Buying Ukuthula Gives Independent Viewing of Game Parks In South Africa

The Sabiepark seed had been sown in our hearts long before we bought Ukuthula. That’s for sure. The germination can be attributed to a Cape visit by an ex-colleague, Danie Krynauw, and his wife, Kathleen, at present of Somerset West. Till the end of 2003 these two had, for almost a decade, enjoyed a swallow existence. In winter their home was in the Lowveld, in summer in Hermanus. During a conversation with the Krynauws over lunch in Cape Town, I suddenly decided that I would like to experiment with such a pattern of life. Tokkie was immediately game, though somewhat sceptical of the practicality of such an arrangement.

I immediately wrote to Fickie and Ronnie to enquire whether we could rent their sites for a few weeks during the winter. But the web spread wider. Ken Saggers, an owner living in Johannesburg, heard of my plan. He telephoned out of the blue and asked whether I did not rather want to buy my own place. Jean Smythe, a widow from Fish Hoek, was seeking a buyer for her property. Her husband had died and she could only visit occasionally.

I did not hesitate a minute, and immediately telephoned the widow Smythe. Could she provide me with a plan and photos? She could do better. They had made a video for a handicapped friend in Johannesburg – first the ground floor, room by room, then slowly along the stairs to the attic. In addition, she could show all the game that had visited over the past months – in a few minutes. Somewhat misleading. But tremendously persuasive.

The video and a torn, water-soiled architect’s plan were sent the following day from Fish Hoek to Cape Town. That same evening it was viewed and discussed. The bug had really bitten with a vengeance. We started negotiations. I resisted too much pressure. I believe one does not buy even a second-hand wheelbarrow without having handled it – let alone a property 2 000 kilometres away. By Jove!

The opportunity to “feel and handle” arrived the weekend of 15 and 16 November 1997. Tokkie and I set off in a small Avis car from Johannesburg. At the gate we almost ran into difficulties due to some technical error on our permit. We begged and prayed, and eventually the obstacle was removed. We went searching for Ukuthula. When we opened the sliding door and saw the cosy lounge with its high thatched roof and cane furniture, I fell in love. However, I held my tongue, waiting for Tokkie to say the first word. She kept me in suspense.

That afternoon we went for a long walk and met an elephant just beyond the boundary fence. We also saw a newly-born impala lamb, a small giraffe suckling from his mother and an impala “kindergarten” playing ring-a-rosy, round and round. But we almost roasted in the subtropical summer glow. When we arrived at the house, with Tokkie very much the worse for wear, I thought it was all over. The water of the primitive little pool, however, brought welcome relief – and the lack of swimwear deep in the bush did not present much of a problem. That evening when the stars glistened and our little fire crackled merrily, I realised that we were ad idem on this great matter. That Sunday afternoon, before we left for the Johannesburg Airport (now O.R. Tambo), Tokkie stated on paper in a message to the children: “There is no doubt – we are buying.”

We finalised business matters in almost improper haste. In March 1998 we moved in. During the weekend of 14 and 15 March, Tokkie’s birthday, our old Bloemfontein friends Herman and Rina le Roux – now of Johannesburg – were our first guests.