A Weekend in the Country
Gauteng residents often look longingly at cities like Durban and Cape Town with their sparkling coastlines and beautiful surroundings, the kind of cities where it is easy to escape the rat race and reconnect with nature. But if you live in Johannesburg or Pretoria, you don’t have to wait for the summer holidays and a trip to the beach to experience the rejuvenating power of getting out of the city. The Magaliesberg mountain range is literally just on your doorstep and boasts a wealth of archaeological, historical and natural attractions. And with two superb top class hotels, each guaranteeing some of the province’s finest dining, there is even more reason to turn a day trip into a relaxing weekend away in the country.
Forum Homini
Located on a private game reserve in the heart of the Cradle of Humankind, five-star boutique hotel Forum Homini makes the most of its archaeologically significant surroundings and offers guests a unique journey back through time to witness the evolution of man – in luxurious comfort, of course.
Impressive pieces of art, architecture and quirky design pay homage to the journey of early man and also offer guests their own fun journey of exploration. The 14 guest suites hark back to earlier times, as each one is cleverly dug into the existing landscape. This ensures that they blend seamlessly with the surrounding landscape, while giving them a subterranean, cave like feel.
Your suite may have grass growing on its roof and stalactites hanging from the ceiling (a particularly quirky designer lighting feature), but the amenities within are anything but Stone Age. Luxurious king sized beds beckon invitingly at the end of a long day of sightseeing, after washing off the dust either in the expansive shower or in the middle of the living room in a bathtub made for two. With floor-to-ceiling picture windows, this second option is certainly the best seat in the house from which to watch the burning Highveld sun sink slowly behind the horizon. You may even be rewarded with a fleeting glimpse of one of the reserve’s 160 species of birds, or by the unexpected appearance of a zebra or impala, in between sips of bubbly in your bubble bath.
Underfloor heating and a gas fireplace make for a cosy cave in chillier months, and the quirky décor and comfortable surroundings make the option of hibernating here for a weekend or two distinctly appealing. Hibernation would not be possible, however, without first stocking up on some culinary delights. And Forum Homini’s fine dining restaurant, roots (which has been listed as one of South Africa’s Top 10 restaurants for the last four years), is undoubtedly one of the finest places in the province to do so.
Head Chef Allistaire Lawrence is passionate about reintroducing diners to the “true concept of dining”. He explains: “People seem to have forgotten what dining is all about. It’s not just about the food, it’s about getting together, taking time out and spending time with people who matter to you.”
As a result, dining at roots is a leisurely affair where the stress of having to choose between all the delicious options on the menu is taken away and diners are encouraged to just sit back, relax and be served exceptional food. Instead of a traditional a la carte menu, roots offers a menu degustation concept whereby courses are already pre-selected. Breakfast consists of five courses, lunch of four and dinner is at least a three hour leisurely affair with six courses. Included in the experience is perfect portion sizes and inspired wine pairing.
To keep things interesting, Allistaire and his talented culinary team change the menu daily and also have regular theme and wine evenings. This helps the chefs to “get the creative juices flowing”, says Allistaire, and ensures that diners are treated to a smorgasbord of culinary influences and styles. Clear gazpacho served in a test tube may not be to everyone’s taste, but the cuisine at roots certainly stretches one’s culinary boundaries. Yet it still provides some delicious tried and tested favourites, executed with five-star flair.
With such adventurous dining and extraordinary accommodation, a weekend at Forum Homini is not just a break from the old routine, but a trip to a completely different world.
Visit http://www.forumhomini.com/ for more information.
Mount Grace Country House & Spa
While Forum Homini promises an intimate boutique escape, Mount Grace Country House & Spa resembles more of a village, perched as it is atop a hillside with spectacular views of the surrounding Magaliesberg area. But a village certainly comes with its own advantages. Like the fun of being chauffeur driven through the estate on a zippy golf cart and wondering just which one of Mount Grace’s 121 beautifully appointed rooms is all yours for the weekend. With a choice of garden suites, luxury rooms and even private villas, you can visit this country retreat numerous times and have a completely different experience each time.
Once you have explored your room (and made a mental note to make full use of the large bathtub later), it is time to explore the property’s ten acres of gardens. Paths meander through lush undergrowth and pop out to reveal rolling green lawns, romantic wisteria covered pergolas and inviting pools. Further exploration reveals chair strewn decks, tranquil ponds and even some of the local inhabitants, including gaggles of geese and rock-hopping dassies.
When the hotel was originally built over 80 years ago, it was one of the first country hotels in South Africa. Throughout its long history (including closures and multiple owners), it has retained a reputation for being a relaxing country escape. This reputation was further enhanced by the opening of the hotel’s spa in 2002 which is perfectly placed at the top of the property and surrounded by the soothing sounds of running water. No country retreat would be complete without some significant down time spent here, treating yourself to one of the many treatments on the menu. soaking away your troubles in the Jacuzzi or losing all sense of time floating aimlessly in the floatation pool. Or do what we did, and spend a morning in your bathrobe sipping tea and reading the Sunday papers on the pool deck. Bliss!
In 2007, the hotel underwent a R145 million makeover of the property. This involved refurbishing all of the existing rooms (and building 41 additional ones), building a new conference centre and renovating all of the public areas. Undoubtedly, one of the group’s best moves was appointing Executive Chef Franc Lubbe to overhaul Mount Grace’s dining options. These days, the hotel’s culinary offerings have made both of its restaurants worthy destinations in and of themselves.
Twist offers high quality buffet dining. Breakfasts are a feast of colours and flavours, while the lunch buffets – particularly on Sundays – are popular (with good reason) for hearty and delicious fare. Undoubtedly the jewel in Mount Grace’s culinary crown, however, is its fine dining restaurant, Rambling Vine, which Lubbe describes as “Gauteng’s best kept secret.” If this is indeed the case, then I am glad that we were let in on it, as our meal there was one of the finest I have ever had.
The ambience is plush, intimate and sophisticated, while still managing to be comfortable and inviting. It is unlikely that you will find current culinary trends on the menu, but what you will find is the kind of simple but superb food that speaks to the soul. “It’s not fancy food, it’s just food prepared to perfection,” says Lubbe, who insists on using only the best ingredients in his kitchen, including free-range meat products, Scottish salmon and organic vegetables. “We like to spoil people in here [The Rambling Vine],” he says, “and I think everyone who eats here comes out saying: ‘Wow!’”
Fine food, beautiful surroundings and plenty of opportunities to kick back and relax make Mount Grace the perfect option for a relaxing weekend in the country.
Visit http://www.mountgrace.co.za/ for more information.
Story by Nicky Furniss
