ASHTONS

JUNE. JULY. AUGUST. 2017

INTO THE WILD

FREE COPY

One cannot
resist the lure
of Africa.
Rudyard Kipling

July. August. 2017 // 1

June. for
Published indepently
 Hello
Help ensure their tomorrow

BEST INTERNATIONAL
REAL ESTATE AGENCY,
MARKETING.
To experience award-winning service,
LETTER FROM ANDREW ILES
contact the property experts for sales,
rentals and free valuation advice. Thanks very much for your interest in Ashtons. If you’re reading

pamgolding.co.za this during an Ashtons transfer, we are delighted to have you

with us and trust that our staff are taking the best care of you.

Welcome to the second edition of the ‘Ashtons: Into the Wild’

magazine. Please be sure to take your copy of the magazine
STANDARD TOUR: home with you and share it with friends and family. And why
Educational and exciting 2-hour guided tours through the Centre. 7 days a week.
CHEETAH FOCUS TOUR: not test out your photography skills and enter our photographic
Standard tour, Cheetah run, Wild Dog feeding and Vulture feeding.
DELI & ACCOMMODATION:
On-site Deli and self-catering accommodation available: BOOKINGS competition on page 29.
Khula’s Cottage (sleeps 6 - 8) & Sebeka Guesthouse (sleeps 6) ESSENTIAL

Tel: +27 15 793 1633 | Mobile: +27 83 654 2279
Email: frontoffice@cheetahcentre.co.za
As a company we have enjoyed some encouraging growth,
WWW.HESC.CO.ZA
developments and milestones over the past few months. For
the first five months of 2017 we have transferred 20% more
passengers than we did over the same period in 2016. And in
early May we crossed the threshold of 50 000 long-haul transfer
passengers booked since we launched the ‘Kruger Shuttle:
Hoedspruit’ in 2010! All our Toyota Quantums have recently
been fitted with new PA systems to make communication
from your driver simpler and more professional. And we are in
the final testing phase before we go live with free Wi-Fi in each
of our vehicles.

The Ashtons marketing team has enjoyed very successful

interactions this year at various travel trade shows around the
globe, including ITB in Berlin, WTM Africa in Cape Town, and
Indaba in Durban. And there is a lot of positive hype about the
new ‘Kruger Shuttle: Hazyview’ which commences operations
on 1 November 2017.

If this is your first time visiting South Africa, we hope that you
enjoy the beauty and diversity as the journey unfolds. Take in
Contact us to take advantage of our marketing expertise:
all the sights, sounds and smells that Africa has to offer as you
Hoedspruit 015 793 2712 or 082 565 3611
journey with us Into the Wild.
lowveld@pamgolding.co.za

pamgolding.co.za/hoedspruit
Andrew

June. July. August. 2017 // 3


Introducing our new
ECO LUXE
EXCLUSIVE-USE
PROPERT Y
Pafuri | Kruger National Park
Pel’s Post is The Outpost’s new exclusive use, satellite The Outpost accommodates 24 guests in 12 open plan,
lodge. With only 4 suites accommodating a maximum of en-suite luxury spaces cantilevered on a hill overlooking
8 guests, it is ideal for small groups and families looking to the Luvuvhu River. The private, free standing spaces are
indulge in their own private bush hideaway. inter-connected to each other and the central lodge area
Explore this mystical area known as the Eden of Kruger by a winding teak walkway.
with the luxury of your own private vehicle and guide. Contemporary architecture makes use of concrete and
Enjoy the breath-taking views from one of the many steel with state of the art retractable screens offering
decks as you connect harmoniously with nature and the 180º of uninterrupted views of the secluded and majestic
people closest to you. African wilderness.
CO N TAC T US FO R MO R E I N FO R M AT I O N A N D TO B O O K YO U R S TAY
E M A IL re s e r v at i o ns @ t h e o up o s t .co. za PH O N E +27 1 1 327 3 9 10
Makuleke Contractual Park | Pafuri | Kruger National Park
w w w.t h e o ut p o s t .co. za
ASHTONS INTO THE WILD TEAM
PUBLISHER & SALES
LORNA MACLEOD
10 BIG SHOT
ART DIRECTOR
ALICE FREEDMAN PHOTO SAFARIS - THE NEW BIGGEST THING
JUNIOR DESIGNER
ROXANNE CONRADIE
13 SHOOTING FOR THE FUTURE
EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAMME
ADMINISTRATION & SALES
14 TRASH 2 TREASURE
CREATIVE RECYCLING ENRICHES LIVES
KIRSTEN MACMILLAN
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
16 BEES AND TREES
AN INGENIOUS CONSERVATION PROJECT
EMMA JORDAN
ANDY SULLIVAN
22 HIGH CUISINE
LONDON RESTAURANT HIGH TIMBER AND SABI SABI COLLABORATE
COVER PHOTO
BRAD MARAIS
30 HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
WHAT DO YOU MEAN ‘YOU HAVEN’T BEEN TO THE KRUGER?!’
PUBLISHED BY MAC PUBLISHING
& CONSULTING ON BEHALF OF
ASHTONS.
ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES
LORNA@MACPUBLISHING.CO.ZA
+27 (0)78 425 4382
6 ASHTONS TEAM, SCHEDULES & IMPORTANT INFORMATION
7 PROFILE - ABLE ABY
9 ROUTE MAP
26 PARK NEWS
28 FUN STUFF, LETTERS, COMPETITIONS
Hello and welcome to the second issue of Ashtons Into the Wild! We’re
so excited to be working on this great new publication, that has been so
well received by readers, tour operators and lodges. We catch up with
MAC
designdesign, i am also
the brainchild of me, a mother, a wife, a
Alice, a graphic designer, daughter, a sister, a friend
visual artist, digital manipulator, and in the face of deadlines
creative, creator, daydreamer, a contortionist. I have dogs,
thinker and all round ideas-girl. a cat, two goldfish, a home, I pay taxes.
i have tattoos. Unconventional – yes.i breathe colour,
think in shapes and when I design, it’s love that moves my hand
for typography, for bold lines and daring design. love for the aesthetic,
i get a kick out of composition
the founder of Pangolin Photo Safaris to find out more about getting out
and get goosebumps when I see visual harmony emerge on paper or pixel.
i live to design and design to live. What inspires me? Life, love,
smiles, drinking coffee, modernity, clean lines borne of clever thought,
art, illustrations, good food, great typography. Everything inspires,
from manga, music, movies, a colour swatch to the shapes
of trees, birds on a wire. My ideas stem from simplicity
a life less complicated and complemented by design that echoes such.
I don’t just design, I create.I think out of the box, I rethink
the box. Break it down, turn it inside out and upside down
so that at the end of it, it’s not a box but whatever it is
you want it to be. Life’s short, live it with
Publishing
endless love and reckless abandon.
Dance when people are watching,
paint your walls all shades
of awesome, laugh
often, have fun
and just
be
& Consulting
into the wild and catching the best shot of the day. From Trash 2 Treasure
Editorial Disclaimer. Ashtons and Mac Publishing
initiatives to Bees and Trees and Sabi Sabi collaborating with London
consider its sources reliable and verifies as much data Restaurant High Timber. Finally, a company is nothing without it’s people
as possible. However, reporting inaccuracies can occur,
consequently readers using this information do so at
and every issue we’ll be chatting to one of the knowledgeable Ashtons’
their own risk. While every effort has been made to crew. This issue it’s Aby Kane, reservations consultant, affectionately
ensure that information is correct at the time of going
known as Able Aby, who’s passion is to deal with people. If you have
to print, Mac Publishing & Consulting cannot be held
responsible for the outcome of any action or decision a passion for photography, why not enter our wildlife photography
based on the information contained in this publication.
The publishers or authors do not give any warranty for the
competition on page 29 and stand a chance for your photo to appear
completeness or accuracy for this publication’s content, on the cover of Ashtons Into the Wild. For now, sit back, relax and have a
explanation or opinion. © Mac Publishing & Consulting.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
comfortable journey. Happy reading! PS: Please send us your feedback
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in on the magazine and your experiences in the bush. We would love to
any form without prior written permission of the Publisher.
hear from you, email kirsten@macpublishing.co.za
Wild team xx
Permission is only deemed valid if approval is in writing.
Ashtons buy all rights to contributions, text and images,
e Ashtons Into the
Th
unless previously agreed to in writing.
June. July. August. 2017 // 5
ASHTONS WHY BOOK THE ASHTONS KRUGER SHUTTLE?

