South Africa FAM Trip – Cape Town, Garden Route, Kruger National Park & Jo’burg

Cape Town

The light is special at the Cape. The rotating cable car took us to the top of Table Mountain where we enjoyed a bird’s eye view of the mother city of Africa. Maja, our guide, points to a beautiful white sandy beach. “Camps Bay,” she explains, “where the in-crowd heads to, and it’s lined with palms, trendy bars and restaurants.”

Accommodation: Twelve Apostles

Surrounded by nature, the hotel offers lots of lovely seating areas, two small pools and first class restaurants. Every room has a panoramic view but if you choose the full ocean view you also have to cope with the noise of the coastal road below. Staying in the garden suite we had a quiet night - much needed after an excellent dinner and a long night in the hotel’s Leopard Bar. The award winning Sanctuary Spa is amazing and if you stay at the 12 Apostles, use is included. The Spa is built into a cave, surrounded by rocks and the rooms are joined by illuminated walkways. Don’t miss the breakfast; it was the very best during our journey. The hotel has its own heliport for those who need to quickly jet off to their next destination.

Visited hotel: Greenways Hotel

A stately house located in the middle of a beautiful park. The famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden is only five minutes away. The hotel has a large pool, a nice view of Table Mountain, a large terrace, lounge, a comfortable library with fireplace and an excellent kitchen with a genius Italian chef. The Sauvignon Blanc was excellent and the Springbok & kingklip are highly recommended.

Restaurant: Black Marlin
The oldest fish restaurant in the Cape, located just outside of Simon’s Town. It has a beautiful terrace with an ocean view. Their speciality is Kingklip on skewers.

Stellenbosch

Visited hotel: Klein Genot

The hotel is a mix between feng shui and a country house. It’s a well-manicured property in the middle of a vineyard containing six exclusive, individually designed suites with high quality décor. The star kitchen showcases local ingredients of the region and uses ingredients from their own bio-garden. We were given delicious homemade cake. The wine cellar featured Klein Genot wines produced on-site, their red wine is internationally known. The hotel seemed to be almost always booked out and it is a very beautiful and comfortable place to relax.

Restaurant: 96 Winery

Located between Somerset West & Stellenbosch. The food, drinks and atmosphere were very good. If you are a steak lover, the restaurant features large portions and a wide selection.

Hermanus

Accommodation: The Marine Hermanus

The hotel is situated directly on the coast. The suites have an ocean view with a balcony and are designed in a classic, tasteful style. There was also a large terrace in the standard double room, on the side facing away from the ocean. We were unable to visit the beach house and the lookout, but we are sure they would not disappoint. There is exclusive décor throughout the entire hotel, very elegant. The spa was attached to the hotel. The hotel can arrange numerous activities. We had a first class dinner with wine at the hotel’s restaurant.

Visited hotel: Grootbos Private Nature Reserve

On this spacious nature reserve there were 11 cottages, a modern-styled Forest Lodge and a traditionally African styled Garden Lodge. For families with children, I would recommend the Garden Lodge. The stylish Forest Lodge had 10 suites in the main building where the restaurant, two lodges, bar and a lounge were located. There was also a riding stall, a sporting field, and an eco-garden. Every year, 12 youths from the local township are trained on the property. The owner of the hotel built a kindergarten in the local township which he maintains in addition to three football fields. The complex is spacious, but is far from the coast. The hotel is ideal for nature lovers and families.

Mpumalanga Drakensberg Part 1

Accommodation: Heysbrook Country Lodge

Rustic country lodge in a “turn of the century” style architecture with large sandstone walls. There are ten rooms, each with an en-suite fireplace, and balconies. The main house has a living area, bar, dining room, lounge – all connected by wooden decks. Everything is very beautiful.

Kruger National Park

We approach Satara Airstrip and the pilot lands smoothly on the sandy runway. It was a 45 minute flight from Skukuza Airstrip to Satara Airstrip in a 10-seater Cessna Caravan. It was a wonderful experience. The aircraft comes to a halt not far away from some thatch hut stands where a refreshment bar is being prepared and a tall good looking African is awaiting us. His name is Micah and he is the ranger responsible for our safety during the stay. He stores his rifle in the Range Rover and takes us to the Singita Lodge.

Accommodation: Singita Lebombo Lodge

The hotel’s lounge is an open terrace with a spectacular view. From now on, we only need to point at something and Rob or one of the staff will happily oblige. We may eat or drink whenever and as much as we like as everything is included. The only exceptions: French champagne, tobacco products and phone calls.

Rob proudly opens a door to a wooden tower like building, the wine “cellar”. The best South African wines pile up at the wall with cosy seats in between. Rob will open up whichever bottle we choose and will gladly give us advice.

Every suite is a separate building with a wooden path leading to it. The suite is spacious, tastefully designed, surrounded by roof to floor windows and is fully equipped with everything to make our staying comfortable: showers both inside & out, bathtubs with a view. But best of all there is a wrap-around terrace with a large outdoor day bed and a view over the river. I can see some hippos. I ask whether I can sleep on the terrace. The hotel will set up a mosquito net for me, but I was told not to leave my handbag outsides, because sometimes the baboons climb up on the terraces and throw things down the hill.

Micah fetches us for the game drive, rifle over his shoulder. He is accompanied by the tracker, who takes a seat at the front of the car. His head is constantly moving left to right. Suddenly he points at the ground and the ranger drives off-road. We are following the track of a rhino.

The sun sets quickly and we have to leave the rhino. There is a surprise waiting for us. When the Range Rover approaches a small clearing in the middle of the bush, we see tables, set with a luxurious buffet. Rob is there, as always with a big smile, offering a glass of champagne.

The buffet is delicious and during our stay at the Singita Lodge, we experience nothing other than excellent food, drinks and service.

Johannesburg

Accommodation: Melrose Arch Hotel

A very stylish and hip hotel, which features a Sound Experience room – a bookable sound proof room where you can watch movies or listen to music uninterrupted. The breakfast was delicious. For those travelling with children, the children’s room can be furnished either in all pink (Barbie) or all blue (Winnie the Poo).