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ISSUE 04 2013CRESTACalling

Kasane:gateway to Africa’s Four Corners

Cresta Hotels Chef Competition

Cresta Hotels Inter Country Games

Cresta Group donates to Khama Memorial Fund

Contents

PUBLISHERRichard Lendrum

EDITORSibo Gumpo

MANAGING EDITORMichelle Funke

FOR ADVERTISING CONTACTMuchaneta Musarurwa (Zimbabwe)+263 4 788 066

Priscilla Katholo (Botswana) 267 391 2222

Michelle Hinrichsen (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:No 9, Third Ave, Rivonia 2128Telephone: 011 803 2040Fax: 011 803 2022Email: debbie@thefuture.co.zaWebsite: www.thefuturegroup.co.za

From the CEO 4

Cresta Moments 5

Getting to know Segolame Mothibi

Getting to know Brian Nyakutombwa

Ingutsheni Hospital Donation

Beauty with a purpose

Cresta Jwaneng supports the Jwaneng Mine cycling race

Town Focus: Kasane 10

Cresta Hotels Inter Country Games 14

Cresta Hotels’ Chefs competition 15

Chef’s Corner 16

Tech Review 18

Car Review 20

Trivia 22

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20GFUTURE GROUP

FUTURE GROUP

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ISSUE 04 2013CRESTACalling

Kasane:gateway to Africa’s Four Corners

Cresta Hotels Chef Competition

Cresta Hotels Inter Country Games

Cresta Group donates to Khama Memorial Fund 10

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

From the CEO

As 2013 draws to a close and 2014 opens up with opportunities aplenty, Cresta Hotels looks forward to building on its relationships with guests and to

continuing to play an important role in the Southern African hospitality industry. As always, the focus must be on continuous improvement, on guest satisfaction and on promoting the growth of business for the group. The opening of Cresta Mahalapye and Cresta Jwaneng in Botswana and Cresta Sprayview in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe clearly show our desire to grow our presence across the region. Cresta is uniquely positioned in three countries to present Africa to the world and to provide hospitality operations that both welcome and satisfy the needs of guests from across the world, including travellers from within the region we serve.

Internationally, tourism is again experiencing a growth curve, and travellers are looking for destinations that offer unique experiences, and which simultaneously offer product and services that excite and provide enjoyment.

Expectations of the best possible service standards have never been higher and Cresta Hotels remains committed to standards that are second to none. Competition from around the world is strong, and we must do all we can to gain high visibility in all our target markets. We know we have a regional destination that is exciting and fascinating, and our task in the coming year is to make more and more people aware of this fact and to attract them to experience what we have on offer, close to all our operational units.

We look forward to progress on all fronts during 2014 and to a year in we each and every one of us within Cresta pulls out all the stops to provide our guests with the wow factor, again and again and again. To all our guests, thank you for your support in 2013 and we look forward to welcoming you back to a Cresta Hotel in 2014.

Glenn StutchburyChief Executive Officer, Cresta Hotel Group

Goodbye 2013, hello to an exciting 2014!

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

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Cresta Moments

Getting to know Segolame Mothibi Cresta Thapama Sales Manager

Getting to know Brian Nyakutombwa General Manager at Cresta Churchill

Brian Nyakutombwa graduated from the School of Hospitality in Bulawayo in 1995 and soon after began working at the world-renowned Victoria Falls Hotel.

“Working at Victoria Falls Hotel proved to be the best thing that happened to me after I graduated, as the high service, standards and high customer profiles afforded me the opportunity to attain a thorough grounding in hotel management at a very high level. Additionally, it has helped me to set high standards and have that keen eye for detail,” says Nyakutombwa.

The best part of my job is seeing me and my team receiving a thumbs-up from all our guests for great service and seeing them returning or passing on a good word to others about us. And when that doesn’t happen it gets me worked up and makes me drive the team a bit harder to get to the correct levels of service delivery. Going forward, I think the prospects for the tourism and hospitality industry in Zimbabwe are quite bright, and the challenge is for the hospitality practitioners to prepare themselves to re-embrace the world as it were, at a much higher level of expectation from all stakeholders involved in the tourism and hospitality value delivery chain.”

Mr Sego Mothibi joined Cresta Hotels in June 2011 and was assigned to Cresta Thapama where he currently holds the position of Sales Manager. Mothibi

graduated with a degree in Business Administration with a Marketing Major. This was a total transformation in Mothibi’s career, after having worked for the banking Industry and now pursuing a career in hospitality. His dream is to pursue a MBA in International Business.

Mothibi’s passion is to drive sales, given whichever product, while at the same time contributing to the bottom line. He is a team player and his wonderful character and hard work will take him a long way in his success.We wish him the best in his career path.

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Cresta Moments

Cresta Zimbabwe Ingutsheni Hospital Donation

On 19 September, Cresta Hotels in Zimbabwe donated linen worth (US) $6 500 to Ingutsheni Hospital in Bulawayo, thus confirming the hotel group’s corporate

commitment to assisting the health institution in the hope that this will be beneficial to staff and patients.

“The healthcare sector is doing great work in ensuring that the people of Zimbabwe have access to essential health services, but we are very conscious of the many constraints faced by the sector in carrying out this work. This is why we are here: to provide assistance and in so doing to call on other organisations and individuals within the community to do the same and provide a boost to the work being undertaken in this hospital,” said the Operations Manager for Cresta Hotels, Bill Bruce at the presentation ceremony. Cresta Hotels has set an example by showing its commitment to assist the hospital, and this is the second year where the organisation has donated towards this noble cause.

