Escape to South Africa (With a Deal)
Kariega Game Reserve
Vineyard Hotel & Spa
Elephants in South Africa
Lion in South Africa
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Hardly a week goes by without a magazine or newspaper listing ten things to see or do before you die. Or twenty. Or fifty. Here's a secret your travel agent won’t tell you: most of them are pretty uninspiring.
The Great Wall of China is, after all, just a long wall built many years ago. Once you’ve walked a couple of hundred yards, been pushed and shoved by tourists from every part of the world, and been waylaid by every street urchin from Shanghai selling unbelievably tatty souvenirs (some of which are, amazingly, made in the Philippines) you begin to wonder why you bothered making the long coach journey from Beijing. Ditto many other ‘Wonders of the World’.
However, there is one experience every person who has an ounce of humanity in them should make and that’s to South Africa, the birthplace of mankind and home to some of the most spectacular scenery on earth and some of the world’s most extraordinary wildlife.
Sure, South Africa has got its problems (where hasn’t?) but for the ultimate experience it’s unbeatable. And what makes it special right now is that unlike other long-haul ‘luxury’ destinations, where the comparative strength of the Euro and Dollar against Sterling has increased the cost of holidays by as much as 40% during the past twelve months, South Africa is amazing value given that the Rand is about as weak as Sterling. Poor them, lucky us.
We flew overnight to Cape Town (the Mother City as South Africans like to call it), arriving in the early morning to a bright, sunny, cloudless day. One of the advantages of South Africa is that it is in roughly the same time zone as Britain, so the overnight flight (both ways) means you’re not going to suffer any jet-lag. It also means you don’t waste a day of your holiday flying to your destination.
One of my favourite hotels in Cape Town is The Vineyard Hotel & Spa (see the special offer for Here Is The City readers at the end of this piece), a twenty-minute ride from the airport, and that’s where we headed.
Set in lush gardens with Table Mountain in the background, The Vineyard Hotel & Spa, originally the home of Lady Anne Barnard, with its 175 well-appointed bedrooms, spa, well-equipped gym and an indoor and outdoor pool, is the perfect hotel for pure hedonism. Add to that two superb restaurants (try the sushi in The Square - amazing!) and I can think of no finer place to stay. For those who enjoy a touch of nostalgia there’s also the world-famous Mount Nelson (the Nellie to the locals), still offering service levels from a bygone age. Or stay at the One&Only (Gordon Ramsay opens another branch of his growing restaurant empire in the hotel in April) in The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, a tourist attraction in its own right with a marvelous selection of restaurants and shops to keep even the most fastidious satisfied.
Along the coast from Cape Town but within easy reach of the city centre are a number of up-market resorts. One of my favourites is Camps Bay. Maybe it’s the teenager still lurking in me, but staying at The Bay Hotel overlooking the sea and eating fish in the Codfather restaurant (surely one of the finest fish restaurants in the world) is one of life’s great pleasures.
If there’s one problem with Cape Town, it’s not knowing what to see next. Table Mountain is a must for first-time visitors, as is Robben Island, the notorious prison island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, and now a World Heritage Site.
For others, a trip along the Wine Route (many vineyards can be reached within an hour of Cape Town) is a priority and nearly all have excellent restaurants to make a visit even more worthwhile. Wine buffs will not need me to tell them that South Africa produces some world-class wines and at very reasonable prices.
All over southern Africa, spectacular flora abounds and the stunning Kirstenborsch Botanical Gardens, just ten miles from the city centre and home to over 2,500 different species, is a hugely enjoyable way to spend an amazing day ‘at one’ with nature.
But the truth is that however enjoyable all these attractions are, most visitors to South Africa want to spend some time on a game reserve and the finest are located in the Eastern Cape.
You can drive from Cape Town along the Garden Route (about six hours), but far more convenient if time is limited is a forty-five minute air hop from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth (return fares are roughly £50). My favourite (and I’ve been to many) is Kariega Game Reserve (see the special offer for Here Is The City readers at the end of this piece).
Set in 9000 hectares of African wilderness (that’s about four times the size of Luxemburg) covering five different eco-systems, it’s home to the ‘big five’ (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino) as well as zebra, giraffe, kudu, hyena, wildebeest and many more. Malaria free and with more than 280 bird species for airborne company, Kariega is a genuine game reserve experience in authentic lodges, with highly experienced and knowledgeable rangers, rather than the considerably more costly (and in my view non-authentic uber-lodges with six star luxury favoured by those with a perma-tan and Platinum Amex cards). However, don’t run away with the idea that Kariega is ‘rustic’ (the usual euphemism for basic!). Kariega’s lodges and public areas are stunning, extremely comfortable and in absolute keeping with the surrounding area.