TEAM Over 50 000 clients already booked between January 2010 and May 2017.

Daily departures from Johannesburg, Hoedspruit, Skukuza, PHKG, and

Hazyview with no minimum passenger requirements or single supplements.
OPERATIONS
Ian Mitchell Opportunity to view some of South Africa’s most beautiful scenery en route.
David Harrison
Provides the most affordable transfer between JOHANNESBURG and the
game lodges and safari operations in the greater HOEDSPRUIT, PHALABORWA,
RESERVATIONS
HAZYVIEW & Southern Kruger areas.
reservations@ashtonstours.com
+27 (0)21 683 0234 Our fixed pricing makes travelling between JHB and Hoedspruit/KMIA the most
cost effective. Ashtons offers commission off rack rates to all registered agents, tour
Corien Mitchell operators, game lodges and accommodation facilities.
Monica Ehlers
Elize De Meyer Ashtons offers 7 HDS area shuttle locations which are at or close to all main
reserve gates for lodge collection and return.
Aby Kane
Nelia Nel
Ashtons also offers shuttle rates for transfer between Johannesburg and every
game lodge in the greater Hoedspruit & Hazyview areas - separate vehicles are
MARKETING used for the local transfers.
Andrew Iles
Mymoena Davids International quality shuttle vehicles - clients are transferred in 14-seater
Gillian Lithgow Toyota Quantums with air-conditioning, individual seat belts, bottled water,
cup holders, magazine nets, satellite tracking, and large luggage trailers.

DRIVERS
R100 Million Passenger Liability Insurance and PAX-Sure of R500 000 per seat.
Chris Cosnett
Brendon Matthysen Shuttle drivers are very experienced, have a valid professional driving permit,
James Wheeler and each drive for maximum 6-8 hours per day.
Gerhard Scheepers
Hector Ndlovu Ashtons has been a South African tour operator since 1993 and is a Bonded
National Member of SATSA (membership number 486).
Ruza Scheepers
Johan Britz The Ashtons Kruger Shuttles are endorsed by all the major tour operators,
Gilly Gordon lodges and accommodation facilities that bring international tourists into the
Hannes van Helsdingen Greater Kruger areas & surrounds.