“We are grateful for this donation as we know that it will go a long way in helping our patients feel comfortable during their stay as they receive care here at Ingutsheni Hospital,”

said Mr Thaba Moyo, Board Chair for Ingutsheni Hospital and former Mayor of Bulawayo.

Ingutsheni Hospital is located in Bulawayo in the south of Zimbabwe in the suburb of Famona. It was established in 1903 as a mental asylum catering for the needs of society’s forgotten. Ingutsheni became a fully-fledged mental hospital in 1993 with a full-time psychiatrist brought over from England. The hospital has grown to a capacity of over 700 beds and is now exclusively concerned with the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with mental disorders. Unfortunately, like many Zimbabwean institutions during these difficult financial times, the funding they have does not always meet the requirements of the hospital and its patients. Recognising this, Cresta Hotels stepped in, offering assistance to the hospital when and where they could as part of the organisation’s CSR programme.

“We believe this to be a highly important part of overall corporate strategy for any business organisation, and you can rest assured we shall continue to provide support to you where and when we can,” said Mr Bill Bruce.

Bill Bruce Group Operations Executive of Cresta Zimbabwe speaking at the handover

Cresta Moments

Beauty with a purpose

In our last Cresta Calling we carried a story of the Lavender Walk led by Neo Nkele, Sales Manager at Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa to raise awareness and funds for

the Cancer Association in Botswana. Neo Nkele, Acirfa Mothoosele, Sharon Munyoro and Khumo Gaobolelelwe walked a gruelling 592 kilometres – a journey that took 13 days and left them with blisters, all in the name of charity. We read with admiration at what these brave members of our team went through to make others smile. This month, Michelle Hinrichsen, Corporate Sales Manager for Cresta Hotels based at our South Africa office in Sandton, Johannesburg, decided to participate in the SA Bachelor & Bachelorette 2013. This is a national South African pageant that is very different from the usual beauty pageants the world has become accustomed to.

This pageant is more about heart and soul and giving back to the community. Michelle Hinrichsen is the winner of this year’s competition. As one of the finalists, she had to raise funds and awareness for CANSA, the chosen charity for the year.

Over the past three months Michelle hosted numerous events which included hosting Locnville, one of SA’s top music acts. The event was a huge success where she was able to reach over 200 people and promote cancer awareness as well as share the knowledge of cancer prevention to educate others

about what steps they can take in order to help prevent this devastating disease.

Michelle says: “Being a part of this competition has enriched me as a person and educated me on cancer. I chose to enter this competition because I wanted to make a difference in my community and the world, and it’s an amazing feeling to be part of the process of adding to finding a cure for cancer. It’s a privilege to be able to see where the funds go and to see the smiles on the faces of those struggling with cancer. The funds raised

were able to bring some comfort for those fighting the disease. Even if that is a pillow and a hot meal, you have made a world of difference in the fight against cancer, and for me that makes this journey with Bachelor & Bachelorette so worth it.” Cresta Hotels congratulates Michelle on her win as SA Bachelorette 2013.

Air access to Cresta Hotels

BotswanaFrancistown: SAA, Air Botswana, British Airways, Air Namibia

Gaborone: SAA, Air Botswana, British Airways, Air Namibia, SA Airlink, Kenya Airways

Kasane: SAA, Air Botswana, British Airways, Air Namibia, SA Airlink

Maun: SAA, Air Botswana, British Airways, Air Namibia, SA Airlink

ZambiaLusaka: SAA, Air Botswana, British Airways, Air Namibia, SA Airlink,

Kenya Airways, LAM, Ethiopian Airlines, Emirates

ZimbabweBulawayo: SAA, SA Airlink, Air Zimbabwe

Harare: SAA, Air Botswana, British Airways, Air Namibia, Air Zimbabwe, SA Airlink, Kenya Airways, LAM, Ethiopian Airlines, Air Malawi, Emirates, KLM, Kulula.com

Victoria Falls: SAA, British Airways, Air Namibia, SA Airlink, Kulula.com,Air Zimbabwe

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.

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Cresta Moments

Cresta Mararakanelo donates to Khama Memorial Fund

Cresta Jwaneng supports the Jwaneng Mine cycling race

Debswana Jwaneng Mine held the General Manager’s Cycle Race in September 2013. Aimed at encouraging the Jwaneng community to lead active lives and

cycle for a good cause, the funds generated from the event were used to support various charity causes in Jwaneng. For Cresta Jwaneng, the event was a huge success as the hotel managed to raise its profile as well as that of Cresta Hotels

in the town and with people further afield. With about 120 cyclists participating, Cresta Jwaneng had a water point along the Trans Kalahari highway to support the cyclists. In addition, Cresta Jwaneng had a stand at the start/finish line where the hotel team highlighted the benefits of the Cresta Card loyalty programme.

Cresta Group of Hotels donated P65 000 towards the Sir Seretse Khama Memorial Fund for people living with disabilities, at a dinner hosted on 29 August. The

donation is part of the company’s continued endeavour to assist the less privileged members of the community through its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme, where it also supports the Masiela Trust Fund. The Fund operates as a statutory body created in 1981 under the Finance and Audit Act. Its mandate is to assist people with disabilities in Botswana by providing them with means either in cash or kind.

The Fund is housed at the Office of the President, and is managed by the National Coordinating Office for people with disabilities.

