In South Africa there is nothing more traditional than lighting a fire and cooking Potjiekos. Potjiekos is cooked in stages and layered with meat and vegetables. It is rich in vitamins and bursting with flavours. Potjie pot is pronounced “poi-key” pot and Potjiekos the food cooked in the potjie pot is pronounced “poi-key-cos”. Potjiekos translates to “small-pot food” and is common in appearance and taste to stew. The main reason potjie is not called stew is because it is not stirred during the cooking process and is allowed to simmer slowly over hot coals.

The cast iron pot dates back to the Iron Age when man learned to mould metal into different shapes. The potjie pots were brought over from the Netherlands in the 17^th century by the early explorers; the three legged design and practical use excited the tribal Africans who then traded the cast iron pots for animal hides. What makes these pots unique is their ability to retain heat well and allow tough meat to simmer for hours- resulting in a tender and flavourful Potjiekos to be enjoyed by those who eat it.

At Sunway Safari we offer disadvantaged children the opportunity to spend 3 days on an educational camping safari in Pilanesberg National Park. This is all made possible through PEN, a non profit company providing basic needs to vulnerable children, adults and the elderly in the Tshwane/Pretoria area of South Africa. The objective of the PEN Pilanesberg trip is to expose disadvantaged children between the ages of 14 and 19 to South Africa’s wildlife, conservation efforts, growing tourism industry and possible career opportunities in guiding, resort management and conservation.

This tour in particular was guided by Sfiso, Joe, Wayne and Mike. We aren’t sure who enjoyed the experience more, them or the children. From the feedback the tour was an all round success with smiles from all parties as these children left the park with incredible wildlife sightings, and more insight surrounding conservation in South Africa.

Mike has shared his experience of the 2020 PEN tour which not only benefits the children but exposes our guides to reality of disadvantaged children and gives them the opportunity to make a small difference.

Meike has shared these beautiful images from an SAa17 that she guided earlier in 2019.

This first picture shows the briefing before the bush walk at Makuwa Safari Lodge

Sfiso and Meike enjoyed a Cape Town To Victoria Falls Grand Explorer German 21 day departure (CVag21), here is an awesome blog on the hippopotamus writen by Meike with some of her photos.

On our Tours we come across many different animals. One is the Hippopotamus which on a Tour from Cape Town to Victoria Falls we will find in the Okavango Delta and the Chobe National Park in Botswana. Here the Hippos find enough water throughout the year which these semiaquatic mammals need most as well as enough grass for them to feed on.