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Steam Train to Cullinan

By Shellee-Kim Gold

All aboard the Diamond Express for a fun-filled train ride! It will huff and puff and blow you away. The Friends of the Rail steam locomotive train from Pretoria will whistle noisily en route to Cullinan, taking you back to a bygone era of train travel.

You can unwind during the two-and-a-half hour journey in the 1949 vintage wooden coaches with their high-backed leather seats. Or meander down to the lounge coach for drinks and snacks.

Ensure you’re in the back coach when the train nears Rayton and you’ll have a perfect view of the 180-degree bend and see the entire train snaking ahead. Passing over a rail crossing nearby is more nerve-racking, though, where an illusion of crashing into waiting vehicles is created.

Passengers want to see the steam, hear the whistles and get up close and personal to the mechanisms that created them. Mostly, they want to be photographed in the train driver’s seat. Once the train stops, the crew will happily indulge you. Catch them on a good day and they may be prepared to put your mielies in the train steamer and your meat in the fire – ready for arrival in Cullinan. On a hot day crew may entertain you further by having a dip in the coal-car’s water container!

Mining-related tours – motorised, underground or surface – are all on offer at Cullinan, being where some of the world’s largest diamonds were discovered. Beyond the quaint sandstone buildings, Victorian charm and wrought-iron architecture, endless possibilities exist for your four-hour stopover. These include ziplining and gorge sliding, game drives on horseback, visiting Onverwacht’s ‘Black Afrikaners’ and making beer.

Cullinan’s quirkiest character has to be resident Rusty and his trike, Spiky. Bald with a long ponytail, Rusty’s leather jacket’s covered with biking badges and hasn’t been washed for 19 years.  The trike pulls a coffin (complete with radio inside) which he sleeps in when he goes to biking rallies. His miniature Scottish terrier, Killer, is supposed to ‘guard’ his bike. Rusty will take you for a spin around town for R20.

Back on the moving train, prepare to be trainjacked at any moment. You could encounter cowboys on horseback surrounding the train, bringing it to a standstill, entering it and pulling out… sweets for passengers. Don’t panic – it’s a marketing ploy! Courtesy of Cullinan’s Diamond X Ranch where you can mimic cowboys/girls and herd cattle next time you visit.

High Tea at the Twelve Apostles

By Shellee-Kim Gold

 

You and your gaggle of girlfriends are having a group giggle of note.  It’s a birthday/bonding session over High Tea by the Sea at the wilderness-surrounded Twelve Apostles Hotel near Llandudno.

It’s incredibly private in the Conservatory and has a refined, library-like atmosphere. Or it did – until your gang arrived to disturb the peace! Luxurious carpeting, couches and cushions are in warm, earthy hues. And floor to ceiling windows afford you breath-taking views of both the Twelve Apostles mountain on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other.

Served up in sophisticated, three-tiered stands, typical High Tea treats include scones and cream, macaroon fingers, cheesecake and sandwiches filled with smoked salmon and cream cheese, chicken mayonnaise and roast beef with rocket, amongst others.  All accompanied by a vast variety of teas and coffees to wash it all down, served up in delicate, bone china cups.

But everything depends on the month you visit for High Tea. While there may be different themes, all offer the same delectably and decadent sweet and savoury treats.  Pink-themed Teas include pink chocolate-covered goodies such as rose mousse, cream puffs with pink chocolate, pink velvet cupcakes, red wine caramel and strawberry macaroons.

While the Chocolate Tea, often available over the winter months from May, will appeal to every chocoholic’s palate.  This includes white chocolate macaroons, gianduja cremeux (hazelnut mousse), caramelised white chocolate verrine, chocolate brownies, chocolate éclairs and chocolate cupcakes – all while you sip on a hot chocolate.

Although popular with stork parties and other special occasions, if the hotel knows it’s your birthday, they’ll likely acknowledge that by serving a personalised ‘birthday plate’ which ‘smokes’ for effect.