Game drives are in the early morning (your ranger will wake you at 5.30am) and the drive will usually last anything up to four hours viewing the animals as they awake. Evening game drives are in the late afternoon, where there is a better chance of seeing the nocturnal animals. While the wildlife does not perform to order you are almost certain to see lions, elephants, giraffe, zebra and wildebeest amongst many others. And guess what? It doesn’t mater how many times you’ve seen them on wildlife programmes - there is nothing that compares seeing right up close a lioness with her cubs, or elephants moving through the savannah.
To experience the very best from a game reserve you need three nights ‘in the wild’ which will, without doubt, enrich your life forever. (You can go for two nights but I wouldn’t recommend it as you will not see everything you want to see.)
So there it is. Nobody is going to pretend a holiday in South Africa is going to be as cheap as two weeks in Benidorm, but it need not be that expensive either. Air fares are coming down (currently around £600 in July and August) and everything in South Africa is tremendous value (an excellent meal for two with wine in a top-class restaurant is less than £50).
And to make it even better value, Here Is The City has teamed up with the Vineyard Hotel & Spa in Cape Town and Kariega Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape to offer readers a special and unbeatable offer.
READER OFFER
From July1st until 31st August 2009 (subject to availability)
Vineyard Hotel & Spa
Cape Town
Tel + 27 21 657 4500
www.vineyard.co.za
Two people sharing a room @ R1450 per room per night (approx £100)
Children under 12 sharing a room with parents at a supplement of R495 (£50) per child per night. Breakfast and VAT included but exclusive of 1% Government Tourism Levy
The above rates represent a minimum of 35% Discount on the Vineyard’s rates for these periods
Kariega Game Reserve
Tel + 27 41 363 0263
www.kariega.co.za
Two people sharing a luxury suite at either Ukhozi Lodge or River Lodge @ R2600 per suite per night (approx £180 per night). The rate includes VAT, all meals, selected beverages and morning and evening game drives.
The above rates represent a 50% Discount on Kariega’s rates for this period.
To book
First check out the Vineyard and Kariega websites for further information. You can select either property or combine them both. Then send an email to the selected property/properties with your dates and quote Here Is The City Offer. The reservation departments at both properties will confirm your booking and take your credit card details.
However, there is one experience every person who has an ounce of humanity in them should make and that’s to South Africa, the birthplace of mankind and home to some of the most spectacular scenery on earth and some of the world’s most extraordinary wildlife.
Sure, South Africa has got its problems (where hasn’t?) but for the ultimate experience it’s unbeatable. And what makes it special right now is that unlike other long-haul ‘luxury’ destinations, where the comparative strength of the Euro and Dollar against Sterling has increased the cost of holidays by as much as 40% during the past twelve months, South Africa is amazing value given that the Rand is about as weak as Sterling. Poor them, lucky us.
We flew overnight to Cape Town (the Mother City as South Africans like to call it), arriving in the early morning to a bright, sunny, cloudless day. One of the advantages of South Africa is that it is in roughly the same time zone as Britain, so the overnight flight (both ways) means you’re not going to suffer any jet-lag. It also means you don’t waste a day of your holiday flying to your destination.
One of my favourite hotels in Cape Town is The Vineyard Hotel & Spa (see the special offer for Here Is The City readers at the end of this piece), a twenty-minute ride from the airport, and that’s where we headed.
Set in lush gardens with Table Mountain in the background, The Vineyard Hotel & Spa, originally the home of Lady Anne Barnard, with its 175 well-appointed bedrooms, spa, well-equipped gym and an indoor and outdoor pool, is the perfect hotel for pure hedonism. Add to that two superb restaurants (try the sushi in The Square - amazing!) and I can think of no finer place to stay. For those who enjoy a touch of nostalgia there’s also the world-famous Mount Nelson (the Nellie to the locals), still offering service levels from a bygone age. Or stay at the One&Only (Gordon Ramsay opens another branch of his growing restaurant empire in the hotel in April) in The Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, a tourist attraction in its own right with a marvelous selection of restaurants and shops to keep even the most fastidious satisfied.
Along the coast from Cape Town but within easy reach of the city centre are a number of up-market resorts. One of my favourites is Camps Bay. Maybe it’s the teenager still lurking in me, but staying at The Bay Hotel overlooking the sea and eating fish in the Codfather restaurant (surely one of the finest fish restaurants in the world) is one of life’s great pleasures.
