ISSUE 03 2015CRESTACallingCresta Marang Gardens voted Best in Francistown

Cresta Lodge Harare refurbishment & Cool Beans

Lusaka: Zambia’s heartbeat

Three small towns and the Land of Giants

Cresta Marang Gardens, Botswana

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Contents

PUBLISHERRichard Lendrum

EDITORSibo Gumpo

ManaGInG EDITORDebbie Bassa

FOR aDVERTISInG COnTaCTMuchaneta Musarurwa (Zimbabwe)+263 4 788 066

Priscilla Katholo (Botswana) 267 391 2222

Palesa Kungoane (South africa) +27 11 881 1200

DESIGn anD LaYOUTSithabile ngubo

Cresta Calling is published by:Future Publishing (Pty) LtdPostal address:PO Box 3355, Rivonia, 2128

Physical address:4 Biermann avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg, 2196Telephone: 011 280 3000Fax: 086 509 2666Email: debbie@thefuture.co.zaWebsite: www.thefuturegroup.co.za

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GFUTURE GROUP

FUTURE GROUP

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ISSUE 03 2015CRESTACallingCresta Marang Gardens voted Best in Francistown

Cresta Lodge Harare refurbishment & Cool Beans

Lusaka: Zambia’s heartbeat

Three small towns and the Land of Giants

Cresta Marang Gardens, Botswana

12

From the CEO 4

Cresta Moments 5Cresta Marang Gardens awarded TripAdvisor® Certificate of ExcellenceNew Chef at Cresta BoseleCresta Hotels participates at Sanganai World Tourism ExpoChef Melissa Ngoni of Cresta President at SanganaiJazz X Change at Little Broadway, Cresta President Café Afrique team in the DStv Cultural FairGetting to know Ian RirieGetting to know Loven MakoniLucky Hachuma and his world of coffee

New Developments Cool Beans: Life is what happens between coffee and cocktails 10

Cresta Improvements Cresta Lodge Harare – ready for business 11

Town Focus Lusaka: Zambia’s heartbeat 12Three small towns and the Land of Giants 14

Chef’s Corner Joyce Mbeha, Executive Head Chef of Cresta Bosele 16

Wine Review Zevenwacht 7even Rosé 2015 17

App Review Guest feedback from TripAdvisor 18

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We want to hear from you!Please feel free to submit your letters, questions and comments.Send your contributions to: marketing@crestahotels.com

www.crestahotels.com | www.crestamarakanelo.com | www.crestamowana.com | www.crestasprayview.comFacebook – www.facebook.com/crestahotels

as we move into the second half of 2015, we at Cresta Hotels would like to thank all of our guests and partners in the travel trade for their support in the first half of the year.

Two key achievements of the last six months have been, firstly, a major effort by the entire Cresta team to ensure our products and services are of the highest possible standard and in exceeding the expectations of our guests and, secondly, the creation of awareness of our hotel properties in all our markets. It has also been a busy time, with many exciting things happening throughout the Group. This is good news for our guests, who expect a high level of action, activity and innovation from us.

It has been a time of commemoration for some, with Cresta Oasis in Harare celebrating its 40th birthday and continuing to offer specials to guests until the end of the year as part of the celebrations. There was celebration at Cresta Sprayview as well, celebrating two years of operation. It has been a time of construction for others, most notably at Cresta Lodge in Harare. Final refurbishment work was completed at the end of June and the contractors have moved off site leaving a wonderful revamped product for guests to enjoy. Improvement has also been instituted at Cresta Mowana, where decking around the property has been upgraded, roads resurfaced and the roof of the reception area is being renewed. at Cresta Botsalo, remodelling of bathrooms is scheduled to take place in the next few months. Support was given to big activities by others; the Desert Race by Cresta Jwaneng, the Vic Falls Marathon by Cresta Sprayview and the Davis Cup tennis tournament between Zimbabwe and Moldova by Cresta Lodge. Still at Cresta Lodge, we are delighted with the agreement reached with Zimbabwe Cricket, Total Sports Marketing and Cresta Hotels for us to host visiting international cricket teams. We recently hosted the Indian and new Zealand cricket teams and more teams will be staying at the Lodge in months and years ahead, which is very exciting for the Lodge in Harare and for the Group.

awards and commendations continue to come in and the latest recipient of such positive feedback is Cresta Marang Gardens, which was awarded a Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence. This

results from genuine positive feedback from guests, who have rated the hotel highly and in numbers sufficient for the allocation of the award. Well done to the team at Cresta Marang Gardens and thank you to our guests for your continued confidence and support. We are grateful and honoured and will use this as a base from which to continue building, growing and improving. as can be seen in this issue, we are developing our coffee offering, mostly in response to the fact that more people enjoy going out for a good coffee in a warm and welcoming environment. This is what guests are finding at the new coffee shop at Cresta Lodge, Gaborone, and at Cool Beans in Cresta Lodge, Harare. We offer a great selection of refreshments and delicious food treats, as well as the much-needed always-on Wi-Fi service that helps the coffee shop become a ‘coffice’ or coffee office. also on the subject of coffee, the barista competition has helped build enthusiasm and experience in the team and enables us to keep up with world trends. The inaugural winner of Best Barista within Cresta Hotels was Lucky Hachuma of Cresta Golfview Lusaka, whom we congratulate.

