It is Friday and I am not about to allow the unusually cold weather in Mpumalanga to curb that deep down excitement as my partner and I turned onto the R40 towards White River and Hazyview. Ahead of us, a weekend that would offer both tranquillity, and also entertainment for our adventurous spirits, was awaiting us.
Along the route, names like Plumbago teased our senses as we enjoyed the various green landscapes and before long we arrived in Hazyview and turned right towards Sabie. Twenty five kilometres from the town we turned right and snaked down into the valley, at times, driving through thick forest greenery on the paved two-track road. The scenery promised many delightful moments and experiences during the weekend.
Riverbend Cottages used to be a coffee factory but was converted to chalets by its owner, Tim buckland when he moved his business to three Rivers, a place that used to be an old trading post.
The cottages are self-catering, spacious, offer minimalist but elegant decor and no TV!
Being this low down in the valley meant that nightfall arrived earlier than usual. We were invited to join Tim and his wife, Kim at Sabie Valley Coffee at Three Rivers for an introduction into the world of this passionate and knowledgeable coffee master. I deem the title appropriate as he has been growing coffee for about 30 years and they pick, process and distribute their products themselves.
Walking into the large open-plan shop which leads onto a wonderful outdoors entertainment area, the aroma of coffee - real coffee master. I deem the title appropriate as he has been growing coffee for about 30 years and they pick, process and distribute their products themselves.
Do they do Ricoffy, a tourist once asked? Imagine their quiet sense of humiliation - NO, absolutely not! Tim prepared a coffee similar to what is generally known as a latte. It was, however, not - it was a light coffee with a wonderful roast and realness that no latte will ever offer. A slice of home-made carrot cake and mild tart, good conversation and the evening was made.
"People have this perception that the Italians grow coffee and happily pay a hefty price at the till for their coffee, but the Italians do not grow theirs - they buy the beans, roast, process and then resell it," says Tim and then he explained the coffee bean philosophy and process. One, among many interesting facts, is that the darker the bean, the less caffeine it contains.
We retired to Riverbend with the knowledge that we would continue the conversation at breakfast the next morning.
For breakfast ordered omelettes from the healthy and functional menu while engaging in more small talk.
Part of the original trading post is still being utilised at this time including the bridge (trekker Drift) behind the business and over which many merchants would cross Maputo. This is also the spot where the three main rivers of this area, the Sabie, Mac Mac and the Sabaan meet.
Then it was time for us to join Jaco Lubbe at Induna Adventures. Jaco, a biokineticist and a man with a gentle disposition, started there some 10 years ago. He believes that by exposing people to nature and adventure sport in a controlled and safe environment, he can make a difference in their lives. Well, he (Induna Adventures) does just that!
Other than a large of activities that cater for the whole family, the adrenalin junkie, corporate team building and children, safety and a respect for nature and people, are the fundamentals of this adventure company. This is confirmed in the fact that Induna prefers to employ people with passion - people who live from the heart. Although they teach their guides themselves, they also receive external training and certification as required by law.
Do not entertain the idea that you will be able to participate in all the activities in one day - it will be quite impossible. Be selective or plan to stay over for a weekend.
The guide who assisted us, or rather my partner Annalize, on the zipline, spoke 10 languages and exuded genuine pride while attending to all the elements involved in this activity. Then, accordingly and with a loud excited yell, it was over before it started. If you weigh 80 kilos or less, you travel down at 100 kilometres per hour and it is sheer magic!
Next we took a longish and not too challenging quad ride to the Sabie Cascades. Although I would prefer a quieter mode of transport, it took us through the most beautiful, unspoilt and dense forests and plantations you can imagine. One can but do nothing else than to breathe deeply and be grateful for the experience, which brought this thought: to experience the magic of Mpumalanga, you have to get off the road and once you are there, get off it again with the help of those, like Induna. Their intention, in terms of what they offer, is as pure and honest as the environment they do it in!
Induna offers the following activities: Quad biking, abseiling, white water rafting, mountain biking, kloofing, horse trails, zipline, hiking, paintball, geckoing and mountain boarding. For corporates there are outdoor strategic games, GPS development and much more and can accommodate groups of up to 300 at a time. Visit www.indunaadventures.com or call 013 737 8308.
Our Saturday evening's dinner was at the Kuka Restaurant and Cocktail bar at Perry's Bridge in Hazyview and we were privileged to chat with the exuberant head chef and general manager, Antoinette Myer. Antoinette grew up in Graaff Reinet. Kuka offers an afro-chic cosmopolitan vibe with an interior decor as vibrant as the chef herself. My chicken livers with bacon, brandy, spring onion and some, was deliciously different and gentler on the pallet than what I am used to. Main course was beef fillet with avo and sweet patato chips and the pear and apple crumble in strawberry soup dessert was superb - I would suggest an extra scoop of ice cream though or better still, just indulge in the dessert menu and leave the rest.
The name Kuka is derived from the baobab tree, of which the leaves are edible, believe it or not!
The barman, charles Magunje's alcohol-free party cocktail containing orange, cola tonic and grenadine proved a real but delicious taste-bud tantaliser.
The day proved to be the recipe to acquire a tired but rejuvenated body and soul, only to be tried even further the next morning with a walk along the river, through dense forest and guided by James Buckland. We were touched by this young man's alertness and knowledge about his environment. He took us to a rock which offers the only natural crossing across the Sabie River, used by the inhabitants of a long-gone era. It is called Ntshaba and means "to be afraid of".
The drive back was a reflective one. When you go off the road to explore - like we did, you will meet the custodians of nature -people with passion - people with heart and this is where you will find the magic of Mpumalanga - off the road and deep within nature's embrace in the company of real people. So, what are you waiting for - get going - start you Mpumalgana experience with a bean to cuppa tour presented by real coffee master and then medium roast your weekend with an Induna blend of adventure.
"No two beans are created equal"! What kind are you?
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