SHUTTLE SCHEDULE
Kruger Shuttle: Hoedspruit
Pick-up / Drop-off Location Arrival time from Johannesburg Departure time to Johannesburg Applicable Reserves & Areas
OR Tambo Depart at 06h45 Arrives at 17h00 - 18h00 -
Southern Boom Gate 12h15 - 12h45 12h00 Karongwe, Makalali
Three Bridges 12h30 - 13h00 11h45 Parsons, Grietjie and Pabalorwa
Olifants West Gate 12h45 - 13h15 11h30 Balule
York Gate 12h45 - 13h15 11h30 Balule
Kamogelo 13h00 - 13h30 11h15 Hoedspruit and surrounds
East Gate Airport 13h15 - 13h45 11h00 Kapama, Thornybush
The Bush Pub and Inn 13h15 - 13h45 10h45 Klaserie, Timbavati


Kruger Shuttle: Hazyview
Pick-up / Drop-off Location Arrival time from Johannesburg Departure time to Johannesburg Applicable Reserves & Areas
OR Tambo Depart at 07h45 Arrives at 17h00 - 18h00 -
Nelspruit - Shell N4 Highway 11h15 - 11h45 13h15 Nelspruit
White River - Sitanani Caltex 11h45 - 12h15 12h45 White River
Hazyview - Perry’s Bridge 12h30 - 13h00 12h00 Hazyview
Protea Hotel Kruger Gate 13h30 -14h00 11h00 Kruger National Park, Sabi Sands
Skukuza 14h30 - 15h00 10h00 Kruger National Park

6 // June. July. August. 2017 June. July. August. 2017 // 7

 ABLE ABY

“W hen you help a client have a beautiful holiday in

South Africa it’s amazing. For me it’s about the
extra mile that goes into making a person happy.”

When Aby Kane first came to South His best advice when visiting South “You can’t see the entire beauty of the
Africa fifteen years ago, he was looking Africa? Visit the Kruger National Park. country in one trip,” he says. Focus on
for adventure. “The Kruger National Park is where you a certain part and come again in a few
get the best wildlife experience,” he says. years time and see another part.” But
Leaving his home town in Senegal he most importantly, he says. “Enjoy your
was on the hunt to meet new people and Additionally as the country is so large, his trip!”
experience the extraordinary. Through best advice is to focus on one element.
his work with Ashtons as reservations
consultant, this has certainly come
to fruition – every day he encounters
different individuals from all over the
world. And they all want one thing – to
experience the best of South Africa – in a
unique and exciting way.

“A real highlight for me is dealing with

people,” explains Aby. “I love resolving
problems and meeting the needs of
clients.

“When you help a client have a beautiful

holiday in South Africa it’s amazing.
For me it’s about the extra mile that
goes into making a person happy. I love
working with them to offer them the best

All good things

experience and ultimately bring positive
experiences into their lives.”

Although Aby doesn’t live out in the bush

are wild and free.

he says that working with South Africa’s
natural resources adds a different dynamic
to his job. There’s an unpredictability to
every day – the weather, the animals,
everything can change in a second.

- Henry David Thoreau :

