Birds, Brushes & Bubbles: An Art Safari to Remember at Tokara

GOOD morning, nature lovers! And by “good,” we mean crack-of-dawn, coffee-in-hand, sunrise-glowing-on-your-face kind of good. Because when we say the early bird catches the worm, we mean it. 🐛 Ten bright-eyed nature enthusiasts joined us for an unforgettable Bird Art Safari at the breathtaking Tokara Wine Estate in Stellenbosch. And let’s just say—it was tweet-worthy.  Led by the visionary duo Jeanne Hugo, artist, naturalist, and creativity whisperer, and Daniël Engelbrecht, a Nature Sciences Student and pro birder, we dove beak-first into a morning of awe, inspiration, and good ol’ grounded joy.

Rise & Shine (and Sip!). The sun rose like a shy blush over the Tokara mountains, and so did we—into a serene space far from work deadlines and school runs. The private Tokara gardens felt like something out of a Miyazaki film: magical, alive, and whispering secrets if you only stood still enough to listen. Jeanne welcomed us with what can only be described as a love letter to nature, guiding us to truly hear the call of the wild—soil, bugs, birds, even the way moss clung to rocks like nature’s own velvet. Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper start without a heavenly Tokara Deli cappuccino.

By 8:30, we descended into Tokara’s lush, green heart. Jeanne coaxed us out of our heads and into our senses—prompting us to gather feathers, pebbles, and leaves that spoke to us. (Yes, nature talks. You just need to be willing to listen). At the Adamastor Moss Garden, a masterpiece sculpted from a former tennis court by commissioned Anne-Marie Ferreira, silence fell—not from awkwardness, but from reverence. This mossy haven, inspired by Japanese gardening with a South African soul, cleansed our urban cluttered minds. Here, we traced rock textures with chalk, mimicking the rhythm of nature, letting our hands remember what our minds forgot: how to play.

And then… the best intermission in art history: BRUNCH.

We floated back up to Tokara’s delicatessen where MCC (bubbles!), silky cappuccinos, and a lineup of indulgent delights—eggs benedict, vanilla yogurt crowned with jewels of fruit, golden honey and granola—awaited. We ate, we laughed, we spilled a little cappuccino in excitement, and most importantly: we bonded in the autumn sun.

Art From the Earth, For the Soul: Post-brunch, our workshop space welcomed us like a scene from an aesthetic dream: personalized easels, natural inks (shoutout to Forage Studio!), and Jeanne's 5-step creative ritual, all ready to unbox the inner artist hiding under your grocery lists and Zoom fatigue. We used what we’d gathered—lines, shadows, charcoal, pigment, even ash—and collaborated with the earth, not just on it. The studio buzzed with energy. Moms rediscovered themselves. Retired couples giggled over smudged thumbs. A surgeon let go of perfection and embraced the mess. And oh, what beautiful, coocoo messes we made.

Every piece was signed with a bamboo pen and received a symbolic coocoo stamp—a cheeky wink to letting go, going a little wild, and remembering that sometimes, crazy is the point.

You’re Invited to Get Coocoo Too

So here’s the part where you stop just reading and start planning.
We’re doing it again, and we want you there!

Next Bird Art Safari:

📍 Tokara Wine Estate, Stellenbosch
Saturday, September 20th, 2025
08:00 – 13:00

Space is limited (and we mean it—these slots fly faster than a kingfisher on espresso), so don’t wait. Let this be your moment to say YES to creativity, nature, and champagne before noon.  Tap the link in our bio to book your spot or tag your wild-at-heart friend who needs this.

Hatching Hope: Tuxedos Coastal Comeback!

The African penguin, once numbering in millions, now has fewer than 10,000 breeding pairs left, threatened mainly by overfishing of sardines and anchovies. But on 18 March 2025, South Africa’s High Court granted a landmark ruling establishing 10-year no-fishing zones around six key penguin breeding colonies—offering a vital lifeline to this endangered species. This decision, backed by science and community advocacy, balances conservation with sustainable fishing and gives hope for the penguin’s future. More on this here