Grammy for Soweto Gospel
Choir.
The 26-member Soweto Gospel
Choir draws its talent from
the churches and communities
of South Africa’s largest
township. The choir, which was
assembled in 2002, won the
Grammy in the Traditional
World Music category in
February for its second album,
‘Blessed’.
Bushman's Kloof builds new
exclusive family suite.
Construction has been
completed at Koro Lodge,
("Koro" means "open vistas" in
the San language) the
wonderful new private villa,
specifically tailored for
friends and family, including
those with small children. The
beautiful old Karoo farm house
with its wrap-around veranda -
and its breathtaking views -
is being transformed into Koro
Lodge. The interior has been
completely refitted with
en-suite bathrooms,
state-of-the-art kitchen,
outside shower, a loft bedroom
for the children and a fully
equipped family and play room
- great care has been taken to
keep the surrounding Fynbos in
pristine condition, using the
sandstone rock formations to
the best effect. A small rim
flow pool was incorporated
into the front veranda.
Add to this your own private
guide, chef and hostess, and
Koro Lodge is the perfect
family getaway.
Rare ceremonial rock art site
discovery.
Siyakha Mguni, resident
archaeologist and curator at
Bushman's Kloof, can still
barely contain his
exhilaration at having
discovered an extremely rare
ceremonial rock art site on
the south-western edge of the
reserve. Globally renowned for
its exceptional rock art
legacy of an estimated 130
documented Bushman rock art
sites, Bushman's Kloof has,
since its inception, shown a
zealous dedication to
preserving this precious
heritage. This new rock
art site is the first at
Bushman's Kloof to depict
Bushman "rain-making" imagery
- a strikingly real rendition
of a religious ceremony
undertaken by the San people
to appeal for rain. This
"Rainbeast" site was found on
the walls of a large exposed
shelter, which is nearly 50
metres long and 12 metres
high. It is noteworthy for a
shelter of this size that it
seems never to have been
inhabited. The style of the
paintings is also a point of
interest, as it corresponds
more to the Bushman art found
in the Drakensberg, than that
found in the South-Western
Cape.
Pezula Castle on the beach.
Recently renovated, the
castle, which was built in the
1930s, is a few steps away
from Noetzie beach, one of the
most unspoilt and secluded
beaches on the Garden Route
coast. It now houses a
restaurant which serves light
meals and refreshments from
10:00 am to 5:00 pm every day
and is a great place for
guests to relax and soak up
the sun. With its whimsical,
romantic décor and exquisite
views of the beach, Noetzie
River mouth and the Indian
Ocean, it is run by the
hotel's gourmet restaurant
Zachary's, under the helm of
well-known Executive Chef
Geoffrey Murray (who hails
from New York). It caters for
hotel guests only and offers a
stunning venue to cool down at
lunch time after a morning in
the sun. Alternatively, guests
can order a delicious picnic
hamper to enjoy on the
secluded beach. Deck chairs,
umbrellas, towels and beach
games are available on
request. On cooler days,
guests can relax in the sunny
library room with its own real
log fireplace and watch the
waves crashing onto the shore.
Dolphins are regular visitors
to these warm waters and
whales can be spotted from May
to December.
And the herd has grown again
at Camp Jabulani.
It is with great pride that
Camp Jabulani announces the
arrival of the second baby to
the Camp Jabulani family -
Klaserie (named after the
Klaserie River that runs
through the reserve) was born
on Friday Feb 23, 2007 at
10:30 pm. Klaserie
weighed in at 85kgs - 187 lbs
(quite a bit heavier than
Limpopo, who as born on Aug
19, 2006 weighing 50kgs -
110lbs to Tokwe). Klaserie's
proud mother (Setombe) is in
excellent condition. With two
tiny creatures in the herd,
elephant safaris and
interactions promise to be
memorable and entertaining.
This truly is testament to the
quality of the Camp Jabulani
operation and the manner in
which the elephants are
protected and nurtured.
