Art Focus
Idube Game Reserve likes to support local entrepreneurs and artists. In this blog, we’d like to focus on two of our talented designers: Virginia Ngwenyama and Kara Peters.
Virginia originally trained as a chef and worked at our sister lodge, Lukimbi, for a number of years. However, health issues made the job, which requires that she stand for hours at a time, impossible for her. Luckily Virginia was able to direct her kitchen innovation in other directions – in the design of intricate beadwork. Her artistic beaded necklaces are worn by Lukimbi waitresses and many of her creations are for sale in the Idube curio shop. Virginia Ngwenyama is a local resident of nearby Bushbuckridge and mainly supports her four children from the proceeds of her talent.
As guests probably know, “Idube” means “zebra” in Shangaan, and South African artist and graphic/surface designer, Kara Peters, was inspired by this magnificent animal for our logo, which is featured throughout the lodge, from breakfast menus to safari vehicle signage. Born in South Africa, Kara has worked as a designer for more than twenty years in several other countries including New Zealand, Canada and the United States. Kara works in many media, but she used Adobe Illustrator to create Idube’s iconic logo – no artificial intelligence here! She’s also used this program to create her Big Five-inspired range of t-shirts, and now scarves, which feature origami-style animals. Frequent requests for a zebra origami t-shirt have resulted in the latest offering in this range. She’s also got a popular “Idube rocks” t-shirt that features guitars in animal print. These have been a huge hit with kids and women! More of her portfolio can be found on her website.
Why not pop into our curio shop during your stay and see some of their work for yourselves?
* Above our lovely guests, the Lythgoe family, model some of the t-shirts available at our curio shop, as they pose with some of the Idube team.
