Lowveld - Feb 2021

GET 

LOWVELD 

IT 

How about 

lifestyle 

coaching 

in your own 

backyard? 

LOCAL TRAVEL 

Take a step 

back in time 

Marike & Tobias’ 

love story 

DELISH 

Tastes of 

sunshine and 

growing herbs 

SHOPPING, PEOPLE AND LIFESTYLE IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD 

February 2021

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 

Photographer 

Belinda Erasmus 082-567-0596 

Layout 

Geraldine Reyneke • Niël Henning 

• Wessel Cõhrs 

Subeditors 

Jess Steyn • 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. 

contents 

Why don’t you... 

04 Indulge in culinary creativity. Our Feb book club is all 

about food, glorious food. 

WISH LIST 

06 We may be staying home, but that won’t stop us 

from celebrating in style 

people 

08 We catch up with local lovebirds, Tobias and Marike 

van Niekerk 

BEAUTY & Fashion 

12 It’s a royal flush! Delve into some delightful goodies for a 

queen of hearts affair. 

FOOD 

14 A taste of Lowveld sunshine 

decor & gardening 

16 Herbalicious 

18 Heart and soul 

COMMUNITY 

20 The benefits of going for a walk in your own backyard 

22 When you love what you do 

TRAVEL 

24 A step back in time 

26 Inescapable wildlife 

28 Something for the armchair traveller 

Win 

32 It’s the month of love, and to celebrate we are giving away a bottle of 

Jean Roi Cap Provincial Rosé 2018 to one lucky reader! 

COVER LOOK 

Tobias and Marike van Niekerk. 

Photographer: Belinda Erasmus; Belle-Grace Photography 

Make-up: Bianca van Wyk; Oh, Honey 

Shot on location at Lowveld Living Guesthouse, Mbombela 

February 2021 

February 2021 Get It Lowveld 03

Book club 

Books. Wine. Food. The perfect love affair. 

‘More than just a mantra, “cook, eat, repeat” is the story of my life’ . Nigella’s new book is 

an utterly delicious combination of recipes, essays, and ideas. It’s so much more than 

just a recipe book … it’s Nigella’s love affair with food and family. There’s fancy(ish) 

… beetroot, rhubarb and ginger soup, and pasta with clams and bottarga; comfort 

… marrowbone mince, and lasagne of love; simple … a fish finger sandwich with 

old-school bread, a squirt of Japanese mayo and hot sauce and iceberg lettuce is her 

go-to meal when she’s harried, hungry and has no time to cook. And after a busy day, 

or to kick off a cocktail party – a mean, green, dirty martini. Cook, Eat, Repeat … a 

foodie joy! • Not only is pork one of the most versatile meats, it’s one of the leanest, 

healthiest meat proteins and – hugely important in our current economic climate – 

offers the best value for money. Oink! by Billy Forssman, with contributions from local 

food celebs, is a celebration of pork’s wide range of flavours and textures. It’s all about 

the smell of bacon sizzling (best wake-up call ever), about Sunday roasts with perfect 

crackling and weekend braais. The Perfect Pork Cookbook … scrumptious. 

04 Get It Lowveld February 2021 

Welgegund Heritage Wines only bottles premium high-end wines in 

great years – and 2019 proved to be great indeed. So the trio of justreleased, 

award-winning, limited-edition, numbered bottles are highly 

rated. There’s a Welgegund Heritage Wines Chenin Blanc 2019, a 

Cinsault 2019, and this bright Grenache Noir 2019 – soft, smooth 

and refined, which you should serve cooler than your usual red, and is 

lovely with a charcuterie board, salmon or a smoked mussel pot, or after 

dinner with chocolate fondant. Details: welgegund.co.za

Oh … we do love a pie. Comfort food at its best. And let’s face it, we’re all needing a little comfort these days. 

The Pie Room boasts as being the definitive pie bible from self-confessed pastry deviant, chef and London’s King of Pies, 

Calum Franklin, who guides you through the techniques and tools you need to perfect pastry, then presents a whole host 

of delicious recipes … sweet and savoury. There are light options for us to make now in Summer (the Moroccan chickpea 

and feta pie is delish); child-friendly family meal options (mac ‘n’ cheese pie, anyone?); and showstoppers (the venison and 

bone marrow suet pie is a proper show-off meal). Also loads of old faves … think the ultimate sausage roll, hot pork pies, 

vol-au-vents, lamb hotpot and more. Great puds – the fig, honey and pistachio clafoutis is a winner, as well as side dishes 

and sauces. Yum, yum, yum. • What with the lockdown, then the festive holidays, some of us have a little extra weight we’d 

like to lose. And if you’re a banting fan, and one of the many who bought the popular Banting 7 Day Meal Plans but wanted 

more vegetarian options … here we go. Banting 7 Day Meal Plans Vegetarian, has 100 great recipes, and the authors, Rita 

Venter, Natalie Lawson and Kim Blom, show you it is possible to follow a low-carb, banting or keto lifestyle while observing 

the choice to not eat meat. • We’d eat Italian every night if we could … and it would be jolly easy with The Vegetarian Silver 

Spoon cookbook, crammed with classic and contemporary Italian recipes. From snacks and small plate ideas to pizzas and 

soups, pastas and crêpes, veggie tarts and grains to sweet, sweet desserts, this book is just page after page after glorious 

page of heavenly Italian dishes – all of which are vegetarian, some dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan, too. 

A Table for Friends is the most delightful book. It celebrates 

the joy of eating with friends and family, with loads of simple 

but wonderfully inviting recipes. Skye McAlpine says her table is 

always filled with family, friends and whoever she can persuade to 

join her for lunch or dinner – squeezing more of them than really 

comfortable around the table in their kitchen … which is exactly 

how she likes it. She shares her secrets to her stylish but relaxed 

way of hosting .… writing about low-effort starters, laying the 

table, washing up (don’t do it until the next morning) … and all 

her recipes include her suggestions on what to serve with each 

dish. Lovely no-fuss, unpretentious food (she has ‘a really good 

green salad’, and ‘a really good tomato salad’ ) … and there’s 

everything from last-minute late-night dinners to large and 

festive celebratory gatherings. If we had to select just one, this 

would be our top cookbook choice. Brilliant. 


