Month: July 2012

Every country in the world has a specialty when it comes to food and dining, South Africa however is so culturally diverse that we can offer an extensive range when it comes to culinary experiences.

Every culture in our beautiful country will have one or more specific dishes that they regard as “Traditional”.  As a nation, we borrow these traditions and recipes from each other, so meal times would often lead to gloriously colorful plates of food. Meal times are also when South Africans get together – this is relevant to all cultures. We sit, we talk, we eat, we drink and generally we regard meal times as “Family Time”

At Vuyani this is exactly what we want to offer our guests, the most authentic and traditional dishes, enjoyed together – as a family.

On crisp, clear evenings we often serve dinner in the “Boma” – this is an enclosed circular area away from the main building and any unnatural light. A fire is lit in the centre and the remainder of the area lit by the use of lanterns and candles which gives it a magical ambience. The natural light provides the perfect opportunity to gaze up at the breath taking African Sky.

Dinner is served buffet style and this is also when we introduce our guests to most South African’s favorite past time:  which is having a “Braai”.

A “Braai” is a barbeque where, traditionally meat is cooked on an open wood fire, South Africans however, will always “Braai” more than one type of meat – of which “Boerewors” will almost always be present. “Boerewors” is a traditional South African Spicy Sausage; the distinct taste of dried coriander is what makes this sausage authentic.

Accompaniments to a Braai would normally be  “Pap and Sheba”. “Pap” is finely ground maize which is then cooked in water – it is similar to Polenta. On the Braai you will also find Corn on the Cob, Black Mushrooms, Beef Kebabs, Chicken or a juicy Rump Steak. Your typical South African household would commonly also add Potato Salad, Garden Salad and Garlic Bread.

“Braai Time” is typical family time where everyone would gather around the fire for a relaxing evening of good food and drink.

In the bush “Braai Time” is also significant with Rangers sharing their experiences of living and working in Africa, and this is also where almost every African Culture would share legends and myths, told and retold from generation to generation.  The most memorable tales are often told around a camp fire.

“Braai” and “Boma” are as South African as they come and one can now fully see the significance of the “Rainbow Nation”

Sitting around a fire in the African Bush can be truly hypnotic. The sizzling of “Boerewors” on the hot coals, the orange glow of the fire and a Jackal calling in the distance…

