Jul
24
Ilanga Travel visits Walker Bay in Winter
Xavier enjoys a break away in the Overberg region and was very happy to get to know the following two lodges:
Mosaic Lagoon Lodge
Mosaic Lagoon Lodge is a lovely property with unbeatable views on the edge of the Klein River Lagoon. On our drive into the property we were immediately greeted by an African Hoopoe, which is a beautiful, fairly-rare, and indigenous bird to Southern Africa. We then made our way down a scenic drive leading us to the reception, where we were warmly greeted.
We were taken to the main area (restaurant) which is situated metres away from the lagoon. The views from the restaurant area are spectacular and are great for bird watchers, so definitely bring your binoculars!
Our room was very spacious and beautifully set up with another great view of the lagoon with the mountains as a backdrop.
Two activities per day in this beautiful lodge are definitely a great option for families. We, due to weather conditions, could only complete 1 activity (the quad biking tour) which is a great scenic drive around the lodge and to a viewpoint of the lagoon.
The lodge offers a wonderful experience for children, boasting a warm and welcoming atmosphere complemented by a friendly staff. All the children present during our stay had a delightful time. The main area features board games and a cozy fireplace, providing the perfect setting for families to enjoy quality time together.
The food and service were super, and the chef has a menu for each setting, but is also open to special requests – including making different dishes for children, if the little ones have special wishes.
This property is definitely a great summer option, as the majority of activities are focused on the outdoors. These include kayaking & boat cruises, 4×4 beach excursions, guided nature walks, fat bikes, mountain bikes and quad biking. These are of course weather dependent and seasonal. There is also a spa on site, which has many lovely treatments available.
Besides being a great option for families, there were also many couples really enjoying the food and exclusivity of the property. Its remote location gives it a sense of tranquility and it is a great option for nature lovers in the 4-Star category.
Grootbos Private Nature Reserve – Garden Lodge and the Florilegium Gallery
Our last night in the Walker Bay area was in the breath-taking Grootbos Private Game Reserve. This beautiful property delivers on every possible front with great views, personalized service, knowledgeable guides amazing rooms, delicious food and a panoramic view of sunsets and the entire Walker Bay beach.
We were greeted by our guide, who was very knowledgeable, who could cater for exactly what we wanted. We wanted to learn about the fynbos and indigenous birds in the area and he spent 3 hours driving us through the reserve explaining all the beautiful interactions with each indigenous flower of the region. He even showing us a certain sub-species that is only found in the Walker Bay area. This was both informative and immersive at the same time. Nothing about what he said felt forced or practised; it was just one amazing fact after the next, based only on what we saw and what were interested in. The guides here are the best of the best and are great with families and couples alike. They personalise the Grootbos experience to the wishes of the guests.
The rooms are very spacious and offer amazing views of the Walker Bay area, including the breath-taking sunsets. What an unbelievable treat this was!
The bedroom offers a great view with one large window looking at the surrounding vistas. The lounge is large and warmly decorated with a beautiful fireplace, which was prepped for us during turndown. This made coming back from dinner a very warm and cosy experience in winter.
The bathrooms are out of this world. They are large with heated floors and have both a bathtub and shower.
Then there is the dining – as is to be expected at Grootbos, the food and cocktails are beyond compare. We had the most amazing lunch coupled with great wines from the Hemel & Aarde Valley. Our dinner consisted of a 5-course fine-dining meal which was beautifully curated and very filling. Most of the ingredients used in the preparation of the amazing food are locally produced and sourced.
Grootbos also takes great pride in supporting only locals to make and supply everything that is sold on site in their magnificent curio shop. Along with this, their wines and liquors are mainly South African made and thus they continue to support the local market.
Grootbos is truly a spectacle for anyone who wants to experience luxury, whilst also supporting a great conservation project. There are not enough words to explain what Grootbos has done and keeps doing for the conservation of Fynbos and uplifting the local community with their numerous community projects.
Finally, I want to conclude with the Florilegium Gallery, which is a fairly new addition to the property. The gallery is made up of beautiful illustrations showcasing the indigenous wildlife and fynbos on the reserve, and their unique interactions with each other. They had brilliant artists from around the world come in and study and create artistic masterpieces of how these plants interact with the fauna and their surroundings. The incredible detail and flawless executions of the paintings are incomparable to any watercolour art out there. There are insects and creatures that have been magnified and painted with incredible authenticity, and every aspect of the fynbos life cycle can be experienced visually.
The Florilegium Gallery is an absolute must for anyone who visits the property!
We have also done some more site inspections in Cape Town and would like to present:
Noah House
Noah House is a beautiful property in the Tamboerskloof area. The Dutch-owned Guest House is situated about a 5 minute walk from the very popular Kloof Street, but lies in the quieter side of the busy area.
It is an old house that has been carefully decorated in a very minimalistic, yet tasteful way. We found the owners and staff very polite, hospitable and passionate. They greeted us as old friends and we left feeling very glad to have seen the property. The owner puts a big emphasis on cleanliness and this shows throughout the property.
One big perk to the property is their concierge services and assistance to clients that can be provided on site. They have 2 vehicles available on-site, which are used for tours and transfers on request. These perks are non-inclusive, but can be booked, and paid for at the Guest House.
The iconic 70s series Land Rover is their signature car used for their sundowners offered to their in-house guests at an additional cost.
The rooms are very spacious with big Queen, or King-sized beds.
The Suite with Balcony is the number one room in the house. This suite has quite a big balcony with beautiful furniture and a view of Signal Hill.
The Trevoyan Guesthouse
The Trevoyan Guesthouse is another amazing property situated in Tamboerskloof. The property is part of the Pretty Hotels Group, and is a beautiful property, consisting of 2 buildings joined together.On the right side is the reception and 2 rooms above one another. On the left is the main building and other rooms.
The rooms each have a individual touch to them which makes each room unique. The Honeymoon Suite is a very large and spacious room which is perfect for a couple and is our most recommended room on the property.
The property has a large pool and a well looked after garden with a beautiful 120 year old tree that gives guests a lovely setting to relax in. There is also has an amazing deck above the dinning area which guests frequently utilize for their sundowner drinks and morning coffees.
The German-owned property also has a car on site that is available for rental by in-house guests only.