Wish list 

Pink party valentine vibes … even if we’re staying home! 

Fashion to make you blush 

An arty collection that screams 

sexual and romantic freedom 

couldn’t be more appropriate 

than on Valentine’s Day … and 

that’s just what you’ll find in the 

Desigual Miranda Makaroff 

Range. It’s said to be the ‘freest 

capsule yet’ by this brand from 

Barcelona … and, trust us, it’s 

bound to make you blush. 

Think, women entangled 

with nature. Images of 

orgies. And deconstructed 

sexual symbols. It’s all so 

very seventies … just take a 

look at this bag, R1949. The 

inspiration for the collection 

is said to have come to 

Miranda during a vacay in 

Ibiza … her imagination ran 

wild with the message, ‘Let’s 

be free’. There are items 

for him and her. You’ll find 

Desigual in Sandton City, if 

you don’t mind the drive, or check 

out this range, and others, online. 

Details: desi-sa.co.za 

Compiled by DANIELLA GRAHAM 

Bold. Comfy. And oh-so-trendy. 

We love kicking back in Converse 

sneakers … and these Chuck 

Taylor All Star Move Diamond 

Metal Platform ones are so fashionforward, 

we just have to have a pair! 

R1399. Details: converse.co.za 

06 Get It Lowveld February 2021

‘A good upbringing means not that you won’t spill sauce on the tablecloth, but that you 

won’t notice it when someone else does,’ so the Russian playwright Anton Chekhov said. 

But we don’t mind spilling the beans on the table linen from Not So Naked Tables. This 

new boutique brand has a small but impressive collection of tablecloths and napkins in 

limited edition prints imported from Europe. With only a few items of each textile, the 

table linen is quite exclusive – so your friends probably won’t have the same design as 

you! You can choose from various sizes, or have your table linen custom made to fit your 

dining set-up. We love that you can mix and match designs to express your own style. 

The brand’s founder, Stephanie Mayne has some fab table decor tips … in fact, she inspired 

this pretty table set-up pictured – perfect for a pink party while isolating at home. From R1400 

a tablecloth, from R50 a napkin. Details: Call Stephanie on 083-779-0005. A hint for setting up a 

table … if you don’t want to use fresh flowers as we have, you’ll find that Biggie Best has a really 

lovely selection of faux plants. We’re particularly fond of the cute soft pink allium faux plant 

(pictured right), R149. Details: volpes.co.za 

Fab food made simple 

Healthy, homestyle and hearty 

meals that won’t break a sweat 

(or the bank). This is what you’ll 

learn from Jan Kohler’s new 

recipe book Pink Gin and Fairy 

Cakes. We think the cover’s so 

pretty! There are more than 

200 pages of simple recipes 

from snacks through to 

desserts (blueberry ice 

cream, anyone?). Brush up 

on some cocktail recipes 

and ideas for hosting so 

you can really wow your 

friends when the lockdown 

restrictions ease. For now, 

it’ll show you how to make 

cooking a family affair. R410. 

Details: Order a copy from 

burbleonline.co.za 

Do you feel loved when 

your partner shows they’re thinking 

of you and remembers special occasions? 

Pandora’s recent study found around 50 per cent 

of participants do. If you’re going to spoil – or be 

spoilt – you simply must check out Pandora’s new 

valentine’s pieces. You’ll find hand-finished designs 

made with 71 per cent recycled silver. This Pandora 

Rose Snake Bracelet (R2999) with the Pandora 

Rose Sparkling Entwined Hearts Charm 

(R1199) is on our lust list. Details: 

pandorashop.co.za 


A 

PERFECT fit 

Hailey, Tobias and Marike van Niekerk 


Marike and Tobias van Niekerk are the epitome of what Valentine’s Day means 

to anyone with a romantic bone in their body. From the minute they met, 

they both knew there was something exceptional about each other, and in 

true fairy-tale style, a flourishing friendship blossomed into more. And their 

adventure is just beginning. 

he Van Niekerks believe that a 

marriage built on faith is bound 

to be as solid as a rock. “To us as 

a couple, being married means unity. 

God is at the centre of our marriage, 

and basing yours on the right principles 

makes things a little easier. No one said it 

would be a smooth ride!” Marike smiles. 

The arrival of baby Hailey in January 

2020 was nothing short of a miracle. At only just 

over a year old - she turned one on January 2 - she 

already has her dad wrapped around her little finger. 

It wasn’t easy though, and Marike suffered two 

miscarriages before the arrival of this little blessing. 

“Hailey is our miracle, rainbow baby,” she says. “Our 

journey to becoming parents was challenging and 

I know there are so many couples out there who 

have a difficult one. It has been among the most 

traumatic experiences I have had to endure. There 

is nothing anyone can say to make you feel better. 

I realised I needed to let go and give it to God. He 

gave me the strength to carry on. Hailey absolutely 

adores her dad, her first word was ‘Dadda’ and when 

she opens her eyes in the morning, she calls for him. 

Truly a daddy’s girl!” 

Text: MELLISSA BUSHBY. Photographer: BELINDA ERASMUS 

‘Basing your marriage 

on the right 

principles makes 

things a little easier’ 

The happy couple are expecting their second child 

soon, and their excitement is palpable. After their 

journey of fertility issues and heartbreak, to be 

blessed with another child this soon is a blessing 

indeed. The age gap between the two children 

will be 18 months, meaning that life is bound to 

become quite chaotic, but nothing the Van Niekerks 

won’t take in their stride. 

Tobias laughs as he says he knows life is about to 

become somewhat action-packed, but balance is 

always key. “Our goal is to find a well-established 

Tobias proposed while on holiday in Mauritius 


equilibrium, always ensuring we spend enough time together as a 

couple. It is important to us, and we know it is essential to our family’s 

well-being to keep our marriage strong - and of course to keep the 

romance going!” 

