South Africa Revisited

Thanks to our partners at South African Tourism and See You In Africa, I recently returned from the most fascinating and memorable trip to South Africa! I’ve always raved about my love for this beautiful country, but on this particular journey I was blessed to be joined by my husband and two of our dear friends. We all knew that we were going to see a lot of wildlife and a different culture, but I was even more impressed by the over-the-top level of service, the extremely friendly people, the stunning landscapes, and some of the world’s most delectable cuisine and wine.

Since my last visit almost two years ago, the allurement to this ‘World in One Country’ has increased significantly with additional airlift to South Africa along with the very favorable exchange rate between the Rand and the US Dollar, an exceptional infrastructure, the sublime comfort of accommodations and the endless culinary options paired with world-class wines! Offering something for everyone, it’s no surprise why Forbes chose South Africa as one of the top value luxury destinations for 2016.

I began my two-week itinerary with a hard hat tour of the new Silo Hotel scheduled to open in March 2017. Liz Biden and the Royal Portfolio created this iconic hotel in a magical space towering above the V & A Waterfront surrounded by the natural wonder of South Africa’s Mother City which is consistently ranked among the top 10 cities in the world to visit. The V & A Waterfront continues to grow and become more impressive; it’s harbor and surrounds are undergoing various long-term, million Rand upgrades and improvements. The Waterfront has also begun plans to build a new dedicated cruise terminal at its port and E-berth to enhance the overall passenger experience. The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Arts Africa will open in September 2017, also located in the re-imagined Grain Silo complex. The museum hopes to be Africa’s most significant museum in over one hundred years, exhibiting cutting edge contemporary art from Africa and its Diaspora. It will be a true celebration of Africa’s rich cultural heritage.

After enjoying a short walk around the vibrant waterfront, I embarked on an exhilarating 15-minute scenic helicopter ride providing breathtaking aerial views of “the fairest cape in all the circumference of the earth” as described by Sir Francis Drake. With so much to see and do in Cape Town alone, one almost feels overwhelmed trying to choose which luxury experience to include in a short two day visit. I highly recommend spending four or five days, if you can afford the time. Taking a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain, named among the new Seven Wonders of Nature, is definitely a ‘must-do’. Watching the African penguins (a.k.a. Jackass penguins for their donkey-like bray) strut their stuff at Boulders Beach, one of Tripadvisor’s Top 10 Truly Unique Beaches in the World, is also a ‘not to be missed’ attraction.

There are always acres of flowers and interesting plants to be seen at world famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Every season has it charm, however, I was fortunate to be there in spring when the fynbos are at their best and the maximum number of plants are in bloom. Kirstenbosch, with the grandeur of its setting against the eastern slopes of Cape Town’s Table Mountain, lived up to its reputation as the most beautiful garden in Africa and one of the great botanic gardens of the world. Kirstenbosch lies in the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004 and Kirstenbosch is the first botanical garden in the world to be included within a natural World Heritage Site. There are over 7,000 species of plants in cultivation at Kirstenbosch including many rare and threatened species that thrive in this haven of biodiversity.

From gastronomy delights and chefs table pairing menus, visitors can literally eat and drink their way through South Africa. I delightfully tasted numerous vintages from the country’s top wine estates, including my favorite from Waterford Wine Estate, the 2005 Kevin Arnold Shiraz. The black cherry aroma with a hint of Mocha and spice gave this rich, full bodied red a savory long finish. This paired perfectly with my Dukkah crusted kudu loin which was complimented with sweet potato puree, braised red cabbage, artichokes, asparagus, and berry jus. I sampled gourmet cuisine at some of the Western Cape’s best establishments including Aubergine; Baia; the Chef’s Table at the Mount Nelson; the Chef’s Table at La Residence; Miko at Mount Rochelle, and Le Quartier Français, recognized as one of the world’s leading 50 restaurants.