Phuthu Stay Phut, Don't go!

If you are looking for an exhilarating adventure “Tarzan and Jane style“, look no further than the Karkloof Canopy Tours outside Howick in the KZN Midlands. This is the perfect place to satisfy your adrenaline craving by swinging between tree tops together with the local Samango monkeys.

A kilometre long foefie-slide, divided in to eight separate slides of varying lengths, is what awaits you nestled in the foothills of the beautiful indigenous forests of Karkloof. The slides take you from wooden platforms hidden in the tree tops, past a sheer cliff face and a cascading waterfall. Sometimes you can be as high up as 35m above the forest floor, so this is definitely not for the faint hearted or those terrified of heights. But it is as safe as anything, because your guides will ensure that you are in good hands at all times.

According to the Karkloof Canopy Tours website, canopy tours originated in the lush rainforests of Costa Rica – where adventurous biologists, desperate to study the diversity of animal life that habituates the upper canopy level of forests, devised a system of cables and platforms that would allow them to explore this previously inaccessible ecosystem. It wasn’t long before this developed into a breathtaking eco-tourism activity that not only allowed people to enter and experience the upper realm of a rainforest, but raised awareness to the plight and beauty of the world’s endangered indigenous forests.

To ensure that the forest ecology would not be harmed in any way a full environmental impact study was undertaken before construction started in Karkloof. Built by a civil engineer and completed in 2003, this thrilling adventure activity is becoming more and more popular. In fact, it’s sometimes hard to get a booking over holidays and weekends – so make sure you book your tour well in advance. Departing every half hour in most weather conditions, tours costs R395pp and there’s a group restrictions of eight people in order to ensure maximum enjoyment.

Starting with a briefing session at the Karkloof Canopy Tour base camp, you’ll be shown the do’s and don’ts of foefie-sliding through the canopies, and kitted out with a body harness, pulleys, a helmet and ABS brakes. Your guide will explain that ABS stands for “African Braking System” – and you’ll soon realise that this is a pair of special sliding gloves which will help you control your own speed.

Ready to rock’n'roll you’ll be taken to the top of the gorge in a game vehicle, and after a short walk through the forest you’ll be standing at the launch platform in high anticipation. A new world unfolds as you gently slide on a steel cable to the first platform – a short and slow ride which will give you a chance to practise your braking skills… Don’t worry, it’s pretty simple really. All you have to do is pull the cable gently downwards! Your hand with your special ABS glove rests on the cable at all times anyway, so there is no need to panic.

There are eight slides altogether, and once you get going you’ll find yourself wishing that it will never end. But unfortunately it will eventually end, which is when you’ll hike back to base camp and enjoy a delicious lunch while chatting about the experience you have just shared.

The general rule is that anyone between 7 and 70 can go, but sometimes exceptions can be made. When I visited I was told that they once had a 93-year-old thoroughly enjoying herself, and a two-and-a-half-year old screaming for more. So don’t hesitate people – make your bookings now and get ready for an experience of a lifetime swinging between tree tops on the longest foefie-slide in Africa!

For more info tel 033 330 3415 or e-mail info@karkloofcanopytour.co.za

The Roma Revolving Restaurant in Durban has been my favourite restaurant ever since I moved to South Africa eight years ago. There is just something about the warm and friendly atmosphere, the old-fashioned (and slightly cheesy) décor, the excellent service, the passionate Italian owners, the stunning view and last but not least: the delicious food!

Roma has been around for quite some time; 36 years to be exact. Run by brothers Gino and Tony Leopardi it is one of only 36 revolving restaurants in the world, and the only one of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere – boasting the unique feature of a revolving window and floor area. Do remember to be attentive when you pay a visit to the ladies’ room, because when you come back your table won’t be exactly where you left it… It can get quite confusing! But it’s all part of the fun.

It was my man’s birthday yesterday, so I decided to treat him to a meal at our favourite restaurant. We have celebrated a number of special occasions at Roma, and I have honestly never had a bad experience. Twice Gino (or Tony) have given me a bunch of perfect, absolutely beautiful red roses when he realised it was my birthday. Once he even put a ‘Happy Birthday’ banner up for me. So sweet! I am a firm believer in the fact that going the extra mile will always be in a restaurant owner’s best interest, as it really does make customers come back.