One of their favourite ways to spend time together is relaxing at home. 

The pair absolutely adore their home, and quality time spent there 

is important. They love going to the Kruger Park and go as often as 

possible. Marike says their favourite camping spot is Shingwedzi. Before 

Hailey was born they would go regularly. “I can honestly say we have 

made some of our absolute best memories there,” she says. “And our 

little Hailey is already showing her love of the outdoors and the animals,” 

smiles Tobias. 

Being a qualified special needs teacher, children are one of Marike’s 

greatest passions, evidenced by her joy in helping little kids towards 

developmental milestones. At the moment, she is focused on staying 

at home to look after her own brood, and indulging another great love; 

fashion and pretty things. 

“Fashion and clothing have always been a great passion of mine, and 

it has always been a dream to have a clothing line of my own. As many 

women know, it is often so difficult to find something perfect, something 

that suits your body type and style.” Marike’s business venture goes by the 

utterly charming name of Pepperpink, a clothing line still very much in 

the beginning stages. “There were a number of challenges that popped 

up in 2020, preventing me from going forward. However, 2021 is the 

year I intend to get my business off the ground and running! I also have 

a dream to open up my own school for little ones. I know there is a great 

demand for preschools with moms going back to work. I would love to 

offer a safe and happy environment.” 

While Marike is busy building her glorious empire, Tobias has also 

been keeping busy. He is a shareholder of an emergency medical 

The happy couple on their wedding day 


The Van Niekerks at a Pumas year-end function 

company (Africa SAFE-T - Safari and Adventure Focused 

Emergency Team) that operates in the southern areas 

of Africa. His role as COO is to ensure all daily operations 

run smoothly and that staff follow company procedures 

and protocols. “Our focus is primarily on our remote 

wilderness clients where we have emergency care 

practitioners providing on-site medical care and incident 

management to guests and staff,” says Toby. 

“My studies and background are specifically in highperformance 

team sports. After a successful career in 

the strength and conditioning department at Moroka 

Swallows Football Club as well as the Pumas rugby 

team, I had to decide which way my future was heading.” 

At that stage, Tobias had previously worked for Africa 

SAFE-T. He made the decision to go back into the 

medical field which is where his passion lies. “I do thrive 

in finding solutions in difficult situations, which is our 

area of expertise. Ultimately,” he smiles, “I want to lead by 

example in the remote medicine industry.” 

Lockdown may have put a hold on a few of this young 

couple’s plans for the future, but it’s nothing they can’t 

handle. “At the end of the day, we have each other and 

that’s really all that matters,” says Tobias. Marike adds that 

learning to appreciate the small things in life, not taking 

anything for granted, and putting time and energy into 

each other makes for a very happy home indeed. 


Clarins Joli Rouge Velvet matte, 

luxuriously hydrating and long-wearing lipstick (for 

valentine smooching). R355 • Wink, wink. Clarins 

Mono Eye Shadow Velvet long-hold cream 

eyeshadow, with a fabulous smoothing effect, in 

White Shadow and Women In Black. R355 each. 

Available from Mopani 

Compiled by: Kym Argo. photos: mEGAN BRETT. 

We love a 

primer, and 

Filorga Pore 

Express is one of 

our faves. A doubleaction, 

anti-ageing primer 

designed for combination 

to oily skin, it instantly blurs and 

mattifies the complexion – bye-bye enlarged pores, 

shine and other skin imperfections. R500 • Filorga 

Global Repair Intensive Serum is a gorgeous, rich, 

restorative, anti-ageing serum designed specifically 

for more mature skin. R1395. 

For those who love the vibe of the city, 

is there anywhere more romantic 

than NYC? We think not. Elizabeth 

Arden 5th Avenue NYC 

Red is all sweet red apple 

and strawberry and 

jasmine sambac … 

luscious and intense 

and passionate. 

R515. Details: 

elizabetharden.co.za 

Royal 

flush 

We’ve been dealt a love(ly) deck of 

cards this month … so reshuffle 

your cosmetic bags and make space 

for these beauties. 


Optiphi Adagio has the perfect 

balance between wood, spice 

and sweet … it’s a lovely, feminine 

fragrance and just perfect for the 

heat of Summer and the month of 

love. R835 from optiphi.com 

Placecol Excellence Gravity Lift 

Solution promises to give your face 

a visible lift and strengthens sagging 

skin. It tightens, firms and plumps the 

skin, erasing fine lines and wrinkles, 

and increasing radiance and vitality. 

R750 from placecol.com 

The easiest way to 

exfoliate is with these 

Skinderm Pure 

Exfoliating Glo Pads, 

which have AHA and 

BHA and remove dry, dull, 

tired skin, leaving your 

skin glowing, smooth and 

radiant. R395 from Takealot. 

RM-THE0206NH

Text: Kym Argo 

Papaya carpaccio 

The classic carpaccio – invented 

around 1961 by Giuseppe (Arrigo) 

Cipriani, the founder of Harry’s Bar 

in Venice – is paper-thin sliced beef 

dressed with a mustardy mayonnaise 

or with lemon, olive oil, Parmesan, 

sometimes truffle or capers and 

onions. This one, from Neofresh, uses 

papaya and is lovely for a summer 

starter. Be sure to use a papaya that’s 

ripe, but not overly so, as the ‘pliability’ 

of the papaya decreases as it ripens. 

For four portions, you’ll need: 

1 medium large Neofresh papaya, 

peeled and de-seeded; 30g celery, 

cut into brunoise (tiny blocks); a 

selection of edible flowers and tiny 

leaves – think nasturtium flowers 

and leaves, rocket leaves and flowers, 

bronze fennel fronds, rue flowers, 

tiny wild clover leaves, wild red 

amaranth leaves; zest of 1 lemon, 

cut into very thin strips; 2 red chillies, 

deseeded and thinly sliced; salt flakes 

and freshly ground black pepper 

to taste; 40g dried olives, chopped; 

80ml green sauce; 40ml good quality 

virgin olive oil. 