Taking tea needn’t be limited to the glass Conservatory. Opt for the Café Grill or the Terrace at the Leopard Lounge overlooking the ocean. And if you prefer a more vigorous atmosphere, the Leopard Bar roars. It also blazes beautifully on those chilly Cape days when tables near the two fireplaces become the sought-after spots.

Art aficionados can combine their passion for pastries, tea and cake with an hour-long guided art tour of the hotel’s eclectic collection, which features some big names in the art game.  But you’ll need to be serious about your art as the Art-Tea Tour will set you back three times the price of a Tea (and excludes the Tea price) which may be a bit tough to swallow.

Franschhoek Wine Tram Tour

By Josie Eveleigh

Franschhoek has long since been known as a culinary and wine hotspot in South Africa. With so much choice though comes the opportunity cost of not being able to do it all, drinking and driving is not an option and so the good people behind the Franschhoek Wine tram solved it all for us. The Wine Tram hop-on hop-off tour is one of the best ways to discover the true essence of the Franschhoek Valley –the encompassing vineyards, warm hospitality, world-class cuisine, fine wines and a 300 year history. The best part about it is that it’s open-air. Not only do you get the most ridiculous 360 degree span of the magnificent mountainous backdrop, but you’ve also got fresh air in your face and are travelling at most points on the tour, through the actual vineyard rows. It makes for a pretty memorable outing.

The tour, a combination of tram and tram-bus, transports passengers around a loop of stops allowing them to hop-off at each interval and experience the activities on offer. Stop options are up to you and your preference. If you plan to stock up on wine, then feel free to do tastings at each cellar which is included in your ticket price, or you can take a longer pause for a lunch-break at one of the many amazing estate restaurants.

For culture vultures or for those entertaining guests who’d like to get facts straight, the tour is also narrated and offers all the information on the wine route, history of some of the grandest and oldest wine farms in the country and also touches on how the area became so popular for wine production since the Huguenots first settled in this spectacular space 300 years ago.

The Tram offers two main routes and a sundowner option as well. The Blue Line visits Mont Rochelle, La Couronne, Holden Manz, La Bourgogne, La Bri, Rickety Bridge and Grande Provence. The Red Line visits the following estates: Maison, Eikehof, Leopard’s Leap, Dieu Donne, Chamonix, Rickety Bridge and Grande Provence. Tours depart every 15 minutes and you can buy tickets from the ticketing office on the main road for R200 daily until 12:45pm.

Having done both these routes I really didn’t think it could get much better, but now the recently launched sunset tapas experience tops it off and offers an exclusive chance to travel to Grande Provence for sundowners and canapés from top chef Darren Badenhorst. Get involved for R250 on Saturday evenings!

Madame Zingara

By Josie Eveleigh

 

If you truly want to experience dinner and a show, there is no other place quite like Madame Zingara’s Theatre of Dreams. Spectacular acts, dinner, costumes and the chance to leave the more ‘boring’ You at the door and enter the magical world of burlesque at its best.

 

Housed in one of the last remaining Mirror Tents in the world, this show has toured Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg to packed crowds every night, this family of fun never ceases to amaze with their energy and really give the word ‘show’ new meaning.

From acrobatics to risque dance scenes, fire breathers and men in drag, come to dinner with some props and tap into the energy of this wild night out. The bohemian theme is core to Madame Zingara but the food is world-class. Starters include a Mediterranean antipasto board. For mains there is a choice of fine meat dishes and a vegetarian option but the Chocolate Chili Fillet remains centre stage. To finish off the evening, dessert offers as much excitement as the evening as a whole, Trio di dolceletti- followed by tea, coffee and friandese.

Booking in advance is always essential as there are sold-out shows every night. Guests are encouraged to come with props and really get into the wild gypsy spirit of the evening, but one can also buy wigs, costumes and get their faces painted by ridiculously talented artists just before the show begins. Forget kids-party style face paint, this is Hollywood special effects style.

