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BALLITO • Umdloti • UMHLANGA<br />

SUNSETS & MERMAIDS<br />

Retro surf vibes and<br />

enticing flavours<br />

WIN!<br />

A glamping<br />

bush getaway<br />

TRENDY LIVING<br />

Indoor greenery &<br />

furnishing on a budget<br />

Family time & conserving<br />

WILDLIFE<br />

with Joe, Corné and Joey Pietersen<br />

SHOPPING, PEOPLE AND LIFESTYLE IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD<br />

MARCH 20<strong>23</strong>


GET IT<br />

Editorial<br />

Phone 032 946 0276<br />

Email leah@getitnc.co.za<br />

<strong>Ballito</strong> Business Centre • <strong>Ballito</strong> Drive<br />

<strong>Ballito</strong> • KwaZulu-Natal<br />

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Get It Magazine <strong>Ballito</strong>.<strong>Umhl</strong>anga<br />

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@getitmagnc<br />

@GetItMagNC<br />

www.getitmagazine.co.za/ballito-umhlanga/<br />

Editor Leah Shone<br />

leah@getitnc.co.za<br />

Layout and Design<br />

Jessmica Depalal<br />

ads@northcoastcourier.co.za<br />

Advertising<br />

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Natalie@getitnc.co.za | 082 434 3442<br />

Janine Nyce<br />

janine@getitnc.co.za | 072 709 6673<br />

Online Content Co-ordinator<br />

& Sales Support<br />

Lisa Smith | lisa@getitnc.co.za<br />

GET IT NATIONAL<br />

National Group Editor and Sales<br />

Kym Argo<br />

082 785 9<strong>23</strong>0 | kyma@caxton.co.za<br />

Distribution<br />

12 000 copies monthly<br />

Get It <strong>Ballito</strong> • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga is distributed<br />

free of charge in <strong>Ballito</strong>, Salt Rock, <strong>Umhl</strong>ali,<br />

Umdloti, <strong>Umhl</strong>anga Rocks, <strong>Umhl</strong>anga<br />

Ridge and Gateway<br />

Published by The North Coast Courier<br />

Competition rules<br />

The judges’ decision is final. Prizes cannot be<br />

transferred or redeemed for cash. Competitions<br />

are not open to the sponsors or Caxton<br />

employees or their families. Get It Magazine<br />

reserves the right to publish the names of<br />

winners, who will be contacted telephonically<br />

and need to collect their prizes from Get it <strong>Ballito</strong><br />

branch within 10 days or they will be forfeited.<br />

Prize winners’ names are published on our<br />

Facebook page monthly.<br />

contents<br />

Wish List<br />

4 All the spoils this marvellous <strong>Mar</strong>ch<br />

People<br />

10 Sharing their love for the bush and each other - meet the Pietersens<br />

12 Author Grant Fowlds is a conservationist & renowned wildlife consultant<br />

16 Life coaches Sharon and Cheryl are paying it forward with Wings of Hope<br />

health & beauty<br />

19 A little hydration goes a long way in the summer months<br />

20 Young beauty ... smooth lips and delicate fragrances<br />

food<br />

22 Retro surf vibes and exciting flavours at <strong>Umhl</strong>anga’s Sunsets & Mermaids<br />

24 Why not enjoy a quick and easy family night out at Ocean Basket <strong>Ballito</strong>?<br />

26 Summer salads are a great option for these warm days and nights!<br />

TRENDY LIVING<br />

30 Live near the ocean? Here’s how to care for your appliances and furniture<br />

33 Check out these three top interior tips & tricks<br />

34 Adding greenery to your home never goes out of style<br />

39 Decorating on a budget ... we’ve got some stunning inspiration!<br />

TRAVEL<br />

46 Love a safari? So do we ...<br />

39<br />

Cover details:<br />

Joe, Joey & Corné Pieterson<br />

Photos: Tash, Stories By Goya, www.storiesbygoya.<br />

com, 071 382 4006, info@storiesbygoya.com<br />

Makeup: Michelle, Blush Bridal, 061 492 <strong>23</strong>21<br />

@blushbridal_makeupbymich<br />

Shoot location: Springvale Country Estate,<br />

@springvalecountryestate.kzn,<br />

www.springvalecountryestate.co.za<br />

MARCH 20<strong>23</strong><br />

11964 copies distributed (October - December 2022)<br />

<strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong> Get It <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 01


16<br />

YEARS<br />

EXCLUSIVE MANDATE<br />

R 1 800 000<br />

BALLITO | AFFORDABLE OPPORTUNITY<br />

Well designed with great finishes and a great outlook. Well positioned within a<br />

secure and popular Estate. Solar installed to curb any power issues. A great<br />

environment for any purchaser.<br />

3<br />

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WESTBROOK | 180 DEGREE SEA VIEWS<br />

An enviable lifestyle - perfect entertainment spaces around the s/pool.<br />

Lockable shutter guards for your security and an ideal opportunity to work<br />

from home.<br />

2 2 2<br />

269m 2<br />

R 3 650 000<br />

DUAL MANDATE<br />

R 4 250 000<br />

CHAKAS ROCK | LIGHT, BRIGHT AND MODERN LIVING<br />

Easy living in this family home with great street appeal and a front and rear level<br />

garden. Plans were drawn up for a 4th bedroom, sunroom and courtyard plus<br />

swimming pool if you fancy expanding at any stage.<br />

Invest. Intelligently.<br />

We are<br />

recruiting<br />

3 2 2<br />

268m 2<br />

032 946 1439 / 082 551 2607<br />

073 106 6010 - Rental Specialist<br />

www.fionacrago.co.za


If you have an entry you’d like included on the Get It diary page, email info to leah@getitnc.co.za (a month in advance)<br />

A hot date!<br />

Out and about, living and laughing this <strong>Mar</strong>ch!<br />

02<br />

We love a good ‘First Thursday’<br />

gathering, and the team from<br />

The Studios at Lifestyle Centre <strong>Ballito</strong><br />

always put on a great one! If you’re<br />

looking to ‘feel the vibe and connect<br />

with your tribe’, then make sure you<br />

pop down to the centre where you can<br />

enjoy live music from Afritude, wine<br />

tasting from TOPS, delicious food and<br />

late night shopping (until 8pm). Don’t<br />

forget to check out the beautiful art<br />

on display at The Gallery (their new<br />

exhibition, called venUS & eARTh,<br />

opened last month and runs until April).<br />

Details: @lifestylecentreballito<br />

18<br />

Life in South Africa is full of challenges and obstacles and<br />

we all need a little comic relief to get us through it! As host<br />

of the award-winning breakfast show on East Coast Radio, millions<br />

of people tune in every weekday morning to listen to funny man<br />

Darren Maule’s witty conversations and insights. If you love Darren’s<br />

clever sense of humour, then be sure to catch him on stage at The<br />

Globe at Suncoast on 18 <strong>Mar</strong>ch for the second edition of his show,<br />

Darren Maule And Friends. Darren has rallied some of his personal<br />

friends - <strong>Mar</strong>c Lottering, Carvin Goldstone, Skhumba, Prev Reddy<br />

and Lindy Johnson - to bring loads of laughter and good vibes!<br />

Details: The show starts at 8pm and tickets cost R200 from Ticketpro:<br />

www.ticketpros.co.za


Promotion<br />

Eamonn’s top tipples for St. Paddy’s Day!<br />

TOPS at Lifestyle Centre <strong>Ballito</strong> is looking<br />

forward to celebrating the ‘luck of the Irish’<br />

this <strong>Mar</strong>ch! With their large selection of<br />

Irish whiskey and wide variety of local,<br />

international and craft beers, this is where<br />

you’ll find an appropriate tipple of choice to<br />

celebrate the heritage and culture of Ireland!<br />

Eamonn recommends these three<br />

quintessentially Irish options...<br />

Guinness Draught<br />

Guinness is an Irish dry stout that originated in the<br />

brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James’s Gate, Dublin,<br />

Ireland, in 1759. For many, Guinness is synonymous<br />

with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and is one of the<br />

most famous beers on the planet. This renowned beer<br />

is defined by its rich and creamy flavour, distinctively<br />

black hue and it’s velvety finish. Sweet balances<br />

bitter as the malt arrives on cue to compliment the<br />

roasted barley base. Guinness Draught is an ideal<br />

accompaniment to good friends and good times.<br />

Baileys Original Irish Cream<br />

One of life’s most pleasurable<br />

indulgences, Baileys Original<br />

Irish Cream is the sweetest<br />

meeting of fine Irish whiskey<br />

and spirits, Irish dairy cream,<br />

rich chocolate and vanilla<br />

flavours. The result?<br />

Complete deliciousness.<br />

Drink neat over ice, shake<br />

into cocktails, drizzle over<br />

ice-cream, take coffee, hot<br />

chocolate or a Dom Pedro<br />

to the next level, even<br />

bake a Baileys-tastic cake.<br />

Baileys Original Irish Cream<br />

equals pure, unadulterated<br />

pleasure.<br />

Jameson Triple Distilled<br />

The world’s favourite<br />

Irish whiskey! Jameson is<br />

produced from a blend of<br />

grain whiskey and single<br />

pot still whiskey, which<br />

uses a mixture of malted<br />

and unmalted Irish barley,<br />

all sourced from within a<br />

fifty-mile radius around<br />

the distillery in Cork. John<br />

Jameson pioneered the art<br />

of Triple Distillation, which<br />

is the tradition that gives<br />

Jameson whiskeys their<br />

signature smoothness. How<br />

to drink it? Any way you like.<br />

Just add mates and widen<br />

the circle.<br />

04 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga <strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong>


Book club<br />

Bookshelves are groaning with the weight of brilliant book club<br />

reads this month, and here’s one of our faves ...<br />

paired with a beautiful chardonnay, of course!<br />

Judge Julia Cummins had no obvious<br />

enemies. There was no forced entry<br />

to her apartment, where the bodies<br />

of her and her bodyguard are found<br />

brutally murdered. Her ex and her<br />

teenage son both have strong alibies,<br />

the neighbours heard nothing, and<br />

the killer left behind a strange calling<br />

card. It’s up to FBI agent Amos Decker<br />

to investigate ... kicking off with the<br />

question as to why the judge felt she<br />

needed a bodyguard in the first place.<br />

And while he investigates, he’s also<br />

dealing with personal baggage ... the<br />

suicide of a close friend, the receipt<br />

of a letter concerning a personal,<br />

and possibly life-changing issue, and<br />

a new partner. Long Shadows is<br />

another superb American detective<br />

tale from David Baldacci. Macmillan,<br />

available at Exclusive Books<br />

Paserene is a small Franschhoek estate with an impressive portfolio of awardwinning<br />

wines in three high-end luxury ranges – The Elements, The Paserene<br />

and The Shiner – each with their own unique features. At this <strong>Mar</strong>ch Book Club<br />

we’re serving Bright 2021 from the Elements range - the drawing of a swing<br />

on the label perfectly representing Paserene’s playful side. The ideal mid-week,<br />

easy-drinking wine, it’s made from 100 per cent Chardonnay grapes, with<br />

fresh citrus-centric aromas that carry through to the palate, this lighter styled<br />

Chardonnay is lovely on its own or with a light seasonal salad, any type of<br />

poultry dish or with fresh tuna and salmon. Available directly from the Tasting<br />

Lounge at R190 per bottle. Details: paserene.com<br />

<strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 05


Wish list<br />

Save water, go on safari and kiss a frog!<br />

(and other fun things to do this <strong>Mar</strong>ch)<br />

If your taste is a little offbeat, you’re going to love Shnook ... who describe<br />

themselves as the site which is a safe space to allow your weird tastes to<br />

run wild. Fabulously fun cushions, totes and quirky vinyl stickers ... like<br />

this Queen Frog (for those looking for a fairy tale, there’s<br />

a King Frog too, worth kissing). The I’m a Pansy tote bag<br />

is made from slightly stretchy fabric, to fit everything you<br />

could imagine! Bags R180, stickers from R10 each from<br />

shnookthebrand.com<br />

06 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga <strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong><br />

Getting your vitamins and minerals<br />

is now as easy as popping a<br />

translucent sticker onto your wrist.<br />

Vitamin patches, also known as<br />

transdermal patches or vitamin<br />

skin patches, are an easy way to<br />

deliver a dose of vitamins, minerals<br />

or even medication, through your<br />

skin and into your bloodstream.<br />

The Patch Brand has options<br />

of Sleep, Immunity, Stress Relief,<br />

Energy and Focus. R<strong>23</strong>0 each from<br />

thebeautybag.co.za and Dis-Chem.


