our south african dream
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our south african dream
welcome to aaldering wine estate and luxury lodges baie welkom
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Dear guests, Writing a word of welcome for this beautiful book about our ‘South African Dream’, is a privilege. Years ago, we knew we would one day be making wine. We also knew that we would want to be making very fine wine. In 2004, we were able to buy this vineyard. Ever since, we have done everything in our power to turn it into something fantastic. We built a new winery with sophisticated equipment and a shed for the agricultural machinery. Also we added new white cultivars, such as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, to the close to twenty year old vines for red wine. Over the past years, our eight beautiful wines won numerous medals and scored high marks and today, they are exported to over 25 countries. We are delighted and, indeed, rather proud. During these years, we invested heavily in good and competent staff. Not only are they a joy to work with, you can taste it in the quality of our wines. In 2013, the five-star lodges were finished. They cater for our guests who wish to stay on an active, vibrant winery during the day, while enjoying the peace and quiet of Devon Valley at night. You too will have experienced South Africa as a unique country, with a highly distinct culture and wonderful, hospitable people. The scenery is breathtaking. Whether it is the immense mountains, the vast plains or the rugged coastline with its deserted beaches, they are the ultimate in natural beauty. Nowhere in the world is the flora as rich and diverse as in South Africa. We could talk for days about the fauna, truly unique and truly Africa! In short, for us, South Africa is a country in a ‘golden frame’. It is an honour to present you with this beautifully illustrated book. Enjoy it, as an inspiring trip down memory lane. We hope that, from time to time, it will encourage you to plan another visit to this wonderful country. We would love to see you again in Stellenbosch. Marianne and Fons Aaldering Aaldering Wine Estate and Luxury Lodges
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the birth of aaldering wine estate and luxury lodges The Stellenbosch region is situated within the Cape Floral Kingdom. This may be the smallest of the world’s six Floral Kingdoms, its complex biodiversity also makes it the richest. Stellenbosch is well-known for being very well suited to agriculture. This was recognized by the early European settlers in 1679, when they branched out from the Cape Peninsula in search of more arable land. The Eerste River Valley, currently the Stellenbosch region, was developed accordingly.
percent control in the vineyards and in the winery is key to crafting wines that are of the top-order and the world is Aaldering’s oyster as far as components for world class wines go. The approach to winemaking is one of traditionalism and minimal intervention, using new technology where it matters most. All grapes are hand harvested early morning, and harvesting grinds to a halt midmorning, due to the effect of the heat on the integrity of the fruit. All fruit is first placed into a grape cooling store, which has a capacity to store up to 10 tons of fruit. Therefore, there is no time pressure to process the fruit. The fruit is removed from the cooling store and loaded onto a conveyor system. Whole bunches and leaves are sorted at this point. The destemmer and crusher then separate the fruit from the bunch. From here, the fruit is sorted by hand and by the vibrating sorting system: only fruit with perfect integrity makes it through to the tanks (red wines) or the press (white wines).
WINE CAPITAL OF SOUTH AFRICA
Aaldering Wine Estate and Luxury Lodges is situated in the beautiful Devon Valley ward, in the heart of the Stellenbosch region. This has long been known as the wine capital of South Africa, firstly because of the sheer amount of wineries present, and secondly because its soils, climate and biodiversity are second to none in South Africa for wine production. Marianne and Fons Aaldering identified this potential in their worldwide search for a premium wine property. It had always been their dream to own a property with a vineyard that had special characteristics and the potential to produce world class wines. So, in 2004 they purchased this small property of 22ha in the middle of Devon Valley and Aaldering Wine Estate and Luxury Lodges was born.
FERMENTATION KINETIC
White grapes are moved through into a pneumatic press. This press employs state-of-the-art technology, ensuring that a high yield of free-run, top grade juice is extracted. White wines are then fermented in stainless steel tanks. However, a 35 percent portion of Chardonnay goes into 100 percent French oak (300L) barrels. Currently, Aaldering employs about 35 percent spontaneous fermentation (wild ferment) and 65 percent inoculated yeast fermentation. The winemaker really enjoys the fermentation kinetic and profiles that spontaneous fermentations give to the wines. And watch this space, because in the future, fermentations may only be conducted spontaneously. The Aaldering red wines are fermented in specially designed stainless steel tanks: shorter and wider for increased surface area and skin-to-juice ratio. Each tank is fitted with its own irrigation system, which allows pump overs to be employed effortlessly. Provisions are also made to allow for punch downs, if necessary. It is important to keep the grape skin cap wet, throughout the whole process of fermentation.
