south africa FEATURE 57
Cape short break…
“Consider Cape Town as a possible short break option as overnight flights and minimal time difference mean no jet
lag, allowing a two- or three-night getaway” LOUISE TURNER, VIRGIN HOLIDAYS
refurbished and refi tted, inside and out, as befi tting a luxury train. The on-board entertainment system has been upgraded to be more interactive, there’s wifi throughout, and the driver’s eye view camera can be viewed in guest suites.
ALL ABOARD THE SHOSHOLOZA EXPRESS BY ANDREW EAMES “A couple of luxury operators – the Blue Train and Rovos Rail - take the headlines in South African rail travel, but there are less expensive local alternatives run by state operator Shosholoza Meyl (southafricanrailways.
co.za). I tried Shosholoza’s Premier Class, from Johannesburg to Durban, and found it a sumptuous sanctuary: purple-liveried, with wood-panelled cabins, bow-tied staff, carpeted corridors, and a bar/lounge area with wide-screen TV. As we rumbled out through dusk-shrouded suburbs, stalked by the silhouettes of mine workings, it was time for a three- course dinner in the dining car, followed by bed in crisp linen sheets. Tourist Class on the long-distance trains has sleeper accommodation for a very good price. I used it to travel from Johannesburg to Cape Town and saw a whole lot of landscape I’d never ever have seen from a plane.”
Safari: The Shamwari Group has raised over fi ve million rand for the Wilderness Foundation’s ‘Forever Wild Campaign’. The initiative, to help save Africa’s increasingly endangered rhinos, offers guests a discounted rate if they donate a minimum of R150pp per night when making their booking. Shamwari Group then donates R100 for every bed night sold on this offer.
An extension of these efforts is created by educating young guests with the ‘Kids on Safari’ programme, with activities focused on promoting the conservation of species and the protection of habitat whilst raising awareness of the planet, fl ora and fauna to the children.
The Shamwari Group has four diverse South African properties: the malaria-free Shamwari Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape, Jock Safari Lodge in the Kruger National Park and Nkomazi Game Reserve in Mpumalanga Province, and Sanbona Wildlife Reserve outside Cape Town. Tanda Tula (
tandatula.com) will open an old-style fi eld camp this season in the Timbavati Game Reserve (part of the Greater Kruger), to be used solely for walking safaris: guests can expect to cover at least 10 miles per day tracking big game. Mateya Safari Lodge (
mateyasafari.com) is offering guests booking a minimum of four nights free fl ights between Johannesburg and Madikwe Game Reserve. The offer is valid until November 30 2014.
Franschhoek Country House and Villas (
fch.co.za), in the Cape
Main picture: Sarili Lodge, Shamwari Private Game Reserve; A close encounter with one of the Big Five
Winelands, and sister property Shumbalala Game Lodge (
shumbalala.co.za), in the Thorneybush Game Reserve, has a pay for four nights and stay for six wineland and safari combination. It’s available year round, excluding Christmas and the New Year. Hotels: The historic Oude Werf hotel
(
oudewerfhotel.co.za) in Stellenbosch in the Cape Winelands, is nearing the end of its fi ve-year multi-million rand renovation programme. New is superior wing accommodation and a new lounge and bar, which opened last November. The fi nal phase of the makeover, to a hotel established in 1802, should be completed on October 31. It will see the upgrade of the last 12 classic rooms to superior rooms, the addition of 13 new rooms, both superior and deluxe rooms and a makeover for its popular Liefde Bistro. The property will be
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