Private Edition Issue 73 Sotheby's Realty by The Publishing Partnership

IWC Ingenieur. Form und Technik. Ingenieur Automatic You don’t have to be an engineer to appreciate the virtues of this watch. The Ingenieur Automatic with a blue grid-patterned dial revisits the bold aesthetic codes of Gérald Genta’s Ingenieur SL from the 1970s, pairing them with outstanding ergonomics in both 35 and 40 millimetres, and a finishing that is perfected down to the tiniest detail. IWC. Engineered.

Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre · Cape Town

BIG BANG RELOADED

MANUFACTURE FLYBACK CHRONOGRAPH

Each office is independently owned and operated

Character as

You don't need to search the world for the perfect home, chances are Lew Geffen Sotheby's International Realty have already found it.

unique as yours

FROM THE EDITOR IS S UE

2026

EDITOR SUSAN NEWHAM-BLAKE snewham@tppsa.co.za ART DIRECTOR TINA REDDELL COPY EDITOR WENDY MARITZ ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE BERNICE BLUNDELL bernice@adplacements.co.za 073 618 1882 PUBLISHING DIRECTOR SUSAN NEWHAM-BLAKE PRODUCTION DIRECTOR JOHN MORKEL HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER LIZ WOLFE FINANCIAL MANAGER NAEEMA ABRAHAMS

unfold while you allow your mind simply to wander. If there is no more languid way of travelling than by train, then there can be no more calming space on earth than the bushveld. And there is certainly no shortage of beautiful safari lodges to choose from. The newly opened Elephant Point River Suites on the banks of the mighty Sabie River near the Kruger National Park allow for deep relaxation from the comfort of your private verandah. Here you get to while away the time watching animals come and go along the riverbanks, with a gentle soundtrack of birds and rustling leaves in the background (‘Safari, unscripted’, page 68). If all else fails, there’s always a new wine to indulge in. And South Africa produces some of the best in the world. In ‘Wily, wayward, wondrous’ (page 56), we pay homage to some of our most exceptional white cultivars. From awardwinning Sémillons to a rare Sauvignon Gris, we explore the playing ﬁeld of white wines, which has not only matured but has become far more experimental. And that’s worth toasting. Here’s to making time for simple daydreaming.

PRINTED BY

Private Edition is published by The Publishing Partnership (Pty) Ltd, 8th Floor, Tarquin House, 81 Loop Street, Cape Town 8001. Copyright: The Publishing Partnership (Pty) Ltd 2026. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent from The Publishing Partnership or the authors. The publishers are not responsible for any unsolicited material. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of The Publishing Partnership or the editor. Editorial and advertising enquiries: PO Box 15054, Vlaeberg 8018 Tel: 021 424 3517 Email: privateedition@tppsa.co.za

SUSAN NEWHAM-BLAKE EDITOR

Visit: privateedition.co.za Printing: Novus Print ISSN: 2218-063X

PRIVATE EDITION

PHOTOGRAPHY GETTY IMAGES

DELETED A NUMBER of apps from my phone last week. The noise was becoming deafening. Everyone seems to have an opinion (often with little scientific evidence), conspiracy theories have infiltrated our minds, and what with the added requirement of having to discern whether you’re consuming AI or not, it has all felt too much. If that’s not enough, we’ve all had the experience of settling down for the evening, only to look up from our phones hours later and wonder where the time went. Yes, we might have learnt which RA has the lowest fees (for now) or why strength training is better than cardio or even how to cook a five-ingredient casserole, but, really, how much information do we need? Recent conversations have confirmed that I’m not alone. Many, like me, are deleting their social media apps and intentionally avoiding scrolling. It seems we’re craving the luxury of a quieter, more spacious way of being. Imagine the ordinary luxury of staring out the window and daydreaming? In ‘Whispers of the past’ (page 62), we invite you to do exactly that. Often described as the most luxurious train in the world, a journey on South Africa’s Rovos Rail is steeped in 1920’s Victorian and Edwardian charm. Here you can settle into an opulent carriage and watch the changing landscape

CONTENTS ISSUE

2026

30 COVE R

48 EDITOR’ S

LET TER

Thoughts from the editor. PHOTOGRAPHY GETTY IMAGES/ STEVE PREZANT

THE

BRIEFING

The latest news from the world of luxury and investment.

TREASU RE

HU NT

Join us for a tour of Giza’s new The Grand Egyptian Museum, the world’s largest archaeology museum and one of the finest dedicated to a single civilisation. .

SET

STONE

Granite cladding and a shingle-barn vernacular camouflage a luxurious, SAOTA-designed beach house within the rugged bluff of New York’s Montauk shores.

THE

BEAUTY

DREAMS

Using her pharmaceutical and business background, Supriya Mody has captured the essence of luxury in a range of simple-to-use skincare products she’s called FutureMe.

PRIVATE EDITION

HAPPY SPORT

BOUTIQUE HAUTE HORLOGERIE

V & A W A T E R F R O N T C A P E T O W N +27 21 418 1889 H Y D E P A R K C O R N E R J O H A N N E S B U R G +27 11 325 4119 For further information contact Architects of Time +27 11 669 0790 www.bhhboutique.co.za

42 42

BAC K

THE

REVOLUTION

Electric was supposed to change motoring a decade ago but political tensions have put paid to the best laid plans. We examine the new surge that has turbocharged the revolution.

4 8

FOOD

FOLKLORE

For chef Mmabatho Molefe, bringing traditional flavours into the realm of fine dining is not simply about changing perceptions of what African food can be, but about putting her life story on the plate.

WAYWARD,

WILY,

WONDROU S

With warmer weather brightening our days, it’s time to turn our attention to several exceptional white-wine cultivars. .

WHISPERS

THE

PAST

Often described as the most luxurious train in the world, Rovos Rail is steeped in 1920’s Victorian and Edwardian charm.

16 12

SAFARI,

U NSC RIPTED

Luxury suites on the banks of the Sabie River offer a slower, more open-ended way to experience the bush.

PRIVATE EDITION

g rand s ei ko. se iko sto re.co. z a

C EO’ S

LET TER

A PLACE TO CALL HOME LEW GEFFEN CHAIRMAN

SOUTH AFRICA’S PROPERTY MARKET IS RESILIENT BY NATURE AND RICH IN OPPORTUNITY.

HERE IS A SAYING that the true strength of an investment is revealed not during times of certainty, but during periods of change. If that is the measure, then South Africa's property market has consistently proven its resilience. Over the years, our market has weathered economic cycles, shifting interest rates, changing consumer priorities and global uncertainty. Yet through it all, one constant has remained: South Africans continue to believe in property as one of the most reliable ways to build wealth, create security and invest in the future. What makes our market particularly unique is its diversity. There is no single South African property story. Instead, we have a collection of dynamic regional markets, each shaped by its own economy, lifestyle offering and buyer profile. Coastal towns continue to attract lifestyle-driven purchasers and semigrants, metropolitan centres remain economic powerhouses, and emerging towns are creating exciting opportunities for buyers seeking value and long-term growth. And this diversity is one of our greatest strengths. It means that regardless of broader market conditions, opportunities continue to emerge across different sectors and price brackets. Today’s buyers are increasingly focused on lifestyle, flexibility and long-term value. They are seeking homes that support remote working, offer greater energy resilience and provide access to quality schools, healthcare and recreational amenities. Sellers, meanwhile, are benefiting from a market where wellpriced, well-presented homes continue to attract strong interest. Perhaps most encouraging is the increasing sophistication of today’s property market. Buyers are better informed, sellers understand the importance of realistic pricing and property

YAEL GEFFEN CEO

professionals have never played a more valuable role in guiding clients through an increasingly data-driven marketplace. At Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty, we have the privilege of working across many of South Africa’s most soughtafter markets. Every day, we witness stories that reinforce our confidence in the resilience of our industry: families finding their forever homes, entrepreneurs expanding their property portfolios, retirees embracing new lifestyles, and international buyers recognising the exceptional value South Africa continues to offer. Looking ahead, I believe South Africa’s property sector remains exceptionally well positioned. Continued infrastructure investment, growing lifestyle migration, urban renewal in key areas and evolving buyer preferences will all create fresh opportunities for those prepared to embrace change. Our role as property professionals now extends well beyond facilitating transactions. We are custodians of communities, trusted advisors to our clients and advocates for an industry that plays a vital role in South Africa’s economy. The resilience of South Africa’s property market is not simply a reflection of bricks and mortar. It’s a reflection of the people who invest in it, believe in it and continue to shape the communities that make our country such an extraordinary place to call home.

YAEL GEFFEN CEO, LEW GEFFEN SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY

PRIVATE EDITION

ICONIC BY DESIGN WWW.SHIMANSKY.COM

THE BRIEFING COLLECTABLES | OBJETS D’ART | DESIGN | DEPARTURES | TASTINGS

OBJETS D’ART

An updated icon ROCHE BOBOIS CELEBRATES THE ICONIC OVALIA ARMCHAIR CONCEIVED BY DANISH DESIGNER HENRIK THOR-LARSEN IN 1968. True to the visionary spirit of the original creation, Roche Bobois has produced a modernised reinterpretation of this emblematic piece. This development is grounded in Roche Bobois’s historic connection to Scandinavian design. During the 1960s, the brand introduced France to furniture that embodied a new vision of interior design: more functional, more innovative. In 2026, Roche Bobois reimagined the Ovalia armchair in a more contemporary iteration aligned with the functionality and savoir-faire of our time. The updated version exemplifies the French art de vivre so characteristic of Roche Bobois: a balance between legacy, creativity and heritage. ‘The Ovalia Egg Chair by Henrik Thor-Larsen is one of those objects that encapsulates an era, a vision and an attitude. More than a conventional seat, it creates a bubble, a microuniverse. It evokes both a space capsule and the cosmic egg – a balance between technology and organicity,’ says Grégory Dias Monreal, Roche Bobois Head of Trends. roche-bobois.com/en-za

PRIVATE EDITION

THE

BRIEFING

PRIVATE DESTINATION

Kindred spirits CAPE TOWN’S FIRST CURATED PRIVATE MEMBERS’ CLUB, MAISON GRACE, IS NOW OPEN.

PRIVATE TIME

Around the moon

PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED, INGE PRINS

THE NEW TISSOT MOONPHASE IS MORE THAN A TECHNICAL COMPLICATION. IT IS A REMINDER OF THE ENDURING CONNECTION BETWEEN WATCHMAKING AND THE CELESTIAL CYCLES THAT HAVE SHAPED HUMANITY’S PERCEPTION OF TIME FOR CENTURIES.

