The Giraffe

The giraffe is a genus of African even-toed ungulate mammals, the tallest living terrestrial animals, and the largest ruminants.

The scientific name of the giraffe is Giraffa camelopardalis, the species name camelopardalisbeing Latin. Camelopard is an archaic English word for giraffe derived from the Ancient Greek for camel and leopard, animals which the giraffe was thought to resemble.

One of the distinguishing characteristics of a giraffe is its long neck. Giraffe has seven cervical vertebrae, but each one can be up to 25 cm long. In addition to its role in assisting in feeding and maximizing vigilance, the neck is also used in an elaborate ritualized fight called ‘necking’, usually only seen in males. They repeatedly swing their neck to deliver powerful head-butts to their rival’s body.

They inhabit the savannas, grasslands, and open woodlands of Sub-Saharan Africa in a wide range stretching from Chad (Central Africa) to South Africa. Their main food is acacia leaves. Their long necks enable them to reach leaves other animals cannot reach. Giraffe tongue is so long that they could lick every part of their face, including their ears.

A male’s average weight is 3,500 pounds (1,600 kg). A female’s average weight is 1,800 pounds (830 kg).

These African animals can run at speeds of up to 34 miles per hour (56 km/h).  Bulls sometimes battle one another by butting their long necks and heads. Such contests aren’t usually dangerous and end when one animal submits and walks away.

The South Africa Bushmen have a giraffe dance which they perform to cure head ailments. The smoke from burning giraffe skins was used by the medicine men in Buganda to treat nosebleeds.

Aim High, Stand Tall and Get Spotted

Nothing tops a South African safari

Heading out on safari is fun!

You’ll meet new people, witness some incredible animal moments. With so much to see and do, you won’t have a chance to be bored.

The safari regions are very much pollution-free and well-preserved, which means that the air is crisp and the sky is clear at night to gaze at the stars. From African sunsets to star gazing, good wine, potjiekos, herds of elephants, and dry savannah; to early-morning jeep rides and luxurious chalets, nothing beats a South African safari.

The reason to visit Africa and journeying out on safari is a unique experience.  Walk on the wild side, South Africa is host to all the ‘wild’ animals that you knew from your childhood. You get to see spectacular landscapes and the climate of South Africa has a predominantly semi-arid climate with sunny days and cool nights.

Support conservation efforts, interact with the knowledgeable guides and rangers and have fun!

It’s always WINE o’clock. The wine culture of South Africa is world-renowned. We have several wine routes, wine festivals, wine estates and wine tasting to tempt the connoisseur.  Supporting local communities and giving you a chance to relax in a new environment.

Laying tracks for luxury, we’ve got one of the best luxury train trips in the world. The Blue Train travels about 1 600 kilometers between Cape Town and Pretoria. A unique experience every time.

Sometimes you don’t need roads.  The off-road and 4×4 culture in South Africa is huge. Even though the general road infrastructure is really great, there are many 4×4 trails for any off-road lover. Even some national or nature parks are best explored with a 4×4 vehicle with great photography opportunities.

Don’t forget the glorious food. South Africa offers a huge variety when it comes to cuisine. Our food culture has an emerging emphasis on local, handmade and organically grown produce.

The perfect way to end a day in the warm sun spotting animals is to lie back, soak in the peacefulness, reflect, listen to nothing but the crickets chirping in the distance, and stare at the gleaming milky way. All you’ll need is a blanket, a hot flask of cocoa, binoculars to reveal the millions of stars, and your favorite person by your side.

Come and enjoy a wild journey on an African Safari!

KAROO CUISINE

Eating and drinking in the Karoo is a culinary experience not to be missed.

The Karoo is a large area with many towns! The region offers a variety of traditional and wholesome Karoo dining experiences to suit all tastes and budgets! From the deliciously diverse flavors of South Africa’s indigenous and multi-cultural rainbow cuisine to culinary specialties from all over the world.

The Karoo is well known for its Lamb.

It is believed that Karoo lamb is tastier and more flavorsome than lamb from other regions, the reason being the different types of shrubbery which the sheep in this region feed on. The fragrant bushes in the Karoo impart an unmistakable ‘herbiness’ to the lamb. Here, the sheep roam freely on farms eating the Karoo vegetation to their heart’s content!

Braaivleis (BBQ): The word braaivleis is Afrikaans for “roasted meat.”

The word braai (pronounced “bry”, rhyming with the word “cry”; plural braais) is Afrikaans for “barbecue” or “roast” and is a social custom in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. It originated with the Afrikaner people but has since been adopted by South Africans of many ethnic backgrounds. The word vleis are Afrikaans for “meat”.

Bobotie: Bobotie, a staple of South African cuisine. It is believed to have originated with the Dutch and gets its name from the Indonesian word “Bobotok”. Bobotie has been part of the South African cuisine since about the 27th century.

