While browsing at my local Supermarket some time back, I had a sudden urge to quaff a long draft of delicious, fresh orange juice. I immediately set off in search of a pocket of the best of what South Africa could boast of, in the way of enticing fresh fruit that would burst forth with the taste of orchard fresh nectar !

I used to be a Citrus farmer, and there was nothing nicer than to select, and eat a freshly reaped ripe, juicy orange out of the fruit trailer, just before it was transported to the pack house where it was transformed into an enticing, alluring, shining, carefully waxed, and wrapped example of fruity goodness. As one bit into a segment, the abundant cascade of pure heaven used to fill our mouths with unadulterated tangy thirst-quenching pleasure. I suppose this image has stayed with me, and I thought that I could perhaps get close to repeating the dream.

I noticed pockets of “oranges” lying on a pallet. They contained fruit that had a dull orange color. On closer investigation I noticed that there was a typical metallic sheen to the fruit. The pockets were labeled as having come from Zebedelia Estate in Limpopo Province. The fruit was not fit for pig food. Then I remembered how the Citrus Industry in the Lowveld, with specific reference to oranges, was dealt a death-blow, especially to groves in the higher lying areas, by a disastrous disease named “greening”, which renders oranges unfit for any consumption whatsoever. I also remembered the sad demise of Zebedelia Estate.

Greening is caused by what is termed a Cytoplasm, (see wikipedia) which renders the fruit useless. This is because the one side of the fruit never develops further than a certain stage, which leaves that one side “green”. A casual look at some fruit will in fact not immediately identify the greening. A sure give away is to squeeze suspect fruit gently; which will produce a typical metallic sheen. If tasted, the fruit is bland, and almost juiceless. Labourers reaping citrus are instructed to drop greened fruit to the ground, where it eventually rots.

Greening disease is a secondary infection that invades the citrus groves through a vector by the name of Citricilla, which is a nymph type of creature that innocently imbeds itself into citrus leaves, in shady spots near to windbreaks. Until recently growers never realized what sort of death-knell was being rung through this vector in their industry. The only way to prevent the Citricilla spreading too rapidly, is to not plant citrus in high-lying cool areas, but only in areas with a hot sultry climate where Citricilla does not easily thrive. It is however wise to practice pest control against Citricilla in any event in the warmer areas, to prevent the possible threat of greening in those areas as well.

Once the greening phenomenon presents itself, there is virtually no hope for the trees bearing greened fruit. There were efforts to inject infected trees with anti-biotics at one stage; this was not a solution.

Zebedelia Estates was a magnificent show-piece of a citrus estate. It belonged to the Schlesinger Group in previous years. From the air it could be seen to stretch for kilometers displaying the neatly trimmed orchard lines of a well planned, organised, and adequately managed enterprise. It was reputed to be the largest private citrus estate in the world at one stage.

It used to be called “the diamond of agricultural projects,” and in 1978 the Readers’ Digest, in its Illustrated Guide to Southern Africa, wrote: “Nearly 400 million oranges are harvested each year… At the height of the season, about 15000 cases of oranges leave Zebediela every day. The fruit comes from more than 565000 trees irrigated by enough water to supply a city…” (p. 122) The harvest was worth R30 million a year. But after its hand-over to the Agricultural and Rural Development Corporation of the ruling ANC Government the estate suffered a loss of R30 million in 2000 and of R35 million in 2001. The press reported that it was “beyond recovery.” A lemon yield worth R8 million was left to rot because there was no money to pay staff. In March 2001 ABSA Bank stopped all credit and bounced a pension cheque for R56 million. The seller had been only too ready to help the new owners, but their assistance was rejected.

And so this marvellous icon, cash cow, source of foreign exchange, basic food producer, and a showcase of proficient and successful agricultural management, was systematically neglected and then allowed to disintegrate into total and absolute ruin.

Some enterprising hawkers now reap whatever fruits that have had the misfortune to hang on neglected trees, still not cut down for firewood, badly infected with diseases like greening, stuff them into orange pockets, and then sell them cheaply to some greedy entrepreneur who is trying to make a quick “buck” out of any unsuspecting ignorant shopper, who can’t see the difference between poor and healthy fruit. Unfortunately in this instance, the Law says, “buyer beware”. The irony of the whole affair is that the product brazenly displays a Zebedelia label, showing the origin of this abortion !

Then a supermarket franchisee proudly displays this tragedy on his “fresh fruit” pallet as an example of his choice of a quality high standard delicious product.