SENEGALESE ABY KANE PRACTICES HIS GERMAN, FRENCH AND ENGLISH SKILLS AS RESERVATIONS CONSULTANT FOR ASHTONS

PHOTO BY CHRIS COSNETT

8 // June. July. August. 2017 June. July. August. 2017 // 9

BIG SHOT
Photo safaris are the newest big thing. We catch up with the founder of
Pangolin Photo Safaris to find out more about getting out into the wild and
catching the best shot of the day.
“With the advent of digital photography
and social media, people are becoming
more and more photographically
minded and so we found that safari
clients were seeking out more photo
centric offerings,” explains Toby Jermyn,
co-founder of Pangolin Photo Safaris.
“Thus Pangolin was born.”
10 // June. July. August. 2017
Today, the company operates year round
from the Pangolin boat in Chobe and
adds further photo safaris across the
continent. There are packages that
include Botswana, Sabi and Cape Town
as well as specialist tours with top wildlife
photographers like Nelis Wolmarans and
Helena and Grant Atkinson.
As well as operating year round and
creating innovative tours, Pangolin also
supplies all their clients with state of
the art DSLR cameras and telephoto
lenses. Clients are given a hard drive of
their photos to take home or if more
convenient, they’re burnt onto a disk.
“Everyone is a photographer these days,”
says Jermyn. “We all have a camera on us
all day long [on our trusty smart phones]
so its only natural that this would carry
over into safaris. We are exposed to more
images than ever before on a daily basis.”
His biggest advice for the first time
photographer aiming to take an award-
winning National Geographic-like
shot? Don’t pressure yourself. “People
sometimes arrive with such great
expectations about getting an award
winning shot on their first day,” he says.
“We aim to improve everyones
photography while they are with us
whether it be for an afternoon or a week
and you will get some shots you are
proud of no matter what level you are as
long as you have the right guidance and
advice. So relax and enjoy it!”
: A PANGOLIN PHOTO SAFARIS BOAT HELPS GUESTS GET THE SHOT IN CHOBE.
Jermyn is adamant a laid-back attitude for capturing action sequences,” says
trumps. He says it’s much easier to get a Jermyn. “I’m sure they will get there soon
good shot out of a camera you’re familiar though,” he adds.
with and find easy to use, over one that
doesn’t sit well in your hands.
“It doesn’t matter what brand your
camera is or how much it costs,” he says.
“As long as you can master the functions
of the camera you are using you will be
surprised with the results from even the
most basic piece of kit.” “Everyone is
And don’t forget that trusty smart
phone. Not only do they allow for instant a photographer
uploading (connectivity allowing), but
when it comes to image resolution
and video capabilities they can be
these days.”
comparable to traditional cameras.
“Where they can’t compete with a
stand alone camera just yet is the zoom
capabilities and also the frame rate
June. July. August. 2017 // 11
SMART SNAPPING
MUST HAVE GADGETS FOR
YOUR SMARTPHONE
TRIPOD (Probably the most
useful accessory)
A tripod, if set up properly, assists in enhancing
sharpness and depth of field, framing precision
and extends your photographic range. There
are various tutorials one can google or youtube
on how to effectively use your tripod.
APPS FOR EDITING
A great app for beginners is FX Photo Studio.
Other great software for manipulating and
fixing photos is photo PS Express.
APPS FOR EFFECTS
Picture show - this app brings a diverse
aesthetic characteristics, toy camera effects,
and extremely thorough photo editing
capabilities.
Dynamic Light - allows you to manipulate the
photo in the software. Dynamic Light gives you
the best and most vibrant HDR-like look on any
mobile platform.
Olloclip
This is wide-angle lens that has a magnet that
clips to your smartphone. Olloclip lenses take
amazing pictures with available light.
Bluetooth remote for iPhone
Remotely controlling your smartphone camera
can also help take better photos as it triggers
your camera shutter without having to touch
the camera.
Flashes
Due to onboard camera flashes having limited
uses, an external flash for iOS and Android
which works in photo and video mode is
recommended. Due to its power it becomes an
indispensable accessory. The external flashes
are a must for taking smartphone photography
to the next level.
HOOKUPZ™ IPHONE
BINOCULAR ADAPTER
This incredible gadget takes zooming to a
new level, with an adapter that allows you
to connect your iPhone to any full-sized
(23-50mm objective lens) binocular to snap
pictures or record video directly through the
eyes of the binoculars themselves! It comes
with two interchangeable rubber rings
that allow the adapter to fit most full-sized
binoculars that have an outer eyepiece housing
diameter between 40-44mm.
12 // June. July. August. 2017
Teenagers in communities around Kruger are learning the
art of wildlife photography through an exciting educational
outreach programme that aims to open their eyes and their
hearts to conservation.
SHOOTING FOR
THE FUTURE
Despite living within a few kilometres of
Kruger, many young learners have never
visited a wilderness area before, or seen
wildlife at first-hand. Through the work of
Wild Shots Educational Outreach these
children are taught new skills and given a
“focus” through an introduction to the natural
world that helps raise their aspirations.
“I moved to Hoedspruit nearly two years ago,”
he continues. “I wanted to live in the bush,
and be near to Kruger. I was dismayed to
discover that the majority of students living in
Acornhoek (the town right on the very edge
of Kruger) had never been into the Park, or
had not had the opportunity to see wildlife.
“How are we ever going to save Africa’s
wildlife – if the conservationists of tomorrow
have never seen their wildlife, and have never
experienced or connected with wild animals
and wild places?”
The aim of the Wild Shots Educational
Outreach Programme is to engage young
people from disadvantaged communities in
wildlife and wild places through photography.
Wild Shots Educational Outreach teaches
new skills, providing a “focus” and
introduction to the natural world and helps
raise the aspirations of these learners.
“It is our hope that this programme will start
to sow the seeds, inspiring and supporting
the next generation of African photographers
– and helping to connect them with their
natural history heritage,” adds Kendrick.
The course is practical in nature and the
students, aged sixteen and seventeen, use
donated second-hand digital SLR cameras,
culminating with a day in a game reserve,
putting their new-found skills to use.
Wild Shots Outreach has had a successful
first twelve months; sixteen courses have
been completed with 165 young people
taking part.
The students work has been exhibited in the
Lowveld and at the prestigious Everard Read
Gallery in Johannesburg. As well as proudly
taking part in the exhibition launch events,
a group of students also attended the Wild
Shots wildlife photography conference in
Johannesburg.
“It is important that this programme leaves
a legacy,” says Kendrick. “We are working
closely with the South African Wildlife College,
on the outskirts of Hoedspruit, to develop
introductory days for students, as well as
investigating work experience opportunities
within the Hoedspruit Community.”
Student feedback has been overwhelmingly
positive: “I feel so special to be learning about
nature and photography,” says sixteen-year-
old Loveness Molobela.
“Thank you Wild Shots for taking our learners
to the next level and inspiring them,” says the
principal of Phedulani High School, Lorraine
Kubayi.
For more information see
www.wildshotsevent.com/outreach
June. July. August. 2017 // 13
 Trash to treasure
Trash 2 Treasure is the crafting initiative for the non-profit organisation, Nourish. It focuses on
sustainable entrepreneurship opportunities for men and women in rural communities.
“The Trash 2 Treasure programme keeps alive
traditional crafting and beading skills and allows
lodges and travellers to buy meaningful curios.”
“Nourish felt that money wasn’t being
spent in any way that impacted the rural
and poor communities that border luxury
reserves,” explains Sarah Bergs of Nourish
NGO. “For this reason, we started Trash
2 Treasure to up-skill local crafters and
artists, and provide a beautiful, authentic
product to the tourist industry.”
Nourish works with unemployed men
and women to generate an income
through creating and selling crafts, with
an emphasis on recycling and using
waste as a resource.
The Trash 2 Treasure programme also
keeps alive traditional crafting and
beading skills and allows lodges and
travellers to buy meaningful curios that
actually give back to the community.
“Whilst we are still working on growing
our Trash 2 Treasure range we already see
a very real impact,” continues Bergs. “For
some people involved in the NGO, craft
is their only form of income, and its a
success in itself to see one or two crafters
14 // June. July. August. 2017
generating a sustainable livelihood from
their handiwork.
“This is what Trash 2 Treasure and Nourish
is all about, economic empowerment
and capacity building to grow resilient
communities.”
A positive by-product of this initiative is
that recycling happens at a grassroots
level through seeing waste as resource.
“This is our second goal,” adds Bergs.
“To encourage local men and women in
Acornhoek and surrounding communities
to create arts and crafts using recycled
goods.
“While we can encourage recycling,
we cannot make it a reality until we
bestow a personal benefit to it. Through
encouraging creative crafting, we can
put skills in place which are pro-active
in cleaning the community as well as
creating a sustainable source of income.
Through this we not only encourage
entrepreneurship, but also a “green
(
BEAUTIFUL TREASURES
CREATED FROM RECYCLED
MATERIALS.
mindset” that utilises and respects the
environment.”
Nourish hopes to use its Trash 2 Treasure
project to encourage social consciousness
and lodge involvement – and so to create
a platform whereby local craftsmen and
women can show and sell their wares to
international tourists.
These crafts however are more than just a
souvenir - each piece is specially crafted
from recycled goods - showing guests
and tourists that the community is more
than just business minded, but have a
heart for the environment too.
Want to make a donation to Nourish?
Ashtons has set up a
donation account for
Nourish. Simply scan this
QR code and follow the
steps. Download Zapper
from www.zapper.com
June. July. August. 2017 // 15
 BEES AND
FARMING WITH BEES
Beehive Fences are simple and cheap,
made with no cement and using
only locally sourced materials. Hives,
sale of ‘Elephant-Friendly Honey’ and bee experiencing human expansion and
products; increased quality of life with development. Often such expansion
greater income and less life-threatening includes negative activities such as

