Former Royal Dutch Airlines stewardess Fransje van Riel emigrated to South Africa in 1997, leaving behind her career, friends and home and began her writing career. Her travel and wildlife articles were published in a variety of South African journals and, encouraged by her newly found success, Fransje began researching her first book of non-fiction, Life with Darwin and other Baboons.

The story was snapped up by Dutch publishing house The House of Books and, following its publication in The Netherlands in 2002, Life With Darwin appeared on the shelves a year later in South African bookstores. (Publisher: Penguin Books SA)

Fransje's second book, 'The Crowing of the Roosters', was published a little over a year later. This true life story is a tale of age-old African cultures and traditions as told through the voice of Nomfusi Vinah Yekani, a Xhosa lady whose life experiences spanned five decades against the backdrop of the rural Eastern Cape Province in South Africa during the early 1950's. The Crowing of the Roosters was published to high acclaim in both The Netherlands (Arena Books 2004) and South Africa (David Philip 2005) and was the recipient of a nomination for Africa's premier literary award, The Sunday Times/Alan Paton Book Award in August 2005.

Fransje is currently based in the greater Cape Town area, where she presently concentrates on writing freelance articles for several publications. She has also recently launched her new Sleeping with Lions venture at the Drakenstein Lion Park.

You can visit Fransje's website here: www.fransjevanriel.com.

How did you come to be living in Africa and how different a life is it to that before?

During my almost eight year career as a cabin crew member for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, I visited Africa so many times and felt so connected to its environment that I figured that I'd better live there!

By co-incidence, or synchronization, my family then decided to move to Cape Town, which made the decision to move so much easier. My life is a complete turn around from my life in Europe. Not only has it become much more meaningful, but obviously living in South Africa is a whole different ball-game than in Netherlands, a country that is roughly the size of the Kruger National Park with more than 15 million inhabitants!!

What advice would you give to someone considering radically changing their life in the way you did and how easy was the emigration process?

I think that if the opportunity to change your life feels good you must go for it. There are no rights or wrongs in terms of how we choose to life our lives, only different experiences along the way.

By accepting this I think we free ourselves up for new experiences. In terms of emigration, some people seem to sail through the process without a hitch. My personal experience has been of strain and trouble all along the way.

You were an airline stewardess before: how did you begin your new career in writing?

I remember talking to James, my driver/friend who worked for Governors Camp in the Masai Mara, Kenya. I said to him that I was going to write a book one day. That I had no idea how I was going to do it or what it was about, but simply that I would. And I have. I must confess to always having loved writing even as a child and I would always walk around with pen and paper. I guess it was a seed that was planted during my early years but that has only come to fruition now.

How do you set about writing a book and from where do you find your inspiration?

Writing a book is, in my opinion, simply a process of not thinking about the phenomenal heap of work ahead, but just to start. Obviously you need an inspired idea, an area of interest and passion, and then dive right in! Some times you'll find it won't work, but these false starts give you an indication of what doesn't work, which in turn moves you towards what does.


How did you meet Karin Saks? And then how did the book “Life with Darwin and Other Baboons” develop?

Karin was a friend of a friend and although we are complete opposites, our love for animals resulted in a special friendship. I wrote an article on Karin's unique insights into a wild troop of baboons and realised there was so much more to tell. Hence the idea was born. The story unravelled as she lived her life with Darwin and Spud and all the others and I was privileged to be a close witness to her wonderful work with baboons.

How has its publication focused public attention on the subject matter, ie the much maligned Baboon and Karin Saks herself?

We had some very good press, which the baboons definitely need. Most people in South Africa are quick to condemn baboons as raiders and threatening, but nine out of ten times they don't take any specific actions to ensure that baboons become raiders. For example, when you live in an area where baboon troops reside, you don't leave the trash out or leave fruit and edibles around to entice the animals into the house. It is all a question of respect for their lives and gaining just a little bit of knowledge about their ways. One cannot expect to co-exist with wild animals without some effort on one's own behalf and that often means small simple ways in order to live alongside one another peacefully.


In “The Crowing of the Roosters” you wrote about the life and experiences of a Xhosa woman, Nomfusi Vinah Yekani: who was she and how did you make her acquaintance?

