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Lifestyle
Weekend Winter Getaways
You'll be amazed what 48 hours away from office and home can do for your spirits. And in the interests of your mental health, you should have at least four of these a year, most importantly during winter. Here we have put together our editor’s suggestions of great South African winter breaks…
Western Cape
Gordon’s Bay
Gordon's Bay is a picturesque coastal village, nestled at the foot of the Hot- tentots Holland Mountains and the False Bay Coast.
Just 40 minutes drive from Cape Town, this resort is ideally situated for a relaxing winter getaway. The climate is typical of coastal resorts, with a winter rainfall and mild sea and air temperature throughout the year.
Recommended Accommodation
Celtic Manor Guest House and Spa
Celtic Manor is a luxury 4 star guest house and Spa offering
Magnificent ocean vistas spanning False Bay and Table Mountain, an ideal spot for whale watching.
Laze at the pool deck in summertime and watch yachting regattas, or curl up by the cosy log fire on cold winter days and gaze at the mystical Southern Right Whales, which visit the bay from June to November. And then after a soothing late afternoon massage end your day with a romantic candlelit dinner in its harbour view restaurant.
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Contact Info / Useful Links
Jane Otton
Tel: +27 21 856 1907
Email: info@celticmanor.co.za
Address: 22 Suikerbossie Drive, Gordon's Bay
www.celticmanor.co.za
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Northwest Province
The Waterberg Mountains
The Waterberg Mountains, outside Bela Bela are renowned for being the back-drop to some of South Africa’s most renowned game lodges, including Mabula Game Lodge. Ideally located 2 hours from Johannesburg and 90 minutes from Sun City, Mabula Private Game Reserve boasts 12 000 ha of ‘Big Five’, malaria free private game reserve.
Recommended Accommodation
Mabula Game Lodge:
Set against a backdrop of lush green mountainous vegetation, Mabula Game Lodge is set in one of South Africa's finest private game reserves. Only two hours North of Johannesburg, this 12000 hectare reserve is home to an abundance of animal and bird life, including the 'Big-5'. Exclusive accommodation is provided in our 47 rooms including 3 suites that offer guests every comfort in a scenic natural setting.
Win a 2 night getaway at Mabula Game Lodge for 2 people sharing to the value of R13,000. To enter the competition answer the easy question below.
Competition question: In which province is Mabula Game Lodge situated?
Email your answer along with your full name and day time contact details to TheEdgeCompetition@standardbank.co.za.
Click here for terms and conditions
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Contact Info / Useful Links
Tel: 014 734-7000
Email: reservations@lodge.mabula.co.za
www.mabula.com
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Kwa Zulu Natal
Drakensberg Mountains
An awe-inspiring and truly magnificent range of mountains, the majority of which lie in KwaZulu-Natal and stretch well over 200 kilometres forming a natural border between Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal, are known simply as Drakensberg, literally meaning the Dragon Mountain in Afrikaans. The name is very fitting considering that the average height is 2 900m, with peaks rising as high as 3 482m - being the highest in South Africa.
Other than its sheer majesty, the Drakensberg is very popular due to its accessible plateau and the numerous passes and rocky slopes that make for some of the best hiking spots in the country.
Recommended Accommodation
Fordoun Hotel & Spa
The Award winning 5 Star Fordoun Hotel and Spa is close to the N3, near Nottingham Road in the magnificent KwaZulu Natal Midlands, conveniently situated between Johannesburg and Durban. Themes highlight the historical past of this settler homestead and farm, now transformed into a tranquil luxury Hotel and Spa.
Fordoun is situated in the green pastures of a successful Nottingham Road dairy farm, which has a history dating back to the 1800s. The original farm buildings have been painstakingly adapted into the atmospheric and gracious Fordoun Spa, Hotel and Restaurant, in a fusing of state-of-the-art leisure and spa facilities with the timeless tranquillity of by-gone days.
Fordoun combines the attractions of an award winning upmarket boutique hotel and spa with a top class conference, wedding and event destination and a superior restaurant. It caters for resident guests of the hotel as well as day visitors during the week at the Spa. Skye restaurant is open to the guests through out the week and weekend however booking is essential.
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Contact Info / Useful Links
Tel: 033 266-6217
Email: info@fordoun.com
Address : Nottingham Road, Midlands, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa
www.fordoun.com
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Mpumalanga
Dullstroom
Dullstroom is one of the most pristine areas near the Kruger National Park, offering a variety of activities, including fly fishing, stunning fauna and flora, world class fine food and an area with great panoramic views. Dullstroom lies 720km N from Durban and 33km W from Nelspruit on the R540.
One of the biggest attractions to Dullstroom is the fishing experience, arguably South Africa's fly-fishing capital with the area offering excellent still water and river fishing. Most streams and dams are stocked with a variety of fish and the locals can be contacted to find out those ideal locations.
Dullstroom offers accommodation to suit family style or luxury accommodation. With a collection of self-catering cottages, family or luxury hotels or even a local bed and breakfast, there are locations to suit all needs and budgets.
Recommended Accommodation
Stonecutters Lodge
Stonecutters Lodge is a holiday, trout fishing and conference venue of exceptional quality. Travel to the Mpumalanga Highlands, just 2.5 hours from O.R. Tambo Airport and stay in this four star graded lodge. The lodge lies between Dullstroom and Lydenburg (Mashishing), in the heart of South Africa’s fly and trout fishing territory. Whether you are planning a holiday or weekend away, organising a small conference or looking for excellent trout fishing, Stonecutters will accommodate you in superlative style.