As Cape Town emerges as a global hub for creativity and entrepreneurship, Maison Grace, Cape Town’s first truly bespoke member’s club, answers a growing need for spaces where collaboration happens naturally, relationships deepen beyond the introduction, and good ideas find the people to realise them. Through refined design, exceptional food and beverages, and a carefully assembled membership, the club offers a place to eat, drink, meet and connect. ‘Maison Grace was born from a simple observation: that when people who share curiosity, creativity and purpose come together in the right setting, something quietly extraordinary happens,’ says Samantha Wallace, Development Director. ‘We felt Cape Town was ready for a space that prioritises cultural exchange over exclusivity, where members don’t simply visit but genuinely belong, and where relationships extend far beyond the club’s walls.’ Offering a weekly calendar of gatherings, from dinners and tastings to expert-led talks, literary evenings and live music, Maison Grace hosts evenings built for conversation and collaboration. The food and beverage offering has been developed with Paris Society Consulting, the team behind Parisian institutions LouLou, Gigi and CoCo, balancing international polish with a strong sense of place. The menu celebrates South African producers alongside global selections. Maison Grace is brought to life by Kasada, one of Africa’s leading hospitality investment platforms and custodians of the iconic Cape Grace, a Fairmont Managed Hotel. This heritage informs the club’s operational philosophy: meticulous attention to detail, genuine warmth and discretion. Membership remains intentionally limited and grows through personal introduction. For membership enquiries: membership@maisongraceclub.com. maisongraceclub.com

Long before the advent of modern calendars, the lunar cycle served as a natural reference for organising daily life and marking the passage of time. By transforming the rhythm of the moon into a precise mechanical display, Tissot perpetuates a horological tradition where craftsmanship, astronomy and emotion converge. At its core lies a mechanism of remarkable precision. Beneath the dial, a rotating disc bearing two opposing moons advances incrementally, illustrating the waxing and waning phases of the lunar cycle. As one moon gradually disappears, the other emerges, ensuring a continuous display of the moon’s evolution. tissot.com

ISSUE 73

THE

BRIEFING

PRIVATE DESTINATION

Considered luxury SANTÉ WELLNESS RETREAT & SPA IS AN UNPARALLELED SANCTUARY SET AMIDST DRAMATIC ARCHITECTURE IN THE HEART OF THE CAPE WINELANDS. Surrounded by vineyards and majestic mountains, the awardwinning Santé Wellness Retreat & Spa invites guests to step away from everyday demands and return to themselves. Exclusive and exceptionally private, every experience is thoughtfully designed to restore balance, renew vitality and support lasting wellbeing. Whether visiting for a spa escape, an immersive wellness programme or simply the rare luxury of slowing down, guests leave feeling healthier, more energised and deeply restored. What sets Santé apart is its seamless integration of advanced scientific protocols, holistic wellness philosophies and intuitive hospitality. Leading-edge technology – among the most pioneering in South Africa – works in harmony with energy-based therapies inspired by ancient wisdom, creating personalised experiences that are never clinical or restrictive, only restorative. At the heart of the retreat is a world-class Day Spa. Signature treatments, hydrotherapy and vinotherapy are complemented by the pioneering Optimal Health & Wellness Centre and comprehensive Bio-Energy Centre. These offer evidence-informed wellness solutions that support physical vitality, emotional wellbeing and mental clarity. Bespoke wellness programmes, ranging from three to 21 days, are tailored to each guest’s individual goals and guided by an expert multidisciplinary team. Luxurious accommodation creates an immediate sense of calm and privacy, while gourmet cuisine, crafted from fresh, seasonal ingredients free from sugar, gluten, dairy and additives, proves that nourishing food can be every bit as indulgent as it is delicious. Mindful movement, fitness, nature immersion and moments of stillness complete an experience designed to reconnect body, mind and soul. santeretreat.co.za

OBJECTS D’ART

Love eternal PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED

AN EXPRESSION OF IMMACULATE CRAFTMANSHIP, THE SHIMANSKY INFINITY DOUBLE RING IS PURE BEAUTY. Crafted in 18-karat gold, the Shimansky Infinity Double Ring is a timeless expression of connection and infinite possibility. Two flowing bands intertwine in a seamless sculptural design, creating a bold statement through the beauty of pure form. Available exclusively at Shimansky. shimansky.com

PRIVATE EDITION

TASTINGS

Eastern promise ASIAN ASPIRATION AND SUPERIOR STEAK MAKE CAPE TOWN’S EAST CITY GRILL A MEAL WORTHY OF YOUR TIME. BY MARTIN JACOBS Cape Town’s Harrington Street is a hotspot for interesting new dining options. Side-by-side restaurants East City Grill and Yakiniku offer design-forward interiors that wouldn’t feel out of place in metropolises like New York and Tokyo. Located up a flight of stairs in a development with global street cred (currently the world’s tallest hemp-constructed building), East City Grill is a contemporary steakhouse and Yakiniku a meat-centric Japanese-style grill. Both are helmed by executive chef Jaycee Ferreira, who sources his Wagyu beef from an Elandsberg farm. Lovers of meat-and-potato dining can look forward to mains including melt-in-your-mouth fillet, rib eye, sirloin and rump, as well as short rib and a Wagyu burger, all enriched with Asian flavour. For fans of the spud, there’s a potato menu featuring dauphinoise, gruyère-mashed and triple-fried variations. Restaurateur Duncan Parker’s love of all things Japanese extends to the texture-rich, minimalist interiors, which include a shou sugi ban feature wall and tabletop origami bulls. These are offset by homegrown design elements, like an installation by local ceramicist Shirley Fintz, and furniture pieces by John Vogel and Juliet Eidelman, all of which make a visit as much a treat for the eyes as it is for the tastebuds. eastcitygrill.co.za

OBJECTS D’ART

The artistry of lace BVLGARI BRINGS DIAMONDS AND COUTURE TOGETHER IN ITS NEW ECLETTICA HIGH JEWELLERY CAPSULE COLLECTION.

PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED, DALE HERBST

Comprising 26 high-jewellery masterpieces, the collection explores the art of transforming diamonds into lace-like compositions. Woven, draped and shaped with exceptional precision, each creation brings together jewellery craftsmanship and couture-inspired fluidity. Among the highlights is the Gabarit en Ajour necklace, crafted from 185 articulated modules and designed to sit across the décolleté like a luminous couture piece. The Mélange Précieux necklace features a rare 6.20-carat diamond of exceptional purity, surrounded by a supple mesh of diamonds. The Serpenti de Tulle necklace brings Bvlgari’s iconic serpent into dialogue with the transparency of tulle, while the Dentelle Lumineuse set captures the delicate rhythm of bobbin lace through necklaces, earrings, a ring and a detachable pendant that can also be worn as a bracelet. Elegant, intricate and highly expressive, the new Eclettica capsule celebrates Bvlgari’s mastery of diamonds and its ability to turn high jewellery into a true art form. picotandmoss.co.za

PRIVATE EDITION

HENRY CAVILL

THE LONGINES MASTER COLLECTION

THE

BRIEFING

PRIVATE TIME

The final lap TAG HEUER MARKS THE DUTCH GRAND PRIX WITH TWO FORMULA 1 SOLARGRAPH LIMITED EDITIONS. TAG Heuer captures the energy of Circuit Zandvoort with two new TAG Heuer Formula 1 Solargraph 38mm limited-edition timepieces. Set against the dunes of the North Sea, Zandvoort has become one of Formula 1’s most atmospheric circuits – fast, narrow and intensely close to the crowd. With its banked corners, shifting coastal conditions and the sea of orange in the grandstands, the circuit provides a fitting backdrop for a bold new chapter in the TAG Heuer Formula 1 story. Rooted in the design language of the original TAG Heuer Formula 1, the new Solargraph editions bring colour, attitude and racing energy into a compact 38mm format. Both designs feature a grey dial with orange and red accents, a sandblasted steel case and an orange bidirectional bezel, creating a look that feels direct, sporty and full of Zandvoort character. picotandmoss.co.za

ART

A new world

The announcement last year that Kalashnikovv Gallery, the rebellious soul of the Johannesburg art sphere, was shutting down after 12 years inspired innumerable eulogies from its alumni. Young artists with no hope of mainstream representation had found a home in the gallery’s Braamfontein HQ and had become part of several seminal group shows and the storied parties that accompanied them. But just as quickly as co-founders Matthew Dean Dowdle and Murray Turpin, along with co-director Zanele Kumalo had closed that chapter, a phoenix-like energy was felt at FNB Art Joburg as the latter two unveiled their new venture: kumalo | turpin’s maiden booth. Since then, they have appeared at 1-54 Contemporary Art Fair, Investec Cape Town Art Fair and Art Rotterdam, amid a flurry of local and international activity. While the gallery retains relationships with some Kalashnikovv-era artists like Boemo Diale and Theresa-Anne Mackintosh, their list is a lot more focused. ‘It’s a completely new chapter’, says Kumalo. ‘Firstly, we’re in a new physical space built for purpose. kumalo | turpin’s desire to be more collaborative and to drive public programming involve art education and greater access to outdoor sculpture, which we’re able to do at Nine Yards. We’re part of the community here and, more broadly, in the Rosebank hub, which includes Everard Read, Goodman Gallery and Gallery MOMO.’ Their founding statement speaks of an art space ‘born from a shared commitment to equity, experimentation and

socially-engaged practice’ with a focus on artists from the ‘global majority’. This framing is at direct odds with the conservatism and regression that has gripped the world, especially in the global north where they have a presence through fairs and collaborative shows. ‘That’s why art exists, to explore and challenge those tensions, especially when it comes to foregrounding artists and curators that don’t toe the line or are not from what are considered the centres of the art market,’ says Kumalo. ‘We will always try to shift the rules of engagement, whether there is a rise in conservatism or a tendency for liberalism because, inevitably, there are always perspectives that remain uncovered or underexplored.’ kumaloturpin.com

PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED

THE NEW KUMALO | TURPIN GALLERY AT NINE YARDS IN ROSEBANK, JOHANNESBURG, AIMS TO SHIFT THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT. BY SIPHIWE MPYE

Photos Flavien Carlod, Baptiste Le Quiniou, for advertising purposes only. Ramón Esteve Studio.

Fabrics by

Formentera. Modular sofa, designed by Philippe Bouix. Upholstered in Missoni fabrics for outdoor use. JOHANNESBURG - CAPE TOWN - MAURITIUS In-store interior design & 3D modelling services

THE

BRIEFING

ACCELERATE

The cat’s out the bag

TASTINGS

Guess who’s back? JAN FRANSCHHOEK IS OPEN ONCE AGAIN, BRINGING A NOSTALGIC JOURNEY INSPIRED BY GLOBAL CULINARY TRENDS. Acclaimed for its warm Cape Winelands hospitality, La Motte invites you to experience JAN Franschhoek Season V, Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen’s innovative expression of the South African family table. It promises to be a journey through food and wine that will allow you to reminisce and explore at the same time. Patrons can expect menus that are proudly local, allowing room for something both mysterious and exceptional. Enjoy a re-imagination of family traditions and regional favourites through seasonal themes and the brilliance of beautifully paired food and wine. JAN Franschhoek will be open for dinner from Wednesday to Saturday, from 4 September 2026 until 30 April 2027. The experience starts with a welcome in the La Motte Manor House at 6.30pm and dinner begins at 7pm. On Sundays, an extended lunch commences at 12.30pm, with guests welcomed in the La Motte Manor House from noon. Bookings are now open. la-motte.com

Jaguar’s Type 01, due early next year, will compete in the hyper-luxury segment against the likes of Rolls-Royce and Bentley. To do that it needs to win on three fronts: be effortlessly powerful, daringly design-forward and possess that ineffable ’something’. Quick, certainly. Three electric motors ensure a 0-100km/h time of 3.3 seconds, so no problem there. And the design brief is unquestionably daring: long, low and boat-like outside, and inside, there’s minimal instrumentation and four entirely separate pods for passengers, with a high central spine separating occupants. We will have to wait to see what Type 01 is like on the road (cars will be available to drive from November), but every indication is that, like the Rolls-Royce Spectre it will go head-to-head with, the Jag will be defined by what it holds in reserve rather than what it puts out there, the veritable fist in a velvet glove. ‘Such power there is in clear-eyed self-restraint,’ comes to mind. jaguar.com/en-za

PRIVATE EDITION

PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED

JAGUAR’S ELECTRIC GRAND TOURER HAS BROKEN COVER AND IT’S A GAME-CHANGER. BY PETER FROST

www. seikostore.co.za # SL A 083

ART

TREASURE

HUNT Cairo’s new flagship museum housing the world’s largest collection of Egyptian antiquities is an instant classic... and thousands of years in the making. WORDS KEITH BAIN

PRIVATE EDITION

ART

The Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza is finally open to the public. There’s a vast concourse before you arrive at the pyramidinspired doorless entranceway that underscores the design team’s attempts to link modern architecture with building ideas from antiquity.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY THE GRAND EGYPTIAN MUSEUM

RIGHT Enjoying pride of place in the museum is this colossal statue of Ramesses II, a relentless self-promoter who probably left behind more carvings of himself than any other pharaohs did.