A UNIQUE TERROIR
The terroir of the Devon Valley is very unique and special. Numerous factors combine to create a recipe for the perfect terroir. The soils of this area are derived from decomposed granite and present a clay/loamy profile, that provides the perfect balance between free drainage and good water retention. These soils are classed mainly as Hutton and Clovelly soils, both of which are found on the farm. Secondly, the property’s layout and aspect are unique as they offer a valley with the opportunity to plant vineyards facing all 360 degrees on the compass. This ultimately leads to the possibility of producing more complex wines, with very interesting and different fruit profiles. Furthermore, the fact that the soils are derived from decomposed granite adds to the minerality and sense of place of the wines.
ELEGANCE AND FRESHNESS
A very important consideration in the making of Aaldering wines, is the decision as to which oak compliments the wines’ characters. Oak choice is of critical importance to the integrity of the wine, and to what style of wine is being achieved.
ON THE PURSUIT OF MAKING PERFECT WINES
A state-of-the-art winery was commissioned in 2011, and this has allowed for the next step in the pursuit of making perfect wines to take place. 100
the approach to winemaking is one of traditionalism and minimal intervention, using new technology where it matters most 6
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the birth of aaldering wine estate and luxury lodges Aaldering aims for elegance and freshness, with a sense of place. It is important to Marianne and Fons Aaldering and their dedicated staff that people are able to enjoy a bottle of Aaldering wine, and feel the passion, commitment and sense of place it exudes. For that reason, the choice in oak is solely French oak, all tight grain, and mostly of medium toast. Only three to four different coopers’ barrels are accepted into the cellar. And all barrels are scrutinized before having the honour of aging the fine wines. Once the barrel ageing is complete (22-24 months depending on wine), the focus is on the blending of the wines. A very important step in the ultimate wine, each and every barrel is tasted: any barrel considered not to fit the blend profile is de-classified, ensuring premium quality. Blends are then made and bottling is outsourced to the professionals. They come to the property and bottle on the
Estate. From there, the wines are aged in bottle up to one year, and are then labelled and received into the markets of the chosen partners. SUSTAINABLE ENTREPRENEURSHIP
The focus towards sustainability in both the vineyards and winery has been rewarded with IPW (Integrated Production of Wine) status and with induction into the EnviroWines group, which acknowledges those producers who perform admirably in their IPW audits. Aaldering is currently (2014) one of the only 10 wineries inducted into this group. This focus on producing premium wines, whilst nurturing the environment, epitomizes ‘the Aaldering way’. We invite you to come and experience it for yourself at Aaldering Wine Estate and Luxury Lodges.
this focus on producing premium wines, whilst nurturing the environment, epitomizes ‘the aaldering way’
The property’s layout and aspect are unique as they offer a valley with the opportunity to plant vineyards facing all 360 degrees on the compass.
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Sitting pretty in the centre cradle of this quiet working wine farm, the three connected guest houses make up the five-star accommodation. They are a picture of stillness and serenity, with tranquil views of budding vines, glistening dams and undulating hills cascading from each lodge’s terrace. An inviting pastoral calm embraces the whole estate, and complete exclusivity is the order of the day.
“With so much privacy and so little opportunity for disturbance or distraction, it’s easy for our guests to feel that this is their very own, secluded property,� explains lodge manager William Mukondwa, who boasts a big smile and an even bigger passion for his work.
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There are vacations and then there are retreats. The former are fun, but often busy breaks from work. The latter are restful, soul-soothing escapes from everyday life. What the luxury lodges at Aaldering Wine Estate and Luxury Lodges in Stellenbosch’s Devon Valley offer is a real, rejuvenating retreat.
