Adventure in our backyard: Off the beaten track in the Western Cape

If you’re promoting a world class luxury vehicle like the new Land Rover Defender (don’t be tacky, darling, and call it a 4×4), then you need some world-class destinations and experiences.

Where better to find those gems than in the Western Cape, one of the most beautiful parts of our country?

Land Rover invited a few of us in the lifestyle space on a trip to drive through the Western Cape, and while we were expecting the luxury in the cars, we were not expecting the lack of potholes, but let’s not go there, lest I be accused of being a Democratic Alliance groupie.

Here are some of the top A-list places in the Western Cape:

Chorus restaurant

Nestled in the forever green town of Somerset West, on the grounds of Waterkloof Wine Estate, sits a popular restaurant, named Chorus. It was opened in October last year so it’s barely a year old but fully booked on most days. It’s not difficult to see why.

For a start, it has an avant-garde menu that uses South African ingredients in the most creative ways. Secondly, the interior is almost museum-like in its décor, and thirdly, it boasts beautiful views of False Bay, with the ocean on one side and the Winelands on the other. Somerset West was established in 1819 and named after Lord Charles Henry Somerset, British Governor of the Cape Colony from 1814 to 1826.

Walking into Chorus feels as though you’re walking into a gallery, with long concrete and metal walls with large glass doors and balconies. The road to the restaurant is breezy, and snakes to the top of the Schapenberg. It’s a sight to behold.

Chorus doesn’t have the conventional look of what we’ve come to know as a restaurant; it’s a work of art. The giant doors open to shiny wooden floors with minimalist and modern décor, comfortably designed leather chairs and long and short tables, filled with guests who can’t wait to sift through the bespoke menu while enjoying the warmth of a large fireplace … a welcome centrepiece on a rainy Cape day.

If you’ve lived in or travelled through the province, you’ll know there are many of those, even in the middle of spring.

Chef Bertus Basson, named Chef of the Year in 2019, runs the restaurant. His CV holds an impressive list of eateries he has set up, like Eike, Kantien, Spek & Bone, Geuwels, Clara’s Barn and De Vrije Burger. He’s been featured on television shows like The Ultimate Braai Master, Goed, Beter, Bertus, and Brood en Botter, all of them about different methods of cooking.

The side plate is presented as a little oval piece of wood, and when our group sat down nervously, a little bit overwhelmed by the simplistic beauty of the table setting, confusion set in as one of the women asked, “Are the small wooden slates our plates?” If you’re accustomed to everyday table settings, you’re going to be left confused by a few things at this restaurant – but there’s a first time for everything.

When the server responded that it was the only plate we were going to use, we realised you really do learn something new every day.

There’s a four-course and six course menu, and each dish comes with a very clear explanation and a small story. Basson is all about using local ingredients, and part of the fun of enjoying a meal is identifying the ingredients as you tuck into the small portions placed before you. At times these portions can be deceptive; you’ll think the food isn’t enough until you get to dessert and realise you’re full.

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Grootbos Private Nature Reserve

After Chorus, we headed to our home for the next few days. In Gansbaai, Grootbos is a hid[1]den gem, a two-hour drive from Cape Town. Meandering along the dirt roads to get there is worth it. Part of the journey includes driving through a small town, and seeing wind farms, something alien to a Joburger.

Other towns en route are Franschhoek and Hermanus and onto the Whale Coast Route, where one can stop and do a bit of whale watching. One of our group explained, to the untrained eye, at times whales look like large moving rocks. A crackling fireplace with warm embers is a welcome sight at the entrance of the Grootbos Reserve. Welcome drinks are served by a woman, named Blessing, who jokingly tells me that my name is the Xhosa version of her name and therefore we are sisters.

I’m escorted to my apartment by Herman, who I have to commend for giving the best and most friendly service. Anyone who can smile through rain and the cold weather is a gracious host in my book. Grootbos is luxury at its finest and doesn’t come cheap. A room could set you back as much as R18 000 a night per adult for a luxury suite, R25 000 for a Garden Lodge for two adults and R43 750 for a family suite.

Each Garden Suite is set apart from the others, offering privacy and peace, while the property itself stretches over 2 500 hectares of lush, unspoiled land. One can take a walk to go whale watching or just enjoy the beauty of nature. A Garden Suite is perfect for a couple, because it’s an apartment, and as you enter, you’re pleasantly hit with the sweet scent of fynbos. It has a kitchenette with wooden floors that lead into a small lounge with a fireplace.

Firewood, firelighters and gloves have been placed neatly for residents to make a fire. I am proud to declare that this city girl got to test her inner Bear Grylls and made her very first fire that night. It was quite a momentous occasion, as I posted it on social media and danced around the room alone while the flames grew bigger and made the room warmer.

 A large couch is placed in the lounge with smaller chairs facing a very large-screen smart TV, with DStv or streaming options. A “smaller bathroom” at the entrance has a shower and the lounge overlooks a wooden balcony with a built-in outside shower, perfect for an ocean swimmer or surfer. Underfloor heating is an important feature in the carpeted bed[1]room, which has a walk-in closet with doors that close to offer privacy. All windows are sea facing, al[1]lowing you to sleep in the heart of nature’s beauty. The en-suite bathroom has a great classic oval bathtub and large shower with large windows and the most picturesque views.

Creation restaurant

Our excited group then jumped into our Defenders and drove through to Creation Wines in Hermanus. I’d heard of the artwork at Creation and it became a point of conversation in our group.

The pieces are on display all over the property and available at very reasonable prices. Smiling staff were waiting outside with umbrellas to escort us inside. I caught a glimpse of the farms; they are unspoiled, with large parts of very green land and an occasional farmhouse in between.

Creation is a 40-hectare wine farm owned by Jean-Claude and Carolyn Martin and the contemporary restaurant that’s frequented by locals and tourists offers light meals, fine dining, and bespoke wines. What makes the restaurant unique is the menu. It was beautifully described by our hostess as a story, with chapters – the different courses. They also sell the famous Creation gin, good for gifting.

All the chapters are normally paired with wines, but because our group is not consuming alcohol, we get flavoured teas, sparkling juices and water. Our palettes are teased, pleased and our stomachs well satisfied with a touch of seafood, vegetables and meat ending off with a chocolatey dessert.

I’m sitting opposite the bust of Nanette Ranger’s sculpture of a female, named Driver. She has a slight smile on her pretty face and is looking up, as if into the sky. I’m tempted to reach into my purse, swipe and take her home. The urge is strong but I just can’t do it. But I know, I’ll come back to Creation to experience more chapters and hopefully buy this beautiful piece of art. It belongs on my mantle.

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