If there’s one problem with Cape Town, it’s not knowing what to see next. Table Mountain is a must for first-time visitors, as is Robben Island, the notorious prison island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, and now a World Heritage Site.
For others, a trip along the Wine Route (many vineyards can be reached within an hour of Cape Town) is a priority and nearly all have excellent restaurants to make a visit even more worthwhile. Wine buffs will not need me to tell them that South Africa produces some world-class wines and at very reasonable prices.
All over southern Africa, spectacular flora abounds and the stunning Kirstenborsch Botanical Gardens, just ten miles from the city centre and home to over 2,500 different species, is a hugely enjoyable way to spend an amazing day ‘at one’ with nature.
But the truth is that however enjoyable all these attractions are, most visitors to South Africa want to spend some time on a game reserve and the finest are located in the Eastern Cape.
You can drive from Cape Town along the Garden Route (about six hours), but far more convenient if time is limited is a forty-five minute air hop from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth (return fares are roughly £50). My favourite (and I’ve been to many) is Kariega Game Reserve (see the special offer for Here Is The City readers at the end of this piece).
Set in 9000 hectares of African wilderness (that’s about four times the size of Luxemburg) covering five different eco-systems, it’s home to the ‘big five’ (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino) as well as zebra, giraffe, kudu, hyena, wildebeest and many more. Malaria free and with more than 280 bird species for airborne company, Kariega is a genuine game reserve experience in authentic lodges, with highly experienced and knowledgeable rangers, rather than the considerably more costly (and in my view non-authentic uber-lodges with six star luxury favoured by those with a perma-tan and Platinum Amex cards). However, don’t run away with the idea that Kariega is ‘rustic’ (the usual euphemism for basic!). Kariega’s lodges and public areas are stunning, extremely comfortable and in absolute keeping with the surrounding area.
Game drives are in the early morning (your ranger will wake you at 5.30am) and the drive will usually last anything up to four hours viewing the animals as they awake. Evening game drives are in the late afternoon, where there is a better chance of seeing the nocturnal animals. While the wildlife does not perform to order you are almost certain to see lions, elephants, giraffe, zebra and wildebeest amongst many others. And guess what? It doesn’t mater how many times you’ve seen them on wildlife programmes - there is nothing that compares seeing right up close a lioness with her cubs, or elephants moving through the savannah.
To experience the very best from a game reserve you need three nights ‘in the wild’ which will, without doubt, enrich your life forever. (You can go for two nights but I wouldn’t recommend it as you will not see everything you want to see.)
So there it is. Nobody is going to pretend a holiday in South Africa is going to be as cheap as two weeks in Benidorm, but it need not be that expensive either. Air fares are coming down (currently around £600 in July and August) and everything in South Africa is tremendous value (an excellent meal for two with wine in a top-class restaurant is less than £50).
And to make it even better value, Here Is The City has teamed up with the Vineyard Hotel & Spa in Cape Town and Kariega Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape to offer readers a special and unbeatable offer.
READER OFFER
From July1st until 31st August 2009 (subject to availability)
Vineyard Hotel & Spa
Cape Town
Tel + 27 21 657 4500
www.vineyard.co.za
Two people sharing a room @ R1450 per room per night (approx £100)
Children under 12 sharing a room with parents at a supplement of R495 (£50) per child per night. Breakfast and VAT included but exclusive of 1% Government Tourism Levy
The above rates represent a minimum of 35% Discount on the Vineyard’s rates for these periods
Kariega Game Reserve
Tel + 27 41 363 0263
www.kariega.co.za
Two people sharing a luxury suite at either Ukhozi Lodge or River Lodge @ R2600 per suite per night (approx £180 per night). The rate includes VAT, all meals, selected beverages and morning and evening game drives.
The above rates represent a 50% Discount on Kariega’s rates for this period.
To book
First check out the Vineyard and Kariega websites for further information. You can select either property or combine them both. Then send an email to the selected property/properties with your dates and quote Here Is The City Offer. The reservation departments at both properties will confirm your booking and take your credit card details.
Here Is The Writer : Richard Tobias
Richard Tobias brings a much needed dose of good behavior to HITC Life. His extensive career in tourism brought him an OBE in 1998. Richard is an experienced writer, lecturer and broadcaster, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors, the Tourism Society and the Institute of Travel & Tourism as well as non-executive chairman of World Media Publishing. His Who's Who entry lists golf, good food and Chelsea Football Club amongst his passions. His favourite dining companion is The Finn, and sometimes her daughter, The Finnette.
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