Opulent Living Magazine no 7 by Florian Gast

Opulent Living Welcome

‘We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future.’ George Bernard Shaw

Barbara Lenhard (Publisher) and Florian Gast (Editorial and Creative Director)

Photograph: jean-pierre uys

elcome to the seventh edition of Opulent Living Magazine – not long to go until we reach the Big 10! After three years of bringing you the coffee-table magazine for the finer things in life, we believe the time has come to look to the future – to focus more on what awaits than on what has come to pass, and to concentrate on how we can make a real difference. What, then, is the future for Opulent Living? A bright one, we hope. Our aim is to grow the publication still further, to establish it even more firmly in the marketplace and, of course, to continue to showcase the finer things in life. Like us, Mike Horn, South Africa’s most adventurous explorer, places great stock in the future. He has used his four-year

Pangaea Expedition to foster a new respect for the environment among today’s youth, and to encourage them to protect its resources for generations to come. We spent the day on board the Pangaea with Mike when he was in Cape Town and were privileged to get to know more about both the man and his inspiring vision. On the 2012 BMW SA EuroStyle Tour, it was the future of design that was top of the agenda. As the youngest publication ever invited by BMW, we were proud to be part of it and to bring you its highlights. The future of golfing in South Africa is certainly assured, with a wealth of top courses. Don’t miss our exclusive feature in which SA golfing expert Larry Gould canvasses the country’s well-travelled Major winners for their favourite local venues. Our thanks, too, to presenting partner Mercedes-Benz for enabling us to bring this ambitious endeavour to you. Straddling both the past and the future is our article on The White Club, an exclusive society dedicated to the enjoyment of the world’s rarest wines and Champagnes. And, with a foot firmly in tomorrow, our feature on sustainable luxury, a topic you could fill a book with, provides an insight into how the industry of affluence works to safeguard its unique resources. There’s no denying that the future of chocolate is deeply rooted in age-old artisanal methods, as our story on the most beloved of the world’s indulgences reveals. The same can be said for another favourite, the Panthère de Cartier. While innovation and cutting-edge technology direct the way forward, when it comes to

glamour and true quality, the past still has plenty to teach. Our features are by experienced journalists and it is to them, and the photographers whose inspired vision is featured on the pages, that we give our wholehearted thanks. We strive always to be different, and we enjoy the anticipation with which our readers await each issue and the appreciation that they convey back to us. We are proud, too, to announce that, in addition to our bi-annual magazine, we have this year published the Opulent Living Book Volume 1. From its rich purple dust jacket to its satin bookmark and glossy large format, it oozes luxury and is, in essence, a bucket-list guide for those passionate about travel. Look out for your copy on bookstore shelves or order one at www.opulentliving.co.za. We are also pleased to announce our new strategic partnership with Diners Club. Since both Opulent Living and this globally recognised credit card are focused on the finer things in life, the match is nothing short of perfect. In fact, we’d like to say welcome to all our new advertising partners and a big thank you to the longstanding ones – you are all part of an exclusive collection. Finally, we welcome feedback on our products and suggestions on what we could do better, or differently. Feel free to get in touch – after all, with age comes the understanding that the future rests on the relationships of today. Carpe Diem! Warmest regards Barbara & Florian

Opulent Living

Contributors

Imprint

Experience crafted our outstanding features. Cadbury’s, food editor Nikki Werner has loved chocolate. She applied her passion for artisanal chocolate to this issue. ‘Every step, from choosing the bean to extracting its potential, all without adding anything unnecessary, appeals to the purist in me.’ Passionate about all things beautiful, writer Toni Muir is well versed in the art of documenting the world of luxury retail. ‘I’ve come to appreciate the story behind the story.

Publisher: Barbara Lenhard barbara@opulentliving.co.za Editorial & Creative Director: Florian Gast florian@opulentliving.co.za Managing Editor: Michelle Snaddon Copy Editor: Anne Duncan Designers: Joanna Orr, Charmaine Taylor Contributors: David Allardice, Sebastian Bartlett, Silvana Bottega, Jane Broughton, Anne Duncan, Keri Harvey, Kit Heathcock, Michelle Snaddon, Jocelyn Warrington For advertising and sales please contact sales@opulentliving.co.za

Every high-end product is the culmination of great effort.’ She brings her love of jewellery to her story on Cartier’s legendary designer. Larry Gould set aside his career as ‘the golfing hotelier’ to play his way around South Africa’s best courses in order to bring firsthand knowledge to a series of golfing guides he subsequently published. For this issue, he canvassed the country’s top golfers to glean the ultimate bucket list of local courses. A published author and multi-award-winning journalist, Laura Twiggs enjoys a writing challenge... ‘especially if it involves chartered flights and visas!’ She reveals her talent for research and her flair for the written word in her investigation of a new generation of SA architects shaping the future of our world. British-born publisher Richard Webb has a

Newspace Publishing CC Cape Town, South Africa www.newspace.co.za, info@newspace.co.za Issue no. 7: published in November 2012 Issue no. 8: to be published May 2013 Issue no. 9: to be published November 2013 Distribution: throughout South Africa and internationally via preferred partners · in first and business class on selected airlines · in exclusive lounges, showrooms and boutique stores · nationwide via direct mail · internationally via selected distributors Circulation: 30 000 Nominal charge: R180 Printed in South Africa by Tandym, Cape Town www.opulentliving.co.za www.facebook.com/opulentliving @liveopulent

passion for travel and relished the opportunity to climb aboard Mike Horn’s exploration vessel, Pangaea, in order to interview the modern-day eco-adventurer. ‘I relish the chance to unearth good-news stories, and interviewing Mike was a seminal moment for me.’

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Opulent Living magazine is published by Newspace Publishing CC. Copyright Newspace Publishing CC. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent from Newspace Publishing or the authors. The publishers are not responsible for any unsolicited material. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Newspace Publishing or the editors.

Harry the hippo

COVER IMAGES (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) WILDERNESS COLLECTION, DURBAN COUNTRY CLUB/JUAN ESPI, ALPHEN BOUTIQUE HOTEL, CRYSTAL CRUISES, MAJEKA HOUSE

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WELCOME Savute Elephant Camp · Siesta with elephants

33 Melville Road · Colourful creation

Khwai River Lodge · Moonlight memories

Alphen Boutique Hotel · Bohemian glamour in the historical Constantia Winelands

North Island · A discreet island paradise

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Contents

100

Kwandwe Private Game Reserve · Place of untamed beauty

La Clé des Montagnes · Impeccable manors

Eagle Island Camp · The allure of a flooded land

interview: Living life to the fullest

Crystal Symphony · Glittering on the high seas

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Contents

Ivory Lodge · Bushveld escape where luxury, romance and adventure flow

speciaL: The major winners’ bucket list

Strandloper Ocean · Not just another place, it’s another world

Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa · Local island beauty

Jaci’s Tree Lodge · An oasis of calm perched high in the trees

African Pride Crystal Towers Hotel & Spa · In the mood for glamour

100

Majeka House · Designed for magic 144 Pearl Valley Golf Estates · At home on the green

148

Opulent Living Style BMW 2012 EuroStyle Tour · A shared authenticity

106

SALA · The lineage of luxury

114

The White Club · A league of rare vintage

118

SA architecture · Shaping our future

122

Chocolate · Back to the bean

131

Cartier · A legacy of lithe grace

136

Opulent finds · Indulgent buys

140

Mount Nelson Hotel · Timeless Mother City icon

152

Taj Residences Cape Town · Sophisticated inner-city sanctum

158

Opulent Events · Stylesetters and newsmakers 170

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Siesta with elephants Savute Elephant Camp â&#x2C6;&#x2122; Botswana n Savute Elephant Camp

The arrival of a steaming cup of coffee and a fresh pastry is the dawn wake-up call for a winter

Chobe National Park, Botswana

morning safari at Savute Elephant Camp. Emerging into the chill air, warmly wrapped in the

Telephone: +27 (0)21 483 1600

blanket-lined poncho and armed with the high-definition Zeiss binoculars provided, there is the

