The first ‘In conversation with’… of 2025.
I chatted with Wilfred Mole and Dave Richardson about Sandstone Estates and what guest can expect.
The Sandstone Heritage Trust is a private Preservation initiative established on a commercial farm in the Eastern Free State in South Africa. The present owners purchased the farm from the Wille family in 1995. The farm has been in the continuous ownership of the Willes since the 1840s, which means the farm has only had two owners in 170 years. The arable farmland along the little Caledon River which constitutes the official border between South Africa and Lesotho is rich in agricultural potential. It is a particularly beautiful part of South Africa with sandstone outcrops nestling under the towering Maluti Mountains which sit high above the Drakensberg range. It is an area where farming has proceeded quietly using traditional methods for centuries. To find out more, use this link: https://www.sandstone-estates.com/index.php/about-us
One of my favourite conversations from 2024. March Turnbull from the Quagga Project
This project started in 1987, is an attempt by a group of dedicated people in South Africa to bring back an animal from extinction and reintroduce it into reserves in its former habitat. The project aims to rectify a tragic mistake made over a hundred years ago through greed and shortsightedness. If this revival is successful, herds showing the phenotype of the original quagga will again roam the plains of the Karoo.
Follow their website: https://www.quaggaproject.org/
I try to keep it together when chatting with Marc Lottering…not easy at all!
Johan Marais is always on hand if I send him a picture and a question when identification is required.
That is why he is a return guest.
Johan Marais is an entrepreneur, naturalist and photographer and has contributed significantly to reptile conservation over the past 35 years. He has authored several books, including the most recent, Snakes and Other Reptiles of Kruger (published by Struik Nature) which he co-authored with Luke Kemp. It is this particular book that our chat focussed on, specifically as it is a pocket guide in the truest sense of the word and can easily fit in either a pocket or backpack for quick and concise identification. The book covers snakes and other reptiles like tortoises, lizards and crocodiles. Highly recommended to add to your nature library for home and travel use. Aside from writing and travelling, he also runs the African Snakebite Institute. He spends most of his time lecturing on reptiles and teaching the public about snake awareness, including how to handle snakes safely.
Veteran broadcaster and ex-702 colleague of mine, John Robbie hosted two new shows on the History channel. John chatted to me about his love of history and how, thanks to COVID, this series was delayed by 2 years. Chatting to a professional who is passionate about a subject is pure joy and our time together was far too short. Not only did we chat about the shows, I also asked him about ‘that’ interview as well as a bit about his rugby career.
To quote John… “History, without exception, is told very badly at school. It’s as though everything happened logically and in sequence… and in fact, life is not like that, as we know from the new South Africa, it didn’t just happen, there were disasters, there was fear, there was terror, etcetera,” For those who have not seen the programs, I urge you to keep a lookout for them. as they are well worth watching.
Find out who is currently in my In Conversation With… archive, use this link:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC388F-0Eg2f8DQmd9hmMXzA
Travel is the proud winner of this prestigious award from the digital British lifestyle magazine Luxlife. The award is for Best Travel & Experiences Blog 2024 – South Africa.
Check out the archived and current interviews… click on the image above
or use this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC388F-0Eg2f8DQmd9hmMXzA
A new platform where I chat with authors of books that have crossed my desk.
Click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHlnIOSmJVkbaDWvseKUqbw
“Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?”
Edgar Bergen
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