OF THE EARTH
VISI|120
A recent refurb at TSWALU KALAHARI - the biggest privately owned reserve in South Africa - has given the TARKUNI HOMESTEAD a makeover that both looks to the future and honours tradition. And then there's the breathtaking RESTAURANT KLEIN JAN...
BIDDI RORKE
OF THE EARTH

"IT MUST LOOK LIKE OUMA HAS JUST STEPPED OUT TO HANG UP THE WASHING, AND YOU CAN SMELL THE FOOD SHE IS PREPARING ON THE STOVE." CHEF JAN HENDRIK VAN DER WESTHUIZEN

REMOTE, EXCLUSIVE AND ECO-CONSCIOUS and complete with tawny desert sunsets Tswalu Kalahari embodies all the elements of a memorable safari experience. The Oppenheimer family, committed conservationists and custodians of this tract of stark beauty for more than two decades, are driven by their intent "to leave our world better than we found it". And they are succeeding.

Two camps - Motse and the private villa Tarkuni - shimmer graciously in the sun. We featured Motse in VISI #106; now we focus on Tarkuni, and the camps' acclaimed Klein JAN restaurant. As with Motse, an artful revamp by multidisciplinary design practice Savile Row has given the spaces a fresh, contemporary feel that doesn't compete with the dramatic landscape that unfurls around them.

As project architect and director Adrian Davidson explains, one of the key reasons for the renovation was to invite more light into the Tarkuni homestead, and to create a more connected flow between the indoor and outdoor living spaces. "We drew inspiration from the surrounding fauna, using a palette of earthy tones and dusty botanical greens for muted, cool, simple interiors," he says. "There's nothing fussy or layered in our approach - we wanted the extraordinary vistas to be the hero of the site."

This story is from the 120 edition of VISI.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the 120 edition of VISI.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM VISIView All
THE STORY OF AN AFRICAN ICON
VISI

THE STORY OF AN AFRICAN ICON

With a long line of very successful ancestors, the new-generation TOYOTA LAND CRUISER PRADO had some big tyres to fill. We look at the approach its design team took to CONTINUE THE LEGACY.

time-read
4 mins  |
134
THROUGH THE LENS
VISI

THROUGH THE LENS

We asked one of VISI's favourite photographers, PARIS BRUMMER, to choose her four FAVOURITE CAMERAS. The brief? \"From the fun to the profesh!\"

time-read
2 mins  |
134
YOUR GARDEN DAY CROWN
VISI

YOUR GARDEN DAY CROWN

Gardens have the power to unite us - which is why the GARDEN DAY movement encourages plant enthusiasts to don a flower crown and CELEBRATE THEIR GREEN SPACES in unique ways.

time-read
2 mins  |
134
RETRO-LICIOUS
VISI

RETRO-LICIOUS

Mid-century is not just making an interior design comeback: food is following right behind. So put on your vintage 1950s LUCIENNE DAY-PRINT APRON - or '70s HALSTON JUMPSUIT if you're feeling a little funkier - and get inspired by ABIGAIL DONNELLY's reimagining of classic dishes. Think moulded jellies, finger foods and soft-serve ice cream.

time-read
2 mins  |
134
FERMENTATION
VISI

FERMENTATION

When you hear about FERMENTED FOODS, your mind probably goes to pickles and beer. But thanks to a growing interest in Asian staples such as kimchi and miso, we're becoming more used to these flavour profiles, and even seeing them in fine-dining restaurants. We asked ABIGAIL DONNELLY to share her favourite recipes for fermented flavour bombs that you can replicate in your OWN KITCHEN.

time-read
4 mins  |
134
THE CERAMICIST
VISI

THE CERAMICIST

IN AN ART DECO BLOCK IN THE HEART OF CAPE TOWN'S CITY CENTRE, RENOWNED CERAMICIST MERVYN GERS HAS RENOVATED AN APARTMENT TO REFLECT HIS OWN TASTES AND HIS LOVE FOR FIRED AND GLAZED CLAY.

time-read
3 mins  |
134
SEAMLESS
VISI

SEAMLESS

SITUATED ON A PRIVATE GAME FARM NEAR RUSTENBURG, THIS BUSHVELD GETAWAY HAS ARISEN FROM THE ASHES OF ITS PREDECESSOR TO PROVIDE ITS JOBURG-BASED OWNERS WITH A TRANQUIL WEEKEND ESCAPE.

time-read
2 mins  |
134
BUILDING AN ICON
VISI

BUILDING AN ICON

Kevin Fellingham, principal architect at Kevin Fellingham Architects, and a former lecturer at Cambridge University, UCT and the School of Explorative Architecture, talks about HOUSE HANSON and DENSTONE COURT, built in 1937/38.

time-read
4 mins  |
134
THE VANGUARD KELLY WEARSTLER
VISI

THE VANGUARD KELLY WEARSTLER

In this instalment of our series on the new wave of INTERNATIONAL DESIGNERS, we look at the super-talented Kelly Wearstler's DISTINCT STYLE and seemingly INFINITE CREATIVITY.

time-read
2 mins  |
134
COOL COLLAB OF THE YEAR
VISI

COOL COLLAB OF THE YEAR

In a partnership that highlights the strength and diversity of local talent, this collaboration by LULASCLAN and POPSTRUKT had an unplanned helping hand from VISI.

time-read
1 min  |
134