Email: safaris@orient-express.com Website: www.savuteelephantcamp.com

promise of another exciting day in the bush. There are elephants and other game in abundance in this corner of Chobe National Park; the Savute Channel, dry for 30 years, has been flowing since the floods of 2010 and has attracted even more wildlife from the dry surrounding lands. Savute Elephant Campâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 12 luxury canvas tents are perfectly placed overlooking the channel and are fronted by glass sliding doors, so you get fascinating sightings even when indoors. This tented haven is elegantly furnished in inimitable Orient-Express style: a king-sized bed draped with mosquito netting, heating and air-conditioning, Wi-Fi internet access, a large bathroom and outside shower. Afternoon tea cedes into the next adventure. Tracking game across the marsh, perhaps taking in the Bushmen rock paintings in the stony hills, is followed by sundowners under ancient baobabs. After an excellent dinner in the boma, a spot of star-gazing ensues, identifying the bright constellations that seem so near in the African sky. Sleep comes easily, tucked up with a welcome hot-water

Photographs: Orient-Express Hotels

bottle, to the lullaby of elephants trumpeting in the distance and night birds calling. Kit Heathcock

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Colourful creation 33 Melville Road ∙ South Africa Rolling lawns, rose gardens and jacaranda trees enfold a graceful mansion in Johannesburg’s

n 33 MELVILLE ROAD

exclusive and leafy Hyde Park. A discreet boutique hotel with just three spacious bedrooms,

Hyde Park, Johannesburg, SA

33 Melville Road is the perfect choice for family get-togethers, friends weekending or business

Telephone: +27 (0)11 788 9637

brainstorming – when you require all the services of a luxury hotel without the distractions. A vibrant, lavish hand is apparent in the décor, where the owner has re-interpreted African chic in her personal off-beat style, mixing vintage and modern, restrained and playful elements to create an ambience that surprises and delights while providing a cocoon of comfort. Each bedroom has a different feel: there’s the stylishly traditional Rose Room with its Colefax and Fowler floral chintz, the strikingly modern Black and Yellow Room, and a cheerful collage of prints in Victoria’s Room. The welcoming kitchen is where the executive chef cooks up enticingly fragrant gourmet meals – and exchanges warm banter over the delicious breakfast menu. Big wooden doors spill out onto the expansive patio with views over the gardens to the Johannesburg skyline. A grand entrance hall,

Photographs: 33 melville road

dining room, comfortable lounge and the original ballroom, now a quirky bar area, accommodate both formal entertaining and cosy relaxation. Guests can stroll in the gardens or cool off in the secluded swimming pool, challenge each other to a match on the tennis court or exercise in the gym. For those mixing business with all this pleasure, there is a boardroom seating 12, Wi-Fi internet connectivity throughout the house and ample parking for up to eight cars. A dedicated chauffeur and luxury car is also on hand to whisk guests to the best restaurants and shops in the city, for an unforgettable taste of all that is best about Johannesburg.

Kit Heathcock

Striking décor characterises the interiors of this intimate hotel, which offers accommodation in three spacious rooms.

Email: info@33melvilleroad.co.za Website: www.33melvilleroad.co.za

Moonlight memories Khwai River Lodge · Botswana A full moon hangs huge in a velvet night sky, twisted limbs of tall trees silhouetted against its light. The sounds of the African night are loud and vibrant in the still air – owls calling, the grunting of a prowling leopard and further away a lion’s roar. A moonlight safari in this private concession on the fringes of the Okavango Delta in Botswana is a series of thrilling experiences as the guide tracks nocturnal animals with a filtered spotlight and guests follow their after-dark ■ KHWAI RIVER LODGE

activities with special night-vision goggles. For here, where dry plains meet lush swamp, the

Moremi Wildlife Reserve, BOTSWANA

wildlife is plentiful – and the area is a paradise for bird lovers.

Telephone: +27 (0)21 483 1600

Here, too, you’ll find Khwai River Lodge, one of three luxurious tented camps operated by Orient-

Email: safaris@orient-express.com

Express in Botswana. There‘s been a camp in this exquisite spot since the 1960s, when the adjoining Moremi Game Reserve was founded. Today that camp has 15 beautifully furnished tents, raised on stilts overlooking the river and shaded by the fringes of a towering leadwood forest. Each has airconditioning and Wi-Fi internet access and is fronted by sliding glass doors that give you a view over the glorious surrounds from the moment you awake. Later, you can move out onto the deck to observe the antics of hippo, elephant and a rich variety of birds, doze in the hammock or indulge in a massage before savouring a lavish tea in preparation for the evening expedition. A walking safari in the protective company of a knowledgeable guide brings you up close with nature in the raw, the scents of wild sage underfoot; wild dogs lope across a stream, giraffe stroll by, and sundowners are laid out at the waterhole where herds of elephant and impala are also drinking. Back at the camp a drum beats rhythmically, calling guests to dinner under the stars in the traditional boma, where you can feast on a rich buffet of local specialities and listen to enthralling tales of adventure and animal encounters from the guides around the fire.

Kit Heathcock

PHOTOGRAPHS: ORIENT-EXPRESS HOTELS

Website: www.khwairiverlodge.com

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Alphen Boutique Hotel â&#x2C6;&#x2122; South Africa

Bohemian glamour in the historical Constantia Winelands

Cape Townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s historical treasure, the Alphen has undergone a radical metamorphosis into a New York-style boutique hotel, pulling it swiftly into the modern world yet losing none of its old-world character. Described by some as casually elegant, even a little eccentric, the contemporary-meetsold interiors of the 21-roomed establishment are a breath of fresh air for leafy Constantia, making it the place to meet and be seen, whether for business or pleasure. Opulent Living

En-suite bathrooms are glossy and glamorous in striking black and white.

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landmark for travellers for the past 300 years, The Alphen’s history is full of intrigue and its guest book reads like a list of the Who’s Who of influential visitors to the Cape. Mark Twain, Captain Cook, Cecil John Rhodes, Lord Charles Somerset, George Bernard Shaw, Jan Smuts and Sir Thomas Cullinan have all stayed here over the centuries. Over time, these ancient walls have also witnessed an equally characterful line of owners. The story goes that it was part of the original Groot Constantia wine estate, which remains at the heart of the Constantia wine route today. It was apportioned off after its original owner – and the first governor of the Cape Colony – Simon van der Stel died, and over the centuries it was converted from a ramshackle farm into a manicured estate with beautiful gardens. The main homestead was built in 1753 – and declared a National Monument in 1973. It’s been owned by the Cloete family for the past 150 years and it was first converted into a hotel by Sandy Bairnsfather Cloete in 1962. Now it’s the domain of experienced restaurateur and entrepreneur, Paul Kovensky, who saw untapped potential in what he calls ‘a national treasure’. He has reopened the historical property as an intimate five-star boutique hotel offering luxury accommodation with 24-hour room service, a relaxed café and bakery, a fine-dining restaurant with a warm and welcoming atmosphere, a unique outdoor terrace and bar overlooking the ancient oakshaded gardens and glamorous pool, an indulgent spa and a business centre with five conference rooms. ‘I’ve been in the hospitality industry all my life,’ explains Paul, ‘as it was also my father’s business.’ So it’s no surprise that The Alphen became a natural extension of The Kove Collection, his successful group of restaurants and bars on the sun-kissed Atlantic Seaboard. His most recent opening was The Bungalow Restaurant and Lounge in Clifton, but Zenzero, Pepénero and Paranga are

well-loved landmarks. ‘One day I got a call from the Cloetes to come and have a look at the Manor House as a restaurant location. I was already looking at expanding and was considering a hotel property in the top five floors of a highrise in De Waterkant, but the minute I arrived here I knew I could turn this into a funky, vibrant and young venue for both local and international visitors. The combination of buildings alone is extraordinary, with the Dower House and original La Belle dating back to the late 1600s.’ Paul’s vision was to create a casual and relaxed venue that would differentiate itself from other Winelands properties. ‘It’s not your traditional five-star hotel,’ he says. ‘Part of the magic is the history of the property, along with its beautiful gardens, ancient trees and the buildings themselves. We’re the privileged custodians of the Alphen’s original artworks and antiques – some of them with fascinating stories to tell, like the chest of drawers that came off the Dromedaris, one of the three ships Van Riebeeck landed at the Cape in 1652. But the fact that we’ve married contemporary style with history is what makes the Alphen so special. ’ Paul knew the timing was perfect to do something exciting and he instinctively knew the Antoni Associates team would deliver an intriguing and exciting interior solution to the marriage of old and new. Designer Adam Court wanted guests to step into a world of ‘hedonistic glamour’ where everything is ‘a little eccentric, somewhat bohemian, casually elegant and definitely sensual’. Patterned carpeting, modern lighting and dramatic touches of deep purple, red, blue and gold offset against fresh white add contemporary opulence, while original antiques celebrate the past. Bathrooms, however, are all about modern comforts and nothing short of glamorous in glossy black and white. The collection of luxury suites, known as Cool Rooms (spacious en-suite bedrooms), Amazing Rooms (with his and her bathrooms and a separate

‘New York-style bling meets Cape Dutch’ provides the escapist fantasy for the bedroom suites. The original Manor House, which dates back to 1753, incorporates excellent conference facilities and the hotel’s elegant reception area.

