Colin Cowie

Globally respected as an arbiter of style, Colin Cowie is widely known for throwing the most spectacular celebrations around the world. An authority on living with style, Cowie is the author of eight bestselling books, a celebrated television personality and a designer.

With an international clientele that reads like the guest list at the Academy Awards, Cowie’s client list includes Oprah Winfrey, Jerry Seinfeld, Eddie Murphy, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Aniston. Some of the spectacular events designed and produced by Colin Cowie Lifestyle include Oprah Winfrey’s Legends Ball, John Travolta’s 50th birthday celebration, the Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar parties and the grand openings of Palm Island, Dubai and the Atlantis Hotel on Palm Island.

Cowie also appears as a much-in-demand guest on many national television shows, including NBC’s The Today Show, and has been profiled and quoted extensively by a host of national and regional publications.

Colin Cowie's Tale

They say that life’s not about how many moments you breathe, but how many moments take your breath away. As I watched the sun set over Johannesburg’s lush forested skyline, I had no idea how many breathtaking moments I’d experience over the next ten days, on this whirlwind tour of some of South Africa’s most exceptional locations. I was born in Zambia and raised in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa, and so this was home for me. Yet once again I realized how much more there is to explore right in my own backyard…

But let’s start at the beginning. It was on a balmy Saturday evening at Johannesburg’s Westcliff Hotel, at the invitation of South African Tourism, when I found myself in the company of a small group of impressive individuals whom I call friends. As our first location, the Westcliff made the ideal setting for South Africa to give us a hint of what was to come. A little piece of heaven right in the middle of Johannesburg’s northern suburbs, this grand hotel sits high on a rocky outcrop, giving its visitors a stunning panorama and a soundtrack defined by the occasional lion’s roar from the zoo gardens below.

As we sipped cocktails next to the sparkling infinity pool, and feasted on oysters and ostrich bobotie (made by Executive Chef, Sven Niederbremer to the exacting standards of my travel compatriot Chef Rocco DiSpirito), I regaled stories of life and travel and love of South Africa. The reputation of South Africa meant this trip had a lot to live up to, and the incredible journey that ensued was one that any traveler would wish to experience.

Our next destination was the ultra-luxurious and very exclusive game lodge, Molori, situated in Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa’s North West Province near the Botswana border. After a leisurely Sunday start, we boarded a Federal Air chartered flight that took us there in under an hour. Deceiving, since this unique location and blissful escape seemed like it was a million miles away. We left the bustling metropolis of Johannesburg and flew over the lazy Magalies mountain range, one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, and the glinting Lost City Palace. Like a scene out of a movie, our small aircraft landed with a puff of dust on a dry strip of land, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Who would have thought that in this place, which winter had left sparse before the spring rains, our every need would be met before it could even be thought of?

Having been collected in true safari style on an open-topped vehicle, we were escorted to the lodge by our game ranger and host Greg. I am not often at a loss for words, but Molori left me speechless…stress-less, anxiety-less, calorie-conscious-less and in a total state of contentment. To truly experience what Molori is, you must visit it yourself, but I can certainly set the stage:

Where else in the world do foldaway glass walls open onto a wooden deck with your own private pool, outside shower, and a stack of towels that could dry an elephant should one choose to wander in for a splash? Where else is your “home” a fusion of natural and modern materials that seamlessly blend into their surroundings? Where else are you always greeted by the kind of attention to detail that makes you understand what the word 'luxury' actually means, like the delightful snacks in your room or the emergency bathroom kit that makes you wish you had left your own toiletry bag at home?

After a spectacular lunch overlooking the plains, we departed on our afternoon game drive, and had the privilege of being the only nine human beings for miles, leisurely drinking in the African landscape and its resident impala, warthog and rhino. In definitive Molori style, we drank sundowners on an elegantly, linen-decked table in a clearing on the dusty roadside. Only in South Africa, I would say to this. As we chatted, our different accents mingling in the air, the warm sun dipped against the horizon. Within a few heartbeats it become oil dark and the stars faded into a ceiling of dancing lights, as though they had been planned, orchestrated and sublimely executed. No event planner could have done better.

