South Africa: An unforgettable journey

Annick Bacher and Suzanne Stahl both work for Jardins de Gaïa. They told us about their trip to South Africa earlier this year. The pair travelled together with Jardins de Gaïa founder Arlette Rohmer and Cassandre Maury, who is in charge of products and lines. The four of them were received with an exceptionally warm welcome by our small producers in South Africa. Here is their story… (Photos: Christine Nachmann)

How were you welcomed by the South Africans?

Annick: It was like a dream! As soon as we landed we were looked after by Christine Nachmann* who was a fantastic guide throughout the trip. She could talk forever on every subject – whether it was plants, animals, the history of South Africa, its economy or way of life. And above all she has a very infectious enthusiasm which comes from a love of her country!

As for the producers, they are simply wonderful! They are so warm and direct that from the moment we met them we felt immediately part of their community!

Working with them and sharing their delicious meals made with local vegetables and fruits were unforgettable moments.

Suzanne: I had the same impression as Annick. The warmth they exude is truly contagious! I am a farmer’s daughter and it felt like returning to a time when people were very supportive in our countryside. There was a very special atmosphere in the streets of the villages we visited. You really feel that everyone knows one another: everyone says hello and children run up to you spontaneously, full of smiles.

It also feels like South African farmers do things naturally, simply for the love of it. Money is less important than it is at home: acts of solidarity are part of everyday life. I experienced moments in their presence that sometimes moved me to tears. I had the impression of going back to basics.

And above all I felt that these are people who are proud of their soil and they still have direct contact with it as our farmers once did. They like to share the fruits of their work over a meal. You feel that for them it is a gift of nature that they still know how to respect.

Although they don’t have much, sharing is an integral part of their way of life.
I was also touched by the way they welcomed Arlette. I immediately felt how much they re-spect her and I think she really has a privileged friendship with them. Many of them came one afternoon when we showed the films we had made to mark the 20th anniversary of Jardins de Gaïa. They were very curious and always wanted to know more about us.

What impressed you the most during that two-week trip?

Annick: I didn’t really know what to expect and the first few kilometres of track made me immediately think of the vastness of Australia. The open spaces stretch as far as the eye can see in a thousand different variations of the colour ochre. Then from time to time, in the midst of this arid landscape, unbelievable places seem to emerge from nowhere… like the areas covered by Kokerboom, the majestic plant from the aloe family that takes 20 or 30 years to flower. Or the Papkuislfontein plateau with its extraordinary biodiversity and its breathtaking canyons. Being in the middle of these places leaves unforgettable memories! Also, I can’t stop going back to look at my photos.

My dream is to return to South Africa to do some hiking in spring because the diversity of the flowers, plants, landscapes and colours is at its peak at this time of the year.

Curiously the colours seemed much more intense in South Africa. There were vibrant deep red sunsets that almost seem unreal.

The nature has an intensity that I never imagined. Also Suzanne got up every day between four and five in the morning to drink in every drop of this trip where everything seemed magical.

Suzanne: It was the trip of a lifetime! I’d never had the opportunity to fly and travel far away. I always dreamed of it, but I never dared to take the plunge! My dream came true with the raffle at the celebration for Jardins de Gaïa’s 20th anniversary: I won a ticket to South Africa!

I still can’t believe it and my family even had to encourage me to go because I was reluctant to leave them by themselves… The whole village knew and even now people come up to me in the street to hear about my trip!

I was often astounded by the power and beauty of the nature in South Africa. With the mountains, huge canyons, incredible plants and hundreds of kilometres of tracks where you see thousands of animals, it’s truly amazing!

What also surprised me is the way South Africans get around in this huge country: you see lots of people walking in the sun for dozens of kilometres from the nearest villages. Walking from one place to another over long distances appears to be part of their daily lives.

You had the chance to take part in the rooibos harvest. How did you find this experience?

Suzanne: I have really good memories of it! I really enjoyed the experience. I used to work on a farm on Wednesday afternoons and in the evening after school and the very rounded sickle used for harvesting rooibos is much like the one I used for harvesting parsley. It works in a similar way and I am very proud to have been able to take part in the harvest of a plant that makes the iconic drink of South Africa!

Annick: We got up very early to be in the fields from 6 am. It’s quite usual there because the temperature can very quickly rise above 40 degrees during the day. That said, this year was particularly mild. It even rained while we were there in the middle of summer, which had not happened for a long time.

The harvest which takes place in summer (winter in Europe) is the most important time of the year for producers. You could feel a real buzz just as you do during the grape harvest in France. It was a unique moment to be in the middle of these truly extraordinary landscapes.

I don’t think Suzanne and I will ever drink a cup of rooibos in quite the same way again!

*Christine Nachmann left Germany for the South African light 25 years ago. A photographer and big tea fan, she has been following Arlette Rohmer on her travels for almost ten years, capturing the moment with great sensitivity in her photos.