Win<br />

SAFARI CHIC . . . In celebration of World Wildlife Day on 3 <strong>Mar</strong>ch<br />

(and because our readers love a spoil), we’re giving away one<br />

of these stunning Rogue wine coolers, valued at R999. Rogue<br />

Ice Coolers are a premium range of cooler boxes made by South<br />

Africans for African conditions. The distinctive product range is<br />

stylish, while still being tough, robust and ready for any bush<br />

adventure! Details: www.rogueicecoolers.co.za (also available at<br />

Outdoor Warehouse stores). WIN! To stand a chance to win one of<br />

these gorgeous, military canvas and genuine leather two-bottle<br />

wine coolers, find this post on our social platforms, @GetItMagNC,<br />

and follow the prompts.<br />

The little big solution<br />

to your water needs<br />

Besides being climate friendly and<br />

helping cut costs, water tanks are<br />

becoming almost as important as<br />

inverters, with water outages striking<br />

hard. Harvesting and storing may,<br />

in our future, be essential ... there’s<br />

already an increasing demand from<br />

buyers and renters for off-the-grid<br />

and back-up solutions. But generally<br />

it’s only larger homes that have space<br />

for big tanks, with smaller properties<br />

and townhouses losing out. So ... a<br />

small solution for a big problem. The<br />

new Slimline tanks from JoJo are<br />

ideal for limited spaces. Smallest of<br />

the range is the 1000-litre SuperSlim<br />

tank ... perfect for city living, where<br />

limited space requires a snug fit into<br />

corners and down narrow walkways.<br />

It attaches to a wall to keep it secure<br />

and is supplied with the basics<br />

required for installation. Designed for<br />

ease of use, it has various connection<br />

options to ensure seamless<br />

installation into your setup, can be<br />

installed with some simple DIY, and if<br />

you’re a renter or selling up, you can<br />

remove it and take it with you. Jolly<br />

nifty ... and available in a couple of<br />

colours, too. Details: jojo.co.za<br />

Compiled by : KYM ARGO<br />

<strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 07


Olivia Siedle pops a<br />

balloon to win a prize!<br />

Tash, Carter and Asia Barnard<br />

Let the good<br />

times pop<br />

Precious Nxele,<br />

Thando Ngcobo,<br />

Verushka Nair and<br />

Zandile Nxele<br />

There was balloon popping, bubbly sipping and<br />

devouring of delicious cake at The Orange Tree's<br />

first birthday celebration. Situated at The Maker's<br />

Yard in <strong>Umhl</strong>ali, The Orange Tree has been serving<br />

up delicious frappes, coffees, breakfasts and lunches<br />

for an entire year . . . and we can't wait to see<br />

what they have to offer in the year ahead!<br />

Thabiso Mngoma, Clare Sykes, Mdu Mbatha and Lwazi Khumbuza


Stylish show<br />

The Globe theatre at Suncoast Casino recently hosted its first<br />

event of the year – a Bollywood musical extravaganza called<br />

Dhoom Dhamaka. The show featured Indian Idol winners<br />

Salman Ali and Sunny Hindustani and Indian Idol runner up<br />

Chetna Bhardwaj, all of whom enthralled and entertained<br />

guests with a show they will never forget.<br />

Summit Panday, Vijay Panday<br />

Zohra Amoojee, Yusrah Saib<br />

Sunny Hindustani, Salman Ali, Chetna Bhardwaj<br />

Aslam Ramadan, Rueida Hoosen, Nadeem Hoosen, Unaiza Hoosen, Yusuf Mohomed


Wild love<br />

While he may be best known for his success on the rugby field, it is<br />

his deep love for the wild and dedication to conservation that truly<br />

drives former Western Province rugby player Joe Pietersen.<br />

Not many things make Joe happier<br />

than sitting around a camp fire at<br />

night, beer in hand, reflecting on<br />

the conservation work achieved<br />

that day. The only thing that lights<br />

him up more, it seems, is having his<br />

10-year-old son, Joey, in the bush<br />

alongside him.<br />

Having recently closed the chapter<br />

on his rugby career - which saw him<br />

playing nationally and internationally<br />

for more than 18 years - Joe, his lovely<br />

wife Corné and little Joey have finally<br />

put down their roots and settled on<br />

the North Coast for good.<br />

Joe founded his non-profit<br />

organisation, Nkombe Rhino, 10 years<br />

ago and has been actively involved<br />

in on-the-ground conservation<br />

work aimed at protecting not only<br />

rhino, but other endangered and<br />

threatened species since.<br />

Through Nkombe Rhino, he works<br />

hand-in-hand with conservation<br />

organisations and anti-poaching<br />

units, pooling resources and effecting<br />

real change, most notably through<br />

rhino dehorning projects.<br />

A true KZN boy, Joe was born in<br />

Zululand and spent most of his<br />

childhood on the South Coast. He<br />

studied at Stellenbosch University<br />

(where he met his Free State-born<br />

wife who was studying marketing<br />

and event planning).<br />

He started playing professional rugby<br />

in his second year out of school and<br />

played for the SA Sevens and the WP<br />

Stormers teams. He and Corné also<br />

lived in various countries, where he<br />

played for clubs in France, Japan and<br />

the USA.<br />

Although he loves rugby, Joe says<br />

it was always important to him to<br />

have something else in his life other<br />

than the game. “When you are a<br />

professional rugby player in South<br />

Africa, people often think that's all<br />

you can be and all you can do. I<br />

wanted more and, to be honest, I<br />

really hope that I have become, or<br />

will become, better known for my<br />

conservation work than for my rugby<br />

career,” he says.<br />

He admits that rugby opened many<br />

doors for him, exposing him to<br />

incredible people and conservation<br />

10 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga <strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong>


projects, which ultimately sparked his<br />

passion for wildlife conservation.<br />

“I also had a very 'outdoorsy'<br />

childhood, always surfing and<br />

spending time in the ocean, and<br />

going bush camping in places such as<br />

Botswana, Namibia and Kruger.”<br />

When he chose to pursue<br />

conservation, Joe decided to<br />

start his own foundation. “It's not<br />

easy registering a Public Benefit<br />

Organisation, but I wanted to make<br />

sure that I could do things my way<br />

and not get caught up in too much<br />

'red tape'. I didn't want the money we<br />

raised to go to salaries. I have never<br />

taken a salary from Nkombe Rhino,<br />

and aimed to ensure that all funds<br />

went to properties I had personally<br />

chosen. I wanted Nkombe Rhino to<br />

become a vehicle for doing really<br />

cool, impactful stuff in the bush,” he<br />

laughs. And it certainly has done<br />

just that.<br />

In fact, the organisation which is<br />

registered as an NPO in the USA as<br />

well, giving Joe the ability to hold<br />

fundraising initiatives there, has been<br />

involved in the successful dehorning<br />

of more than 400 rhino in the past 24<br />

months alone.<br />

They work closely with other<br />

foundations such as Project Rhino<br />

and, although dehorning is one of<br />

their main focuses, the work they<br />

do umbrellas other species as well<br />

- such as wild dogs, cheetah, lion<br />

and elephant.<br />

On the topic of dehorning, Joe says,<br />

“It is without a doubt an incredibly<br />

invasive measure we have to take<br />

to protect them against our own<br />

species. But it remains the most<br />

effective and impactful tool for<br />

managing rhino poaching.”<br />

Although he handles most of the<br />

fundraising himself, Joe says he<br />

thoroughly enjoys being actively<br />

involved in all of the conservation<br />

activities - and he loves ending his<br />

day off around a fire. “I love bringing<br />

people from varied industries and<br />

backgrounds into the bush. They<br />

often see things differently and<br />

offer solutions we might not have<br />

considered.”<br />

They also collaborate with likeminded<br />

companies and brands<br />

whose vision aligns with theirs.<br />

“We recently partenred with <strong>Ballito</strong>based<br />

Karoa Cara gin, who have<br />

committed to donating a portion of<br />

the sales from every bottle of their<br />

new Zulularni gin to Nkombe Rhino.”<br />

While he is driven by his passion for<br />

wildlife, it is his own little family that<br />

Joe bases almost every decision he<br />

makes around.<br />

Diagnosed with autism at the age of<br />

two, Joey is at the heart of Joe and<br />

Corné's every move - including their<br />

decision to live in <strong>Ballito</strong>.<br />

“The life we are able to give him here<br />

is incomparable to anywhere else in<br />

the world,” says Corné who, Joe says,<br />

has dedicated every day of the past<br />

10 years to raising their son. “We've<br />

never felt more settled and at home<br />

than we do here.”<br />

Joey attends Bloom Centre for<br />

children with special needs, and the<br />

family enjoys a wonderful outdoor<br />

lifestyle with the beach and the bush<br />

on their doorstep.<br />

Details: Nkombe Rhino, www.<br />

nkomberhino.org, @nkombe_rhino<br />

Joe is always hands-on Joe is always during hands-on Nkombe when Rhino Nkombe dehorning. Rhino does a rhino dehorning<br />

Text: Leah Shone • Rhino photograph: @martinmeyer_wild • Family photographs: @douda_bis (Into My Wild Africa)<br />

<strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 11


Rhino man<br />

Passionate conservationist and wildlife consultant, Grant Fowlds has spent most of his<br />

life rehabilitating, protecting and preserving African wildlife and their habitats. He is<br />

also the author of two books - Saving the Last Rhino and Rewilding Africa.<br />

This World Wildlife Day, on 3 <strong>Mar</strong>ch,<br />

Palm Lakes resident Grant will address<br />

members of the renowned Explorer's<br />

Club in New York City. His talk will<br />

centre around the changing face of<br />

conservation through rhino dehorning<br />

and climate change.<br />

“It starts with the small things,” says<br />

Grant, sipping his cappuccino at<br />

a quiet coffee shop where we've<br />

chosen to meet. “Nature is a part<br />

of everyone's every day life ... and<br />

everything is connected. Standing<br />

up for conservation has never been<br />

more important and it all starts with<br />

education,” he says, knowingly.<br />

Grant grew up in the Eastern<br />

Cape where his family and their<br />

neighbours formed the now famous<br />

Amakhala Game Reserve. He is the<br />

director of the KZN-based non-profit<br />

organisation, Project Rhino, and is the<br />

ambassador and manager of Rhino<br />

Art, an education initiative started by<br />

African explorer Kingsley Holgate in<br />

Mozambique 10 years ago.<br />

Grant's career has evolved significantly<br />

over the years, from his early<br />

entrepreneurial beginnings as a goat<br />

farmer in the Eastern Cape, to range<br />

expansion (or rewilding), fundraising<br />

and youth education. His two books,<br />

the 2018 bestseller Saving the Last<br />

Rhino and, more recently, Rewilding<br />

Africa, are both available on Amazon<br />

and in local bookstores.<br />

Both books, as well as much of his life,<br />

have been dedicated to conservation<br />

and making a difference. It is a passion<br />

born from his deep love for wildlife,<br />

nature and Africa.<br />

“I was a real farm boy growing up,<br />

spending most of my days with my<br />

Xhosa friends, foraging for berries,<br />

hunting birds and sleeping under<br />

the stars. Having always had a natural<br />

ability to work with animals, my<br />

grandfather gave me six goats when<br />

I was a young boy, which I bred and<br />

eventually grew to 1 500 goats,” says<br />

Grant, who also has a natural affinity<br />

for languages and can now speak<br />

Grant is the director of Project Rhino and ambassador for Rhino Art<br />

about nine, including fluent Xhosa<br />

and isiZulu.<br />

He is married to Angela, a teacher from<br />

a well-known North Coast farming<br />

family. Grant ended up leaving his<br />

family farm to join his wife's father<br />

farming in Kearsney. He and Angela<br />

now have three adult daughters.<br />

Around the same time, his brother,<br />

Dr William Fowlds, (who went on<br />

to become a world-renowned<br />

conservation vet) was living in London,<br />

dreaming about what they could do<br />

with their family farm.<br />

Things weren't going well in the<br />

Eastern Cape, mostly due to declining<br />

margins and sheep theft. After<br />

some convincing, Grant, William<br />

and the family managed to get their<br />

neighbours to join them and form<br />

Amakhala Game Reserve.<br />

“We rewilded the reserve one camp at<br />

a time, slowly introducing animals. Our<br />

constitution was written and signed<br />

and we introduced our first rhino<br />

(a pregnant rhino we bought from<br />

Phinda) in 2000 and our first elephant<br />

in 2003.”<br />

In 2011, Grant's brother came across<br />

a badly mutilated rhino and decided<br />

the world needed to see it. It ended up<br />

being a segment on Carte Blanche and<br />

William became the first vet to operate<br />

on a mutilated rhino that survived.<br />

As a founder of Amakhala, Grant had<br />

a particular love for rhinos and was<br />

deeply disturbed by the poaching<br />

crisis. When he and Angela left<br />

the family farm because of safety<br />

concerns, he moved to the North<br />

Coast and joined forces with his friend<br />

Holgate, becoming actively involved<br />

in the Rhino Art initiative (which saw<br />

them educating children about rhino<br />

poaching) and Project Rhino.<br />

12 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga <strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong>


The idea of Grant's first book, Saving<br />

the Last Rhino, was sparked while he<br />

was working as a wildlife mercenary in<br />

the DRC.<br />

“I thought if I was going to make<br />

a difference with conservation, I<br />

should do it with the most iconic and<br />

endangered species – the rhino.”<br />

Inspired by Lawrence Anthony's books<br />

- The Last Rhinos and The Elephant<br />

Whisperer - both of which were penned<br />

by writer Graham Spence, Grant<br />

approached Graham to co-write his<br />

book with him, which he did.<br />

A few years later, he co-wrote Grant's<br />

second book, Rewilding Africa, which<br />

focuses on his experiences with and<br />

passion for habitat rehabilitation and<br />

bringing animals back after having<br />

been decimated by decades of war<br />

in areas such as Angola, Mozambique<br />

and the DRC.<br />

“Stopping wildlife crime is about looking<br />

after our natural environment, no<br />

matter how big or small. Biodiversity<br />

incorporates every living creature and<br />

we are all connected. We all breathe the<br />

same air and we have to pass the baton<br />

on to our children. Every day that we<br />

stand up and work for conservation, we<br />

are winning the war.”<br />

Details: Both books are available at<br />

bookstores and online, www.grantfowlds.<br />

com, @grantfowlds<br />

Rewilding Africa, written by Graham Spence (who also wrote Lawrence<br />

Anthony’s The Elephant Whisperer) is Grant’s tribute to the many fallen heroes<br />

and success stories in his life as a conservationist and wildlife consultant.<br />

Text: Leah Shone • Rhino photograph: Lesley Weaver<br />

<strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 13


Promotion<br />

Take it up a notch at<br />

The Studios<br />

The Studios at Lifestyle Centre incorporates an<br />

eclectic mix of bespoke stores and offerings in<br />

a beautifully designed, multi-functional space.<br />

This unique and intimate area was custommade<br />

within <strong>Ballito</strong>’s open-air shopping<br />

centre for locals to meet, connect and enjoy an<br />

exceptional experience.<br />

Upstairs at The Studios integrates two, innovative and<br />

collaborative concepts - FITPOD and Next<br />

Level - making clever use of a mixed-use<br />

mezzanine level against the most stunning<br />

backdrop. The health and fitness studios<br />

and collaborative meeting spaces transfer<br />

energy into the retail space below, so that<br />

shoppers can enjoy the vibe and vitality that<br />

is generated.<br />

FITPOD is a collection of multidisciplinary<br />

fitness and exercise studios, offering world<br />

class instruction and training, all under one<br />

roof. <strong>Ballito</strong> locals can choose from a selection<br />

of disciplines, including functional fitness<br />

with Gina Mazzoni, yoga classes with Helen<br />

Garner and Robynne-Leigh McNeill, Zumba<br />

with Chantelle Nicholson, rebounding with<br />

Nicole von Berg, Pilates mat classes or private and semi-private<br />

sessions on state-of-the-art BASI equipment with a number<br />

of qualified instructors, and various forms of dance classes<br />

with the likes of SWISH Studios, FootworX Dance Centre, Stow<br />

Academy of Irish Dance, Freedom Dance Studio, Dance Café,<br />

Red Veil Studio and Bollywood dance with Alyssa Pillay. FITPOD<br />

is coordinated, managed and delivered by a professional<br />

team with a collaborative mindset, with the aim to personally,<br />

professionally and passionately deliver instruction to those<br />

who choose to live healthily, move their bodies and feed<br />

their souls. The energy of the mezzanine is transferred into<br />

the retail space below, so that shoppers can enjoy the vibe<br />

and vitality that is generated from the FITPOD studios.<br />

FITPOD is an Accredited Vitality Fitness Facility. That means<br />

that you can earn Discovery Vitality points for every class<br />

that you attend at FITPOD.<br />

Find out more or sign up to book classes via Octiv at<br />

www.ballitolifestylecentre.co.za/fitpod.<br />

14 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga <strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong>


NEXT LEVEL presents a welcoming collection of<br />

meeting spaces in a casual, unpretentious, yet<br />

sophisticated environment. It’s the perfect place to<br />

connect with colleagues, professionals, friends and<br />

like-minded acquaintances, and offers a selection of<br />

creative venues for business meetings, workshops,<br />

hobby clubs or intimate social gatherings.<br />

Four stylish meeting rooms, each individually<br />

decorated and appointed, are equipped with the<br />

latest technology for the best connectivity and<br />

audiovisual experience. Choose from a boardroom<br />

or lounge type venue: Dandelion Lounge is an 8 to<br />

10 seater sitting room, Lemur Room a 10 to 12 seater<br />

boardroom, Toucan Lounge a 10 to 12 seater sitting<br />

room and Palm Room an 8 to 10 seater boardroom.<br />

These venues offer business professionals, engaged<br />

hobbyists or companionable friends the ability to<br />

effortlessly host or attend client meetings, team<br />

workshops, art classes, clubs and small celebrations<br />

in an inspiring space. The meeting spaces are<br />

professionally managed by a proficient team with<br />

one mission: to enable the North Coast community<br />

to connect, engage and perform at a different level<br />

by providing an unparalleled meeting experience.<br />

Not your average meeting space and so much better<br />

than a boardroom or conference venue, everything<br />

is literally taken to the ‘next level’ with the intention<br />

of facilitating productivity, creativity and delight.<br />

With back up power during load shedding, meetings<br />

and gatherings can go ahead without disruption in<br />

air-conditioned comfort on our hot summer days.<br />

Of course, good coffee and great food are available<br />

from Coffee Lab, as well as some retail therapy in<br />

the form of the gorgeous stores at The Studios and<br />

surrounding area of Lifestyle Centre.<br />

Details: Book or enquire at: www.ballitolifestylecentre.<br />

co.za/nextlevel<br />

www.ballitolifestylecentre.co.za/thestudios<br />

<strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 15


Spreading<br />

hope<br />

“There are so many people suffering<br />

out there, and we have all this<br />

information that could really help<br />

them. What can we do?”<br />

These were the words, spoken to<br />

her by one of her newly qualified<br />

life coaches, that ignited an innate<br />

desire in Mindfit Coaching Academy<br />

founder, Sharon Castle, to start<br />

an outreach programme offering<br />

coaching sessions to anyone battling<br />

with trauma or tragedy.<br />

“It was a Sunday evening in October<br />

last year when one of my students,<br />

Cheryl Sachse, phoned me. Everyone<br />

knows I don’t answer work-related<br />

calls on Sundays, so I knew it must<br />

be important. Something hit me<br />

after speaking to her. Having been<br />

through Covid, the riots and then<br />

two devastating rounds of flooding,<br />

there were so many people really<br />

struggling. We had to do something,”<br />

says Sharon.<br />

Less than 24 hours later, after Sharon<br />

managed to get some airtime on a<br />

local online television station, the<br />

word started to spread and Wings<br />

of Hope was born. “We had so much<br />

positive feedback and everything just<br />

started to fall into place.”<br />

Cheryl is one of Sharon’s qualified life<br />

Driven by an innate desire<br />

to help those who are<br />

suffering, two <strong>Ballito</strong><br />

women have started an<br />

outreach programme that<br />

is not only changing lives,<br />

but inspiring hope in a<br />

time when so many are<br />

feeling hopeless.<br />

coaching students who now works<br />

closely with her and heads up Wings<br />

of Hope. “It’s all about helping people<br />

find hope and shifting the way they<br />

handle adversity. What happens<br />

to you is not who you are. It’s so<br />

important to get that message out<br />

there,” she says.<br />

Having seen significant changes in<br />

her personal life after completing<br />

Sharon’s Awakenings programme,<br />

Cheryl says she has an incredible<br />

desire to share the information and<br />

knowledge with those who are<br />

suffering. “It’s about helping people<br />

find their own way and pointing them<br />

in the right direction,” she says.<br />

This results-driven life coaching is<br />

not about telling people what they<br />

are doing right or wrong, Sharon<br />

says, but rather about understanding<br />

where people’s experience of things<br />

is coming from.<br />

“It’s difficult to think clearly if you are<br />

suffering from extreme anxiety, fear,<br />

worry or grief. If you can settle those<br />

feelings, it will become clear that the<br />

wisdom you need is already inside you.”<br />

While they initially thought it<br />

would be individuals reaching<br />

out, there were bigger appeals for<br />

help, including local social welfare<br />

services. “In two days we worked<br />

with social workers, educators,<br />

psychologists and policemen and<br />

policewomen. It was a real ‘mixed<br />

bag’ of people,” says Sharon, who has<br />

over 20 years’ experience as a life<br />

and wellness coach.<br />

“We had an incredible response and<br />

were able to make an enormous<br />

impact at a halfway house for<br />

addicts in Verulam. Our sessions<br />

were incredibly powerful and full of<br />

connection, and everyone was crying<br />

in the end.”<br />

16 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga <strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong>