ISSUE 69

ART

ABOVE The Grand Staircase is dotted with scores of statues, pillars, door posts and other suitably grand ancient treasures from across Egypt, offering visitors an opportunity to pause and inspect as they make their way up to the museum’s main galleries.

And then there’s the transfixing scene framed by floor-toceiling windows at the top of the steps: an unimpeded view of the Giza pyramids. Thousands of years of history telescoped into a single mind-blowing moment as you stand in this futuristic edifice staring at some of the oldest surviving built structures on the planet. Once you’ve returned to Earth, you’re ready for the 12 main galleries where state-of-the-art displays have been created for around 30 000 objects that are exhibited permanently. The remainder of the museum’s hoard (some estimates cite 100 000 individual pieces) will circulate through temporary exhibitions. Many of its artefacts are being shown to the public for the first time, including all 5 300 treasures and personal knickknacks recovered from King Tut’s tomb. Tutankhamun is just one of many kings whose story is revealed here, along with tales of myriad gods, impeccably preserved hieroglyphics, inventions that changed the world and treasures plundered from tombs across the land. More downto-earth is a 3 100-year-old wig made from braided human hair, just one of the many everyday objects that provides a fascinating window into the preoccupations of ancient Egyptians.  grandegyptianmuseum.com

PRIVATE EDITION

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY THE GRAND EGYPTIAN MUSEUM

HERE’S A CROCODILE MUMMY and assorted Pharaonic sarcophagi, miniature sphinxes and blue ushabti figurines intended as servants for the dead. And, in the main atrium, before you’ve even begun exploring, there’s a statue of Ramesses II, so tall you feel you could take shelter under one of his toenails. Far more than a billion-dollar splurge, Giza’s new The Grand Egyptian Museum is the world’s largest archaeology museum and the biggest dedication to a single civilisation. It’s expected to welcome five million visitors each year – and hopefully help restore Egypt’s tourism glory – even in the face of its longdelayed opening. Mired by two revolutions (including the Arab Spring), a pandemic and wars in neighbouring countries, its construction has been going on almost as long as it took to build the Great Pyramid of Khufu, situated just 2km away. Designed by Dublin-based architectural firm, Heneghan Peng, the 168 000m2 building is shaped like a chamfered triangle and set along the edge of a huge concourse dotted with date palms. A pyramid-inspired doorless entranceway enfolded by a wall of semi-translucent alabaster leads to the vast atrium (with its colossal Ramesses II) from where you find your way to the broad Grand Staircase, featuring more than 60 statues, stelae, doorways, columns and sarcophagi. Sit down in the wrong spot or touch a chunk of stone you’re not meant to and plain-clothes staff pop out of nowhere to remind you that the object you’re pawing is thousands of years old.

www.tissotwatches.com

ARC HITECTU RE

SET IN

STONE Local granite cladding and a shingle-barn vernacular camouflage a luxurious, SAOTA-designed beach house within the rugged bluff of New York’s Montauk shores.

PHOTOGRAPHY THOMAS LOOF

WORDS MARTIN JACOBS

Only the upper-most level of this multi-storey beach house is visible from the street. The architect referenced Montauk’s barn vernacular in both its form and shingle cladding.

ARC HITECTU RE

THIS PAGE Each of the three storeys has a different exterior. LEFT At the home’s entrance, granite cladding embeds the building into the bluff.

EPPERED WITH WEATHERED SURF SHACKS and

PHOTOGRAPHY THOMAS LOOF

rustic seafood joints, Montauk’s casual charm was what most appealed to architect Mark Bullivant’s New York City clients when choosing a site on Long Island for their beach house. At the island’s easternmost tip, beyond the Hamptons’ polished lifestyle, the surf town offers a rugged coastline that feels worlds away from the glamour further west. ‘Once a fishing village, the town offers a relaxed, informal atmosphere that provides a welcome escape from the pace of city life,’ says Bullivant, a principal architect at South Africa’s firm SAOTA and project lead. ‘The beach house presents a clear contrast to my clients’ city home, which is insular.’ Steep and wooded, the bluff where the residence now stands commands panoramic views of the Atlantic and tumbles toward an untamed shoreline. Coupled with the nostalgia of Montauk’s once agrarian community, it was this natural beauty that the homeowners wished to enjoy and frame in their home. ‘For their retreat, my clients sought a spatial experience defined by openness and outlook. The architecture embraces this sensibility, prioritising a direct connection to the outdoors with generous openings that flood the interiors with natural light.’ Positioned high on the bluff between the ocean and Old Montauk Highway, the site lent itself to a tiered design that drops nearly eleven metres from its apex – the carport – to the lawn and beach gate below. ‘There is something really enticing about

PRIVATE EDITION

ARC HITECTU RE

ISSUE 73

ARC HITECTU RE

ABOVE The split-level open-plan entertainment area enjoys multiple views. OPPOSITE TOP TO BOTTOM Interior designer Rafael de Cardenas’s colour palette was inspired by oceanic tones; stone islands echo the warmth of oak cabinetry in the kitchen.

to stone. The little of the home that is visible from the street appears to rest lightly on the earth, while the lower storey seems carved into the bluff. Bullivant drew on Montauk’s vernacular architecture – the reductive silhouettes of shingled barns, their greys deepened by sea air and time – for the uppermost storey. Clad in timber shingles and battens, this storey borrows their language, but with a refined edge, the timber charred in a yakisugi-inspired technique to evoke their weathered look. ‘The shou sugi ban finish instantly gives the building an established feel,’ Bullivant says. ‘Its dark colour is visually recessive, so sensitive to the surrounding bluff.’ By contrast, the façade of the lowermost level is wrapped in local

PRIVATE EDITION

PHOTOGRAPHY THOMAS LOOF

a top-down-entry home; it feels effortless as gravity instinctively pulls you down through the building and, in this case, having seen the ocean on arrival, there is a heightened curiosity,’ Bullivant says. That sense of journey became central to the experience of the home, echoing the meandering footpath that winds from the lawn through the bluff to the beach. The descent through the building unfolds gradually, revealing shifting vistas and architectural surprises. ‘The stairwell and circulation route are central to the design, forming the initial leg of the journey down to the beach as it shifts, turns and meanders. Living spaces occupy a transparent void on the middle level, and it’s here that the path moves outdoors. Once outside, the fire pit, pool house and pool are placed at half landings, terraced spaces on the onward path to the beach.’ Throughout, the architecture embraces materials that narrate their sense of place. Retractable glass walls dissolve the boundary between indoors and out, while stepped terraces and outdoor lounges trace the descent to the sea. Each level introduces a different texture – from light to grounded, from shelter

ARC HITECTU RE

THE DESCENT THROUGH THE BUILDING UNFOLDS GRADUALLY, REVEALING SHIFTING VISTAS AND ARCHITECTURAL SURPRISES.

ISSUE 73

split-face granite, anchoring the home to its terrain. Timber and stone were chosen not only for their beauty but for their endurance, being resistant to the ocean’s salt and extremes of temperature. ‘Conceptually, the interiors were designed to juxtapose the exterior; also wooden, but rendered in pale, sandy tones that reference the beach,’ Bullivant explains. ‘They’re fun and surprising, with glowing warm oak in contrast to the burnt black exterior.’ This is most apparent in the upper two storeys, where pale panelling sets the tone. On the topmost floor, the oak’s warmth cocoons the primary suite and study, eyrie-like sanctuaries for the homeowners. One floor down, project interior designer Rafael de Cardenas introduces playful colour, with bold yellows and beachy blues adding lightness to the split-level entertainment spaces. ‘Rafael’s design feels open and luminous,’ says Bullivant. ‘This contrast establishes a material dialogue between inside and out, between enclosure and openness, shelter and exposure.’ The result is a residence that feels both effortless and intentional, attuned to the rhythm of its landscape. For Bullivant’s family-orientated clients, it offers the ideal balance of seclusion and sociability. As summer evenings fade, family and friends gather around the fire pit on the pool-house roof, the ocean sparkling below. From here, Montauk’s shoreline glimmers with the glow of bonfires along the sand. Much like them, the house itself appears alive, its windows radiating a golden glow out to sea. 

EACH LEVEL INTRODUCES A DIFFERENT TEXTURE – FROM LIGHT TO GROUNDED, FROM SHELTER TO STONE.

ABOVE Interior designer Rafael de Cardenas’s use of pattern softens the linear interiors.

PHOTOGRAPHY THOMAS LOOF

LEFT In the master bathroom, shutters filter sunlight and the sublime view of the Atlantic.

PRIVATE EDITION

Sanlam Private Wealth x Wiid Design/YayAbe Generations bench Custom-made by Laurie Wiid van Heerden and Russell Abrahams.

www.sanlamprivatewealth.com

I I A A S DV E R TI SI N G 9902 /E

A wealth solution beyond the conventional Your choices and decisions are based on your individual needs and ambitions. Your approach to wealth should be the same. Choose an investment portfolio that goes beyond the traditional with a customised solution from Sanlam Private Wealth. As a private client, you gain access to global alternative investments including private equity, private credit and hedge funds. Let us create a diversified portfolio aligned to your circumstances, objectives and risk appetite. Your wealth. Our craft. Investment Management | Fiduciary and Tax | Equity-backed Finance | Stockbroking | Derivatives

Sanlam Private Wealth is a licensed FSP (37473), a registered Credit Provider (NCRCP1867) and a member of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

BEAUTY

THE BEAUTY OF

DREAMS From careers in private banking and pharmaceuticals to anti-ageing entrepreneur, Supriya Mody has captured the essence of luxury in a range of simple-to-use skincare products. WORDS KEITH BAIN

RAMED BY A LARGE picture window in her Bantry Bay apartment, the wild Atlantic crashing against the boulders behind her, Supriya Mody is glowing. Not only a breath of fresh air, but when given half a chance to talk about what gets her up in the morning, she’s like a bottle of Champagne uncorked. Bubbly, effervescent, a little sassy, this entrepreneur has spent the better part of the last decade developing a skincare line so luscious, luxurious and beautiful that you wouldn’t want to skip a day’s use. She launched FutureMe quietly in 2024, describing her Arayani range of cleansers, serums and moisturisers as her ‘first anti-ageing flagship collection’. It’s minimalist (just six products), refined, backed by science, gorgeously packaged and remarkably uncomplicated. ‘It’s not intimidating at all,’ Mody says. ‘I’m somebody who doesn’t spend too much time in the bathroom doing 18 steps as part of their skincare ritual. I wanted to create something that was easy, comprehensive and suitable for everyone.’

Using innovative technology, each FutureMe product is crafted for ease of use and maximum benefit. ‘It’s for all skin types. Your skin changes all the time because the seasons change, climates vary, hormones fluctuate. So these products are for people on the go, people who don’t want a different product for every situation. Everything you require is in that one jar.’ Getting to this point was not so straightforward though. ‘What is in each bottle is not only the science,’ Mody says. ‘What’s also in there is nearly a decade of blood, sweat and tears of all the people around the world who have collaborated on creating FutureMe.’ Mody was born and raised in Mumbai, India’s economic powerhouse. Her grandfather established one of the country’s major pharmaceutical companies in the 1940s. The Modys are a household name in India, and despite her extensive studies abroad (business studies in Michigan, an MBA in London), her dream was always to return home and contribute to the society she grew up in.