TREES
or dummy hives, are hung every ten
meters and linked together in a specific
formation so that should an elephant
touch one of the hives, or interconnecting
wire, the beehives all along the fence line
will swing and release the bees.
An innovative new method allows nature to regulate sustainability. These have been field tested in three
rural farming communities in Kenya
with over eighty percent success rate.
FEATURE BY Emma Jordan Rural small scale farmers benefit from
Beehive Fences in many ways including
reduced invasive elephant crop raids that
often cause trauma and injury to family
members; increased yield production
through both reduced damage and,
potentially, increased bee apollination
of crops; additional income through the
Human Elephant Conflict situations.
In most areas the concept of Beehive
Fences is easily adopted, as beekeeping
is an age-old activity that the majority of
African communities already participate
in. Traditional communities commonly
harvest wild honey from wild hives and
enjoy honey as a natural food source and
sweetener. Although modern box hives
and beekeeping is often new for some
farmers, they adapt quickly to the simple
skills needed to look after the hives and
to harvest honey efficiently.
Indirectly, the project supports an
increased honey bee population
into farming areas which are, mostly,
overgrazing, land clearance and charcoal
burning. Additional bee pollinators
in such areas should help to increase
pollination rates of natural vegetation
such as trees, bushes, flowering shrubs
and wild grasses. This not only increases
quality forage for livestock but also
maintains a carbon sink for storing
atmospheric carbon.
Additionally, farmers might begin to
see beekeeping as a more sustainable
and financially viable alternative to
charcoal burning as one tree can support
many beehives for many years, but only
produces one bag of charcoal once.

“Over a period of nine months twenty seven trees from the

There’s no denying elephants love trees.
They love to strip bark, eat leaves, bash
over trunks and generally cause chaos in
their quest for satiation. A revolutionary
new approach to protecting trees, and
particularly the iconic Marula tree has
been developed using an effective natural
partner – the African honeybee.
The method is simple. Hang a beehive off
a tree and when the tree is disturbed, the
bees are aggravated. And no one likes an
angry bee. Especially not an elephant.
“The elephant’s skin may be very thick,
but their eyes and ears are extremely
sensitive,” says Robin Cook who has been
conducting a study into the efficacy of
this method in the Jejane Private Nature
Reserve. “There’s also a theory that as the
bees love moisture and the elephants’
trunk is very moist they can fly up and get
stuck.” To be sure, not pleasant for either
creature.
Cook worked on this study as part of
his master’s dissertation at the request
of Dr Michelle Henley, CEO and co-
founder of Elephants Alive. He carried
out his research under the supervision
of Dr Henley and Dr Lucy King from the
Elephants and Bees project in Kenya,
with further supervision from his Wits
professors, Associate Professor Francesca
Parrini and Professor Ed Witkowski.
“In 2015 Elephants Alive asked Robin
Cook to take the study on as his MSc.
degree through the University of the
Witwatersrand’s Centre for African
Ecology Lab to test how effective African
honeybees are at protecting iconic trees
when compared to the tried and tested
method of wire-net protection which
does increase the survival rate of tall trees
favoured by elephants as food sources,”
says Dr Henley.
The study wrapped chicken mesh around
the trunks of fifty trees, put beehives in
fifty trees and used a control of fifty trees
to the see the efficacy. Over a period of
nine months twenty seven trees from the
control were affected by the elephants,
control were impacted by the elephants, fourteen of the wire-net
protected trees and only one of the trees with the beehives.”
fourteen of the wire-net protected
trees and only one of the trees with the
beehives.
Based on this evidence, Elephants Alive
successfully submitted a funding proposal
which will enable them to start using
the superior Beepak hives which better
protect the bee colonies from adverse
conditions, and permit the commercial
production of “elephant friendly” honey
and wax.
“Harvesting the honey and wax will up-
skill members of the local community,
thereby providing an alternative livelihood
and increasing food security,” adds
Henley. “Additionally human elephant
conflict is reduced as the elephants avoid
damaging the Marula trees with the
hives. It’s a win win solution for elephants,
large trees, landowners and the local
community.“
For more information see
www.elephantsalive.org
ROBIN COOK WITH THE BEE HIVE AFTER INSTALLATION :

16 // June. July. August. 2017 June. July. August. 2017 // 17

Live your wildlife dream What is a Safari Guide?
You are paid to take people out into
the wilds of Africa, to work outdoors
and to be the ambassador of Africa’s
wildlife! Sitting around the warm
flickering flames of a campfire each
evening, savouring the smell of wood
smoke, forming friendships with guests
and guides alike. Your guests have great
expectations of their brief interval in
Africa’s wilderness. You hold in your
hands the realisation of their dreams of
Africa’s wild.
guests are paying for this experience so
create the experience around the guest’s
needs. Always be punctual. Silence
– break your game drives regularly,
particularly at night, to allow your guests
to sit in silence and absorb the sounds
of the bush. Sitting quietly in their own
thoughts during the drive will revive
them.

