Lord of the Manor – Gracious Villa Stays in South Africa

christina — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 08:37:11 +0000

Have you ever dreamt of owning a sprawling estate in South Africa? Well, dreams can come true, even if they are only for a week or so! We are blessed with sweeping landscapes and natural beauty, and South Africa has made it an attractive place to rest one’s head for centuries. These days, we have found that some of our luxury travellers’ favour elegantly appointed, gracious Manor Houses and Villas, offering them a “home-away-from-home” with total privacy when holidaying, along with the full-service luxury hotel experiences guests may be used to.

Here are some of our favourite luxury Manor Houses in the Cape Winelands in a neat, digestible two-part issue. We have featured properties that have hit the mark with us in terms of location, service, decor, luxury and the ultimate ‘X-factor’ – the intangible hallmark of excellence that stays with you long after you’ve departed.

To round of a perfect stay in the Cape Winelands, also famous for its award winning wines, we’ve taken the liberty of recommending our favourite estate wine to savour during your stay.

The Residence at Vrede en Lust

The Residence is a modern six-bedroomed all-suite villa tucked away on a private 7.5-acre part of the estate. The fully serviced and elegantly designed villa is ideal for families or parties travelling together. Multiple contemporary indoor and outdoor entertainment areas set the scene for your a la carte escape to beautiful Simondium, just outside of Franschhoek. Within easy reach of town, you can enjoy full days out wine-tasting – self-guided or onboard the famous Franschhoek wine tram or even on horseback – or simply explore a pretty hiking trail in the valley if you’re a lover of nature.

A perfect pairing: The Famous Vrede En Lust Boet Erasmus is a stunning Bordeaux blend and one of our personal favourites

Rhodes Cottage at Boschendal

Sandwiched between the two world-famous Winelands towns of Stellenbosh and Franschhoek, Boschendal is situated is this stunning valley on a historic working farm. The Rhodes Cottage is steeped with history, and stands apart from the rest of the estate due to its historical value. Sleeping up to six people in the cottage and four in the garden annexe this is ideal for a small family or party of friends to make their own for a few days. Expect a rich collection of antiques, original wooden floors and Sir Herbert Baker design throughout this timeless Manor House.

Breakfast is served to you on the sprawling veranda and days are spent exploring the extensive Boschendal Wine Estate or the surrounding wine farms before returning for a refreshing dip in the sparkling eco-pool. “Historic and special” is how Mandi describes Rhodes Cottage.

A Perfect Pairing: Try the Cabernet Sauvignon from the 1685 Collection.

The Homestead at Oldenburg Vineyards

With its secluded location, on a boutique vineyard in the dramatically scenic Banhoek valley, the stunning chef’s kitchen and personal host are just a few of the virtues of this immaculate villa which sleeps up to twelve people in six bedrooms.

Highlights of the property are a multitude of activities to keep active guests busy; trail running, sprawling lawns for picnics or boisterous family soccer games (a fun way to work off any trace of the gourmet fare you’ll enjoy over your time here).

All this makes for a homely hideaway in the Cape Winelands you won’t soon forget. The gorgeous private swimming pool is a real treat in the summer – not to forget the resident owl that will be sure to pay a special visit during your stay. “It’s so beautiful you won’t want to ever leave,” says Mandi

A perfect pairing: We can’t decide between the estate’s powerful Chardonnay or its lighter, crisper cousin the Chenin Blanc. We’ll leave the ultimate vote over to you once you’ve been to stay!

The Manor and Jonkershuis at Blaauwklippen

Situated at the foot of the scenic Stellenbosch Mountains is historic Blaauwklippen, a three-century-old estate synonymous with the warm hospitality of the Cape Winelands. Blaauwklippen’s creative team have conjured a most delightful blend of heritage and futuristic design and recently the property has been completely re-imagined. From an accommodation standpoint, the Manor House comprises four luxury double suites and the adjacent Jonkershuis, six luxury double suites. The Manor House is reserved when you book the estate exclusively for private celebrations in Blaauwklippen’s magical and brand new “Cathedral” venue, whilst the Jonkershuis’ suites can be booked individually.