Anyway, let’s talk about the food! Although Italian cuisine is obviously Roma’s speciality, there’s local food available as well – such as seafood and fresh game. Ostrich and crocodile steaks have been popular items on the menu for years, and so has the Norwegian salmon and the veal casserole. For starters I always go for the Baked Asparagus Parmiggiana – fresh, green organic asparagus baked and served hot with melted parmesan cheese. Ryan is a soup fan, especially in winter, so he had the Minestrone Soup – a delicious homemade vegetable soup served with fresh bread. For mains we were in the mood for beef, so I had the Fillet Pizzaiola – the most tender fillet steak you can ever imagine, topped with a sauce consisting of fresh tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, chilli and Oregano. Ryan had the Rump Pepper Steak – a huge piece of cow that took up almost his whole plate and was drenched in a creamy, spicy pepper sauce. Very rich, but oh so decadent! Mains are served with a choice of starch and vegetables of the day. And good food needs good wine, of course. So we had a few glasses of red, before rounding off our meal with a cup of hot filter coffee. By the time the dessert trolley came around, offering mouth-watering temptations such as homemade Italian ice cream, Créme Brûlé , crepes and chocolate mousse, we were so stuffed and had to give it a miss.

Situated 105 metres above sea level, on the 32^nd floor of John Ross House, the Roma Revolving Restaurant is a Durban institution and should be visited at least once by every Durbanite! The harbour view is mesmerising at night, so get yourself a babysitter and take your man for a romantic night out. Don’t forget to book in advance on 031 337 6707, as it’s almost always full.

So we thought it was about darn time to introduce you to the very creative, intelligent, beautiful, wise, wonderful, happy, funny, stupid, silly, crazy team here at Phuthu.co.za…Did I mention that we are beautiful? Well in case you need some verification on that, these collage stick-figures should do the trick.

Katrine Anker-Nilssen:

Isn’t she so cute?

3 vital facts you need to know about Katrine:

1. She appears in various hair adverts. Not really, but I’m the agent and taking any offers.
2. She only has one cup of coffee per day. RESPECT!
3. She makes her man lunch everyday. Aww Shweet, nunu poo, hunni buns!

Arb question: Do they make extra-length jerseys for sausage dogs?

Kerry Horrocks:

This woman can paint and play the violin but these are the real facts you need to know about Kerry:

1. Kerry wears knee-length snow jackets to work
2. Kerry wears Moon Boots to work
3. Kerry works in Durban. It’s very very very cold in Durban.

Elzet Pedersen

This girl makes us cry everyday. Why oh why, you ask? Elzet is the only person we know to have:

1. Dented every single corner of her car, plus the bonnet. All on separate occasions.
2. Burnt her boyfriends flat down to smithereens.
3. Taken someone else’s suitcase home from the airport by accident.

(by the way, for fear of jeopordising her chances of getting car or household insurance again, I changed her name. )

Louise Sanders

Since I’m writing this post, I get to select the following vital facts about moi:

1. I don’t make my man lunch everyday. Sorry hun.
2. I don’t wear Moon Boots to work. I find the Moon Suits much warmer.
3. I did however, once upon a time, drive my brand new car home with …I’m hiding under the desk just thinking about it…the handbrake on.

Because the Phuthu gals are feeling seriously intelligent this morning, we thought we’d each have a go at how we’d describe a Koeksister to a foreigner. Yup, intellectual South African stuff going down at Phuthu this morning.

Louise:

The “Koek” and the “Sister” form an intertwined South African treat
Beware your tastebuds because these things are real sweet.
They’ll tickle your tastebuds and give you a sugar high,
You may feel dizzy and dumb but I’m sure you won’t die.
If I were you, I’d go and buy a pack of twenty right now,
and scuffle them down – as many as your tummy will allow!

Elzet:

Pronunciation [cook-sistah]

Noun

1. Looks like a hair plait but it’s in actual fact a doughy kinda plait
2. Two straight fingers of dough formed into a twisted sistah
3. Drowned in a syrupy sauce

Consistency: Soft and juicy

Origin: Afrikaans

Kerry:

Well it comes from an Afrikaans word ‘koek’ meaning ‘cook’ and ‘sister’ meaning ‘sister’, so in other words you need to cook your sister or your sister in law, whichever you prefer, in a big potjie, while everyone dances naked around an open fire, chanting the word ‘koeksister, koeksister’. No seriously, it’s a syrup-coated doughnut that has been twisted into a braid or plait. They are very sticky and sweet, and of course delicious. The Afrikaner knew what they were doing when they created this yummy South African dessert.