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tasting notes
Sauvignon Blanc 2014 Tropical elements unite to light up this wine with an explosion of exotic fruits knitted together by fresh minerality with a zesty citrus farewell.
Lady M 2014 A benchmark Pinotage, the signature red grape of South Africa. The complex palate starts off with mulberries and raspberries and leads on to nuts and spices. A wine for sophisticates.
Chardonnay 2014 A triumph of terroir. The southern sun coaxed peaches and pears from a matrix of minerality, leaving hints of spicy vanilla lingering on the palate.
Shiraz 2011 A powerful wine that bursts with aromas of blackcurrants, cloves, and herbs, intertwined with a rich mouth feel of ripe fruit, pepper spice and supple polished tannins.
Pinotage Blanc 2014 A unique Blanc de Noir that conjures up the intense aromas of stone fruit, underlain by a subtle spiciness which adds to the mystic appeal of a well-rounded and creamy palate.
Pinotage 2011 An expressive wine showing raspberry, strawberry and rhubarb fruit aromas, with cherry, spice and fine grained tannins on the palate.
Pinotage Rosé 2014 A savory sensation of a barrelfermented rosé with an appealing salmon-pink hue, presented on a canvas of classic red fruits with subtle, lingering elegance.
Cabernet Sauvignon – Merlot 2011 A well structured wine with fresh aromas of cassis, boysenberry, bell pepper and cigar-box spice, backed by firm integrated tannins.
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south africa at a glance “ there is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.� - nelson mandela
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south africa at a glance Once the red earth is in your blood, you will always feel that yearning. It definitely has to do with the hospitable people, the deserted beaches, the impressive waves and the smell of the ocean. With the setting sun, casting a golden glow over the land. With the exuberant starry sky, which seems to sprinkle the nightly earth with thousands of diamonds. But also with the sound of silence, the almost audible quietude in those infinite, vast landscapes. Or with the monumental nature reserves with the animals as works of art. The giant whales in the ocean, the penguins on the beach, the baboons along the roadside, elephants near a waterhole, lions hunting, a leopard in a tree... The South African dream in words and images, proving that South Africa is indeed the whole world in one country.
S O U T H A F R I C A’ S W I N E L A N D S
The Cape Winelands boast some of the most majestic, unexpectedly lush scenery in South Africa. Here is the opportunity to sample excellent wines and superior dining in restaurants, many of which are on Cape Dutch style wine farms. Wine capitals such as Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, offer opulent living to the max. South Africa’s Winelands produced the first local wines in 1659. Since then, the industry has gone from strength to strength and it is not hard to see why. The climate, cooling winds, soil and expertise are the perfect ingredients for wines with a capital W: high-end quality wines, many of which have won international acclaim.
magnificent Cederberg range and, of course, Cape Town’s Table Mountain, embracing the Mother City and the most iconic landmark of South Africa. Declared one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the mountain is of emblematic value. Nelson Mandela referred to it as a beacon of hope. “During the many years of incarceration on Robben Island, we often looked across Table Bay at the magnificent silhouette of Table Mountain. To us on Robben Island, Table Mountain was a beacon of hope. It represented the mainland to which we would one day return.” Former South African president F.W. de Klerk said: “Table Mountain is also a symbol for the history of South Africa, as it was at its feet that the first Dutch traders made their settlement and created the city that is now known as the Mother City.” Also Archbishop Desmond Tutu spoke highly of the magical landmark: “I really can understand how, when God created all that there is he said, ‘I think I’ve got to do something special here’. And so God produced this fantastic gateway in the South — Table Mountain — our mountain, what a wonder!” When the settlers started to explore the country, they found many mountain ranges that had to be conquered. They gave them interesting names, like Seweweekspoortpiek (‘Seven weeks defile peak’), that took seven weeks to pass, or Sneeuberg (‘Snow Mountain’), or Hanglip (‘Hanging Lip’), a rocky formation.