PRIVATE EDITION

PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED

But then the family business brought her to Cape Town, where she lost her heart. Not only to the city (‘It’s so dreamy,’ she says. ‘Just look out this window!’) but also to the man who became her husband. And, somewhere in the midst of it all, she had dreams of building a personal legacy, creating a business beyond the scope of her family’s empire. That quest turned out to be more personal than anticipated. ‘My entire life, I’ve been dealing with body-image issues,’ she says. ‘I’ve always had a lot of self-confidence, but I also had my own issues internally. Whether to lose weight or look nicer, I’ve always been searching for something to help me.’ The pharmaceutical business gave her access to many fascinating products, and she experimented liberally with natural formulas in her search for a kind of anti-ageing holy grail: something that would make her feel better, look younger, give her that glow. ‘During that journey, I found this amazing blend of botanical extracts rich with antioxidant properties,’ she says. Known in Eastern medicine and sourced from across Asia, the blend made her feel great and look younger. To confirm if it had any genuine benefits for the skin or on cell renewal, she had the formulation analysed by a senior research specialist, and the report that came back confirmed that she’d struck gold. Little did she realise she’d stumbled upon the compound that was to become the central building block of a brand-new venture. Initially, her plan was to launch a line of nutraceuticals, but while navigating those bureaucratic hurdles, she thought to introduce a skincare range using the same botanical compound. She worked with an expert team to create products she could personally relate to. ‘What we had was essentially a herbal formula. It had a very distinct smell, not luxury at all. It was medicinal, metallic, earthy. Not something I could deal with.’ She tasked her team with transforming that herbal concoction into something luxurious – without losing any of its potency. ‘We didn’t spare anything as far as the science is concerned, but I didn’t want to build a brand based purely on science,’ she says. ‘I wanted to make it beautiful, too.’ Mody’s personal favourite is FutureMe’s potent antiageing serum. Of the Arayani products, it contains the highest concentration of FutureBlend – that anti-ageing blend of botanical extracts that had such an impact on Mody’s own sense of vitality and wellbeing years earlier. Even though she’s tasked herself with bringing beauty into people’s lives, Mody is simultaneously also flipping the narrative around luxury skincare. ‘The word “luxury” tends to be used very loosely,’ she says. ‘Luxury should mean something. It should give you something that nothing else gives you. It should make you feel on top of the world.’ She says, ‘I wanted to create a product without the negative connotations of fixing flaws. I believe you can think about antiageing in a positive way. Who do I want to be 10 years from now? What do I want to look like? What are my dreams for the future? Your future self can be something positive that motivates you rather than something negative that you shy away from.’ That was the ethos with which she created FutureMe, pouring herself into a proactive product line that is not only beautifully

ISSUE 73

TOP Supriya Mody, a Mumbai-born-and-raised entrepreneur whose quest for personal wellbeing led to the launch of FutureMe, a line of luxurious anti-ageing skincare products. OPPOSITE Three products in FutureMe’s comprehensive Arayani range: a hydrating gel cream; a nourishing face oil that has been described as ‘liquid gold’; and a moisturising cream.

designed and incredibly luxurious to use, but also extremely effective at enhancing your sense of self. ‘There’s a certain optimism in saying tomorrow is better than today,’ Mody says. ‘I’m an optimist at heart. FutureMe is not saying that “today me” is bad. I celebrate who I am today, but I work towards the me I want to be tomorrow. FutureMe is a journey to your future self, an investment in who you aspire to be. My message is one of believe in yourself, love yourself, empower yourself. And go after your dreams.’ 

ACC ELERATE

Electric was supposed to change motoring a decade ago but political tensions have put paid to the best laid plans. Now, a new surge has turbocharged the revolution. WORDS PETER FROST

BACK TO THE

REVOLUTION

PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED

One of the i7’s many tech party tricks is Integral Active Steering, or rear-wheel steering. The rear wheels can now turn up to 3.5 degrees in the opposite direction to the front wheels, giving the five-metre-long limousine the turning circle of a 3-Series.

ACC ELERATE

BMW’s new design language Neue Klasse doesn’t feature in the i7; instead, the leviathan leans into the monolithic look, from giant kidney grille to outsized tyres. Note the new headlight treatment and the ‘ticker-tape’ digital display along the windscreen edge.

OLKSWAGEN’S 2015 DIESELGATE scandal was the catalyst that set the world on its electric mission. Falsified economy statistics by one of the world’s largest automakers was just the tip of the iceberg. Clearly others had been fiddling the numbers, and fossil fuels suddenly looked a whole lot less attractive than they had been. Governments across the globe set tough emissions targets and made plans for heavy penalties into the new decade. Forward-thinking manufacturers such as Volvo and many Chinese brands saw the future and put their money on electric. Then came the war in Ukraine, the Trump election and a stalled revolution. In the face of US fracking, Russian boycotts and tightening purse strings, European governments had no choice but to cut back on electric subsidies. It looked like the

world was going to be carbon-friendly for a while longer. Until, that is, the war on Iran and the symbolic throttling of the Strait of Hormuz. Nothing so perfectly underlines the reality of a world dependent on oil, and the need for an alternative. FACE-OFF: THE NEW BMW i7 BMW, for one, breathed a sigh of relief. It’s all-electric flagship i7 received a far better reception that it might otherwise have done. And, suggest pundits, it needed all the help it could get, given its divisive looks. The cavernous ‘beaver teeth’ grille, aka the ‘coffin grille’, has now grown to outlandish proportions. Monolithic is how Stuttgart is selling it, leaning into, rather than shying away from the gaping maw. That’s something of a surprise, as the company prepares to deliver a cleaner, more reductive look that aligns

PRIVATE EDITION

ACC ELERATE

with its latest Neue Klasse design philosophy. The i7 is clearly intended to be the exception. In terms of tech, it’s all eyes forward; new large-format battery cells offer a 20 percent increase in energy density and a significantly faster charging curve. Expect a 700km range and a charge time of just 20 minutes. Inside, the talking point is a digital ‘ticker-tape’ display running along the entire length of the bottom edge of the windscreen, which assumes the role of an instrument binnacle. It is complemented by two other digital displays in the centre console, making the i7 the most digitally complex interior the marque has ever created. That electronic wizardry extends to the drive as well: i7’s Executive Drive Pro system uses electric swivel motors to counteract body roll in corners. Necessary as the car hits the scales at just under three tons. Most of that weight is batteries, but a good portion of it is for acoustic isolation materials (viscous interlay laminate glass, foam infused tyres, blanket-wraps for the electric

motors), everything necessary for quietening road and wind noise, made ever more evident by the lack of an engine. It all adds up to the largest, quietest limousine on BMW’s books – and one that can kick the moniker ‘gas guzzler’ to the kerb. Slow clap for BMW then. MOVING ZEN SANCTUARY: LEXUS RZ Pleased too is Lexus, which, after time in the half-half hybrid wilderness, has embraced electric with energy and attitude. The big news will be their electric van next year; all kinds of kooky fun, even as it leans into executive privilege. But today’s focus is on the RZ, its crossover SUV. The fully electric high hatch is slick enough to qualify as a coupe and big enough to compete for Mom’s Taxi points, and certainly sophisticated enough to warrant its executive badge. On test, it proved to be the real deal: beautifully crafted, heaven to drive in chaotic traffic (a moving Zen sanctuary), fast and class-leading in terms of comfort. As the cheap Chinese onslaught arrives, it’s sobering to be reminded of what carefully

PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED

Coupe looks and SUV adaptability for the Lexus RZ crossover. The yoke steering wheel is wholly electric, with no steering column or any connection to the drive wheels at all.

ISSUE 73

ACC ELERATE

considered, painstaking research and development feels like. The pick of the RZ crop is certainly the 550e F-Sport, which, weirdly (but a lot of fun), features paddle shifts. The simulated 8-speed means you can pretend to be in a fuel car with an actual transmission. As gimmicks go, it’s a doozie. The yoke steering wheel is another. It’s an option, and after a few days behind it, we’d advise not to wallet for the extra. Personally, it gets tiring driving like a gamer and turns out, full steering wheels are quite useful for all kinds of things, like resting your hands on them. The F-Sport offers 300kW from the batteries and a 0-100kph time of 4.7 seconds. Quick, certainly, and it feels like a real flyer. Ultimately, though, the RZ is best at floating, as befits a Lexus, and this it does with a regalness unmatched this side of a Bentley or Maybach. Full marks then for its best-yet electric offering. BACK TO THE FUTURE: VOLVO ES90 Where Lexus was slow to the full-electric party, Volvo led the

way – and it shows in the recently launched ES90, a sister to the EX90 SUV. There’s a confidence to the executive sedan that suggests robust testing over a number of years. And it’s not just the technology (which offers a 700km range with the extender). Visually the ES is at peace with its Volvo heritage, even channelling a little S40, the marque’s most famous fastback sedan. And like the S40 it’s also higher than many executive sedans, a product of its country of origin where snow middelmannetjies are a real issue. Happy news for South Africa then, where our middelmannetjies are a lot less forgiving. Inside, expect more of that Scando-mimimalist Zen vibe, which extends to the roof treatment. Sweden doesn’t see much sun so they’re a little obsessed with it. Witness the polymer-dispersing liquid crystal panoramic roof. At the touch of a button, the glass transitions from 99.9 percent transparent to an opaque, milky white. UV resistant, of course. 

PRIVATE EDITION

PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED

Look a little familiar? Volvo’s svelte ES90 sports more than a passing resemblance to the company’s iconic S40, with its short tail and high waistline. Inside it’s a new world; clean and minimalist, a Zen space befitting an executive electric sedan.

TASTINGS

At The Residency by Nook, chef Mmabatho Molefe elegantly leans into tradition, prioritising favourite cuts of meat as well as often-ignored animal parts, including offal.

PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED

OPPOSITE PAGE Molefe's salt-baked potato is steeped in Royal Ashton crème and tangy mayo, finished with pickled jellies and lumpfish roe.

PRIVATE EDITION

FOOD OF FOLKLORE For chef Mmabatho Molefe, bringing traditional flavours into the realm of fine dining is not simply about changing perceptions of what African food can be, but about putting her life story on the plate. WORDS KEITH BAIN

ISSUE 73

BELOW Chef Mmabatho Molefe, who took up the reins of The Residency by Nook, a speakeasy-style restaurant in Sandton, in July. RIGHT Molefe calls it Ipapa nomfino, a simple side dish of maize, stewed spinach, spinach pesto and fried kale that’s vibrant with colour and flavour. OPPOSITE PAGE An astonishing dessert that draws on Molefe’s childhood memories and traditional ingredients, Uphuthu namasi is maize cake with amasi curd, whey jellies and amasi ice cream, capped with meringue.

was also featured in ‘The World’s 50 Best’ list of 50 young chefs shaping the future of gastronomy – essentially a global survey of people shaking up the restaurant industry. Molefe had, at the end of 2020, opened her first standalone restaurant, Emazulwini (‘in the heavens’ in isiZulu), at Makers Landing in Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront. It was a gastronomic revelation. Not only one of the few South African restaurants helmed by a black woman, but also the first Cape Town restaurant to bring Nguni heritage food into the realm of fine dining. Her focus was on transporting diners to a faraway place: her childhood. Half-Zulu, half-Sotho, she grew up in KwaZulu-Natal and wanted to showcase her culture and her personal memories through dishes that reminded her of home. She did so by unapologetically dishing up contemporary platings of traditional meals. Like lamb and kidney accompanied by wondrously creamy samp, or slow-cooked ox tongue with Zulu pap steeped in sour milk. On her menu was a beef heart biltong tartlet, and she served a chicken liver and chocolate sandwich. At Emazulwini, she encouraged diners to experience something potentially outside their comfort zone, and aimed to shift preconceived ideas about indigenous food. Above all, though, she wanted to tell her story – the story of her culinary traditions, in a fine-dining context. Molefe says that while growing up, she was constantly building a mental archive of meals and dishes. Now at 30, she recalls cooking – or pretending to cook – as far back as she can remember. ‘Cooking games were at the heart of how we played as kids. We even created our own makeshift version of the cooking show Ready Steady Cook. Later, I started preparing proper food for myself to take to school because I grew tired of my sister’s lazy lunches – every day she made polony sandwiches!’ She says that’s when she began to grasp that food can be ‘something intentional’, and that it ‘can make someone’s day’. In her fourth year at university, realising that law wasn’t her passion, she abandoned her studies. Culinary school – and Cape Town – beckoned, and by the time Covid-19 struck, she was part of the kitchen crew at Salsify at the Roundhouse, getting a sense of what made her boss, chef Ryan Cole, tick.

