talking shop ON LOCATION
Gadding about South Africa's Garden Route T
his autumn, Ethos Marketing hosted a fam trip to South Africa’s famous Garden Route –
an area famed for its dramatic coast, charming little towns, wineries and quirky attractions, as our reporter Anita found out… Stretching from Mossel Bay in the
Western Cape, about 220 miles east of Cape Town, to Storms River and Tsitsikamma, about 120 miles west of Port Elizabeth, the Garden Route is popular for self-drives and has a selection of quality accommodation. “As we fl ew into George, I was mesmerised by how lush The Garden Route really is, " says Anita. I was expecting trees and manicured lawns, but the views from the plane were truly stunning – think blue seas, sandy coves and greenery as far as the eye can see – not how I imagined Africa.” The group’s accommodation was at The Manor House at Fancourt, a luxury boutique hotel which dates back to 1859 but offers 18 technology- equipped suites and 24-hour butler service. The service by the staff at The Manor House was fabulous, says Anita. “The canapés, afternoon tea and bubbly kept coming!”
Manor house guests get use of the neighbouring 115-room Fancourt Hotel’s spa, dining and sports facilities. Adventurers should head to the
region of Oudtshoorn, about 40 minutes’ drive from George in the Klein Karoo. The group toured this former ostrich capital of the world and its opulent Cape-Dutch homes that were once the city crash pads of rich ‘feather barons’.
The closest beaches to George are
Victoria Bay and Herold's Bay. Also along the Garden Route, natural highlights include Mossel Bay, Wilderness National Park, the seaside and watersports Mecca of Sedgefi eld, the shores of Knysna Lagoon and the holiday paradise of Plettenberg Bay. Anita’s favourite moment of the fam was at the Buffelsdrift Private Game Reserve in Oudshoorn: “We ate a lunch of ostrich fi llet with a crisp
Main picture: the group at Fancourt The Links Clubhouse. Insets, left to right: elephant orphans at Buffeldrift Private Game Reserve; riding an ostrich; making friends all-aboard the Blue Train.
54 January 2013 •
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“I was mesmerised by how lush the Garden Route is – blue seas, sandy coves and green as far as you can see”
local chardonnay on the sunny deck overlooking a waterhole of wallowing hippos,” she said. “But the best bit was making friends with three orphaned elephants. We got to feed and hug them and watch their impressive football skills!” Cape Town is a 45-minute fl ight from George so twinning it with the Garden Route is popular. The group toured the Steenberg in the Constantia Valley, just 20 minutes from Cape Town. It boasts a fi ne dining restaurant, 'Gorgeous" Bubbly Bar and
Ginko Spa, an onsite Winery, Bistro Sixteen82 and a golf course.
Top tip
Suggest a journey on one of the world's most luxurious trains – The Blue Train, which travels between Cape Town and Pretoria. Guests are served lavish four-course meals and sleep in private en-suite cabins with butler service.
Sample Package
AFRICAN PRIDE; 01904 619428 A family package with fi ve nights in the Fancourt Hotel, three nights at Steenberg, fl ights from Heathrow with South African Airways and hire car costs £1,810pp. Or the honeymoon package – three nights at Fancourt, two at Steenberg, and one night on the Blue Train from £2,464pp.
african-pride.co.uk;
fancourt.co.za; fl
ysaa.com;
steenberghotel.com;
bluetrain.co.za
HIGHLIGHTS
• Great golf courses, including three championship courses at Fancourt (its links was voted top Golf Course in Africa by Golf Digest US)
• The historical town of George is home to the George Museum and the Outeniqua Transport Museum which houses old locomotives and coaches
• The spectacular Cango Caves in Oudshoorn are Africa's largest show cave system. Take the ‘Adventure Route’ deep into the caves or, like us, explore via the gentle route and learn how the caves were discovered from an entertaining guide
• The Safari Ostrich Farm where you can actually ride one of these feathered fiends – once was enough though!
• The scenery as you drive into the Outeniqua Mountains, from verdant to dusty semi-desert
•
Visit the spa at Fancourt with its amazing Roman Baths..
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