Nomfusi worked for my parents as a domestic worker and she was always recounting stories from her childhood. It didn't take too long to put two and two together!!

What was it about Nomfusi’s story and life that inspired you to write the book of her stories?

I was fascinated by her tales and just decided to take it on. I know this sounds quite strange but it was easy to relate to her.

She is an excellent story teller and just by listening to her I could see the countryside of the rural Eastern Cape, even though I had never been to that area, I could virtually smell the smoke of the wood fire and I could hear the gurgle of the river where she was sent to fetch water for cooking. The whole story was like a movie playing in my mind, and all I had to do was write it up!

You wrote “The Crowing of the Roosters” to tell Nomfusi’s story and it received the/a nomination for the Paton Book Award in August 2005 - what was your reaction?

A complete surprise, the ultimate thrill and one of my proudest moments!

Whilst researching your articles and books how much time do you spend travelling and which part of South Africa holds a special place place in your heart and why?

I actually travel very little, doing most research via libraries and the internet! For my travel articles I did visit some lovely areas, such as the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, London, Sanbona Game Reserve and even close-by Bredasdorp and 'L'Agulhas. More recently my articles have centred on people doing wonderful things for animals in the Cape Town area, such as the Cart Horse Protection Association (article to be published soon) in Epping that looks after the well-being of the working cart horses and their owners or the fabulous work CAT is doing for the feral cats in the prison grounds of Pollsmoor Prison. There are so many worthwhile projects undertaken by a handful of dedicated and enthusiastic people that it blows my mind that they keep going in spite of adverse conditions and the trauma that often accompanies their cause.


What is your favourite of the South African reserves / parks and why? Which type of accomodation do you prefer – high end lodges or self catering in campsites / rondavels and why?

I love all the reserves for different reasons but I must say that my favourite is the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the far north west corner of South Africa. I love the openness and the open river systems. It is a very dry area with little vegetation which makes for great animal viewing. One of the main reasons why I love the Kgalagadi is also because the animals are free to traverse between Botswana and SA which makes me feel their freedom more. One of the saddest things I find is to see wild animals pace along side a fence. Whether they be lions, cheetahs or steenbok, dainty antelopes that sometimes get stuck and die a gruesome death on a fence. Wild spaces carved up in fenced off ''people owned'' areas is something I believe is quite shameful. Who are we to decide that the environment belongs to us to carve up??

Self drive safaris in South Africa: with your experience travelling around the country what advice have you for visitors considering conducting a self drive safari after hiring a vehicle from perhaps Tambo International Airport? (Formerly Johannesburg International Airport)

It's great. My only advise would be to use common sense: don't drive at night, use caution on the roads and be in possession of a good map. Don't ever assume there will be a petrol pump in the next 20km either. Always fill up when you get the chance.


What is your most memorable wildlife encounter – and why was it important to you?

I have had several really special encounters, so it's quite difficult to pin point one particular one.

To be in a small car with a biiiiiig African bull elephant walking past your car within one meter is an awesome experience!

Then, in the Kruger a young male lion was spooked by some tourist cars and ran at top speed across and on a narrow concrete bridge. He ran straight towards my friend and I (in the same tiny car!). I suddenly realised that the window of my car was completely open and, panicking slightly, I started turning the lever to close it. This made the lion stop and veer away from my side. For a moment I thought I was going to have a scene of the movie Jambulani on my hands, with the lion running over my car, but luckily this didn't happen! I also had a spotted hyena appear from a bush about 2 meters away from the tent I was sitting in front of in the Mara. I froze - knowing all too well the power of a hyena's jaws which can crush a human skull in a single bite! I stayed completely still and the adult just leered at me while walking straight past me. Phew!!!

What affect can you see the 2010 World Cup having on South Africa, both in the short term and long term? In your opinion is such an event a good thing for the country to host or could the financial investment have been better spent on other pressing concerns?

These things are quite often difficult to predict. I think as a measure of goodwill 2010 will be an excellent opportunity for South Africans to show the world how far they have come. Cape Town has so much to offer visitors alone, its history and charm are quite delectable.

Having said that, I certainly feel that the whole canned lion industry and the hunting of all animals needs to be cleaned up before that time.


What conservation or wildlife initiatives are you involved personally in?