PRIVATE EDITION

PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED

N 2022, Mmabatho Molefe won Eat Out’s Rising Star award; she

TASTINGS

PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED

AT EMAZULWINI, MMABATHO MOLEFE’S FOCUS WAS ON TRANSPORTING DINERS TO A FARAWAY PLACE: HER CHILDHOOD.

ISSUE 73

TASTINGS

ABOVE Nook was converted from a storeroom into a moody, sensuous speakeasy by interior designer Dino Mavrokordatos. OPPOSITE PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Duck and carrot raita; a feature of Nook’s design is the textured wall; elegant plating is key to Molefe’s fine-dining take on the dishes she grew up with; Nook’s DJ console hints at how nights in this easygoing space are meant to unfold.

to food. It aims to create an emotional connection with home, with heritage, with memory. Tucked inside sibling restaurant, Solo, Nook occupies a formerly unused 110m2 storeroom now sexily transformed – with ambient lighting, distressed walls, velvet textures and opulent furnishings – into a warm, intimate, moody space by interior designer Dino Mavrokordatos. It’s been imagined as the sort of place you arrive at for one drink and end up spending the night, Molefe says. ‘We wanted to create a transitioning room, an in-between space. It has that real speakeasy vibe, where the night starts with a low-volume restaurant ambience, and then transitions as the night unfolds – by 10 or 10.30, the music’s a bit more in the foreground and the bartenders are shaking the cocktails more rigorously.’ She christened her first seasonal menu ‘Umcimbi’. It’s an isiZulu word for certain kinds of gatherings. ‘It could be a Sunday lunch, perhaps a cultural get-together or an event to appease the ancestors, or it could be Christmas dinner or any South African gathering with a ritual or cultural element,’ she says. The dishes she’s creating are a celebration, a physical manifestation ‘of who we are and how we do things’.

PRIVATE EDITION

PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED

Cole was a tremendous influence, she says. ‘He was always inspired by time and place, and that made me want to tell my own story, too.’ During lockdown, she began formalising ideas about the style of food she wanted to serve and, in the process, was struck by what was missing from the local fine-dining scene. ‘Nowhere was I seeing the food eaten by typical black South Africans. So I wondered what I could do to change that. I wrote down a five-year plan that led to the opening of Emazulwini.’ At Emazulwini, Molefe was intent on altering the very landscape of South African fine dining. Not in any loud, pretentious way, but by sharing the flavours of her childhood with diners curious enough to take a seat at one of her tables. It meant taking chances, pushing against the rather conservative tastes of westernised South African palates. For Molefe, it also meant staying true to her vision and eschewing trends in favour of tradition. Emazulwini closed in 2024 and her move the following year to Johannesburg was prompted by a Time Out article that referred to Jozi as ‘an emerging food city’. Keen to be part of that emergence, she formally took up her role as chef at Nook in July, a newly-launched speakeasy in Sandton, which she’d been quietly developing with the owners over many months. The aim being to shake up the local restaurant scene, working to introduce a different kind of dining culture, a way of eating out that is well established in Cape Town but still quite niche in Johannesburg. ‘I think Cape Town has a more curious diner, and those curious diners are more willing to spend their money satisfying that curiosity,’ she says. The Residency by Nook dining experience is designed to grab Joburg’s attention and lure diners with its provocative approach

THE RESIDENCY BY NOOK IS DESIGNED TO GRAB JOBURG’S ATTENTION AND LURE DINERS WITH ITS PROVOCATIVE APPROACH TO FOOD.

ISSUE 73

TASTINGS

ABOVE LEFT The bar is a key feature at Nook, designed to be a gathering space that evolves as the night unfolds. ABOVE RIGHT Molefe serves a refined take on a popular snack: chicken gizzard with masala mayo and lumpfish roe.

The dish comes with a bowl of phuthu. ‘It’s such a stubbornly Zulu thing – my people for some reason just love phuthu as a starch. And so we serve it with my Mom’s stewed cabbage on top, and finish it with the beef jus. It reminds me so much of being at home, enjoying the simplest and most comforting of meals.’ Her desserts, too, induce deep nostalgia. Memorialising one of her mother’s Sunday mainstays, Molefe’s Ujelly nocustard is precisely what it sounds like. Though reminiscent of a trifle you’d have at Christmas, it’s been given the royal treatment – mixed berry Swiss roll, vanilla custard, berry jelly, white chocolate crémeux and blueberry cheesecake on a wholewheat streusel. As delicious, but without a precise English analogue, is Incwancwa, a dessert made from fermented maize porridge and toasted coconut flakes that’s served with a coconut and lime sorbet. For Molefe, there’s something deeper at stake than winning a new city over to her way of cooking. ‘It worries me that if people don’t understand the food, it means that, in essence, they don’t get my story,’ she says. Judging by the response, though, Joburg can’t seem to get enough of this culinary tale. Perhaps because it comes straight from the heart. 

PRIVATE EDITION

PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED

‘It’s pretty much what you’d find on an average South African dinner table. Whether it’s creamy samp, a vegetable biryani or phutu and some cabbage. Most of our sides and shareable elements are essentially South African staples.’ Meals start with an adventurous South African ‘welcome dish’, which at Nook are called Izoso (which might translate as braai). ‘Typically, when you’ve slaughtered at home, while the meat is slowly cooking, your host will give you the innards and offal, which have been cooked over the fire. It will be cut into tiny pieces that everyone can share. That’s what we offer: something meaty to nibble on as our welcome to you.’ Some of the dishes, like the Ulimi noshatini starter (corned beef tongue, tomato puree, amasi, habanero jellies, crispy onions and tomato water) are throwbacks to Emazulwini, albeit with a new twist. And there are sublime versions of some of the simplest nostalgia foods, like her Umfino (maize, stewed spinach, spinach pesto and fried kale), and a potato salad that’s spruced up with pickled jellies, Royal Ashton crème and tangy mayo, and finished with lumpfish roe. As per cultural tradition, meat is the menu’s mainstay. ‘Our mains are a celebration of different cuts of meats, served with various street foods and traditional vegetables, like morogo and other leafy greens that are staples in our homes.’ A favourite is the beef fillet, or Inyama yenkomo nomfudumezo, made special because it comes with Molefe’s homage to her mother’s stewed cabbage. ‘I’ve tried to make it as good as my Mom does it, but I have no doubt failed,’ she says.

TASTINGS

With warmer weather brightening our days, it’s time to turn attention to our land’s exceptional white-wine cultivars. WORDS KEITH BAIN

WILY, WAYWARD,

WONDROUS G

ONE ARE THE DAYS when Sauvignon Blanc drinkers turned their noses up at Chardonnay, proclaiming themselves ABCs (‘anything but Chardonnay’). The playing field of white-wine cultivars has widened, matured and become a great deal more experimental. THE COMEBACK KID Once upon a time, Sémillon, a white cultivar that originated in France’s Bordeaux region where it was used to create both dry and dessert wines, was pretty much the backbone of the South African wine industry. Having made its way here with the French Huguenots in the late 17th century, by the 1800s some 93% of all grapes grown at the Cape were Sémillon. It was so prolific that it was known simply as groendruif (green grape) or wyndruif (wine grape). Alas, its reign did not last; the combined impact of the 1880s phylloxera epidemic and 20th-century KWV quota systems saw its popularity dwindle, and in the 1980s, Sémillion accounted for less than 1% of the Cape’s grapes. A resurgence of interest has seen success with single-varietal dry Sémillons produced from old bush vines in Franschhoek. It’s been a major triumph for La Motte, whose 2025 Sémillon was awarded the prestigious

General Smuts Trophy as the overall Champion Young Wine at the South African Young Wine Show, a rare feat for the cultivar. La Motte’s Sémillon grapes grow far from Franschhoek, in the Elim ward near Cape Agulhas, Africa’s southernmost wine region, where tough maritime conditions make for hardy vineyards and robust, lively wines. Just 2 415 bottles of the 2025 La Motte Sémillon were produced. It’s a beautifully balanced vintage: ginger, green fig, green pepper and hints of honeysuckle on the nose, with a silky mouthfeel, granadilla and citrus on the palate, and a vibrant, lingering finish. IN A FARAWAY PLACE Like his grandfather who, in the 1970s, planted the first grapes in the Cederberg, and his mother who kickstarted tourism in the region, winemaker and ‘custodian of the land’ David Nieuwoudt has a fondness for innovation. Which is why, together with his Chilean friend Julio Bouchon (whose great-grandfather had begun farming the cultivar on his Angostura farm in Chile’s Colchagua Valley in 1912), he planted South Africa’s first Sauvignon Gris. It was quite a process, which included a seven-year quarantine before the imported rootstock could be planted, but the first Sandpoort Sauvignon Gris from Cederberg Wines was released

PRIVATE EDITION

TASTINGS

LEFT The vineyards at Piekenierskloof, where a now-rare white cultivar is grown to produce the estate’s Platklip Palomino Old Vine wine. ABOVE From Hemel-en-Aarde’s Creation wine estate, the Ridge Chardonnay (on the far left) is but one of four distinct expressions of the white cultivar produced with minimal intervention and maximum care. BELOW AND RIGHT Cederberg’s Sandpoort Sauvignon Gris is a first of its kind for South Africa, while La Motte’s Sémillon is an awardwinning celebration of what was once the country’s most prolific wine grape.

PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED

in 2023, a great reward for Nieuwoudt’s patience. It’s a unique cultivar for South Africa, and with just over half a hectare of grapes to harvest each year, also exceptionally rare – only five barrels are produced. Hand-harvested, the grapes are wholebunch pressed before natural fermentation in French oak for 40 to 60 days, with minimal fining and filtration. The wine matures in tight-grain barrels for up to 10 months. Often referred to as ‘Sauvignon Blanc’s quieter cousin’, there’s nothing soft-spoken about Nieuwoudt’s Sauvignon Gris. His 2025 vintage is a vibrant expression of the immaculate environment in which it’s grown. The estate, quite unique in terms of character and location, is a must-visit, not only to taste this unfamiliar wine close to the land that produced it, but to experience the wonder and enchantment of such wide-open space. ONE CULTIVAR, MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES ‘What sets us apart starts underground,’ says JC Martin, winemaker and co-founder of Creation Wines, which is situated in the uppermost reaches of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Known as Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, its undulating hills result in a variety of meso- and micro-climates, each little pocket of land able to produce a distinct expression of Chardonnay. Which is why

ISSUE 73

TASTINGS

Martin oversees four unique interpretations of the cultivar, each benefitting from differing aspects of the Ridge’s clay-rich Bokkeveld shale, which is interlaced with seams of quartz. ‘The vines are stressed just enough to concentrate flavour, control yield and push roots deep in search of water and nutrients,’ Martin says. The clay holds moisture without waterlogging, ensuring slow, even ripening, while the quartz reflects light back up through the canopy, moderating temperature to produce what Martin describes as ‘a crushed-stone freshness’. Tying it all together is Hemel-en-Aarde’s cool climate, which, Martin says, ‘contributes to good acidity, freshness and elegance’. Creation’s quartet of wily whites includes its ‘calling card’ Creation Chardonnay (pear, peach and lemon butter on the palate), the Ridge Chardonnay (lemon zest, clementine, nectarine and crème fraîche from full malolactic fermentation), and an exclusive single-block wine known as The Art of Chardonnay. The latter is hand-harvested from one small south-facing slope at 264m above sea level, fermented in French oak, left on the lees for 10 months without fining or filtration, and sold in individually numbered bottles. Creation’s upstart wine is Glenn’s Chardonnay, a collaboration between Martin and his son, Glenn. It’s wild-yeast fermented from a single quartz-and-clay plot and just 1 500 bottles were produced; it’s been declared one of Decanter’s top 12 South African wines of 2025 (the accompanying review called it ‘detailed and so beautifully textured… with hints of pear and orange blossom and a seam of flinty minerality’). A REDISCOVERED CLASSIC Among the earliest cultivars still grown in South Africa, Palomino is little-known among contemporary wine drinkers since it’s rarely bottled as a single cultivar and is more commonly used in brandy and sherry production. Just 81 hectares of old Palomino vines still grow in South Africa. The recently released Piekenierskloof’s 2025 Platklip Palomino Old Vine wine is a chance to taste something rather unique. The wine was produced from grapes grown on thick, gnarled heritage bushvines, many

of which are over 60 years old. Ungrafted and disease-free, the vines thrive in a harsh environment where their roots capture the essence of a beguiling location: the remote, rugged, high-altitude Piekenierskloof plateau, in the mountains near Citrusdal. On the nose, you’ll pick up green apple, citrus blossom, white peach and hints of fynbos, all quite subtle; on the palate it’s crisp and naturally acidic, with pear, stone fruit and lemon zest detectable. It’s as rare as it is delicious: a mere 713 bottles were produced. A WINDOW ON THE FUTURE With no wine farm to call his own, the vivacious and talented Banele Vakele nevertheless has his own label – Tembela Wines – for the limited range of attention-grabbing

TASTINGS

PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED

vintages he produces in the cellar of Duncan Savage, alongside whom he also works as assistant winemaker. The arrangement to a very great extent exemplified by the name – tembela is isiXhosa for ‘faith’, ‘hope’ and ‘belief’. It’s also the name of his late mother, who raised him in Khayelitsha. Little did she know her son would one day be commissioned by London’s Tate Modern to create a wine for one of their prestige events celebrating African art. The winemaking bug had bitten him because, having earned a scholarship to a school in Constantia, he could see vineyards through his classroom windows. Now he is making some extraordinary wines of his own, including a perky and very refreshing Chenin Blanc, made with organically farmed Stellenbosch grapes, spontaneous fermentation and minimal intervention. It’s a gentle, moderately acidic wine with hints of peach and melon on the nose, and orange and beeswax on the palate. Quantities are small, though, so act fast. GO COLD OR GO HOME People go to Sutherland in search of cold and snow and stars, but it’s also (if you turn off the highway into the Rogge Cloof Private Nature Reserve outside town) where you’ll find some surprisingly bold, tasty wines. Under the radar, but brimming with flavour, Rogge Cloof’s wines are made from grapes grown on some of the hardiest vines you’ll find; they cope with high heat in summer and then the snow and intense cold in winter. Some 1 500m above sea level and 250km from the ocean, the tiny vineyard in the Roggeveld Karoo represents the highest and coldest wine region in South Africa, albeit with a Mediterranean microclimate of low humidity, dry winds, clear skies and high light intensity. It makes for unique wines that have a lot to say for themselves as they express the terroir. Only a small patch of land is under vine, divided between Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, which thrive thanks to mineral-rich clay soil that benefits from the goodness once spewed from the Salpeterkop volcano (aka De Oude Sneeukop) which sits at the reserve’s perimeter. There’s the De Knolle Fonteyn Chardonnay, which is wooded for nine months in small French oak barrels, and the Sneeukop Chardonnay. Both are naturally fermented, with fewer than 750 bottles of each

ISSUE 73

produced per year. It’s worth making a trip to the farm – besides expansive lands, there’s a tasting room, a lovely restaurant, gorgeous cottages and terriﬁc stargazing sessions, too. TULBAGH’S TINY TROOPER When Henk du Bruyn and Suzette Jansen van Rensburg bought Lemberg Wine Estate in Tulbagh in 2007, it was considered South Africa’s smallest wine-producing cellar. Along with Syrah and other cultivars and blends, it’s become known for producing a single-varietal, barrel-fermented Hárslevelü (it has the country’s only registered mother block), a Hungarian cultivar that provides delicate citrus and honeysuckle aromas on the nose, with layers of peach, marmalade and almond on the palate. Though it’s a tiny farm (among Tulbagh’s smallest), they’re doing creative things, including producing a ceramic-fermented Hárslevelü as part of its rarer The Amphora Selection range. Jansen van Rensburg says the amphorae allow for gentle oxygen exchange, similar to oak, but without imparting any wood ﬂavours. ‘The result is often a fresher, more vibrant and mineral-driven wine with a distinctive sense of place,’ she says. It’s rare, too: only 116 cases are produced.

OPPOSITE PAGE Three curiously characterful whites: Banele Vakele’s Tembela Chenin Blanc, Piekenierskloof’s Platklip Palomino Old Vine, and Rogge Cloof’s cold-climate, high-altitude De Knolle Fonteyn Chardonnay. TOP The tasting room and restaurant at Creation is enfolded by gilded winelands scenery. RIGHT Another unique white cultivar for South Africa: Lemberg’s Hárslevelü from The Amphora Selection.

TASTINGS

DE GRENDEL’S COOL-CLIMATE SHOWSTOPPER Though De Grendel’s cellar is in Durbanville, grapes used for its superlative – and much-awarded – Op Die Berg Chardonnay grow about a kilometre above sea level on the Witzenberg Mountain in Ceres, where the vineyards are often covered in snow in winter. Freezing conditions ensure complete vine dormancy, which, combined with extreme diurnal temperature variation, causes grapes to ripen exceptionally slowly, producing a high-acidity, cool-climate wine with generous minerality. The juice ages sur lie in French oak barrels with regular lees stirring (bâtonnage) to create a rich, creamy mouthfeel and refined finish. It’s also a wine that matures well for four or five years. As a Chardonnay, it’s in a category all of its own, yet some harvests are true stand-outs – try to get your hands on a few prized bottles from 2014 and 2021, held back and kept in the estate’s cellar as part of its Vintage range. The farm’s definitely worth a visit, not only to taste this distinctive Chardonnay, but also for a taste of history and a bite at its vaunted restaurant. A PARADOXICAL PINOTAGE It’s been almost two decades since Paarl’s Dekkersvlei Vineyards broke with vinicultural convention and rather irrationally released the world’s first White Pinotage. Although Pinotage itself was only developed as recently as the 1920s (when a Stellenbosch University professor named Abraham Perold hybridised Pinot Noir and Cinsaut to create a varietal initially named Hermitage), the team at Dekkersvlei wanted to find out what would happen if they took red out of the equation. To get white juice from the red Pinotage grapes, they harvest early, gently whole-bunch

LEFT The Survivor range from Van Loveren Family Vineyards was inspired by the survival story of a headstrong Nguni cow, while Dekkersvlei’s White Pinotage is the result of an unusual experiment to make a white wine from a red cultivar.

A MASTERFUL CHARDONNAY One day, while on her way to auction, a Nguni cow – apparently inspired by the sight of the vineyards she was being transported through – leapt from the back of a moving truck. She was found, a bit bruised and scratched, and christened Survivor. Her tale of resilience inspired a range of Van Loveren Family Vineyards wines, its labels featuring depictions of a headstrong cow. There is a Survivor Chenin Blanc from the Swartland and a Survivor Chardonnay from Elgin, but if you’re looking for something very elegant, even rare, invest in a few cases of Survivor Chardonnay from the Cellar Master Series. It’s made from grapes grown in Tradouw in the Klein Karoo, where cold nights and warm days and decomposed Bokkeveld shale produce a pure, flinty, fresh flavour, masterfully nurtured in the cellar by Survivor winemaker Pierre Wahl, who has crafted a wine that beautifully and honestly expresses the terroir: its mouthwatering minerality is balanced by a creamy yet energetic structure, with a refined, flinty finish. 

PRIVATE EDITION

PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED

ABOVE RIGHT De Grendel’s Op die Berg Chardonnay is grown in Ceres and finished in the estate’s cellar near Cape Town.

press the berries to avoid extracting any colour and remove the skins before fermenting. The result is a crisp, elegant, white wine – delicate aromas and lively acidity, with a nutty, creamy mouthfeel and a fruity flavour profile (tropical fruit, stone fruit and citrus). It’s quite a departure from the bold, rich, often earthy notes of traditional Pinotage with its plum and dark cherry flavours and characteristic smokiness. Time brings out deeper honeyed notes, a rounded mouthfeel and greater aromatic complexity.

ALTO.CO.ZA

DEPARTU RES

WHISPERS OF THE

PAST Often described as the most luxurious train in the world, Rovos Rail is steeped in 1920’s Victorian and Edwardian charm.

PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED BY ROVOS RAIL

WORDS JO KROMBERG

DEPARTU RES

Journey through the Highveld and the Great Karoo, witness the grandeur of spectacular mountain ranges before winding your way through the scenic Cape Winelands. Three days on Rovos Rail let’s you take it all in... Slowly.

DEPARTU RES

ABOVE Simplicity is the ultimate in sophistication. Guest suites are private, exquisitely furnished, and their picture windows frame the ever-changing landscape. OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT A bell signals the call to dine. Settle in for a first-class four-course experience, complete with a wine pairing from Rovos Rail’s sommelier; the Club Lounge is the perfect place to unwind, make friends, and enjoy pre- and post-dinner drinks; the last part of the Observation Car offers 270-degree views, and an excellent way to pass the time in scenic fashion.

As the train rolls through the austere Highveld, the landscape slowly softens into quiet farmland. The route is a 27-hour journey of 1 600 kilometres, through some of the most diverse and spectacular scenery offered by the African sub-continent. From sunsets over fields of sunflowers in the Free State to fresh mornings overlooking the haunting expanse of the timeless, nowhere land of the Karoo, there is ample opportunity to slow down and reflect.

PRIVATE EDITION

PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED BY ROVOS RAIL

OARDING ROVOS RAIL, whose carriages are known to have hosted kings, celebrities and presidents, is like stepping through a frame into a sepia-tinted haze, where nothing is real and everything is fabulous. Classic wood-panelled coaches with period features hark back to a bygone era of slower luxuriating voyages. Meticulously restored vintage wood-panelled carriages are home to double suites with private bathrooms, suitcase storage and amenities worthy of premium travel. A personal concierge is contactable 24 hours a day, whether for a late-night snack or a shirt that needs pressing. Unique touches include the mattresses. Each offers a soft and hard side, which can be flipped according to your preference. Just ask your concierge. Our southbound journey from Pretoria to Cape Town slowly flows into smooth motion, signalling that it’s time to head to the Observation Car for a mimosa before lunch. And so the tone is set for the rest of our trip.

