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- Where there is a will, there is a way
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- Crystal waters on a clear day
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- Ebony and Ivory
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- Curious giraffes
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- Table Mountain – one of the wonders of the world
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- Pink sunset over Table Mountain
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- Waterfront, Cape Town
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- Bird on buffalo
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- Various tribes use as decorations
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- Whoa, I’ll back off!
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- In the jungle the lion sleeps tonight
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- Rude sign by babboon
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- Dairy Farm
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- Smile for the camera
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- Lioness and cubs
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- Donkey power
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- Lazy leopard
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- Recycling gone to the feet
We, being my husband Kobus, my stepson Sakkie and I – Suletta, have taken the plunge and moved from the Western Cape, South Africa to set up a dairy farm on behalf of a large East African company, in Zanzibar. Kobus has been a farmer all his life, Sakkie his right-hand man, I have been a financial advisor. I will keep a blog record of our trials and tribulations as from start of this journey until the day we leave, if ever, documenting the process of setting up a dairy farm and posting some great pictures along the way. Hope you enjoy, and please feel free to send me questions on related topics.
Some of the things we have left behind, like one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, being Table Mountain, is sorely missed, but we embrace our new neighbours, being lion, leopard, giraffe, babboons, various tribes, traditional gear, buffalo and many more interesting and amazing sights.
suletta 
Your photos of South Africa are absolutely stunning and I’m really enjoying them. Thank you so much for stopping by and subscribing to my blog. I look forward to seeing you back soon. Bella
I love your photos. I would like to visit Africa one day again. I went on food missions with the Army in 96-98. Had little time for pleasure. Thank you for sharing the beauty of a special place.
John, it is indeed the original Garden of Eden, I think. Perhaps you will return sometime?
Hi, I am letting you know that I have nominated you for some blogging awards! Should you choose to participate here are the rules: http://wp.me/p2v1s2-y1
Daniela
Thanks so much Daniela. I will check it out and respond.
I wanted to pass on the Liebster Award – I think your blog is awesome.
The award is yours to pass along, the instructions are in the post below from my blog: http://annesquared.wordpress.com/2013/05/19/here-she-is-miss-america-kidding-mom/
Hi, thanks so much for the honor. As you may notice, I’ve received the Liebster award previously as well. I simply love writing, and hope I will pen down my adventure to sail between Cape Town and Rio de Janeiro in the Cape to Rio yacht race, and on the cruising class’s winning yacht – Nora, before I lay my head down one day. Just need to pluck up the courage!
Well, I knew you had awards. I am a “skimmer”. I didn’t see one that looked like the one I was shown, so … 🙂 I need, desperately, an admin assistant! And a cook, chauffeur, housekeeper, personal maid, editor, etc., etc.
Now tell me… since you don’t’ have to answer my 11 questions and spend 2 full days dealing with the award and researching numerous other incidental items that interest you while you source everything…. 😉 And writing an epidemiologic update on the (formerly called) novel SARS ….What is keeping you from this little yachting tour?
Hi, I’ve done it already, so now it is simply a case of writing the story around the whole trip. got all the notes, the ensuing e-mails etc, must sit down and write!
Hi Suletta,
I am a casting producer for an American television show about people moving abroad. I came across your blog and wanted to reach out to see if you or anyone you know might be interested in participating in an episode of our show. We are currently casting recent expats living in remote, rural areas of Tanzania.
House Hunters International tells the story of people who have picked up their lives and moved to a foreign location to pursue a new life abroad. Being on our show is a lot of fun for our participants and is a great way for them to document their search for a new home.
We are casting people who have recently moved and have either already bought/rented or are currently searching for a new home. If you or anyone you know meet these qualifications please feel free to contact me.
I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Best,
Rebecca
Hi Rebecca. We have since moved back to South Africa, but in brief, here is a glimpse of what happened in our lives: My husband was recruited by the largest East African Company – Bakhresa Group, to start a dairy farm on the island of Zanzibar. We were flown over, put up in a grand hotel on the beautiful island, shown a fertile piece of land, and promised a home and lots of perks, besides good income.
We landed in Dar es Salaam, after having sold up all our belongings in Cape Town, only to be told that the newly elected president of Zanzibar was not interested in making the land available, in fear of losing the next election if he upset the 150 small farmers on the said land.
Our house hunt in Dar es Salaam was incredibly hectic. We saw anything from large, luxury apartments, to lovely homes in lush gardens in security complexes. We finally settled on a home, barely 100 m from the warm, azure Indian ocean, swaying palm trees etc. The property was large, but dirty after the caretaker and his family took advantage and moved in between tenants. It took us weeks to clean, paint and get the electrical wiring right. All around us were smaller, less affluent homes, with goats and cows roaming in the field surrounding the house.
We were given 2 hours to shop for all furniture and appliances, including curtains, linen etc. Truly a hectic experience we will never forget.
By August last year, we were told to go and have a look at homes on Zanzibar for the anticipated move after more discussions with the president looked positive. Boy, did we see homes!! Two Zanzibari estate agents took us around the island to view homes that ranged from marble and gold-plated palaces, surrounded by half-built, squatter occupied ruins, to exquisite homes right on the beach, with the absolute best of everything for as little as $4000 per month!. Some of the properties were the size of football fields!
We finally found a lovely, Western style home right opposite our favourite resort of Mbweni Ruins Hotel – compact, modern, light and bright. However, this was never to be our home, as the contract proved fruitless and we returned to South Africa.
During our time in Dar es Salaam, we had the pleasure of travelling to Zanzibar and staying with a South African guest-house owner in true Zanzibari island style, on the beach at Jambiani. We also traveled to Morogoro, and on to Ruaha and Mikumi.
Whilst there we tried to slot into our surroundings, by buying at the local fresh food vendors, frequenting the beach nearby, planting our own vegetable garden etc. Besides what you see on my blog, I have loads of photos and videos of life in Dar es Salaam, including videos of our house and neighborhood. Also the traffic, as well as the tuk-tuk rides, ferry rides and Zanzibar.
We made friends easily, my husband mentored and assisted some of the small farmers in the area, I assisted the owner of a stunning resort within walking distance of our house with his office duties. There are more than 30 000 South Africans in Dar es Salaam, and activities involving boats are very popular due to the incredible tropical weather. We befriended a family of ex-Rhodesians who set up a world-class resort from absolute nothing on a picture-perfect spot up the coast. South African days with real South African food, often celebrated on big rugby-match days, were the order of the day.
Therefor not sure that we are still candidates. You can let me know what you think.