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The Rose Bar is a popular gathering place on the terrace. More than 300 art works from the Cloete family private collection are dotted through the interiors.

lounge), Stunning Rooms (with private terraces) and the Magic Room (a private suite with its own entrance), are situated in the original Manor House, Dower House, Mill Range and The Pavilion. ‘The project was stimulating and challenging, says Adam. ‘We wanted to work with the existing heritage framework, push it, exaggerate it but also provide some provocation. Humour plays a large part and we haven’t taken ourselves too seriously as its classical heritage provided all the robust drama we could ask for, so to act as a counterpoint we have intentionally flaunted some tongue-in-cheek escapist fantasy. There is romanticism, an exotic aroma of bygone Gatsby-esque parties in the air, but all contradicted by modern finishes and design elements. We wanted guests to come here and enter into another world. Holidays and hotels are about pleasure, escape and romance and the Alphen provides exactly that, but it’s not all about sensory overload,’ says Adam. The business centre on the second floor of the original Manor House is a wonderful mix of sleek facilities in an old-world setting. The conference rooms – hosting from two to 72 people – are

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certainly out of the ordinary and set to add a refreshing mix of business with pleasure for typically jaded conferences. Delegates also have the full use of the hotel’s facilities as well as its gardens, so there’s the flexibility to meet business associates privately in the Rose Bar and network on the terrace, or set up a private dinner in the restaurant. Added to this, an intimate new spa has opened, in addition to the in-room spa treatments already available for guests. Three hundred classical works of art from the Cloete private collection have been juxtaposed throughout, but particularly in the Five Rooms restaurant with its seductive low-lit interiors, leather Chesterfields, rich colours and heavy velvets. Allistaire Lawrence, newly arrived Head Chef – previously from award-winning Roots restaurant – is bringing fine dining back to the historical manor. The five grand rooms and the bar lounge, on the ground floor of the Manor, lead out on to the terrace, which has been converted into a stylish Champagne & Oyster bar that’s open all day to anyone who is in the mood for a glass of bubbly accompanied by the coastline’s freshest oysters. And at the

Five Rooms restaurant provides fine dining in five rooms in the original Manor House, while La Belle offers light meals and mouthwatering pâtisserie. The dovecote in the garden contains the Cloete family tree.

Alphen Boutique Hotel

Photographs: alphen boutique hotel

Constantia, Cape Town, SA Telephone: +27 (0)21 794 5710 Email: reception@alphen.co.za Website: www.alphen.co.za

Rose Bar with its glamorous black-andwhite daybeds overlooking the garden and the pool, a new sushi bar menu is a welcome addition for the summer season, especially as it can be enjoyed outdoors with views of the garden that’s once again bursting with the colourful summer blooms of hydrangeas, roses, agapanthus and lavender. The Rose Bar is where one’s likely to meet the horsey set of Constantia, who have made this their rather elegant local,

but if they’re not here, they’ll be at La Belle Café and Bakery, choosing from the indulgent tarts at the deli counter. For Sunday lunch they’ll have pre-ordered a sophisticated summer picnic put together by La Belle chef Charl Coetzee and will dine on a blanket on the lush lawns. And for travellers staying here, there’s a true sense of being an ‘insider’ and having discovered a completely new experience in the heart of the Cape’s oldest Winelands. n Michelle Snaddon

The Alphen is centrally situated on the Cape Peninsula, in the heart of the Constantia Winelands. It‘s a 20-minute drive from the Cape Town city centre, or from the popular beaches of False Bay. It comprises 21 rooms, a restaurant, café and bakery, a spa and a business and conference centre.

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North Island â&#x2C6;&#x2122; Seychelles

A discreet island paradise An exclusive haven offering peace, privacy and seclusion, North Island is an unspoiled retreat where the fortunate few kick off their shoes, wander barefoot on the pristine beaches and luxuriate in the understated elegance of beautifully spacious villas.

The organic forms of upside-down casuarina trees, cleared in the rehabilitation of the island, support thatched roofs for an architectural aesthetic informed by the natural surroundings.

24 Opulent Living

ropical palms fringe a stretch of powder-white beach, lace-edged ripples wash over the sands, erasing the scuffling tracks of the turtle hatchlings released by moonlight on the previous evening. Mother-of-pearl dawn light reflects in the smooth water and there is a feeling of total peace. It’s as if you have the whole island to yourselves, the only sign of others being the lavish breakfast conjured up as if by magic and served on the deck of your villa when you wander up barefoot from the beach. North Island’s inimitable magic weaves a spell that has gained it a select following of A-list regulars: it is not just the blissfully luxurious villas, the relaxed informal atmosphere, the feeling of being on your own private island, or the attentive but unobtrusive service that provides anything you want, whenever and wherever you want it; there is also the feel-good factor of connecting harmoniously with the environment, of being part of something bigger. For besides being one of the most exclusive island lodges in the world, North Island plays an important role as a sanctuary for endangered Seychelles wildlife. When Wilderness Safaris initially bought the island in 1995 it had been ravaged by decades of use as a coconut plantation, followed by further years of neglect. The Seychelles are almost on a par with the Galápagos Islands for the importance of their indigenous fauna and flora, yet much of their wildlife is under threat from development. With his passion for conservation, Andy Payne of Wilderness envisaged a Noah’s Ark that would provide a safe habitat for birds, turtles and tortoises and made a longterm commitment to rehabilitating this beautiful island. To make this project sustainable he established the ultimate in private island retreats, catering to the very top echelon of discerning travellers. The success of his vision can be seen in the now healthy giant tortoise population, the nesting hawksbill and green turtles, the 60 acres of forest restored to its natural state, where wedge-tailed shearwaters

and white-eyed pigeons have returned to breed, and the 100 000 replanted trees including takamaka, badarnier and coco de mer palms, which will allow more at risk species to be re-introduced. The feeling of sanctuary extends to the design philosophy of the lodge. Renowned South African architects Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens lived on the island while designing the villas and public spaces in order to better integrate them with the environment for absolute privacy, comfort and relaxed enjoyment. There is a sophisticated simplicity to the architecture and décor that only comes at the hands of masters. The thatched roofs, coral curtains and open-sided structures of the main lounge and dining areas seem an extension of the beach and forest, as do the villas where found logs, recycled wood from local islands and cleared casuarina and takamaka trees were used to create the supports for their soaring thatched roofs. The stone library, a restored listed building, provides a rainy day refuge and an educational centre for sharing information on the conservation programmes. The phrase ‘barefoot luxury’ might be in danger of becoming a cliché but is the perfect way of describing North Island’s casual-chic ambience. Each individually hand-crafted villa, surrounded by trees on three sides and looking over grass to the beach, is a cocoon of home comforts that invite relaxation at every turn. The vast hand-carved four-poster bed is enticingly draped in gauzy netting and made up with smooth linens. Tropical breezes waft through the open sides of the bedroom bringing heady scents, but sliding glass doors can be drawn across to allow for the cool of air-conditioning. Luxuriating in the palatial bathroom is an almost spa-like experience. Then there is the elegant lounge opening on to a curving deck with its own private plunge pool. Beyond that an enclosed study-come-lounge is all set up with slouchy sofa beds to watch movies or access the internet, and this can be converted into a second bedroom for families when required.

Villa North Island is the ultimate in private honeymoon sanctuaries. And whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more romantic than dining to the accompaniment of the rhythmic wash of waves on the sand?

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The tiered living spaces of Villa North Island descend to a private stretch of beach, a perfect setting to enjoy a rare vintage from the islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s well-stocked cellar.