“The donation is our contribution towards the P3 million that the Sir Seretse Khama Memorial Fund wants to raise,” says Head of Marketing at Cresta Group of Hotels, Patrick Chivese. “The objective of the Fund is to raise awareness about the existence and the needs of people with learning impairments and to raise funds for the Sir Seretse Khama Memorial Fund for people living with disabilities.”

The Fund pays lasting tribute to the first President of Botswana, Sir Seretse Khama who worked to improve the quality of life for people living with disabilities. The Fund benefits people living with disabilities in various ways, including amongst others, the purchase of assistive devices such as wheel chairs, crutches, modified vehicles, as well as modifying homes to make them accessible.

Speaking at a fund-raising dinner for the fund, Vice-President Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe said that society at large should share responsibility to provide for the needs of the disadvantaged, as government alone cannot bear sole responsibility. “I wish to make an appeal for a leaf to be taken from the traditional communal spirit of caregiving, as it is a noble and human practice anchored on high moral values,” said Dr Kedikilwe, adding that this is a call to realise the dream of a compassionate, just and caring nation, which is intrinsic in the traditional social norm.

Head of Sales & Marketing at Cresta Mararakanelo Mr Patrick Chivese with MD of Cresta Marakanelo Mr Tawanda Makaya

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Kasane is a town situated in the far north-eastern corner of Botswana. It is conveniently located right near Africa’s “Four Corners” junction where neighbouring

countries Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe all meet. Beautifully placed on the banks of the Chobe River, Kasane also happens to be positioned at the north-eastern boundary of the popular Chobe National Park, making the town the administrative centre of the Chobe District, creating a convenient access point for tourists to the park as well as for those wanting to visit the nearby Okavango Delta, the Caprivi Strip and Victoria Falls.

According to the 2011 census, Kasane has a population of 7 638 making it a small, yet bustling town. Filled with a number of garages, banks, shops and river lodges, Kasane also has an international airport just four kilometres outside of the town, adding tremendously to its tourism and business.

Kasane’s neighbouring villages are Kazungula and Lesoma. Kazungula is approximately six kilometres east of Kasane and serves as the border post between Botswana and Zimbabwe, as well as the landing for the Kazungula Ferry between Botswana and Zambia. The more distant members of the Chobe district are the Enclave villages and Pandamatenga. Kasane has a number of campsites and lodges, many of which offer day trips into the Chobe National Park and boat trips on the Chobe River. There are no boundary fences between the park and the village and, as a result, game such as elephants and hippos can frequently be seen wandering down the road and through the Kasane campsites.

Weather and climateKasane has a hot, semi-arid grassland climate with most of the area covered by grasslands (41%), croplands (34%), and floodplains (23%). Throughout the year there is little rainfall in Kasane; about 643mm of precipitation falls annually, most of which is in the month of January in the form of afternoon thunderstorms. Conversely, the driest month is July with little to no rainfall during the winter months.

The average annual temperature in Kasane is around 22 °C making it a very pleasant climate throughout the year. The warm season lasts from September to November, the hottest month being October, with an average temperature of around 27.1°C and maximum temperatures sometimes approaching the high 30s. The cold season lasts from June to August, where the coldest month of the year is June, with an average daily high temperature around 17.4°C.

The weather in Botswana is generally pleasant most of the year, and deciding when to visit Kasane is largely dependent on personal preference and what activities you would primarily like to do. The hot springs are usually enjoyed during the cooler months of the year whereas you may prefer the fishing and boat cruises during the summer months. January can be a bit hot for game drives as the animals tend to hide away in the shade and are usually less active in extreme heat.

Town Focus

Kasane, BotswanaBy Nikki Barnard

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Town Focus

Nature reservesThere are four main nature reserves in and around Kasane: the Chobe National Park, Chobe Forest Reserve, Sibuyu Forest Reserve, and Kasane Forest Reserve.

Chobe National ParkKasane is the administrative centre of the Chobe District, creating an easy access point for tourists to the Chobe National Park. The park has one of the largest concentrations of game in Africa and, by size, it is the third-largest park in the country and is the most diverse. The park offers a combination of wildlife, bird life and reptiles along the banks of the Chobe River and is a photographers dream. Due to the proximity of the park to the town of Kasane, it is an absolute must see for those visiting and looking for things to do. Most of the surrounding lodges and camps facilitate a wide range of activities, including daytrips to the park on a daily basis.

Chobe Forest ReserveChobe Forest Reserve is an enclave largely surrounded by the Chobe National Park. To the north-west of it are seasonal marshes, Lake Liambezi and eventually, Namibia. The Chobe Forest Reserve and the region to the north of it are areas designated for community-managed livestock and hunting. The carefully managed hunting is administered by a company which has a few small hunting camps in the reserve. The hunting aspect of the reserve should not deter guests from visiting, as the reserve contains good populations of wildlife that are managed sustainably.

Sibuyu Forest ReserveThe Sibuyu Forest Reserve is an ideal area for camping and walking safaris, especially around the pans. To the ancient San hunters and gatherers, this was a land of plenty that teemed with game and held abundant water, wild fruits and vegetables. Today the only traces of human existence and pre-historic activity lie at the ruins at Nunga.

Kasane Forest ReserveIn this reserve, the Lesoma valley offers campsites, walking safaris, and night game drives by local tour operators.