I tried to find out what the current policy was as far as the quality of local fruit was concerned; in earlier years it was illegal for anyone to sell fruit locally of any kind that did not conform to export internal quality standards. I was referred from pillar to post between officials from various bodies, private and otherwise, involved with guidelines for the quality and sale of fruit. I was eventually told that only export fruit with required standards was controlled, and that the bodies involved with the regulation of local fruit quality in the old days no longer existed, and that local fruit was no longer controlled for quality, and that it was impossible to monitor the myriads of people selling fruit anyhow. In other words, one is virtually at the mercy of unscrupulous operators who certainly don’t care a hoot about the sale of quality healthy fruit. What about those shoppers who are not in any position to make trips to other places, where they may have a choice of purchase? I suppose that one could surmise that if one doesn’t really want to deliver this kind of service – well, so what anyhow.

Someone I know whom has recently relocated to Qatar in the Persian Gulf says that excellent quality fruit from the different countries in the world is abundantly available, with fruit from South Africa of better quality than she ever saw even in the supermarkets in the Cape where she was before. I wonder what we South Africans did wrong to have to be saddled with our poor quality, or should I ask why vendors that have a duty to showcase the best that we have, with pride, and commitment to service, and the protection of their and our good name, cannot (or refuse to), rise to the occasion. I feel positively ashamed to refer precious overseas tourists to our local supermarket.

I do still wish I could make my dream come true.

]]> https://sabie.co.za/blog/?feed=rss2&p=2245 0 https://sabie.co.za/blog/?p=1676&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=knotty-nook-gallery-of-fine-art-and-the-loft-coffee-shoppe https://sabie.co.za/blog/?p=1676#comments Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:53:28 +0000 tourism marketer http://sabie.co.za/blog/?p=1676 Continue reading →]]>

Knotty Nook Gallery

Welcome to the Knotty Nook Gallery of Fine Art in Sabie.

We are able to introduce you through our extensive art network to celebrated local, national and international artists and sculptors, or dealers, for paintings, hand knotted carpets and tapestries, and other fine pieces of art. The majority of our art falls into the affordable price range, with a few selected pieces for collectors. The Knotty Nook can also buy your art in for cash. At present we have one of the best exhibitions of Art on display in its class in the RSA.

We display a great variety of subjects – such as landscapes, still life, wildlife, figures studies, and within these choices there is also a sensible balance of different styles in a variety of different mediums.

The Loft Coffee Shop and Knotty Nook Art Gallery

There are oils, pencil and charcoal sketches, acrylics, watercolours, etchings, collages and montages to enjoy and to acquire at affordable prices.

We pride ourselves in opening the first real dedicated Fine Art Gallery in Sabie and are looking forward to the day that Sabie will be known for its collection of fine art works.

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For Group Fine Art Gallery tours throughout the Highlands, Panorama and Lowveld Regions of Mpumalanga. Join us on an exploratory adventure of really stunning art collections and gallery displays. Call our Dream Merchants for more details on
013 764 1177

Email us at johnt@tripsza.com

The Knotty Nook Gallery and the Loft Coffee Shoppe share the same space under roof. Art decorates the Coffee Shoppe walls and helps to create a pleasant ambience for the Coffee Shoppe patrons as they comfortably while their time away before embarking on the next leg of their journey.

The Loft Logo

Platter in the Loft

Cakes to Order

Be seduced by the suggestion of lovingly and carefully crafted home bakes, platters, or special treats from our own kitchen, and round off your meal with a rich creamy brew of locally grown Arabica coffee from off our own cool mountainsides. We also sell packets of this Africa Coffee off our table consisting of Espresso, Dark Roast, Medium Blend or Bushveld Blend. All are suitable for either the French Press, for Filter Coffee, or in a Coffee machine.

As groups on tour try our lunch concept with a difference. We can host you to a boma braai lunch, or a regular braai and spit braai with all the trimmings out at Macmac Pools or at Lone Creek Falls. A cash bar is available.

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Call our Dream Merchants at The Loft Coffee Shoppe for more details on
013 764 1177

Email us at johnt@tripsza.com

Slowveld Meander

The SLOWVELD is only 4 hours of comfortable and easy travelling away from Gauteng on the N4 Highway. Relax comfortably and let us take all the travel strain.

Why not gather a group of friends or family together and embark on a SLOWVELD meander while quietly taking in all the best kept secrets that only those “who know” will take their time to share with you. Besides which, it will save you a fortune in toll fees, fuel and believe it or not – meals and accommodation as well..especially during the SLOW season !