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Colours are calm. Carefully faded sage accents blend with the bleached wood, rich teak and natural materials, in a sympathetic upgrade completed in 2010 by the original interiors team, Maira and John Koutsoudakis of Life. Textures take precedence over pattern and colour so that there is no jarring note, just a tactile journey of the senses using raw beach elements of weathered wood, shells and smoothed rock. Spacious and beautiful as the 10 presidential villas are, the jewel in the crown is Villa North Island, perched on a rocky slope above its own private stretch of beach in total seclusion. Extended to an abundant 750 square metres by the original architects in 2010, the villa now cascades down the hill in a series of tiered living spaces. It is the ultimate romantic retreat for high-profile honeymooners looking for a discreet and secret hideaway unassailed by paparazzi, with entrancing palm-fringed views over the ocean from the bedroom, a private dining deck and numerous intimate lounging areas and day beds to choose from. The day unfolds at your own pace on North Island. Each villa comes with two mountain bikes and a golf buggy, giving

guests the freedom to go any place, any time, without a plan, without a schedule. With only 11 villas on the island and so many places to go and things to do, whatever you choose you have it to yourself. Energetic water activities from the world-class dive centre include seakayaking, scuba diving, snorkelling and fishing. Or why not go hiking and mountain biking around the island, finishing up at the exquisite Honeymoon Beach for a romantic tryst? Those interested can join the environmental team in some of the conservation programmes, perhaps helping release turtle hatchlings. Others prefer simply to migrate gently from one idyllic lounging spot to the next, relaxing into the marshmallow-soft sun beds by the curving swimming pool, then drifting over to the magical spa on the slopes of the granite knoll for a personalised therapeutic treatment at the hands of the dedicated spa staff. The emphasis is always on unwinding and a big part of the attraction for those escaping the high-life is the casual beach vibe that permeates the whole philosophy. Guests can stroll up the beach to dinner barefoot, feeling completely at home,

browse the wine racks for a bottle of wine and sit down to a meal created by the chef especially to suit their palate. There are no set meal times, and no set menus. The chef consults with guests individually and devises meals according to their suggestions, be it sophisticated amuse-bouches or simple local fish and chips, served with a delectable homemade mayonnaise and fresh salads from the lovingly tended kitchen gardens. The tailor-made meal policy extends to its location too. One night the urge might take you to enjoy a casual beach barbecue with your own catch grilled perfectly over the glowing coals and served by staff who then melt away to leave you to eat in moonlit privacy. Another night you’ll linger over dinner by candle light in the dining sala, or enjoy wood-fired pizzas with sundowners at the West Beach bar.

Personalised spa treatments make for deep relaxation, as does the enjoyment of the marine life in the crystal-clear waters around the island.

North Island

Photographs: wilderness COLLECTION

North of Mahé, Seychelles Telephone: +248 429 3100 Email: info@north-island.com Website: www.north-island.com

Spontaneous picnics are also a delight, whether you make your own from the carefully chosen contents of your villa fridge, stocked thoughtfully for just such informal impulses, or arrange with your two personal butlers for something more elaborate to be prepared for you at an especially romantic spot. The seamless smooth running of all this customised perfection is underpinned by one of Wilderness Safaris’ not-so-secret ingredients: an exceptionally well-trained

and motivated staff, numbering over 100 on North Island, including the environmental team and dive professionals, the spa therapists, kitchen and villa staff, who cheerfully cater to every whim almost before it’s been expressed. When guests reluctantly leave this island paradise, the untrammelled freedom and the sense of deep connection, as well as the beauty and authenticity, have them planning their next visit even as they wave goodbye. n Kit Heathcock

Part of the exclusive Wilderness Collection, North Island is a privately owned island. It has 11 luxury villas and can be reached only by a 20-minute helicopter transfer from the main Seychelles island, Mahé.

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CGraphix OL10/12

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Years in South Africa 1952-2012

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Kwandwe Private Game Reserve ∙ South Africa

Place of untamed beauty The luxuriously layered contemporary interiors at Great Fish River Lodge in Kwandwe Private Game Reserve echo the earthy tones and textures of its dramatic surroundings in the heart of the Eastern Cape. Here an expansive, biologically diverse landscape – with a wealth of wildlife but a limited number of guests – makes for a truly unspoilt safari experience.

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igh above the euphorbia- and aloe-studded banks of the Great Fish River nestles Kwandwe Private Game Reserve’s flagship lodge. Known as Great Fish River Lodge, it promises understated luxury, warmhearted hospitality, big-five game viewing and breathtaking vistas. This is where it all began over a decade ago, when privately owned, award-winning Kwandwe first opened. Spanning 22 000 hectares in the Great Fish River valley in the Eastern Cape, the reserve puts to rest any misconception that game viewing in

this part of South Africa doesn’t have the same wow factor of more high-profile reserves further north. Kwandwe includes 30 kilometres of pristine river frontage, characterised by sweeping sandbars and steep cliffs providing distinct habitats for thousands of animals and botanical treasures. Meaning ‘place of the blue crane’ in Xhosa, Kwandwe is considered a conservation victory – former farmland restored to pristine wilderness – and provides sanctuary to lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo, cheetah, kudu,

zebra, Cape grysbok, black wildebeest and much more. As Kwandwe is a private reserve, night drives are a daily feature of safari life, and often result in unusual sightings such as porcupine, aardwolf and aardvark. The reserve is a veritable biological melting pot with six of South Africa’s seven major biomes converging here. It is also a breeding sanctuary for numerous threatened bird species, not least the endangered blue crane. Given the vast extent of the reserve and the wealth of animals on the land, a safari here feels wild and unspoilt – and

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Great Fish River Lodge offers unmatched vistas over the river for which it is named – and the terrace is a perfect spot to enjoy the fine local flavours in the French-style cuisine of chef Quintinn van Rensburg.

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the added bonus for families is that the Eastern Cape is malaria free. There are a maximum of 44 guests on the reserve at any given time as Kwandwe has an exclusive footprint of only four lodges. For romance and privacy, Great Fish River Lodge is heaven. The nine thatched suites have chic, newly revitalised interiors, with lots of little luxuries such as candles, fragrant bath salts, exquisite Mungo Design throws and plump cushions. Foldaway doors lead out onto a siesta-friendly deck and plunge pool. Cape clawless otters may be spotted frolicking in the river below while birds of prey nest in the cliffs on the opposite bank. This may be the most African of the Kwandwe lodges but an element of the Eastern Cape 1820 settler farmhouse vernacular – interpreted in each of the lodges – remains a common thread. The look is classic yet up to date and never detracts from the views or the river. In the main lodge, wide stone fireplaces create a focal point. Deep sofas, slipcovered in earthy linens, encourage relaxation in the sitting areas and cosy library. Pewter, glass, ostrich eggshells, hides and horns provide subtle points of interest without creating clutter.

Recently appointed chef Quintinn van Rensburg prepares a constant round of delicious meals interspersed with snacks, picnics, sundowners and afternoon teas. A graduate of the prestigious Institute of Culinary Arts in Stellenbosch, Quintinn likes to combine classic French techniques with seasonal ingredients and South African flavours. For families, nearby Ecca Lodge is perfect – it has six retro-inspired suites, each with a separate living room that converts easily into a second bedroom. For those who value their own space, Uplands Homestead is an original 1905 farmhouse transformed into a sole-use villa with three suites exuding Out of Africa charm. Melton Manor is a contemporary take on a traditional frontier farmhouse with wraparound verandas overlooking a pool. It has four suites and can also be booked as a whole for exclusive use – with a private butler, chef, ranger and tracker team, as well as a private 4x4 safari vehicle for tailor-made excursions. Throughout the year, Kwandwe offers so much to see and do. Twice-daily game drives are complemented by guided walks, sundowners and picnic meals in the bush. During the cool, dry winter

The chic, contemporary interiors are designed for comfort and relaxation. Among the many activities on offer at the reserve are romantic sundowners in the bush.

Kwandwe Private Game Reserve

Photographs: Kwandwe private game reserve

near Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, SA Telephone: +27 (0)46 622 7897 Email: reservations@kwandwe.co.za Website: www.kwandwe.com

months, the landscape is ablaze with the graphic orange, red and yellow flowers of indigenous aloes frequented by sunbirds and drongos. A later wake-up call is encouraged, and the morning game drive may include an indulgent bush breakfast that extends to midday if sightings are good. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a wonderful time of year to walk, track animals or take a scenic coastal flight â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the reserve is a mere 65 kilometres from the Indian Ocean.