Stonecutters Lodge lies in a beautiful setting between mountains and river. It offers a base for Malaria free holidays and tours to nearby game lodges and well-known tourist attractions.
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Contact Info / Useful Links
Tel: 012 665 0672
Email: info@wildwaysbushcamp.co.za
www.wildwaysbushcamp.co.za
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Eastern Cape
Frontier Country – Grahamstown
With Grahamstown at its centre - A hauntingly beautiful region - arguably the crucible of South African history - Frontier Country is a vibrant mix of all the best that Africa has to offer. One of the premier tourist routes in the Eastern Cape, it has a turbulent past, with more forts than the rest of the country combined.
The broad tree-lined streets and buildings of Grahamstown are the legacy of a time when this was the Cape's second city. Take time to walk through this historic centre and visit the Observatory Museum which houses one of only two Victorian Cameras Obscura in the world - the other is in Bath, England - with a magical mirror that reflects the town onto a large circular table.
Grahamstown boasts some of the finest schools, colleges, universities and educational institutions to be found in South Africa.
Recommended Accommodation
The Cock House
One of Grahamstown's best-loved landmarks, The Cock House offers you country home comfort and elegant dining in the historic "City of Saints". Named after the Hon. William Cock, an enterprising 1820 Settler, the house dates back to 1826. Today a National monument, it has been lovingly restored by your hosts, Peter and Belinda Tudge, to offer nine charming en-suite guest rooms and fully-licensed restaurant and pub. Self-catering accommodation is also now available in a spacious two-bedroom flat with lounge, kitchen and bath/shower.
Since opening in 1991, many guests have returned to the convivial atmosphere of The Cock House including former President Nelson Mandela and President Thabo Mbeki.
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Contact Info / Useful Links
Tel: +27 46 636 1287/95
Address: 10 Market Street Grahamstown
Email: cockhouse@imaginet.co.za
www.cockhouse.za.cx
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Gauteng & Surrounds
Rust De Winter
Lying within the boundaries of the proposed Dinokeng 'Big Five' Game Reserve, the 1,650-ha Rust de Winter Reserve is an initiative of the Gauteng Provincial Government to establish a major centre of wildlife-based industry.
The reserve is close to the national N1 road, an hour's drive north from Gauteng's major centres, and en route to destinations such as the Kruger National Park, Waterberg Biosphere Reserve and the tourist attractions of Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
It surrounds the 500-ha Rust de Winter Dam, incorporating a wide variety of landscapes and habitats including broad-leaved woodland, rocky woodland slopes, mixed woodland, riverine forest and alluvial acacia veld.
Rust de Winter is a well-known birding destination, with 400 species of birds including numerous varieties of water bird. Game found on the reserve includes kudu, waterbuck, zebra, reedbuck, steenbuck, duiker, impala, Nyala, warthog, aardvark, bushpig, crocodile and otter.
Recommended Accommodation
Wildways Bush Camp
Wildways Bush Camp is part of the 3000 hectares Pride of Africa Game Reserve in the Dinokeng area. This tranquil getaway is in a malaria free area and is a mere 50km north of the hustle and bustle of Pretoria and not more than an hours drive from Johannesburg International Airport.
Get down to earth in five star luxury. Wildways Bushcamp is nature at its magnificent best. Time stands still as the moon rises to the call of jackal and the stars give light to crickets gathering at night. The camp consists of three fully furnished, self-catering houses and four additional rooms, conference facilities, kitchen, pool and central thatched entertainment area. The only vehicles allowed on the game drives are the game-viewing vehicles from the Pride of Africa camps. This ensures the minimum activity and noise in the bush.
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Contact Info / Useful Links
Tel: 012 665 0672
Email: info@wildwaysbushcamp.co.za
www.wildwaysbushcamp.co.za
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International
Victoria Falls
One of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Victoria Falls, is a spectacular sight of awe-inspiring beauty and grandeur on the Zambezi River, bordering Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is known to the local people as “The Smoke That Thunders”, which describe the spray and roar of the mighty Zambezi River as it drops 300 feet into a narrow gorge.
Guests from all over the globe visit. You will be awestruck by the sight of millions of litres of water per second hurrying over a sheer precipice into the gorge, more than 100 metres below.
Whatever your inclination, the Victoria Falls is bound to stun, amaze and entertain you.
Recommended Accommodation
Thorntree River Lodge
Thorntree River Lodge offers its guests a unique and personal African experience all year round. The Lodge blends naturally into the riverine vegetation and commands superb river views from its main deck and private verandas.
Situated on the Zambian bank of the Zambezi River, within the renowned Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park and just 15 kilometres upstream from the spectacular Victoria Falls lies the secluded Thorntree River Lodge.
The accommodation offers 7 twin-bedded stone chalets under thatch lodges, one double lodge and one Executive Suite with a private deck overlooking the Zambezi River.
Welcoming drinks and excellent cuisine are enjoyed from the centrally situated lounge and dining area. There is also a swimming pool with a water level bar and a thatched lapa in which to simply relax during the heat of the day.
An assortment of pre-dinner snacks are prepared on the deck at sun downer time, when guests can enjoy the Zambezi's famous sunsets and perhaps watch the regular procession of elephant as they follow an age old migration route that runs directly in front of the Lodge.
Clients are served three full meals a day. All food, meat and vegetables are fresh, prepared and served to the highest standards by the fully experienced chefs and waiters.
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Contact Info / Useful Links
Three Cities Group Central Reservations
Tel: 031 310 6900
Email: ceres@threecities.co.za
Safari Par Excellence Central Reservations
Tel: 011 794 8261
Email: res@saf-par.co.za
www.thorntreelodge.net
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Other useful links for accommodation:
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