For the green sauce you’ll need: 

30g fresh Italian parsley, chopped 

(if you don’t have parsley, you can 

use other fresh herbs that appeal 

to your taste ... mint, fresh fennel or 

rocket); juice of ½ a lemon (about 45 

ml); 1 large garlic clove, cleaned and 

chopped; 2.5ml sugar; 2.5ml freshly 

ground black pepper; 5ml salt; 80ml 

olive oil 

To make the green sauce: 

Blend all the ingredients together in 

a liquidiser or use a stick blender in a 

small upright jug. 

To prepare the dish: 

Use a very sharp vegetable peeler 

and slice thin, even ribbons from 

the papaya. Lay them in a random 

fashion onto four plates – don’t be 

overly precise. Scatter over the celery, 

olives, sliced chillies and lemon 

zest. Drizzle over the olive oil and 

green sauce so the liquids do not 

puddle too much in one area alone. 

Scatter over the flowers and leaves 

so all the plates have a good variety 

and selection of leaves. Grind over 

pepper and sprinkle with some salt 

flakes. Serve immediately. 

Not 

just for 

breakfast! 

Sweet. Versatile. Nutritious. 

And yes ... fabulous for breakfast. 

But there’s so much more you can do with papaya ... 

so don’t ignore this fruit come lunch or dinner time. 


Papaya, feta and green olive salad 

This salad – the sweetness of the papaya, the 

saltiness of feta and olives and the freshness of 

the herbs – is an excellent foil for the richness of 

delicious fatty sausages, cooked over the coals. 

For a salad for four, you’ll need: One medium red 

onion, sliced and marinated in the juice of a lemon 

for as long as it takes you to prepare the rest of the 

ingredients; 3 red chillies, deseeded and sliced into 

very thin strips; 1 large very ripe but firm papaya, 

peeled, seeded, and cut into large cubes; 125g 

creamy feta; 10 large green olives, pitted; a handful 

of chopped Italian parsley and mint leaves; 60ml 

extra virgin olive oil; freshly ground black pepper 

To make: Starting with the papaya cubes and 

olives, layer the salad on a platter and scatter over 

the marinated onions, chillies, parsley and mint. 

Dot over the crumbled feta and finish with a few 

teaspoons of the lemon juice, a few generous 

glugs of olive oil and freshly ground black pepper. 

Serve with some hot, braaied sausage – this goes 

particularly well with lamb sausages. 

Braaied papaya dessert 

Don’t stop the braai after the lamb chops. 

Keep the heat going and make this 

wonderful dessert. Aim for one sosatie and 

one whole papaya slice for each person. 

For four people, you’ll need: 2 or 3 large 

Neofresh papayas; 1/2 cup sugar; 1/2 tsp 

cinnamon; 2 lemons; plus, to serve, honey, 

chopped macadamia nuts and vanilla ice 

cream or creme fraiche 

To make: Peel one of the Neofresh papayas, 

remove the pips and cut into blocks. The 

other papaya you simply cut into slices 

about 2cm thick. Mix the cinnamon and 

sugar together. Squeeze lemon juice all over 

the papaya blocks, then sprinkle with the 

cinnamon sugar. Skewer the spiced papaya 

blocks so you have papaya ‘sosaties’. Braai the 

papaya sosaties and the rings over hot coals 

until charred, only turning once. Due to their 

delicate nature a hinged grid works best for 

this. Serve the papaya with vanilla ice cream 

or creme fraiche, drizzled with honey and 

sprinkled with nuts. 

Farmed in the Lowveld on the Neofresh farms, papayas are rich in vitamin C and A and antioxidents, are high in fibre 

and boost your immunity. For a delicious collection of recipes using this versatile fruit – think chicken, papaya & 

lentil curry with papaya relish, papaya-inspired beef burgers, green curry with papaya noodles, visit neofresh.net. 


Herbalicious 

To detox and rejuvenate for a productive, 

rewarding 2021, Concrete and Garden Creations 

shows you how to make a miniature potted 

herb garden. 

Shopping list 

• Outdoor potting soil 

• Bone meal 

• Nutrifeed 

• Nasturtium gleam mix 

• Herbs - mint, chives, basil and parsley 

• Terracotta container (window-box type) at least 15cm deep 

(anything shallower will not hold enough water for the plants). 

16 Get It Lowveld February 2021 

Step 1 

Prepare your terracotta container. 

Step 2 

It is most important to soak your container in 

water for at least 24 hours. 

If you don’t do this, it will soak up all the water 

given when planting the herbs. This will leave 

them dry and dead, and you confused within a 

couple of days. 

It is also important to water all the herbs in their 

pots or bags beforehand. This will make it easier 

to remove them and will lessen transplant shock. 

Step 3 

Fill the container up to a third of its depth with 

quality potting soil. If correctly filled, it should give 

you about three centimetres for top-up soil once 

you have planted a herb in the pot. 

Step 4 

Add one handful of bone meal, not more, to the 

potting soil. Mix it well - any bone meal on top of 

the soil will attract flies. 

Step 5 

Before you remove the herbs from their pots 

or bags, press them lightly on the sides so as to 

loosen the soil.

Steps 6 and 7 

With your index and middle finger 

in a V-shape, around the plant base, 

tilt the bag upside down and then 

gently slide the plant from its pot. 

Never pull one from the bag - it will 

damage the roots and inhibit growth. 

Step 8 

Plant the rest of your herbs applying 

the same methodology. Add some 

filler potting mix. 

Step 9 

Distribute a small cup of Nutrifeed 

around the plants. 

Step 10 

Sow some Nasturtium gleam mix 

around the edges of the container. 

Not only will this bring some colour 

to your herb garden, but these 

flowers are edible and can used to 

decorate your meals, too. 

Step 11 

Gently water the plants. 

Step 12 

Place your window box herb garden 

in a location where it will receive lots 

of sunlight. Water it once a week and 

harvest regularly. 

Text and photographer: MATTHYS FERREIRA 

How to use your herbs 

Sweet basil: Good for salad dressing and adds flavour to tomato-based sauces, 

veggies, egg dishes and even meat, chicken and fish when added towards the 

end of preparation. Brewed as a tea, basil improves digestion and is good as a 

mild antidepressant. 