Things to do in and around Kasane:

The Chobe RiverThe Chobe River serves as a base for many excursions in and around Kasane. The region is a popular fishing area and its location and physical connection with the Kasai channel and the Zambezi means that there are many operators offering fishing excursions at all levels.

The Chobe River also allows for many of the lodges to provide excellent boat cruises into the Chobe National Park itself. Sunsets on one of these boats are some of the most spectacular that Botswana has to offer, where game viewing can also be enjoyed as the animals gather at the water’s edge.

Kazungula Snake ParkKazungula’s Snake Park is located approximately eight kilometres to the east of Kasane in the small village of Kazungula - after which the park is named. The park holds about 50 snakes from 17 different species ranging from the common Brown House Snake to the deadly poisonous Boomslang and Black Mamba.

Centre for African Resource: Animals, Communities and Land use (CARACAL) is the Non Government Organisation which runs the park. It is a community-based project that runs educational programmes for Batswana children, as well as a training programme to involve Batswana in the tourism industry.

Chobe Crocodile FarmChobe Crocodile Farm is a great tourist attraction also located in the village of Kazungula. Established 20 years ago, the privately owned farm caters to the tourism market and conducts regular educational tours. The farm is also largely a breeding farm which sells its hatchlings to other crocodile farms for commercial purposes.

Chobe Crocodile Farm provides the unique opportunity for visitors to observe one of the world’s most spectacular predators at close range. The experienced crocodile handlers have extensive knowledge about these predators and provide interesting information about Africa’s Nile crocodile. Entrance to the farm is well priced at around P30 (BWP) per adult and around P20 (BWP) per child and is open all year.

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Town Focus

Kasane Hot SpringsSurrounded by abundant wildlife, one of the local attractions in Kasane is the alluring Kasane Hot Springs. Believed to hold medicinal powers, the warm salty waters are a natural spring, perfect for those looking to relax and take in the expanse of Botswana at her best. This natural mineral spring also serves as the wildlife corridor separating the neighbouring village of Kazungula, making it the ideal watchpoint for Africa’s game. The hot springs are a well-known attraction, with locals and tourists alike able to enjoy fishing and bird watching while surrounded by the most amazing scenery.

Day trips to Victoria FallsA day trip to Victoria Falls is only 80 minutes’ drive from the town of Kasane, making the trip an absolute must while visiting the area. Well-known around the world, the Victoria Falls embody the beauty and wonder that is Africa and certainly something that needs to be added to the itinerary while visiting Kasane.

The Baobab Prison TreeWhen visiting Kasane, don’t miss the old baobab prison tree. The tree, with a hollow large enough for humans to enter, used to serve as the local prison in the early twentieth century by colonial administrators. The tree is a unique characteristic of Kasane and has become an interesting part of the town’s history.

Seboba Water Rapids and Recreational ParkThe Seboba cultural village and recreational park project came about after the Kasane community identified the Seboba rapids for tourist recreational activities and entertainment through observing traditional dances and lifestyle. These rapids occur when the waters of the mighty Chobe River meet a rock base that blocks the water’s passage.

The resulting rapids and beautiful natural setting give rise to the trees from which Kasane derives its name. There are four cultural villages within the park, a park gate, an information centre, curio shop, dance arena, walking trails, and an observation point at Commissioner’s Kop.

Kazungula FerryThe Chobe and Zambezi Rivers meet at Kazungula, 10 kilometres from Kasane, where a ferry connects Botswana with Zambia. The Kazungula Ferry is a pontoon ferry across the 400 metre-wide Zambezi River between Botswana and Zambia. It is one of the largest ferries in south-central Africa, having a capacity of 70 tons. The service is provided by two motorised pontoons and operates between border posts at Kazungula, Zambia and Kazungula, Botswana.

The town of Kasane may be small, but it is an area that is bursting with the very best of what Africa has to offer. Ideally located, Kasane is completely surrounded by impressive wildlife and natural wonders making it an increasingly popular tourist destination. In 1975 the town briefly obtained international fame as the location of the remarriage of Elizabeth Taylor to Richard Burton. More recently, however, it is the tourism industry that is drawing the crowds as Kasane becomes increasingly well-known, attracting attention from all around the world. During May, October and November, many of the lodges are priced quite competitively and visitors can enjoy the same experiences at a reduced cost.

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Town Focus

Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa, situated on the banks of the mighty Chobe River in Botswana, is one of southern Africa’s sustainable tourism destinations

where luxury exists in harmony with nature, providing a unique location from which to explore the magical wonders of untamed Africa. Game, including herds of elephant, antelope, giraffe, zebras, lions, leopard and many more, roam freely in the nearby Chobe Game Park.

Sunrises and sunsets in this part of the world, with the Chobe River and Namibian flood plains as a backdrop are the substance of dreams. Birdlife is in abundance. Bird species unique to this part of southern Africa can be seen on the property as well as on the banks of the Mighty Chobe River. Facilities at Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa include 110 luxury air conditioned bedrooms and four suites all with river views, a 9-hole golf course and fully equipped spa. Each guest room has a private balcony. In these tranquil surroundings you will come to experience true comfort, superb accommodation, gourmet cuisine and African inspired menus and only the best in personalised ‘African-style’ service. Play a round of golf on the famous golf course or enjoy bird watching on the banks of the mighty Chobe River.

Take time to interact with the un-spoilt natural and beautiful surroundings while enjoying a leisurely massage at the Mowana Spa.

