SOUTH AFRICA

Ball & beast, sea & sun

As well as for the golf courses, there is a large range of hotels in South Africa: going from charming guesthouses offering true South African hospitality or game lodges in the wildlife reserves to the most comfortable and luxurious hotels of the South African well-known chain Sun International, The Palace and the Table Bay being the must.

** At Sun City

The complex of Sun City offers a full range of accommodations The Cabanas, The Cascades, The Sun Hotel and over all The Palace which is more a royal home than an hotel.

The Palace is something like a Maharaja palace imagined by a sort of Rudyard Kipling for a new Mowgli story in the jungle. The entrance begins an adventure with an ornamental bridge over a stream of tumbling water and a six cheetahs fountain. A porte cochere supported by monumental columns with elephant feet, guardian leopards at the corners and 25 feet high carved wooden doors lead to the lobby which is a gigantic rotunda of 80 feet high.open way to the Crystal Court where hangs a Venetian chandelier of 5 meters in diameter over a large fountain of four elephants of 3m high… Impressive! Pay also a visit to Shawu, the 4,5 meter high sculpture of the famous mighty elephant of the National Kruger Park. He reigns over the glass canopied Elephant Walk.
The 338 rooms and suites of The Palace have been designed with royal hospitality in mind and decorated with African colors and handcarved furnishings in African woods. All have views over water, jungle or Valley of Waves.Casual or elegant dining is available at different places but be once an early bird and take a breakfast on the terrace of the Crystal Court under the rising sun over the Valley of Water Waves. It makes you happy for the whole day.

But if you want to dine out, courtesy buses drive to others hotels and recreation places where there is a large choice of eating. If you enjoy really good Indian food, try Calabash.

** along the Indian Ocean coast:

near Durban

Located at about 40kms north of Durban in the heart of the sugar canes plantations, at Umhlali, Zimbali Lodge offers a combination of African classical architecture with warm natural interiors to make the place elegant and comfortable. The rooms are situated in small bungalows around the gardens under the tropical trees. Magnificent views over the white waving Indian Ocean from the lodge, especially from the poolside, are part of the charm of this select establishment.

The colonial style restaurant – where the air conditioning is somewhat to cold – is intimate and food, specially Indian cuisine, is perfect and you can get a curry spicy at your taste: mild, hot or very hot.

The Zimbali Golf course is part of the resort and one can reserve tee departures from the room, but there’re a few others in the surroundings: Prince’s Grant at Stanger, Mount Edgecombe and in Durban (which is at about 40 minutes drive) the well known Durban Country Club near George at Fancourt

Fancourt is situated in the heart of the Garden Route, one of South Africa's major tourist attractions, at 7 kms both from the airport and the historical center of George at the foot of the Outeniqua mountains. The old Manor House of sir Fancourt that was the center of the 460 hectares resort has been declared National Monument. The hotel comprises 100 luxurious bedrooms and suites and 61 garden suites and studios, all equipped with modern comfort and international standard services.

** Cape Town:

at The Table Bay

Only 308 hotels in the World are members of "Leadings Hotels of the World". The Table Bay at the Waterfront of Cape Town is one of them and it deserves it and Sun International can be proud of it. Located at the end of the Waterfront, the hotel faces the harbor and the town, but overall the Table Mountain. It’s a unique place. The architectural design is contemporary but with a touch of old colonial style which gives to the building elegance and class.

The 329 rooms either overlook harbor, city and Table Mountain or the bay to Robben Island, the prison where Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in political incarceration before becoming President of South African Republic. He opened the hotel in May 1997 with much fanfare.

The Atlantic Grill, decorated in a Cape Winelands theme, serves dinners featuring flavors of the Cape. It also has a 6.000-bottle open-face cellar of the best South African wines and a humidor with a selection of world’s best cigars. After dinner, get a real good espresso coffee and smoke a cigar in the lounge watching at the Table Mountain through the high arched main window. Or, Madame, at five o’clock, have your Grand Tea in music.

Shopping from the hotel is easy: the first floor is directly linked to the Waterfront galleries with there hundreds shops.

Staying at The Table Bay is having an avant-goût of paradise.

at Steenberg Country Hotel

In between the city of Cape Town and the Cape of Good Hope, at about twenty minute drive from the heart of the city, the Steenberg Country Hotel is nestled in the tranquil Constantia. The 5 star hotel is situated on the Cape’s oldest wine farm and the 19 bedrooms offer sweeping views over the vineyards and False Bay. Dating back to 1682, the buildings have restored in their genuine appearance and have been declared National Monument. Modern conveniences blend harmoniously with the legendary elegance and traditions of the 17th century.

Have a look at the antique furniture and pay a visit to the cellar of the winery, producing some of countries finest wines.

You’ll find them on the wine list at the Steenberg restaurant renowned for his gourmet cuisine. If you are in trouble for any choice, meal or wine, be confident to the good advice of the Swiss butler. And if you are still hesitating, order for a filet of kudu. You would not regret it. Reservation mostly required.

in a reserve: atKapama

Kapama Lodge, near the Kruger National Park at Hoedspruit airport, is certainly the must in game reserve lodges. It’s a deluxe accommodation in the heart of the bush. Twenty luxurious air-conditioned en-suite thatched chalets, decorated with finest Africa’s textures, are disseminated in indigenous gardens. The reception area comprises central lounge, bar and dining room, conference room and library. From the tea deck one can watch abundance of birds in their natural habitat.

Superb good cuisine, international or local can be prepared by the chef (who was for long time South African Embassy’s chef in Switzerland) and served in the lapa around a crackling campfire or in a secluded bush venue under a star-filled sky.

An unforgettable place to stay once in a life.