Coach Transport

Herewith a complete “to do” list of activities from which to choose, which can be built into tailor made tours, that will enable you to cover so much more in the touring time available.

Knotty Nook Gallery of Fine Art

Arts and Crafts
There are local and world famous artists, craftsmen, potters and sculptors, displaying their wares at galleries, forges, centres, malls, restaurants, information offices, and other suitable venues in the region’s towns.

Shopping Tours.

Slowveld Shoppers

There are masses of quaint individual and boutique shops offering an amazing range of
Antiques, Collectables, Mimentos, Historical Artefacts, Liquors, Classic and Cottage furniture, Jewelry, Books (new, 2^nd hand, classical, Afrikana for collectors), Clothing, Leather Goods, Excellent Artworks, Camping Gear, Angling Gear, Curios, Chocolates.

Slowveld Cheetah Cubs

Adventure Activities – Mild.
Hot Air Balooning, Helicopter Flips, Fixed Wing Flips, Tree Canopy Tours, Night Drives in Game Reserves and Forests, Birding (for all levels), Wild Life Projects, Elephant Encounters (from close by), Gold Panning, Geological tours, 4×4 adventures, Angling (trout and bass).

Extreme Adventure

Adventure Activities – Wild.
White Water Tubing, White Water Rafting, Quad Biking, Bungi Swing, Mountain Boarding, Kloofing, Caving.

Exploration.
Palaeontological, Archaeological, Rock Art, Ancient Temples.

Botanical Gardens Slowveld

Nature Tourism.
Birding, Tree-spotting, Veld Flowers and Shrubs, Butterflies, Entomology, Bats, Spiders, Scorpions, Reptiles, Ecology, Indigenous species. Environmental, General Wildlife (KNP, Research), Botanical Gardens, and Wildlife Rehabilitation Projects. All of the tourism in the above segment is good for school, student and/or special interest groups too.

Slowveld Anglo Boer War Sites

History Tourism.
Battlefields, Cemetries, Churches, Museums, War History, Uniforms, Regiments, Whole War Culture, (There is more critical Country War History around Mpumalanga than there ever was in Kwazulu-Natal). There is interesting Gold Mining History, Old Buildings and Achitecture, and a Jock of the Bushveld tour throughout the SLOWVELD.

Timber in the Slowveld

Agri – Tourism.
Timber Industry:
Tree Improvement, Nursery culture, Tree Field Management, Sawmilling, Furniture Production, Spin-off into other Timber Products.

Citrus Slowveld

Citrus Industry:
Tree Improvement, Nursery Culture, Orchard Management, Packhouse Management, Products and uses.

Macadamia and Pecan Nut Industry:
Tree Improvement, Nursery Culture, Orchard Management, Roasting, Packhouse Management, Products and uses.

Avo Slowveld

Avocado Industry:
Tree Improvement, Nursery Culture, Orchard Management, Packhouse Management, Products and uses.

Sugar Industry:
Plant Material Improvement, Field Management, Sugar Mill Management, Products and uses.

Nursery Industry.
Azaleas, Roses, Indigenous Plants, Trees and Shrubs, Palms and other Exotica.

Heliconia

Flowers Industry.
Cut Flowers, Roses, Proteas, Tulips, Orchids, Mixed Flowers, Botanical Gardens.

Italian Slowveld

Cultural Tourism.
There are many various cultural segments in whatever region that one tours. All these cultures have a different cultural heritage. You have different Religious, Social, Historical, Cuisine, Art, and Music backgrounds. There is Indigenous, Indian, Chinese, German, English, Scots, Welsh, Italian, Portuguese, Italian, Greek, English, Dutch and Afrikaner culture to choose from. Colonialy all these cultures have a connection with almost all regions. Theme tours, musical evenings with different cuisines, poetry, raconteur, and humour are very popular with local people and tourists alike.

Blyde Canyon Slowveld

Dams.
In the Panorama and Eastern Highveld Regions:
Vyeboom, daGama, Wiklip, Kwena, Longmere, Klipkopje, Primkop, Njaka, are all good for Picnics, Angling, Water Sports, Walks, Nature, Birding. Blyde Dam is good for wildlife viewing and an exciting boat cruise.

Religious Tours.
Various Christian Churches:
Child Evangelisation, Mission College, Printing Press, Motivational Speakers, Various outreach clinics, Mission History of the Region.

For want of space it has been virtually impossible to expand on the activities available above. Please do not hesitate to make enquiries about the activities that may interest you and we’ll be only too pleased to let you have more details.

