Vines, Virgin and Views
Visit Mont Rochelle National Park in the winelands of South Africa and you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t stay in Sir Richard Branson’s estate of the same name. Unlike many boutique hotels with traditional architecture and aspirations, Mont Rochelle excels by achieving a showcase resort whilst retaining a magical ambiance that embraces the guest – almost enticing them to become part of the family. Sir Richard Branson...
Ferme Favourite
La Petite Ferme in South Africa’s Franschhoek winelands not only offers high quality homely accommodation but great cuisine and stunning views. ‘The Little Farm’ is named, not as an affectation but as a reference to the 17th & 18th Century Huguenot exiles from France, who escaped persecution by Louis XIV, bringing their vines, crafts and skills with them, at the invitation of Dutch Protestant settlers in the Cape. As the story...
Atlanticview – much more than a view with a room
We’re only spending ten days in South Africa – and four of them are going to be in Camp’s Bay. Even more vital to get our choice of hotel just right! Our guest contributors Olly & Ruth share their experiences of Camps Bay. You might think that wall-to-wall sunshine, beach, bed and a good restaurant is all you need to escape from grey skies – but we want our stay to be special, without breaking the bank. Our final choice –...
Pack your trunk for Nellie!
’The Nellie’ as it’s known by many of the locals, sits like a wedding cake in the heart of Cape Town’s historic and cultural centre; near the trendy areas of Kloof and Long Streets, nestling at the foot of Table Mountain. The Mount Nelson experience starts at their entrance, through the Prince of Wales gates and continues to the hotel where you’ll be greeted with a sea of pink walls and welcoming staff. Once you settle into the...
South African winter escape – plans and events
How an impromptu escape plan to find the winter sun brings more than was bargained for – for our guest writer Stuart Tizzard and his wife Tessa. Having decided to leave the wet and miserable UK for some winter sun, it was proving incredibly difficult to get any travel agent to provide ideas and solutions at the right price. We wanted Business Class flights to the sun for a couple of weeks and were getting frustrated by the lack of...
Johannesburg – so much more than a quick transit.
Johannesburg is worth so much more than a transit lounge wait at the airport, in order to make a quick getaway to your safari lodge, or onward journey to the Garden Route. Although the city has seen its fair share of turmoil and unrest, not least of which during the days of Apartheid, it’s making a steady and determined recovery in order to warrant more than a cursory look when you next visit South Africa. There are an...