Chives: Chives can be whipped into salads and meat and fish dishes. 

Parsley: It is especially rich in vitamin C. It can be used as a tea to help with 

digestion and should be added to salads, meats and fish dishes. 

Mint: This herb treats fatigue and stimulates appetite. 

Nasturtium: These flowers are edible and can be added to salads, 

veggie dishes and desserts.

LOVE 

gardening 

Heart and soul 

It may be a bit cheesy but we 

don’t care … after all, who can 

resist hearts during Valentine’s Month? 

Look carefully at the new ‘Heart and 

Soul’ petunia and you will see the pretty 

hearts on the petals. Clever! This novelty 

petunia produces lots of large single 

flowers on a nicely compact and bushy 

plant. To bring out the hearts, plant it 

in full sun, in soil that drains well and 

give it the tender loving care of fertiliser 

once a month. It’s also a great option 

for hanging baskets and containers. 

Details: ballstraathof.co.za 


Indoor plant of the month 

Roses are always a winner during Valentine’s Month, and for 

long-lasting blooms, pot roses are the best. Choose one with a good 

selection of buds in addition to the open flowers. There are so many 

colours that it is easy to give your loved one their favourite. And let’s 

face it, there is nothing more appealing than a perfect rose bloom 

in miniature. Pot roses can be displayed in any position that receives 

bright light, indoors or on the patio. Remember roses love water, 

so keep the soil moist. After flowering, take the pot outdoors and 

cut back the stems to 5cm above the ground. As soon as it shoots, 

fertilise with a liquid feed and after two months it will flower again. 

It can then be taken back indoors, kept as an outdoor pot rose, or 

planted in the soil where it will receive at least six hours of sun a day. 

Details: lvgplant.co.za 

Veggie of the month 

For those who like it hot, the range of table-top 

dwarf pot peppers grow happily indoors, producing 

mild to hot chillies. The compact plants (15 to 35cm 

tall) bear fruit in the pot and can be harvested when 

needed. Grown indoors they need bright light 

and medium watering; let the soil almost dry out 

before watering again. For good fruit production, 

apply a liquid fertiliser at half strength every two 

weeks. Plants can remain in the pot (both indoors 

or outdoors) or transplanted into the garden, where 

they need morning sun and afternoon shade. The 

names say it all: hot burrito (Red), hot carrot (yellow), 

hot fajita (red), macho (red), cosmo (purple) and the 

ever-popular jalapeño. Details: ballstraathof.co.za 

Garden tasks for February 

Help plants to survive the heat by watering regularly and 

mulching beds to keep the soil cool. • Summer annuals looking 

tired? Replace them with heat-hardy marigolds, zinnia, salvia, 

and portulaca. • Cut back pelargoniums and trim ivy leaf 

varieties that have become untidy. • Water the lawn regularly 

and in very hot weather set the mower so that the grass is 

higher to shade the roots. • Delay fertilising until the end of 

February or early March when it is cooler. • Vegetables that 

get midday and afternoon sun can be protected with a 20 or 

40 per cent shade cloth. This also helps to save water because 

they do not need watering as much. • Keep pests under control 

with an organic insecticide like Ludwig’s Insect Spray or 

Margaret Roberts Organic Insect Spray. • Keep your birdbaths 

filled with fresh water for the birds and butterflies. 

Text: ALICE COTZEE 


Take a walk! 

White River’s Peggy Janssens is a “certified 

walking lifestyle coach”, and her mission, in 

a nutshell, is to help female solopreneurs to 

manage stress and prevent burnout, something 

we all need a bit of in these challenging times. 

Text: MELLISSA BUSHBY. Photographer: SAVANNAH GREEFF 

Peggy, aka the Backyard Hiker, is all 

about recharging and helping women 

to take responsibility for their thoughts 

and actions, to manage stress, prevent 

burnout and find inner balance. The 

best way to do this, in her opinion, is by 

doing something as simple as making 

time to go for a walk every single day. 

“If you don’t see the forest for the trees, 

you’re in the right place!” Peggy laughs, 

an infectious and bubbly woman 

with whom you can very well imagine 

taking a stroll through the forest. 

“I help women to find their stride and 

explore their vision, both in life and 

in business. I motivate them, helping 

them to set exhilarating, attainable 

goals that tally with their life journey. 

What it all comes down to is that I 

show people how to enhance their 

life/work ratio, to achieve balance and 

time to spend on all the things that 

you love.” 

Peggy is the first to admit that her life 

now has been the very definition of 

balanced. Before she started Backyard 

Hiker, she was a successful event and 

wedding planner, with an e-commerce 

business and coaching courses under 

her belt. “I was always trying to be 

the perfect everything, sister, wife, 

daughter, aunt. I was always on the go. 

But the reality was that, despite the 

fact that I was extremely successful, 

there was something missing. I didn’t 

allow myself to shut off my computer 

at 4pm and go for a random walk. Two 

weeks’ vacation? Maybe, but only when 

it would fit into my schedule of events 

and weddings. Not much of a life really. 

I realised that to make that important 

switch to obtain the balanced I craved, 

I had to make some changes. And oh 

boy, did I make some drastic ones!” 

Not only did Peggy sell off her 

companies, she also packed up her 

home in Belgium and moved to sunny 

South Africa. “Yep, it changed my life,” 

she laughs, then turns serious. “But 

you know, changing your life doesn’t 


need to be quite that dramatic. The 

most important lessons I learnt had 

nothing to do with the move, but 

rather because I started to approach 

life differently.” Peggy learnt the 

difference between being busy and 

being productive, and doing the 

things she loves while still managing 

to start up another business (or two!). 

“The thing is,” she says, “I thought my 

life has always been balanced, but 

after I decided to let go of trying to 

achieve perfection, everything just sort 

of became my kind of perfect. And I 

learnt to say no, which is an important 

factor.” 

This was when Peggy realised that 

this would be her new path in life, a 

path that perfectly entwined all the 

skills that life had taught her thus far. 