The point is  – take it easy, sit back, relax and enjoy your oddysey in the SLOWVELD !

www.sabie.co.za
www.graskop.co.za
www.pilgrims-rest.co.za
www.hazyviewinfo.co.za
www.conferenceconcepts.co.za

Trips ZA Logo

Contact our Dream Merchants on
013 764 1177

Email:  johnt@tripsza.com

Malcolm Wilson & Hulley Booth

The name Malcolm Wilson may not be on everyone’s mind, but for one Lowvelder, Hulley Booth, the memory of spending a few moments with a Ford racing legend and owner of M-Sport will remain with him for time immemorial. Malcolm built the two Sasol Rally’s winning Fords.

Malcolm Wilson next to Hulley's Escourt

Hulley who was also a rally driver in his earlier days, is forever teasing visitors about the parking bays in front of his business Sabie Hardware that he says are reserved for Ford fanatics only. Imagine his surprise when Malcolm Wilson walked into his shop to take a look at Hulley’s 1979 Escort Rally replica ! Hulley couldn’t believe his luck – especially after Malcolm agreed to sign his Escort as well as his Ford ST. The Escort is now proudly named the Malcolm Wilson Escort.

Malcolm Signing Hulley's Escort

Malcolm has more than 20 years of rallying experience at World Championship level. He won British titles as a driver during the 1970’s and also won the British overall Crown in 1994. Since then he has been Ford’s senior test driver. From his youth Malcolm had always dreamed about being in charge of Ford’s Rally Programme.

After taking over M-Sport the team became a world renowned privateer team with a string of titles to boast about. M-Sport has been managing Ford’s World Rally Programme since 1997.

Hulley & Malcolm

In 2006 M-Sport won the FIA World Rally Manufacturer’s title driving a Ford Focus RS WRC 06 that was a first for Ford since 1997. They won the title again in 2007, and have been successfully developing Ford rally and racing cars like Fiesta’s S2000, R1 and MS1, RRC and RS models ever since.

Wilson Factory

Hulley is still a Ford fanatic and has a marvellous collection of Ford memorabilia in his office. These days his business takes up most of his time, but he’s still available to swop a joke or two over a cup of coffee while he relates countless Ford anecdotes from earlier eras.

Malcolm Wilson

Inside the Wilson Factory

That is what International Tourists think of these Regions. We at Trips ZA will tell you when it is the best time to visit to be able to appreciate what we have.

For International Tourists :
who are looking for “More Bang for their Buck”, the best time to be in the Panorama Region is during the winter months, between May and August, with continuous glorious open clear sunshine days, and a moderate climate with temperatures ranging between 5 and 25 degrees Celcius.The summer months between September and April although generally moderate can be very wet, with a cloud cover obscuring all the best views. This could result in a huge disappointment for patrons who are set on seeing this marvellous picture with limited time at their disposal.

The Kruger National Park is also seen at its best during the winter months when it is dry. This forces the animals to drink at either rivers or specially designated water points which in turn lure predators that find it easier to hunt the animals at these points. This can give rise to very exciting interaction and game viewing with massive herds of different species congregating near to water. The days are also quite gloriously clear with temperatures ranging from 10 to 28 degrees Celcius on average. During the winter months Kruger is also relatively safe from a malaria point of view. Birding experiences are more satisfying during the spring months.

For Domestic Tourists :
South African tourists are inclined to visit this region during school holidays, over Easter, Christmas and Long Weekends.

Unfortunately this Region is becoming very congested during these periods, and although tourists can make accommodation reservations for during School Holidays, they are encouraged to try to avoid the Easter, Christmas and Long Weekend periods. These are peak seasons with high prices, traffic congestion, people congestion, mediocre service, exhausted venue owners, as well as dangerous busy highways to and from the city areas. Kruger is so congested during those periods that a patron has to make a reservation ahead for a day trip these days. Sometimes there are major traffic jams requiring traffic inspectors to manage the traffic at spots where predators are seen.

Segments of tourist patrons :
· Retired people
· Singles
· Own business owners
· Yuppies without children
. Home school families with children
· Yuppies with children that are not school going

All of whom are able, ought to try to visit this region when it is quiet from a crowd point of view. The accommodation prices are invariably on a special, the service is more personal with attention to detail, the retaurants are more laid back, the tourist spots are clean and less congested, while the roads are also not so busy.

As with the International Tourists, just so for the Local Tourists; the climate during the autumn, winter and spring months in the Panorama and Kruger Regions is absolutely scrumptious !

