A Message from Our Founder
My journey to the shadows of the Passu Cones didn’t begin in a kitchen, but in the vibrant, complex heart of Johannesburg.
I grew up in an era of deep shadows and then witnessed the miraculous dawn of the Rainbow Nation. As a native Afrikaans speaker, the spirit of Ubuntu – “I am because we are” – wasn’t just a slogan; it was the heartbeat of a new South Africa. It is that same spirit of resilience and community that I felt the moment I first stepped into the Hunza Valley.
The Educator’s Standard
For over 30 years, my life in Pakistan was dedicated to the pursuit of educational excellence. Whether I was working as an Assistant Director for the British Council in rural Sindh, collaborating with the Sindh Textbook Board, or shaping the
minds of the next generation at Bay View High and later at my own Rhodene Academy in Karachi, my standard was always the same: If it isn’t the best it can be, it isn’t ready.
I’ve traded my pens and exam papers for rolling pins and cast-iron pots, but that “Master Trainer” mindset remains in every batch of dough I knead.
Why Hunza?
People often ask me why a lady from Jo’burg, who spent decades in the vibrant heat of Karachi & Islamabad, would choose to make a home in the high-altitude quiet of Hunza.
The answer is simple: Home is where the heart finds peace. The rugged, ancient beauty of the Karakoram reminds me of the vast South African landscapes. There is a resilience and a spirit of community here in Hunza that mirrors the South African
philosophy of Ubuntu – “I am because we are.” While my family remains in South Africa, I have found a new family here. I didn’t just want to visit this place; I wanted to belong to it.
The Philosophy of the Springbok Cafe
The same discipline required to run a top-tier academy is what fuels our kitchen today. At the Springbok Cafe, I am the head chef, the baker, and the heart of the house. I believe that food, like education, should never be “mass-produced.”
- Authentically Afrikaans: Every recipe – from our Ouma’s Malva Pudding to our signature Cookies – is a guarded family secret, brought from my birthplace in Jo’burg to my new home in Hunza.
- Hand-Crafted & Homemade: I bake our buns & rolls, brownies and cookies
fresh every single day. There are no shortcuts here. - Locally Sourced, Globally Inspired: We take the incredible organic produce of the valley – the Yak meat, the mountain herbs, the Hunza walnuts and cherries – and prepare them with the bold, spicy heart of the Rainbow Nation.
When you step into the Springbok Cafe, you aren’t just a customer; you are a guest
in my home. Sit and breathe the fresh Hunza air, look out at the Cones, listen to the soothing flow of the Hunza River and enjoy a “Taste of Africa in Hunza.”
Sien jou binnekort (See you soon).
— Ms Shenaaz, Founder & Head Chef, The Springbok Café Hunza.