About PENBOK

The story behind PENBOK and the springbok who started it all.

Meet Penny

PENBOK began with a springbok named Penny.

One day, my husband went hunting and unknowingly shot a pregnant springbok ewe. A Caesarean section was performed in the veld, and against the odds, Penny was revived.

That first night, she slept in a sleeping bag with my husband before he brought her home to me.

I hand-reared her, and I fell completely in love with her.

Penny reminded me just how much I love caring for animals. She became part of our everyday life — sleeping in the house when she was little, spending her days outside and, eventually, choosing the outdoors as her home. Even then, when we were home, she loved coming inside to rest for a while before heading back outside to graze.

My husband named her Penny, after South African swimmer Penny Heyns. Had she been a male, she would have been named Rassie.

Somehow, along the way, Penny became “Penbok”. I don't remember exactly when it happened — it just came out one day and stuck. Pen Pen is another nickname we still use for her.

From Penny to PENBOK

The idea for PENBOK started with a simple thought: why not put Penny on a T-shirt?

But it soon became something more.

I wanted people to fall in love with Penny too. I imagined someone seeing a springbok on safari one day and saying, “Look, it's Penny!” — much like people look for familiar characters when they're out in the wild.

PENBOK grew from that idea into a collection of clothing, stationery and gifts inspired by Penny and the place we call home.

Finding Peace in Nature

For me, nature has always been a place where I find peace.

There is something about being outside — hearing the wind, watching animals, walking through the veld and seeing the landscape change with the seasons — that makes me slow down and be still.

That peace is also closely connected to my faith.

I believe God created everything around us, and when I spend time in nature, I am reminded of Him and of the beauty of what He has made. Nature helps me slow down, be grateful and remember that I am part of something much bigger than myself.

The peace I find in nature ultimately points me back to God — because the deepest peace is something only He can provide.

That is something I hope PENBOK can share with other people too.

An invitation to step away from the noise for a moment. To spend time outside. To notice what is around you. To breathe, be still and experience the peace that can be found in nature.

Inspired by the Overberg

PENBOK is based in Stanford in the Overberg, surrounded by landscapes that constantly change with the seasons.

Renosterveld, fynbos, winter rain, mountains, wildlife and open spaces all find their way into the collections.

But PENBOK isn't only about what we make.

It's about encouraging people to notice what is around them.

To stop and look at the plants growing beside the road. To notice how the landscape changes after rain. To recognise the wildlife that shares our surroundings. To learn something new about the nature we so often pass without seeing.

The more PENBOK has grown, the more I've realised how much I enjoy teaching people about how amazing nature is.

I want PENBOK to encourage curiosity, appreciation and a deeper connection with the places we live and visit.

For the Love of Nature

PENBOK is ultimately about something quite simple:

For the Love of Nature.

A love for the animals, plants and landscapes around us.

A love for the quiet moments that allow us to slow down.

And a reminder of the Creator behind the beauty we see.

I hope that when people wear PENBOK, receive a postcard or discover something new through our stories, they feel encouraged to pause, breathe deeply and reconnect with nature.

Because nature is not just somewhere we visit — it's something we belong to.

For the Love of Nature.

— Tamara