About

It all started at Afrikaburn. You go once a year and have to take more things than one can possibly remember. You only end up using them once a year and it costs an arm and a leg. I mean did I really need a roof top tent..? Its pretty cool, for the five days of the year I use it, but it takes up half the garage. So why not use the easiest place out there to rent everything you need.

We are a trusted online rental marketplace consolidating the entire market into one platform. Everyday, we connect individuals who want to rent things to businesses who have them. We know that experiences and the memories thereafter are more important than owning the stuff. 

What we’re building is the opportunity to use better quality equipment. Whether it’s a top of the range camera or dress for that special event, FatPig’s got you covered. 
Why create additional supply of products that already exist in excess when one can simply rent them when required. 

Before being eligible to rent items of Fat Pig, customers go through rigorous security process. Every customer is required to submit their ID number with a picture of their ID and a selfie. We have integrated our systems with home affairs and Credit Bureau to cross-reference the information. Based on this, customers are deemed either eligible to rent or not. This takes away all the worries of your products getting in the hands of the the wrong individuals.

Renting has never been easier. Once verified to rent, only four simple steps required; “Browse” , “Rent and Pay” , “Use Responsibly” , “Return and Review”. Renting your items out

Renting your products out can be challenging, but through Fat Pig, this process is made simple. “Post” , “Accept” , “Lend” , “Earn”.

The reality is we live in a world that has lost its sense of community. Historically one may have borrowed a horse and cart from a neighbour to plough the field. Now days one barely knows the person in the flat above them. 

We aim to bring back this sense of community by connecting you to businesses nearby. Whether you’re a drone fanatic looking for some videography tips or an avid surfer deciding what board to buy next, the community is out there to help. You just need to find them.

Finally, we strongly believe in making the world a greener place. Every single manufactured item comes with a carbon footprint (harmful pollutants released into the atmosphere through the manufacturing process). From the extraction of raw materials out of our beautiful earth – the chemicals used in the manufacturing process – the cross continental transportation – the plastic packaging to the item finally falling to pieces and ending up in a landfill. 

At Fat Pig we strive to reduce these effects by maximising the use of each product and eventually drive down production as one can rent rather than own. So embark on this journey with us to a cleaner, greener and more sustainable community.

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5 Crucial items to throw that winning Digs Jol

Throwing a digs jol can be very stressful. As it’s important that your digs throw’s the best party of the year to keep that strong reputation going.

There are a couple items that are essential to make this one to remember. Fat Pig has got you covered on all fronts and more, but we have narrowed it down to the top 5 to rent.

Behringer B115D – 1000W speakers

Let’s start with the most important of all. A great set of speakers to keep those tunes banging well into the darkness of night. Without these your party is simply not going to be a success, because simply put, who likes to party with no music, no one!

Our top choice will be the Behringer B115D – 1000W speakers. These are guaranteed to keep the vibes going, get people squeaking takkie and keep the brandy’s flowing.

Disco lights with T stand

Next on our list of crucialness, a great set of disco lights. A dancefloor is simply not a dancefloor without some good disco lights to keep those visuals going and takkies squeaking.

The T-stand isn’t crucial as long as you have an elevated spot to put them shining down on the crowd.

Native Instruments Traktor KONTROL s2 turn-table

Fat Pig’s top turn table to rent currently is the Native Instruments Traktor KONTROL s2. This beauty is capable of mixing tunes that’ll send goose pumps through your spine.

Get one of your DJ friends to spin some beats with this bad boy and save you the cost of an expensive DJ.

Trestle & Beer Pong tables

Tables for you to lay out your horribly powerful punch and cups. If you’re generous enough to provide snacks, these can go here too. Party goers love to stand around a table and solve the world’s problems in one go.

Who doesn’t like a good ol’ game of Beer Pong! Get those teams of two/three going and chuck that ping-pong ball into your friends beer and watch him down in pain. What better to get the beers flowing.

There are choices between wooden and plastic tables, whatever suits your fancy best.