Wake me up at five-thirty in the morning on any normal day and I would not vouch for my actions, but this morning at Molori I leapt out of bed and stepped into the outside shower despite the temperature. The warm water cascading over my body while outside, virtually defenseless to the wild, watching the steam rising in a lazy spire through the chilly African air, was worth every moment of sleep lost.

The awaiting Land Rover was kitted with the finest cashmere blankets, hot water bottles and an ample supply of freshly brewed coffee, homemade rusks (like biscotti) and fresh fruit (cut by someone whose call-time was clearly even earlier than mine). The greatest reward, however, was the sighting of animals as they awakened, their bright eyes appearing magically, pair after pair, as the sun slowly revealed itself and the day began to blossom.

The experience that followed filled not just my tummy but also my soul. Greg, our guide, spotted a virile bull elephant in musth (ready to mate) far off in the bush and turned our vehicle in his direction. We drove a little closer, then stopped as the elephant slowly approached us. This huge beast, over ten feet tall and weighing well over four tons, moved straight towards our vehicle. As he did, he made a sound I would describe as a low growl, a rumble almost pre-historic in nature. There we were, in an open vehicle, knowing that the elephant could flip and roll it about as easily as a cat toying with a mouse. In a matter of seconds, I was reminded to respect the power of nature. The elephant, thankfully, did not have anything to prove (or perhaps already had) and walked away.

That day, we came across the Cape Buffalo, a member of the Big Five. This term refers to the five animal species in Africa most difficult to hunt on foot, and the ones that can actually kill you. Among the five, the Cape or African Buffalo is revered as the most dangerous (and has supposedly caused the most hunter deaths). They are known as very private animals, difficult to find, and so it was a true and rare privilege to see them.

As a son of African soil, my pride hoped I was able to show my guests how magical this place really is. Driving through the sparse landscape, I was ecstatic to come upon lions, two male and one female. Our cameraman and photographer were seated at the back, with Rocco and I in the front, behind Greg. The position of the vehicle made it difficult to get a good shot from the back and so I took over the stills camera and Rocco began filming. We coaxed Greg into saying something into the camera, as if presenting a television insert. As he finished he turned to the lion and, as if on cue, the lion roared… his breath steamed and his saliva strung between his impressive teeth. His roar reverberated through us, a sound that remains clear in my memory even now. It is a rare occurrence to see a lion roar, especially during the day, and once again I reflected on those details

that you just can not plan. In Molori, the extraordinary seems more likely to occur.

We were welcomed back to the lodge after our evening game drive by the sound of beautiful voices, sung by a chorus of young Tswana dancers who drummed and sang ancient African songs. They led us to the boma, gathering place, which was alight by deep orange fires, exquisitely set tables and ostrich egg lanterns hanging from tree branches. I requested one of my favorite dishes, lamb on the spit. To do this justice, I have to let you in on a little secret from our trip: I chose not to be a die-hard New York vegetarian for just this evening. That’s how good it was, enhanced only by the best wine South Africa has to offer. By dessert, I was taking in the unparalleled view of the stars that we later viewed from the largest privately owned telescope in South Africa (a 16” Meade LX200). It was heavenly.

Reflecting back, I remember so many special moments at Molori. Some were as simple as the following morning’s Eggs Benedict made from the leftover lamb (at my request). In my opinion, it was even better the second time. Others were more elaborate, such as the dinner I hosted in my private suite on our last night of the trip. The suite’s dining room, infinity pool and Jacuzzi mixed with an iPod play list so we could party in style to our own music. Moments like this, or watching Greg standing on the bonnet of the Land Rover waving us goodbye as our airplane lifted gently up, do feel like a movie which you wish would never end.

These are moments I will never forget.