England we bring you the real flame grilled burger

Photographer: Richard Langford

It’s quite possible that almost every South African has stumbled into a 24 hour garage at 3am and feasted on one of these gloriously juicy patty buns at some stage in their lives and if they haven’t well, quite honestly, they are either lying or have been living like a hermit in some dorpie (town) somewhere in the middle of the Karoo. Those of us who have uprooted and set up ship in the UK can often be heard among conversation with other SA natives saying things like ‘Jas I’m really craving a King Steer burger bru!’ or for those of us blessed with slightly less saffa accents ‘I’d kill for some Steers chips with 1000 island sauce right now!’. Well we need moan no more for the Mighty Steers has decided to grace London with its very purple presence and where better than Clapham Junction? Clapham gave Durban the Grand and we give Clapham ‘Steers’. 

Photographer: Richard Langford

Since the Brits seem to love our local outlets so much, with Nandos and Spur proving to be very popular, we could no longer deprive them of the mouth-watering, flame grilled, beef burger goodness anymore!

I decided to head down to Clapham (with post grad celebration brother avec hangover in tow) to see if it compared to SA Steers standards, these are my findings:

Not only does it taste just like the home grown stuff the portions are just as big. There is nothing worse than going into Nando’s and placing an order for double the price and you receive half the portion. My brother ordered a King Steer burger meal that gave him jaw cramp when he tried to wrap his gob around it (this is not an exaggeration and a reference can be provided if needed). They do the full works. Remember those soft serve ice creams dipped in the caramel sauce that goes hard? I can confirm they still taste the same as they did when you were a kid.

Photographer: Richard Langford

Photographer: Richard Langford

Conveniently placed across the road from The Slug I am sure many late night boozers will feel right at home when they walk out of the jol (party) and straight into Steers! But it’s not only the jollers (party goers) that are loving the arrival, I met a guy in the queue about 45 years old who didn’t even live in London and had driven for an hour just to pick up his take away Steers on a Sunday afternoon, that’s commitment and a true testament to the loyal Steers lovers.

It’s always risky bringing in something new from another country where it does so well and throwing it amongst the judgement of a new target market but from my conversation with the manageress (and from what I witnessed) most of the patrons were English. Three Brits sitting next to me were overheard saying ‘this is amazing’ between scoffing down flame grilled mouthfuls of meat and burger bun.

Photographer: Richard Langford

So what are the cons? Well the only criticism I have is that there isn’t enough tables but then we are in London and space is hard to come by so we will let that one slip ;)

“Rock and roll is the hamburger that ate the world.”
 - Peter York

Photographer: Richard Langford

Zen Zulu - A little piece of heaven

On my recent and very brief trip back to South Africa I had the privilege of staying at Zen Zulu Lodge in the Zululand Rhino Reserve which is about 3 hours drive from Durban. This is a lovely private game lodge that accommodates eight people and you have exclusive use of the lodge. Upon entering the main lodge you get an immediate understanding for the reasons behind the name. With a combination of Buddha’s and African décor the open plan lodge provides the perfect harmony for a relaxing and event filled stay.

Woolie in the background

Built next to a dam the large wooden deck with rim flow pool allows you to lounge by the pool or put your feet up with a mug of hot choccie and some Ouma’s rusks while Africa’s greatest waddle by for a drink or two. If you are lucky you may even get some more action. I have once witnessed the local dam resident (‘Woolie’ the croc) being chased by a larger croc out of the dam, well that’s what we thought until my latest trip back when I learnt that Woolie is in fact a female and that the larger croc was more likely a rowdy male trying to source a ‘good time’.

Wooden deck overlooking the dam

The rooms are set separately on either side of the lodge allowing for privacy and enhancing the sensation of literally sleeping in the bush. They are quaint little thatch rondavels each with its own private wooden deck. The highlight of the rooms for me is the outdoor bathrooms! Ever had a hot shower outside in the African Winter? What a feeling! Better yet a bubble bath under the clear starlit skies. I don’t know about you but these aspects are my kind of treat. 



Our Rondavel

Outdoor Shower

Outdoor Bath

 

Game drives are done at about 3pm and 6am. Early I know, especially when you have been kept awake the whole night by roaring lions, how inconvenient! Drives are taken by the friendly and characteristic lodge manager Anthony and a very knowledgeable ranger called Steve. Often people can go to the bush and be so focused on seeing the infamous ‘Big Five’ that they forget to appreciate the small things which, more often than not, are more interesting than the larger things are impressive. Steve was great at showing us an appreciation for the trees and what the local tribes use each type for. I can now tell you what to do if you want to be more fertile? Have a bigger winky? Enlarge your breasts? Brush your teeth without a tooth brush? Or make a broom? Although I can’t say I have tried tested them personally.

