Latest news with #Drakensberg
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
I moved from Britain to South Africa – the quality of life is so much better
I first landed in Cape Town back in 2004, at 22 years old, for a one-year study-abroad programme with the University of Edinburgh. I'd never set foot on the African continent before, but I was completely hooked the moment I stepped off the plane. My mind was blown, seeing a buzzing city surrounded by incredible scenery, from Table Mountain to the Atlantic Ocean. Something about the energy of Cape Town got under my skin. After my study year ended, I headed back to Edinburgh to finish my economics degree, but I knew I'd be returning. After hundreds of phone calls and messages, a friend I had met in Cape Town and I came up with the idea to start a travel company running gap year adventures in South Africa for UK students. I moved back to Cape Town in 2008, when we ran our first trip. The early days were a blur of school talks and dodgy projectors, but the end result was a series of successful three-month overland journeys across South Africa. The business evolved into tailor-made travel, starting with friends and word of mouth. Then, in 2014, I co-founded a new travel company, Timbuktu. South Africa has more than lived up to my expectations. It is an incredible country. You can hike in the Drakensberg mountains, drive across the Karoo desert, sip world-class wine in the Cape Winelands and spot lions in Kruger National Park. Cape Town itself is such a great mix of just about everything – mountains, beaches, restaurants, shopping (so my wife tells me!) and culture. South Africa has a very entrepreneurial spirit with amazing talent, especially creatively, and it's a great place to build a team. The operating costs in South Africa are relatively low, which is a huge advantage in scaling a business, locally and internationally. The flip side is the bureaucracy! There's a lot of red tape and restrictions around banking and international payments. There are also very strict labour laws, heavily weighted towards employees, which is great in theory, but it can make it tough to move quickly when you're trying to grow. The cost of living, compared to the UK, is incredible. You can have an amazing lifestyle without the eye-watering prices of London (especially when it comes to renting property and eating out). In terms of lifestyle, it really couldn't be more different to the UK. Here, my days revolve around the outdoors – surfing before work, hiking at the weekend, and visiting some of the best restaurants and vineyards in the world. Endless blue skies and sunshine help too! Of course, there are downsides. The social inequality and economic issues are huge. Many people live in poverty and there are high levels of crime in certain areas. Pockets of racial tension still exist too, after the country's apartheid past. Safety is probably the biggest question mark for most people and, when you look at the bigger picture across the country, it's sadly not unjustified. However, it is very location specific. I have now lived in Cape Town, in various locations, for nearly 20 years and have always felt very safe in most central and coastal suburbs. You definitely learn to be more vigilant, however. You have to be aware that there is a lot of petty crime on the streets, related to the high levels of poverty and unemployment. This means not leaving anything visible in your car, not walking alone at night and avoiding certain areas. Visas are the less glamorous side of moving to South Africa. My initial visa was relatively straightforward as it was a study visa linked to my course in Cape Town, but it only gave me a year in South Africa. When we started our first travel company – which was based in the UK with an office in Cape Town – I got an Intra-Company Transfer work visa, which allowed me to work in South Africa for up to four years. I then managed to renew that visa for another four years. When we started Timbuktu, which is based in Cape Town, I got a Critical Skills visa with the help of an immigration lawyer. Finally, after five years and jumping through more hoops than I can count, I got Permanent Residency status, which allows me to live and work in South Africa indefinitely. Navigating the visa landscape can be overwhelming – and it has become more challenging in recent years, with long wait times and fewer options – but finding a good immigration lawyer is a game changer. Finding one early on is my best advice. Since I first moved here, Cape Town feels more international. There has been a huge increase in tourists visiting and working remotely due to the lifestyle benefits. There's an influx of new apartment hotels and Airbnbs along the Atlantic coast, where we live. From a business perspective, the number of people starting businesses and investing in the country is higher, which is fantastic to see. There's also been