Until next time, best wishes and we look forward to seeing you at one or more of our hotels! Glenn StutchburyChief Executive Officer, Cresta Hotel Group

A time of commemoration, construction and commendation at Cresta Hotels

From the CEO

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Cresta Marang Gardens awarded 2015 TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence

Cresta Marang Gardens hotel recently received a Tripadvisor® Certificate of Excellence award. now in its fifth year, the award celebrates excellence in hospitality

and is given only to establishments that consistently achieve great reviews on Tripadvisor. Certificate of Excellence winners include accommodations, eateries and attractions located all over the world that have continually delivered a superior customer experience.

When selecting Certificate of Excellence winners, Tripadvisor uses a proprietary algorithm to determine the honourees that takes into account the quality, quantity and recency of reviews and opinions submitted by travellers on Tripadvisor over a 12-month period as well as business’s tenure and ranking on the Popularity Index on the site.

To qualify, a business must maintain an overall Tripadvisor bubble rating of at least four out of five, have a minimum number of reviews and must have been listed on Tripadvisor for at least 12 months.

“Winning the Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence is a true source of pride for the entire team at Cresta Marang Gardens and Cresta Marakanelo as a whole and we’d like to thank all of our past guests who took the time to complete a review on Tripadvisor,” said Tawanda Makaya, Managing Director at Cresta Marakanelo. “There is no greater seal of approval than being recognised by one’s customers. With the Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence based on customer reviews, the accolade is a remarkable vote of confidence to our business and our continued commitment to excellence.”

“Tripadvisor is pleased to honour exceptional hospitality businesses that have received consistent praise and recognition by travellers on the site,” said Marc Charron President, Tripadvisor for Business. “By putting a spotlight on businesses that are focused on delivering great service to customers, Tripadvisor not only helps drive increasing hospitality standards around the world, it also gives businesses both large and small the ability to shine and stand out from the competition.”

New Chef at Cresta Bosele – Joyce Mbeha

Joyce Mbeha’s career as a chef spans over 18 years and she has been with Cresta Hotels Botswana for 16 years. She rose through the ranks in the kitchen from Cresta Thapama hotel as a Pastry

Chef and was then promoted to Sous Chef at the same hotel. Joyce was promoted again and moved to Cresta Bosele hotel as the Head Chef; from there she moved to Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa as an Executive Sous Chef and is now back at Cresta Bosele as newly appointed Executive Head Chef.

Joyce has a rare advantage in that she is an all-rounder, she is very comfortable in all aspects of cooking and attention to detail is her motto. In the few months that she has taken over at Cresta Bosele, there has been an increase in covers in the restaurant and outside catering events. Feedback from regular clients on the food has been extremely positive. In her own words, “the basics have been laid and the best is yet to come”.

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Cresta Moments

What are you going to do when in Gaborone, Botswana on the last Sunday of the month? You need to take away a memory of an exquisite

entertainment venue at the Little Broadway. Set in an old part of town, The Main Mall, upstairs of the buzzing Cresta President hotel, is the Little Broadway with its inviting sounds of live Jazz, Blues, Folk and Fusion music. Like fresh buns on a Sunday morning, performances are a tasty treat to music lovers. Little Broadway is a home to fanatics of World music, the classics, bass and lead guitar, sax and good voices and fantastic company. Jazz at the Jazz X Change is proving to be a cultural hive for the music savvy. The Jazz X Change, a concept created by Rahman El-Kindiy, was created in response to the growing excitement among locally based jazz enthusiasts. a collaborative effort with Mr. agripa Mbulawa of Cresta President and RMC Marketing, the Jazz X Change offers a series of performances and entertainment for audiences that appreciate Jazz, Blues, Fusion and World music. In addition, the idea is also to provide support and a platform for upcoming musicians to perform, get exposure and encourage interact with established international artists.

Jazz X Change at the Little Broadway, Cresta President

Chef Melissa Ngoni of Cresta President at Sanganai

Executive Chef Melissa ngoni from the Cresta President hotel in Gaborone was recently invited by the Botswana High Commission in Zimbabwe

to represent Botswana at a culinary exhibition held at the recent Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo in Harare Zimbabwe, showcasing specific set of cooking traditions and practices associated with a specific culture or region. Other participating countries included Ethiopia, Japan, Congo and Zimbabwe. Melissa chose a variety of traditional Botswana Cuisine to showcase. Seswa/relish and peanut sauce, oxtail with dumplings, warm corn salad and baked assorted breads. The event was held over three days seeing each participating chef being given time slots to showcase their countries cuisine.

Café Afrique team in the DStv Cultural Fair

The 22nd of May was a great day for the Food and Beverage team of Cresta Oasis as they were given the opportunity to participate in the DStv africa Day

Cultural Fair. Organised by Multichoice Zimbabwe, the event attracted a wide range of people from all walks life, including Multichoice staff, tenants and all customers who walked into the Multichoice call center on this particular day. The Cresta Oasis Café afrique team came out in full force to showcase the traditional foods offered at the restaurant. The offering was wide and included tantalizing tidbits and nibbles that drew widespread compliments from the people coming to the fair. The menu on offer included the following: Peanut butter rice, samp with peanut butter, deep fried Kapenta, Mafushe maize cobs, Mopani worms, boiled dried nuts, biltong, sweet potato breads, nyimo cakes and Maheu. The day was a great opportunity for networking and showcasing the delicious dishes of Café afrique.