Back then it was made mainly with mutton and pork which were combined. Nowadays it is usually made using either beef or lamb mince. Dried fruits such as raisins and apricots can also be added. Flavored with mild curry, the mince is then topped with a milk and egg mixture and baked in the oven. Usually served with yellow rice with raisins.

http://www.south-africa-info.co.za/country/article/279/karoo-cuisine

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY

Is the animal kingdom not incredible? From the most beautiful to the beauty of imperfection, the biggest to the unique smallest.

Sometimes we stand amazed, can the human population not look beyond the smaller picture and look at the beautiful picture perfect surroundings. Could it be that the busy and crowded lifestyle of humanity keeps them from listening to the sounds of nature that surrounds them!

The best therapy on earth is to get in touch with nature. The odors of fresh veld flowers, soil that becomes wet with the cleanest of waters. Springboks that pronk just to show off a little. The enjoyment that bird life can give while drinking and playing in the hand-dug soil dams. A warm sunny day, the silence of the field where big and small animals search for a little bit of shade to shut an eye for a while.

When the day begins to cool and the shade of the trees starts to turn, it’s then when the animals get a new life and everything just gets even prettier.  All that we as humans can do is to protect and appreciate what is so unique to us.

The animals that run on the plains of Karreekloof with their own unique personalities are better than the best entertainment in the world.

Protecting ecosystems and nature means protecting animals.

As the saying goes, nature is red in tooth and claw. Existence in the wild is harsh and unforgiving, far removed from human ethical concerns or modern standards of physical comfort. Humankind is just another animal out in the bush – not a very tough one, either!

The message is simple:  Love and conserve our wildlife

 

Karreekloof

Karreekloof and the long-lost history that lies ahead.

There is not a day that goes by and yet another story is unveiled about Karreekloof. History always makes the heart grow fonder.

The beautiful words by Mr. Hewett wrote on the 10 November 1956 (an old school friend of Mr. Peter Wright former owner of Karreekloof)

Karreekloof

Twilight descends on the desert plains;

The crimson cloak of eve enfolds the hills –

Billows of gold in the dying light –

Far, far away the retiring sun

Hovers on the brim,

And beyond the plains of evening

A new day sprouts.

High in the nights sky a lone vulture wheels

And plummets to his prey;

The pining sheep stand clustered

Round a trough

Slaking the parched thirst of the desert.

Set in a modest valley like a gem

Lies an oasis silent and replete

And the voice of Nature

Enhancing the Solitudes.

Appreciate your employees

Whether an employee is an introvert or an extrovert, it is important to recognize them for their hard work.

Remember how you felt the last time someone told you what a great job you were doing? That’s why it’s so important to make time to praise employees for a job well done.

Recognition makes people feel really good about themselves. It also motivates employees to keep up the good work. Positive reinforcement sets an example for everyone in your organization, showing them the kind of work, you value most.

We are all wired differently, and not every social style needs public recognition, but even the most introverted person appreciates recognition for a job well done.

We all have a basic need to feel valued and loved.

“Appreciation can make a day, even change a life.  Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.” – Margaret Cousins –

Appreciation is a fundamental human need so start appreciating!

OSTRICH NECK CASSEROLE

Ostrich neck is an excellent alternative to oxtail, as it is similar in appearance when cooked, but with no fat!

With its combination of great taste and nutrition, and it’s incredible ease and versatility in cooking, ostrich meat has rapidly found its’ way onto the menu of many of the finest restaurants in the world. It will make you keep running back for more.

Ingredients:

100ml cooking oil

2kg ostrich neck, cleaned and cut up

2 large carrots, peeled and sliced

2 large onions, diced

1 bunch celery, sliced (no leaves)

3 large potatoes, peeled and cubed

Sprig fresh rosemary

3 cloves garlic, crushed

4 bay leaves

4T tomato paste

1/2 bottle good red wine

6 to 8 cups water

Salt and pepper to taste

1x410g can butterbeans, drained

Method:

In a large sturdy pot heat the oil until very hot and seal the meat until browned all over, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the carrots, onions, celery, rosemary, garlic and bay leaves. Braise the vegetables until they are glazed about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and stir in. Add the red wine and bring to the boil. Add the water, cover the pot, turn down the heat to a simmer and cook for about one hour or until the neck is nearly cooked. Season with salt and pepper. Add the potatoes and cook for a further 30 minutes or until tender. Add the butterbeans and heat through. Serve with yellow rice.

Ostrich Meat – Savory and Delicious!

LIFE IS ALWAYS SWEETER WITH GOOD FOOD

Let’s face it, food is a part of our everyday lives. We eat it, we dream about it and we spend our money on it.

