So for a little bit more on our last spa break at 5 Mountains Spa. We found it by Googling “spa specials”. I have to say it was a particularly good special.
We arrived Tuesday late midday and departed Saturday just before lunch. Essentially we had 4 nights and 4 days. The special included breakfast, lunch, supper and a complimentary bottle of really good wine every day. We had two different treatments each per day.
Location 5 Mountains Spa
Treatments were along the lines of Indian Head Massage or Hot Stone Massage. We also had a manicure, a pedicure and a facial.
We did pick the coldest and wettest week of the decade to decide to have a spa break. A pity because the spa is set on a vineyard just outside of Wellington. It would have been nice to take a walk or maybe visit more of the wine estates close by.
What made our stay special was a bevy of salon girls. The chef had the week off and this team cooked our food to perfection. They offered us tea and biscuits the minute we sat in the reception area to catch up on e-mails. Nothing was too much for them and I found them utterly charming.
5 Mountain Spa treatment room
We got a different menu each evening with a choice of two starters, two mains and two deserts. I had made it clear that I am vegetarian before we went and they had tailored the menu to include me. Examples of starters were “Slow roast tomato salad topped with goats cheese” or “Fried haloumi on a bed of leaves with a berry compote”.
How about “Stir fry served with cous cous & tofu” or “Caprice parcel served with veggies and crispy potato wedges” for a main? And then still chocolate brownies or meringue tarts for desert. I think I gained about 2 kilograms there. The food was that good. The price for all of this? R7500 for two.
On our way home we stopped in at Bovlei wine cellar next door and took advantage of some wine specials. There were plenty more wine estates in the vacinity.
Go to – My Holidays and Trips – at the top of this page to read about other places we have visited. Or just click on – this link.
My other half and I are partial to spa breaks. During winter, there are bargains to be had in Cape Town. We have had spa breaks at The High Rustenburg Hydro, Twelve Apostles Hotel, Romney Park and recently we spent four nights at 5 Mountains Lodge.
The other breaks were before my blogging days so I wasn’t taking pics or making notes. But here is a little bit of information from memory about the spas, and links, should you want more information.
The High Rustenburg Hydro is one of the oldest spas in South Africa. It is set in the winelands near Stellenbosh. Their approach is very much on healing and detoxing. Our room had twin beds and we were assessed by therapists to decide which meals and treatments we would have.
5 Mountains Spa dining area
The agenda was cram packed. Breakfast arrived on a tray. One of us had fruit only, the other had fruit and muesli. Then we headed off for either a treatment, a massage or to the hydro centre for hydro therapy.
Most guests tended to remain in a dressing gown provided by the spa. We had a bowl of soup between main meals and lots of herb tea or water. Lunch and supper were buffets of nothing more than vegetables presented in different ways. They also allowed us one jacket potato with our evening meal. No alcohol.
It’s not a romantic break and we found keeping up with the program a bit hard going. The food was better than I expected. It’s the place to go for a body overhaul.
5 Mountains Spa pool area
Twelve Apostles was more about a great location, fine dining and a five star hotel with a few treatments thrown in. I can’t remember how we stumbled on this special. We loved the flotation tank and the chocolate body scrub.
We did not like the young manager who told us lunch wasn’t included. We had to drive back home to fetch the confirmation and show him that actually, it was. And from then on he had an attitude toward us.
Romney Park is a couple of meters from our guesthouse. So we stayed at home and walked down to have the day packages on offer there. I can’t speak about the food or the accommodation as we did our own detox and stayed at home.
There is a full salon and we had the works. Body scrub, facials, manicures, pedicures, massages, like I said the lot. What we saved on eating and sleeping out, we spent on pampering. The staff were thoroughly professional. We still pop in there for the odd special.
This blog is actually supposed to be all about – what to do, where to stay, best places to eat – relating specifically to Cape Town. I’ve gone a bit off course with my 10 part feature of my round trip of 4 southern African countries. Am only halfway with that.
I also spent a few days in Johannesburg and I thought, just for another slight diversion, I would talk about the new Gautrain. Since it’s the perfect way to get from the airport to most hotels.
The Gautrain is designed to be a rapid overground and underground transport system linking key areas of Johannesburg. It is still under construction, however the Sandton – airport route is now open.
I hopped on the Gautrain to test drive it. And I have to say I was impressed. It is fast, it is also clean and certainly on the day I travelled, well run.
Prices are in line with what you would expect to pay in any major city for an airport shuttle service. Not exactly a bargain but considering the distance to the airport not outrageous.
They have a website with their ticketing and timetable information. Have a look here if you want more information – Gautrain.
Rhodesfield Station
There was a plethora of security guards and very official smart looking people falling over themselves to make sure you got it right. From the automated ticket purchase to sitting on the right coach.