Contact us for further enquiries and bookings with SUBSTANTIAL DISCOUNTS !

We also do group Panorama Tours as well as exciting Jock of the Bushveld, general history and other special interest tours through the Escarpment, Lowveld and Bushveld regions. Call us our Dream Merchants on 013 764 1177

Email us at  johnt@tripsza.com

Trips ZA is a wholly owned Tourism Reservation Information & Packaged Tours Service and Brokerage Company that specializes in Tailor Made Tours, Accommodation and Activity Reservations, as well Destination Marketing.

Tour Operators

The Company operates from two Information Offices; one office in Sabie, and one in Graskop.

Trips ZA provides Tourism Information to patrons and sells Accommodation and Packaged Tours to patrons who have visited their offices, or reached them through the following websites:

Tour Operations

www.sabie.co.za
www.graskop.co.za
www.pilgrims-rest.co.za
www.hazyviewinfo.co.za
www.conferenceconcepts.co.za

The Reservations Bookings are processed by three dedicated, very knowlegeable Consultants who take the time and trouble to carefully match their patron’s needs to the Product that is available for them to sell. Each Consultant has had years of intensive training and experience in serving a discerning public who have been completely satisfied with the service they have received.

Elephant in Kruger

Trips ZA does business with nearly 300 lodges, hotels and guesthouses in the region covered by the websites mentioned, as well as further afield across RSA. To date Trips ZA has handled and processed over 11,000 Confirmed Reservation Bookings to patrons who have been accommodated through approximately 100,000 bednights.

Please feel free to contact us for whatever your tourism needs may be. We would just love to hear from you !

As Tourism Brokers we can facilitate Group Tours throughout Southern Africa.

The Tours consist of :
In the Mpumalanga Region
Adventure Tours (Mild to Wild)
Night Drives (Forest or Big 5)
KNP Tours
Photographic Tours
Birding Tours
Panorama Tours
General Tours
Religious Tours
Gold Tours
Indo-Africa Tours
History Tours (Battle Fields, General History, Jock of the Bushveld, Architectural, Cultural)
Flower Tours (Bushveld, Highveld, Lowveld, Wild Flowers, Shrubs, Private Gardens, Exotica, Nursery)
Agricultural Tours
Art Gallery Tours
Geological Tours
Booze Cruises
Golfing/Shopping Tour Combos for Coupled Groups
Tailor Made Combo Mix and Match tours
Other Southern African Regions.
Birding Tours (Throughout Southern Africa)
Mozambique
Eastern Free State and Lesotho
Northern Cape
Namaqualand
Garden Route
Gariep and van der Kloof Dam Regions
Upington Winelands
Desert Tours in Namibia or Angola

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Call us for more particulars on 013 764 1177
Email us at johnt@tripsza.com

Forest Falls

Main Office Sabie
Tel. 013 764 1177
Fax. 013 764 3399

Email addresses
Trips ZA MainOffice
adriaan@tripssa.co.za
willie@tripssa.co.za
johnt@tripsza.com
jolandie@tripssa.co.za

Contact details in Graskop
Trips ZA Office
Tel. 013 767 1886
Fax. 013 767 1888
Email address
tilla@tripssa.co.za

5 Glasses White

One of Sabie’s precious tourism patrons has picked up a negative experience in South African Wine from a well known Wine Cellar.

He purchased a 5 liter box of Stein Select from one of the bottle shops in Sabie. He was intending to enjoy some exciting Rugby Entertainment with friends while relaxing in front of the T.V.

Eventually he found that by the time they had reached about 50% down the box, each 200ml glass poured included at least a half teaspoon of undisolved sediment; the situation became worse the more wine that he decanted. On removal of the bag he noticed on the wine box that the filling date was November 2012. This is not the first time he has had this experience.

Grapes and Glasses

This is a case of nothing less than poor quality control, and misrepresentation by a manufacturer who in this instance is also blatantly admitting that they are filling their boxes with a blend of the dregs of the vintage while squeezing the last cent out of the offering. What is actually happening is that the Message that Cellar is conveying is that if you buy their box wine you are likely to find a nasty cheap wine which is in fact inferior, but that if you want to pay less you must be prepared to receive an inferior product, and accept what you get. A further problem arises from the fact that this kind of report could result in all South African box wines being treated as suspect.