In spring, the scrambled-egg bush flowers profusely after the first rains and gemsbok, springbok and red hartebeest drop their young. After a typical summer thunderstorm, the reserve is transformed into a tapestry of wild flowers and the succulent elephant bush gets delicate lilac flowers. Wherever you look, there are zebra and wildebeest babies. In this pristine wilderness, whatever the time of year, life is good. n Jane Broughton

Kwandwe is situated about 160km from Port Elizabeth. Road transfers take approximately one hour and 45 minutes. Cars are left at the main reception and guests are transferred to the lodge of their choice by open safari vehicle. The reserve also has its own airstrip, which is a 30-minute flight from Port Elizabeth. Flights are scheduled for early afternoon so guests arrive in time for the afternoon game drive.

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La Clé des Montagnes ∙ South Africa

Impeccable manors With a delightful brush of colour and a contemporary twist on its traditional farm heritage, the eclectic interiors of La Clé des Montagnes’ four private villas in Franschhoek elevate the concept of laid-back luxe.

iven her personal passion for quirky designs and colour, along with a yen for travel, it’s no surprise that Cape Town-based interior designer Sarah Ord has been gathering global inspiration from her journeys for years. Yet every time she returns home, she finds that the real inspiration for her work is ultimately South Africa’s heady mix of ethnic, nomadic, tribal and colonial influences, all of which she infuses

into her interiors. But it is her uncanny ability to create a plush yet comfortable hideaway for the global traveller who yearns for individuality and inspiration - but appreciates nothing more than the warm welcome of home - that Michael Pawlowski was looking for. The international entrepreneur knew Sarah would understand his vision. He wanted to create an entirely different private villa experience for Franschhoek –

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La Galerie’s striking interior (previous spread) is a gorgeous curated space filled with bold colour and a collection of original art and photography. La Grange’s spacious bedrooms are decorated with a layered mix of textures and Pierneef-inspired colours that contrast with the original stone walls.

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with everything that an exclusive hotel would offer, only more. Each villa would be individually decorated and have a personal butler and designer kitchens to be used by the guests or a local chef, for intimate dinners or entertaining. Overlooking plum orchards laden with blossom in the crisp spring and heavy with ripe fruit in the heady days of summer, the magnificent property with its sweeping mountain vistas was bought by Pawlowski a few years ago – though it dates back to the 1600s when French Huguenot Pierre Jourdan settled on this farm in Oliphantshoek – as the Franschhoek valley was then known. Gloriously lush and scented gardens with private pools for each exclusive-use villa now link La Grange, Le Manoir, La Galerie and Le Colonial, enticing guests to simply relax and enjoy the magnificent mountain and vineyard views from the comfort of their chaise longue on the shaded veranda, where a steady flow of ice-cool drinks are sipped slowly in the languid heat of summer. Working on renovating and decorating the original farm buildings one at a time, Sarah set about creating a theme for each of the four villas, beginning three years ago with the Manor house.

This grand old lady, as she’s known, is imbued with every shade of French red with black-and-white ticking stripe ‘as a tongue-in-cheek take on contemporary Huguenot’ says Sarah. Le Manoir has two suites, with a veiled four-poster chosen for the master suite with its enormous dressing room – perfect for brides. Indeed, with a kitchen of farmhouse proportions and a large dining room, the house is an ideal venue for hosting a private wedding. Once completed, work began on transforming the next villa, La Grange, which was originally built by settler Daniel Hugo in 1620 but most recently used as a restaurant – and is still the most typical of a traditional farm homestead with its characteristically long stoep. Today it’s reminiscent of a Highlands hunting lodge with its soaring poplar beams and a central fireplace giving it a barn-like atmosphere but with gentle ‘Pierneef colours’ providing warmth. Deep-buttoned rollback beds in its three enormous bedrooms with sophisticated en-suite bathrooms ensure a luxurious stay. Le Colonial was next, with Moroccanand African-inspired interiors all leading outdoors where families love to gather. The villa sleeps eight comfortably and

La Grangeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s barn-like interiors lend a lofty Highlands lodge aura to the spacious living areas. The fireplace makes this a wonderfully cosy choice of villa for winter. Bathrooms are glamorous, and the sleek country kitchen a dream to entertain in or host a local chef.

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Le Colonial fuses north and east African influences with a Moroccan-tiled bathroom and colourful, patterned fabrics in the lounge. Le Manoir (following page), the original manor house, has warm, traditional interiors that lead onto a garden and pool with mountain views.

most of the rooms lead onto the generous farmhouse veranda that’s surrounded by tinkling fountains and scented gardens. ‘It’s African in its overall feeling but with a modern twist,’ says Sarah, who is – in her own words – ‘mad about colour!’ Byzantine influences come through in the patterned bathroom tiles reminiscent of Mediterranean homes, and furniture is low slung and relaxed for maximum enjoyment of the beautiful views. La Galerie was intended as a ‘niche hideaway’ or a glamorous curated space with a collection of art set against a striking moody grey backdrop, and it’s

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perhaps the most dramatic of them all. ‘I’m completely besotted with animal print’ says Sarah of the leopard-print wingback chair in the bold living area, with its acid-yellow patterned curtains contrasting with hot colours in crystal, velvets and silks. It’s the most intimate of all the villas yet the most modern in style with every detail thought through, including humidity control, for an everchanging canvas of art, especially in the long hallway. It’s ideal as a romantic weekend hideout – just one of the two bedrooms needs to be booked to secure the entire house.

Thoughtful touches tick Sarah’s boxes on her travels, as do elements of surprise, which is why you’ll discover a collection of beautifully chosen books waiting for you when you sink into the deeply-buttoned royal purple Chesterfield next to a welcoming fire with a glass of Franschhoek’s best red to enjoy, or encounter artworks that you’d love to own while listening to soul-stirring music. An impeccable sense of taste and styling are layered throughout but not without a characteristic dash of humour – the vivid orange cupboard interiors in La Galerie always raise a smile, as do the historical portraits cheekily mounted on African Shweshwe fabric and simply framed in the formal dining room of Le Manoir. Yet above all, each villa invites quality time, time to pause and to savour the experience of world-class butler service with gourmet chefs on call from any one of Franschhoek’s famous kitchens, or to simply enjoy cooking and entertaining together after a day spent exploring the Winelands, choosing the best of the valley’s wines, charcuterie and cheese to enjoy tapas-style over lunch. The trick too, with a private villa, is to strike just the right balance for guests of relaxation, indulgence and romance. Somehow La Clé blissfully mixes all three but without the formality that many manor houses and villas have. Perhaps it’s because butler-supreme, Frank Chirwa, is always one step ahead, second-guessing every whim - from slipping in quietly

La Clé des Montagnes

Franschhoek, Western Cape, SA Telephone: +27 (0)21 876 4646 Email: stay@lacle.co.za Website: www.lacle.co.za So too, is the offering of personalised hotel concierge services, all masterminded by experienced hotelier and general manager Peggy Klement, who will arrange everything from a private tasting with a winemaker at a nearby estate to a golf day at one of the many courses in the vicinity – even a private helicopter transfer to whisk you over the mountains to see the whales along the coastline just a short flight away. Indeed, La Clé des Montagnes can offer you ‘the key to the mountains’, with a personalised experience that sets it apart in Franschhoek. n Michelle Snaddon

La Clé des Montagnes comprises four unique villas surrounded by plum orchards and set on a working wine farm a short stroll from the historical town of Franschhoek. It’s a 50-minute drive from Cape Town.

Photographs: la clé des montagnes

just before the children wake with a basket laden with freshly baked pastries and delicious juice smoothies made that morning, to keeping a constant supply of jewel-bright towels around the pool. La Clé’s real attraction though, is the fact that it’s so close to world-renowned gourmet restaurants. You can enjoy to the full outstanding meals paired with some of the regions finest wines, then afterwards a gentle stroll brings you to a discreet entrance at the back of the original farm property and takes you through the plum orchards to your front door in minutes. So effortless. So private.