And now back to Cape Town for a bit. Don’t forget the new My Citi shuttle bus from Cape Town Airport. That has also been under construction but the airport and now recently the Table View and city loop are all running. The My Citi bus is dirt cheap and I only use it now for the airport. Visit this website for more – MyCiti bus services.
Go to – My Holidays and Trips – at the top of this page to read about other places we have visited. Or just click on – this link.
I said in my last post I would write about the road trip I have just done which covered nearly 5000 kilometers and spanned four countries in Southern African.
There are plenty similar tours and a plethora of tour operators. We opted to travel with Absolut Tours as my friend is a tour guide with them. We went for a camping and DIY tour to keep costs down.
Up front I have to say that if you are scared of wild animals, not willing to brave the odd cold shower or need a comfortable mattress to sleep, don’t do this kind of holiday.
If, however the idea of listening to lion roaring from your tent, taking a shower with a bush view and happy to cook on an open fire, then this is the way to go.
The terrain was varied. We travelled through savanna into the desert, back to semi arid bushveld and on to lush vegetation in the Caprivi Strip.
We saw the Fish River Canyon which is the second largest in the world and the Victoria Falls which are the third largest in the world. There were game reserves galore and loads of wild animals, birds, reptiles and insects.
Tarred roads are not common in the south.
Our truck for the 16 day trip was a customised Toyota Hino. It was designed for long road trips. It carried two chest style refrigerators, trestle tables, gas bottles, tents, luggage, fold up chairs, food provisions, water, gas cooking appliances and 16 of us.
South African/Namibian border control.
The truck collected us from the hotel where the German visitors were staying and we set off at 08.00am on the West Coast/Namibia road. That was the last time we got going that late until we had our last night at the Elephant Hills Hotel in Zimbabwe.
We were a mixed group of mostly German speaking travellers and two South Africans. The Germans had spent the last few days prior to the trip seeing the sights of Cape Town.
We had huge distances to cover with games drive, bush study excursions or boat tours to fit in as well, so early starts to the day were mandatory. The truck made it’s way along the west coast of Cape Town and then headed toward Springbok.
Typical Namibian gravel roads.
On our first day we did the longest distance. The plan was to get to Namibia as soon as possible. We pitched our tents just outside of Springbok and learned the routine fast. Pitch tents, get the fire going, set up tables and chairs, prepare and cook food, eat, shower and go to bed.
Our first evening meal was a fish braai (BBQ), Greek salad and garlicky potatoes. There was plenty beer, cider and wine to go with our meal.
I was so grateful that our guide and friend is inclined to healthy fresh food and a very good cook. As the only vegetarian in the group I feared I may end up going hungry. It has happened to me. I ate well. Can’t promise that all guides will be like the one we had.
The Blue Train is our equivalent of the Orient Express. It’s a luxurious train journey where you languish in luxury while waited on hand and foot.
Meals are taken seriously. Very seriously. You book either the early sitting or late sitting. They serve many courses of incredible food, all paired with wines and liquors to match.
We did their off-season special and can only highly recommend the trip. The train runs between Pretoria and Cape Town and the other way around. There is a stop in Kimberly to visit the diamond museum. If you are travelling the other way then you get to see the historical town of Matjiesfontein. The beautiful South African landscape is the view from your cabin.
Another train trip worth taking is the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe route. The steam train no longer runs but you can drive or cycle the trip. The route makes its way through the gorges and valleys and along the coast of The Garden Route between Knysna and George.
I also mentioned the Cape Town to Simonstown train trip in a previous post. From Muizenberg the trains runs right next to the ocean. You have lovely views of False Bay. Read more in this post – Simonstown train trip.
Go to – My Holidays and Trips – at the top of this page to read about other places we have visited. Or just click on – this link.
A really nice day trip to make, without a hired car, is the train ride from the the city centre to Simonstown. As you can see in the picture, the train runs right next to the sea from Muizenberg all the way to Simonstown.
I would stop and wander around places like Muizenberg, St James and Kalk Bay. They have loads of craft shops, antique traders, cafes and museums.
At Simonstown the line comes to an end but you can take a walk up to Seaforth where you will find the penguins. Unfortunately they have come under serious threat in recent times. There are lots of initiatives to try and address the causes of their demise and to encourage breeding again.
Kalk Bay main road
For more on the train trip Google – Cape Metro Rail. The train timetables should be there.
I would make it a day out and take a lunch hamper and a swimming costume for a day on the beach. Just remember alcohol consumption is forbidden on public beaches in South Africa.
Or you could take in a meal enjoy our fabulous wines at one of the restaurants overlooking False Bay. The view across from False Bay to Cape Hangklip is breathtaking. And the water in False Bay is warmer than the Atlantic Ocean on the other side of the peninsula. Click here for the Travel Archive page.
Go to – My Holidays and Trips – at the top of this page to read about other places we have visited. Or just click on – this link.