Cheryl Sachse and Sharon Castle are changing lives<br />

with their Wings of Hope outreach programme.<br />

Both Sharon and Cheryl are hoping to see Wings of<br />

Hope continue to grow so they can help more people.<br />

“Our goal isn’t to ‘motivate’ people, but rather to inspire<br />

them towards transformation from the inside out and<br />

help them understand that what they need is already<br />

inside of them. Every one of us has the capacity to live a<br />

peaceful life. If you understand why you react in certain<br />

ways, you will understand yourself,” says Sharon. “People<br />

are desperate, sometimes even suicidal. It is amazing<br />

what just a 30-minute conversation can do. It can be<br />

life-changing.”<br />

As trained and accredited life coaches, Sharon and her<br />

team know how to correctly impart the information they<br />

have - with love and always without judgement.<br />

Wings of Hope is a registered NPC (non-profit company)<br />

and while they are currently funding it on their own,<br />

Sharon and Cheryl are hoping to obtain funding through<br />

fundraising and corporate sponsors, to be able to help<br />

more people.<br />

“Anyone who needs to see us, can come in for a session.<br />

We do screenings for one-on-one sessions to ensure we<br />

are able to help the person and to match them up with<br />

the right coach. We also have a ‘friendship bench’ outside<br />

my rooms at Burnedale,” says Sharon. “Our coaches will sit<br />

there intermittently, and anyone can sit down and chat to<br />

them. I would also like to have a permanent community<br />

drop-in office where there is always someone to talk to,<br />

or something to read. I want to make Wings of Hope as<br />

accessible as possible to this community, which has been<br />

so good to me over the years.”<br />

Details: To donate or become a sponsor, or if you or anyone<br />

you know needs help from Wings of Hope, contact Cheryl:<br />

cheryl@mindfitlifecoaching.com, or Sharon: sharon@<br />

sharoncastle.co.za or find more information at: www.<br />

mindfitcoaching.com


Text: Leah Shone<br />

Aesthetic medicine expert Dr Michelle Blom<br />

and therapist Tammy Stanhopes<br />

Hydration<br />

&glow<br />

It’s always good to start the year off with a bit of ‘skin<br />

love’. We did just that on our recent visit to the beautiful<br />

new premises of The Good Skin Co. at La Lucia Mall.<br />

The harsh summer months can be<br />

quite taxing on your skin. With all that<br />

sunshine, sweat and air-conditioning,<br />

a big dose of hydration should<br />

definitely be on your to-do list.<br />

After my initial consultation at the<br />

stunning new Good Skin Co. rooms<br />

at La Lucia Mall, an intense hydration<br />

treatment was, quite literally, the<br />

'doctor's orders' for me.<br />

The doctor in question is, of course,<br />

well-known aesthetic medicine expert,<br />

Dr Michelle Blom, who heads up the La<br />

Lucia aesthetic clinic together with her<br />

therapist, Tammy Stanhopes.<br />

Having recently relocated to their new<br />

premises, Dr Michelle and Tammy<br />

invited me to come and see the new<br />

rooms and experience what they<br />

have to offer.<br />

During the initial consult, Dr Michelle<br />

asked me some questions before<br />

suggesting a basic skincare plan for<br />

the next couple of months. Summer is<br />

not the time to be doing any extreme<br />

or intense treatments or peels, she<br />

explained, so we decided to start off<br />

with something gentle and super<br />

hydrating, with the possibility of some<br />

more intense treatments during the<br />

cooler months.<br />

After getting settled in the treatment<br />

room, Tammy talked me through<br />

what she would be doing for me that<br />

day. She explained that I would have<br />

a lactic peel using lactic acid with an<br />

alpha hydroxyl acid (fruit acid derived<br />

from milk), which removes old cells on<br />

the skin's surface to make space for<br />

new cell growth.<br />

The peel also has a 'plumping’ action,<br />

which is great for hydration and glow.<br />

The second part of the treatment<br />

included the Laser Genesis machine,<br />

which is basically a non-invasive laser<br />

that penetrates the dermis of the<br />

skin to boost collagen. It helps with<br />

signs of ageing (yay!), sun damage,<br />

excessive redness, large pores, uneven<br />

texture and acne scars.<br />

The last part was the Photodynamic<br />

Therapy (PDT), which is basically<br />

a combination of selected<br />

wavelengths of light that target<br />

specific cells for various skin<br />

conditions. In my case, it was used in<br />

combination with a hyaluronic mask<br />

(for even more hydration).<br />

Tammy was incredibly professional<br />

and kind and talked me through<br />

each step of the very relaxing<br />

treatments. Nothing was painful or<br />

even uncomfortable, and she carefully<br />

explained what each stage would feel<br />

like before she began. The very last<br />

thing she did was to apply a layer of<br />

tinted SPF to my skin, something she<br />

says should never be forgotten!<br />

Probably the best part (for me as a<br />

busy, working mom) was how quick<br />

and easy the whole process was. I was<br />

in and out in less than an hour and,<br />

because the treatments I had required<br />

no down-time, I could confidently<br />

head straight to my next meeting<br />

without feeling I had to hide behind a<br />

pair of dark glasses!<br />

The next day (which happened to<br />

be my birthday), I felt all the glowy<br />

hydration that was promised and am<br />

certainly looking forward to tackling<br />

some more intense treatments when<br />

the winter months arrive.<br />

The Good Skin Co.<br />

Passionate about aesthetic medicine,<br />

both Dr Michelle and Tammy are<br />

highly qualified and experienced<br />

in their field. Dr Michelle graduated<br />

from UFS with an MBChB and worked<br />

in various sectors in the medical<br />

field before finding her niche in the<br />

medical aesthetics world in 2016.<br />

Aesthetic medicine has been her sole<br />

focus for the past seven years and<br />

she is driven by her desire to see her<br />

patients achieve their anti-aging goals<br />

and feel good about themselves.<br />

Tammy studied somatology and has<br />

been in the skincare industry for 15<br />

years. Her passion is medical skin care<br />

though and she loves helping people<br />

meet their skin goals.<br />

Details: The Good Skin Co, Shop 303A La<br />

Lucia Mall, 066 479 8565,<br />

@thegoodskinco.za<br />

<strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 19


Young beauty<br />

Apply a<br />

small tab<br />

of RITES<br />

Sweet<br />

Sidekick<br />

sugar lip<br />

scrub for<br />

smooth lips.<br />

R80 from<br />

rites.co.za<br />

Happi Eau De Parfum<br />

- a clean sparkling<br />

fragrance, delicately<br />

fragranced with the<br />

floral notes of lilies,<br />

peonies, violet leaves<br />

and patchouli.<br />

R539. For stockists<br />

visit shzen.co.za<br />

Keep one of these Gatineau<br />

Clear & Perfect SOS<br />

Spot Sticks in your bag.<br />

A self-sterilising rollerball<br />

applicator, it’s soothing antiinflammatory<br />

formula can be<br />

applied throughout the day<br />

to reduce redness, tighten<br />

pores and limit shine. R470<br />

from orleanscosmetics.co.za<br />

For Insta selfies and party confidence,<br />

try applying your foundation with this<br />

Bubble Makeup Sponge. Used wet,<br />

it’s mega soft and mimics skin pores to<br />

give you a natural, airbrushed look ... no<br />

special skills or IG filters required.<br />

R370 from Woolworths.co.za<br />

Girls just wanna have fun.<br />

Missguided Babe Heat<br />

fragrance has just launched ...<br />

and you’re going to love it!<br />

R699, only from Foschini<br />

Compiled by: KYM ARGO<br />

20 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga <strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong>


Promotion<br />

AGING IS<br />

OPTIONAL<br />

With branches in a number of locations around the<br />

country, well-known aesthetic laser clinic, Dermology, has<br />

finally opened its doors in <strong>Ballito</strong>.<br />

Specialising in laser and light technology - specifically<br />

the world-class Sciton technology - Dermology focusses<br />

on treating skin conditions such as hyperpigmentation,<br />

melasma, acne, scarring, ageing, rosacea and much<br />

more.<br />

At the helm of the Dermology brand is passionate CEO,<br />

Lourette Du Toit, who has poured her heart and soul into<br />

business since it first opened its doors in 2013.<br />

Having started out as a clinic practice manager and<br />

laser therapist, Lourette has dedicated the past decade<br />

to growing it into the results-driven clinic it is known<br />

as today. A luminary for Sciton, she often presents at<br />

worldwide aesthetic congresses and trains other laser<br />

specialists, doctors and professionals on the subject.<br />

Lourette took over as CEO in 2021 and started expanding<br />

the business. Today Dermology has clinics in four<br />

different locations: Sandton, Paarl, Groenkloof and now,<br />

<strong>Ballito</strong>!<br />

Well known for their BBL treatments, Dermology have<br />

been creating better looking and healthier skin for the<br />

past 10 years, offering a wide variety of aesthetic laser and<br />

light protocols in addition to aesthetic skin treatments.<br />

The Dermology team believe in combination therapy and<br />

creating the perfect recipe for each patient’s needs.<br />

“Sandton has been Dermology’s head office from the<br />

beginning, and a number of patients travel from KZN to<br />

visit the Joburg branch, so it only made sense to open a<br />

branch here on the North Coast,” says Lourette.<br />

Contact us!<br />

Dermology <strong>Ballito</strong>: 064 803 <strong>23</strong>00<br />

Izulu Office Park, <strong>Ballito</strong>ville,<br />

Dermology Sandton: 076 424 8809<br />

Dermology Groenkloof: 072 094 1673<br />

Dermology Winelands: 072 817 8160.