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The private pavilion features a glorious open-air bathroom where you can luxuriate in a copper tub while listening to the birdsong and taking in the views of passing hippo and elephant.

Eagle Island Camp ∙ Botswana

The allure of a flooded land An island in the middle of the Okavango Delta, where life flows to its own slow rhythm, is the enviably remote setting for a different style of safari. Serenity and relaxation are woven into the fabric of this luxury tented camp, while the waterways and swamps teeming with birdlife and big game hold the promise of memorable voyages of exploration.

he safari starts even before you arrive at Eagle Island Camp. As you fly over the Okavango Delta, admiring the patterns made by the myriad waterways meandering through the lush green vegetation, you can see elephants wading through a lagoon and flocks of birds rising up below you. By the time the light aircraft touches down at the private airstrip on the island of Xaxaba, you’re already in awe of how remote and untouched this watery wilderness is.

Remote it may be but, after the rousing welcome with local songs and clapping rhythm from the staff, it takes no time to discover that the tented camp is reassuringly luxurious, as you’d expect with Orient-Express at the helm. The word ‘tent’ is a misnomer for these spacious pavilions set on wooden platforms. Shaded by thatched roofs, they overlook swathes of reeds and water and allow you to enjoy the prolific birdlife from the comfort of the hammock on the wide deck.

Inside, the tents are high-ceilinged and airy. The king-size bed takes centre stage, surrounded by mosquito netting that sensibly encloses the bedside tables and lamps as well. African baskets and pots provide decorative elements in rich earth hues while a dark-wood writing desk, chairs and ottoman furnish the tent with practical elegance. Airconditioning and heating keep guests comfortable whatever the season. Even the bathroom is huge with a roomy

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Whether you choose to explore this pristine paradise of waterways, reed beds and lily-filled lagoons by motorboat, mokoro or helicopter, you’re guaranteed extraordinary encounters with wildlife.

separate shower, plenty of storage and a double basin unit. The private pavilion that’s tucked away in peaceful seclusion at the far end of the camp takes it one notch further, adding its own splash pool on the deck and an additional outside bathroom complete with copper bathtub and double rain showers offering views over reeds and water. Peace settles like the lightest of blankets, the midday hum of cicadas broken only by an occasional splosh of a hippo, until it’s time to rouse from dreaming somnolence and explore the waters of the delta – with a pair of the camp’s highdefinition Zeiss binoculars in hand. Gliding silently through a floating field of water lilies in a traditional mokoro canoe, you experience a true sense of being at one with nature. Frogs leap away as the boat nears the reeds, a fish eagle dives after its prey, geese explode from their

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hiding places and a hippo moves off grumbling. Experienced local guides pole the canoe along smoothly, sure of paths through the vegetation that are invisible to outsiders, and knowing just where to seek out rarer creatures. A change of pace in the safari motorboats adds a sense of exhilaration as you speed along open waterways, covering more ground in search of the big game. An elephant is sighted, the engine cut and the elephant continues its bath undisturbed by the silent audience only metres away over a reed bank. There is something magical about travelling by water rather than on land, experiencing the animals in a different element, surrounded by an abundance of water rather than clustered round waterholes. The waters of the Okavango Delta have their own rhythm. In the cool, dry winter season the waters are high, flooding the

Photographs: Orient-Express Hotels

Eagle Island Camp

lower land, while in the rainy summer the delta waters fall and seasonal floodplains dry out, allowing for some land safari activities. The reason for this apparent contradiction is that the delta is fed by the floodwaters from the Angolan highlands and these take several months to flow slowly into the delta. There is vibrant bird life throughout the year but it is at its best from September onwards when thousands of migrant birds visit the delta and add to the already prolific wildlife to be seen here. For a touch of adrenalin and a new perspective on this entrancing region, there’s the option to book a helicopter ride at dawn. Swooping over the flooded land, the sheer abundance of animals can easily be appreciated – hippos submerged in the clear waters, giraffe grazing, unhurried elephants feasting from marula trees, herds of buffalo and

impala. The skilled pilot gauges exactly the best height to fly to observe the animal life without scaring it into flight. Touching down afterwards on a small island for a champagne breakfast is an unbeatable romantic touch that will wow honeymoon couples, as the whirring blades fall silent and the reflective hum of the Okavango Delta reasserts itself. Safari excursions are interwoven by delicious meals served by smiling staff; from the wake-up tea and muffin at dawn to the candlelit dinner under the stars, all is beautifully prepared and presented. Sitting in the Fish Eagle Bar, perched right over the water, as the sun sets, watching the blaze of colours doubled in intensity by the reflections in the spreading lagoon, it’s hard to imagine anywhere in the world more tranquil and blissfully relaxing. n Kit Heathcock

Okavango Delta, Botswana Telephone: +27 (0)21 483 1600 Email: safaris@orient-express.com Website: www.eagleislandcamp.com Eagle Island Camp is situated on remote Xaxaba island among a web of waterways. It has its own private airstrip and is a 20-minute charter flight with Mack Air from Maun, which is serviced by scheduled, daily flights from Johannesburg. Mack Air also flies to the island from Livingstone in Zambia (2 hours) and Kasane in northern Botswana (1 hour 40 mins). It is part of Orient-Express, which also operates Khwai River Lodge and Savute Elephant Camp in Botswana.

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LIVING life to the fullest He’s swum the Amazon and trekked to the North Pole in winter. Now he’s sailed around the world to highlight the plight of the planet. Meet Mike Horn, eco-explorer extraordinaire. by Richard Webb

As part of a four-year journey of discovery that began in October 2008, The Expedition Pangaea has visited both the Arctic and Antarctic.

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Modern-day eco-adventurer Mike Horn called in at Cape Town in mid 2012 on board his exploration vessel, Pangaea. The brief stopover marked the start of the final leg of a four-year transnavigaton of the globe. Named for the supercontinent that existed 250 million years ago, The Expedition Pangaea is arguably the biggest environmental project in the world to date. It has crossed five oceans, visited seven continents, reached both Poles and taken in 260 000 kilometres. For this passionate South African, however, it’s all in day’s work. Described as the most accomplished explorer alive today, hyperboles such as ‘exceptional feats’, ‘determination’ ‘endurance’ and ‘courage’ pepper editorials about Mike Horn around the world. His mission is simple: to inspire young people to protect and restore the planet. To this end, he created a Young Explorers Programme and invited young adults, aged 15 to 20, from every continent to join him on various sections of his journey. They learned about flora and fauna, discovered the importance of nature and its elements and were also encouraged to understand the importance of environmental issues.

‘The aim of the Pangaea mission is to enhance a respect for the environment, encourage the clean-up of the planet and protect its resources for future generations’, explains Mike. He wants to inspire future generations to find the solutions needed to balance nature and mankind. ‘During the past four years, we have shed light on the environmental problems we face today. I have witnessed the power and passion that the youth possess about the environment and am filled with hope for the future of our planet.’ Mike’s stopover in Cape Town gave him the perfect opportunity to promote his expedition, share his passion for the planet and show visitors around the innovative vessel that has been the project’s headquarters. As he ushers guests across the gangplank of the Pangaea, he surveys their shoes for suitability to walk on his deck. His handshake is firm, his gaze direct and unwavering. The boat remains unpainted, save for partner branding on each side of the hull. ‘Painting emits more than a ton of greenhouse gas emissions,’ Mike explains. Comfortable, but not luxurious, the vessel sleeps up to 30 people, is designed to ram through floating

Born in Johannesburg, Mike Horn first made a name for himself as an explorer when he completed a solo journey around the equator without motor transport.

The Pangaea is 35 metres in length and has berths for 30 people. She is powered either by sail or by Mercedes-Benz diesel engines. Solar panels provide power for state-of-the-art information technologies.

‘ ‚ During the past four years,

I have witnessed the power and passion that the youth

possess about the environment

and am filled with hope for the future of our planet.