The interior design is eclectic, bold and luxurious. A heady mix of old and new, this property is guaranteed to leave an indelible impression.

Indulge in a culinary delight at their new bistro, Hamm & Uys, which has recently launched and run by the exceptional Slippery Spoon Kitchen whose gastronomical fare is not to be missed! With a multitude to offer, from wine tasting, to hosting exceptional celebrations, a family market and high end luxury accommodation – Blaauwklippen Estate is one definitely not to be missed.

A perfect pairing: The limited release Cabriolet a red blend of Shiraz, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Zinfandel and Merlot is our recommendation here.

In conversation with…

Mandi Johnson-Aliverti, Director of Travel Concepts

“Villa and apartment rentals are more popular now than ever in South Africa. Over the last decade, the hospitality industry has seen a shift away from holidays featuring full-service hotels alone. Multi-generational travel has soared and with it, the preference for total privacy that only a villa stay can offer. Especially famous are those Manor Houses, Cottages and Villas that not only provide this prized element of privacy but also reflect the unique character of the location. Importantly, the most sought-after quality is beautiful shared spaces – plush lounges, deep verandas, expansive decks and flourishing gardens. Areas to relax in and share unforgettable moments in an equally extraordinary setting. Often, we find our guests like these peppered into an itinerary featuring full-service hotels and lodges.”

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We’ll drink to that! – So much more to the Winelands than just wine

Admin — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 10:37:52 +0000

When a large group of international visitors arrived in Cape Town for a family reunion they were desperately keen to see and experience the famous Cape Winelands that they had heard so much about. We were asked to organize a day trip for them and with 60 people ranging from young children to pensioners; the day had to appeal to everyone. No easy feat but of course this was no problem for us as there is so much more to the region than just wine!

Read on to see what they got up to!

It was first off to Stellenbosch, the capital of the ever expanding Cape Winelands, to Ama zink, a truly South African eatery in Kayamandi Township which is actually the result of a successful community project between a locally trained chef born in Kayamandi and the business community.

The group got to taste the locally brewed beer and African delicacies from the kitchen, heard the history of Kayamandi, met the local residents and listened to the acclaimed children’s choir. It was a real insight into South African history and culture for the entire family.

Next it was on to Camberley wine estate, a tiny boutique winery on the slopes of the stunning Helgshooghte pass. The home of winemaker Johnny Nel, the winery is literally a family affair and, in our opinion, makes some of South Africa’s finest red wine. But this was a tasting with a difference, not only did our group taste a range of this excellent wine, but learnt about the history of winemaking in the region and got a chance to press their own grapes and bottle their own wine. They also got to combine the wine tasting with the delicious locally made Von Gesau chocolates which went down a storm!

Everyone agreed the Camberley Shiraz was a real winner and the group were fascinated by Johnny’s wine making tales, but all heads really turned in astonishment as a cheetah appeared at the back of the room! Popping in from the local Cheetah outreach programme just down the road, the group was allowed to get up close and personal with one of Africa’s wildest cats and have a photo opportunity of this special moment.

It was then time for lunch at the exclusive Delaire Graff wine estate, with magnificent views over the valley, a fine dining experience and a glass or two of the estates award winning Sauvignon Blanc. But the surprises weren’t finished yet and before lunch the group actually took part in a drumming circle with the “Drum Café” with each family member having their own drum and banging along to the beat!

On the journey home it was clear the group had had a fascinating day and later that evening over dinner in the hotel were delighted to each receive a special bottle of the wine they had bottled earlier that day. We had whisked them away, labeled them “the fifth element”, and then packaged and presented them back to the family as a memento of a truly special day that no one would easily forget!

Stay tuned for more pictures and stories from this extraordinary family reunion in the weeks to come!

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