a shift in the social fabric. When I first arrived, racial tension was much more visible, but now I think there's more integration, collaboration, and progress. There's still work to do, but the direction feels hopeful. My (now) wife and I met in Cape Town 10 years ago. We both love living here and it definitely feels like home, particularly since we bought a house in the coastal neighbourhood of Sea Point two years ago. We are both very free-spirited and don't make long-term plans, but neither of us can imagine life without Cape Town in it. My advice for anyone moving to South Africa is to say yes to everything (within reason!). Be open, be patient, and embrace the adventure. Things like setting up bank accounts and navigating paperwork can take longer than you'd like, but the rewards and lifestyle far outweigh any of these frustrations. If you come with an open heart and a flexible mindset, you'll discover a country bursting with natural beauty, creative energy, and a lifestyle that's hard to beat. How to move to South Africa Immigration lawyer Nora Dawud, founder of Cape Town-based Black Pen Immigration, breaks down some common visa options for British citizens. Retired Person's Visa Requirements: Monthly income of at least ZAR 37,000 (approximately £1,600) from passive sources (e.g. pensions, annuities or investment returns). Work Visa (e.g. Critical Skills Visa) Requirements: Qualifications and experience in fields listed on South Africa's critical skills list and an offer from a South African employer. Financially Independent Permit (Permanent Residency) Requirements: Proof of net worth of at least ZAR 12 million (approx. £500,000), plus payment of ZAR 120,000 (approx. £5,000) upon approval. Processing times: Between eight weeks for a work visa and up to two to four years for a financially independent permit, depending on specific circumstances. Find out more on VFS Global (through which applications are processed) and South African Home Affairs websites.
IOL News
3 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Beyond the finish line: LIV2Run and the spirit of true sporting change
This year, the Liv2Run team includes rising stars like Mthobisi Ntanzi and Nolwazi Dlamini, LIV2Run's first female athlete and coach-in-training, will proudly represent the team this year at RMB UTD. Photo: Supplied Image: Supplied In the world of sport, where elitism trumps just about everything – a world where mainly the winners and most successful are celebrated and pampered, often turning into spoilt prima donnas – the late Nelson Mandela's words about the power of athletic pursuit can sometimes ring hollow. The former South African president once said: 'Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does.' While his sentiment was true, the focus on elite performers often sees this impact of sport overlooked, as the spotlight typically falls on those at the top. Yet, far from the glitz and glamour of high-end sport, away from the limelight of superstardom, Mandela's words remain profoundly relevant – especially where men and women of goodwill use sport to make a difference, often unseen and undocumented. Nolwazi Dlamini of LIV2Run. Photo: Supplied Image: Supplied One of these changemakers is Lindi Meyer, founder of LIV2Run, a development running team based at LIV Durban, and supported by RMB and the FirstRand Foundation. The team is transforming lives through trail running. In April, Meyer led several of her runners to compete at the RMB Ultra-Trail Drakensberg (UTD), where they all performed admirably – particularly impressive for a few debutants. 'We had an incredible weekend as a team at UTD, and we look forward to growing from strength to strength every year,' Meyer told Independent Media. The team achieved notable results, with three athletes finishing in the top five of their respective distances, and several others recording personal bests. Meyer is grateful she chose to dedicate herself to helping young people who were previously seen by many as misfits. Originally from the Eastern Cape, Meyer first heard of LIV Village in 2014 while attending a church conference and was moved by its vision: 'To rescue and restore.' She began living in the village in 2015 while working in the finance department. A lifelong runner, Meyer would often jog to and from work. LIV2Run tackled the Drakensberg in April. Photo: Supplied Image: Supplied 'Soon, I found that I had this trail of kids running after me. One day I said to them, 'Let's meet on Mondays for a running club'. While I didn't come here specifically to start racing, LIV2Run started informally, just me sharing what I knew about running.' The children's enthusiasm and teachable spirit soon led Meyer to enter them in races. 'The club grew very quickly and eventually reached a point where I realised it was too much to do alongside a normal job – there was just too much going on.' She recalls experimenting with different disciplines until they found their niche. 