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ice in the Antarctic and is capable of being fully beached on specially designed skids. Pangaea was built by Mike next to the slums of São Paulo in Brazil. It’s 35 metres in length and combines comfort and safety features with rugged power. ‘It’s not fancy, but because it is made with aluminium, it’s wholly recyclable. It also has solar panels, so it’s sustainable, as well as Mercedes-Benz diesel engines,’ he says. The solar panels also power the state-of-theart technology on board and keep the crew’s laptops buzzing with the content needed to feed the world media, hungry to follow the vessel’s every move. Introductions to his two crewmates, Jacek, a pragmatic Polish engineer, and Tristan, an urbane youngster from a passionate sailing family on France’s Brittany coast, reveal that this trio regularly man the entire vessel themselves. There’s an unspoken bond between them, forged through life-threatening conditions and shared experiences. They trust each other. They have to. ‘Don’t write about me’, insists Mike, ‘write about the environment and what is being done to educate the most powerful source of energy in the world – young people.’ But to understand this message and its veracity requires us to know more about the man. Who is Mike Horn? Born in 1966, Mike is the second of four kids. At just 18 he lost his father, a worldclass athlete, to stomach cancer. His father’s parting advice? ‘While you’re alive, live. Don’t

live half a life.’ His family has been a tower of strength for him. ‘They gave me roots and they gave me wings,’ he says. ‘People think of explorers as misfits and outcasts, but successful ones come from close-knit families that provide the platform from which their children may confidently stray.’ Mike was also in the South African Special Forces when he was still a teenager and saw combat in Angola, where he was sent to fight in the late 1980s. Mike’s calling as an extreme explorer came in 1990, when he gave everything away and travelled to Switzerland on a one-way ticket. His love of mountains and watersports were soon combined when he learned the art of hydrospeeding or riverboarding. Annual expeditions followed with valuable publicity being generated to help gain momentum for Mike and his brand of adventure. He still holds the record for the tallest waterfall leap for his descent of a 22-metre waterfall on the upper reaches of the Pacuare River in Costa Rica. Buoyed by his early achievements, Mike descended the Mont Blanc glacier drift right through to the French Riviera. Soon afterwards, he developed a carbon Kevlar hydrospeed vessel with special compartments to store food and equipment for his first expedition on the Amazon, which saw him cross the South American continent. Exploration soon became Mike’s life and it still is. What happens if the desire to carry on wavers? ‘There’s nothing better than relentless danger to focus the mind on your

intentions.’ But, something else calls to him, and his conversations are peppered with clues as to what it is. He says that extended stays in the wilderness help to restore him. ‘There is something restorative in witnessing Mother Nature at her most merciless’, says Mike. ‘I love nature when it is at the peak of its violence and its splendour, because it forces me to undergo the worst pains imaginable. It allows me to be a part of it, and that is a real privilege.’ Despite winds that drive the wind-chill to minus 60 degrees Celsius, the Arctic he says is relatively straightforward. ‘There’s no deceit and you always know what you’re up against. If a polar bear wants you for dinner, he’ll come for you,’ says Mike. ‘Only man tells you one thing and then stabs you in the back.’ The absence of deceit doesn’t make Arctic exploration free of danger, though. Exposed skin can be frostbitten within minutes, as Mike experienced to his cost on his failed 2002 attempt to reach the North Pole. Thirty six days into this mission, a broken shoestring saw him remove his gloves, resulting in frostbite. Over the next few days, he had to decide between evacuation and loss of several digits. He wisely chose evacuation and was ‘rewarded’ with only the loss of three fingertips. ‘That was a big lesson for me and one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made,’ Mike says. Who is it that would trek to the North Pole in the 24-hour-a-day darkness of the Arctic winter? Why would anyone want to put himself in the way of multiple dangers by swimming the entire length of the Amazon River? Extending the boundaries of human achievement is a very risky business. Mike reels off his exploits like a shopping list. Latitude Zero, an 18-month circumnavigation of the earth around the Equator; the Arktos Expedition, a 27-month solo circumnavigation of the Arctic Circle; the North Pole Winter Expedition, the firstever night expedition starting from the northernmost point of Russia and ending two months later at the North Pole; and the Himalaya Expedition, summiting two mountains each higher than 8 000 metres without the use of additional oxygen. Naturally, equipment is a vital component of any expedition. Mike speaks of his Argos

beacon with the kind of reverence normally reserved for his New Zealander wife, Cathy. ‘The beacon has 16 settings, each linked to a unique radio frequency.’ Cathy and Mike agreed a terse code for each frequency. The lower numbers are fairly benign, with zero for ‘all good’. Higher numbers reveal a slightly less relaxed condition. Six means ‘I’m lost; standby.’ Ten is ‘I have a problem; criminal’. No one wants a 16, which means ‘Expedition aborted; beyond rescue.’ Gritty stuff this exploration business. Mike was close to transmitting ‘16’ just once. ‘I was in the Amazon in 1999 recovering from a highly venomous snake bite. For two days I lay in my hammock, blinded, with my condition

I will never fail to try

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they gave me wings. People

think of explorers as misfits and outcasts, but successful

ones come from close-knit

families that provide the

platform from which their

children may confidently stray.

Mike’s wife Cathy and his daughters Annika (middle) and Jessica (far left) joined Mike at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.

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rapidly deteriorating.’ On the third day, he reached for his Argos and nearly punched in the dreaded 16. Two days later he had regained enough sensation to walk to safety. Commitment, passion and inspiration are important characteristics for an explorer. There is also physical strength, creativity and vision. Accomplished in all, it’s vision that sets Mike apart. He’s planned and pushed through to achieve things that no one else has, including the circumnavigation of the globe, alone, without motorised power. To even consider doing these feats is quite something. To achieve them, against obstacles such as money, elements, logistics and, yes, relationships, requires extraordinary commitment and vision. ‘I have seen Cathy for about 30 days in the past four years,’ says Mike. How do they manage? ‘I have the best wife,’ he announces. ‘Without her, none of it would be possible.’ Asked whether Mike has to ‘sell’ his ideas to get buy-in, Cathy hesitates before answering: ‘I know Mike, I know the way he thinks, probably know what’s coming up next so I go with the flow. That’s how our whole life together has been.’ Mike chimes in, ‘I can’t really surprise Cathy any more. Cathy is an engine, pulling me along with positive energy.’ While Mike is a full-time professional explorer, Cathy manages their bestselling books and motivational speaking engagements. Mike and Cathy fully understand the commercial imperative of leveraging his activities to fund critical objectives, but not at any cost. ‘Pangaea works with carefully selected partners, not sponsors’, says Mike. Mercedes-Benz, of whom Mike speaks glowingly, is the title partner. Panerai and Geberit are presenting partners and Nespresso is a business partner. Mike’s two decades of exploration has meant that he has often travelled solo and been away from human contact for protracted periods of time. Pangaea changed all that, with a small group of young people sharing ‘cosy’ conditions on board the vessel. For Mike, it’s been change worth embracing. ‘I am deeply committed to sharing my experience with the next generation. I want to show the youth, through science, the beauty of the world and how to clean up our carbon footprint,’ he says. His young recruits are in the perfect position to share their knowledge

with their communities back home. Mike says Pangaea has reached out to around six million environmentally devoted youths globally, thanks in part to the diligent harnessing of social networking. So what happens to the yacht when the mission is over? ‘Perhaps the boat will be taken apart,’ says Mike. ‘The steel casing, aluminium hull, bamboo flooring and the glass will be recycled.’ With a shrug of his shoulders, he betrays the faintest hint of loss. In fact, he’s already earmarked the aluminium for his next dream exploration vessel. Leaving the boat at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront, Mike continued to talk animatedly about his projects over lunch at the Cape Grace hotel, a luxurious setting in comparison to Pangaea. Mike’s interpretation of luxury? ‘Luxury is time to me. I don’t always have the luxury of time because of the programme I have set for myself.’ What is his ideal birthday wish? ‘Give me the time that others waste, that would be the biggest gift you could give to me. Because I’ll know what to do with it.’ He’s an incisive thinker this guy. He sailed solo across the Atlantic in a 28-foot trimaran through a hurricane in 19 days with little more than a GPS. But he has a warm, engaging nature that honours the interest in his life’s work. So do you have to be a risk taker? ‘Yes, but you also have to have the desire to win more than you lose,’ he shoots back without pausing for thought. ‘I would rather try and fail than fail to try,’ he adds. When we find ourselves on unfamiliar ground it can be frightening. Is it only because of problems that we grow mentally and spiritually? ‘Yes, in fact, if a day goes by and I don’t learn anything, I consider it as a waste of a day’, agrees Mike. As the day with Mike draws to a close, his parting words sum up his attitude to life: ‘A life with 30 000 days is just enough for you to do everything you want to do. I have 12 000 days left. A second chance in life.’ Mike Horn has not only continued the legacy bestowed upon him by his family to ‘confidently stray’ but has also magnified and enriched it for a great many more people around the world. See highlights from the day with Mike at www.opulentliving.co.za