The lodge is self-catering but there is a big boma next to the lodge that has a fire lit when you return from your afternoon game drive. There is little else that makes me happier than sitting by the fire, drink in hand and some handy male (normally my pops) sizzling up some lovely South African meat!

Ahhhh… I miss it already ;(

Sun rise, overlooking the dam with a family of hippos

The Long Distance Wedding

The problem with living so far from home is that when you want to plan a wedding it's difficult to do everything from so far away. I wasn't planning on making a trip back before the wedding but only when you start planning do you realise that no matter how advanced technology is there is just certain things you can't do over the Internet. Not only that but you also feel slightly removed from the whole occasion if you aren't thrown into the pre-wedding planning saga.  So off I went with wedding planner in hand to my first appointment Bianca Warren Signature Store for brides maids dresses. I later returned for a small shopping spree because her clothes are just so pretty! I will share the dresses on here post-wedding.

Bianca Warren Signature Store

It's a special time and it should be absorbed and enjoyed as much as possible with your family and those involved in the wedding. After realising this I booked a flight home for 6 days and I literally hit the runway at full sprint. I had a full schedule of appointments booked for the week and I managed to get to them all, to my great relief. Amongst trying to do all my wedding things I also needed to renew my drivers license. Any fellow South African can understand when I say this is the most excruciating experience you will ever endure. It was so bad that I am planning on exchanging it for my British license just so I never have to go through that again.  So with my make up trial booked at 8am and my hair trial booked at 2 we had a few hours to head to the license department in between. This process really reveals why South Africa is still very much a developing country. Stuck on a wooden bench wedged between at least 100 other people (me with my bridal make up in tact) for over 2 hours with my mum on one said and a bridesmaid on the other we survived on a few short bread biscuits we had stashed in the car. After the sacrificial two hours it was off to hair...

I think hair has to be one of the things the bride to be probably worries about the most, no one wants to walk out on the day looking like a peacock. So I think when I looked in the mirror with my hair all done and my bridal face on it finally hit home that, not only was I actually getting married, but I was going to do it with amazing hair too :) thank goodness because Mr P's aunt has kindly offered to do the hair as a wedding gift and it would have been one awkward convo if it looked like I'd stuck my hand in an electric socket.

One of the biggest reasons for my trip back was to see the place that I would actually say my 'I do's', Zulu Nyala Game Lodge. Yes ladies I had not even seen my wedding venue with my own eyes before! Having seen it now and fallen in love with the place I don't know how I ever thought I could arrive the day before having not seen it. I can now picture my day more realistically in my head for the next three months instead of filling in the blanks using my imagination.

Zulu Nyala

So as I sit at the hair dressers having some highlights done while I type this I will fly back to London tomorrow night a lot more excited and a lot less worried about the most important day of my life. Poor Mr P will just have to trust my judgement (and the pictures).

It's been very special to spend time with my mum and do what normal mums and daughters living in the same country do when prepping for a wedding.

See you in 3 months Durbs ;)

Wedding venue wish list

www.litchiorchard.co.za

We are certainly spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting your ideal wedding venue. There is no shortage of beauty or uniqueness if you are planning on getting married in South Africa. The vast terrain means quite simply, there is something for everyone.

From game reserves, farms, vineyards, beaches, countryside, cities to garden venues, take your pick.

The weakness of the Rand to the Sterling also makes it an affordable option for couples based in the UK. You can have your dream ‘holiday destination wedding’ for a third of the price and the warm weather is guaranteed(avoid Cape Town Winters). The only drawback is that the cost of flights could deter some of your guests from making the trip, but maybe that’s a good thing!

Picking a venue in South Africa is a tough job. It’s almost like being let loose into a Vera Wang wedding dress store room filled with hundreds of beautiful, lovely, heavenly (you get the picture) dresses. How can you possibly pick just one? Well some people might get to pick a second or third time but let’s hope that’s not us!

To simplify the process you need to decide: what type of wedding are you looking for?

Always been a lover of the African bush then maybe a Game Reserve is your preference? Home to the infamous Kruger Park there is an abundance of Game reserves located around major cities such as Johannesburg (Kruger) and Durban (Zululand). Depending on the size of your party this will cull down your list on suitable venues. Most Game Lodges can only cater for small numbers of guests. Zulu Nyala Game Lodge in Zululand caters for larger weddings and all guests can be accommodated in either their Game Lodge or Hertiage Safari Lodge, which are 5 minutes apart. This is the venue for my wedding in October and I can say I was very surprised at how reasonable they are in comparison to other lodges. Leopard Mountain is a lovely little lodge and a great venue for a smaller wedding party. The views from the lodge are spectacular and they have a dry river bed location making for a very special ceremony.