Since the original Madame Zingara restaurant burned down in 2006, the family pulled together to create this touring dinner concept and have since welcomed  the Sidewalk Cafe, Cafe Mozart ,Cafe Paradiso, Café Manhattan and The Bombay Bicycle Club into their mix. If this doesn’t prove that the people behind the Zingarian family know how to pull off a restaurant- I don’t know what will.

Offering something mystic and magical, this dinner theatre show is a bucket list tick not to be missed. A great idea as a venue for your next party or just an excuse to get a bit rowdy with friends and family, this is a slick production in every way. With immense talent on display throughout the evening and an incredible three course dinner, I fully predict you’ll be dancing to the final song R.E.S.P.E.C.T  on your chair by the end of the night. I can promise you, they’ll encourage it too.

Franschhoek Chocolate Tasting

By Josie Eveleigh

No foodie or wine aficionado can visit the Cape and not take the time to visit the picturesque town of Franschhoek. With as much history as there is surrounding beauty, this quaint village offers you a taste of the good life. One of my personal favourite memories was the time I stopped for the tour (and tastings, being the real draw card for me) of the Huguenot Chocolate factory.

This boutique chocolatier is in the main street of Franschhoek. The ground floor, which acts as the shop front, showcases their display counters  – be prepared to drool over countless chocolate offerings, truffles and my personal two favourites,  their chocolate dipped nougat and chocolate candied orange slices. Upstairs houses the factory and the chance to take a step back in time and appreciate the journey of chocolate from its earliest Aztec  roots,  as the humble cocoa bean, to where it is today, in this store specifically, being made and moulded into the most amazing tasting little masterpieces imaginable, with a vast range to suit every pocket but all from the finest quality Belgium chocolate.

Partners, Danver Windvogel & Denver Adonis are Belgian-qualified chocolatiers. The ‘Chocolate Experience’, which is a half-hour programme of tastings, demonstrations and chocolate history, is held regularly and will only serve to further your obsession with this food. Whether it’s dark, milk or white chocolate that owns your heart, you are sure to sample some of the world’s very best chocolate in this half hour. The promise of sweet treats fully reverting me back to my child-like self, I found I was listening very tentatively, which I put down to the interesting way the topic matter is delivered but also due to the edible prizes for correct answers.

 

For only R35 per person for the tour and with only 24 hours required as booking notice, it’s a great thing to do with family or friends while they also cater for larger groups. You’ll walk away feeling like you’ve had an unforgettable experience – something you won’t find anywhere else in SA. It is not surprising that you’d only find this chocolatier dream shop in the gourmet capital of South Africa, but you might be surprised by how much more there is to your favourite chocolate bar than you originally thought. The friendly staff and amazing products also offer the chance to bundle up on some sweet treat gifts for loved ones, as their beautiful packaging completes each creation.

 

Theatre On The Bay

By Shellee-Kim Gold

I plotted my future as a vagabond and a ‘creative’ while retreating regularly into meditation mode at the back of a classroom in my teenage years. Until I was rudely awakened from my reverie with chalk or board dusters thrown at me by teachers. The school had views over the same bay in which Theatre On The Bay is located.

I later dabbled as an amateur actress, went globetrotting solo for seven years and then wound up as a hack. So there’s clearly something to be said about the now-exclusive suburb of Camps Bay and its ability to inspire creativity.

Camp and suitably dramatic is the life-sized bronze actor bowing his welcome to you in front of the theatre. While the building façade’s concrete curtain – literally set in stone – adds to the theatrical ambience.

Theatre On The Bay rarely ‘goes dark’. Other than the odd days between shows, these floor boards provide stompingly-good entertainment on tap all year around.

Owned by pioneering producer, Pieter Toerien, the Theatre explains its relationship with its actors as ‘being part of a big, extended family’. And it’s that warmth and familial feeling that translates to its patrons.

Described as ‘nicely decorated, very relaxed and just a little bit glamorous’, the chandelier-decked foyer is a point of interest for patrons.  Around the backlit bar area photographs of past theatre productions are displayed and make for a great pre-theatre perusal session.