All 110 bedrooms and four suites boast spectacular river views and have been tastefully decorated in an ethnic style to compliment the natural ambiance. Both the Serondella Restaurant and Savuti cocktail bar overlook the Chobe River and Namibian flood plains, the ultimate place to watch the abundant wildlife gathering at twilight.

The Spa at Cresta Mowana is beautifully designed, featuring natural textures and ethnic elements. It is in harmony with the surrounding Chobe National park, a serene space that offers sanctuary from the stresses of life.

With four private treatment rooms complemented by a raised deck overlooking the mighty Chobe River on which open air pampering sessions are highly recommended, the Mowana Spa offers state of the art facilities and a range of Clarins treatments and therapies that will have you spoilt for choice. Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa recently received a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award.

Stay in luxury at Cresta Mowana Safari Resort & Spa

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On Saturday, 28 September 2013, Cresta Zimbabwe were honoured to host Cresta Hotels Inter-Country Games, where Cresta Hotels Staff from Botswana,

Zambia, South Africa and the host country came together in what has become an exciting event on the Cresta calendar.

The Cresta Inter-Country Games are now held every two years amongst all the Cresta Hotels and are meant to create a sense of team spirit by building teams and fostering relationships among the participants. It is also meant to create a spirit of oneness that transcends boarders and unites by the Cresta Vision as embodied in our Brand.

• Thegamesbeganasearlyasthe90sandstartedoffwith one discipline, which was soccer.• In2004BotswanaheldtheInter-CountryGamesin Francistown and by then the disciplines had increased to five.

• ZimbabwehostedinOctober2009andsawCresta Marakanelo emerging the country winner for that year.• In2011theteamstravelledtoBotswana.TheCupwas awarded to Cresta – Zimbabwe.• 2013marksthe5thtimethatthegamesarebeingheld and this year for the first time Cresta Golfview, Zambia managed to participate at the Inter-Country games.

The disciplines for the Inter-Country Games 2013 have increased to 10, namely:

• VolleyBall,NetBall,Soccer• BasketBall,Squash,TableTennis• Golf,Darts,Tug-of-War,Athletics

The next Inter-Country games will be held in 2015.

Inter Country

Cresta Hotels Inter Country Games

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Chefs Competition

Congratulations to all the chefs who entered the annual Cresta Hotels competition to display their culinary abilities. It is never easy to be taken out of your comfort

zone and for your food to be displayed and judged. Well done!The quality of the food displayed at this year’s competition was a huge improvement compared to 2012. The chefs listened, and put into practice, the feed-back comments they received about their food in the 2012 competition and improved both the standard of the food prepared and the plate presentation of the food. The ingredient combinations, and the colour combinations, on most of the plates were fantastic and this shows that a lot of thought and effort went into their preparation for the competition.

For the 2014 competition I believe the chefs can improve their plates by using relevant garnishes and having clean plates to display the food. Garnishes need to enhance not only the appearance of the food but also need to add and compliment the flavour of the food. There are many traditional garnishes that are associated with specific food types and these need to be investigated by the chefs and correctly put into practice, e.g. lemon with seafood, or crispy puff pastry with poached fish. Clean plates are essential for presentation purposes.

A dirty or grease-smudged plate looks untidy and detracts from the food’s appeal. Using vinegar and paper towel to wipe the plate before and after the food is plated will clean it perfectly. The chefs must also show the effort they have made by slicing open their food if it has been filled with something. This is especially relevant for the pastry chefs who prepare cakes and pastries. As a judge I want to see inside the cake to ensure that the sponge and icings used are of the correct quality and quantity according to the description of the food.

This year’s competition saw the introduction of a hot kitchen live cook-off. The standard of the food presented was very good but the chefs seemed to rush through their allotted hour. They need to take their time and use the whole 60 minutes. They get no extra points for finishing early. Use the time to challenge yourself and your abilities but also make sure that your prepared food is cooked properly and seasoned correctly.

As always the event was very successful and I expect the 2014 Cresta Hotel chefs’ competition to be another fabulous event. The standard of the food was raised at this year’s competition and I expect some fantastic food to be displayed next year.

Cresta Hotels’ Chef Competition 2013By Chef Steve Morris, guest judge

Chef Steve Morris, guest judge at the Cresta Hotels Chef Competition

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Chicken liver pâté with Madeira jellyIngredientsFor the pâté• Margarine for greasing• 450g chicken livers• 1 garlic clove, grated• 2 tbs red currant jelly melted in a pan over a low heat• 150ml/¼ pint chicken stock, warmed• Salt and freshly ground black pepper• Pinch freshly grated nutmeg• 570ml/1 pint double cream• 2 eggs

For the Madeira jelly• ¼ pint Madeira• 1 tbsp chicken stock• 2 gelatine leaves, softened in cold water for 10 minutes

Preparation method1. Pre-heat the oven to 150C/300F/Gas 2. Grease a 25x25x7.5cm/10x10x3in terrine mould or loaf tin with butter and line with good-quality greaseproof paper.2. Drain the chicken livers and place them in the bowl of a food processor, along with the garlic and redcurrant jelly. Pour in the stock, salt, pepper and nutmeg then blend until smooth.3. When the mixture is really smooth, add the beaten eggs and the double cream. Season with a little grated nutmeg and plenty of salt and pepper. 4. Push the mixture through a fine sieve into a jug and then pour into the greased and lined terrine mould. Cover the top with greaseproof paper. Place the terrine in a roasting tray half filled with boiling water. Place in the centre of the oven and cook for about an hour, or until the pâté looks just set. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool before placing it in the fridge until ready to serve.5. Meanwhile, for the Madeira jelly, put the Madeira in a saucepan and heat to reduce in volume by two thirds. Add the chicken stock and the softened gelatine leaves to the warm Madeira liquid and then set aside to cool. 6. Serve with toasted brown sour bread.

