South African National Anthem

Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika
Maluphakanyisw' uphondo lwayo
Yizwa imithandazo yethu
Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo

Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso
O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho
O se boloke, O se boloke
Setjhaba sa heso
Setjhaba sa South Afrika

South Afrika !

Uit die blou van onse hemel,
uit die diepte van ons see,
Oor ons ewige gebergtes
waar die kranse antwoord gee.

Sounds the call to come together
and united we shall stand.
Let us live and strive for freedom
in South Africa our land.

TRANSLATION OF THE ANTHEM

Lord Bless Africa
May her glory be lifted high
Hear our petitions
Lord bless us. Us your children

Lord we ask You to protect our nation
Intervene and end all conflicts
Protect us, protect us
Protect our nation
Protect South Africa

South Africa!

Ringing out from our blue heavens,
from our deep seas breaking round,
Over everlasting mountains
where the echoing crags resound.

Sounds the call to come together
and united we shall stand.
Let us live and strive for freedom

From SA Languages

For those of you that struggle to pronounce the Anthem correctly, one innovative blogger has the solution:

Follow the link to Brand South Africa Blog for the whole document, it’s definitely worth your time.

Go to Drum Beat Academy's website to learn how you can help promote our country with our Tourist Guide and Event Support Training.

Freedom Park

Freedom Park is one of the 11 Presidential Legacy Projects, and is the product of the many processes engaged in by Government since 1994 to create and foster a new national consciousness of the common legacy that binds the people of South Africa. It is situated on a 52-hectare site on Salvokop in Pretoria from which visitors have an amazing panoramic view of the city.

We recently had the pleasure of assessing two of their well informed site guides, Jacob and Bophelo, and found them open, friendly, knowledgeable and very well suited to the task at hand. Congratulations gentlemen, may your future be bright.

Visit Freedom Park's website for more information.

Please visit Drum Beat Academy's website for more details about our Tour Guide, Site Guide and Event Support Training.

That Holiday Feeling

We celebrated another successful year with family, friends and colleagues, ending the year on a high note as that holiday feeling creeps up on us once again.

Have a very Happy Christmas and a Blessed New Year.

Drum Beat will be closed from 15 December 2009 to 4 January 2010.

Congratulations

We are indeed proud to announce that Michael van Niekerk, Drum Beat’s Affiliate for the Western Cape, has been re-elected to serve a further four year term on the international Board of Directors of NAUI Worldwide.

The acronym NAUI stands for National Association of Underwater Instructors

Michael is in fact the first and still the only South African ever elected to the Board of Directors of any international diver training agency.

Formed in California in1959, with its current headquarters in Tampa, Florida, NAUI Worldwide is the most respected and the largest non-profit diver certifying organization in the world, whose members offer a full range of training programs from Skin Diver through Instructor Course Director, with dozens of specialty courses including Nitrox and Technical diving. Tens of thousands of NAUI member instructors, dive businesses, resorts, and service centres are located in countries throughout the world.

It is interesting to note that all US astronauts (who train at the Johnson Space Centre in Texas), are required to undergo scuba training as an introduction to ‘weightlessness’. For this purpose, NASA, the agency responsible for the United States space program selected NAUI as their agency of choice. The result is that every astronaut is NAUI certified.

We are indeed proud to be associated, even indirectly, with an organization of this stature.

Congratulations, Michael.

For further information on NAUI in Southern Africa visit www.nauisa.org

The Ranch Hotel and Lion Kingdom

We had the wonderful pleasure of facilitating a First Aid Level 1 training course at The Ranch Hotel & Lion Kingdom just outside of Polokwane in Limpopo Province. The Ranch is situated in a malaria free grasslands area and boasts a wonderful lion and wildlife park.

Something we all forget to do...

Go to Drum Beat Academy's Tour Guide and Event Support Training website for more information on our First Aid Training (Level 1, 2 & 3) and Basic Fire Awareness Training courses.

Guvon Academy Open Day At Glenburn Lodge, Mulderdrift

Join us and Drum Beat Academy to find out more about our unique learning institution that offers a nurturing transition from Level 2 to a diploma.

Date: 10 October 2009
Time: 09:00 – 13:00

Courses Offered:

National Diploma in Service Management

National Certificate Food and Beverage Service/Management

National Certificate Professional Cookery

National Certificate Accommodation Service

National Certificate Hospitality Reception

National Certificate Event Support/Management

Tourism and Conservation:

National Certificate in Tourism Guiding

National Certificate Conservation Guardianship

Course will include practical Workplace Experience at one of our 3 or 5 star Lodges/Hotels. After Completion, GUVON will assist you with Employment.

Book your FREE tour and refreshments for the 10th of October now!!!
Different Tours include:
Food and Beverage Service/Kitchen and Morning Tea
Nature Walk (Please wear Tekkies and Jeans)
Events: Weddings and Conferences Facilities and Services
Reception and House Keeping
Information regarding Study and Career Choices will also be available

For more information on the Open Day, please call:

Training: 011 668 1628/00 or SMS your name for Tour to:

082 950 2999 / 071 421 2271 / 073 845 1839
Email: training@glenburn.co.za

Cullinan Diamond Mine

It was reported that a huge white diamond (507 carats rough) was discovered at Cullinan Diamond Mine on 24 September 2009. It is speculated that it might be a Type I diamond and amongst the top 20 largest high quality rough diamonds ever found worldwide. More details on the diamond will be released as soon as the diamond has undergone appropriate analysis.

The Cullinan Diamond Mine is situated in Cullinan, 40 km east of Pretoria. It was established in 1902 and became world renowned in 1905 when the Cullinan Diamond (3,106.75 carats rough) was discovered. Other significant diamonds from the mine include the Golden Jubilee (755 carats rough) and the Centenary (599 carats rough). Cullinan Diamond Mine is also the only significant source of blue diamonds in the world. De Beers sold its historic Cullinan Diamond Mine in 2007 to a consortium led by Petra Diamonds.

Cullinan Diamond Mine

507 Carats (rough) diamond

For more information about the mine and the diamonds visit their site.

For more information on the courses we off please visit Drum Beat Academy’s Tourism and Event Support website.