http://www.flysaa.com/za/en/ | Booking your flight tickets for international or domestic flights? Be sure to take a look at this month’s edition of Sawubona – Travel Talk is jam-packed with holiday and adventure guidelines that will evoke a strong sense of wanderlust and itchy feet.

1. Travel TalkBeautiful escapes and experiences for the discerning traveller
Compiled by Ingrid Wood & Zaza Motha
Swaziland might be the
smallest country in the
Southern Hemisphere,
but it’s big on adventure.
Besides enjoying its
scenic mountains, valleys,
cascading rivers and
natural wonders, you
can experience a tree-
top canopy tour at the
Malolotaja Nature Reserve,
as well as tubing and
white-water rafting. While
you’re at it, explore the
stunning mountain-biking
trails in Mhlambanyatsi,
Hawane, Hlane, Mbuluzi
and Shewula. www.
thekingdomofswaziland.
com
Kingdomof adventure

2. 1. VIENNA The First District of this romantic city has been rebuilt
and renamed the “Golden Quarter”. With flagship stores of the
world’s finest brands, gorgeous offices, beautiful apartments
and an elegant Park Hyatt Hotel, the area’s vibrant with new
energy. www.goldenesquartier.at
2. CHARLESTON, CAROLINA, USA Known for its sedate beauty, this
city has opened some of its finest and oldest mansions for visitors
(and film locations). Dating back to the 17th
century, the plantation
homes have retained their stately elegance and are National Historic
Landmarks waiting to be explored. www.filmsc.com
3. LONDON In the city’s Seven Dials area is the latest member,
Tredwell’s. Named after a butler in an Agatha Christie thriller, the
modern cooking is informal and primarily gluten-free. Somewhere on
its three floors is a welcoming spot just waiting for you to raise your
Tredwell Collins. www.tredwells.com
4. STOCKHOLM Having undergone a full
renovation, the Veranda – right across the
street from the Palace – is the place to visit,
whether you need a drink after the Nobel
Prize-giving ceremony or are famished after
exploring the city. Its traditional smorgasbord
comes with all the trimmings, from herring to
meatballs. www.grandhotel.se
5. SANKT ANTON AM ARLBERG, AUSTRIA
Those wanting a tailor-made Alpine detox can
now check into Hotel Tannenhof, where they’ll
receive expert guidance on retraining the body’s
digestive system. Besides spa treatments, the five-
star hotel offers an alkaline-based menu, yoga
and hiking trails. www.hoteltannenhof.net
6. CAPE TOWN All designer Adam Hoet’s
work – including the Willow Lamp collection –
is made in the heart of the Mother City, in Salt River. The
latest designs are the Geometric Storm, inspired by abstract
art forms and the Mandala No 2, based on sacred Islamic
geometry. www.willowlamp.com
7. HAVANA With its passionate culture, old cars and
buildings, Havana is an intriguing and rewarding
destination. The Art Deco Hotel Naçional is the perfect
place to rest your head and think of its former famous
guests, including Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner.
www.hotelnacionaldecuba.com
travel talk
30 Sawubona April 2015
GLOBAL EYE
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By Daniel Scheffler

4. 32 Sawubona April 2015
Time-travel with a visit to Cape Town’s Santa Maria Novella store
(68 Waterkant St on the Cape Quarter Piazza), the perfumery’s
first boutique in Africa. Selling bespoke skincare products, oils and
fragrances, Santa Maria Novella is one of
the oldest perfumeries and pharmacies in the
world. It was established in Florence in 1221
by Dominican monks, who cultivated herbs for
medications, balms and ointments.
If you’re travelling to the region, the Officina
Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria
Novella (today the monastery is a museum)
still sells traditional elixirs, along with the
brand’s contemporary range – and the modern
products are still “the real deal”. The store creates
fragranced products using herbs and natural
lipids from the original centuries-old recipes.
What to buy? In 1533, Catherine de’ Medici
heard of the fragrant waters made by the monks
and commissioned one that became known
as acqua della regina (“water of the queen”).
Today this cologne, called Santa Novella Maria
Classic (R1 300 for 100ml), is still made using
the original ingredients of Calabrian bergamot, Sicilian citrus, neroli and
rosemary. – Helen Clemson 021 425 8181 www.smnovella.com
fragrances, Santa Maria Novella is one of
the oldest perfumeries and pharmacies in the
world. It was established in Florence in 1221
by Dominican monks, who cultivated herbs for
medications, balms and ointments.
Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria
Novella (today the monastery is a museum)
still sells traditional elixirs, along with the
brand’s contemporary range – and the modern
products are still “the real deal”. The store creates
HEAVEN SCENT
NEWS FLASH Yellow fever vaccinations are no longer necessary for travel
between Zambia, Tanzania and SA, according to the South
African Department of Health, after the World Health Organisation confirmed that Zambia
had low yellow fever potential exposure status. This is good news for SAA travellers to Lusaka,
Ndola and Livingstone in Zambia, as well as Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
travel talk