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Small generator 7.5KVA Genset – 1x 15A

Might be a LOL, but not a joke because with Eskom pulling fast one’s on us on a daily basis like this how can you be a safe enough! The small generator 7.5KVA Genset – 1x 15A out, our choice here is enough to keep the music pumping, lights flashing and vibes tidy! Crucial in today’s South Africa as it isn’t quite a party without these.

Simple, easy-to-use pull-start engine, get the vibes going again quickly if the boys at the powerhouse decide to cut you off.

So go all out and use this step-by-step guide to throwing the best digs jol of the year every year! Keep it simple, classy and most importantly make sure its helluva lot of fun.

Fat Pig’s Top 5 camping locations in Western Cape

Claiming the title of “Best City in the World”, Cape Town, which is located in the Western Cape is surrounded by a wide variety of beautiful camping locations. From waking up to the sound of the waves crashing down onto the beach to the sound of rivers running and birds tweeting we’ve got your covered with our top 5 picks that are no more than 4 hours away from the CBD

1. Enjo Nature Farm

Located in Clanwilliam, this isolated campsite is the place to go if you are wanting to switch off from real life and get in touch with yourself and nature. The facilities lie next to a river flowing through the majestic Cederberg mountains providing the ultimate spiritual connection. Guests are encouraged to enjoy the natural beauty on the many hiking trails surrounding the farm followed by cooling off in the spring-fed dam.

Cost: R100 per person (depending on season) ; Children: Free (0-12 years)

Drive: 3.5 hours

Facilities:	Activities:
3 private campsites with water, fireplace and a charging point.	Swimming in farms spring-fed dam
Thatch cottage with hot water shower and toilet	Games room with pool table, dartboard and board games
Self-catering although breakfast and dinner can be booked in advance	Children can bottle feed lambs
Firewood available for purchase	Sevilla Rock Art trail exploring the Bushman paintings
Honesty bar selling drinks and snacks	Stargazing

2. The Baths Natural Hot Springs Resort

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Located in the beautiful Olifants River Valley, dating back to 1739, this rustic resort situated on a citrus farm near Citrusdal, provides the ultimate relaxing escape. There are both hot and cold baths, with waters reaching 43 degrees at the source it is definitely worthwhile experiencing.

Cost: R120 – R150 per adult (depending on season). R50 – R60 per child under 12 (depending on season)

Drive: 2.5 hours

Contact: 022 921 8026; reservations@thebaths.co.za

Facilities:	Activities:
3 communal ablution blocks spaced around the campsite	Natural hot springs
Braai facilities	Beautiful hiking trails around Olifants River
Power Points	Tennis court
	Children’s playground
	Explore nearby town of Citrusdal

3. Platbos Forest & Owl Camp

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Off the grid, eco-friendly, set beneath beautiful old stinkwood trees, what more can one ask for to provide the unique camping experience. Platbos, located in Gaansbaai is owned by private conservationists whom are committed to the sustainability of keeping the rich diversity of Flora and Fauna, the baboons, Antelope, Leopard’s and thousand year old Milk-Wood trees. The entire site uses solar power lighting as well as heats water through the old school donkey boilers. There are a wide range of accommodation options available, from pitching a tent to secluded log cabins to boutique tented rooms.

Cost: Forrest camp: 120 – R150 per night for up to 4 guests, Owl Camp: R275 per night for 1-2 guests

Drive: 2.5 hours

Contact: 076 923 3349; admin@platbos.co.za

Facilities:	Activities:
Firewood provided for donkey boilers	Forest trails
Off grid (no power points) but solar powered	Labyrinth made from mother of pearl seashells
Open air shower	Platbos forest tree nursery
Campsite under forrest canopy	Grootbos Nature Reserve
Fire pit and brain grid	Klein River Cheese farm

4. Kleine Eike

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Situated in the countryside just outside the old Cape Dutch town of Greyton, overlooking the breath taking Riversonderend Mountains and riverside views of the Sonderend River. Kleine Eike is the perfect couples getaway, to be in nature, away from civilisation and get in touch with life and each other.

