OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020 IMAGE COURTESY OF DWYKA TENTED LODGE, SANBONA IMAGE COURTESY city sea safari Set on Church Square in the historic heart of In a dramatically beautiful setting, the five-star Four hours from Cape Town, Gondwana Cape Town, the Labotessa Boutique Hotel offers Grootbos Private Nature Reserve is one of a Private Game Reserve provides an enticing and a luxury experience second to none. A sliver of handful of National Geographic Unique Lodges authentic safari experience; an 11000-hectare European-styled elegance paired with intimate of the World. Expect unmatched biodiversity reserve with free-roaming Big Five, the Junior service and featuring a charming café and – including the marine Big Five – and Ranger program for children, and luxury Diptyque Fragrance Boutique. inspiring community impact. Khoi-San inspired suites at Kwena Lodge. PB www.explorelife.co.za www.explorelife.co.za 1 TRAVEL 2 www.explorelife.co.za www.explorelife.co.za 3 TRAVEL WELCOME TO EXPLORE LIFE – TRAVEL SPECIAL EDITION An Exceptional As you’re picking up this publication, we are celebrating level 1 and our beloved tourism industry is beginning its recovery from the impact of the pandemic. In heartened conversations between ourselves and industry champions, we knew Place to Unwind we wanted this creative collaboration between editor Martine Bauer & Travel writer The Royal Portfolio showcases the very best luxury South African travel experiences. Jared Ruttenberg, to reignite the travel fires and get locals travelling to our world As part of the collection, you can have high expectations when visiting the famed class destinations through A special edition of EXPLORE LIFE-Travel Magazine. Birkenhead House in Hermanus. This intimate property located in the seaside town of This issue showcases enticing travel options and local specials in South Africa, including bush, extreme sports, family and Hermanus does not disappoint! The contemporary décor marries comfort and opulence luxury options. that breathe new life into guests the instant they enter. We’ve gathered the voices and stories of writers across the Each of the 11 rooms at Birkenhead House are individually decorated by the stylish wand of country with the hope that they inspire you to pack the padkos owner Liz Biden and are located in three different houses which make up Birkenhead House. … and head out to EXPLORE. With its unrivalled cliff-top position setting the standard, this superior, luxury hotel offers We hope each and every page excites the traveller in you! unmatched views to behold the Southern Right and Humpback Whales spy-hopping out of Happy Travelling, Martine & Jared the waters in Walker Bay. The all-inclusive rate means that guests never need to leave the comfort of Birkenhead House, where all meals and drinks are included. The Royal Portfolio has four exclusive properties in South Africa including Royal Malewane in the Greater Kruger National Park, Birkenhead House in Hermanus, La Residence in Franschhoek and The Silo Hotel in Cape Town. The Royal Portfolio is offering South African residents less 50% on all accommodation and itinerary rates for stays until 15 December 2020. www.theroyalportfolio.com 2 www.explorelife.co.za www.explorelife.co.za 3 TRAVEL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR LIMITED SOUTH AFRICAN RESIDENT PROMOTION From only R4 000 per person sharing per night. Lose yourself in the middle of nowhere, in a place where time stands still and nature takes centre stage. T +27 (0) 21 010 0028 E [email protected] www.sanbona.com Contact our Reservations department now to learn more, T&C’s apply 4 24968_Sanbona_SA Residence_Ad.indd 1 www.explorelife.co.za2020/09/03 14:46 www.explorelife.co.za 5 TRAVEL It’s Always a Good Time to go on Safari With so much uncertainty around Covid safety, safari get-aways are arguably the ideal destination for that much needed escape. Vast landscapes make social distancing a breeze and endless hours of silence while watching the animal kingdom at play, make minimal communication, a welcome reprieve. The bush always manages to still a busy mind and after the GROOTBOS Armageddon of lockdown, Bush breaks offer a perfect sanctuary to take advantage of all the fantastic special offers! GROOTBOS – GANSBAAI, WESTERN CAPE SANBONA WILDLIFE RESERVE At Grootbos you will never miss a – LITTLE KAROO sunset ... this luxury eco-reserve close At the foot of the towering Warmwaterberg to the Southern tip of Africa, is tucked Mountains in the Little Karoo, lies the between mountains, forest and sea. unique safari destination of Sanbona The lodges and suites have been designed Wildlife Reserve. Three Luxury Lodges and to accentuate and frame the sweeping, an adventurous Explorer Camp, nestle panoramic views from just every point in 58000 hectares of sculpted Cape Fold and angle, ensuring uninterrupted views Mountains and wide-open plains. Just a GROOTBOS GONDWANA of the setting sun over the