“A Backyard Hiker is all about helping 

people to take a step away from 

their everyday encumbrances and 

just breathe, to reconnect with their 

authentic selves by reconnecting with 

nature. It incorporates my passion for 

my chosen field, the fact that I’m a 

certified walking lifestyle coach, and 

my love of helping people, of guiding 

them into the starting blocks that 

signifies the start of their journey. 

“This entails being able to see the 

connections between all aspects 

of a balanced life and still define 

core essentials, helping people to 

learn how to build a foundation 

that enables them to follow their 

own path. And I do all of this with 

a healthy dose of kicking butt and 

cheerleading! I believe strongly in 

every person’s ability to pave their 

very own perfect way.” 

So if you feel a bit overwhelmed, or 

find that life is getting you down and 

you don’t really have much me time 

anymore, take a hike! The answer 

might just lie in fresh air, nature’s gentle 

caress, a listening ear and a healthy 

dose of Peggy’s practical advice. 

Details 

Facebook: A Backyard Hiker 

Instagram: @abackyardhiker 

Website: www.abackyardhiker.com 

Join Peggy’s 

free challenge 

from February 1: 

#findyourcalm. 

See website for 

details.

When you love 

The inspiring Lowveld landscape lends itself to a multitude of outdoor and indoor 

activities, and the typical Lowvelder enjoys a hobby or two in their downtime. It 

is, however, when you can turn your hobby into a career that you have hit the holy 

grail of “earning a living”. 

Johan Pheiffer, Bongani Zungu, Martin and Anje Hope, and Antoinette McDonald 


what you do... 

Martin Hope is one of the lucky ones who found a hobby so invigorating that in 

2005 he decided to do it full-time. As far as hobbies go, building houses seems an 

unlikely one, but Martin, a creative at heart, spent his free time doing exactly that. 

After matriculating from Hoërskool Bergvlam in 1992, he obtained a bursary to 

study public management and law through Unisa. With the support of his wife, 

Anje, they bought a piece of land and used their free time to construct a house 

that they would later sell. It was apparent from the onset that there was a market 

for properties built with a keen eye for detail, special attention to aesthetics and 

near-perfect workmanship. This winning recipe 

A winning 

recipe that 

has become 

their greatest 

passion 

clients houses that are easily transformed into homes. 

became their greatest passion and soon they 

took the big step of making it their full-time 

careers. 

From the start it’s been EE Property 

Construction’s aim to build every house 

according to their unique designs and it 

will only enter the market if they are 100% 

willing to live in it themselves. This watersport 

enthusiastic family, which includes two teenage 

daughters, now find time to indulge in other 

hobbies while dedicating themselves to giving 

It is probably due to their love of nature, especially water, that drove Martin to 

exploring, and perfecting, the designing and building of eco-energy-efficient 

properties. An exciting way to help clients get “off the grid” while maintaining 

excellent building standards and appealing finishes. 

We were invited to view one of more than 20 properties in The Rest Eco Estate 

outside Mbombela that EE Property Construction has built over that past few 

years. We met a proud Martin and Anje and another friendly face - Antoinette 

McDonald of BUCO Nelspruit. 

Martin and BUCO have a relationship that stretches back to when EE Property 

Antoinette McDonald with Martin and Anje Hope 

Martin Hope 

Construction was established. As the 

suppliers of more than 50% of their 

supplies, BUCO has been an integral 

part of the success of the Hopes. When 

speaking of the ways in which this 

company is involved in the planning 

of each project, Martin describes it 

as a “true asset” to their efforts. “It is 

its complete understanding of the 

challenges you face on site and its 

total commitment to client service 

that make BUCO our biggest supplier,” 

he says. 

The Hopes do proud work and they 

beam with adoration when talking 

about their journey to doing what they 

love, for a living. Anje reiterates that 

Martin builds homes that he would 

live in himself and he loves nothing 

more than having a braai with clients 

at the home that he built. And seeing 

as he has a hobby for a job, it seems 

he has all the spare time in the world 

to enjoy his masterpieces around a fire 

with clients who have become friends. 

Much like EE Property Construction has 

become a friend of BUCO Nelspruit. 


It’s a sleepy Sunday 

morning. The sunbirds 

flit in and out of the 

soft light, indulging 

in the yellow blooms 

surrounding the 

flowing, bubbling 

water in the lush 

green garden at Little 

Pilgrims Boutique 

Hotel, quietly nestled 

in the heart of 

Hazyview. 

of a bygone era 

Feeling the 

ROMANCE 


Text: MELLISSA BUSHBY 

The soothing sounds of the 

water emanate from old 

mining cocopans, providing 

a historic focal point that 

serves to highlight the very 

nature of the hotel, one 

which harks back to an era 

when pilgrims came from 

far and wide to try their 

luck with the veins of gold 

running through the quartz 

reefs of Lowveld rock. 

Accommodation at Little Pilgrims is geared towards 

this bygone era. Each suite is set to a specific theme, 

among which are dairy farm, bunkhouse, Volkskas 

Bank, bathhouse and post office, all created with the 

tin-roofed, broekie-lace ideal in mind, reminiscent of 

the homesteads along the old mining trails. Interior 

colours are a soft pastel, evoking a calm and relaxing 

environment with olden-day-styled decor to mirror the 

outside. While the look and feel certainly has hints of the 

Wild West, the amenities are modern, comfortable and 

charmingly appointed, with the addition of state-of-the-art 

bathrooms, fridges that hum silently, Wi-Fi and satellite TV. 

The management prides itself on its attention to detail, and 

the comfy beds are made up with top-quality linen. 

A wonderful way to while away the Lowveld afternoons 

is to indulge in a glass of chilled wine or an ice-cold beer 

after a day of adventuring, which can be anything from 

zip-lining and microlight flips to hiking or game viewing. 

The private outdoor sitting areas attached to each suite are 

ideal for this purpose; you could even laze the day away 

on a sunlounger around the pool at the bandstand-styled 

saloon bar with a book or watching sport on the bigscreen 

television, cocktail in hand. Of course, the sheriff and 

his jail are quite close by to keep an eye on the festivities 

that take place! 

