SA Country Life

My heart sank when I watched our garden shrivel up during the terrible heatwave that hit Johannesburg in October and, what with the added misery of water restrictions, I could only water the most fragile plants with buckets of water from the shower.

The ongoing drought that has crippled the Groot and Klein Karoo has revealed many sad, personal stories but, as discovered by Julienne du Toit , who lives in and loves the Karoo, adversity also brings out the finest elements of the human spirit. In t

Writer Gerhard Horn need not worry that ‘generations to come won’t even know of Putsonderwater’s existence’ (Adventure to the Middle of Nowhere, October 2019). Its name lives on in literature and song. Afrikaans playwright Bartho Smit’s Putsonderwate

Of all the hats she’s worn – academic, activist, Gender Equality Commissioner and climate-change consultant – Yvette Abrahams is happiest with her current role as soap maker. “Once I used to study the economics and ethnography of indigenous plants, n

• Volunteers WTF runs a volunteer programme that generates funds and that, Wendy says, “gives international guests the opportunity to be a part of conservation, experience the beauty of the region, while working hands-on in its protection.” A variati

1. Not as pretty as a Painted one, the African Snipe (Afrikaanse Snip) likes mud, mud, glorious mud. When flushed it jinks from side to side, calling. The drumming sound made when mating is delightful and unmistakeable. Look for it in the little pond

Susan Torrance’s passion for organic vegetable gardening is as fiery as a habanero chilli.This hands-on guide is not just for seasoned gardeners, but for newbies who haven’t a clue on where to start. Susan guides readers through designing a garden, p

This short but punchy report by two former newspaper editors is a sad story of the disappointment at the decline of their publications, where bad triumphs over good.There’s no fairy-tale ending – the newspapers continue to decline to this day, the ev

“William Kentridge was amazing. In fact all the artists were, allowing us to use their work in the book in exchange for a copy. We had no money to pay royalties.” It’s been Marilyn Martin’s pleasure, wherever possible, to personally deliver copies of

At an informal marriage ceremony in Japan in November 2018, 39 guests gathered to witness the promise of faithfulness that 35-year-old Akihiko Kondo would make to Hatsune Miku. The school-administrator groom was dressed in a white tuxedo, his bride i

KWV’s Centenary Limited Edition brandy is one of the most expensive brandies to go on sale in South Africa, and possibly the world. Selling for R100 000 a bottle, the blend marks the 100th year since two large pot stills in 1918 were used to make wha

When Lance Nash, a former medical doctor from the US, acquired the farm Rhenosterkop in Agter Paarl from a friend in 1995, little did he know he’d suddenly be in the Chenin business. After moving to the farm, there were 25 tons of grapes that needed