Most of us have a certain preconceived perception of talent competitions. It was by pure coincidence that my road crossed that of Vicki Fourie, a young girl from Bloemfontein, with 97% profound hearing loss. As Miss Deaf South Africa, it was her dream to participate in the Miss Deaf International 2010 competition in Las Vegas USA.

I met her end of 2009 and experienced her positive energy and motivation to serve other disabled people as a young enthusiastic ambassador, and it was then we decided as the SURE GROUP to invest in her bright personality and thus sponsor her and her mom’s travel and accommodation arrangements for the trip.

Vicki showed the world the value of confronting her handicaps and turn them into gains; to be a real role model and inspiring example to other young people. Her motivational presentations at many schools are testimony of her influence on young people and what an inspiration for each of us.

Vicki, we believe that all South Africans proudly support you as our young, brave and inspiring ambassador in Las Vegas!

It is really shocking to have read the past week about SAA’s senior air hostess who was arrested at London Heathrow International Airport, carrying illegal drugs on her body. This came at a very inappropriate time when the whole world’s attention is focused on South Africa as host country to the FIFA World Cup 2010.

This was not an isolated incident. The crew of SAA was previously also in the news after an unclaimed piece of crew luggage was also found at Heathrow airport, also containing dangerous drugs. The promise by SAA’s authority that they would clamp down and tighten their security control over outbound crew members’ luggage, after the unclaimed luggage incident, did not materialise.

It is sad to think that the image of the South African tourist again has been seriously damaged abroad. When traveling abroad, we are constantly confronted by our high level of serious crime and corruption.

Now one can expect that customs control at airports for inbound South Africans will tighten up, as if we all are potential criminals. It is only fair to assume that the privileged treatment of airline crew will no longer exist for our national carrier.

With the FIFA World Cup now history, all South Africans can admit that it succeeded in bringing people together. Even traditional rugby fans became engaged with their teams and the outcome of specific games. More important is the fact that many foreign football fans fell in love with the many faces of our special country and its diverse people. And most certainly we can expect a huge influx of new tourists in years to come.

Who knows, may be South Africa can even host the Olympics of 2020! We have world class stadiums in place which need entrepreneurs’ initiatives to generate sustainable income.

 -  Johann Beukes

When you open your eyes just a little wider and listen just a bit more intensely, it's possible to discover a whole new side of the world. And perhaps there's no more perfect place to do this than a country neighbouring South Africa: a place that sometimes feels like ten countries rolled into one.
  

 
Looking up, you can only see the crystal clear, transparent deep blue sky; looking down, you sense the total quietness of the vast desert dunes, lurking in the early morning sun like a series of huge dinosaurs’ spines; looking over the endless, almost eerie mirage landscape, the only movement that cannot escape your binocular sight      is the twitching horns of a distant Oryx. 

Namibia represents an uneasy compromise between exploring man and threatened nature; each to carve out their territory of choice. Jagged and, in places, treacherous natural borders were created by centuries of flooding waters of the rare flowing rivers, persistent erosion by a mighty ocean and forceful winds – all of which crafted and painted this unique landscape, still present today. Although this seemingly barren land can be a welcome ally, it can also become an even greater enemy – yet Namibia will always win.

The many faces of Namibia represent a world of ever-changing colours, a myriad of different panoramas, and an inspiring, young democracy of warm and friendly people, proud to showcase their native land to any potential visitor.

This country is a rough diamond on the south-west coast of Africa, waiting to be cut and polished by any eager traveller, even so more the keen photographers, for whom the ever-changing landscape creates a colourful pallet for their skills.

So often it is said that you can only experience the beauty of Namibia on a professionally-organised safari, or as a 4-by-4 fanatic, but we have recently proven the opposite. From Johannesburg, we flew into Windhoek in less than 2 hours, travelled almost 4000 kilometers through Namibia with a normal 2-wheel drive vehicle, without any hassles of even a flat tyre, and experienced first hand most of the beauty of the country.

However, with some careful planning and pre-knowledge of the environment, you can experience many a special corner, and some of the world’s great natural wonders: from the geological escarpment fantasy of the Fish River Canyon, right in the south of the country, to the miracle of a multitude of the ever-changing meandering sand dunes of Sossusvlei, www.sossusvleilodge.com to the archeological rarities of Twyfelfontein’s rock engravings, the Burnt Mountain and Petrified Forest, and concluding at the many waterholes of the Etosha Wildlife Park, near the northern border. www.etoshanationalpark.co.za   

But the real asset of this exciting country is its people. Descended from South Africa, where the racism-flame can still burning between both white and black, and controversial and unnecessary statements are still frequently made by insensitive people for political gain only, we were embraced by the openness and warmth of most of the peoples of Namibia. Understanding the essence of tourism, the local people control and prevent possible crime on grass route level themselves, ensuring an almost absence of incidents that might possibly deter potential tourists.

As a young student, I visited Swakopmund and the Namib Desert many years ago – even had a nerve-racking experience, taunting the dangers of the dunes with an open jeep. This time Monique and I were on a day-excursion past the salt refining works as habitat for the multitude of waterbirds, and further into the wild of the desert, all the way south of Walvis Bay to Sandwich Harbour, with Bruno, the experienced nature lover.

Leaving Walvis Bay with a day-license, we soon reached the spot where the high dunes reach right into the cold waters of the west coast, having to linger until complete low tide. This is an opportune time to enjoy a nice cold Sauvignon Blanc on the dunes high above the stormy ocean, as well as the cold salad platter, paté and freshly baked German bread, all laid out on a table under umbrella. Not only his knowledge of the desert and its fauna and flora, but also his charisma as an excellent ambassador of his country, contribute to the success of Bruno’s personalised tourist business over the past 15 years.  www.turnstone-tours.com

The almost 100 kilometer drive over quite some challenging terrain to eventually reach the north-western escarpment of the Fish River Canyon, was all worth the trouble. An eco-friendly gem, Fish River Lodge has been developed on the very edge of the canyon. Full marks for the sympathetic architecture, the friendly service, the good food and a display of some of the Cape’s best wines, and of course, Simon – a well educated young man, originally from the Ondangwa region. He escorted us to an exceptional viewpoint to enjoy a glass of Trilogy, listen to his humorous tales of his Namibia and waiting for the sun to dim over another day in Africa: painting colours of bright orange and red and slowly transferring into hues of pink and purple. But, what else would you expect to experience when the Rockefellers are the landlords!  www.fishriverlodge-namibia.co

Whether your many memories are written in the ancient rock-paintings, sculptured by skeleton bones as a work of modern art on the desolate sands, or feel the quiet beauty of this country from a hot-air balloon over the endless dunes of Sossusvlei, or spot a dinosaur-like gecko or scorpion among the rocky habitat, or sense the total freedom of the wild desert horses – all life-changing experiences. But it is the catching warmth of the people of this land that will keep on painting the memorable pictures in days to come …