This is unacceptable.

de Noir Wine

Many wine bibbers drink box wine in South Africa, as well as in other countries. Australia started the fashion of box wines as a means of reaching the man in the street and his family or friends who would also like to treat themselves to a less expensive and conveniently packaged good wine – especially at a picnic or beach party, or even at home. Box wine is so much easier to transport as well. It is also most convenient to decant a glass of wine direct from the box – no mess, no bulky bottles, no awkward disposal problems and no broken glass.

It should not be a means of fobbing off rubbish on unsuspecting patrons who are purchasing a product in good faith.

More than that, South African Wines exported overseas while striving to be acceptible to foreigners who have multiple choices in massive high quality supermarkets experience heavy competition from excellent wines produced in other countries. If this is what South African box wines amount to, they will be blown out of the export market. Foreigners drink box wine there too.

Wine at the Pool

We don’t even need to discuss the implications in the foreign tourist market travelling to South Africa whose number are only too keen to sample our South African wines. What a disappointment and subsequent disaster it will be to those who end up quaffing the dreggs of the vintage !

In my estimation this Cellar has broken all the Golden Rules in Marketing by compromising their Brand, their Message to consumers, their good Name that they have taken time to build up, as well as destroying the concept of good inexpensive wine being easily obtained in a convenient package throughout the wine industry.

Trips ZA Logo

Call our Dream Merchants at TRIPS ZA  for exciting History, Wildlife, Scenic and General Interest tours in the Panorama, Kruger, Lowveld regions or beyond on
013 764 1177.

Email us at johnt@tripsza.com

Joe Toff

Ever since I can remember, Old Stone Joe has been a feature on what was a narrow little dirt road, which is presently known as the N4 Highway between Machadodorp and Nelspruit. His domain is at the Patatas Nek pass on the right-hand side of the road looking down the magnificently beautiful Schoeman’s Kloof.

The pass’ name is a recollection of the wagoneers who stopped for an outspan at the top of the pass to rest, feed and water the oxen after climbing out of the Lowveld. They used to cook “patatas” for their meal while the animals were resting.

Stone Joe Daddy O !

Old Stone Joe is an enormous 2.5 meter high rock that was unearthed and loosened by road builders when they constructed the original main road in the latter part of the 1920’s. He was named Joe after the man Joe Barbas who helped unearth him and has the appearance of a sculptured man who must have been recognized and saved as such. He has an enormous paunch as he gazes down at one. He was used as a fence post at one stage.

I have been a traveler on the “N4” since 1944.

From 1944 to1947 my father used to convey us to the “farm” in the “Lowveld” every second weekend. He owned a little old 2nd hand 1938 two stroke, three cylinder wooden bodied Auto Union DKW, with a 650cc. motor. It possessed enormously huge owl-eye like headlights and a tall narrow grill. It used to carry the cook/bottle washer, my father, mother, me, my little baby sister and the dog, as well as all our luggage, and lots of “things” tied to the car roof…for the “farm”.

The little vehicle invariably suffered a lacerated tyre somewhere between Machadodorp and Nelspruit, which was blamed on the accursed “Bloody Machadodorp Shale”.

Slinky Joe

Both the dog and I used to suffer from serious motion sickness, with inevitable after effects. I won’t even discuss the type of journey we used to endure through rain, mud, heat and then of course the powder fine dust that crept in everywhere amidst on going curses; especially when another vehicle passed us going in the opposite direction. If it rained the windshield wiper was a little toy like gadget that smeared instead of wiping !

However, once we reached Old Joe, who sagely observed all passers-by while his stoic presence offered comfort like a lighthouse to stricken ships, (vehicles), we reckoned that we were in the “Lowveld” proper, and that our destination was reasonably close. We could then begin to contemplate the end of the journey. I used to ask my father when we would reach the “farm”, only to be told that it was not far, but “just around the corner”. They were the longest corners that I ever endured.

The story goes that one had to open and close “concertina” wire farm gates all the way from Nelspruit to Middelberg before the public road was proclamated.

Colgate Joe

The road was eventually upgraded to a comfortable new tarmac highway during the 1950’s by the P.C.Zaanen Company, who constructed the road all the way from Middelburg to Nelspruit. The new highway still went over Patatas Nek and followed more or less the original route. Old Stone Joe was retained as a mile-stone as he kept a dutiful eye over all travelers.

Joe Vuvuzela

After some years of just being a silhouetted fence post, Joe eventually took on a personality through the ingenuity of the late Major Claude Graham from White River, who kindly and enthusiastically used to guide groups of bored teenagers on expeditions and picnics during school holidays to decorate him. He has taken on many colourful personalities over the decades being decorated as a chef, toff, pirate, or waiter, etc. Now that the highway has been upgraded into a “super” highway, the services of Joe have been retained and he still does his duty as a sentinel landmark along the N4.