I am not part of any particular group as such. I am just an ordinary gal with a lot of passion for animals, the environment and nature so I help out where I can and try to highlight issues where I can though my writing. The only person I am working with on a regular basis is Paul Hart of the Drakenstein Lion Park. After being involved in the anti- side of lion hunting I have shifted my focus to eco-educating groups of people not only about the bad side of the industry but rather to share with them the positive. Drakenstein is such a story and it gives me great pleasure when I see people leave the sanctuary feeling happier within themselves not only for better understanding what the canned industry is all about but also to had the pleasure of being in the company of happy lions, rescued animals that allow people to feel closer connected to the whole issue of lion hunting.

In a nutshell, I have come to adopt the stance that what you fight, dis empowers you. By being for something, one is filled with passion, which in turn is empowering and creative. I'd much rather spend time with people being with the lions and showing them their intrinsic value than to be immersed in all the horribleness all day long, although I have a deep respect for those who do.

Describe the “Sleeping with lions” experience at Drakenstein and what can a guest expect from the night?

Usually I meet my guests around 1.45, show them to their tents and then we sit down for a buffet lunch and talk shop, so to speak. After lunch I take them round the sanctuary and explain the history of Drakenstein and introduce people to the lions and their individual stories. By this time it is nearly 4pm, when the lions are fed. This blends into Champagne sundowners beside the enclosure of Bad Boy and Shy Boy, two strapping boys, which in turn blends into dinner. By this time, if all goes well, the lions start their early evening roars. Experience has shown that most people prefer an early night so it's into bed and listening to the lions roar throughout the night!!!!! After breakfast the following morning, it's check out time.

In your opinion what are the most important issues concerning wildlife conservation in South Africa at this time? What is being done to address them both on a governmental level and perhaps with a greater degree of success at grass roots level? How can one personally become involved in doing something to help?

Every single person counts. Although the minister of Environment and Tourism was dedicated to root out canned hunting of wild animals, little is being done to address the issue of welfare of these same animals I believe that with anything, the only way forward it to rally together and have a say as a nation. All too often politicians forget that they are supposed to be the amalgamated voice of the people. The overall population of SA is against canned hunting, yet a small minority who stand to gain financially are responsible for the horror to continue. I say, inform yourself and take a stand. You can always help by lending your support to a bona fide organisation or by supporting a sanctuary such as Drakenstein, which is dependent on public support to rescue lions and keep them safe for the remainder of their natural lifetime. Also, ask questions!!! If visiting a venue with cubs, ask them why they are breeding? With 4000-5000 captive reared and captive kept lions in South Africa, the last thing we need is another lion. These animals have as much conservation value as your pet rabbit. It is time people became more aware and to stop visiting venues that perpetuate the industry of farmed wild animals.

Nelson Mandela said: "Ultimately conservation is about people. If you don't have sustainable development around these parks, then the people will have no interest in them, and the parks will not survive." In your opinion how can the needs of the population immediately surrounding conservation areas / parks best be addressed and whose responsibility do you think it is - governmental, NGO, or even the luxury tourist lodges themselves?

It is an unfortunate fact that the world in which we live dictates that other living creatures, whether they be plants, trees or animals, must have some sort of financial value to be deemed 'worthy' enough to exist. However, this is (currently) a reality. I believe that the hunting of animals in order to preserve the environment is totally absurd. Killing is killing and killing for so called sport something that belongs in the past along with colonialism, racism, women and child abuse and other atrocities. By looking for non-lethal solutions, such as dropping fences and liasing with neighbouring countries and implementing tourism levies we can go a long way. Most hunts that take place have nothing to do with helping disadvantaged communities. It is throwing money at those who are in dire need of it, of course they are not going to turn funds down. But what is the difference then between trophy hunting and so called poaching?? Interesting debate.

Aside from smaller projects and the Sleeping with the Lion’s experience what are you currently working on... Is there another book in the works can we have a sneak preview of its theme?

I have been doing a lot of freelance writing for several SA publications but yes, there is another book in the pipeline.. It's early days so while I am conceptualising the idea I'd rather keep quiet about it for now.....

What does the future hold for Fransje van Riel?

Life unfolds itself step by step, I've learned, so step by step is how I hope to build onto where I am today....