Cost: R400 per night for 1-4 people (depending on season)  

Drive: 1.5 hours

Contact: 082 809 9896; info@kleineeike.com

Facilities:	Activities:
hiking, running, and cycle trails	newly-built campsite along the riverbank
explore the restaurants, galleries, and shops in Greyton	each camping spot has its own braai facility and electricity
Greyton farmers market (every Saturday morning)	bathroom ablutions with 8 shower cubicles and toilets, 10 basins and wash troths
apple and pear picking (January to May)
canoeing and fishing on the river

5. Kam’Bati River Resort

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Situated just outside Swellendam, on a quiet farm in the Overberg, under the shade of towering gum trees alongside the flowing Breede river lies this picture-perfect taste of the countryside living. The working farm, producing Wheat, Barley, Canola and Corn provides city slickers the opportunity to witness how all these products that land up packaged in their shelves gets produced. Great for children due to the excess amount of activities available.

Cost: R200 per person per night, R100 per night for children (depending on season)

Drive: 2.5 hours

Contact: 079 200 9098

Facilities:	Activities:
camping areas offering individual campsites of 90 square metres each	swimming pools with waterslides
braai drums are available, but it’s best to bring your own braai in case they’re all in use	Putt-Putt course
central ablution blocks with hot-water showers	Jungle Gym
select plug points	canoe and tube rides on the Breede River
daily servicing of bins and braai area	Fishing & Hiking trails

Fat Pig’s checklist of Camping equipment:

Tent/Caravan	Gas Cooker with gas	Braai & Wood
Fridge	Sleeping Bag	Gazebo
Table & Chairs	Torch	Food & Supplies
Cutlery bag	Mattress	LED Light

With so many options available out there it is sometimes hard to narrow down exactly the best place to will meet all your current requirements and needs for your camping excursion. The places listed above are our personal Fat Pig top 5 and not necessarily the top rated 5.

We understand the difficulty and admin that comes with camping, therefore we have made every effort to make this much easier for you. On Fat Pig, one can rent everything they might need in order to make this camping trip one to remember. From your rooftop tents to your Knife and Forks and everything in between Fat Pig has got you covered.

Top things to do in Cape Town this summer

Cape Town is filled with countless amounts of exciting activities to experience over the summer period. We have narrowed these amazing activities down to our top 6.

1. Rent a surfing board in Muizenberg

Beat the warm weather by cooling down in the fresh Indian Ocean. Surf one of Cape Town’s finest waves at Muizenberg. Ideal for beginners and longboarding. A half an hour drive from the Waterfront located in Cape Towns picturesque False Bay. If you’re lucky you might share a wave with bottlenose dolphins that occasionally come into the bay. Finish off your surf with a mouth watering croissant from our local Knead bakery. Prebook to rent a surfboard and a wetsuit to ensure you miss the queues.

2. Rent a SUP in Cape Town

Enjoy the beauty and magnificent scenery of Cape Town from a different point of view and get a core workout. SUPing has become an increasingly popular activity in the Cape as one is almost guaranteed to see many facets of animal life including Seals, Dolphins and many species of Bird. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that all families should experience. Rent a SUP board through Fat Pig from multiple locations; including the waterfront where one can cruise the marina or head out into the open ocean if the weather permits. Rent a SUP on Muizenberg beach where the SUP Surfing is becoming increasingly popular. Got a big family? No problem, Expressions on the Beach have a guided penguin SUP tour which includes a downwind drift along the coast line stopping off at various beaches to bond with the African Penguins.

3. Rent a Camera in Cape Town and explore photography

Cape Town has been rated as the ‘Best City In The World’ by numerous websites such as the New York Times and iol.com. With one of the Natural 7 Wonders of the World located in the heart of the CBD the photographic opportunities are unimaginable at the top. For the more active, you may hike to the top or take a 5-minute Cable Car. Just watch out for the queues!

Enjoy the Capes long summer days and balmy evenings as the sun goes down along the westerly facing coastline starting from Bantry bay to Cape Point which is promised to provide one of the most picturesque sunsets around the world. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is world renown for the huge variety of plant and animal life. Capture the Cape Fynbos while watching the sunbirds hover above the Proteas.

