF the better 

4. Water 

5. Snacks or a light lunch 

6. A Thule hiking backpack and accessories 


A TRIO of local hiking spots 

You don’t need to escape our northern suburbs to find some 

really lovely hiking trails that’ll lead you to breathtaking views 

of the city. Keep your phone handy ... you’re sure to find some 

really Instagrammy sightings of pretty plants and fascinating 

creatures along the way. 

One such spot is the Melville Koppies Nature Reserve and 

Heritage Site. Gather your family or a group of friends for a 

refreshing Sunday morning hike along one of the many paths 

that criss-cross the koppies. You’ll be given a trail map before 

you begin so you can choose a route to suit, and an info sheet 

will highlight things for you to spot along your way. If you were 

to tread on every path, you’d have hiked almost 7km. A walk 

around the inside perimeter of the reserve will add another 

2.5km to your hike. There are some steep inclines as well as 

grassy slopes and forested areas by the Westdene Spruit. The 

reserve’s open on Sundays from 8am to 11.30am. 

Details: 011-482-4797 or mk.org.za 

There’s nothing boring about a hike at The Wilds Municipal 

Nature Reserve. Gorgeous greenery. Impressive views. And 

some extraordinary artworks. Artist and eco-activist James 

Delaney has lent a helping hand to rejuvenate this space. The 

reserve runs along the ridges between Houghton, Parktown 

and Killarney. It’s open every day, but on Sundays you can 

often catch a guided walk. 

Details: Friends of The Wilds, Johannesburg on Facebook. 

If it’s a 360-degree view of Joburg you’re after, then you need 

a hike at the Northcliff Ridge Ecopark. According to the 

Northcliff Ridge Ecopark Facebook page, birds are abundant 

in summer ... so birdwatchers, make sure you take along your 

binocs. It also says there are ‘amazing sunset moments’, so 

make sure to plan your hike for the late afternoon ... and get 

Instagram ready! Apparently cyclists enjoy the challenge too. 

Details: Northcliff Ridge Ecopark Facebook page. 

4of the best backpack 

collections to choose from 

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

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

An adjustable torso fit is built into the back panel and 

combined with breathable shoulder straps, hip belt 

padding and a back panel to make even the toughest 

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

All your gear is within reach thanks to the easy access 

side zippers and front shove-it pocket. The dedicated 

hydration sleeve frees up space for other essentials 

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

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

women-specific models and comes in various sizes for 

you to choose what works best. 

For something more lightweight, look at the Thule Stir 

range. A simple, clean design offers quick access via 

the top-zippered mesh pocket, and uber-organisation 

for all your items. If you want it even more streamlined, 

simply remove the sternum strap and hip belt. Stash 

water bottles and other essentials in the expandable 

side pockets. With a weather-resistant-coated nylon 

fabric and the breathable back panel and shoulder 

straps to keep you cool, it is a bag that will see you 

through all seasons of outdoor adventures. Again, 

different sizes and men and women-specific models 

are available. 

For the ultimate in comfort, opt for the Thule 

Capstone collection. The tensioned mesh back 

panel provides unparalleled breathability, keeping 

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

cover keeps your gear dry during storms. There’s 

even a customisable hip belt that is compatible 

with interchangeable VersaClick accessories (sold 

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

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

matter how many family members you are keeping 

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

pack using the durable buttonhole webbing. 

If you’re hiking with young kids the Thule Sapling 

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

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

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

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

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

the carrier. The deployable sunshade means that 

your precious cargo is protected from the harsh sun. 

Store water, nappies, clothes and other bigger items 

in the zippered compartment and use the extra 

roomy zippered mesh pockets for emergency items 

like snacks, toys and keys. The ergonomic seat is 

height adjustable – the Elite model even comes with 

removable stirrups for your little one to rest their feet 

on and a viewing mirror – and a breathable padded 

backpack and support at critical contact points for 

you. All this means a cool and comfortable trail for 

everyone. Details: Available online from thule.com 


Mountain biking 

experience at De Hoop 

Intimate groups of 10 on guided rides through the De Hoop 

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

or more relaxed mountain bikers, and their families 

Compiled by: KYM ARGO Photo: JACQUES MARAIS 


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

limestone and protected vegetation areas that add to the challenge. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

whale watching opportunities reign supreme. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Spoil 

November 

Summer in a glass 

High up above the picturesque Gamka River Valley 

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

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

first grapes being planted mainly for the production of 

raisins and some sweet wine, De Krans quickly became 

well-known for quality ports and Muscat sweet wines, 

as well as dry table wines. The vineyards lie between 

the peaks of the impressive Outeniqua Mountains, 

planted in rocky granite soils on four wire Perold 

trellis more than 600m above sea level. And the wines 

are among some of our favourites. This month we’re 

drinking the wonderful Garden Route Sauvignon 

Blanc 2019. This wine, with its clear, crisp translucent 

colour, has a lovely bouquet of beautiful fresh green 

pepper, cut grass and fynbos, with a little passion fruit 

and guava fruit salad. You’ll taste fresh tropical fruits 

and cut grass and a hint of green pepper. It’s really 

excellent with something like fresh cob or stumpnose, 

served with a lime dressing, but also works well with 

any pâté or salads ... so perfect for these long warm 

summer days. R75 from dekrans.co.za. We’ve got a case 

to give away ... to stand in line to win, simply like our 

Facebook page (@getitjoburgnorth), tag a white wineloving 

friend in the comments section and you could be 

one of our winners. Entries close November 25. 


The Queen of brunch has hit Rosebank, offering the sexiest brunch 

and the stiffest coffee in town. 

Come join us every day during the week from 7am-5pm; and 7am-12pm on weekends. 

www.morning-glory-cafe.com 

Park Corner, 146 Jan Smuts Avenue, Parkwood 

Secure Parking off Newport Road 

COFFEE COUPON 

Bring it in for a free regular flatwhite

JHB North - Nov 2020

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