DEPARTU RES

The train also offers convivial spaces in which to build friendships over a beverage or two. The Club Car offers the feel of a burnished, wood-panelled gentleman’s club where you are free to enjoy a Cuban cigar to round off a perfect evening. The Lounge Car seats 26 passengers. With its big picture windows, sofas and wingbacks, it has great mingling areas and quiet corners to while away the time. On most days, afternoon tea is served at 4.30pm in the Lounge and Observation cars, while the bar service is available until late. On some of the longer journeys, an onboard historian hosts lectures in the Lounge Car. An old-fashioned gong announces mealtimes, a silver service affair, with each course accompanied by premium South African wine pairings, suggested by the knowledgeable sommelier. At night, the Dining Car is transformed into a low-lit, magically opulent space, with silverware and crystal glasses picking up the candlelight on the tables. Dinner is a four-course event with dishes like hot smoked salmon salad, beef tagliata, five-spice ostrich and lamb loin, followed by a variety of cheeses, and finished off with traditional milk tart and koeksisters.

ISSUE 73

DEPARTU RES

TOP Furnished with comfortable wingback chairs and sofas, the Observation Car accommodates 32 passengers and is ideal for relaxing, mingling or simply ‘observing’. ABOVE LEFT Hosted at 4.30pm daily, afternoon tea is a glorious affair. ABOVE RIGHT Attention to detail is present everywhere – the en-suite bathrooms are styled with wood-panelling, Edwardian or Victorian features, and all the modern conveniences you could wish for.

In between, it’s the moments captured through the large train windows that make the journey so unique, so different to other forms of travel. Like a lonely track of dust flying into the air behind a vehicle in the morning sun denoting the only sign of life in an expanse of wilderness.  rovos.com

PRIVATE EDITION

PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED BY ROVOS RAIL

After dinner, guests retire to the Observation Car for an after-dinner port before heading to turned-down suites and falling asleep to the clickety clack of the train on the tracks. Morning arrives languidly with a rhythmic lilt. The Karoo is the backdrop for breakfast: a delectable array of teas, coffees, pastries, cheeses, cold cuts and hot English breakfasts. The days fly by much faster than the train, punctuated by food, conversation, a siesta, apéritifs. But it’s not all about the journey. There are opportunities to disembark and enjoy some of South Africa’s landmarks. On the north and southbound routes, there’s a visit to the historic village of Matjiesfontein, an authentically preserved Victorian village founded as a refreshment stop in 1890. A stop in Kimberley, well known for the discovery of diamonds that led to its establishment in 1893, includes a visit to the Kimberley Mine Museum and the world’s largest man-made excavation, the Big Hole.

PARTNERSHIP

LONDON CALLING

Range Rover unveils its exclusive London-inspired editions, honouring the capital’s most coveted neighbourhoods.

ANGE ROVER HAS REVEALED an exclusive series

of London-themed editions, which celebrate British luxury, character and originality. The full line-up is now available, with the Range Rover Evoque Hoxton Edition, Range Rover Velar Belgravia Edition and Range Rover Sport Battersea Edition newly joined by the Range Rover Westminster Edition. Embodying the distinct spirit of influential areas in the heart of the British capital, each Edition is crafted with details that complement the peerless design, exceptional refinement and rich provenance inherent in every Range Rover.

PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED

RANGE ROVER WESTMINSTER EDITION

Westminster is the epicentre of British leadership and heritage, renowned as the home of cultural and architectural landmarks such as Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. A nod to a district of unparalleled influence, the Westminster Edition embodies Range Rover’s legacy of exemplary leadership with an enhanced specification reflecting timeless elegance and heightened luxury. The exterior features distinctive ‘Westminster Edition’ badging and 22-inch Diamond Turned wheels that combine strength and beauty for a refined finish. The cabin is appointed with a beautifully crafted Natural Black Birch Veneer featuring a 10-line inlay – a subtle reference to 10 Downing Street, the seat of British leadership. Endowed with a specification that reflects the stature of the eponymous district, the Westminster Edition is adorned with curated premium metallic paint as standard, Meridian 3D Audio and a sliding panoramic roof.

ISSUE 73

Range Rover Westminster Edition is available as a plug-in electric hybrid, with up to 117km of all-electric range – enough to satisfy the average daily commute with zero emissions, for nearsilent travel. Range Rover stands as the original British luxury SUV brand, celebrated for drawing inspiration from the nation’s most iconic traditions and landscapes. London, particularly, has served as a source of inspiration for Range Rover to shape some of its most exclusive expressions. The Range Rover Linley edition, unveiled in Park Lane in 1999, embodied Mayfair sophistication, while the brand’s 50th anniversary collaboration with Savile Row tailor Henry Poole & Co. celebrated London’s sartorial influence by weaving a custom fabric inspired by the original Range Rover interior. London’s luxury culture and historic institutions have been consistently woven into the Range Rover story and now four new exclusive editions, including Range Rover Westminster Edition, deliver contemporary expressions of the capital city. Hannah Custance, Range Rover Materiality Senior Manager, says: ‘This series of London-inspired Editions represents a contemporary expression of the enduring dialogue between the capital city and the Range Rover brand. Each borough we drew inspiration from served as a vibrant muse, chosen for its rich British heritage, iconic modern architecture, or its role as an epicentre of London’s creative scene. Through our craft in materiality design, we sought to encapsulate the spirit of these culturally significant neighbourhoods through thoughtful, refined details in each Edition, delivered across the entire Range Rover line-up.’ Range Rover Westminster Edition is priced from R3 424 100. rangerover.com/en-za/explore/range-rover-chapters/ london-editions.html

DEPARTU RES

SAFARI,

UNSCRIPTED Luxury suites on the banks of the Sabie River offer a slower, more open-ended way to experience the bush. WORDS PAIGE DORKIN

OR SEASONED SAFARI-GOERS, the classic formula of sunrise and sunset game drives can begin to feel a little predictable and goal-driven, with the pursuit of wildlife taking precedence over the experience of simply being in the bush. At Elephant Point River Suites on the banks of the Sabie River, there’s a less prescribed, more personal experience on offer. Located just a few kilometres from the Paul Kruger Gate, the private reserve spans 290 hectares bordering the Kruger National Park and overlooking the iconic Sabie River. This unique vantage point, along with carefully preserved wildlife corridors through which game moves freely across the landscape, allow wildlife encounters to unfold unscheduled. Built to frame the surrounding landscape as a ‘living theatre’, the suites offer ever-shifting scenes from their private terraces and second-level decks. Hippos grunt in the water below. Vervet monkeys make tumbling cameos while buck graze along the riverbanks. Elephants make an occasional appearance, and even leopards have been spotted. Instead of chasing down sightings to check off a list, guests are invited to slow down and bear witness to the small, unscripted moments that emerge as the light shifts gradually through the day. Of course, with a gate to the Kruger just minutes away, game drives with Elephant Point’s guides are always an option. A 24-hour butler service handles access permits and arrangements, allowing guests to schedule excursions around their own rhythm rather than the other way around. A FRONT-ROW SEAT Each suite is designed as a private sanctuary, with generous living spaces and layered interiors that feel more like a contemporary home than a hotel room. The 42 River Suites range from

RIGHT At Elephant Point Private Reserve on the banks of the Sabie River, the villa-style River Suites have been designed to bring the landscape into view from almost every angle.

PRIVATE EDITION

PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED

DEPARTU RES

ISSUE 73

DEPARTU RES

ABOVE At SAN, fire-led cooking and modern African flavours take centre stage under the direction of a two-star Michelin chef, while TILO offers a more relaxed setting for sunset cocktails and shared plates overlooking the river.

on modern African cuisine and live-fire cooking. TILO, the cocktail lounge above it, offers a more relaxed setting for shared plates and drinks as the sun goes down. For more private occasions, meals can be arranged in the River Suites’ generous dining areas.

188 to 400m2, with private entrances, additional studies or guest rooms, open-plan bathrooms and outdoor spaces designed to make the most of the setting. The river-facing suites have elevated bedrooms and expansive upper-level terraces with dining areas, plunge pools and panoramic views, while the waterhole-facing villas put wildlife at the centre, with covered terraces and infinity-edge pools overlooking active water spots. You can swim, dine, read or simply sit and watch. If the urge arises, nature trails for walking or jogging allow you to explore the reserve on foot. Dining provides another reason not to rush off. SAN, the signature restaurant, overlooks the Sabie River and centres

THE ART OF SLOWING DOWN The spa makes yet another persuasive case for staying put. Far from being an afterthought, it’s a destination in its own right, tucked into the landscape and designed around the existing terrain. Three private treatment pods emerge from the rocks, surrounded by boulders and acacia trees. Inside, natural materials and floor-to-ceiling glass keep the experience connected to the bush, while each pod opens onto an outdoor deck with loungers, showers and a wood-fired hot tub. A treatment can therefore become something considerably more leisurely: an hour or two of restorative therapy followed by a hot-tub soak, with the bush as the soundtrack.

PRIVATE EDITION

DEPARTU RES

And that, in the end, is the real luxury here: having nowhere else you need to be. Full of life, the landscape unfolds beyond the terrace, the river shifts with the light, and the day is free to take its own course. At Elephant Point, safari becomes less about what you set out to find and more about what happens when you simply stay and watch.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Within the greater Elephant Point reserve, guests enjoy a private safari experience. Each suite was conceived as a villa-style maisonette, with its own entrance and generous living spaces. The spa’s treatment pods open onto private decks with woodfired hot tubs. An open kitchen, central fireplace and expansive river views give SAN a sense of theatre.

ISSUE 73

Prosper with us. NEW FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITIES NOW AVAILABLE. CONTACT: Yael Geffen 082 578 4777 yael@sothebysrealty.co.za sothebysrealty.co.za Each office is independently owned and operated