Retro vibes &<br />

enticing flavours<br />

A passionate chef, a great<br />

businessman and a beautiful<br />

restaurant. If you haven’t stopped in<br />

at <strong>Umhl</strong>anga’s Sunsets & Mermaids<br />

yet, it’s time you did. We sat down<br />

with the two masterminds behind<br />

this trendy spot.<br />

Text: Leah Shone<br />

22 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga <strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong>


ith vintage surfboards and old-school<br />

surfing memorabilia adorning the walls, longtime<br />

Durban chef Brendon Newport seems<br />

perfectly suited to the beautiful space that is<br />

Sunsets & Mermaids.<br />

Together with businessman, new owner (and<br />

passionate Italian foodie) Biaggo Pelliccia, Brendon has<br />

carefully curated the layout of the restaurant as well as the<br />

extensive and diverse menu, to create a unique offering<br />

within the heart of <strong>Umhl</strong>anga village.<br />

With years of restaurant consulting and cheffing under his<br />

belt, Brendon prides himself on creating spaces that are<br />

warm and welcoming and have their own unique food<br />

identity and heart.<br />

Biaggo, who also owns the much-loved Amici restaurant<br />

at La Lucia Mall, recently took over ownership of Sunsets &<br />

Mermaids (previously known as The Beach House) and is a<br />

determined businessman and strong leader. Together, the<br />

duo have committed to creating a dining destination unlike<br />

any other on the North Coast.<br />

“Sunsets & Mermaids is all about local culture. The surf<br />

décor and memorabilia on the walls tell the story of a<br />

young boy growing up and living the Durban surf lifestyle,”<br />

says Brendon, “and the menu and food tie in with this<br />

theme perfectly.”<br />

With a strong focus on 'coastal cooking with an Italian<br />

flair', Sunsets & Mermaids is about staying true to the local<br />

Durban identity while introducing some exciting new<br />

flavours and concepts.<br />

Biaggo, a former professional rugby player who comes from<br />

a food-loving Italian family, says he is determined to grow<br />

the restaurant, and continue to improve and update.<br />

In fact, he and Brendon will be spending a month in Italy<br />

and New York later this year to draw inspiration and ideas<br />

from international trends, tastes and concepts.<br />

When it comes to their food offering, their menu is as<br />

diverse as Durban's cultural melting pot, with a wonderful<br />

combination of the old-school meals everyone loves and<br />

funky, new flavours and ideas.<br />

Drawing his inspiration from the Pacific Rim Asian island<br />

flavours, both the food and cocktail menus<br />

have been curated to suit just about every<br />

taste – from the open-minded and daring to<br />

those who prefer to stick to the golden-oldie<br />

classics, such as a burger and beer.<br />

“We are also open to making something up<br />

for clients,” says Brendon. “I am happy to come<br />

out and chat to the table and find out what<br />

clients are about and what they're looking for.”<br />

The sushi is, without a doubt, one of the most<br />

exciting items on the Sunsets & Mermaids<br />

menu. Yes, there are the old-school classics<br />

such as California rolls, fashion sandwiches and<br />

salmon roses, but the exciting mythical sushi<br />

offering is definitely worth a try, with options<br />

like spicy Tuna Tacos and Ariel's Poke Bowl, to<br />

the Fiery Ferrari (prawn, tuna and avo with a<br />

crunch tempura finish ... torched at the table!).<br />

If you enjoy sharing smaller meals, then the popular Tapas<br />

Plates are definitely going to be your vibe. There are three<br />

sections to choose from - Onshore (chicken and beef ), Earth<br />

(vegetarian dishes) and Offshore (which contains all the<br />

seafood). Some of the standout tapas dishes are the Tuna<br />

Ceviche (with flavours of lemon, soy and hoisin topped with<br />

furakake seasoning and Japanese mayo), the Prawn Wanton<br />

Dumplings (served with sesame, chilli and teriyaki dressing)<br />

and the popular Beef Tataki Bao Buns (a type of Japanese<br />

burger filled with seared beef fillet in a steamed bun with<br />

wasabi, ginger, sesame soy and cucumber salad).<br />

If you're looking for a bigger meal, there is also a full main<br />

course menu that is diverse and full of flavour, featuring<br />

everything from a delectable Surf and Turf (a beef fillet<br />

topped with baby langoustines), to classic Durban lamb or<br />

prawn curries, a wide selection of both classic and unusual<br />

pizzas and pastas, as well as a variety of delicious seafood<br />

and burger offerings.<br />

“We're all about embracing everyone and it shows in the<br />

diverse crowd that we have in the restaurant every day<br />

and night of the week,” says Biaggo. “We are excited to be<br />

launching a breakfast menu this month as well. We will open<br />

at 7am and our customers can enjoy a delicious Acai bowl<br />

or classic breakfast with fresh pressed juices outside under<br />

the trees.”<br />

Details: Sunsets & Mermaids, 3 Chartwell Drive, <strong>Umhl</strong>anga<br />

Rocks, www.sunmer.co.za, @sunsets_mermaids<br />

The duo behind Sunsets & Mermaids,<br />

Biaggo Pelliccia and Brendon Newport.<br />

All of the seafood on the menu is outstanding.<br />

<strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga <strong>23</strong>


Text: Leah Shone<br />

Family<br />

night out<br />

Let’s be honest,<br />

sometimes you just<br />

can’t be bothered to<br />

cook. Or loadshedding<br />

is scheduled at<br />

exactly the wrong<br />

time (again!), and<br />

the dinner you had<br />

planned is no longer<br />

viable. Enter Ocean<br />

Basket <strong>Ballito</strong>!<br />

It's Wednesday night and I have an<br />

ice-cold glass of white wine in my<br />

hand. The children are playing UNO<br />

quietly at the table, there is a stunning<br />

ocean view in front of us and dinner<br />

is being prepared by someone other<br />

than me. This is certainly my version of<br />

'mom heaven'.<br />

When we were invited to enjoy a<br />

weeknight family dinner at Ocean<br />

Basket <strong>Ballito</strong>, we (obviously) jumped<br />

at the opportunity. Between work,<br />

homework and extramural activities,<br />

weeknights in our household are busy<br />

though - so the only condition was<br />

that it had to be quick, easy and early!<br />

As soon as we arrived, the Ocean<br />

Basket team welcomed and seated<br />

us, quickly offering the kids some fun<br />

activities (playing cards and colouring<br />

pages) to settle them in.<br />

Once drinks were ordered, we<br />

browsed the kids’ menu and were<br />

blown away by the awesome<br />

options available - and at incredibly<br />

affordable prices!<br />

From the Pan o’ Prawns, Saucy Fish<br />

Bites and Crispy Calamari (all served<br />

with chips and rice), to Sushi Tales<br />

(8 pieces of delicious, kid-friendly<br />

sushi), all the main courses are priced<br />

between R60 and R75 - apart from<br />

the wonderful Kids Platter for 1 (fish<br />

nuggets, calamari, halloumi and grilled<br />

24 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga <strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong>


The Family Platter consists of 12 prince<br />

prawns, calamari and four full portions of<br />

hake - perfectly for a quick family meal!<br />

The sushi is fresh and<br />

prepared to perfection.<br />

prawns with chips and rice, which at<br />

just R100 is great value for money!).<br />

In true Ocean Basket style, the<br />

‘grown-up’ menu is vast, varied and<br />

loaded with yummy dishes that are<br />

so much more than just your typical<br />

seafood offering …<br />

If you love a ‘shared food’ vibe, then<br />

the mezze section of the menu<br />

is for you. There are lots of tasty,<br />

small dishes (Lemon Garlic Mussels,<br />

Crunchy Fish Bites, Panko Zucchini<br />

and Endamame Fritters) to pull<br />

together a fabulous smorgasbord of<br />

flavours for your table, which you can<br />

either snack on before your mains, or<br />

enjoy as the main meal.<br />

For mains, there is a selection of fish,<br />

calamari and prawns, as well as some<br />

awesome combo options for those<br />

who can’t decide on one. There are<br />

fantastic salads, bowls and wraps (I’m<br />

definitely trying the Seared Salmon<br />

Salad or a ‘build-it-yourself’ bowl next<br />

time), as well as a variety of platters to<br />

share, or enjoy by yourself.<br />

Lastly, but most certainly not least,<br />

is the sushi menu, which has all the<br />

‘OG’ faves, alongside some very tasty<br />

‘signature’ Ocean Basket sushi that is<br />

definitely worth trying.<br />

Our table ordered the Grilled Sole<br />

(with herby lemon sauce), the Saucy<br />

Mediterranean Prawns (oh-soyummy!)<br />

and sushi … loads of fresh,<br />

flavourful sushi!<br />

A few dishes we didn’t order, but<br />

are planning to try next time are<br />

the Family Platter (12 prince prawns,<br />

calamari and four full portions of hake<br />

for just R495), the Whole Sea Bream<br />

Platter (with calamari and prawns) and<br />

the Crusted Kingklip (topped with<br />

paprika onion crumb and a creamy<br />

roasted tomato sauce).<br />

Although the adult tummies were full,<br />

kids always make space for dessert<br />

- and the dessert menu was too<br />

delectable and tempting to avoid.<br />

They had the Chocolate Lava Cake<br />

(with a molten chocolate centre served<br />

with cream or ice cream) and an Ice<br />

Cream Sandwich (vanilla ice cream<br />

between two, crunchy biscuits served<br />

with caramel sauce or tropical coulis).<br />

We’ve already decided that on our<br />

next visit (possibly next Wednesday?),<br />

we’re trying the famous Baklava,<br />

Baked Yoghurt Cheesecake and Berry<br />

Bomb (layered cake, berries, ice cream<br />

and almonds). So much yumminess!<br />

Details: Ocean Basket <strong>Ballito</strong>, shop<br />

1, The Big Blue, Compensation<br />

Beach Road, <strong>Ballito</strong>, 087 353 2<strong>23</strong>9,<br />

@oceanbasketballitokzn, ballito@<br />

oceanbasket.com<br />

<strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 25


Oh joy. Who doesn’t love a pancake.<br />

And if it’s you ... well, we simply can’t<br />

be friends. Move swiftly along. In Sue<br />

Quinn’s Seriously Good Pancakes<br />

you’ll find them for breakfast, brunch,<br />

lunch, dinner and dessert, with<br />

recipes for everything from Chinese<br />

Pancakes with Duck and Hoisin Sauce<br />

to Buckwheat Galettes and Italian<br />

Farinata, from Spicy Mexican Hotcakes<br />

with Smoky Corn Salad to Chocolate<br />

and Berry-stuffed Pikelets. More than<br />

70 recipes, with delicious photos, plus<br />

a guide to basic pancake types, this<br />

really is the ultimate cookbook for<br />

pancake addicts, students and foodies<br />

alike. It’s pancakes. And it’s seriously<br />

good. Hardie Grant, R270<br />

Let’s<br />

cook<br />

Compiled by : KYM ARGO<br />

Those recipe videos you can’t stop<br />

watching? Caught Creating Ltd made<br />

those. And now, they’re blessing you<br />

with the Caught Snackin’ cookbook.<br />

They’ve covered all bases .. from<br />

boujee brunches to quick lunches,<br />

Friday-night fakeaways to desserts<br />

that will make you TikTok famous.<br />

They say their dishes are created<br />

firstly for deliciousness and secondly<br />

for ease. Whether you’re going all-in<br />

cooking for a crowd or cotching on<br />

the sofa with a bowl full of comfort<br />

food, there are more than 100 recipes<br />

with big flavours and zero stress.<br />

And you don’t need mad chefileeni<br />

equipment or Gordon Ramsay<br />

tekz, just this book and good vibes.<br />

Octopus, R475<br />

26 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga <strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong><br />