S O U T H A F R I C A’ S M A J O R C I T I E S
Apart from the picturesque, historical towns and villages like Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Swellendam or Pilgrim’s Rest, South Africa has four major cities, each with its own rhythm and buzz. Cape Town, of course, is renowned as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. This seaside beauty has it all. Move over Sydney and San Francisco – the Mother City rules! Founded on a gold rush, Johannesburg is the financial and entertainment epicentre of the country. Nowadays, Jozi rocks in more ways than one. Pretoria, the purple city, is seemingly stately, with numerous international embassies, monuments and museums. Durban is a hot destination, with its sun kissed beaches, warm weather, a heady cultural mix and famous curries. It is in and around these cities that you can experience the most beautiful cuisine, overwhelming friendliness, history, activities and an unrivalled lifestyle. You don’t rest, but just go and enjoy all the things that have to be discovered.
S O U T H A F R I C A’ S C O A S T L I N E S
South Africa’s biggest neighbour by far, is the ocean – or rather two oceans, which meet at the south-western corner. The cold Benguela Current sweeps up from the Antarctic along the Atlantic coast, laden with plankton and providing rich fishing grounds. The east coast has the north-tosouth Mozambique/Agulhas Current to thank for its warm waters. The eastern coastline is lush and well-watered, a stranger to frost. The southern coast, part of which is known as the famous Garden Route, is less tropical but also green, as is the Cape of Good Hope. Hundreds of thousands of local and international tourists
S O U T H A F R I C A’ S M O U N TA I N S
The mountain ranges of South Africa are some of the oldest, most rugged and beautiful in the world, often carpeted with a unique flora. They include KwaZuluNatal’s uKhahlamba-Drakensberg, the ancient Magaliesberg, the 26
south africa at a glance
witness the Indian and Atlantic oceans splashing together at Cape Point – or so they believe. The real confluence of the two oceans is in fact a 100km east of Cape Point, at Cape Agulhas. S O U T H A F R I C A’ S R A I N B O W N AT I O N
The term Rainbow Nation was coined by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu to describe post-apartheid South Africa, after the first fully democratic election in 1994. The title refers to the incredible diversity of its inhabitants, from the original San to the people who migrated and settled in South Africa over the centuries. Nowadays, there is hardly a nation on Earth that is not in some way represented in this stunning country with its nine provinces, eleven different languages and inspiring traditions going back to the early days. Meet the mystical cultures and traditions of the people of Africa, a kaleidoscope of boasting colour.
S O U T H A F R I C A’ S S C E N E R Y
Indulging yourself in the magical and diverse South African scenery is the best way to soothe your soul. Listen to the sounds of silence in the vast and arid Karoo, drive along the endless roads, seemingly leading to no man’s land, enjoy the lush beauty of the famous Garden Route or the rugged mountains that meet the oceans and disappear in foggy clouds. If you were a painter, you would need a palette with golden yellow for the swaying grasses, light blue for the mountain silhouettes in the distance, terra and ochre for the earth, silver for the windmills, soft green for the giant Aloe vera and a velvety dark blue for the night sky, dotted with golden stars. And you will need diamonds, for the droplets glistening in the Acacia trees after a rain shower. S O U T H A F R I C A’ S W I L D L I F E
Coming face to face with the Big 5 is an experience of a lifetime. You’ve read the books, seen the films and documentaries, now it’s time for the real deal. Big 5 safaris in South Africa are a must-do for anyone fascinated by wildlife.
‘Big 5’ refers to buffalo, elephant, lion, leopard and rhino – the animals considered most dangerous to hunt. Nowadays, the thrill comes from photographing them in their natural habitat. Although there are many famous national parks in South Africa, like Pilanesberg, Madikwe, Kgalagadi, Addo and numerous private game reserves bursting with wildlife, the Kruger National Park remains an iconic draw card. But remember, you are not in the middle of a National Geographic documentary. You may well see all Big 5, you may well not, there are no guarantees in the wilderness.
Island, Sterkfontein, the Cape Floral Kingdom, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Vredefort Dome and uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, South Africa showcases its natural and historical treasures. Looking at the Tentative List, for instance Pilgrim’s Rest and the Cape Winelands are dreaming to become part of this internationally acknowledged heritage. And for good reason…
Limpopo
S O U T H A F R I C A’ S W O R L D H E R I TA G E S I T E S
The UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Sites are places of outstanding cultural or natural importance to the common heritage of humanity. With eight areas that have been given this special international status for their unique qualities, such as Mapungubwe, Richtersveld, Robben
Mpumalanga North West
Gauteng
Free State KwaZulu-Natal Northern Cape
Eastern Cape
Western Cape
Left Face to face with the eagle-owl. Right Spring flower carpet in Namaqualand, Western Cape.