ocean. Enjoy three-hour scenic drive from Cape Town sunsets from the comfort of your luxury to the heart of the Little Karoo, along the suite, on a private sunset picnic or while GONDWANA GAME RESERVE Route 62, to an unforgettable, malaria- you have pre-dinner drinks. – MOSSEL BAY free private game reserve. The team at Grootbos, go beyond simply Less than a four-hour drive away along Experience a huge diversity of indigenous South Africa’s popular Garden Route, conserving this pristine wilderness, they flora and fauna and rare examples of San are constantly researching, innovating lies the award winning, 11000 hectare rock art, some dating back more than and pioneering new ways of doing Gondwana Private Game Reserve – a 3500 years, plus a unique boat safari and things – in order to transform the lives of luxurious malaria-free safari experience. thrilling game drives. community members as well as preserve Indigenous Fynbos vegetation cloaks the More than a Big Five wilderness reserve, 2500 hectares of botanical and wildlife undulating valleys, adding vivid colour SANBONA it’s the vastness of the landscape, the treasures. and interest to a Big Five wilderness alluring stillness and isolation amid raw Experience the beauty of Grootbos in all experience with awe inspiring views of beauty and boundless plains that make MOTSWARI PRIVATE GAME RESERVE its glory with the #SpringSplendour and the Langeberg Mountains. Sanbona unique. – LIMPOPO get 55% Off the Normal Rate. This exclusive reserve offers guests a Special rates start at R4000 pp. Motswari Private Game Reserve, located www.grootbos.com variety of luxury accommodation with within the Timbavati and Umbabat Private sanbona.com – Martine Bauer world class interiors, attentive service, Nature Reserve, stretches out over superb cuisine, expert game rangers, 18000 hectares with incredible viewing exhilarating game drives and an array opportunities to watch the Big Five as of other activities including mountain they bask in their natural habitat. A total biking, the Junior Ranger program, of fifteen en-suite bungalows have been conservation activities, guided fynbos interspersed in nature and make up the walks, fishing, and spa treatments. Main Camp. This reserve remains exclusive From Romantic escapes to tented as it never hosts more than thirty guests camps with family or friends with your at any given point in time. Emphasis is own private field guide and camp placed on personal attention, ensuring that MOTSWARI cook to one of the privately situated SANBONA each guest instantly feels at home in this MOTSWARI luxury Bush Villas on a B&B and game stunning setting. As family-owned Private drive package where you can enjoy a Game Reserve, The Motswari philosophy family braai on your deck with passing is “Arrive as visitors and leave as friends”. wildlife and jaw dropping sunsets. The Motswari means “to conserve and protect” team have developed some great value in Tswana and that is exactly what this safari specials – Fully inclusive packages reserve does! Experience it for yourself by starting from only R2750 pp and B&B taking advantage of the current promotion: from R1595 pp. R2950 pp sharing per night. www.gondwanagr.co.za newmarkhotels.com GONDWANA 4 www.explorelife.co.za www.explorelife.co.za 5 TRAVEL NGALA TENTED CAMP THONGA BEACH LODGE INVERNESS FARM Around SA in 23 Days Seven provinces, 3800kms, six unique locations, and countless Mzanzi experiences … In an unashamed celebration of our beloved South Africa, I set out on a 23-day trip around the country. From budget to luxury hotels, and from countryside to ocean, interviewing people and places, proving South Africa is indeed travel-ready. NGALA TENTED CAMP, THONGA BEACH LODGE, INVERNESS FARM, KRUGER NATIONAL PARK KWAZULU-NATAL NORTH COAST KWAZULU-NATAL MIDLANDS South Africa’s is gifted with an astounding wildlife heritage, Exchanging bush for beach, the next destination would be Next, the unpretentious country charm and rambling hills of with an annual 16 million foreign visitors coming to experience one of South Africa’s most remote lodges. Isibindi Africa’s the Midlands beckoned. Inverness Farm perches atop one its offerings. South Africans have a deep connection with Thonga Beach Lodge sits on KZN’s northern-most stretch of these hills, giving gracious views over the valley below. their land and cherish bush holidays, so &BEYOND’S Ngala of coast – an area often associated with the country’s best It’s a working farm; expect to wake up to the sound of hungry Tented Camp (in Kruger’s private Timbavati concession) diving opportunities and unspoilt beaches. sheep, and horses passing by in the parking lot. Owners made an obvious first stop for our trip. Twelve free-standing thatched rooms are dotted around the Jayne and Pete Foulis are no strangers to hospitality and Lodge manager Dennis Shabangu was overjoyed to be forest, connecting to each other and common lodge areas scattered around their beautiful home are several cottages.