VIP for a Day
While many of us never realised our childhood dreams of seeing our names up in lights or our celebrity stars on the rise, that doesn’t mean that we can’t feel or act like a VIP every now and then. Here are our top South African picks to make you feel like the star that you are.
Getting Married at the Oyster Box in Umhlanga: You don’t have to be royalty to have a wedding fit for a princess. Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco had their South African reception here and now, for a cool R1 million, you can too. The package includes five-star accommodation for the bridal party and their guests for two nights, a pre-wedding spa party for the female guests, a garden wedding ceremony with a horse drawn carriage, and a lavish champagne reception. The bride and groom will also have the opportunity to swim with dolphins, and do a spot of game viewing on a mini honeymoon at Phinda Game Reserve. Not too shabby, hey? For more information, visit http://www.oysterboxhotel.com/.
Rub Shoulders with South Africa’s Elite at Buddha Ta in Johannesburg: Johannesburg’s latest celeb hotspot, Buddha Ta cocktail lounge, offers a little something for everyone. There are delicious tapas to nibble on, four bars to ensure that the bubbly flows all night, flattering lighting for all those paparazzi pics, and a mezzanine level from which to watch all the beautiful people below and to be watched in turn, of course. Thanks to its stylish décor and air of exclusivity, it has fast become a favourite with Joburg’s jet set. As a result, it comes with a hefty cover charge, but rubbing shoulders with the stars for a night is definitely worth it. Visit http://www.buddhata.co.za/ for more information.
Watch a Polo Match at Kurland, Plettenberg Bay: Anyone who has watched Pretty Woman knows that being invited to a polo match is akin to being welcomed into the upper echelons of society. All of those millinery creations, navy blazers and jugs of Pimm’s and lemonade reek of VIP status, and now you can be a part of it too by heading down to Kurland Polo Estate for the annual polo season, which runs from December to April. The Kurland International in December is the highlight of the season, but there are still plenty of chukkas in the first four months of the year to wave your hat at. The estate also boasts a luxury boutique hotel, should you want to make your high society soiree last longer than a day. For more information, visit http://www.kurland.co.za/.
Indulge in Afternoon Tea at The Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town: Grand old hotels are a wonderful reminder of a more romantic time of travel, when the rich and famous would roll up with their entourages and steamer trunks to holiday in style. Cape Town’s Mount Nelson Hotel was just such a place, and modern day guests can relive the splendour of Victorian travel by booking a table for the hotel’s famed afternoon tea. Served on the expansive Windsor Table to the accompaniment of the tinkling of a grand piano, the tea includes old favourites like scones with lashings of jam and cream, smoked salmon choux pastry puffs, and cucumber finger sandwiches. You can also sip on the Mount Nelson signature tea which is an expert blend of Darjeeling, Kenya, Assam, Keemun, Yunnan and Ceylon teas, as well as rose petals from the hotel’s garden. Visit http://www.mountnelson.co.za/ for more information.
Story by Rebecca Johnson