CHEF’S CORNERChef Phiri of Cresta Golfview Hotel, Lusaka, Zambia shares some of his delicious recipes:

Chef’s Corner

Gammon with Cider and CinnamonIngredients• 1.2kg/2lb 10oz gammon joint • 500ml/17fl apple cider vinegar• 1 litre/1¾ pints apple juice• 2 sharp apples green, cored and cut into rough chunks• 150ml/¼ pint chicken stock, warmed• 2 x 8cm/3¼in pieces of cinnamon stick• 3-4 fresh red chillies seeds removed, cut into quarters• 1 tbsp coarsely crushed coriander seeds

For the glaze and sauce• 1 Tbs brown sugar, or to taste• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper • 1 heaped Tbsp cornflour

To serveSautéed red cabbage with cumin seeds and lemon juiceGreen chilli mashed potatoes

Preparation method1. Soak the gammon in plenty of cold water in the fridge for at least two hours, or overnight. Drain well. 2. Place the gammon along with all the other gammon ingredients in a casserole dish. The liquid should cover the meat; if not, add a little water to just cover. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer gently, partly covered with a lid, for 1¼ hours. Turn the gammon carefully in the liquid every 20 minutes or so.3. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.4. Remove the gammon from its cooking stock, transfer to a small roasting tin. Reserve the cooking liquid for making the sauce. 5. Cut the rind from the gammon, leaving a thin layer of fat, and discard the rind. With a small sharp knife, score the fat into diamonds.6. For the glaze, put a ladleful of cooking liquid into a large clean pan. Add the sugar and chilli powder and cook until a glaze- like consistency. Pour this over the gammon and roast for 15 minutes, until browned and caramelised. Set aside in a warm place while you make the sauce.7. For the sauce, boil the cooking liquid in a pan, uncovered, over a high heat until it has reduced to about 500ml/17fl oz; this could take about 10 minutes of boiling.8. Strain the liquid through a sieve into a clean pan, rubbing any pieces of apple through the sieve too so that the flesh is in the sauce; leave behind only the skins. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning to taste. If you want it sweeter, add a pinch of brown sugar; you almost certainly won’t need any salt..9. Reheat the remaining strained sauce gently until it reaches a simmer. Blend the cornflour in a little cold water to a smooth paste, and stir into the sauce, stirring continuously. A creamy consistency is better than a very thick sauce, but if you prefer yours thicker, add a little more blended cornflour. To serve, place gammon slices on individual plates and pour over the sauce. Serve with spiced red cabbage and green chilli mash.

Chocolate flavoured cheese cakeIngredients• 100g/3½oz butter• 250g/8¾oz ginger biscuits, crushed• 600g/1lb 5oz cream cheese• 25ml/1fl oz Amarula• 100ml/3½oz icing sugar• 300ml/10½oz double cream, whipped• 100g/3½oz grated chocolate

To garnish200ml/7¼oz double cream, whippedCocoa powder, to dust

Preparation method1. Melt the butter in a pan and add the crushed ginger biscuits. Mix well until the biscuits have absorbed all the butter. 2. Remove from the heat and press into the bottom of a lined 18cm/7in spring form tin. Place in the refrigerator and allow to set for one hour.3. Meanwhile, prepare the filling. Lightly whip the cream cheese then beat in the Amarula and icing sugar. Fold in the whipped cream and grated chocolate. When smooth, spoon evenly onto the biscuits. 4. Refrigerate and allow to set for a further two hours. Once set, remove and decorate with whipped cream and cocoa powder dusted over the top. Serve.

Chef’s Corner

Contemporary Linens is a leading manufacturer and supplier of high-quality bedroom,bathroom and table linens. Our extensive range boasts competitively-priced productsand features a range of styles, colours and textures that will engage the senses andmake your guest’s experience that much more memorable.

Contemporary Linens is a ‘one-call, we-supply-all’ emporium of variety, and offers thehospitality industry a wide choice of linens and soft furnishings for both aestheticand functional purposes. We are sole agents for the NORTEX range of luxury towels.

Alternatively, contact:

Linens & Living (Bulawayo-Zimbabwe)Tel/fax +263-9-63266Email linensandliving@zol.co.zw

Alternatively, contact:

Flexitrade (Harare-Zimbabwe)Tel +263-4-757301/2Fax +263-4-757303Email flexitex@africaonline.co.zw

Alternatively, contact:

CN Textiles (Lusaka-Zambia)Tel +260 96 466 9660Email cntextiles@ymail.com

Plot 5624, Unit 2, Nakedi RoadBroadhurst Industrial,

(opp. Printing & Publishing)

Gaborone, Botswana

Visit us or call +267 395 3265 (Email contemporary@info.bw)

www.contemporarylinens.co.bw

YOUR PARTNER IN HOSPITALITY

18

Tech Review

1. Gift Wrapping Instant ExpertHave you ever been embarrassed about your lack of gift-wrapping skills? If so this app is designed to make you a gift-wrapping expert by simply watching the videos which can easily be paused and restarted as you go. The app shows you how to wrap presents, create bows, set up gift baskets and make your own custom gift tags. There are six categories that will take you from someone who can barely fold a straight line to a gift-wrapping master. The app has tons of helpful hints, tricks and tips to make you a better gift-wrapper.