'Since 2018, we've explored all the running spaces and eventually settled on trail running as our speciality. We believe it's an emerging sport with lots of opportunity. It was hard to focus on many disciplines, and trail made sense given our partnerships.' LIV2Run is not a typical running club. Meyer and her team developed a unique model for athlete growth. 'We have senior and junior teams, but we also introduced the concept of an athlete-coach. Senior athletes double as coaches – whatever they learn, they're expected to pass on to the juniors. It's about paying it forward.' 'Last year, some of our juniors matriculated into the senior team through a selection process that assesses both talent and character. It's a full-circle strategy – to inspire, you must first be inspired. You can't coach someone if you haven't been coached yourself.' The team benefits from expert coaching by the renowned James Montgomery, who also mentors the athlete-coaches and advises them on training the juniors. At this year's Drakensberg event, 25-year-old Nolwazi Dlamini made her UTD debut and impressed as the first female athlete on the team being developed as a future coach. 'We are training Nolwazi to be an athlete-coach, and our hope is that she will manage and lead the women's team. She's incredibly disciplined, knows what she wants, and most importantly – she loves running. She's not into the Salomons and fancy gear. She's focused and a natural leader.' Understandably, Nolwazi was nervous before her first race in the Drakensberg. 'I'm scared but excited. It's my first time going to the Drakensberg for a race, and I'd like to thank Ms Lindi for encouraging me.' Meyer described her as a standout runner spotted in their social running group, RunFit, and fast-tracked to the senior squad due to her dedication and talent. Nolwazi ran cross-country, track, and road races before settling on trail running. 'I love running. I did it in school – they used to call me Caster Semenya,' she laughs. 'I did the 1500m and ran like her.' Athletes were taken through their paces during the Drakensberg event. Photo: Supplied Image: Supplied
Irish Examiner
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Uncharted with Ray Goggins review: Leo Varadkar is a breath of fresh air, Lyra an ideal foil
Uncharted with Ray Goggins (RTÉ One and RTÉ Player) starts with a question — will getting a bunch of celebs to do some rock-climbing reveal who they truly are? The first celeb is introduced as Leo. That Leo, the guy who was taoiseach, is now driving Bandon singer Lyra up a rocky South African mountain in a Land Rover. It's nice enough, Lyra talking about salmon sperm injections while Leo grins and talks about having his own driver for the past 13 years. Then they meet former soldier Ray Goggins. Ray is, as Leo says in his hard-to-read voice, not very friendly. He's all business, warning of the dangers facing them on the Drakensberg Mountains. Leo reveals early on that this was going to be tougher than he expected, which was a worry because at the time he was hiking up what looked like Carrauntoohil for beginners. Ray pointedly said he was glad that Lyra was there — it's safe to say Leo didn't have his vote at that stage. He didn't have mine either. When Ray rustled up some pasta and pesto in their cave, Leo said it was grand but he wouldn't serve it to a prime minister or president. Cheer up, Leo! He did eventually, after a steeper part of the climb. By now the show is delivering. Lyra is sweary, open, and very, very Cork. Leo is shy, unsure of himself, and doesn't know what to make of Ray. But the climb seems to sort them all out and he flashes a proper smile over a cup of tea with the others. Next up is a climb up 'the famed Drakensberg ladders'. Lyra discovers she has a massive fear of heights. Ray tells her to relax. He's just the right amount of grumpy. Their final challenge is a 300-metre climb up a cliff-face. It's proper scary. This isn't one of those travel shows where a mid-ranking comedian has a breakdown on a rollercoaster. Leo baulked half-way up but Ray told him to relax. He kept going. Ray gave him a shove and he made it to the top, sharing a hug with Lyra as they admitted how scared they were. Sharing a celebratory cup of tea on the peak, Leo said he regretted he didn't offer the same encouragement to his ministers in governments Ray did to Lyra and himself. Leo's a breath of fresh air here, unable to hide his emotions, good or bad. Lyra is an ideal foil, with her folksy optimism. Will this show work with other guests? I'd say so. Ray is intriguing just by himself. Give it a watch. Read More Après Match star takes on the tale of Irish football legend Ollie Byrne
Irish Times
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Uncharted with Ray Goggins review: Leo Varadkar has to get halfway up a mountain with Lyra before he lets his guard down