Cresta Hotels participates at the annual Sanganai World Tourism Expo

Indian cricket team spotted at Cresta Lodge Harare

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Cresta Moments

Cresta Hotels once again participated at the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo which started in Harare, Zimbabwe on the 18th of June and ended on the 20th of June.

Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo is an annual tourism trade fair organised by the Zimbabwe Tourism authority (ZTa). It showcases the widest variety of africa’s best tourism products and attracts international visitors and media from across the world. This year’s trade fair attracted buyers and media from South africa, Mozambique, Zambia, nigeria, Spain, France and UK.

Winning Team – Cresta Marang GardensTripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence

Getting to know Ian Ririe General Manager, Cresta Marang Gardens

a South african by nationality, Ian Ririe grew up in the Eastern Cape and attended school in Port Elizabeth. He furthered his education at the Johannesburg Hotel School which was

one of only two Hotel Schools in South africa at the time. after qualifying as a Hotel Manager he decided to gain international exposure by working in England and Israel. He held a number of low level positions in various hotels over a period of four years

and this was very good grounding into the workings of a hotel. It helped Ririe tremendously by not going straight into a management position, which was the norm in South africa at the time. Upon his return to South africa, he worked as a Manager with the Southern Sun (now Tsogo Sun) Hotel Group in Johannesburg and Cape Town. He travelled around Southern africa as a Hotel and Safari Resort Manager over a period of 20 years and rose to the position of General Manager. These travels included management positions in Mozambique and Malawi.

He initially embarked on his career in Hotel Management in order to fulfill his goal of travelling and working throughout Southern africa. This led him to his current position as General Manager for the Cresta Group in Botswana. “I have been fortunate enough to have lived in some of the most beautiful and interesting places this region of africa has to offer”, says Ririe.

as a General Manager today his passion lies in developing managers around him and he sees it as a major achievement when one of his staff goes on to get a promotion and further their career in this competitive industry. “I am a ‘hands on’ manager who enjoys running hotels. I intend doing just that for as long as I can be a productive member of a hotel management team”, concludes Ririe.

Cresta Moments

Front Row - From Left to Right: Julia, Lulamani, Gaorelatlhe, Lekopanye, Tapologo, Ditshenyegelo,Grace, Adrien, Yaone, Sedireng, Patience, Oaitse, Lorato, Thabo, Kagisano. Middle Row - From Left to Right: Potso, Malebogo, Kgomotso, Davis, Dineo, Nanny, Kelly, Selinah, Gofiwa, Mishingo, Letlhogonolo, Boingotlo, Thabang, Wabo, Matshipi, Caroline, Lindiwe, Shadreck. Back Row - From Left to Right: Montsho, Stanley, Keofe, Bunnie, Khumo, Ian, Patrick, Neo, Kabelo, Tefo.

Cresta Moments

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Air access to Cresta Hotels

BotswanaFrancistown: Saa, air Botswana, British airways, air namibia

Gaborone: Saa, air Botswana, British airways, air namibia, aIRLInK, Kenya airways

Kasane: Saa, air Botswana, British airways, air namibia, aIRLInK

Maun: Saa, air Botswana, British airways, air namibia, aIRLInK

ZambiaLusaka: Saa, air Botswana, British airways, air namibia, aIRLInK,

Kenya airways, LaM, Ethiopian airlines, Emirates

ZimbabweBulawayo: Saa, aIRLInK, air Zimbabwe, Fly africa

Harare: Saa, air Botswana, British airways, air namibia, air Zimbabwe, aIRLInK, Kenya airways, LaM, Ethiopian airlines, air Malawi, Emirates, Fastjet, Kulula.com, Fly africa

Victoria Falls: Saa, British airways, air namibia, aIRLInK, Kulula.com,air Zimbabwe, Fly africa

Planning your next trip to a Cresta Hotel?Below is a list of airlines servicing the destination cities of out hotels.

Flights to various destinations in and around Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia can be chartered through Cardinal Leisure.

Getting to know Loven Makoni, Cresta Lodge Harare

Loven Makoni graduated from the School of Tourism and Hospitality in 2008 with a Higher national Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management. She joined the Cresta family

in January 2009 on their two-year management development programme and started out in Food and Beverage department at Cresta Lodge. She then moved to Cresta Churchill’s Housekeeping department. In 2010 she moved to Cresta Oasis in the Front office

and then moved to Cresta Jameson’s Banqueting department.It was after the completion of her training programme in 2011 that she was identified for the Guest Relations Department. It was because of her bubbly personality and infectious smile that she thrived as the Guest Relations Officer for Cresta Jameson Hotel from april 2011 to July 2012. Loven’s reputation with both guests and staff grew and she was then transferred to Cresta Lodge Harare where she is today. In life, Loven believes that guests will forget what you said, guests will forget what you did, but guests will never forget how you made them feel. When not at work Loven enjoys travelling, reading and is a member of a local rotary club. She also is a host for most of the hotel’s special events as she is an accomplished public speaker.