5. April 2015 Sawubona 00
Next time you’re travelling through Mpumalanga, book a stay
at the new BELGRACE BOUTIQUE HOTEL (above). This luxe
establishment has opulent touches like gold damask wall
coverings, hand-painted finishes and crystal chandeliers. Each
suite is decorated differently, while the two-bedroomed cottages
are equally grand, catering for families or couples travelling
together. Close to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport and
20 minutes from both Nelspruit and White River, it’s well placed
for business guests, as well as tourists wanting a glorious stay en
route to the bush. www.belgrace.co.za
Also in the area is SCHNEIDER’S GUEST
HOUSE, a five-star escape in the White
River Golf & Country Estate. Small and
intimate (two deluxe suites, two deluxe
rooms and two luxury rooms), it also
offers accommodation at Schneider’s
Holiday House, which is fully serviced
and sleeps eight guests. www.
schneidersguesthouse.com
FOREST FUN
If you’re in Cape Town’s
Constantia area, pop
into the Tokai Forest
Market (formerly known as the Porter Produce Estate Market)
for a shopping experience with a
difference. Established in 2007, it’s
a great day out and has something
for everyone, from food and crafts
to fashion and fun activities. We
recommend an on-site reflexology
treatment, fudge and pavlova from
Sublime and recycled art from
Yandiswa Mazwana. www.
tokaiforestmarket.co.za
LUXE IN THE
Lowveld
April 2015 Sawubona 00
IT’S ALL ABOUT
THE EXPERIENCE.
At Duma SPORT we tailor sports travel products
and services to match your passion, while
providing you with:
• Knowledge
• Control
• Peace of Mind.
www.dumasport.co.za
marketing@dumasport.co.za
Call 0860 111 667

6. travel talk
T
he sweeping plains of the Madikwe Hills Game Reserve – a 75 000ha
malaria-free expanse hugging the border of Botswana – spread out in the
distance, with a large watering hole in the foreground. In a matter of minutes,
the tableaux of wildlife before you can change in completely unexpected ways.
Look away for a second and when you resume your gaze, a herd of elephants
may be descending on the watering hole or a giraffe may have loped into view.
The species frequenting the watering hole are so diverse and frequent that you
can’t help feeling as if you’re watching a rigged TV show, rather than real life.
The lodge boasts 10 elegant suites dotted around the hilly outcrop from which
it takes its name. The suites at the foot of the koppie offer up-close, personal views
of the animals coming down to drink. These are best enjoyed from the coolness
of your private plunge pool, or from the air-conditioned space containing your
expansive, muslin-bedecked bed. Raised wooden walkways connect these suites
to the lounge, bar, library and main deck atop the hill, ensuring guests work
up an appetite on their way to the delicious five-star meals. (The lodge’s superb
cuisine is undoubtedly one of its strongest selling points.)
The walkways also connect the main lodge to the upper suites, which afford
equally spectacular views. Perched eyrie-like on the outcrop, the walkways’ floor-
to-ceiling windows frame expansive vistas of the reserve in all directions.
Being nestled in the heart of the reserve gives Madikwe Hills an advantage
over many of its border-bound counterparts: guests can explore most of the area’s
varied terrain. A morning game drive could see you tracking wild dog spoor
along the northern boundary fence, while the afternoon game drive could find
you heading south on the trail of a leopard.
The reserve is home to the Big Five, over 60 species of mammals and a large
number of bird species, so game drives are never dull, especially with the aid of
the resident skilled rangers and trackers. They’re not only highly knowledgeable
about the reserve’s flora and fauna, but regale guests around the campfire with
spellbinding anecdotes about encounters with animals. These tales are the kind of
thing great bush experiences are made of – and you’re guaranteed to add a few
of your own stories after a stay at Madikwe Hills.
Activities: Bush walks or even a five-day photographic safari, if you’re a
keen shutterbug. There’s also a fully equipped gym and an on-site spa offers
added relaxation.
Rates: R5 650-R7 550 pp per night sharing, depending on the time of year.
www.madikwe.net/MadikweHillsLodge
By Rebecca Johnson
Some views are hard to beat. The vista you see while relaxing
on the main deck of Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge –
preferably with a cocktail in your hand – is one of them
We tried it

7. Head Office Johannesburg Cape Town
0860 111 667 010 593 2572 021 201 6110
Durban Pretoria Pietermaritzburg
031 940 5900 012 763 0300 033 347 5067
We look forward to hearing from you Themba and Nomvula Mthombeni.
www.dumatravel.co.za

