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A boa vida (the good life) in a dreamy holiday house gazing over the Indian Ocean is a melding of whitewashed seaside interiors and delectable Mozambique flavour. It’s always summer here. In fact, it was mid-winter when I visited. But one of the many advantages of Mozambique’s subtropical climate is winter weather made for shorts […]

A most modern house sits in juxtaposition beside a river bordering a protected African wilderness. Somehow it works. Kingfisher River House conveys the ideals of a bush retreat through lean contemporary design but the showstopper is its setting on the Crocodile River. The owner worked closely with Nelspruit architect Tom Hattingh and a local building […]

This contemporary artist jeweller works from her Munich studio and her summer home in Italy, but Frances D’Aintree's South African roots are forever nourished by the land of her birth. This artist jeweller, goldsmith and lecturer uses traditional and contemporary techniques to create wearable or useable objects in precious metals. Her portfolio ranges from personal […]

She calls herself  “a middle-aged, suburban, Woolies-clad lady who enjoys sitting on her stoep, embroidering scenes from the kama sutra on tea cosies.” The last bit throws me a tad but I quickly discover there’s a whole lot more to this self-declared suburbanite than keeping house and raising her school-age kids. “I started late,” she […]

   Guest Post by Shila Desai Mexico’s traditional crafts and myriad folk arts are a magnet for culturally curious visitors because they open a window on deeply held traditions. From handwoven textiles to pottery, beading, and mask making, Mexico’s artesanías are just as functional as decorative. Typically they are crafted by artisans with no formal […]

A book about the famous Italian architect Marco Zanuso's work in Africa aims to keep his architectural legacy alive and inspire a new generation of designers. Zanuso worked on only two projects in South Africa but he left a monumental legacy. He designed a homestead and corporate head office for the late business magnate, Sydney Press. […]

Marula trees grow in just one part of the planet: hot, frost-free subequatorial Africa. The fruit is wild-harvested to make  Amarula Cream Liqueur. In my book, that makes it pretty special. I went to take a look at the harvest. to the back of beyond At first it’s just me, a vulture and a rocky […]

Shila Desai started her specialist tour company by accident. It grew into a second act that renewed her sense of purpose and saved her from the rising damp of depression. Since 2011, Eat Your Heart Out Tours has taken clients on the most fascinating life experiences. The company’s specialist guides have contact lists that give […]

His intricate pen drawings feature geometric shapes alongside the organic movement of plants. His combining of portraiture with landscapes references the inner world while also commenting on social issues. There’s a meditative quality to these thoughtful monochromes. "I don’t carry a sketchbook, but everywhere I go I record mental images. They’re snapshots observed in moments […]