Being in the industry and being part of the Cresta group has made Loven become an avid ambassador of the Cresta brand. Her passion is people. The joy of meeting up with different people from all over the world and satisfying their needs is one thing that keeps her going. She is a favourite among regular guests, both local and from abroad. She also believes that the only way to do great work is to love what you do. Excellence, loyalty and team work are her core values. She strives to make guests’ stays memorable, filled with african heart and soul.

Loven Makoni, Guest Relations Executive, Cresta Lodge Harare

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at an early age I developed a passion for coffee which was my uncle’s favourite beverage, as he was the quality assurance manager at the Munali coffee plantation.

I visited the plantation on many occasions to see how coffee was roasted, prepared and brewed. It was then that my path was laid to pursue a career in Food and Beverage Management. This prompted me to further advance my studies, and I am currently pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Business administration and Management.

How it beganIn 2007, I attended a national barista championship competition which was held at a shopping mall in Lusaka, Zambia. I attended as a spectator. as I watched the competitors, I realised that many lacked creativity and innovation. The interest for me started there, and I started practising for future competitions, because I believed I had something valuable within myself. I started making different types of coffees, came up with different ingredients, and have never looked back. as a sales person, I meet and interact with a lot of customers, both local and international. The demand for coffee has increased from basic coffee to more sophisticated and improved world-standard coffee. Due to the change in customer behaviour towards this trend in coffee, there is a need to improve and understand what customers want. I enjoy serving and interacting with customers.

On coffeeCoffee has become the world’s most popular beverage in many fine-dining restaurants and hotels. To define where, how and why it has become the number one beverage in the world is due to a number of reasons - the trend in eating out is just one of them. Making good coffee is an art which requires passion, positive attitude and discipline. For me, satisfying a customer is not good enough, for he or she has been satisfied before, but striving to go the extra mile is what it takes to achieve greatness. It calls for hard work. It is not a silly ideal to put ingredients in coffee. Simply, you are just dressing it up and enhancing it. To make it a good, full-bodied

coffee you need balance, sweetness, fruitiness and acidity with an intense aroma. When you add your ingredients it should not disturb the signage of coffee. The end result after adding your ingredients should be great coffee.

What does it take?For me, to make a good coffee, you need to be creative, innovative and be able to set trends. I try to make something new, not what was done before by many, but improve on those already in the market and come up with something new which others will follow.You need to study and know the philosophy behind the coffee you are making, know how it is grown, know how it is roasted, know how it is brewed and know how it tastes. I enjoy watching world barista championships, and that has helped me to improve on my skills and knowledge about coffee.

My role modelPete Licata, the World Barista Champion 2013 from the United States of america, is the best barista in my opinion. He inspires me a lot.

What keeps my juice flowingThe people behind me are the greatest of all. The General Manager of Cresta Golfview, Mr Fungai Makani and his team made it possible for me to achieve what I have achieved so far. not forgetting Mr Collins Siame, the Food and Beverage Manager for his support throughout my preparation, and the entire management team. It is a good leader’s responsibility to go to the top of the mountain first, and then signal down to his followers whether the jungle is good for hunting or not. The above team gave me the courage to management compete and win, and their encouragement paid off.

The futureas a barista, the future is very competitive as it requires practising, improving and learning new skills. My ambition is to compete and represent Cresta Hotels at the World Barista Championship (WBC), and I believe I can. I feel that there is also need for barista training programmes across Cresta Hotels.

Last words on coffeeDress the coffee, enhance the coffee, harmonise it with perfect ingredients and enjoy the coffee!

Lucky Hachuma, and his journey into the world of coffee

Cresta Moments

Lucky Hachuma, Barista, Cresta Golfview.

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Visitors to the Cresta Lodge hotels in Harare and Gaborone are in for a treat. Both hotels have added coffee shops to their customer offerings – giving guests a place within

the hotels where they can relax, feel comfortable meeting other guests and download their email, all while having a decent cup of coffee, a light meal or even cocktails.

Cresta Lodge Harare is situated between Msasa (a light industrial area) and the CBD of Harare, with lots of parking - the perfect place to have that quick meeting over a coffee. “The new Cool Beans coffee shop is ideal for Msasa business people who need to meet; there is no other hotel in Harare that offers a real coffee shop experience,” says Glenn Stutchbury, Cresta Hotels’ CEO. The concept is based on three key offerings, according to Glenn: coffee, connections and cocktails. Free and fast Wi-Fi is offered to patrons, who can choose to sit at the café tables, or at a large harvest table or one of the two Wi-Fi tables, both with multiple plug points and USB chargers built in. There are also two lounge areas, with one stretching out onto the veranda with café tables, chairs and a bar leading down to the swimming pool. Facing west, this lounge is the perfect spot for sundowners, and cocktails are served every evening. In winter, guests can gather around the fireplace in the cafe with a hot chocolate, espresso or a brandy.