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Left Bourke’s Luck Potholes, Mpumalanga, dramatic natural sculptures. Right Natural beauty.
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Left The colourful display of houses in the Bo-Kaap, Cape Town. Right The breathtaking lilac-breasted roller.
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Left Blyde River Canyon, Mpumalanga, is one of the largest and greenest canyons on Earth.
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south africa’s winelands “ it is not where you start but how high you aim that matters for success.” - nelson mandela
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Lanzerac Estate in the Jonkershoek Valley on the outskirts of the historic town of Stellenbosch.
A touch of history In 1652, the Dutch East India Company dispatched Jan van Riebeeck to erect a fort and lay out a garden in Table Bay. Five years later, the first farmers started working the land and in 1659 Van Riebeeck recorded the making of the first wine in the Cape. Simon van der Stel arrived at the Cape as Commander in 1679 and soon after was appointed its first Governor. Later that year, he undertook his first tour of inspection, which brought him to ‘the most charming valley he had ever seen’ − today the Stellenbosch Winelands. So enchanted was he, that he set up camp in a grove he named Stellenbosch, and decided to establish a second settlement there, after Cape Town. He grew to love the town, spending his birthdays there. And he ordered the planting of oaks, which is why Stellenbosch is sometimes referred to as Eikestad, or ‘town of oaks’. Left page The iconic church of Riebeek Kasteel. Left The peaceful Riebeek Valley. Below Robertson Valley.
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Vergelegen Estate in Somerset West was founded in 1700 and, today, is a place where history meets refined cuisine, wines and exquisite gardens.
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Better wine came with the French While Cape Town and its surroundings initially was established as a centre to produce fruit and vegetables, Van der Stel had a hunch that its Mediterranean climate would be ideal for wine growing. He was right. The industry received a huge boost in 1686, when a large number of Huguenot religious refugees arrived from France after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Most of them came from wine growing regions, bringing with them their knowledge and skills. Many chose to live in what is now Franschhoek near Stellenbosch, their farms still linked to France through names such as La Motte, Cabrière, Provence and Dieu DonnÊ. A funky wine tram connects a variety of wine estates.
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Pinotage While most of the grapes from the Winelands of South Africa will be familiar, there is one uniquely South African viticultural cross – pinotage. Bred by Professor Abraham Perold at Stellenbosch University in 1925 from pinot noir and cinsaut, it produces a deep red wine with smoky, earthy flavours. Most of the opulent wine estates are based in Franschhoek, Paarl and Stellenbosch. But don’t overlook Elgin, Robertson, the incredible Hemelen-Aarde Valley where great wines are created, to be savoured with chocolate and food pairings.
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south africa’s major cities “ the greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.� - nelson mandela
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cape town
The Waterfront with the working harbour and Long Street are the places to be.
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cape town
Service with a smile, food with a lot extra and a lifestyle with a plus.
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cape town
The Mother City’s vibrant citizens.
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johannesburg
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johannesburg
His long walk to freedom made Nelson Mandela bigger than life.
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johannesburg
Soweto The South Western Township is a world apart. Most of the important freedom fighters were raised here and fought against apartheid from this interesting city, filled with reminiscences of a bitter and tortured past.
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south africa’s mountains “ i have walked that long road to freedom. i have tried not to falter; i have made missteps along the way. but i have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. i have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance i have come. but i can only rest for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and i dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended.� - nelson mandela
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Table Mountain shrouded in cloud, and the Mother City seen from Blouberg beach.
table mountain, also known as the mountain of hope, was declared one of the seven natural wonders of the world
Left page Giraffes at Inverdoorn, in the shade of the Cederberg mountain range. Above left The rugged mountains in the Karoo resemble dragons’ backs. Above right Sunset over the Klein Drakensbergen. Left Karoo National Park, a play of shadow and light.
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Landscape at Giants Castle in the Drakensberg mountains.
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The Twelve Apostles, Camps Bay, at sunset.
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the panoramic view from table mountain takes you to the tip of south africa via camps bay
Right page Detail of the spectacular Swartberg mountain range. Above left Hogsback mountain covered by snow. Above right Finding your way along the forgotten highway, driving from Sutherland to Beaufort West. Right Early moon rising above Baviaanskloof, Eastern Cape.
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Left page Blyde River Canyon, Mpumalanga, with some of the tallest precipitous cliffs of any canyon on the planet. This page Three shades of red. Top The Three Rondavels, shaped like traditional African beehive huts, form part of Mpumalanga’s spectacular Panorama Route. Middle Bizarre rock formations in the Western Cape’s Red Mountains. Bottom The sunset kisses and colours the Drakensberg Mountains.
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a glorious sunset over the karoo, south africa’s heartland
south africa’s coastlines “ i am the master of my fate and the captain of my destiny.” - nelson mandela
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The pristine Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape.
Wild Coast Rural life at the Wild Coast, where you will still find rondavel huts, sangomas – the traditional witch doctors –, cows on the beach at Mbotyi and cattle at your doorstep.
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African penguin colony at Stony Point, Betty’s Bay in the Western Cape.
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Left page Chapman’s Peak scenic drive winds its way between Noordhoek and Hout Bay and offers unrivalled views. Left The crystal blue waters of the Indian Ocean at Arniston. Below The beach terrace of The Views at Wilderness. Bottom Pristine and private beaches at Oyster Bay.
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Paternoster is one of the last traditional fishing villages on the West Coast, offering romantic hideaways.
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Left page The sun hits the coastline of De Hoop National Park, just before a thunderstorm arrives. Top The incredible beauty of the coastal scenery at Die Mond, close to Arniston. Above The fierce power of the Atlantic Ocean waves at Yzerfontein. Left Humpback whale breaching.
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Right page A Cape Genet landing at Birds Island. Top Birds Island at Lambert’s Bay, West Coast, is home to the largest Cape Genet colony in Africa. Right Table Mountain covered by its mysterious tablecloth, clouds dripping like tears of God from the mountain.
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south africa’s rainbow nation “ each of us is as intimately attached to the soil of this beautiful country as are the famous jacaranda trees of pretoria and the mimosa trees of the bushveld a rainbow nation at peace with itself and the world.” - nelson mandela
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San people performing their traditional dances at !Kwa ttu, West Coast.
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Standing on top of the world at Drakensberg’s Sani Pass.
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Meet the mystical African cultures at Lesedi, Gauteng.
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Living your life small or big in the Western Cape townships.
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Pondo women of the Wild Coast.
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south africa’s scenery “ i am fundamentally an optimist. whether that comes from nature or nurture, i cannot say. part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward. there were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but i would not and could not give myself up to despair. that way lays defeat and death.” - nelson mandela
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the indigenous people, the khoisan, called the karoo ‘the land of great thirst’
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Left page Discover the Red Mountains along the R62, one of the most scenic routes in the Western Cape. Top The South Africans say, that once the red earth is in your blood, you will always feel that yearning. Left and bottom Endless roads seemingly leading to no man’s land.
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The crater landscape of Pilanesberg National Park.
Fruits from the red earth.
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Traditional mountain village.
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Right page Waterfall at Hogsback. Top The arid Karoo. Left For nature lovers, a visit to Die Hel (‘The Hell’) in Gamkaskloof is more like travelling to an earthly paradise.
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Traditional fish traps at the Kosi Lake Estuary.
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Rock formations on the beaches of Kenton-on-Sea.
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south africa’s wildlife “ i dream of the realization of the unity of africa, whereby its leaders combine in their efforts to solve the problems of this continent. i dream of our vast deserts, of our forests, of all our great wildernesses.” - nelson mandela
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Left page Elephant cow protects her newborn baby, just a few hours old. Top left A herd of buffalo. Top right Hope for the future, this white rhino mum with her calf. Above A male lion shows why he is called king of the jungle. Left Wonderful sighting of a leopard in a tree.
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Right page The adorable meerkats on the lookout. This page Animals of the bush, hyena and her playful cubs, African painted dog and cheetah.
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Left page Hippos waiting in the water. Left Herd of impalas. Right Klipspringer.
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Right page Two yellow-billed hornbills in love. Top left The Knysna Lourie has beautiful red wings. Top right A kingfisher overlooking its territory. Above Ostriches can especially be found in the Oudtshoorn area. Right African fish eagle taking off.
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south africa’s world heritage sites “ a fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of.� - nelson mandela
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Cape Floral Kingdom Every spring the Western Cape bursts out in a carpet of flowers. A sight like nothing else, Mother Nature boasts with a colourful display of flowers. A belt with Vanrhynsdorp as its far north-western limit, the fynbos biome broadens as it swings south in the vicinity of Cape Town, and narrows eastwards, tailing off near Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape. South African fynbos makes up the smallest floral kingdom in the world. The delicate fynbos vegetation includes proteas, ericas and restios. All can be found in Cape Town’s Kirstenbosch, the world’s only botanical garden that is part of a World Heritage Site.
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Robben Island As one of the world’s great cultural heritage destinations, Robben Island is memorable for both its tragedy and exultation, and its testimony to faith and spirit in the most humiliating of conditions. A seemingly barren stretch of land, adrift in the ocean, has held the dreams and hopes of so many for so long. At times a leper colony, mental hospital and defence training base, the Robben Island World Heritage Site is more famed as the prison to which anti-apartheid activists, among them former president Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, were banished. A ‘university of the struggle’, its graduates went on to lead South Africa into democracy.
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Mapungubwe During a short but glorious reign, Mapungubwe in the Limpopo Valley, was a kingdom that inspired art, trade and ultimately a great sense of awe. About the time of the Dark Ages of Europe, the royal court at Mapungubwe in Limpopo welcomed traders and men of influence from Arabia and the Far East. Now the stones and bones and venerable baobabs of Mapungubwe are at rest in this sun kissed valley. The most famous reminder of the golden past is the golden rhino, on display in the National Park’s museum.
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uKhahlamba-Drakensberg The uKhahlamba − ‘barrier of spears’ in Zulu − Drakensberg is a biodiverse wonderland of river valleys, mountain streams, rugged cliffs and stunning scenery. With peaks that exceed 3,000m, the Berg – as it is more commonly known – forms the backbone of the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation and Development Area between the Kingdom of Lesotho and South Africa.
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iSimangaliso Wetland Park The iSimangaliso, meaning ‘miracle and wonder’ in Zulu, Wetland Park comprises eight interdependent ecosystems and an overwhelming diversity of flora and fauna. The park, formerly known as the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, is a combination of marine splendour and pristine beaches. Boasting superlative natural beauty, former South African president Nelson Mandela referred to the St Lucia Wetlands in a speech marking the historic 2002 reintroduction of elephants to its eastern shores, saying: “The wetland park must be the only place on the globe where the world’s oldest land mammal (the rhinoceros) and the world’s biggest land mammal (the elephant) share an ecosystem with the world’s oldest fish (the coelacanth) and the world’s biggest marine mammal (the whale).”
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Richtersveld The Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape is renowned as a biodiversity hotspot and boasts some of the richest succulent flora in the world. The bestknown endemic plants are the stem succulents, known as the halfmens (‘half man’), that is said to face towards the north, in anguish for the spiritual ancestors, and the giant tree Aloe. These, and thousands of other species, live off the early morning fog, called ‘Malmokkies’ by the local Nama people, that rolls in off the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
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Colophon © 2014 Our South African Dream was produced on behalf of Aaldering Wine Estate and Luxury Lodges, www.aaldering.co.za Text and production MW media, Marjolein Westerterp Photographs Peter Boshuijzen, John Costello, Aaldering
“We will meet again in South Africa!”
Art direction and design 8-13 Grafisch ontwerpers, Marjan Peters, www.8-13.nl Translation Simone van Heiningen Printing support Printsupport4u.nl No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by print, photo print, microfilm, social media or any other means, without written permission from Aaldering Wine Estate and Luxury Lodges.
marianne and fons aaldering
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