Kingswood Golf Estate, George R 7,850,000 4 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms | 2 Garages Refined Kingswood Golf Estate living with timeless elegance and effortless indoor-outdoor entertaining. Web Ref: SIR125892 Beatrix de Waal: 072 394 8822 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – George is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Southern Cape Realty CC – Reg # - 1991/016692/23 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route R 29,950,000 3 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms | 3 Garages 20.7-hectare off-grid masterpiece blending exceptional luxury, sustainability and breathtaking panoramic views. Web Ref: SIR12516 Hein Pretorius: 083 701 3159 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Plettenberg is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Bahia Formosa Estate CC – Reg# 1997/005096/23 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route R 6,850,000 4 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms | 2 Garages Versatile Upper Robberg home with sea views, private pool and separate cottage. Web Ref: SIR125650 Carrie Maclean: 082 566 1881 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Plettenberg is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Bahia Formosa Estate CC – Reg# 1997/005096/23 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Cape Town, Fresnaye R 7,800,000 1 Bedroom | 1 Bathroom | 1 Parking | 59 sqm Designer Fresnaye apartment showcasing bespoke interiors, premium finishes and sophisticated indoor-outdoor living. Web Ref: SIR125331 Munya Mutanga: +27 (0) 74 762 2237 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Atlantic Seaboard is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Atlantic Seaboard Properties (Pty) Ltd – Reg#2018/587662/07under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Cape Town, Bantry Bay R 45,000,000 3 Bedrooms | 3.5 Bathrooms | 1 Garage | 405 sqm Contemporary Bantry Bay penthouse with panoramic ocean views and private rooftop pool. Web Ref: SIR125942 Munya Mutanga: +27 (0) 74 762 2237 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Atlantic Seaboard is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Atlantic Seaboard Properties (Pty) Ltd – Reg#2018/587662/07 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Cape Town, Bantry Bay R 28,000,000 3 Bedrooms | 3.5 Bathrooms | 1 Garage | 261 sqm Stylish Bantry Bay apartment with three en-suites, private pool and effortless coastal living. Web Ref: SIR125943 Maxine Schofield:+27 (0) 73 338 5827 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Atlantic Seaboard is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Atlantic Seaboard Properties (Pty) Ltd – Reg#2018/587662/07 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Sea Point, Cape Town R 11,950,000 3 Bedrooms | 3.5 Bathrooms | 2 Garages | 272 sqm Rare Upper Sea Point opportunity with panoramic ocean views and exceptional redevelopment potential. Web Ref: SIR125551 Carl-Emil Knox: +27 (0) 72 984 1831 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Atlantic Seaboard is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Atlantic Seaboard Properties (Pty) Ltd – Reg#2018/587662/07 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Constantia, Cape Town R 27,900,000 4 Bedrooms | 5.5 Bathrooms | 2 Garages Immaculate lock-up-and-go estate home offering elegant living and effortless entertaining near Bel Ombre Meadow. Web Ref: SIR125529 Rouvaun McKirby: 071 671 0821 Jo Thomas: 084 404 4120 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Southern Suburbs is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Capeprop Estates (Pty) Ltd – Reg# 1996/010537/07 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Constantia, Cape Town R 12,500,000 3 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms | 2 Garages Beautifully maintained family sanctuary offering space, privacy and secure cul-de-sac living. Web Ref: SIR125639 Brigitte Bray: 072 784 7475 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Southern Suburbs is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Capeprop Estates (Pty) Ltd – Reg# 1996/010537/07 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Bishopscourt, Cape Town R 75,000,000 4 Bedrooms | 4 Bathrooms | 4 Garages Prestigious Bishopscourt estate with exceptional views, mature gardens and unparalleled privacy. Web Ref: SIR117042 Ruth Leach: 082 323 7550 Elaine Dobson: 082 413 7369 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Southern Suburbs is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Capeprop Estates (Pty) Ltd – Reg# 1996/010537/07 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Stonehurst Mountain Estate, Cape Town R 20,950,000 5 Bedrooms | 7 Bathrooms | 3 Garages Stonehurst Mountain Estate masterpiece with refined design and spectacular panoramic views. Web Ref: SIR124635 Steve Thomas: 084 471 4722 Andrea Glew: 079 893 9197 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Southern Suburbs is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Capeprop Estates (Pty) Ltd – Reg# 1996/010537/07 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Stonehurst Mountain Estate, Cape Town R 19,500,000 5 Bedrooms | 5 Bathrooms | 4 Garages Luxury Stonehurst estate living with versatile dual-living and income-generating potential. Web Ref: SIR126078 Steve Thomas: 084 471 4722 Andrea Glew: 079 893 9197 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Southern Suburbs is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Capeprop Estates (Pty) Ltd – Reg# 1996/010537/07 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Hout Bay, Cape Town R 15,500,000 4 Bedrooms | 3.5 Bathrooms | 2 Garages Georgian gem with panoramic mountain and sea views. Whether entertaining on a grand scale or enjoying quiet moments, this is a property that truly has it all. Terri Steyn: 082 777 0748 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Southern Suburbs is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Capeprop Estates (Pty) Ltd – Reg# 1996/010537/07 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Kommetjie, Cape Town From R5,950,000 2 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms | 2 Garages Luxury coastal retirement living with mountain views, premium homes and exceptional lifestyle amenities. Web Ref: SIR109832 Natalie Cooper: 083 630 0911 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Southern Suburbs is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Capeprop Estates (Pty) Ltd – Reg# 1996/010537/07 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Noordhoek, Cape Town R 15,000,000 1 Bedroom | 1 Bathroom | 3 Garages Rare Noordhoek opportunity with approved plans, lifestyle appeal and proximity to beach and vineyards. Web Ref: SIR1256768 Lilian Bron: 076 959 2733 Helen Smith: 084 503 5464 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Southern Suburbs is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Capeprop Estates (Pty) Ltd – Reg# 1996/010537/07 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Val De Vie Estate, Paarl R 25,500,000 4 Bedrooms | 4 Bathrooms | 2 Garages Contemporary Val de Vie living with exceptional entertaining, security and world-class amenities. Web Ref: SIR116835 Kim Edges: 072 562 4472 Suritha van Tonder: 084 440 4283 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Winelands is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Craggy Island Investments PTY Ltd 2016/303204/07 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Botmaskop Estate, Stellenbosch POA Prestigious Botmaskop homesite with breathtaking panoramic Stellenbosch Winelands views Web Ref: SIR125787 Detlef Struck: 079 597 1727 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Winelands is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Craggy Island Investments PTY Ltd 2016/303204/07 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Winelands Estate, Paarl R 17,500,000 5804 sqms One of The Winelands Estate’s last plots, with breathtaking mountain and vineyard views. Web Ref: SIR117113 Kim Edges: 072 562 4472 Suritha van Tonder: 084 440 4283 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Winelands is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Craggy Island Investments PTY Ltd 2016/303204/07 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Franschhoek R 26,950,000 4 Bedrooms | 5.5 Bathrooms | 2 Garages Refined Cape Dutch living with equestrian charm and spectacular 360° mountain views. Web Ref: SIR125440 Gary de Valle: 082 464 8038 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Winelands is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Craggy Island Investments PTY Ltd 2016/303204/07 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Stellenbosch R 22,500,000 3 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms | 2 Garages Luxury turnkey Stellenbosch apartment with timeless elegance and exceptional investment potential. Web Ref: SIR125073 Maggie Smit: 083 712 5716 Detlef Struck: 079 597 1727 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Winelands is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Craggy Island Investments PTY Ltd 2016/303204/07 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Wellington Farm R 24,500,000 13 Bedrooms | 11 Bathrooms | 2 Garages 3.96-hectare Bainskloof hospitality retreat with breathtaking mountain and valley views. Web Ref: SIR117875 Danie Hauptfleisch: 083 627 2148 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Winelands is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Craggy Island Investments PTY Ltd 2016/303204/07 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Onverwacht Wine Estate, Wellington R 4,759,000 3 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms | 1 Garage Cape Vernacular elegance with spacious open-plan living in Wellington’s picturesque Winelands. Web Ref: SIR125229 TC Kohler: 082 894 5231 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Winelands is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Craggy Island Investments PTY Ltd 2016/303204/07 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Paarl R 7,995,000 4 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms | 2 Garages Refined modern luxury and relaxed Winelands living in sought-after Hoog en Droog, Paarl. Web Ref: SIR117952 Reghardt Human: 071 554 5056 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Winelands is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Craggy Island Investments PTY Ltd 2016/303204/07 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Boskloof Eco Estate, Somerset West R 17,995,000 5 Bedrooms | 5.5 Bathrooms | 3 Garages Boskloof Eco Estate masterpiece with breathtaking mountain, ocean and Table Mountain views. Web Ref: SIR3527257 Chantal Botes: 0837025460 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Helderberg is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Helderberg Realty (Pty) Ltd – Reg# 2023/178798/07 Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Dennegeur, Somerset West R 11,500,000 4 Bedrooms | 5 Bathrooms | 4 Lounges | 2 Garages Sophisticated estate living with panoramic False Bay and Table Mountain views.. Web Ref: SIR125894 Chantal Botes: 0837025460 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Helderberg is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Helderberg Realty (Pty) Ltd – Reg# 2023/178798/07 Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Glenvista – Jhb South R 9,499,000 8 Bedrooms | 7 Bathrooms | 6 Garages Lodge-inspired luxury estate with spectacular golf course views and resort-style entertaining. Web Ref: SIR117697 Saxon Dhladhla: 078 002 5329 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Roodepoort is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Yukocom (Pty)Ltd – Reg# 2019/344066/0SIR108611 Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Hippo Bay, Vaal Dam R 9,000,000 5 Bedrooms | 5.5 Bathrooms | 3 Garages Luxury waterfront retreat with breathtaking Vaal Dam views and an exceptional lifestyle. Web Ref: SIR125866 Ockert Schenck: 082 848 8503 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Roodepoort is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Yukocom (Pty)Ltd – Reg# 2019/344066/0SIR108611 Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Morningside, Sandton POA 5 Bedrooms | 5 Bathrooms | 2 Garages Contemporary Morningside luxury with exceptional entertaining and beautifully landscaped outdoor spaces. Web Ref: SIR125658 Marc: 082 854 7272 Alan: 082 490 0940 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Craighall is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Lew Geffen Estates (Pty)Ltd – Reg# 2012/141008/07 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Westcliff, Johannesburg R 16,000,000 4 Bedrooms | 4 Bathrooms | 4 Garages Prestigious boomed enclave landmark home with timeless character, privacy and restored architectural integrity. Web Ref: SIR125930 Beverley Gurwicz: 082 412 0010 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Craighall is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Lew Geffen Estates (Pty)Ltd – Reg# 2012/141008/07 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Houghton Estate, Johannesburg R 12,500,000 4 Bedrooms | 4 Bathrooms | 3 Garages Timeless Houghton Estate elegance with contemporary luxury and exceptional indoor-outdoor entertaining. Web Ref: SIR124711 Sabina: 083 254 6981 Kobus: 083 632 2626 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Craighall is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Lew Geffen Estates (Pty)Ltd – Reg# 2012/141008/07 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Bryanston, Sandton R 11,000,000 4 Bedrooms | 4.5 Bathrooms | 4 Garages Contemporary Bryanston luxury with expansive entertaining, landscaped gardens and exceptional privacy. Web Ref: 7347528 Lou-Anne Chetty: 082 852 2407 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Craighall is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Lew Geffen Estates (Pty)Ltd – Reg# 2012/141008/07 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Parktown North, Johannesburg R 7,770,000 4 Bedrooms | 4.5 Bathrooms | 2 Garages Award-winning residence with versatile accommodation, private cottage and exceptional income potential. Web Ref: SIR125417 Darrell Wright: 072 227 0992 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Craighall is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Lew Geffen Estates (Pty)Ltd – Reg# 2012/141008/07 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Northcliff, Randburg R 8,490,000 4 Bedrooms | 3.5 Bathrooms | 3 Garages Rare Northcliff double stand with breathtaking views, development potential and exceptional investment appeal. Web Ref: SIR125162 Melinda Odendaal: 083 399 4113 Louw Stuart: 082 464 7914 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Randburg is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Bleauprint Realty (Pty)Ltd Reg – 2014/239443/07 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Northcliff, Randburg R 9,990,000 4 Bedrooms | 4.5 Bathrooms | 3 Garages | Pool Architect-designed Northcliff masterpiece blending contemporary elegance, Art Deco and exceptional privacy. Web Ref: 7365420 Melinda Odendaal: 083 399 4113 Louw Stuart: 082 464 7914 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Randburg is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Bleauprint Realty (Pty)Ltd Reg – 2014/239443/07 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

Brooklands Estate, Randburg R 5,395,000 4 Bedrooms | 3.5 Bathrooms | 2 Garages Timeless Tuscan elegance with spacious family living, a beautiful wrap-around garden, and secure estate lifestyle. Web Ref: SIR125690 Ria de Wet: 082 824 6925 Gail Broderick: 083 565 0461 Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty – Randburg is an independently owned and operated franchise business of Bleauprint Realty (Pty)Ltd Reg – 2014/239443/07 under sub licence from Geffen International Realty Franchises (Proprietary) Limited

THE FIRST OF A NEW ERA. THE NEW BMW iX3