These days he has been placed on his own pedestal/cairn where tourists can stop for a picnic, or to have pictures taken. He has been adopted by various organizations who regularly commission Ghost the Cartoonist from Nelspruit to decorate him.Tourists can safely stop next to him.

To get to Sabie from the N4, turn left on to the R539 at Barclayvale. Follow the route past Sudwala to the R37. Turn left towards Lydenburg/Mashishing/Sabie and follow the sign-boards. Sabie is approximately 50km. from the N4.

By the way mind you…observe Joe carefully. He may just wink at friendly kids .

Trips ZA Logo

Call our Dream Merchants at TRIPS ZA for exciting History, Wildlife, Scenic, or General Interest tours in the Panorama, Kruger, Lowveld regions or beyond. Call us on
013 764 1177.

Email us at johnt@tripsza.com

Baboon

Blue Duiker

Perceptions and so called facts about the alien forests around Sabie are not always correct, and can be somewhat misleading.

Apart from the gulleys, kloofs and vales that contain numbers of indigenous tree species, the remaining landscape originally consisted largely of grasslands.

Spotted Genet

African Wild Cat

According to one of the avid dedicated forester-birders of Sabie there was’nt much of anything left except grass by the time the gold miners began to destroy the landscape during the eighteen eighties and nineties with their picks and shovels. Wildlife had been hunted to near extinction by the middle part of the nineteenth century, for meat by biltong hunters and trophy hunters alike, apart from what the indigenous population trapped for their needs.

Red Duiker

Bush Baby

Apparently fires were the great destroyers of anything in their path, being driven by August winds at the beginning of spring. The indigenous forests in the gulleys and kloofs escaped these ravages, as fires could not be sustained in the kloofs without sufficient oxygen. Because of the fire hazard indigenous trees could not grow on the plains or mountain-sides. “Trek Boere” used to graze their sheep on these grass-plains during the winter months before the fires burnt off the rank excess growth of the previous summer.

Fires were started by lightning strikes during the early spring storms, or by farmers and indigenous people trying to stimulate fresh grazing. Indigenous people who smoked out bees while searching  for honey were also responsible.

Bos Vark/Bush Pig

Caracal

Gold miners who had been forced into deep level mining as the alluvial gold petered out, needed timber to support the addit rooves from collapsing. It was they who depleted the kloofs and gulleys of available indigenous timber. When this source eventually dried up, they started experimenting with alien hardwood species from Australia. Eventually various species of Eucalyptus Blue-Gum and Wattle grew prolifically with the high rainfall, and were found to be most suitable for “mine-props”, while Conifers from Mexico and other Central American sources were planted for other timber needs. It is said that about 60% of the grasslands and mountain-sides were planted to alien forests. Wetlands and river banks however have been largely cleared of alien species.

Pangolin

Serval

Adequate fire control measures were applied and the usual annual fire destruction was brought to a minimum through sustainable forestry practices. The indigenous tree species have since recovered substantially in the gulleys and kloofs.

There were a few bird species to speak of in the grasslands, but it was only after the alien forests were planted that wild life and many other forest bird species like Raptors, Nerina Trogon and Knysna Loerie, especially, started to proliferate. Today the wildlife around Sabie abounds in the forest areas, whereas birding has become a vital attraction with at least 270 species having been seen. It is speculated that there could be at least another 130 species to be found.

Leopard

Badger

One of the most exciting drives to take is a forest drive after dark. A surprising variety of game can be encountered on these drives from Caracal, Spotted Gennet, Serval, Blue and Red Duiker, Bush Pigs, Pangolin, Badger, Baboons, Vervet Monkeys, Bush-babies, to Bush Buck, and of course Leopard if one is fortunate enough. Only roads proclamated as Public Roads may be used.

These drives can be facilitated by our company TRIPS ZA. Email :  johnt@tripsza.com or call us at 013 764 1177 for a quotation.

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Call us for exciting History, Wildlife, Scenic, or General Interest tours in the Panorama, Kruger or regions beyond, call our Dream Merchants at TRIPS ZA on
013 764 1177

Email us at johnt@tripsza.com

There are occasionally the more mundane problems…water pipes being broken, power failures, or TV’s, lights and geysers getting blown out by power surges when we are boiling over with a Lodge full of Guests ! Of course these would happen at the oddest of hours of the night, or over a long weekend when no Service Men are available to be called out.