Field Guiding is about the genuine

enjoyment of people and an honest
appreciation of, and dedication to, all
the many faces nature has to offer us. It
is indeed a privileged occupation!

WHAT will you do? Your office will

be the African
A Safari Guide walks and drives guests
into the game reserves to interpret, in
a hands-on inspirational manner, the
large and small elements of the wildlife
around them. All the while, a deep bushveld,
I am looking for a Gap Year or Career in the African bush! appreciation of nature and conservation
is instilled in your guests.
your meetings
If you love the idea of taking safari guests from all over the world on
walks and game-drives into Africa’s big five reserves, finding wildlife for
You would be responsible for managing
those encounters that cause the
adrenalin to pump through your veins,
will consist of
them, teaching them fascina�ng facts about animals and ecosystems, then
EcoTraining’s Professional Field Guide course is for you.
with Africa’s big five on foot or in the
vehicle, ensuring your guests enjoy a encounters with
animals.
thrilling closeness to the game yet with
the necessary caution taken.
Four to five months of theore�cal and prac�cal training by our highly
SKILLS you will learn for LIFE!
qualified instructors will qualify you with various cer�ficate courses. The Safari Guiding requires life skills, not just
next five to six months you will work at a lodge with experienced guides guiding skills. Self development is a big
PLUS as a Safari Guide. WHY BECOME A SAFARI GUIDE?
and lodge managers, mentoring you and developing your newly acquired Your office will be the African bushveld,
skills. Sensitivity - always be sensitive to the your meetings will consist of encounters
animals, the environment and to your with animals. Your job description is an
guests. Standards - continually strive interesting one of many valuable roles!
For one year you will be exposed to diverse ecological and geological to better oneself and your company. A guide, teacher, friend, game warden,
terrains, landscapes, wildlife species and so much more. You are the best ambassador for the doctor, storyteller and sometimes even
ecotourism industry. Don’t let a slip of a cook for your guests, each day is never
standards spoil a guest’s experience. quite the same! And each day in the
Where you will train A subtle and diplomatic approach bush is a surprise as the interactions
Courses are conducted from unfenced tented bush camps in Africa’s is required at all times. This approach between animals provide unique
allows you to deal with conflicts experiences that both you and your
magical wilderness areas, including the Kruger Park and Mashatu Game successfully and endears you to your guests learn from. Add to this, getting
Reserve in Botswana. All teem with the big five, antelope and a huge guests. Be sincere in everything that you to know interesting people from all
do. Be true to yourself and maintain over the globe keeps you tuned into the
diversity of birds. Learners at camp co-exist with the environment, i an honest approach. Spirit - always be world at large.
mmersed in nature. enthusiastic in everything you do. Try
new things with your guests like sleep- If the above doesn’t inspire you to want
2017 upcoming courses: 4 September, 2 October outs in the bush or a late night safari. to learn what it takes to be a Safari
Always go the extra mile to make their Guide, then… watch some videos on the
experience more meaningful and fun. EcoTraining Youtube channel. You will
CONTACT US: +27 (0)13 752 2532 Selflessness – remember that your be hooked!
www.ecotraining.co.za
18 // June. July. August. 2017 enquiries@ecotraining.co.za June. July. August. 2017 // 19
Here I am
where I belong.
- Karen Blixen

PHOTO BY CHRIS COSNETT

20 // June. July. August. 2017 June. July. August. 2017 // 21
 HIGH CUISINE
Creating an innovative international partnership with London restaurant High Timber,
Sabi Sabi explores an ongoing cultural collaboration.
FEATURE BY Emma Jordan
When Sabi Sabi was looking for an
innovative way to up their kitchen
game, they formed a partnership
with High Timber, the South
African-owned restaurant in the City
of London.
Owned and operated by the team
behind Jordan wine estate, High
Timber has a natural association
with the South African landscape
and is a fellow internationally
recognised African brand.
: CHEFS CONRADIE KRUGER AND MIRCEL MCSWEEN
22 // June. July. August. 2017
The partnership, engineered to
foster exchange between the chefs
had it’s own challenges. Head Chef
Mircel McSween, although familiar
with South African food, had never
stepped foot in the African bush, yet
alone prepared his artful cuisine in
the wild – that is, until November
last year.
Cooking in the bush is a unique
experience. Inevitably there’s an
element of isolation and a rigorous
schedule due to the bush routine
– crack of dawn bush drives,
followed by breakfast, followed by
lunch, followed by tea, followed by
sundowners and canapes, followed
by supper.
“It was a whole different experience
for me,” says McSween, who has
worked as a Head Chef for over five
years. “But most daunting of all
was the idea that I was to cook in
an entirely new kitchen I was not
familiar with.”
June. July. August. 2017 // 23
 “The idea was
that our respective
Chefs collaborate
with each other,
discussing
flavours, trends
and recipes, which
would enhance
both kitchens and
which are unique
to each Chef’s
personal style.”
Menu planning had taken place weeks before, but it He also had trouble with his parsnip. “When cooked, I
wasn’t until the chefs were actually face to face they expected it to be sweet, but for some reason the African
could go through the ingredients. “Due to the location parsnip retained a bitterness. It was very confusing for
of the lodge ordering had to take place before I arrived,” me,” he said.
explained McSween. “That was very different for me. In
London, if I’m in a rush I can make a call and I’ll get a “The idea was that our respective Chefs collaborate
delivery in three hours.” For an idea of the remoteness, with each other, discussing flavours, trends and recipes,
Hoedspruit is a two hour drive from the Sabi Earth which would enhance both kitchens and which are
Lodge. unique to each Chef’s personal style,” explains Jacques
Smit, Marketing Director for Sabi Sabi.
Nevertheless he created exquisite dishes, including
impala fillet, with pumpkin dumpling, pistachio, roasted “The result is an ongoing communication between
zucchini, blueberry gastrique and thyme jus. two iconic brands, complementing each other in
their dining styles and menus – and certainly this is a
“The impala really surprised me,” says the London chef. relationship that we are nurturing and which we hope
“It had an exceptionally strong gamey flavour which I will be sustainable for many years to come.”
would have expected from a very well hung venison.
But this was not aged, it was a very young piece of A Sabi Sabi chef will be in residence in High Timber in
meat.” late October 2017.