“Cool Beans has come at the end of a major refurbishment at Cresta Lodge totalling US$7.5 million. The new facilities were fully tested in July as we hosted the Indian Cricket team for the ODI and T20 series against Zimbabwe, followed by the new Zealand Cricket team at the end of July,” reveals Stutchbury. The new Terrace Café at Cresta Lodge Gaborone was also added on to provide a comfortable meeting place for business people, as well as a place for travellers to relax and refresh with a good cup of coffee. The café offers freshly brewed Italian Lavazza coffee and the menu offers ciabatta sandwiches, Pillsbury muffins and freshly baked cakes. “With free Wi-Fi connectivity, the Terrace Café is one of the best meeting places in the area to conduct business. and, the Lavazza cappuccino is not to be missed,” shares Jonathan Cox, Cresta’s group operations manager. The café also serves an array of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including milkshakes and smoothies. It is open from early in the morning until late and caters to a wide variety of clientele.

“Future plans include further enhancing the menu,” says Cox. Guest feedback on the new Terrace Café has been positive. “a regular guest to the hotel recently complimented us on our exceptional coffee and service, delivered consistently and in a friendly environment,” he concludes.

Cool Beans: Life is what happens between coffee and cocktailsLoren Shirley-Carr

New Developments

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Cresta Lodge Harare – ready for businessBy Loren Shirley-Carr

after winning the Best Conferencing Venue for its Sango Conference Centre in 2013 and 2014 at the Megafest Business awards, the outdated Cresta Lodge Harare

needed a major upgrade to address the needs of the modern business traveller. Refurbishment started in 2013, when the 400-seat conference centre was built, and over US$7.5 million has been spent since on improvements at the hotel.

The refurbishment included the upgrade of 171 bedroom suites and the addition of a new coffee shop and verandah bar, a reception area and a gym. “We now provide an environment to suit the needs not only of tourists, but also our business clients, having taken into account all the latest trends in business travel,” says Kudzai Ratisai, general manager of the hotel.

The rooms are now more spacious, have individually controlled air conditioners, mini bar fridges and in-room safes. Each room has balcony affording the traveller scenic views, as well as tea- and coffee-making facilities, a flat screen television with DStv and a king size bed. The en-suite bathroom configurations have been changed to include glass panels, vanity tops, bathroom extraction fans and up-to-date vinyl floor tiles.

The colour scheme of the rooms was chosen to conjure a feeling of continuity between the indoors and outdoors, the colours and décor echoing the beautiful gardens surrounding the hotel and the natural environment of Zimbabwe.

The hotel lounge also went under the knife, and now features modern tiling, improved lighting and ceiling fans for Harare’s warm, subtropical climate, while the reception boasts a new Caesar stone counter and improved security coverage for the whole hotel by way of CCTV.

The hotel also features a new DMX Music system, an integrated media experience that delivers music, messaging and high definition videos, enhancing the experience of the business traveller as well as the pleasure seeker.

Customer feedback on the hotel’s refurbishment has been positive. “Customers are very excited about the upgrade, especially the new modern-look reception and world-class rooms,” reveals Kudzai. “The hotel has gone from looking like it was nearing its sell-by date, to looking like a brand new hotel - modern and refreshing,” he concludes.

Cresta Improvements

Zambia’s capital, Lusaka, is its largest city by far, and although its population is growing rapidly, increasing the traffic in the city and filling the streets with large, bustling

markets, the tree-lined boulevards impart a feeling of space and tranquillity in many parts.

Lusaka turned 100 years old in July 2013. The history of the city goes way back to the 1890s, when northern Rhodesia was formed after the area in which the city is situated was taken over by the British South africa Company from the local chiefs. In 1924 the British Colonial Office took over, and Lusaka was then named after the headman of a nearby village, Lusaaka.

It became the capital of the British colony of northern Rhodesia in 1935, replacing Livingstone. and that is when Lusaka started to grow. The town has since transformed from a mere village into a budding city full of life, and one of the fastest growing in central africa. It is seen by locals as the glittering capital and lures many rural migrants in search of jobs.

It is these people flocking to and living in the city that provide the city’s biggest attraction as, true to Zambia’s reputation, they are a warm and friendly people. With a population of just over two million, the city is surprisingly a haven, with most people trying to make an honest living, selling their wares or services, always with a welcoming smile.

There are many interesting things to do and places to see when in Lusaka. The city offers a wide range of nightlife experiences, from upmarket clubs and restaurants to roadside pubs, where you can spend some time with the city’s inhabitants and get to know their style of music.

Modern malls, including Manda Hill, East Park, the arcades Shopping Centre and Levy Mall, have improved the shopping options in Lusaka. In the past, shopping meant a serious search of the busy and cramped private shops of the city centre. now visitors and most of the city’s residents shop in spacious malls, among large supermarkets.

However, many of Lusaka’s traditional markets and bazaars still exist and are worth a visit to pick up some of the more unique souvenirs, and also for an authentic Zambian shopping experience. The Sunday Market held in the parking lot of the arcades Shopping Centre is a great spot for browsing for african woodcarvings, prints and crafts, while the Lusaka City Market has a less touristy vibe, offering local bargains and second-hand goods, but it is a bit more chaotic.

For some arts and culture, the Kabwata Cultural Village is a place worth seeing. Made up of 43 rondavels, which were ‘temporary’ housing for Lusaka’s black labour force during the 1930s and 40s, the centre was converted into a cultural village to preserve Lusaka’s heritage. These huts are now inhabited by artists from all over Zambia, creating carvings, jewellery and other crafts, making this one of Lusaka’s best spots for buying hand-made curios and souvenirs.

another culturally rich spot to visit is the Lusaka national Museum, dedicated to showcasing Zambia’s history and culture, with sections devoted to archaeology, ethnography and political and social history. Contemporary art by some of Zambia’s current artists is also on display. For more contemporary paintings and sculpture, head to namwandwe Gallery, about 15km south-east of the city centre.