www.zulunyalagamelodge.com

Have a bigger budget? The Singita reserves cater for a more upmarket and luxury venue with lodges in Kruger, Sabi Sands, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. I have myself stayed as a guest in the Sabi Sands reserve and have only amazing things to say about it. The game viewing was one of a kind and the level of service far surpasses any other lodge I have visited. I can imagine that if you had to choose this reserve to exchange your vows it would be a truly special and memorable occasion.

www.singita.com

Is your palette a sucker for a bit of vino? Apart from the Med, South Africa has the oldest wine making industry and the Western Cape offers some magnificant Wineland venues. A friend recently got married at Vrede en Lust in Franschhoek and whilst I was unable to attend the photographs made me double think my choice about getting married on a Game Farm (but only for about 5 seconds). Based at the foot of the Simonsberg mountains, if its a speculator backdrop you are looking for, this is the place to hold your ceremony.  Whilst Cape Town is probably the most attractive area of South Africa, with Table Mountain at its centre, it is also the most demanding on your credit card.

www.vnl.co.za

Due to South Africas agriculture sector a whole lot of awesome Farm venues are available. Being the worlds second largest fruit exporter you can pledge your vows amongst lemons or litchis, if you fancy? Sandveld Country Estate is a citrus farm located in the Sandveld just 2 hours outside of Cape Town. They have a free standing barn suitable for a reception and a few cottages available for guests and there is also a country lodge which I have stayed in and highly recommend. The Litchi Orchard just outside of Durban also provides for a beautiful, rustic location. They have a quaint open plan, wooden chapel giving you a true country bumpkin feel.

www.litchiorchard.co.za

Beach bum? With over 2,798 kms of coastline I am sure you could find a good spot to say 'I do'. The Garden Route offers a number of fabulous beach locations that cater for weddings of all sizes. Villa Castollini in Knysna is perfect for a ceremony on the beach followed by a reception with breath taking views. Get Married Garden Route is a great website for scanning wedding venues on the garden route.

Dreaming of a wedding amongst the spectacular Drakensburg mountains? Champagne Castle could be your answer. A dreamy little chapel nestled between rolling mountains and green hills. Another popular venue is the recently refurbished Netherwood Estate located in the midlands meander town of Nottingham Road.

www.netherwood.co.za

So as you can see it is a no brainer, South Africa is the best place to get married, fitting then that the worlds largest diamond weighing in at 3,106.75 carats was found there (even though it currently sits upon our gracious Queens head)!

The 'African' Engagement

I may not have day dreamed about my engagement ring but I did day dream about how my future lover would pop the question. Luckily for me the reality was better than the day dream. Future fiancés take note.

I am an avid African bush lover and I’m fairly confident I inherited this love from my father who has had shares in a few small private lodges over the years. It has been one of my biggest challenges about living in the UK. Every time I return home I make sure to plan a trip to the bush to satisfy my addiction to the smells, peacefulness and beauty of Africa’s greatest asset.

We planned a trip to South Africa for a friends wedding in December 2012 and we combined this with Christmas and family time. Normally I am quite happy to stay in more rustic places however, it had been a busy and tiresome year so I decided to splash out a bit and we booked at the 5 star Thanda Game Reserve in the luxury tented camp for 3 nights.

Our home for 3 nights

As cliché as it may seem to you all it was the most romantic and perfect setting for what was to come. Besides the game viewing being awesome and the food to die the staff went over and above for us. They snuck into our tent, scattered rose petals and candles everywhere, ran a bubble bath and left a bottle of bubbly for us. When we returned from dinner and I came back to this, Mr P insisted that this was standard as part of their ‘romance package’ which we had booked. I am very gullible so naturally I believed him and didn’t quite ‘get it’ when I turned around to a dashing young lad down on one knee, lit up by flickering candles…. as you can gather I put two and two together and said ‘yes’.

We still had a night left in the bush after this so it gave us time to be alone, let it all sink in and have a relaxing spa day before heading back to a gang of over excited family and friends. The great thing was, as it was Christmas and the wedding was a few days later, most of our family and friends were all in Durban to celebrate with us.

View from our tent

Turns out he had already decided I was going to accept and went ahead and organised an engagement party so we would be able to have it at home. One of my girlfriends booked out an area at a restaurant called Remo's by Mount Edgecombe for a few hours on Boxing Day and a few friends chipped in to pay for a photographer, Kate Van Onselen. What a lovely day! We had pizza and focaccia snacks as well as a bar tab, which both sets of parents very generously picked up.

katevanonselen.com

katevanonselen.com

katevanonselen.com

katevanonselen.com

katevanonselen.com

Quite simply it was the best holiday I have ever had and I cannot wait to return for my wedding in October.

Nothing beats an African bush engagement, except an African bush wedding!