We’ve even had a severe rain storm during the night – with water virtually washing half of a Lodge’s garden into a brand new swimming pool and almost destroying the one retaining wall of the pool.

There was also the comic-tragic instance, of a “lady” Guest triggering the outside perimeter alarm after 23.00hrs because she was despatched by a highly irate boyfriend to go and buy condoms from the all night Convenience Shop ! Essentials my dear, essentials !

Boomslang

However, I recently had a rather unusual experience with a very irate Guest, at a Lodge that is situated out on a farm.

While supervising the breakfast session one morning, the Gardener came to the door to ask me for a bunch of spare keys kept “somewhere” in the office. So off we went and started scratching around the big, but crammed office for the keys. After pulling open the top right-hand drawer of the desk I froze. There in the drawer lay a curled up, vivid green snake !

The helper who was assisting with the search shrieked out in panic, saying that the Owner must have left it there as a deterent to thieves ! With its bright green colour, one could have thought it to be a plastic toy snake. I had however opened that drawer just the day before for a staple remover, and knew it must be the real McCoy and most definitely not a “left-behind” toy. With my natural sense of insight into any devious behaviour, I immediately realised that it was indeed actually an unannounced Guest trying to sneak into a bit of free accommodation !

To cut a long story short and to not over-stretch the snake tail/tale, the Gardener was all ready to go and fetch a big stick to beat the Intruder to death, but I managed to ever so very gently remove the drawer out of the desk, then covered it completely with a flat cardboard box and carried it out into the nearby veld. It took quite a bit of firm coaxing with a long stick to try to dislodge a now very agitated snake out of its cosy sleeping quarters.

Boomslang

Then suddenly it sailed off and disappeared, into the nearby tall veld grass. The wily creature actually got away without paying for its overnight stay ! Whether they be Light Greens or Dark Greens, you do find Chancers like these in all the different strata of our South African Society today.

All of this just goes to prove the ancient Roman saying : there’s always something new Out of Africa !

Richard Allingham.

The Boom Slang or Tree Snake (Dispholidus typus )

The Boom Slang is a relatively small venomous snake which is also colour blind. The Boom Slang is known to be the only species in its genus. The name Boom Slang means “tree snake” directly translated from Afrikaans

Boomslang in a Tree

The Boom Slang is an oviparous species. The eggs have a relatively long (3 months on average) incubation period. Hatchlings are greyish with blue speckles. They attain their adult coloration after several years. Their diet includes chameleons and other arboreal lizards, frogs, and occasionally small mammals, birds and eggs from nesting birds, all of which they swallow whole. During cool weather they will hibernate for moderate periods, often curling up inside the enclosed nests of birds such as weavers.

Fangs of the Boomslang

Many members of the family Colubridae that are considered venomous are essentially harmless to humans, because they either have small venom glands, relatively weak venom, or an inefficient system for delivery of venom. However, the Boom Slang is a notable exception in that it has highly potent venom, which it delivers through large fangs that are located in the rear of the jaw. The venom of the boom slang is primarily a haemotoxin. It disables the blood clotting process and the victim may well die as a result of internal and external bleeding. Other signs and symptoms include: headache, nausea, sleepiness and mental disorders.

Boomslang Hunting

Because the venom is slow to act, symptoms may not be manifest until many hours after the bite. On the one hand, this provides time for procuring the serum, while on the other hand it may lead victims to underestimate the seriousness of the bite. Snakes of any species may sometimes fail to inject venom when they bite aptly named a “dry bite”, so after a few hours without any noticeable effects, victims of Boom slang bites may believe (wrongly) that their injury is not serious.

Adult boom slang has 1.6–8mg of venom. Various sources give figures ranging from 0.06-0.72mg/kg being sufficient to kill mice in 50% of cases, if the venom reaches a vein.

Boomslang Eye Missing Nothing

Despite all of this, the Boom Slang and other snakes are gentle creatures and will only attack when they are put in a situation they don’t want to be in. Most of the time the snake will see you before you see it and it will move away. Any snakes prerogative is to always avoid contact with humans as they are not by their nature, a conflict species. So next time you find a snake please don’t kill it, rather find some one that knows how to handle snakes safely and get the person to remove the snake for you.

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For exciting History, Wildlife, Scenic and General Interest tours in the Panorama, Kruger, Lowveld regions or beyond call our Dream Merchants at TRIPS ZA on
013 764 1177

Email us at johnt@tripsza.com