8. travel talk
36 Sawubona April 2015
B
ut what if you could change the lives
of those you pass along the way?
It’s a possibility more and more
mountain bike events are starting to explore
– and few epitomise this community spirit
better than the Old Mutual JoBerg2c.
Covering 900km, four provinces and
over 100 farms, the event assists struggling
rural communities all along its route from
Johannesburg to Scottburgh, leaving riders
and residents irrevocably changed.
Fittingly held around Freedom Day
(27 April) each year, the nine-day “journey
of the soul” is inspired by its cousin, the
Nedbank Sani2c.
The community-centred model,
developed by farmer and sani2c founder
Glen Haw, is fairly simple. Nine rural
schools and community organisations
are paid to run the 24 water points
and overnight stops. Instead of using
commercial service providers at the eight
race villages, teachers, church members,
parents and children volunteer their time
on behalf of the organisations, adding a
personal touch to the participants’ stay.
Mountains of banana bread and
koeksisters are freshly baked in home
kitchens, fathers turn hundreds of steaks
on braai fires and kids help by washing
bikes and carrying mattresses and kit bags
to riders’ tents.
The organisers also facilitate
introductions to potential product
and service sponsors, which helps the
communities stretch their profit margins.
For many of the schools, the JoBerg2c has
become their annual fund-raising event,
with profits often exceeding R250 000 per
race village. More than R2 million in total
profits was generated last year.
In addition, the race has helped establish
six container libraries at underprivileged
schools along the route as part of the
Mandela Day Participate for Good
initiative, with more in the pipeline.
According to organiser Craig Wapnick,
the farmers open their arms and lands to
riders because they see the future gains.
“If rural schools thrive, their children
don’t need to be sent away as boarders,
young farming families can settle down,
more people remain in town and the whole
local economy benefits,” he says.
In exchange for this feel-good factor,
riders get a taste of the real SA and the
experience of a lifetime. As the dramatic
landscapes change, so do the cultures,
languages and foods.
Leaving the fast-paced cityscapes of
Gauteng behind, participants glimpse
Mpumalanga as they head for the
eastern Free State, where the closely-
knit Afrikaans- and Sesotho-speaking
communities demonstrate their well-
known hospitality.
After coming down the escarpment
into KwaZulu-Natal, the Drakensberg
mountains rise up to greet riders. Here, the
locals speak mainly English and isiZulu.
When the riders finally emerge from the
coastal sugarcane plantations and splash in
the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, they
have more than a medal and memories:
they have a sense of meaning.
The 2015 Old Mutual JoBerg2c
takes place from 24 April-2 May.
www.joberg2c.co.za
Mountain-biking across SA can be a life-changing experience for those who choose to see
the country from a different perspective
KEVINTRAUTMAN

10. 38 Sawubona April 2015
travel talk
FINCH HATTONS, A
LUXURY ECO-TENTED
CAMP IN KENYA’S
TSAVO NATIONAL
PARK, RECENTLY
RE-OPENED AFTER
UNDERGOING A
MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR
REFURBISHMENT
UNDER THE
SUPERVISION OF
RENOWNED SOUTH
AFRICAN LODGE
ARCHITECT FRANCOIS
THERON. IT FIRST
OPENED ITS DOORS
IN 1992. SET ON
14HA, IT BOASTS
BRAND-NEW TENTED
SUITES, A POOL, A
SPA, CONFERENCE
FACILITIES, A STAR-
GAZING TERRACE
AND A YOGA DECK
WITH VIEWS OVER THE
CHYULU HILLS.
WWW.
FINCHHATTONS.COM
Stellenbosch’s Salon 58 at the PJ
Olivier Art Centre is the brainchild
of Jackie Burger, former Editor of Elle
SA. Nearly three years ago, after
visiting Chanel’s salon at 31 Rue
Cambon in Paris, she identified a gap
in the market for a space showcasing
African creative and design talent.
The result is Salon 58, offering
services that include regular soirées,
each with its own theme (think
fashion, beauty, food and decor).
“Salon 58 is the expression of my
dream of creating a ‘place of magic’
where we can kick off our shoes and
connect, while enjoying one of life’s
ultimate pleasures: good company,”
says Burger. As its host, she’ll present
content she’s curated, while limited
numbers of guests can exchange
ideas and knowledge. Soirée tickets
range from R550.
If group sessions aren’t your
thing, book a personal tête-a-tête
with Burger. – Helen Clemson 082
5756 831 ww.salon58.co.za
FINCH HATTONS
RE-OPENS
Style solution
Did you know?
SAA Voyager members are able
to redeem miles on all Mango scheduled flights,
including your trip to Zanzibar, the spice island, which is
a quick 3.5 hour flight away. www.flymango.com