Lusaka: Zambia’s heartbeat

Article compiled by Precious Mwewa and Loren Shirley-Carr

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Town Focus

Where to stay

nestled in the heart of Lusaka city and only 15 minutes’ drive from the Kenneth Kaunda International airport is the Cresta Golfview hotel. This hotel has come to be known as a convenient, affordable location, perfect for any kind of function, ranging from weddings, cocktail parties, dinners, luncheons, workshops and even board meetings.

Set on an 18-acre plot of land, most of it gardens with impalas trotting about, the hotel has 78 accommodation rooms, including 59 standard rooms, 12 executive rooms and seven executive suites. The rooms are equipped with DStv, minibars, work stations, tea- and coffee-making facilities and free wireless Internet connectivity.

With conference and meeting rooms that can host up to 400 people, the hotel is perfect for the business traveller. The conference rooms are set up with modern conferencing facilities to ensure the hosting of successful events.

The award-winning chefs at the hotel maintain an ever-changing menu to keep up with the dynamic food trends and tastes. Chatters Restaurant offers menus with a wide range of local and

continental meals. “It is renowned for serving the freshest food in town,” says Fungai Makani, the hotel’s general manager. a must-try, too, is the coffee made by the champion barrister, Lucky Hachuma. “The staff at Cresta Golfview spares no effort to provide maximum comfort and personalised service in authentic Zambian style – with a smile,” says Fungai.

The Chatters Cocktail Bar is definitely the spot to unwind after a busy day. Overlooking the evergreen gardens and swimming pool, the bar opens for happy hour from 6pm to 7pm, offering a 50% discount on all line of beverages every day.

For golf lovers and fitness fanatics, the hotel is adjacent to the 18-hole championship Chainama Hills Golf Club, to which all guests have access on pre-arrangement. additionally, a fully equipped gym and swimming pool is available to in-house guests.

Set apart from the hustle and bustle of the city noise and traffic, it is still near enough to experience city life, as it is close to the three biggest shopping malls, which are a mere five minutes’ drive away.

This is a private collection of Zambian art, but is open to the public, and showcases some of the best contemporary Zambian and african art both of established and up-and-coming artists.

For a glimpse of Zambia’s natural environment and renowned wildlife without venturing too far out of the city, the Munda Wanga Environmental Park is a great choice. This wildlife sanctuary and botanical garden contains a selection of Zambia’s flora and fauna in areas that recreate the natural environment. The park has a heavy emphasis on conservation and environmental sustainability. Further out, about 15km, is the new Lusaka national Park.

Officially opened to the public this year, this park is the smallest protected area in Zambia – at about 6.7 hectares - and home to approximately 1 000 species of wildlife, including white rhino, giraffe, eland, hartebeest, zebra, sable antelope, kudu, blue wildebeest, waterbuck, black lechwe, impala, puku, bushbuck, reedbuck, warthog, one pangolin and axis deer. It offers activities like camping, walking safaris and bike riding.

a wide range of ethnic cuisine from the country’s 72 tribes and a cross-section of Zambian people living and working in the city, make Lusaka an interesting and enjoyable capital city.

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Town Focus

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Lying mostly undiscovered on the road between two of Botswana’s largest cities – Gaborone and Francistown – are the small towns of Mahalapye, Palapye and Selebi-Phikwe.

Often overlooked in the rush between the two major cities, and used mainly as stopover towns on this major north-to-south road and rail route on the eastern edge of the country, these towns offer more for the traveller than you may think.

Mahalapye is the headquarters of Botswana Railways, and the railway line running through the town has a rich history. The line, started in 1897, was originally part of Bechuanaland Railway Company’s line from Vryburg to Bulawayo (later to become Rhodesia Railways) – an important section of the unrealised vision of a ‘Cape to Cairo’ railway.

“The area is blessed with a rich heritage that goes way further back than the establishment of the railway line,” reveals Robert Kabuzu, general manager of Cresta Mahalapye. This is most evident in the Shoshong Hills, 45km west of Mahalapye. “Keen history followers and avid explorers will delight in a visit to these hills, which are home to mine workings that date as far back as the 8th century and today feature stone-walled ruins from early tribes. The remains of the Hermannsburg and London Missionary Society mission stations are also evident,” says Kabuzu.

Just over 70km north of Mahalapye on the main road to Francistown is Palapye, a large town situated on the Lotsane River. The first people to settle in this area were the Bangwato in the late 1800s, who actually settled a few kilometres away from present-day Palapye in what is now known as ‘Old Palapye’. This settlement was the capital of the Bangwato people in the beginning of the 20th century, and the ruins still stand today, featuring many artefacts from the middle Stone age, late Stone age and early Iron age. also to be seen are the remains of the London Missionary Society Church, which was built between 1891 and 1894. You do, however, need to approach the village headman for permission to visit this site.