There are two impulses we need to figure out how to short-circuit. The first is “habituation,” which has to do with the way we get tired of even our favorite foods if we eat them too often, and the second is “satiation,” which leads us to enjoy a given food less and less over the course of a serving.

One thing when cooking for other people is that the food should taste good, of course, but it doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive, or time-consuming.  Nothing beats good food and great company.

LOVE PEOPLE, COOK THEM GOOD FOOD

There is no bigger pleasure in life than to meet new people and eat some lovely food.  Explore new destinations, eat some amazingly delicious food.  Food is the one mediums that binds people together and helps you learn and know about people and their cultures.

Choosing a variety of foods will help to make your meals interesting.

Here are some tips:

  1. Food is a great go-to for expressing your feelings.
  2. Food is rewarding.
  3. Going to get food makes for a great first date.
  4. Food completes family holidays.
  5. You can make and eat food any way you want to.
  6. One bite of your favorite food on a bad day can instantly change your mood.
  7. The right food can fulfill a day’s worth of cravings.
  8. Food is fast and easy.
  9. At the end of the day, you’ll realize that food is all you need.
Food is there for the highs and the lows, food is love, food is life.

Look after your staff and they’ll take care of the rest

Engaging employees involves a number of approaches, including trust, autonomy, receptiveness to ideas, communication, leadership and credit for good work.

While some of these elements may feel a little nebulous and hard to instill in an organization, there shouldn’t be anything difficult about recognizing and rewarding work well done.

Rewards don’t have to be lavish to be effective. Verbal recognition was cited widely by workers as one of the ways employers could show they cared about their staff.

Worse still, other research has found that more than four in five managers have stolen their colleagues’ ideas and passed them off as their own – hardly a practice geared to raising engagement.

Take Care of What’s Important: Look after your staff

Any business can get on the road to solving engagement issues. Look after your staff and they’ll look after everything else.

Your employees are right at the heart of your business. Without them, it’s pretty likely that the entire thing would fall apart. Of course, you are the head, the leader showing them the way, but they are the ones who are able to turn your decisions into action.

Employees who aren’t cared for and respected often find themselves becoming disenchanted with their roles and often come to dislike and resent the work that they are doing. Luckily, it’s not that difficult to look after your employees.

Employees always put in their best work when they feel that their work is valued.

If you shut yourself away and isolate yourself from them, employees are going to feel a genuine disconnect between you and, by extension, the business. Instead, make sure that they all know that you are open to listening to any suggestions and issues that they might have.

Not only will this create an environment of trust but it could actually improve the business as a whole. You might be able to see the big picture, but your employees can get a much closer idea of what’s happening on the ground level. By listening to them, you’ll be able to get some valuable insight into the day to day functions of your business.

Tell them that they are valued

You should always value your employees; they are your most precious resource. Make sure that when recognition is due to an excellent job, you show them that. If an employee feels valued then they are far more likely to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to make the business as successful as possible.

 

Individual Social Responsibility

The obligation of an organization’s management towards the welfare and interests of the society in which it operates.

It is through careful attention to impacts on society and the environment that organizations achieve sustainability. Behaving in a transparent and ethical way ensures an approach that helps protect the long-term success of society and the environment.

What does it mean?  It is about an individual becoming responsible in his/her actions that have to affect on communities outside his/her immediate circle.  The immediate circle being family and friends.

What is ISR?  The individual social responsibility includes the engagement of each person toward the community where he lives, which can be expressed as an interest towards what’s happening in the community, as well as in the active participation in die solving of some of the local problems.  The individual social responsibility also could be expressed in making donations for significant society causes – social, cultural or ecological.

Is ISR practical?  It has to be as the trends show that the biggest growth for big charitable organizations in the world is coming through individuals and not through corporations and governments.

What is being ethical?  Ethics is a set of beliefs about right and wrong.  The beliefs are dependent on personal experience, family background, religious background, and education.  The integrity of your beliefs is an important element of being ethical.

Is ISR practical, especially the ethical bit?  Difficult but possible, making decisions based on what is good for greatest number of people.  Promoting individual self-interest as long as it does not harm others.  Making decisions with a belief that everyone has a fundamental right that should be respected and protected.  Making decisions which treat everyone fairly and consistently.

I know CSR, how is ISR different? 

  • ISR is at the roots of CSR because a corporate comprises of individuals and hence determines the social responsibility culture it follows.
  • As CSR is being increasingly viewed as a tool to push wares a greater need for ISR is expected.
  • The example of kiva.org in giving people the power to empower is a big indicator of the shift.
  • If ISR becomes a way of life CSR may be an automatic end result.

ISR is a tool for social change, powerful and practical

Sources:

“The Inconvenient truth about corporate fundraising” by Sean Triner

www.sofli.org

Workshop for Civic Initiatives Foundation (WCIF), Bulgaria, a position statement on Social Responsibility.

http://www.wcif-bg.org/en/sr