A cookbook that makes recipes faster,<br />

easier, tastier and simpler through<br />

cooking in one pot, pan or tray. The<br />

second title in Rosie Reynold’s The<br />

Shortcut Cook series, All in One<br />

shows you how to cook the food and<br />

flavours that you love, but without<br />

being tied to the oven or sink for<br />

hours longer than you want to be.<br />

Think dishes like Spiced Potatoes with<br />

Cracked Eggs, No-fuss Chicken Kiev<br />

with Crunchy Roast Potatoes, Beef<br />

Stew with Cheesy Dumplings, Easy<br />

Peasy Spaghetti Bolognese, Gooey<br />

Lemon Bars, Big Batch Chocolate Chip<br />

Cookies, and more, all made in one<br />

pan. Hardie Grant, R355<br />

Eating well should be one of life’s<br />

pleasures but, for many people, this is<br />

not the case. Struggles with weight,<br />

nutrition-related health issues and<br />

low self-esteem can result in food<br />

being condemned as an ‘enemy’<br />

to be conquered at all cost. Nicci<br />

Robertson understands, and she<br />

uses her personal experience to<br />

guide you towards improved health<br />

and well-being by taking a different<br />

approach to nutrition. In Thrive -<br />

Healthy recipes that Break the Diet<br />

Rules, she explains how to exchange<br />

bad habits for better ones, recognise<br />

and eliminate stress factors that can<br />

contribute to lifestyle diseases, and<br />

understand the role that proteins,<br />

carbs, fats, fibre and water play in<br />

keeping us healthy. There are more<br />

than 80 mouth-watering familyfriendly<br />

recipes that are packed with<br />

flavour and nutritionally balanced.<br />

Whether your goal is weight loss or<br />

improved health, Nicci’s recipes will<br />

have you rethinking the concept of<br />

diet food and heading for the kitchen<br />

with enthusiasm! Penguin, R380


A summery salad<br />

We might be edging towards autumn, but<br />

summer is still lingering. Try this fabulous, fresh<br />

salad loaded with all of the stuff your body loves!<br />

SUMMER TOMATO SALAD WITH CARAMELISED ONION<br />

A mixture of confit cherry tomatoes, pickled green tomatoes, heirloom<br />

halves and oil-cured sundried tomatoes, dressed and topped with<br />

caramelised onion … yum!<br />

Tomatoes: 250g Heirloom cherry tomatoes, 100g vine tomatoes, 100g<br />

Roma tomatoes, 100g green tomatoes, 50g sundried tomatoes. Heat<br />

150ml oil until hot (almost smoking), take off heat, add garlic (10ml)<br />

and sundried tomatoes and allow to cool.<br />

Pickling juice: 200g garlic, minced, 250ml white vinegar, 50g dried dill,<br />

50g black peppercorns, ground, 30g turmeric, 50g sugar, 30g salt. Mix<br />

all ingredients in a blender and emulsify.<br />

Add halved green tomatoes to pickle and marinade for at least 30<br />

minutes.<br />

Caramelised onions: 100g red onion, 100g white onion. Fry onions on a<br />

low heat until golden in colour.<br />

Balsamic reduction: 100ml balsamic vinegar, 50ml honey. Bring to a<br />

low simmer in a pan and reduce by half or the consistency of a runny<br />

syrup is reached.<br />

Salad base: Rocket, watercress, romain lettuce and croutons<br />

Assemble: On your base of salad leaves, lay out your tomato medley<br />

and top with the caramelised onions. Drizzle with balsamic reduction<br />

and enjoy!<br />

Details: Recipe kindly supplied by Granny Mouse Country House & Spa,<br />

www.grannymouse.co.za


28 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> <strong>Umhl</strong>anga February 2022


Trendy living<br />

spaces<br />

Clever tips for coastal living, furnishing on<br />

a budget and bringing beautiful greenery<br />

into your home ...<br />

The beautiful Lalela Estate showhouse was furnished on<br />

a suprisingly small budget! Read more on page 39.<br />

<strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 29


10 tips<br />

for coastal living<br />

With our beautiful weather, outdoor<br />

lifestyle and the ocean just a stone’s throw<br />

away, there is nothing not to love about<br />

North Coast living … apart from the toll<br />

it sometimes take on your appliances and<br />

home décor! Devmco Realty shares some<br />

tips for caring for your assets and appliances<br />

when living by the sea.<br />

1.<br />

The sun and salt can be harsh on outdoor fixtures<br />

and furniture. Scotchgard fabrics on your patio<br />

furniture to extend their lifespan. Varnish your wooden<br />

deck from time to time and paint metal awnings and<br />

gates in a protective paint to avoid rust. Be sure to<br />

pressure clean the house once a year as well to remove<br />

any salty residue.<br />

If you have a garage, use it. Park your car inside and store<br />

2.<br />

tools, bikes and sporting equipment indoors to ensure<br />

they are protected. Wipe gardening tools with oil.<br />

Wax and polish your car regularly to protect the paint.<br />

3.<br />

Some vehicle brands offer the option to clear-coat your<br />

vehicle every five years or so. Investigate the options - your<br />

car is one of your most costly assets.<br />

4.<br />

If you keep a braai or other appliances outdoors, be<br />

sure to put a cover on them.<br />

Opt out. If you know something will eventually<br />

5.<br />

damage in the salt air and sun, choose an alternative<br />

if you can. Gutters, internal plug points and kettles are<br />

available in glass, ceramic or plastic these days and still<br />

look trendy.<br />

6.<br />

Invest in high-quality stainless steel, should you want<br />

to achieve that look, and don’t forget about the small<br />

bits of metal used within other items in your home, such as<br />

screws on a toilet seat or plastic plug points. If those metal<br />

items rust, particularly screws, they will stain the surfaces<br />

they are situated in.<br />

There are a number of products available to polish and<br />

7.<br />

clean your silverware, wooden furniture and expensive<br />

appliances to keep them looking at their best. Maintenance<br />

is imperative.<br />

Remember to wipe down the inside of your microwave<br />

8.<br />

after it gets steamy to avoid corrosion.<br />

Keep your garments in good condition by adding<br />

9.<br />

dehumidifiers to cupboards and drawers to strip<br />

moisture from the air. You can also add an extractor to your<br />

bathroom to prevent the mildew that comes with humidity.<br />

10.<br />

Electronics such as computers, TVs, camera lenses<br />

and even outdoor speakers also require a bit of TLC.<br />

Where possible, buy outdoor-friendly items and wipe them<br />

down regularly. It may also help to operate electronics in<br />

air-conditioned rooms.<br />

30 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga <strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong>


About DEVMCO<br />

Specialists in selling and renting properties on KZN’s<br />

North Coast, the Devmco Group has over 100 years’<br />

collective industry experience. Having delivered R8-<br />

billion in property development between <strong>Umhl</strong>anga<br />

Ridge and the Sibaya Coastal Precinct, they have made<br />

their mark on the KZN coastline.<br />

They created Sibaya Coastal Precinct’s first residential<br />

development, OceanDune Sibaya, and were part of<br />

the professional development team behind the iconic<br />

<strong>Umhl</strong>anga Arch.<br />

Today, Devmco Group is a team of more than 60 skilled<br />

professionals from various industries and spheres, who<br />

add a wealth of knowledge, expertise and innovation<br />

to everything they do. Devmco Realty has an extensive<br />

range of homes and land for sale on the North Coast.<br />

Details: Devmco Realty sales and marketing director, Pamela<br />

Naidu: 087 550 1300, www.devmcorealty.co.za or visit them<br />

at their offices in <strong>Mar</strong>ine Walk Shopping Centre.


Top<br />

Whether your home interior style is timeless<br />

and classic or bold and modern, it’s always<br />

good to know what’s in style and on-trend<br />

in the design world. <strong>Umhl</strong>ali-based interior<br />

designer and furniture manufacturer <strong>Mar</strong>tin<br />

Harris offers some advice.<br />

trends<br />

<strong>Mar</strong>vellous magenta<br />

This year’s Pantone colour is magenta.<br />

Described as a ‘nuanced crimson<br />

tone’, this is a beautiful vibrant colour<br />

that needs to be used very carefully<br />

in your home so as not to overpower<br />

everything else. Why not try using<br />

some wallpaper with magenta in it on<br />

an accent wall in your home?<br />

Tone things down<br />

A great way of allowing yourself the ability to change<br />

up your décor according to the seasons and trends, is<br />

to ensure your sofa is a plain coloured fabric. That way<br />

you can add extra interest by mixing up your chairs,<br />

ottomans and scatters in an arrangement of patterns<br />

and plain fabric.<br />

Naturally sheer<br />

When it comes to curtains, we like to keep things natural<br />

with sheer fabric on a wave tape finish, giving a modern<br />

look all the way through the home.<br />

<strong>Mar</strong>tin Harris offers a range of services,<br />

including new custom-made furniture.<br />

WIN!<br />

One lucky Get It reader stands<br />

the chance to win a beautiful,<br />

small oval <strong>Mar</strong>tin Harris Furniture<br />

and Interiors ottoman (valued<br />

at R1 850) and two small scatter<br />

cushions (valued at R450) made<br />

by them. To enter, find this post<br />

on our social media platforms,<br />

@GetItMagNC, and follow the<br />

prompts. T's and C's apply.<br />

About <strong>Mar</strong>tin Harris Furniture and Interiors<br />

Although they are new to the North Coast having relocated here just last year,<br />

<strong>Mar</strong>tin Harris Furniture and Interiors is certainly not new to the industry. The<br />

business started in Johannesburg in 2013, initially just as an interior design<br />

company outsourcing upholstery, but evolved into a furniture factory a few years<br />

later. <strong>Mar</strong>tin Harris Furniture and Interiors offers a range of services, including<br />

new custom-made furniture, re-upholstery of existing furniture, custommade<br />

occasional furniture and wooden patio furniture, wallpaper supply and<br />

installations, turnkey operations, curtains and project management. Details:<br />

<strong>Mar</strong>tin Harris: 082 777 43<strong>23</strong>, Hannes Swartz: 073 903 8936, Chairman’s Park, Unit J7,<br />

R102, Old Main road, <strong>Umhl</strong>ali<br />

<strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 33


A green<br />

space<br />

Adding greenery to your home is a<br />

trend that never goes out of style.<br />

Apart from the therapeutic and<br />

health benefits, plants can, quite<br />

literally, bring a space to life. Khula<br />

Botanicals owner, Janine Cameron,<br />

shares some green interior styling<br />

tips and trends.<br />

34 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga <strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong>