2. WunderlistGet organised this holiday season with Wunderlist. This handy app is the easiest way to manage and share your to-do lists. Whether you’re planning an overseas adventure, sharing a Christmas shopping list with a loved one or organising a holiday dinner, Wunderlist will help you achieve great things.The app is not just for lists, but also setting reminders, making notes and sharing events. It is cloud-based, so your data easily syncs across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android, Windows and the Web to keep you on top of to-dos from just about any device.

3. Pickie GiftsWhen it comes to gift giving this holiday season, Pickie Gifts is the perfect app to help you shop for your loved ones. By linking to your Facebook account, the app can spy on your friends’ and families’ likes and interests to come up with personalized gift ideas. The app suggests a few intelligent gift ideas based on the person’s Facebook profile thereby helping you come up with some smart and original gift ideas guaranteed to impress and surprise.

4. Christmas RadioHoliday music lovers across the globe will love this massively popular Christmas Radio app. Designed for iPhone and iPad, the app allows you to enjoy a wide variety of Christmas hits from over 50 unique stations. More than any other time of year, the holidays are defined by the music that celebrates the holiday season, and that’s why Christmas Radio is so massively popular around the world. At no cost, and conveniently via Wi-Fi and cellular networks, you can instantly connect to the holiday music you love.

Technology is a wonderful thing used in almost all facets of our lives and the holiday season is no exception. With 2013 drawing to a close and the silly season now uppon us, it is recommended that you try out a few of these useful apps to get you in the spirit of things:

Top Apps This Holiday Season

Best apps and games this HOLIDAY SEASON

19

Tech Review

5. ShopAdvisorShopAdvisor keeps track of products you are interested in, and notifies you when the deal is right and at the lowest possible price. Perfect for the holiday season, all you need to do is let the app know which items you’ are looking to buy, and it will alert you when the price drops. ShopAdvisor also tells you which nearby stores have the items you are watching and at what price, so you can be the first one at the door as soon as it goes on sale. The app will also tell you which credit cards will give you the most reward points for purchasing a certain item.

6. PinterestThis hugely popular app is the must-have of the holiday season. With everything and anything on Pinterest, it is the perfect tool for creating inspiration boards for holiday gifts, food and decor ideas. You can even make your boards private so your friends can’t see their gifts. Pinterest is also a great way to share gift ideas with others for you or your kids. Talking about kids, there are thousands of holiday activities and craft ideas for your kids to do during the school holidays.

7. Pro Party PlannerThe holidays are always the best time to get family and friends together. Whether you’re hosting an intimate Christmas dinner or throwing a massive holiday party, Pro Party Planner can keep all of your party planning needs in check. You can track your guests, set your budget, arrange seating charts and delegate tasks to others. This app is ideal if you’re hosting a party with other people, since you can sync the party plans across multiple devices.

Looking for the perfect gift? When it comes to the gaming world, there are some of us that are not as clued up as others. According to Cowen analyst Doug Creutz, these will be the biggest-selling games this year:

Hottest Games This Holiday Season

1. Call of Duty: Ghosts (73)

2. Watch Dogs (69.6)

3. Grand Theft Auto V (58.4)

4. Battlefield 4 (54.7)

5. Killzone: Shadow Fall (30.3)

6. Assassin’s Creed IV (29.2)

7. Forza 5 (18.8)

8. Diablo III (18.2)

9. Batman: Arkham Origins (17.2)

10. Dead Rising 3 (15.0)

11. Ryse (13.2)

12. Saints Row IV (10.1)

13. Knack (7.7)

14. Gran Turismo 6 (5.0)

15. Beyond: Two Souls (3.3)

16. Wolfenstein: The New Order (3.2)

17. Drive Club (3.0)

18. Splinter Cell: Blacklist (2.9)

19. The Bureau: Xcom Declassified (0.4)

20. South Park: The Stick of Truth (0.2)

The data comes via analysts Cowen & Co, which compiles data based on NPD sale statistics and Amazon.com bestseller information. Titles are given a score based on patterns observed from these sources over the past five years, with the firm claiming its projections are between 96 and 97 per cent accurate.

20

Jeep heads for the Grand Outdoors

Jeep calls the new Grand Cherokee a 2014 model and considering all the additions they have made, it could easily be a car from the future. It looks similar to the previous

Grand Cherokee but, placed side by side, it is amazing how much better the new model looks.

The seven-slot grille is the Jeep’s centrefold of styling and the slots have been slightly shortened and the front end has also gained HID Bi-Xenon headlights normally associated with the Chrysler 300C. The lights have a cool LED daytime running light pattern that gives the car a sleeker stance on the road than before.

It gets 20-inch wheels on the Overland and SRT8 models while the Overland model on test is differentiated slightly in looks, courtesy of colour-coded bumpers and a few splashes of chrome.

The 2014 Grand Cherokee has a really convincing door thud when entering the cabin and when it comes to comfort and well-specified interiors, the Americans rarely miss the mark.

American commuting is often slow, tedious, motorway stuff and a relaxing cabin with lots of kit to play with is a must in the US of A.

The Jeep Overland 5,7-litre has it all. Despite using open-pore wood and real leather with contrasting stitching, the layout of the interior itself is pretty simple and utilitarian with the fascia made up of a one-piece entertainment system slap-bang in the middle of the dash.