One of the benefits of Ireland being such a small country is that our reality television throws up the weirdest combinations of celebrities. A case in point is the new survival challenge series, Uncharted with Ray Goggins ( RTÉ One , Wednesday), which kicks off with former taoiseach Leo Varadkar climbing a mountain in South Africa with Cork pop star Lyra . What next? Rappers Kneecap chugging around the Arctic for a week? Yes, that's in part two (those presumably very cosy balaclavas will come in handy). The only really mysterious ingredient is Goggins, of whom I'd never previously heard. He seems to be a sort of Irish Bear Grylls – minus the hippy-dippy wackiness and the obsession with staying hydrated by drinking your own wee. He is a harsh taskmaster, and initially, his unsmiley routine is annoying. 'He started off very stern, didn't seem very friendly,' says Varadkar, who might have been more comfortable with Grylls leaping out of a thicket to explain the best way to cook nettles. I know I would. Varadkar and Lyra make for a curious couple as their adventure begins with them gingerly driving a jeep across South Africa towards the Drakensberg Escarpment – which sounds like the scene of a battle in Lord of the Rings but is, in fact, a towering peak that leads to the world's highest waterfalls. It isn't just that they're from entirely different worlds – Leo, a Kylie Minogue fan, and Lyra, an artist whose music is somewhere between Kate Bush , Enya and Florence and the Machine . They also have wildly contrasting personalities. READ MORE Varadkar comes across as an introvert and is slow to open up to his companions. Lyra is the opposite – there is a sense of a larger-than-life individual who speaks their mind without a filter. She has also decided to climb a mountain in acrylic nails – the bravest thing anyone has done in the Irish music industry since U2 tried to go techno. Goggins chimes in with some on-the-hoof psychological assessments. 'Leo isn't ready for this,' he remarks. 'He says what can go wrong first rather than what can go right. That can be a chore if you're up a mountain in Africa.' Varadkar does eventually let his guard down. 'My friends say I'm slow to warm up to people,' he says. 'It's much easier on this trip.' Halfway up the mountain, the three begin to bond (not having much else to do). Varadkar recalls the verbal abuse he would receive as taoiseach. 'A woman came up to me in a bar and told me her sister had taken her life because of me, because of the housing crisis . She got quite aggressive ... The longer and longer I was doing it [being in politics] the less I was enjoying the upside.' Lyra, for her part, talks about her struggles with the music industry and its bizarre beauty standards. 'I didn't get to the size they wanted me to be,' she says, revealing she has experienced bulimia. Varadkar chimes in with encouragement. 'I can't believe the industry didn't believe you look like a pop star,' he says. 'You climbed a mountain in those nails.' [ 'I could have done a little bit more': Leo Varadkar says new adventure show made him reconsider leadership style Opens in new window ] Uncharted never satisfactorily explains who Goggins is or why he's qualified to send Leo and Lyra up an escarpment in South Africa beyond saying he's a 'former special forces soldier'. But what kind of soldier? Whose special forces? An internet search reveals he spent 17 years in the elite Army Rangers and now writes self-help books – but the series could have gone further filling in those blanks. The episode ends with Varadkar and Lyra back at sea level, the better for their experience. Next week, it's Kneecap in the Arctic. Considering the heat they've been feeling recently, a trip somewhere cold and away from social media will no doubt be appreciated.
The Citizen
04-05-2025
- Climate
- The Citizen
Fochville's Cornel Metcalfe excels over the Drakensberg
Fochville's ultra-marathon trail running star, Cornel Metcalfe, again excelled at a gruelling race over the Freedom Day long weekend. Metcalfe participated in the 100 mile (163km) RMB ultra-trail Drakensberg. The race started at 10:00 on April 25 at the top of Sani Pass in the Lesotho highlands, at an elevation of 4 500m. After doing two bowtie loops and 28km later, the runners head down the pass and back into South Africa. According to Cornel's husband, Mark, the race started in cool sunny conditions that changed to cold, wet, and misty conditions by the afternoon. 'These conditions lasted through the night, and on the second day, the heat of the sun took its toll on the runners,' explained Mark. Cornel teamed with two other ladies, Carien de Bruyn and Cecilia Ballam, and the three of them stuck together practically the entire race, giving the race organisers a challenge as the three crossed the line together for a joint second-place in a time of 37:19:00. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