Khula is a beautiful new flower,<br />

plant and art shop in Salt Rock.<br />

3 TIPS TO KEEPING YOUR INDOOR<br />

PLANTS HAPPY<br />

1. Be waterwise: Most indoor plants<br />

like moist, but not wet soil. Drainage<br />

is key!<br />

2. Light: Check if your plants need a<br />

lot or a little bit of light. Placement is<br />

important.<br />

3. Soil: Re-pot or 'gift' your plant<br />

babies with a fresh batch of soil every<br />

few months. Soil loses its nutrients<br />

over time. (This is a plant fundi’s<br />

secret!).<br />

GREEN TRENDS FOR 20<strong>23</strong><br />

Large indoor plants<br />

Tree-like statement plants are a great<br />

way to create a focal point, break a<br />

room or bring life to a quiet space.<br />

Low-light plants<br />

These are super trendy for darker<br />

rooms which don’t get a lot of natural<br />

light. The peace lily, rubber plant,<br />

arrowhead vine and peperomia are all<br />

perfect for low-light areas.<br />

Add a bit of quirk<br />

Unique and exotic plants can<br />

be fascinating and distinctive<br />

components in interior design. They<br />

make for fun talking points and can<br />

add personality to a dull room. Look<br />

out for pathos, staghorns, ferns and<br />

spider plants.<br />

Colour<br />

Variegation (a fancy word for<br />

distinctive colours on plant leaves)<br />

is something to look out for. This<br />

unusual mutation means no two<br />

plants are the same. House plants<br />

with white, silver, purple and pink<br />

undertones stand out. Their unique<br />

leaves catch the eye and add a touch<br />

of whimsy to a room.<br />

Air purifying<br />

Homeowners are looking to create<br />

clean and eco-friendly spaces this<br />

year. Most plants do this naturally, but<br />

some do it better than others. Bring in<br />

plants that will breathe life into your<br />

home such as English ivy, peace lilies<br />

and golden pathos. Succulents are<br />

particularly good at this too!<br />

ACCESSIBLE, CURATED<br />

ART & GREENERY<br />

Khula (which means to grow or to<br />

thrive) is a beautiful new flower, plant<br />

and art shop at Tiffany's Centre in<br />

Salt Rock. Owned by former teacher<br />

Janine Cameron (who also spent a<br />

few years in the corporate world), the<br />

shop is a passion project because,<br />

she says, plants are her happy place.<br />

Offering a variety of hand-selected<br />

indoor plants (many of which are<br />

really unique and unusual) as well as<br />

fresh flowers that can be curated into<br />

beautiful bunches by the in-house<br />

florist, this is much more than just a<br />

flower shop.<br />

“Khula is about creating accessibility<br />

– to both art and indoor plants – for<br />

our community,” says Janine, who was<br />

inspired after attending an affordable<br />

art show. The walls of the shop are<br />

adorned with beautiful, local artwork<br />

that is incredibly affordable.<br />

Janine is also very excited to help<br />

people curate the green spaces in<br />

their homes. “If you're not sure what<br />

to put in a certain place in your home,<br />

come and chat to me and I will offer<br />

some advice. I can help craft a small<br />

space, or help you fill your home with<br />

greenery – you just have to give me<br />

your budget and I'll work within that<br />

and source the right plants from our<br />

suppliers.”<br />

Khula also sells locally-made clay<br />

pots, many of which are handpainted<br />

by Janine, clever and<br />

competitively-priced gardening tools<br />

and accessories as well as potting soil<br />

and succulent mix, which they make<br />

themselves.<br />

Details: Khula Beautiful Botanicals, shop<br />

16 Tiffany's Centre, Salt Rock, 087 460<br />

0396, orders@growwithkhula.co.za,<br />

www.growwithkhula.co.za, @khulagrow<br />

<strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 35


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031 493 2537, @grace_bloom_sa<br />

38 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga <strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong>


Maximum style on a<br />

minimal budget<br />

The second- hand kitchen table was refurbished<br />

and the chairs painted black to match the table.<br />

Styling your home can be<br />

very challenging when<br />

you’re working within a<br />

tight budget. We sat down<br />

with interior designer,<br />

Deborah Tilbrook, who<br />

shares how she furnished<br />

and decorated a threebedroom<br />

showhouse on a<br />

budget of just R150 000.<br />

The brief<br />

“We commissioned Debbie to furnish and decorate the showhouse at Lalela<br />

Estate where we wanted to highlight more than just a space with beautiful<br />

furniture. We wanted her to create a practical but inspired look within the home<br />

that was also very achievable for most people when choosing to buy and furnish<br />

an off-plan home. We asked Debbie to incorporate sustainable living into her<br />

design and to be led by nature,” explains Melanie Clarkson of Collins Residential.<br />

Budgets and practicality<br />

“Determining your budget is important and you need to be honest about what<br />

you can or cannot afford. It’s easy to design a space when you have an unlimited<br />

budget. However, the smaller the budget, the harder it becomes and the more<br />

hours you will have to spend trying to make things work,” says Debbie. “I began<br />

with the living room, which, to me, is the heart of the home. The first piece of<br />

furniture I bought was a couch to anchor the space. It was the most expensive<br />

piece of furniture in the house but I wanted to ensure that it not only worked<br />

aesthetically but was comfortable in the tranquil surroundings.” Using the couch<br />

as a guideline, Debbie focused on maintaining flow and ensuring that spaces<br />

were not closed off. The back section of the couch is low and welcoming and it<br />

orientates the TV and guides the profile of the coffee table, built-in TV unit, and<br />

the occasional chairs that tie the room together.<br />

<strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 39


The colours used throughout the house<br />

were inspired by the colours of nature.<br />

The importance of space planning<br />

Space planning directs the functionality of a room.<br />

Critical things to think about include furniture<br />

placement and the flow of movement. “When I first<br />

walked into the house, I identified what already<br />

existed and couldn't be changed and worked<br />

around that,” says Debbie. The custom-designed<br />

homes at Lalela Estate are configured with living in<br />

mind. You enter through a courtyard instead of an<br />

entrance hall, which would normally steal square<br />

metres from the living room. The glass doors on<br />

either side of the living area not only let in light but<br />

create a connected space that brings nature into the<br />

home while creating an expanse.<br />

Colour creates character<br />

The colours used throughout the house were<br />

inspired by the greens and the yellows in nature.<br />

"When designing for a larger audience, I recommend<br />

using neutral tones which appeal to the majority<br />

of people. When working on your own personal<br />

space, you can be more creative and use colours that<br />

appeal to you.”<br />

How to use texture<br />

“Using texture to bring character into a space is<br />

important to me. As an example, I’ve used mustard<br />

cushions with a patterned texture creating visual<br />

depth and dimension. The light reflects differently<br />

off the different patterns and that adds visual interest<br />

and saves a neutral pallet,” she says. When you are<br />

working with a limited budget, Debbie say you may<br />

have one standout feature that will be your hero in<br />

the space. Overcrowding a room with only expensive<br />

“Choosing how much colour or texture<br />

you use is a matter of feeling, but there<br />

also is a fine line between all or nothing.”<br />

40 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga <strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong>


items runs the risk of you losing a standout element<br />

that demands your attention. Choosing how much<br />

texture and colour you use is a matter of feeling but<br />

there is also a fine line between all or nothing. “The<br />

couch is a neutral, soft grey and has a soft texture<br />

that’s not overbearing. From here I would advise that<br />

you add one texture at a time. So just add one of the<br />

cushions to start with, and then you keep adding<br />

more until it feels right. So, first use something<br />

that contrasts it and then try to find something in<br />

between to marry the two together.”<br />

Multipurpose living<br />

Post-Covid, people are spending more time in their<br />

homes, and we have realised the importance of<br />

having a comfortable place to live and the value of<br />

our most precious asset. “These days most of us are<br />

cooking and answering emails at the same time. The<br />

eat-in kitchen is a perfect example of a multipurpose<br />

space that’s used often by both young and old. It's a<br />

homework area for kids and a place to host dinner.<br />

The kitchen table was second-hand and refurbished.<br />

The chairs were also refurbished and painted black to<br />

match the table.<br />

Local is lekker<br />

Designing and decorating a 3-bedroom house can<br />

easily run upwards of R350 000, which is certainly not<br />

in most people’s price bracket. Debbie managed to<br />

strike the perfect balance of style and budget. One of<br />

the secrets to her success, she says, was repurposing<br />

furniture bought at second-hand furniture shops<br />

(furniture passed down from a family member would<br />

also work). She intentionally used local artisans to<br />

manufacture custom pieces and repurpose furniture.<br />

Interior designer Deborah Tilbrook<br />

About Lalela Estate<br />

Situated in Sheffield, Lalela sits on approximately 104<br />

hectares of lush greenery with natural wetlands, 5km of<br />

walking trails and a wonderful community clubhouse. It is<br />

one of the fastest-growing nodes on the KZN North Coast<br />

and offers relaxed, beach living. Details: Lalela is situated<br />

on the western side of the N2, in the direction of Flag<br />

Animal Farm, www.lalelaestate.com, info@lalelaestate.<br />

com, @lalela.estate<br />

Many people are working<br />

from home these days.<br />

<strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 41


We love a little<br />

VROOM VROOM<br />

Jaguar Classic Black - seductive, high-class and charismatic.<br />

• Bentley Intense boasts excellent staying power and offers a<br />

long-lasting, truly intense and daring fragrance experience.<br />

R1049 • Dunhill Driven Black is old-school charming and<br />

seductive.R979. All from Clicks.<br />

This limited edition gold car diffuser attaches to the<br />

aircon vents of your car and releases a consistent fine<br />

fragrance. R475 from wickfragrances.com<br />

An intoxicating and masculine<br />

blend of musk, patchouli, sage<br />

and mahogany cologne for your<br />

car. Midsummer’s Night is one<br />

of the Yankee Candles Ultimate<br />

Car Jar options ... if your car’s<br />

the love of your life, give it a<br />

signature scent. R120 from<br />

yankeecandlesa.co.za<br />

Attach this Diptyque Perfumed Car<br />

Diffuser to your car’s ventilation grill<br />

and your car will be awash with the<br />

tart, exuberant scent of blackcurrant<br />

leaves, accented with rose blossoms.<br />

The adjustable metal grill allows you<br />

to control the intensity of fragrance<br />

in the car, and if used correctly the<br />

cartridges can be kept for up to three<br />

months. R2600 from skins.co.za<br />

42 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga <strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong>


If life is a highway ... we want to be driving the all new Proton X70<br />

It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.<br />

Does that still stand if the destination is a first class,<br />

luxurious, been-dying-to-visit spot? To be honest, we didn’t<br />

think so. But then we jumped into the Proton X70 and my<br />

heaven ... we could have driven for days!<br />

Massive, comfy, soft Nappa leather power seats, which went<br />

waaaay back for passengers needing a snooze (those early<br />

morning departures are a bugger). Loads and loads of leg<br />

room and space for coolers and coffee and padkos (we’re<br />

all for too-many-snacks on any journey). A really impressive,<br />

six speaker sound system for the 70s Road Tripping play<br />

list. Add the voice command (“Hi Proton - roll down the<br />

windows”) and touch screen monitor infotainment system<br />

which has smart phone and Bluetooth connectivity, and<br />

USB ports ... so all those necessary boxes firmly ticked.<br />

Our route included freeway (so a chance to open up and<br />

feel the power, and to test the cruise control), detours<br />

through rural towns with pothole-strewn roads (and here<br />

we use the word roads in the loosest possible way) as well<br />

as a short stretch of gravel and dust ... so we could really<br />

experience the car every which way. Add to that drizzle and<br />

downpours (hello auto-sensing wipers) followed by the<br />

sweltering heat and dust of the Kruger area (so a massive<br />

welcome to the Proton Intelligent Air Purification System<br />

– a combination of N95 cabin filter which is incorporated<br />

into the air-conditioning, and air purifier system ... combined<br />

these work twice as efficiently to improve the air quality<br />

inside the cabin).<br />

A big plus on a long trip is the excellent fuel consumption<br />

- 7.8l per 100km in the Proton X70 (and 6.5l in the smaller<br />

Proton X50) ... certainly a lot more impressive than some<br />

of the other SUVs on the market. In fact, affordability was<br />

a major influence in the decision by Combined Motor<br />

Holdings and Geely when bringing Proton back into<br />

the country from Malaysia. With so many luxury brands<br />

launching SUVs, there was a massive gap, they felt, for a<br />

quality SUV within an affordable price bracket.<br />

Another long-distance journey plus is the five-year roadside<br />

assistance which comes standard - as, by the way, does the<br />

five-year, unlimited mileage (yay to many long road trips)<br />

and transferable warranty, the five year/80 000 km service<br />

plan and the five-star ratings in financial packages ... so bit<br />

of a high-five all round, here, too.<br />

Apart from knowing roadside assistance is just a call away,<br />

other safety and security benefits are the six airbags and<br />

the advanced driver assist system, which includes blind<br />

spot info, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control<br />

and forward collision warning (jolly helpful when the driver<br />

ahead of you suddenly reduces speed).<br />

Add to that the traction control, hill hold assist and hill<br />

descent control, electronic and anti-lock braking systems<br />

with brake assist and auto brake hold. There are also<br />

daytime running lamps, which means greater visibility in all<br />

weather conditions.<br />

We’re not, we admit, the best reverse parkers in the<br />

forecourt, so the 360 degree camera and parking sensors<br />

were a jolly useful addition for us (and no doubt for others<br />

in the area!).<br />

Stops at padstals along the way drew loads of envious<br />

glances from fellow travellers ... and stepping back to<br />

admire our ride, we knew why. The chrome finishing on the<br />

front and rear bumpers, the rear diffuser with dual exhaust<br />

outlets and alloy wheels make an impression. Also the<br />

power tailgate with foot sensor (oh my, how we loved that<br />

... bought extra goodies just so we had an excuse to open<br />

(and fill) the enormously spacious boot).<br />

The Proton comes in six rather dashing colour choices -<br />

Snow White and Armour Silver, a dark and dashing Jet Gray<br />

and look-at-me Ruby Red, Space Grey and our favourite,<br />

Cinnamon Brown.<br />

There are, obviously, kilometer-long technical specifications<br />

... none of which mean a single to thing to us (we’re all for<br />

the ride, not the deets) ... so best you download the Digital<br />

Brochure on proton.cars, navigate your way around that,<br />

and then once you’re revved up, it’s all ready, steady, go and<br />

book a test drive.<br />

Compiled by: KYM ARGO<br />

<strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong> Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga 43