East of Palapye, about 50km away, lie the Tswapong Hills, some of the most striking landforms in Botswana. The hills, about 15 kilometres wide and rising a dramatic 400 metres above the surrounding plains, are made up of sandstone, ironstone and quartzite. Tswapong is well known for its rock paintings and iron-smelting sites, and is home to a variety of wildlife. However, it is its lush vegetation and profusion of streams, pools and waterfalls that attract people from far and wide. In comparison with its generally arid surroundings, this oasis of life is something to see. Deep within these hills lies Moremi Gorge, a designated national Monument. Once again, as a matter of courtesy, approach the local headman for permission to enter the hills.

To the west of Palapye, about 40km away, and just outside of Serowe, is the Khama Rhino Sanctuary, a community-based wildlife project that helps to save the endangered rhinoceros. Here wildlife abounds, and besides white and black rhinos, you can also see giraffe, zebra, various antelope, ostrich, black-backed jackals, warthogs, and a plethora of birds.

Further along the road to Francistown, north-east of Palapye, is the mining town of Selebi-Phikwe. This town is home to the country’s biggest dams, Letsibogo and Dikgatlhong. according to Godfrey Dzingai, general manager of Cresta Bosele in Selebi-Phikwe, Letsibogo Dam has some of the best base fishing in the world, which attracts fishing tourists from all corners of the globe. “Birdwatching is also worthwhile at these dams, as they are home to a sizable number of bird species,” adds Dzingai.

about an hour’s drive away from Selebi-Phikwe is the Tuli Block, a 10-kilometre wide strip of land in south-eastern Botswana including the northern Tuli Game Reserve and running 180 kilometres south. This area has plentiful wildlife as well as noteworthy geographical features, and is fondly referred to as ‘The Land of Giants’ due to the scale of its attractions: the never-ending blue sky, vast herds of animals, the towering baobabs and huge rocky landmasses – offering the full african experience.

Three small towns and the Land of GiantsLoren Shirley-Carr

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Town Focus

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Where to stay – Mahalapye

Whether you are a business traveller or a tourist making your way around Botswana, Cresta Mahalapye is an ideal choice of accommodation. It is currently the leading and only branded hotel in the area operating under set standards. It’s the ideal conference and meeting venue for business people travelling from the north (Francistown) and the south (Gaborone). “This home-away-from-home is a convenient stopover as it’s centrally located between Francistown and Gaborone,” says general manager, Robert Kabuzu. The fully serviced, three-star, licensed hotel has a 24-hour reception, and has 64 air-conditioned rooms, conference facilities, a restaurant, a gym and a cocktail bar. a swimming pool and playground caters for children.

Where to stay – Selebi-Phikwe

Cresta Bosele is the biggest hotel in Selebi-Phikwe, with 52 standard air-conditioned rooms, 18 of which can be turned into twin rooms. The hotel also offers conference facilities, a 24-hour gym, cocktail bar, swimming pool, casino, gardens, and a restaurant where, general manager Godfrey Dzingai promises, they make ‘the best pizza in town’. For fishing in the renowned Letsibogo and Dikgatlhong Dams nearby, the hotel conveniently facilitates the acquisition of fishing licences. a campsite is being developed on the premises.

Where to stay – Palapye

On the main road linking Gaborone to Francistown is the conveniently situated Cresta Botsalo. “Here you will find well-equipped conference facilities, comfortable air-conditioned accommodation and personalised service to make your stay

as much of a success as your business or holiday trip,” says general manager, Cornelius Musubia. The hotel has 51 air-conditioned bedrooms, conference facilities, a swimming pool, playground, casino, restaurant, cocktail bar and gym.

Town Focus

CHEF’S CORNERJoyce Mbeha, the newly appointed Executive Head Chef of Cresta Bosele hotel, shares some of her recipes below.

Ingredients• ¾ cup cream cheese• ¾ cup and 2 Tbsp Plain yoghurt• 1/3 cup sugar• 2 Tbsp lemon juice• 1 Tbsp gelatine powder• ¼ cup water• For crust: 1 cup tennis biscuits, crumbed, 3Tbsp butter and 1Tbsp sugar

Dessert – LEMON CHEESE-CAKE

MethodMix gelatine powder and water in a small cup and set aside.Combine the biscuits, melted butter and sugar in a bowl.Press the crumbs into the bottom of a round cake pan.Stir cream cheese in a bowl until soft.Heat water and gelatine mixture in the microwave until becomes liquid.add yoghurt, sugar, lemon juice and gelatine into softened yoghurt and mix well.Pour the filling into the crust and refrigerate until set.Garnish and serve.

Main Course – BEEF CORDON BLUE

Ingredients• 250gtopsidesteak• 50gcheddarcheese• 50gham• 1egg,breadcrumbsandflourforcoating• Pinchofsaltandpepper• Oilforfrying

MethodPreheat oven to 160º C Cut the topside steak into two slices and tenderise.Season with salt and pepper.Place the cheese and ham in between the two steaks and crumb.Leave to rest for 30 minutes.Shallow fry each side for 3 minutes and finish in the oven.Garnish and serve with mushroom sauce.