Little Pilgrims is definitely geared towards making guests 

feel right at home in an olden-day time and place. Being 

February, it is also worth mentioning the magnificent 

honeymoon suite which comes complete with four-poster 

bed, antique-style bureau and ball-and-claw bathtub. 

Perfect for a romantic interlude, you can step back in time 

with the added conveniences of hot baths, glasses of 

bubbly, fresh coffee and crisp linen sheets! 

For the hungry, the Wagon Wheel Saloon is open for 

breakfast and dinner. A spa is available, too, should you 

wish to relax and be pampered; the resident beauty 

technicians are on hand with a wide range of treatments 

such as manicures, pedicures and facials. 

Details 

Contact Little Pilgrims on 013-737-3163 or 

reception@littlepilgrims.co.za 

Little Pilgrims is offering all 

Get It readers a 35% discount for 

the Valentine’s weekend, plus a 

complimentary glass of bubbly! 

Please note: Sparkling wine is 

subject to alcohol ban. 


Text: DANIELLA GRAHAM. Photographs: Kapama Private Game Reserve & Daniella Graham. 

Can you smell that?’ 

asks the ranger 

during a drizzly 

early morning 

game drive. 

‘It smells like 

popcorn. A male 

leopard has 

been marking his 

territory here.’ 

We couldn’t spot the leopard. But that 

didn’t matter. It’s colourful moments 

just like this that really made our twonight 

stay at River Lodge in Kapama 

Private Game Reserve near Hoedspruit 

so memorable. 

Wildlife is abundant in the reserve 

and, quite simply, the game drives and 

bushwalks are a highlight. 

During our short stay, we saw four of 

the Big Five and many other thrilling 

creatures – like a python, three-odd 

metres in length, slithering across a 

road in the dark. In fact, on our short 

drive from the reserve’s gate to River 

Lodge after landing at Hoedspruit’s 

Eastgate Airport, we’d already spotted 

two buffaloes wallowing in a dam, 

zebras, giraffes and more impalas than 

we could count. On both evening 

drives, we came across a pride of lazy 

lions – and on each occasion, one cat 

was lying on her back with four paws 

hanging limply in the air. These special 

moments don’t stop in the reserve. 

Back at River Lodge, as we tucked 

into wood oven-baked baby chicken 

with garlic crushed potatoes and 

chimichurri on our first night, terrapins 

splashed in the water near our table. 

The next day, as we relaxed with a 

soothing, lavender-infused neck, 

shoulder and back massage at the 

peaceful wellness centre (a must-visit), 

hippos grunted and groaned nearby. 

We’re bragging … we know – but this 

is the essence of a stay at River Lodge. 

Nature surrounds you. It’s wonderfully 

inescapable. You’ll see, hear and smell 

all sorts of bush activities … whether 

you’re on a game drive or lounging by 

the crystal blue pool. Whether you’re 

on a bushwalk in the reserve (you 

won’t believe what you’ll learn from 

the rangers) or when you’re cutting 

into your breakfast omelette. Even 

the lodge is decorated with earthy 

tones, thatch and textures that scream 

African bushveld. 

Dining is a special experience. Most 

meals were served on the wooden 

Savour tasty meals on the wooden deck under a cool thatch roof. 

Unwind at the wellness centre. We enjoyed a massage to the sound of hippos. 

deck under a thatch roof or trees. 

Usually there’s a buffet, but due to 

regulations imposed by Covid-19, 

we enjoyed a plated, set menu. For 

breakfast, the omelettes are something 

to rave about, and the caramelised 

onion quiche and salad is tasty and 

light enough for lunch on a hot, humid 

afternoon. Our final evening’s meal 

was an experience we won’t easily 

forget. Lanterns lit the way to tables set 

up in a dry riverbed where we dined 

under the stars to the persistent – and 

lovely – Piet-my-vrou call of a redchested 

cuckoo. The tender braised 

beef short rib, potato croquettes and 

butternut puree was our standout 

meal of the trip, and the Cape brandy 

pudding with butterscotch sauce and 

ice cream was delicious. If you have a 

real sweet tooth, then be sure to order 

the lemon cheesecake … the reserve’s 

brand manager Nicole Walker tells us 

it’s irresistible! 

You won’t go hungry between meals. 

Not even on game drives. As we 

climbed down from the Land Cruiser 

for our first sundowners of the trip, 

we found a magnificent snack buffet 

and drinks stand set up in the middle 

of the reserve surrounded by glowing 

lanterns. A giraffe browsed nearby and, 

as the sky turned from orangey shades 

to darkness, we chatted, sipped – there 

were even pink G&Ts – and snacked 

on pastries, cheese, biltong and other 

savoury delights. 

As you can imagine, we didn’t spend 

too much time in our room … there 

was simply too much else to explore! 


Inescapable wildlife 

From the persistent Piet-my-vrou call of the red-chested cuckoo as you tuck 

into your dinner to the groan of hippos while you enjoy a massage, wildlife is 

wonderfully abundant at Kapama Private Game Reserve’s River Lodge. 

Capture splendid sightings … we came across this special moment of a giraffe drinking just before we left the reserve. 

River Lodge is the biggest of Kapama’s 

four camps on the reserve with 64 

rooms. We stayed in one of the spa 

suites which was spacious and hotellike. 

On cooler days, we imagine 

bathing in the tub in front of the huge 

window looking out at the greenery 

would be magnificent. This lodge is 

perfect for big groups or families. 

With a bit of work to do, we were 

grateful for the cool and simply-styled 

conference room as well as the lounge 

spots dotted near the reception area 

which were great for small meetings. 

Of course, you can drive to the reserve, 

but what made our trip special is 

that we flew to Hoedspruit’s Eastgate 

Airport … it’s so close to the reserve 

and there are complimentary transfers 

to the lodge. We took a return flight 

with CemAir, and can highly, highly 

recommend! 