24 // June. July. August. 2017 June. July. August. 2017 // 25

The Kruger National Park is
made up of a community
of both wildlife and people.
As with any community,
change is continuous,
so here is some news on
what’s happening in
the area.
STOPPING POACHERS
IN THEIR TRACKS:
THE MEERKAT RADAR
SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM
Two weeks after its introduction
in January, the Kruger National
Park’s wide range surveillance
technology, the Meerkat,
managed to stop five out of
nine detected rhino poaching
incidents.
“It’s almost like the angel on your
shoulder that can see where you
cannot see and that makes it a
lot safer for the ranger,” Kruger
National Park technical operations
manager Mark Andrew McGill said
in a promotional video.
“If we want to save rhinos, we have
to keep our rangers safe.”
Developed by South Africa’s
Council for Scientific and
Industrial Research (CSIR), the
Meerkat uses a radar system
to detect movement and plots
the movement on a map. An
electronic optical surveillance
system is then used to identify
the exact location of potential
poachers.
“Once we have done that and we
have a position on the poachers -
a specific latitude and longitude
- we can call in a reaction unit,
either by helicopter or via road,”
McGill said.
On February 14, the system
detected three separate groups of
poachers.
“It can be said with confidence
that if the Meerkat was not
operational on this night, anything
between four to eight, or more,
rhinos may have been killed,” a
statement by the reserve reads.
26 // June. July. August. 2017
LATEST SIGHTINGS: THE
GROUP & THEIR USEFUL
DEVELOPMENTS
Latest Sightings was established in 2012
by schoolboy Nadav Ossendryver. As an
obsessive Kruger Park visitor Nadav’s
favourite pastime was asking his parents
to flag down passing motorists and
asking them what they had seen. This led
to him establishing Latest Sightings and
from there it quite literally exploded!
The community is extremely loyal and
without question “obsessed” about
wildlife and the amazing Kruger Park!
Many followers chat with friends daily on
the WhatsApp groups, whether they’re
in the Park or in the office. They share
incredible video content through the
Latest Sightings YouTube channel and it
has quickly become one of the top ten
most viewed channels in South Africa.
Latest Sightings is a great way to meet
like minded people and to explore your
passion for wildlife. Like their Facebook
page or download the app (for both
iOS and Android) to become part of the
fastest growing wildlife group in SA.
The Latest Sightings app allows visitors
who are currently on safari, be they
rangers or tourists, to report the animals
and events that they are seeing - live.
They report their location, time and
sighting to Latest Sightings, which in
turn broadcasts these ‘tings’ (a reported
sighting) to the smartphone app. This
app currently has 200 000-plus people in
the community.
KRUGER MONTHLY
E-GUIDE
This handy e-Guide helps
visitors navigate and spot more
wildlife at the Kruger National
Park - creating a bit more surety
around those once-in-a-lifetime
experiences.
According to Latest Sightings,
subscribing to the monthly
e-Guide helps you plan your
self-drive safari based on actual
sightings shared within the
community.
“This is a must-have electronic
guide when in the park,” says
Latest Sighting’s Founder Nadav
Ossendryver. “We analysed
thousands of sightings that are
shared on a monthly basis and
put together a guide that will
help you plan the best routes
based on hard data”
The guide includes a map
detailing the sightings featured in
the last monthly period, suggests
varying routes for either a short
or long drive, in each area of the
park.
It’s is coupled with detailed
statistics and graphs highlighting
the best camps and the best
times to spot your favourite big
predator, a checklist as well
as links to interesting videos
from the month that the Latest
Sightings Community has sent in.
“Obviously no sighting is ever
guaranteed, but knowing what
has been seen where is a proven
way to help increase sightings
while out on a game drive,” says
Ossendryver.
June. July. August. 2017 // 27

KILLER SUDOKU:
Normal Sudoku rules apply, except the numbers in the cells
contained within grey lines add up to the figures in the corner. No
number can be repeated within each shape formed by grey lines.
SUDOKU:
There are nine blocks, each containing nine squares. Each of the
nine blocks has to contain all the numbers 1-9 within its squares.
Each number can only appear once in a row, column or box..
LETTERS
Why we love Ashtons Tours
“Hey guys! 
What an unexpected pleasure! 
We had so much fun
on our trip! Met great new people! 
Chris Cosnett drove safely,
entertained us and gave us informative info on our way! 
He also
took some pics and ensured that everyone receives it!
We really had so much fun!
The trip back from Hoedspruit to Johannesburg was also fun, a
bit more reserved though as everyone was tired!
I will travel with Ashton’s ANYDAY, any time - always!
Thanks for an amazing and professional, fun-filled experience!
God Bless!”
Chrisna Swart, April 2017
“Simple, comfortable and affordable. WIN WIN WIN . 100% will
use this service in the future.”
Dale Warburton, April 2017
“Our experience with Ashton’s was very pleasant. The shuttle
arrived on time and although it was full we had sufficient space
for all four of us to travel comfortably. The six hour trip went by
fairly quickly even with our two kids! Thanks for offering this useful
service.”
Kathryn Rossiter and Family, April 2017
“I have used the Ashtons shuttle to Hoedspruit now for the
second time and it was all excellent. The picking up at O.R.
Tambo was easy and in time, the drive was very good, the
places where we stopped were nice and we arrived in time
in Hoedspruit. I would always recommend Ashtons as a very
comfortable and easy way to get from Johannesburg to the
Kruger National Park.”
Bettina Brandt, January 2017