Sitting<br />

safely<br />

It might sound a bit odd,<br />

but did you know that not<br />

sitting correctly in a car<br />

could put your life at risk?<br />

We all know we should buckle up<br />

when we get into a vehicle, right?<br />

Not many people realise, though,<br />

that how and where you sit can also<br />

have an impact on your safety in the<br />

event of an accident. The team from<br />

MotorHappy (a supplier of motor<br />

management and car insurance<br />

solutions) share some of the riskiest<br />

places and ways to sit in a car:<br />

Feet on dashboard<br />

Sitting in the front passenger seat<br />

with your feet on the dashboard<br />

changes the way the seat belt rests<br />

on your body. If you’re in an accident,<br />

your upper body could flip over the<br />

belt, causing injury to your abdomen<br />

and back. If the front airbags are<br />

deployed, your knees would be<br />

pushed into your face.<br />

Passenger seat reclined<br />

As with your feet on the dashboard,<br />

when you recline the passenger seat,<br />

the seat belt no longer fits the way it<br />

is meant to. Instead of fitting over the<br />

chest and lap, it moves to your neck<br />

and abdomen, and in an accident,<br />

this could damage your neck and<br />

internal organs.<br />

Seat belt under your arm<br />

The seat belt is designed to fit your<br />

body in a certain way. When it’s over<br />

your shoulder, it crosses over your<br />

collarbone, which is strong. When you<br />

wear the seat belt under your arm, it<br />

crosses your ribs, which are weaker<br />

than your collarbone. Additionally,<br />

when the seat belt is under your arm<br />

and you’re involved in an accident,<br />

it is unable to stop your torso from<br />

propelling forward and colliding<br />

with the airbag that’s deploying at<br />

320km/h.<br />

Third row seats<br />

Third row seats are not usually as<br />

stable as middle and front row seats.<br />

They are usually placed quite close to<br />

the rear of the vehicle, which means<br />

passengers in the third row are more<br />

likely to be injured in a rear-end<br />

collision.<br />

Kids and dogs on laps<br />

Riding as a front seat passenger<br />

with your child or dog on your lap is<br />

dangerous because of the speed at<br />

which your airbag inflates. Your child<br />

or pet could be seriously injured (if not<br />

killed) and the force at which they slam<br />

into your abdomen could cause serious<br />

internal injuries too.<br />

Where should you sit?<br />

The safest spot for adult passengers is<br />

usually the least comfortable spot: the<br />

middle of the back seat. Adults in this<br />

seat are usually the furthest from the<br />

point of impact and they are insulated<br />

by the other passengers. However,<br />

this spot is only the safest if the car is<br />

equipped with a secure seat belt for<br />

this seat.<br />

Details: MotorHappy provides honest<br />

advice, smart rewards and the best<br />

products in the Motorverse. From buying<br />

to selling your car and everything inbetween.<br />

Insure it. Maintain it. Protect it!<br />

www.motorhappy.co.za<br />

44 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga <strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong>


GET IT DIRECTORY


Love a safari<br />

Luxurious rooms + impressive meals + a massive roar = a perfect bush experience<br />

Room with a view.<br />

The invigorating feeling of the unknown, not<br />

knowing what’s around that very next bend,<br />

what sounds and smells will trigger your<br />

senses … this is what makes us fall in love with<br />

the bushveld over and over again.<br />

So, when we arrived at the newly opened<br />

Letamo Lodge at Qwabi Private Game<br />

Reserve in the Waterberg, Limpopo, we knew<br />

we were going to be catching all the feels that<br />

wildlife brings ... paired with an indulgent stay.<br />

With 11 000-hectares of Big Five land to<br />

explore, divided by wide open paths and<br />

lush terrain, we were relieved to be with<br />

fabulous guide Brendan - always cracking a<br />

joke, an impressive knowledge of both rhino<br />

and birdlife and he makes a decent cup of<br />

Amarula coffee!<br />

We’d hardly even set out on the first drive for<br />

a minute when we had our very first sighting<br />

… three hippos, the bull with his mouth wide<br />

open showing off his dominance. And as<br />

much as it was captivating to view from the<br />

4x4 game vehicle, it’s a sight that can easily be<br />

viewed from the lodge’s large rim-flow pool<br />

which overlooks the river. And the sightings<br />

on our drives just kept getting better and<br />

better. Even the pouring rain didn’t keep<br />

the animals away ... we spotted a cheetah<br />

gracefully walking along, crossing our path<br />

into the bush, a rather drenched wildebeest,<br />

and a rare sighting of foam-nest tree frogs<br />

going about their business. Highlight, if we<br />

had to choose, was a close encounter with a<br />

lion ... who gave a warning roar so fearful that<br />

The African wild cat that let out a roar.<br />

Compiled by: MEGAN BRETT<br />

Qwabi’s 4X4 game vehicle.<br />

Stripes among the wild daisies.<br />

46 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga <strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong>


Lemato Lodge’s rim-flow pool overlooking the river.<br />

a guest (could have been from Get It ... we’d never tell!)<br />

dropped her camera in fright. A perfect ending to the final<br />

game drive, since Qwabi means ‘African wild cat’ in the local<br />

Sesotho language.<br />

Back to the lodge ... G&T firmly in hand, we chatted to<br />

general manager of Qwabi Private Game Reserve, Dr André<br />

Uys, who told us the reserve is a conservation stronghold<br />

which is committed to preserve, protect and populate the<br />

African wildlife species. You can appreciate the passion<br />

behind their anti-poaching efforts and admire the focus on<br />

genetic management.<br />

It’s a large lodge ... a whopping 58 rooms, which has standard<br />

rooms (still jolly spacious with a king size bed, lovely white<br />

cotton linen and a private patio), as well as inter-linking rooms<br />

for families and luxury suites with private plunge pools. It’s all<br />

very natural, with calm tones and an Afri-chic vibe.<br />

For those who are looking for a little hedonistic luxury,<br />

there’s an incredible wellness spa ... the perfect place to get<br />

pampered and feel reenergised and our ideal spot to be<br />

spending our leisure time. Those with more energy can also<br />

hit the gym or padel court. For parents looking for some<br />

down time while they laze by the pool, there’s a really cool<br />

junior conservation ‘HQ’ where the staff will care for your<br />

little ones. They have set activities, arts and crafts, a jungle<br />

gym, PlayStation, swingball and so much more. What’s more,<br />

Letamo offers thoughtfully curated child-friendly safaris and<br />

a junior conservationists<br />

programme designed<br />

to instill the passion for<br />

nature at a young age.<br />

And on the menu -<br />

glorious indulgent<br />

breakfasts, light lunchcome-tea<br />

mid-afternoon,<br />

First sighting of a<br />

bull showing off.<br />

bush dinners outdoors if the weather plays fair or in the lodge<br />

restaurant overlooking the bush. Loads of African-inspired<br />

dishes (we tucked into a hearty oxtail potjie with polenta<br />

followed by the most delicious malva pudding) and an<br />

award-wining selection of southern African wines.<br />

This lodge is part of the Newmark Hotels & Reserves group,<br />

and they’re currently renovating two additional lodges<br />

on the grounds. Letamo Lodge, where we stayed, is the<br />

perfect spot for a luxury family bush vacay, but if you are<br />

looking for something more intimate, Babohi Lodge will be<br />

opening soon and is exclusively for adults. The third lodge<br />

to open will be Semela, and promises to be the ideal spot<br />

for corporate getaways.<br />

The rates at Lemato start at R6650 per person sharing,<br />

per night for full board, including daily game drives.<br />

Details: newmarkhotels.com/accommodation/qwabiprivate-game-reserve<br />

or follow them on social media @<br />

qwabiprivategamereserve


Spoil<br />

<strong>Mar</strong>ch<br />

Go wild and<br />

get glamping!<br />

WIN!<br />

Our <strong>Mar</strong>ch spoil is a<br />

wildlife getaway for two!<br />

The prize includes a two-night<br />

stay in a luxury glamping tent<br />

at Hluhluwe Bush Camp, valued<br />

at R2500. Find this post on our<br />

socials, @GetItMagNC and<br />

follow the prompts to enter.<br />

(T’s & C’s apply).<br />

In celebration of World Wildlife Day this month,<br />

we think you should book a sneaky getaway in the<br />

bush … don’t you? Hluhluwe Bush Camp offers<br />

you all of the wonderful pleasures of bush life and<br />

safari camping without any of the ‘hack’. Having<br />

recently won ‘best glamping spot in SA’, this truly<br />

is glamping at its very best! Watch the setting sun<br />

glisten off the surrounding wild grasslands with<br />

your loved one as you sip sundowners on your<br />

private patio of your luxury tented camp, or lounge<br />

by the pool, snacking on a pizza from the camp’s<br />

rustic café on sweltering days. Hluhluwe Bush Camp<br />

has a variety of accommodation options, including<br />

romantic getaways for two, tranquil retreats for one<br />

or adventurous family vacations. Details:<br />

www.hluhluwebushcamp.com<br />

48 Get It • <strong>Ballito</strong> • Umdloti • <strong>Umhl</strong>anga <strong>Mar</strong>ch 20<strong>23</strong>


Transforming amazing ideas into<br />

POSH REALITIES<br />

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a wide and varied range of special occasions, bringing sophistication and<br />

elegance to every celebration.<br />

With a team of experienced and passionate professionals, Posh Events By Design<br />

is committed to providing exceptional event planning and design services.<br />

Whether you’re looking for a classic and elegant affair, or a fun and vibrant<br />

celebration, they will bring your vision to life! If you’re looking for a company that<br />

can turn your event dreams into a reality, look no further than Posh Events By<br />

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Some summer time fun!<br />

Post Events By Design’s fabulous Outdoor Movie Night is the perfect way<br />

to enjoy a summer evening with friends and family. Their state-of-the-art<br />

equipment, stunning projections and comfortable seating will transport you to<br />

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movie buff or simply enjoy a good night out, this outdoor movie night is a great<br />

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