The Chrysler U-Connect infotainment system has an 8,4-inch touchscreen and that houses the satellite navigation and powerful sound system that reads USBs, MP3, iPods, Bluetooth phone, and can even read out text messages. The graphics are clear and concise and the screen reacts quickly to inputs.An impressive feature in the new cabin is the huge 7-inch TFT screen that resides in front of the driver in the instrument binnacle. This replaces traditional dials and displays. Jeep says the screen can be configurable in more than 100 different ways and it certainly seems possible.

Car Review

The Grand Cherokee keeps getting better, and the V8-powered Overland is just about perfect

21

The screen can show anything from wheel articulation, front-wheel steering angle, fuel economy dials, satellite navigation prompts, adaptive cruise control information; it is like being commander of the Starship Enterprise.

Moreover, like the centre screen, the graphics are clear, legible and once the steering wheel controls are mastered, easy to use as well. Overland models get adaptive cruise control and heated/cooled seats up front and heated seats at the rear.

Rear passengers also get individual USB ports for their game players or music devices – a very clever ploy to keep the kids happy at the back. A rear electrically operated tailgate is standard across the entire range as well.

In the new Grand Cherokee, Jeep has decided to make a few tweaks to their Selec-Terrain system that is changeable from a dial down on the transmission tunnel. The Sand and Mud mode has been split into two modes for the first time and Sport is now selectable from the gear shifter, rather than the dial.

Selec-Terrain allows the driver to alter the Quadra-Lift adaptable air-suspension ride height to a maximum height of 280mm at its highest setting. However, Rock mode can still be engaged and it is possible to lower the ride height a notch depending on the severity of undulations. The impressive family-sized Grand Cherokee is equipped for any type of terrain the user might encounter.

While Jeep has done nothing to the engines (still 259 kW and 520 Nm for the 5,7-litre V8) in the Grand Cherokee range, they have fitted new eight-speed gearboxes across the board – the eight-speed replaces the old six-speed.

Interestingly, the 3,6-litre V6 and 5,7-litre V8 get a ZF gearbox but in the CRD (still to be launched locally) and SRT8, it is Chrysler’s own eight-speed gearbox adapted from the ZF design. The new gearbox is said to deliver around a 10% improvement in fuel economy and 17% improvement in emissions.

An Eco mode is standard across all the cars with stop/start mode to save precious litres of fuel at the traffic lights. Despite this, in the Jeep Grand Cherokee 5,7-litre Overland, tested average fuel consumption was over 14 l/100 km, which is

a little more than expected with the fitment of the new ratio gearbox and some steady driving over the test period.

A gremlin-prone climate control system loved to pick its own temperatures for the cabin every so often, but aside from those two things, there is little on which to fault the big Jeep SUV.

In fairness to Jeep, the test car was brand new (400 km on the clock) and still in need of a little running in. Yes, there are more efficient family-sized SUVs on the market but the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee offers unsurpassed value against those competitors.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee 5,7-litre Overland retails for R694 990 and that price includes VAT, CO2 tax and a 3-year / 100 000 km warranty and service plan.

R694 990

PR

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Car Review

SPECIFICATIONS ENGINE

Type 90° V8 16-valve

Displacement 5 654cc

Power 259kW at 5 200rpm

Torque 520Nm at 4 200 rpm

TRANSMISSION

Type 8-speed automatic

Drive Wheels 4WD

Acceleration 0–100 km/h 7.3 sec

Top speed 225 km/h

Fuel

Type Petrol

DIMENSIONS/CAPACITIES/EMISSIONS

Length 4 828mm

Width 1 943mm

Height 1 802mm

Wheelbase 2 915mm

Wheels 19-inch alloy

Tyres 235/55 R19

Fuel tank capacity 93.5 litres

Consumption 13 l/100 km combined

CO2 Emissions 304 g/km

22

Trivia

Questions

1. Which country was the first to use the tradition of Christmas trees?a) Germanyb) Englandc) America

2. When is Boxing Day?a) December 27 – two days after Christmasb) December 24 – the day before Christmasc) December 26 – the day after Christmas

3. Who helps Santa Claus make all the gifts?a) Elvesb) Reindeerc) Mrs Claus

4. How many reindeer are there?a) 7b) 9c) 11

5. Which country is the largest exporter of Christmas trees?a) Brazilb) Greenlandc) Canada

6. We all know about the tradition of hanging stockings for gifts. Which country uses shoes instead of socks for the same purpose?a) Germanyb) Switzerlandc) The Netherlands

7. Which of the Wise Men was said to have brought the gift of gold for the baby Jesus?a) Melchior (The King of Arabia)b) Balthazar (The King of Tarse and Egypt) c) Gaspar (The King of Sheba)

8. What holiday drink contains sugar, milk, and eggs?a) Trifleb) Egg nogc) Christmas cake

9. Which reindeer did the others laugh at and call names?a) Dancerb) Rudolphc) Blitzen

10. What colour is the Grinch?a) Greenb) Redc) Gold

HOLIDAY WORD SEARCH:See if you can find all the reindeer’s names…

ANSWERS ANSWERSHOLIDAY SEASON QUIZ

Keeping busy - staying sharp!1. a) 3. a) 5. c) 7. a) 9. b)2. c) 4. b) 6. c) 8. b) 10. a)

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer,Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph