Special travel issue
* Spring 2015
www.sanlamreality.co.za
win
Flights for two to Dubai worth R25 000!
travel
The Cape’s rainbow cuisine
travel
Waterberg’s Big Five
wellness
Tackling the fear of flying
money
Start your own business here’s how
travel
72 hours in Dubai
All the must-dos
wheels: road trip tips and apps
home: creative holiday memories
taste: lekker Karoo kos
money: how to get into investing
editor’s letter
Welcome
S
pring is the time to shrug off that winter lethargy and get out and do things. And what better to do than travel? For the first time ever our annual travel issue has gone international on our cover with the sizzling city of Dubai (p4), and you could even be the winner of two return flights to that city (p10). If your wanderlust is limited because you’re terrified of flying, help is at hand in our wellness feature (p3). On the local front there’s malaria-free game viewing in the Waterberg (p6) and a historical tour of the tastes of the Cape (p16), plus some lekker Karoo kos for those still chilly nights (p12). We also bring you a handy checklist for road tripping (p8), and tips for starting your own business (p14). Enjoy the armchair travel! Enjoy! Jane Smith Editor
inside
WELLNESS 03 Plane truth TRAVEL 04 72 Hours in Dubai 06 Mountains of iron and water
WHEELS 08 Ready, set… go! HOME 09 Creative ways with holiday snaps
WIN 10 Flights to Dubai worth R25 000
TASTE 12 Karoo Kitchen MONEY 14 Be your own boss TRAVEL 16 The Cape’s rainbow cuisine
WELLNESS 18 Oops, what to
Look out for these icons throughout the magazine: SHARE YOUR VIEWS
GET MORE ONLINE
GET MORE INFORMATION
YOUR REALITY BENEFITS
do when… 19 On the web 20 Contact us
04
wellness
Plane truth
It’s hard to believe for the euphoric jetsetters among us, but fear of flying can induce acute anxiety and a lifelong phobia. Tracy Melass looks at ways of navigating the emotional turbulence.
Tips for nervous travellers • Seek professional help before the flight. • Visit the airport from time to time to see just how many people are flying daily and going on adventures. • Recognise the fearful thoughts and learn how to manage them. • Mindfulness meditation, the capacity to notice the thoughts and come back to an anchor point, will help you to manage anxiety. • Make the journey enjoyable: bring something to read, some
snacks that you enjoy, put music onto your computer/ phone. • Make some friends on board. • Choose your seat beforehand; preferably aisle so that you can move around easily. • Do some deep-breathing exercises, for example, breathe in for a count of four and breathe out for a count of eight. • An early night may be counterproductive as it helps to have less sleep so that you might sleep more on the plane.
Fear of flying: the stats
50-80% of people who have a flight phobia also have a phobia about lifts.
12-30%
of sufferers will seek help for their flying phobia.
9.2%
of the aircrew in a European commercial airline are afraid at least once a month. The more you fly the more you practise getting used to what flying is all about. So let each flying experience be a building block to the next. – Counselling psychologist and mindfulness-based stress reduction counsellor, Linda Kantor
72 hours in
DUBAI
Whether you’re in transit or heading there on holiday, a three-day break is just long enough to soak up the sights and sounds of Dubai. Richard Holmes suggests how to make the most of your time.
travel
Day 1 A taste of old In ever-restless Dubai the best place to start exploring is right at the beginning. Rewind a century or so and Dubai was an unremarkable trading port and pearl harbour on the banks of Dubai Creek. Then oil was discovered in the 1950s, and within a generation the city was unrecognisable.
Day 2 Ogle the new Start at the foot of the Burj Khalifa: at 828m it’s currently the world’s tallest building and the outdoor observation decks on the 124thand 148th-floors offer a giddying view out across the city.
Day 3 Wild water If you’re travelling with kids, the city’s world-class water parks should be your first stop. Aquaventure on the Palm Jumeirah is easily the top water park in the city. At ever-popular Jumeirah Beach you’ll find Wild Wadi, which also has a surfing simulator.
USE YOUR SANLAM REALITY BENEFIT Need a ride to the airport? Download the Uber app and you’ll get 20% off your transfers. Go to www.sanlamreality.co.za to find out how. And remember, Reality Plus members can enjoy free access to the Bidvest Premier Lounge at SA’s major Airports.
Mountains of iron and water The Waterberg is a wild and rugged corner of South Africa, dotted with malaria-free Big Five parks and game farms that form part of the enormous Waterberg Biosphere Reserve. Justin Fox heads north to sample some of its accommodation options.
T
he Waterberg is one of southern Africa’s most beguiling and beautiful mountain ranges. Situated some 180 kilometres north of Pretoria, it straddles a vast area of 15 000km2 . Its southern escarpment presents a line of crags dominated by the Seven Sisters, its central plateau comprises wide-open grasslands, and the northeastern ramparts rise out of the bushveld in a series of striking formations.
USE YOUR SANLAM REALITY BENEFITS As a Sanlam Reality member you can fly Mango to Joburg for up to 25% off and hire a Tempest car from as little as R199 a day including unlimited mileage. Find out more at www.sanlamreality.co.za.
Fast Facts The Waterberg Biosphere Reserve stretches from Marakele National Park in the southwest to Wonderkop Nature Reserve in the northeast. Vaalwater is the Berg’s central town and heart of the region. Thabazimbi lies in the far west of the range and is the best place to stock up on provisions for Marakele. Where to stay Marakele is a major national park with a decent, self-catering tented lodge and camping facilities. Tel 014 777 6929 or reservations on 012 428 9111, email reservations@sanparks.org, web www.sanparks.org/parks/ marakele.
travel
As a game-viewing destination, it makes a fine alternative to the Kruger and other Lowveld parks, and has the advantage of being malaria free.
wheels
Ready, set... go! That holiday trip should be a time of fun and relaxation, so a breakdown is not a good way to start. Peter Frost ensures you get there safely with this handy guide.
In-car checklist • Two phone chargers, as well as a solar or power bank charger • Simple tool kit – spanner, star and normal screwdriver, mallet, torch • Insurance details of both the car and trailer, if there is one • Map book, even if there is GPS • First-aid kit • Cooler box • Sunblock for the stop-offs • Music that everyone can listen to • Wet wipes • Liquorice Allsorts (it’s traditional)
Get these apps before you go • Santam • TomTom • Europcar • Family Car Games • Tourism Radio city guides • Road Trip • Waze • Go! Travel South Africa • Trip Journal
USE YOUR SANLAM REALITY BENEFIT Ask the Sanlam Reality PA to source the best prices for tyres and windscreens, if yours need replacing. Simply call 0860 732 5489.
home
Creative ways with
Wall to wall Why not cover a whole wall in travel memories? Your favourite landscape or cityscape image is the ideal way to add a quirky touch to your décor and keeps the memories of a special holiday destination alive in your home.
Photo in a bottle – a clear winner
If you’re after something unpredictable this alternative using old coffee bottles offers quirky, creative possibilities for your pictures. A small selection of bottles placed on a shelf or console table will bring a decorative element to a living room, bathroom, even the kitchen or office.
STYLING AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MISI OVERTURF
Get your travel images out of your computer or phone and on display. Misi Overturf suggests decorative mediums to conserve your precious memories.
PHOTOGRAPHY ANTONIE ROBERTSON, IMAGE EXTRACT FROM REAL EASY DÉCOR & DIY AVAILABLE IN LEADING BOOKSTORES NATIONWIDE
holiday snaps
win Exclusive to Sanlam Reality members
Return flights with Emirates for two people to Dubai worth
R25 000!
From a humble fishing port to global shopping and entertainment icon, Dubai has undergone one of the most radical transformations of any place in the world. These days, the Emirate is not just a stopover for travellers heading to Europe or the East, it is a destination in its own right. Shopping, nightlife, top restaurants, beaches, golf, desert adventure and culture – Dubai has it all (read more in our feature on page 04). With a fleet of more than 230 aircraft, Emirates flies to 140 different destinations in 80 countries around the world. Emirates Airlines connects Dubai to three South African destinations daily: Johannesburg (three flights a day), Cape Town (two flights a day) and Durban (one flight a day). Find out more at www.emirates.com. • HOW TO ENTER: Enter online at www.sanlamreality.co.za or SMS the word ‘Dubai’, your name and your Sanlam Reality membership number to 31108 (normal SMS rates apply). • The competition is exclusive to Sanlam Reality members. • COMPETITION CLOSES: 30 November 2015 Terms and conditions: The prize is valid from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016; it is not transferrable and cannot be exchanged for cash. The prize is not valid for travel over peak periods and is subject to availability at the time of booking. Accommodation for winner’s own expense. A Sanlam Reality consultant will assist you with the booking. For full Sanlam Reality competition terms and conditions, go to www.sanlamreality.co.za.
competition
KAROO KITCHEN The sparsely populated, semi-desert Karoo is rice-meat-veg country where traditional recipes have been handed down over the generations by its multi-cultural inhabitants. For this culinary journey, author Sydda Essop interviewed more than 78, mostly self-taught, Karoo cooks and asked them to share their heartfelt stories, precious family recipes and natural healing tips.
taste
Liza Brown’s Vaalboontjiebredie
KAROO KITCHEN IS PUBLISHED BY QUIVERTREE PUBLICATIONS, WITH PHOTOGRAPHS BY CRAIG FRASER
“Look, when I make a stew, it’s a long, very slow process.” 00g green beans 5 500g stewing meat or knuckles if it’s mutton/lamb, shin if it’s beef 1 onion, sliced 2cm stick cinnamon 2 cloves Pimentos 2 black peppercorns ½ tsp garlic Salt and pepper to taste 2 cups water 4 large potatoes, quartered Wash beans, de-string and chop. Place meat, spices, onion, salt, pepper and garlic in a saucepan with two cups of water, bring to the
VAALBOONTJIEBREDIE
boil and simmer until tender. Add potato quarters and continue to simmer until potatoes are nearly cooked. Add chopped green beans. Add one cup of water and simmer very slowly until all the ingredients are soft. Add more water, if needed – the stew must have a sauce and not be dry.
tip When everything is done,
I mash some of the potatoes with a fork to bind the stew.
ONE OF FIVE COPIES OF KAROO KITCHEN
win
Exclusive to Sanlam Reality members If you enjoyed this simple, nostalgic food, you’ll also want to try the likes of springbok fillet with biltong crust, and find a cure for earache or asthma. Sanlam Reality and Quivertree Publications are offering five members the chance to win a copy of Karoo Kitchen. Simply SMS the word KAROO to 31108 with your name and membership number before the closing date of 1 November 2015. Standard SMS rates apply.
Be your own boss Starting your own business takes more than a dream. There are business models to consider, finance, and most of all whether you are the right type of person to attempt it and emerge a winner, writes Helen Ueckermann.
money
H
ow you get your own enterprise off the ground largely depends on your resources. There are three options with their own unique advantages that you should thoroughly consider.
1. Starting your own business Pros:
This can give you a tremendous sense of accomplishment and ownership. You can set it up precisely the way you want it. Cons: You may not be known or have a proven track record. You’d have to build a new customer and supplier base.
2. Buying an existing business Pros: It already has a track record and therefore a reasonable indication of how it will perform in the future. It has existing business processes, trained staff and customers. Cons: You might be up against split loyalties from staff, suppliers and even customers.
3. B uying a franchise Pros: You are buying into a proven system for running a business with an existing and established brand name. Cons: You have to run your business according to the rules of the franchisor. You also have to pay royalties to the franchisor.
GET MORE ONLINE Sanlam offers an innovative range of finance solutions for small and medium business holders. Go to www.sanlam.co.za (select the ‘Business’ tab) to find out more.
The Cape’s
rainbow cuisine From good ol’ fish & chips to fiery chakalaka, the Mother City’s food reflects her settler heritage. With history book in hand, Marion Whitehead provides hints on where to taste the Cape’s signature dishes.
N
ot for nothing was Cape Town known as ‘The Tavern of the Seas’, in the days when sailing ships from around the world would dock at this port at the tip of Africa to replenish their supplies en route to the Far East. Settlers from a myriad nations jumped ship here and, together with the local people, they have given us a rich heritage of fusion food. •C ape Dutch journeys at Ons Huisie 021 554 1553, and Jonkershuis 021 794 6253 •S picy Cape Malay bobotie at Bo-Kaap Kombuis 021 422 5446 •F rench pizzazz at JC Le Roux 021 865 8200 •B raaivleis and sunny skies at Mzoli’s Place, Gugulethu 021 638 1355 •T rue Brits fish ’n chips at Salty Sea Dog 021 786 1918 or a meaty pie at The Sweetest Thing 021 786 420
travel
USE YOUR SANLAM REALITY BENEFIT As a Sanlam Reality member you can fly to the Mother City for up to 25% less on Mango and explore the Peninsula at your leisure with a hire car from Tempest for as little as R199 a day. Find out more at www.sanlamreality.co.za.
wellness
Oops, what to do when…
It’s crucial to take simple precautions to ensure a safe, incident-free holiday for the whole family. Tracy Melass packs the first-aid kit for those inevitable mishaps. DR VINCENT’S TOP TRAVEL TIPS • Get fit, get your vaccinations up to date and take malaria precautions. • Always look after children near water and around traffic. • Always eat food that has been freshly cooked and is hot. • If travelling in developing countries, drink bottled water, clean your teeth with bottled water and keep your mouth shut in the shower. Stay away from ice, dairy products and ice cream. • Have a travel kit so that you can treat yourself for minor cuts, fungal skin conditions and diarrhea, and take along a broad-spectrum antibiotic to treat respiratory infections. • Use your cell-phone camera to record pictures of all your travel documents.
USE YOUR SANLAM REALITY BENEFIT Contact the Sanlam Reality PA on 0860 732 5489 before your trip to find out information on the nearest medical facilities and other travel advice.
on the web
Get it all at www.sanlamreality.co.za
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Read our weekly lifestyle articles for the latest travel news, movie reviews, health tips and more. Plus, our quarterly digital magazines are in-depth reads covering a range of topics – from how to be retirement ready and ways to keep your kids entertained over the holidays, to affordable and fun local travel ideas for the whole family.
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