*Justine Ferreira

Planning a Safari in Africa must be one of the most exciting moments in a person’s life. I can only imagine sitting in an office in the middle of Manhattan, New York (yes, I can, because I have actually been there, believe it or not) or maybe in a nice country home in Wiltshire, England. Planning how you would spend your well earned vacation time.
Searching the internet for Safari Lodges in Africa can be very challenging; most guests are looking for a location where you wouldn’t necessarily have to “rough it” too much, as I can imagine that there must be a “better half” involved with the entire decision making operation – and I can almost hear the terms and conditions being laid down.
Then after some extensive research, you finally decide on a destination, and the days, weeks or even months seem to drag by, slower than a snail and tortoise race. You make absolutely sure that everything is packed, and repacked and for good measure packed and repacked again. You make hundreds of checklists, but still manage to forget the Sunscreen, or your binoculars.
This is actually pretty standard for anyone going on a trip 
So on your arrival in South Africa, you are a little irresolute at first, because suddenly you remember that some years ago you read an article about Man Eating Lions in Africa, or was that a movie with Michael Douglas? Suddenly you forget that you are scared of Lion, because now all you can think about is whether it was an article or a movie. So that makes Check In at the lodge a little hazy.
The first Safari is always the most exciting one; you meet your Ranger and expect to see the Big 5 within about 10 minutes. (Because this is what happens on National Geographic and Animal Planet) But after the Ranger has explained all the rules of a Safari, you seem to be a bit more hesitant as to the whole National Geographic and Travel Channel safari’s. It seems to be a little more dangerous as to what you had expected. But none the less, you are ready for whatever may happen.
Safari goes spectacularly, and you realize that it takes hard work and skill to track the animals. You helped the ranger track and find the Lion! This gives you a sense of accomplishment and pride, maybe you will become a Game Ranger in Africa? You will have to contemplate this later.
After a scrumptious dinner and some leading South African wine, you retire. It’s going to be an early wake up for Safari, and you are planning on tracking some more of the Big 5. In the middle of the night you jump up and remember: it WAS a movie with Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer called The Ghost and the Darkness and you decide to check if the DVD is for sale once you are back from Safari.
After about the third safari, you are clearly a pro at spotting animals, and you feel it is time for the next challenge. So you enquire about a Walk in the Kruger National Park.
Ready for action, the walk is booked and you are absolutely keyed up about the whole experience. The next morning in the complete pitch black darkness, you guzzle down some coffee, make sure you are wearing good walking shoes, and depart on the adventure of a life time. And from my point of view this is how I would describe it:
“It is that time in the morning where it seems you are the only person on the planet. It is dead quiet. Every living being is still nestled warmly in a place of tranquillity. The sun has already cast a shimmer of orange on the horizon, and the array of colours are growing brighter by the second. Birds start waking and immediately begin the communication ritual; insects are also starting to appear everywhere – making themselves heard. I stand with my eyes closed for a couple of minutes, taking in the sounds and breathing the crisp morning air. I can almost feel the sun starting to warm my skin. The rest of the group are also in awe of the wonders that an African morning can bring into being. We fall into single file and our walk officially starts.
It amazes me at how sensitive one’s hearing becomes. Your eyes dart in every direction, for even the smallest sound. It is almost as if you have suddenly developed a sixth sense. Butterflies and Bees are hard at work, collecting nectar from the most vibrant flowers and a whole colony of termites is on the move, ensuring that they produce only the best for their queen. A locust flies nosily by, and for a second you forget that you only seem to be concentrating on a metre radius around you.
You stare into the distance and see some movement, unsure of what it might be; you prod the person in front of you. The ranger stops and gives you the signal to hunker down, and you know that there is a potentially dangerous animal in your vicinity. The adrenalin starts pumping through your whole body and you can feel all the little hairs in the back of your neck stand up. Your heart is pumping so loudly that it seems it is located in your eardrums.
The ranger points towards something in the near distance – you strain your neck to see what it could be, without batting an eyelash. Then it appears…
A glistening mix of black and white, a long slender body and the most graceful movements you have ever seen. It is a Cheetah – admirably beautiful, it creeps through the grass right in the direction of where you are sitting.
As it approaches the Ranger looks back and whispers that it is a female. The next minute the cat gives a very high pitched screech like call – and you nearly fall over. Very unexpected Mrs. Cheetah, Very unexpected indeed. But then she decides to come and investigate your little group, and if you thought that your heart was pumping before, it was no match as to what your chest cavity is experiencing at the moment, and you just hope your ribs are strong enough.
The Cheetah spots a low lying branch of a tree and with one swift movement jumps up and starts scanning the horizon. You are unsure if she is aware of your presence and the Ranger tells you that you can take some pictures. This is of course an incredible photographic opportunity and you happily start snapping away. The Cheetah seems to have lost interest in everything around it and decides to move on. She jumps off the tree branch with the most graceful elegance. Swift and effortless, without disturbing so much as a blade of grass, she trots off, she stops only once to look back. As if to say, be safe my friends, it is Wildest Africa out here, and then she is gone.
Truly extraordinary that an animal can appear and disappear in a matter of seconds. Everyone seems ecstatic with the sighting and you press on with your walk. After spotting some collection of birdlife and just enjoying the fresh air and remarkable warm sun. The Ranger leads you through a patch of grass where the Safari Vehicle is waiting to take you back to the lodge, and it’s hard to believe that 3 hours have passed in the blink of an eye.”
The walk is the most wonderful experience – it truly does make you feel at one with nature. You seem to observe and appreciate so much more.
It teaches us respect for even the smallest of creatures – we need to be careful not to step on them. It teaches us respect for even the largest of creatures – we need to be careful they don’t step on us.
So if you ever decide to go on Safari – I would most definitely recommend a Walk. It is truly spectacular.

*Justine Ferreira