Kapama also offers a private fly-in 

experience on a Pilatus PC-12 aircraft 

– and, in fact, we visited the airstrip 

where guests would land as we were 

fortunate enough to be staying at 

the lodge along with pilot Jan Roode 

and his aerial photographer wife, Jay, 

for the launch of their book, Aerial 

Art. One morning, Jan showed us 

the reserve from the sky … all the 

treetops, roads, dams and even one of 

the Big Five from a bird’s-eye view. It 

was exhilarating! 

We also found we’re not the only ones 

raving about River Lodge. Jan says, 

‘Because of our work, we’ve stayed at 

many lodges in southern Africa and 

all over the world, and this is really an 

exceptional one.’ 

Details: Kapama Private Game Reserve: 

kapama.com or 012-368-0600. 

CemAir: flycemair.co.za or 011-395-4473. 

Make a booking 

Kapama’s luxury flights for 2021 from R50 000 for a return trip. 

River Lodge’s spa suite on peak rates – until May 31 – from R3950 a person 

sharing. The spa family suite on peak rates from R11850 a suite. Rates include 

daily morning and afternoon game drives, all meals, high tea, local and selected 

premium drinks but exclude conservation levy of R150 a person a night. 


Armchair 

travellers 

A trio of books for lovers of 

animals and history 

British wildlife photographer Margot Raggett founded the 

Remembering Wildlife series five years ago when, after the horror of 

seeing a poached elephant in northern Kenya, she approached several 

wildlife photographers, asking them to donate images for a book on 

ellies, a book to raise awareness of the plight of these animals, and to 

use the profits from sales to support organisations working on the 

ground to protect them. The successful Remembering Elephants venture 

was swiftly followed by three more books – featuring rhinos, great 

apes and lions, with close on R13-million raised so far. This fifth book – 

Remembering Cheetahs – is not only page after page of exceptional 

photographs by some of the world’s – and South Africa’s – leading 

wildlife photographers, but the profits will go towards the protection 

of cheetahs in the wilds of Africa ... so double the reason for buying it. 

R895 from hphpublishing.co.za • Another photographic treasure – and 

exceptional fund-raising venture – this one a celebration of one of our 

most charismatic and endangered predators. Africa’s Wild Dogs – A 

Survival Story is a photographic celebration by wildlife photographer 

Jocelin Kagan, who’s made it her mission to bring the extraordinary lives 

of these often misunderstood and maligned animals into the spotlight. 

With only around 6600 left in Africa, these nomadic animals, whose 

territories range for thousands of kilometres, are non-confrontational, 

smart and sociable, and form complex and close family bonds, as shown 

in this tremendous book, the royalties of which will be donated to the 

Africa’s Wild Dog Survival Fund. R529 from Exclusive Books • If you’re a 

Boer War buff, this is a fascinating and impressive, comprehensive military 

atlas, which covers every aspect of it, from Kruger’s invasions of Natal and 

Griqualand West, through the famous battles of the conventional period, 

to the vast ‘drives’ of the guerrilla war phase which brought the war to an 

end. With more than 200 full-colour maps, diagrams and detailed ORBATs, 

(Order of Battle) covering the conflict on a strategic, operational and 

tactical level, The Boer War Atlas by Chris Ash is also lavishly illustrated 

with photos and drawings. By showing where every operation and battle 

fitted into the bigger picture, the reader is able to understand how and 

why any given action was fought. Utilising standard NATO symbols to 

represent the various units involved, the maps were drawn specially for 

the Atlas, working from modern contour maps to ensure accuracy and 

detail. R1100, excluding delivery, from 30degreessouth.co.za 

Text: Kym Argo 


GET IT DIRECTORY 

we 

recommend 

As part of our services to our readers, we would like to 

offer you a handy list of companies and services at your 

fingertips when paging through Get It. This will save you 

time when searching online. 

To advertise your product or service, please 

contact Yulandi Jansma on 081-458-6034 

or email Yulandi@getitlowveld.co.za.

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Spoil 

February 

The rosé we love the most 

We’re playing Queen of Hearts this Valentine’s 

Day, and trust us when we tell you a bottle of 

the extraordinary Jean Roi Cap Provincial 

Rosé 2018 will capture your true love’s heart. 

What’s more, this premium rosé from Anthonij 

Rupert Wyne is guaranteed to take your love 

for this style of wine up a notch too. A blend of 

Cinsault, Grenache and Shiraz, the pale copper 

pink wine takes its cue from the international 

Summer drinking styles, and is a fusion of fresh 

fruit flavours – think melon, peach and nectarine 

with a little lemon zest twist. Its regal bottle is 

embossed with JR (paying homage to Jean Roi, the 

French Huguenot from Provence who pioneered the 

L’Ormarins Wine Estate’s 300-year-old viticultural 

history), and the wine is lovely for a valentine 

toast at sunset, but is also perfect with delicious 

nectarine caprese salad, with grilled prawns and 

crayfish, or seared duck breast served with a 

raspberry jus (just a few ideas for your valentine 

dinner date). Oh … and just to set the record 

straight … it’s not only for the girls. Real men do 

most certainly drink pink. This wine costs around 

R240 a bottle, and you can get it from specialist 

wine stores as well as directly from Anthonij Rupert 

Wyne at rupertwines.com. Since we really, really love 

our readers, we’re giving away a case of this wine for 

you to share with your valentine (or not, as the case 

may be … nothing wrong with a little self-love). 

To enter, all you need do is visit our Facebook or 

Instagram page (Get It Lowveld), and tag a roséloving 

friend in the comments section. Entries close 

February 26. 

Prices will only be delivered once the alcohol ban is lifted. 


SHARE THE 

EXPERIENCE 

It is all about having an active lifestyle 

together. In the city or the great 

outdoors. Creating everyday adventures 

and going on holidays with family and 

friends. We have developed a broad 

range of products that let you and your 

kids share your passions - whatever the 

season and wherever you want to go. 

Available at Thule Partner Stores 

& select baby stores nationwide 

Shop online www.thulestore.co.za 

Bring your life 

thule.com

Lowveld - Feb 2021

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