But that’s not all you can peruse, because this venue screams: ‘Location, location, location’. And the best vantage point is upstairs at the Bill Flynn Room, from which many a happy cocktail and birthday party have been had. Here you can drink in the sumptuous setting of palm trees, fine white sands, the Atlantic and the Twelve Apostles while clinking glasses and munching canapés with your favourite friend. You’ll soon understand why Toerien was adamant about big windows and minimal obstruction in the building’s design.

Creativity is the name of the game here and whether it’s supreme satire delivered by the infamous Pieter-Dirk Uys, side-splitting comedy or their ‘bonsai’ musicals such as Evita or Cabaret, it’s bound to draw the crowds.  One of which recently included the likes of Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his wife, Leah, when they put in a supporting guest appearance for a fundraiser here.

Horror comedy rock musical ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ starring Alan Committee as Seymour, runs in May 2015.

 

 

Gaia Organics

Gaia Organics is an original South African company specializing in the dedicated manufacture of NATURAL AND ORGANIC Skin Care and Health products since 1994 and based in Plettenberg Bay.

B BEAUTIFUL is a beauty salon in Plettenberg Bay focusing on organic products, animal and eco friendly make up, using the Gaia Organics product range.

Premises situated in the peaceful PIESANG VALLEY road in Plettenberg Bay, for those wanting to visit our shop.

Salon address is : Courtyard, Lookout Centre Main Road Plettenberg Bay 044 533 0133

Gaia Organics : Piesang Valley Road Plettenberg Bay 044 533 1393 / 082 467 0799

Haskell Vineyards

Haskell Vineyards makes its home on the slopes of the Helderberg mountain range in Stellenbosch. The Helderberg, also known as the ‘Golden Triangle’, is widely recognized as South Africa’s finest wine growing sub region, and is the residence of many of the most famous names in South African wine.

Since inception in 2002, the central focus of Haskell Vineyards has been to create unique, terroir driven wines that would be recognized as amongst the finest of their style produced in South Africa.

The first wines produced under the Haskell label were from the stellar 2007 vintage, albeit in tiny quantities. Various years since has seen Haskell being awarded the prestigious 5 star accolade by the John Platter Guide, South Africa’s most significant wine publication. It also became the first South African winery since the inception of the Tri-Nations Challenge to win Best Syrah, Best Red Wine and Best Wine of Show in the 2009 competition, where the finest wines of South Africa are pitted against the best from Australia and New Zealand.

In keeping with our philosophy and commitment to excellence, Haskell wines will only be released when they meet our lofty expectations with regard to quality

Ceres Zip Slide Tour

This new “foefieslide” adventure is situated in the lovely mountains surrounding the Ceres Valley.  A mere 1½ hours’ drive from Cape Town, it is the perfect breakaway from the hectic city life!

Our Ceres Zip slide Tour offers 8 slides, totalling a length of 1.4km – this is the longest tour in Africa!  The amazing rock formations and river form a perfect backdrop to a fun-, adrenaline-filled adventure!  The surrounding Skurweberg Mountains forms a picturesque backdrop to your journey.

You will be kitted up in a full body harness with state of the art equipment and then 2 fully trained guides will take you on the Zipline tour into the mountain. Price includes a drink during and after the tour.

A short walk takes them to the departure point at the first slide, from where the breath-taking view reaches over the town of Ceres and across the Ceres Valley.  Here the fun starts!

The slides vary in lengths from 100 meters to 291 meters! The highest point above the ground is 40 meters. The duration of the tour is group size dependant.

We operate in all-weather circumstances, we don’t have any group size limited, and children from 3 years old can take part in this amazing adventure.

Our office is situated at the “Natuurtuin” at the foot of the Michell’s Pass at the entrance of Ceres town from Cape Town side. (R46)

We are open every day of the year from 8h00 and 9h00 to 15h00 and tours depart every hour, the last departure is at 15h00. Please note that during winter it can be earlier as a result of it getting darker sooner.

Our pricing structure is as follows:

Rate:  R 400.00 per person

Special rates for tour group bookings can be negotiated. Bookings recommended.

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