From the Veld

Natasha UysAn ode to a lifetime spent in the solitude of the Namibian veld, Danene van der Westhuyzen’s book of recipes and reflections is a love letter to our country – a visual and literary admiration of all facets of its stark beauty.

From the graceful resilience of wild game to the quiet presence of the Aru tree and the steely determination of the Namibian people, ‘From the Veld’ is inspired by Van der Westhuyzen’s passion for fair and ethical hunting and her anti-poaching and conservation efforts.

As president of the Namibia Professional Hunting Association, Van der Westhuyzen is a staunch advocate of celebrating the amazing variety of food found in the Namibian veld.

From different types of game like springbok, eland, zebra and impala to delicious local lamb, beef and ostrich, as well as the much-treasured !/Nabbas (Kalahari truffles) and the abundance of fruit and vegetables, ‘From the Veld’ promotes moving away from rampant consumerism towards connecting with the earth as our source of food.

Even the bespoke leather cover of the book was designed to offer an authentic Namibian experience.

“I wanted the book to feel, smell and talk Namibia,” she says of the limited-edition leather-wrapped copies, designed by Leon Engelbrecht’s LED Designs.

“The book is also available in a plain white linen cover, embossed in gold. All of these factors, the open spine binding, the very specific type of paper, the cover and the leather makes it a very expensive book, but when it opens up everything speaks of Namibia.”

To further conservation efforts in the country, 15% of the proceeds will be donated to the Namibian Chamber of Environment.

“We Namibians all have such an amazing repertoire of traditions, heritages and tastes. But we are also forced to recognise the harshness this beautiful country holds.”

As residents of one of the least-populated countries in the world, Van der Westhuyzen says Namibians are still quite removed from the modern world – something our neighbours covet and enjoy briefly only during holidays.

“It is second nature to most Namibians to live off the veld, but we often don’t realise what a treasure we have in our wildlife, and to be able to sustainably utilise it.”

Van der Westhuyzen and her husband, Gysbert, operate Aru Game Lodges where they hunt and gather as much as possible, making their own food, such as bread, jam, butter, cream yoghurt and ricotta cheese.

They also grow their own fruit and vegetables.

The wife and mother of three says living on a farm and being part of the tourism industry is filled with long hours and many ups and downs, as is evident from the effects of Covid-19 on tourism.

“But I believe everyone is placed where they are needed, and should make the decision every day to make a difference where they are,” she says.

While Van der Westhuyzen does not have a background as a chef, her passion for cooking is clear judging by the many shared recipes – some borrowed from relatives and friends, and perfected at the lodges.

“Both my grandmothers were born in Namibia and endured much hardship. They were leading ladies in my life. My love for baking came from my Ouma Lenie, while my Ouma Peet was an exceptional cook who taught me all she knew. I still have their recipe books, which are treasures in my household. Through their flour-smeared and fat-blotched pages, I relive some of the best times of my life. With every pinch of salt rubbed through my fingers, I salute them, remember them, and love them.”

With ‘From the Veld’ being almost a decade in the making, Van der Westhuyzen says she worked on it on and off, saving money along the way for the self-funded project.

Featuring captivating photography by Ivan Volschenk, Zak van Biljon, Gritmedia and lodge guests, friends and family, ‘From the Veld’ offers intimate glimpses into her early life on the farm, as well as everyday slices of domestic family life.

It showcases the utter beauty of the country and the majesty of wildlife in its natural habitat, while documenting the preparation of recipes as well as the delicious final products, alongside images of loyal lodge staff and guests.

The design was done by her sister-in-law Nicole van der Westhuyzen, and the book is published by Tip Africa.

“It is a strong passion about something that pushes you to put pen to paper, nothing else. These recipes are a tribute to all those who remember our Namibian sunsets and who hope to savour them soon.”