Holiday makers as well as locals do not want to miss out on unforgettable pictures and memories that they can share with friends and family back home. Unless you are fortunate enough to own a high end camera, pictures like the above can only be captured if you rent high-quality cameras and lens.

4. Cape Town helicopter tours

Experience Cape Town from a birds eye view by going on a helicopter tour.Arrive in style and take a helicopter ride to one of many beautiful wine farms around the Western Cape. Lanzerac, Babylonstoren and Boschendal are our favourites. The adventurous can even take a helicopter to go shark cage diving, swimming with great whites in Gaansbaai. The Golf fanatic can take a helicopter too one of the top golf courses in the world. Arabella and Pearl Valley are definitely apart of our top 3. Helicopter tours and are the most luxurious way to experience Cape Town.

5. Rent camping equipment and enjoy the outdoors

The Western Cape is home to some of the most beautiful scenery and mountains in the world all and offers amazing hikes for every member of the family. The Cederberg mountains can have you sleeping under the stars and swimming in fresh mountain streams. Just make sure you have all the right equipment! You can even rent camping equipment if you do not own it or don’t want the hassle of cleaning it after!  

6. Day Tours in and around Cape Town

Enjoy a wide variety of day tours on offer in Cape Town and truly experience the culture and diversity this wonderful city has to offer. Local Knowledge Tours offer a huge selection of different day tours all year round, ranging from Cape Peninsula tours where one can experience the natural beauty of Cape Point and Boulders beach to Cape Towns unique coffee, craft market, Beer and Gin culture and everything in between.

Benefits of the Shared Economy & Promoting Sustainability

The new Sharing Economy has huge potential to promote change in societies and shift the focus towards collective consumption behaviour. Research shows that 80% of the goods we own, we use once a month suggesting a gap in the market, the shared economy. Borrowing reduces the amount we buy and consume which indirectly reduces our carbon footprint. Fat Pig hopes to educate everyone on the positive affects of renting rather than buying.

Fat Pig has just made this possible, we’ve created a platform to consolidate the entire rental market into one, so as to become a ‘one-stop-shop’ for everything renting related. We have partnered up with already registered and successful rental companies to consolidate everything into one. Our aim is to reduce unnecessary purchases that will be used once or twice and then land up in the garage gathering dust.

The sharing economy has positive environmental impacts, through a reduction in the total resources required, it helps reduce pollutants, emissions and carbon footprints. Bicycle sharing schemes can reduce the use of motorised vehicles that usually consume petroleum products and generate emissions. In Shanghai, bicycle sharing reduced carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrogen oxide (NO_X) emissions by 25,000 tonnes and 64 tonnes in 2016, respectively. This leads to a direct health benefit; in that the amounts of carbon dioxide we are breathing in a daily basis is reduced.

The sharing of tools can lead to a major reduction in carbon emissions. Privately owned tools are only used occasionally. For example, on average a power drill is only used around 18 minutes over its entire life span according to a study. The life cycle emissions from a power drill amount to around 28 kg CO₂-equivalent (CO₂e), and only 2% of the emissions are generated from the use of the drill. For example if power drills were shared 30 times and 5 electric drills covered 30 rentals, i.e. each of the 5 drills were rented 6 times, the sharing suppressed the production of 25 electric drills, reducing emissions by 700 kg CO₂e. But sharing services may also induce increased traveling as people pick up the rented tools. If someone drives a return trip of 5 kilometers to pick up a hired drill instead of driving a similar distance to purchase the drill, there is no difference in emissions. Now imagine the person needs the power drill 9 more times over the years, and drives an average of 5 km each time, with emissions of 173 g/km, this would generate approximately 8 kg CO₂e. In this instance, the additional emissions from induced driving would be lower than the 28 kg emissions saved from the production of a power drill.

Through an increased awareness of the benefits of renting rather than buying, we truly do believe that we can all do our own part combating harmful emissions. The key to achieving this is through peoples’ behaviour and mindsets changing to a more “rent when needed” rather than a “buy and sit” in the garage mindset. Over time we believe that the sharing economy will also help foster structural change towards lower carbon emissions economies.