BE A COVER STAR! Submit your best wildlife photos and stand a

chance of having your image on the cover. Send up to five high res
images to kirsten@macpublishing.co.za

A colony of bees consists of 20,000-60,000 bees, comprising
of the workers, drones and one queen.
Each colony smells different to bees, this is so they can tell
where they live!
Only worker bees sting, and only if they feel threatened and
they die once they sting.
It is estimated that 1100 honey bee stings are required to
be fatal.
Honey was found in the tombs in Egypt and it was still edible!
Bees have been here around 30 million years.
Honey contains all of the substances needed to sustain
life, including enzymes, water, minerals and vitamins and
bacteria can’t grow in it.
Eating honey can help you ‘bee’ smarter! It is the only food to
contain ‘pinocembrin’ that is an antioxidant that improves
brain function.
They are able to make complex calculations on distance
travelled and foraging efficiency.
Sadly, over the past 15 years, colonies of bees have been
disappearing, and the reason remains unknown. Referred to
as ‘colony collapse disorder’, billions of Honey bees across
the world are leaving their hives, never to return. In some
regions, up to 90% of bees have disappeared!
Bees are the only insects in the world that make food that
humans can eat.
They have 170 odorant receptors, compared with only 62 in
fruit flies and 79 in mosquitoes.
The average worker bee produces about 1/12th teaspoon of
honey in her lifetime.
Bees communicate through chemical scents called
pheromones and through special bee dances.
It takes one ounce of honey to fuel a bee’s flight around the
world.

“If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live.” ~ Albert Einstein
Find all 12 Differences
28 // June. July. August. 2017 June. July. August. 2017 // 29
 WORDS BY Yves Marion

WHAT DO YOU MEAN ‘YOU

HAVEN’T BEEN TO THE KRUGER!!?’
I am 47 years old and have lived in South Africa nearly all
my life and I have NEVER been to the Kruger National Park.
When I tell people this their response tends to be utter shock
and disbelief, almost leaning towards disgust.
“What do you mean you haven’t been to the Kruger!!?” they ask
incredulously. “Well I haven’t been,” I answer. To which they
invariably ask how long I’ve lived in SA and go on to repeat the
same question again as though the length of time justifies a
different response. “What do you mean you haven’t been to the
Kruger?!”
This all changed a few weeks ago, when I did actually visit the
Kruger National Park. It’s only taken me almost half a century,
but now I know what all the fuss is about. What an amazing,
humbling experience!
I went with three of my girlfriends, two of which have pretty
much lived in the bush all their lives (so they say, but I suspect
they’ve only really been about three times) and my other friend,
who, like me…HAS NEVER BEEN TO…you get the message.
We stayed in the most beautiful Bateleur main camp and
were spoilt rotten. Everything was looked after, our bags were
carried, we were fed from dawn to dusk and taken on the most
amazing games drives.
Well, I nearly screeched with excitement, but I know the rules
of the bush…no screeching! So there he was, he wasn’t calling
for his brother though and I couldn’t understand why…maybe
it was a family feud over a lady, or maybe his brother ate his
Wildebeest.
But then we heard the calls and a few meters away, emerging
from the bush came the calling brother, they saw one another
and walked ever so casually over to each other and then
embraced!!
It was like the movie Lion King, (or maybe not, as in the movie
the brothers weren’t friends) they appeared so happy to be
together, loving and rubbing up against each other like kittens!
I was so overwhelmed, I cried. It was, quite possibly, one of the
most beautiful things that I have witnessed in my life!
If you’re reading this in Ashtons then I’m so happy for you that
you too will soon be able to have a similar experience. It really
is exceptional. And now, I am one of those individuals who say,
“So when I was in the Kruger...oh, you haven’t been..?? What do
you mean you haven’t….”

We did indeed see the Big 5, and a highlight for me was

witnessing the reunion of two male lions.

On the first morning we were woken by a lion call. It is such a

deep sound (which I have been practicing on many people…
to their irritation…) and something that is difficult to explain if
you haven’t heard it first hand. For me, it was truly exciting and
I said to my bestie, “Gosh he sounds like he’s in the camp.” She
replied: “No, he’s probably about two or three kilometers away.”
She was right – maybe she really did grow up in the bush?!

After a quick outside shower and warm cup of tea and dunked
rusks, we headed out for the 6am game drive, super excited to
try and find the source of the roar. We found it, a lone male lion
was calling for his brother. He called and called, but there was
no answer.

We followed him for around an hour and then it was decided by

our esteemed ranger and very sharp game spotter, Lucky (who
actually spots chameleons at NIGHT… yes at night!), that we
should leave him, as the Landy (I’m a Kruger goer now, so have
the jargon….that’s Land Rover to you lot that haven’t been…),
could be interfering with his calls.

This made me sad as I didn’t want to leave him, I felt he needed

a friend. Anyway, we did move on and drove through the
thick bush for about ten mins. Suddenly, in front of us was his
handsome brother!

30 // June. July. August. 2017 June. July. August. 2017 // 31

32 // June. July. August. 2017