Starter – STUFFED AUBERGINE

Ingredients (Makes 2 portions)• 1smallaubergine• 20gcarrotsfinelydiced• 20gchoppedmushrooms• 20gonionsfinelydiced• 10gfetacheese• 120gredorgreenpepperfinelydiced• 60ggratedparmesancheese• Mixedherbsandchillijam• Saltandpepper

MethodPreheat the oven to 180º C. Cut the aubergine in half lengthways and criss-cross the flesh.Sauté the diced veggies, add salt and pepper to taste and add the feta cheese.Carefully scoop out the flesh of the aubergine and mix with the other ingredients except the parmesan cheese and stuff back into the aubergine.Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese and put under the salamander for approximately 10minutes.Garnish and serve

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Chef’s Corner

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Wine Style: Crisp and dry When to enjoy: Perfect on a spring day or over casual meals.

How to serve: Definitely ice cold

Our meal suggestions: Terrific for a lunch time pizza with fresh toppings, cherries wrapped in crispy bacon or with a picnic. a delightful wine to enjoy with friends over lunch or as you wish.

The wine itself: a wine with a delicate, beautiful salmon pink colour. Rose petals on the nose with fresh ripe strawberries on the palate – giving a long lingering fresh taste. a delicious lifestyle wine, elegant and soft.

What about the grapes? 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

And the vineyards (terroir): For the 2015 vintage we selected our higher lying cooler Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard in the Banhoek Valley, specifically with Rosé in mind.

How was it made: The grapes for our Rosé were picked at 22.7 degrees Brix, crushed, separated from the skins, settled, racked and fermented the same as white wine. The wine was fermented cold, 12-14 degrees Celsius to retain fresh red fruit aromas. The delicate pink colour for the Rosé is derived from the red pigments that are released during the crushing process.

Should this wine age/mature: Best enjoyed within 2 years.

Technical Facts: Grape Origin – Stellenbosch Polkadraai Wine Variety – Rosé Body – Medium acidity – Crisp acidity Barrel Treatment – Unwooded aLC 13.5% RS 3.1g/l Ta 5.1g/l PH 3.31

About the Estate Zevenwacht Wine Estate, situated on the beautiful Stellenbosch Wine Route is a modern wine farm with a 300 year history. Owned and managed by the Johnson Family, the Estate has a strong commitment to historic and cultural preservation, as well as conservation of the surrounding indigenous environment. Two prime farming locations provide the grapes for the Zevenwacht winery. The home vineyard on the Estate’s panoramic 450 hectare maritime influenced property, supplies the majority of the grapes. The farm Zevenrivieren, situated at the crest of the Helshoogte Pass, provides winemaker, Jacques Viljoen, with a boutique selection of grapes that add to the fascinating variety of the wines.

Zevenwacht 7even Rosé 2015

Wine Review

Guest feedback Trip Advisor ReviewsCresta Lodge Harare“New look” Renovations have been going on at this hotel and the completed parts and room are superb. The reception area looks good and the staff are friendly. Meals were very good and they provided a variety. Rubbed shoulders with the Indian cricket team. It was a great stay.Rating: ★★★★ davidnjovu1961

Cresta Botsalo“Incredible fabulous customer service” Oh my gosh, Cresta Botsalo hotel’s hospitality is really incredible. They have awesome cocktails and milkshakes. The bartenders are very kind and polite and are always there at your service, they always make me feel so comfortable when I visit there. The toilets are extremely clean and up-to-date as well. They have a wide range of appetizers and their pizzas are simply incredible and really affordable.Rating: ★★★★ AliceOriokot, Palapye, Botswana

Cresta Mowana Safarai Resort and Spa“Great hotel!” Prior to our arrival, we read a couple of the comments on Tripadvisor and didn’t know what to expect as some comments were very negative. On arrival we were met by very friendly and experienced staff, who booked us in without a glitch and we couldn’t fault the staff in anyway. Our room at the far western side of the hotel was set in the most idyllic setting and we felt as if we were inside the reserve itself. The hotel itself is stunning, the food is good, and having looked at some comments on Tripadvisor, I can just say that some people are very critical without merit. My personal opinion. The prices are average and not exorbitant as indicated by some travellers. Having been to Zambia and Victoria Falls where everything costs an arm and a leg, Chobe is cheap in comparison. I can recommend this hotel and it is real value for money.Rating: ★★★★

KonradRontgen, Brakpan, South Africa

Cresta Sprayview“Spacious rooms” Spent a night at Cresta Sprayview and I loved the rooms. They are very spacious and clean. Unfortunately didn’t get a chance to interact with the staff as my partner checked in while I was in the car. It was my first time staying there after the renovations and they did a great job. The Wi-Fi is fast and generally the property is well maintained.Rating: ★★★★★

Elena M

Cresta Lodge, Gaborone“Lovely hotel with friendly staff” We stayed at this hotel for almost a week during our trip to Gaborone. The hotel is lovely - with tastefully decorated rooms, good Wi-Fi connection and nice ambience. The breakfast was good and so was the restaurant that was on site. The staff is super friendly, especially the manager, Mr Dass, who made us all feel at home. We will definitely stay here again on our return to Gaborone.Rating: ★★★★ Amit S, Mumbai, India

Cresta Marang Gardens“Oasis for tired travellers” We stayed here in a rented 4x4 camper. The camp ground is set amongst large trees and well maintained grass area. Excellent facilities, brilliant service. Have every confidence in recommending this place.Rating: ★★★★★ PilotaStuntPlane, Port Motueka, Nelson, New Zealand

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