Welcome:

Hi, and welcome to my site. Consider yourself truly welcomed with open arms… if this were you knocking on my door, as opposed to clicking on to my web page, I’d ask you to come in for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine (which would undoubtedly be a much better idea!) and a natter….
So, do please make yourself at home, have a peep round, have fun clicking those buttons and I trust that there will be something there that you like and won’t be able to resist.

About My Unique Designs:

As with all Jabulani Designs – no matter what it is – each item is carefully thought out and sensitively assembled using a variety of glass and or acrylic beads together with a selection of attractive findings. I strive to make each piece as interesting and distinctive as I can. If an item doesn’t look quite right for whatever reason, I take it apart and start all over again – it has to be just so! Not only that, but I want my clients to be 100% happy with their purchases. If I wouldn’t want to wear it myself, I don’t make it! It’s as simple as that…
Each and every Jabulani Design will be totally individual and unique, therefore not one will ever be exactly the same. No doubt you will be able to find nice earrings and other costume jewellery at Per Una, Accesorize/Monsoon , and other such places. BUT….., as with all these high street stores, all the items for sale will always be the same, and will be distributed in very large quantities, therefore none of them will ever be unique. Neither are they made with such intricate detail, thought, patience and oodles of love….. What would you rather wear?

Now About Me:

I am Elsje, pronounced Elsha, and I was born in Pretoria, South Africa out of Dutch parents, but left there when I was three years old. Then, after having lived in the centre of Amsterdam for 8 years of my early childhood, I moved to England with my Mother. This is where I still live today…. deep in the glorious heart of the Somerset country side. And yes…. I do still speak Dutch!
Many people have asked me where the word “Jabulani” comes from and what it means.
So here is the story……
Having got the “African Bug” (must have had something to do with the fact that I was born there, who knows?) I went on holiday to Zimbabwe in 1997 and toured the country for almost 3 weeks. During the remaining time of my stay in the Southern part of the country, I stayed 5 or so days at a private game ranch called Sondelani, where I spent all my time, deep in the bush with 10 orphaned elephants, 4 keepers and a ranger and did nothing other than walk with them, be with and observe them (the elephants I mean of course!) in their environment. Each day I got to ride a few of them, bareback I might add! No comfy saddles for this girl!! I have to say, that this was a truly amazing and humbling experience and an extremely happy memory that will stay with me forever. After a relatively short while of being with those large, but oh so gentle giants, and by constantly talking to them, they got to know me more and more each day and would actually come over when called. (ok, so a few pony nuts and a bag of oranges also made sure that they did!) There was a darling baby called Mouse, a naughty little elephant. We would often walk along, trunk in hand, closely followed by Anna - her bigger sister. The eldest of the elephants was 10 year old bull called Jabulani, whose mother had been killed for her ivory by poachers. This was sadly also the case for most of the other orphans, and it really was a wonder that they all adapted so well to their human “family” the way they did. When I asked the boys what “Jabulani” meant, they told me that in their Shona language it meant “Happiness”. It is the same in Zulu and Ndebele. His name planted itself firmly in my heart and has stuck with me ever since my days in Zimbabwe. Since the troubles there and the continued slaughter of wild animals, I often wonder whatever became of 'my babies'. Thank goodness I had the unique opportunity to fulfil a lifelong dream of being with these wonderful creatures for 5 whole days, in their environment and on their terms. I am blessed, truly blessed!
In 2002, a lady by the name of Lente Roode learned of a herd or orphaned elephants in Zimbabwe (My babies?) and whose lives were in jeopardy after their home and game farm was invaded by war veterans. Lente bought the elephants and moved them to Hoedspruit in South Africa – where they now safely reside at Kapama Private Game Reserve/Camp Jabulani. Also, in 1997, Lente found a 3 month old baby elephant calf stuck in a silt dam near Hoedspruit. The exhausted little calf was taken to the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (which she founded) and she named him Jabulani. In 2002, little Jabulani, then 5 years old, needed an elephant family, so when the Zimbabwe herd arrived, it could not have been a better outcome. Little Jabulani took to them, as they did to him. They now all live happily ever after! A 'Jabulani' ending for all the elephants concerned. NB... I was in SA in February 2007 and met up with Lente in Hoedspruit. I had told her the story about "my babies" and it turns out that the Zimbabwe herd she rescued are NOT my darling orphans at all... However, after a little more research, I discovered on a site monitoring & reporting on the dire situation in Zimbabwe and I quote:
" that Basil Steyn (the owner of Sondelani Ranch) in October 2006 moved 15 elephants from Sondelani Ranch in Gwanda area to Victoria Falls and that they were in not a good condition.". I then received an email from a lady called Vicky (Basil's partner) who informed me that Basil sold 6 of the original Sondelani herd - Jabulani being one of them - to a guy called Douw Steyn in SA (no relation). Vicky has assured me that all Basil's elephants are well looked after, are all in FINE HEALTH and are being used for elephant back safaris. She is not sure what happened to the others that were sold, but I read an article that Douw Steyn alledgedly sold them to a guy called Hugo Ras who owns Orian Safari Lodge. Whatever the outcome I will never know - but at least my little bit of blurb on my website, gave me some of the answers I was hoping to find. I am a little happier now.. If you are reading this Vicky, as I feel sure you will do soon, thanks for the update and the various emails. Do please remember to send me a hard copy of the "Elephant back Safari" brochure in the post. The pdf file you sent me has been lost. Regards to Basil and hopefully when things become more stable in Zim, I will make contact so as to make arrangements to come over and be reunited with some of "my babies" at least & to hook up with you both. Continued success!! Stay in touch..