Photographs: fiona macpherson, Dmitry Sharomov / Mike Horn, Dario Ferro / Mike Horn, Andreas Lindlahr / Mercedes-Benz

‘ ‚ My family gave me roots and

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Crystal Symphony

Glittering on the high seas Finding the right balance between bespoke service and on-board luxury isn’t always easy when planning a cruise holiday: size certainly does matter, but so does the knowledge that you’ll be well looked after during your sojourn at sea. If your ship’s too small you’ll lose out on entertainment and leisure facilities, but go too large and you’ll be little more than a cabin number amid the crowds. With the perfect blend of world-class amenities and discreet yet personable service on board Crystal Symphony, Crystal Cruises offers the best of both worlds…

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From the soaring atrium to the Venetian-designed Prego, European elegance meets Asian minimalism on board the Crystal Symphony.

or each of the seven seas, there must be a hundred cruise ships ferrying tourists from shore to shining shore. And yet, despite the explosion of new ships as travellers discover the unbeatable value and sheer exotic escapism of cruising, it seems that finding a ship that ticks all the right luxury boxes is harder than ever. Mega-ships may offer every conceivable distraction, but all too often that array of choices has come at the expense of personalised facilities and bespoke service. At the other end of the scale, luxury ships in the private yacht market are discreet and elegant; but offer little in the way of choice when it comes to on-board entertainment. It’s a quandary that Crystal Cruises appears to have solved with its unique approach to luxury cruising. Combining

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the refined service you’d expect at the best Parisian hotels with world-class on-board facilities, it seems that Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity – the two ships in the line – are the sparkling ‘Goldilocks’ option of the high seas. Combining a large cruise ship and a luxury experience isn’t all smooth sailing, but it’s a tightrope Crystal walks with aplomb – and your bespoke experience begins before the Symphony sets sail. An innovative online cruise planner allows for priority check-in and assists with reserving both restaurant tables and shore excursions. Plus, Crystal offers personalised transfers to the ship. Guests enjoy one of the most spacious ships afloat. In industry parlance, the ‘space to guest ratio’ on board the Symphony is among the highest in the cruise business – with the vessel designed

to encourage travellers to explore beyond their stateroom walls. Crystal Symphony boasts 461 luxurious staterooms, but it’s up in the spacious Penthouse Suites where Crystal’s reputation for opulence comes to the fore. Just 19 exclusive suites are available to guests, each stretching out over 45m2 to offer a galaxy of luxurious touches that will ensure an unforgettable experience. And for a truly decadent experience, upgrade to the top-tier Crystal Penthouse, which offers a staggering 90m2 of ship to call home. Whichever you choose, a perfectly chilled bottle of champagne awaits you on embarkation, with glasses by Riedel to toast your coming adventure. In every suite sheets are cut from Egyptian cotton, and discreet mod cons – from Wi-Fi to satellite-enabled TV – ensure you’re never out of touch with the

world beyond. Perhaps most importantly, a personal butler is on hand to take care of anything that might distract you from the important business of relaxation. But Crystal Cruises wants you to do more than pass your days ensconced in the luxury of your stateroom – and Crystal Symphony boasts a wide range of on-board attractions to fill the hours between ports, turning at-sea days into a welcome break from the distractions of dry land. Facilities are both varied and innovative, from the Computer University@Sea® Center to the language courses tailored for the region you’re sailing through. The ‘Avenue of the Stars’ shopping arcade offers a handpicked selection of upmarket boutiques, while a range of stylish lounges cater for everyone from cigar aficionados to night owls.

Up in the sunshine the sports deck offers a full-size paddle-tennis court, an outdoor lap pool as well as a golf driving range and putting greens with top-of-the-range Taylor Made clubs. And if you want to work on your swing, you’ll find PGA professionals offering complimentary golf clinics on most cruises. You’re here to relax though, so don’t let a sea day go by without booking a treatment in the Feng Shui-designed Crystal Spa. Winner of a Condé Nast Traveller (UK) Readers’ Choice Award, the Crystal spa consistently ranks among the world’s top resort spas thanks to the gorgeous ocean views and array of Asian and Western face and body treatments. Before or after your treatment, find inner-peace in a complimentary yoga or Pilates class, or work off some of that at-sea indulgence in the state-of-the-art fitness centre.

Elegant Prego offers modern Italian cuisine paired with a fine cellar offering Old and New World wines.

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The two Crystal Penthouses each stretch over a staggering 90m2, boasting elegant décor and spacious sea-view bathrooms.

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Because make no mistake: indulge you certainly will. The Crystal Symphony is famous for her gourmet dining, whether you’re enjoying a relaxed meal out on deck, or donning those glad rags for an Asian-fusion feast in the legendary Silk Road restaurant. Japanese celebrity chef Nobuyuki ‘Nobu’ Matsuhisa has crafted the menu here to ensure a one-of-a-kind experience. With his blend of Peruvian and European influences, Nobu has redefined sushi and Japanese cuisine delivering masterstrokes such as Lobster with Truffle-Yuzu sauce and his famous Black Cod with Miso. The taste adventure doesn’t end in Japan though. Prego is the alternative speciality restaurant on board, offering fine Italian dining in a sumptuous setting. Expect creations such as Lavender HoneyRoasted Pink Duck Breast or Paccheri Baked with Spinach and Ricotta. The menu also features signature dishes

Photographs: crystal cruises

from Piero Selvaggio’s world-renowned US eatery, Valentino. For something more intimate, The Vintage Room offers bespoke wine-pairing dinners, while more relaxed eateries allow for al fresco dining out on deck. And if you’d like perfect privacy, simply opt for the 24-hour complimentary in-room dining served course-by-course on your private veranda. Then, of course, there’s the signature Crystal Dining Room, with its woodpanelled walls and glittering chandeliers. The fine art of hospitality comes to the fore here, with châteaubriand and crêpes suzette prepared table-side as Schott Zwiesel crystal and Villeroy & Boch china turn your meal into a memorable moment. Remarkably, the Crystal Dining Room never repeats a menu, even during the three-month-long World Cruises. Perhaps more remarkably, Crystal ships are all-inclusive, with everything from fine wines to single malt whiskies included in the cost. So too the gratuities for housekeeping and restaurant staff, ensuring you can truly relax from the

moment you step on board. So while at first glance a Crystal Symphony cruise might look more expensive than its competitors, factor in the sunset champagne and post-prandial digestif and it’s clear Crystal offers some of the best value luxury travel has to offer. Which leaves a little extra for splurging ashore – on the truly remarkable selection of shore excursions that offers more than 2 000 activities throughout the year. If the Hagia Sophia is closed on the day Symphony sails into Istanbul, the doors will magically open for a private tour. A performance in Catherine the Great’s private St Petersburg theatre? Right this way. And if you’re feeling adventurous, the concierge can arrange anything from white-water rafting to hot-air balloons. It’s a moment you’ll never forget, but for the highly trained crew of Crystal Symphony, it’s just another day on board. With Crystal Cruises exclusivity and bespoke experiences come standard, so while there may be seven exotic seas to sail across, there is surely only one line to do it with. n Sebastian Bartlett

Wellness options abound on board, while the library has more than 3 000 books and DVDs.

Crystal Symphony

Crystal Cruises is represented in South Africa by Cruises International. For a personal consultation, contact Michele: Telephone: +27 (0)11 327 0327 Email: michele@cruises.co.za Website: www.cruises.co.za In 2013 Crystal Symphony will offer a variety of cruises around Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia, across the Pacific to North America, through the Panama Canal, and across the Atlantic to Europe and the Mediterranean. Her sister ship Crystal Serenity will sail in SA waters on her next world cruise, calling in Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town in late March 2014.

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Ivory Lodge, Lion Sands Private Game Reserve â&#x2C6;&#x2122; South Africa

Bushveld escape where luxury, romance and adventure flow Get away from the crowds at this family-owned, five-star safari retreat on the beautiful banks of the Sabie River. Ivory Lodge offers the luxury of just six spacious, private suites, polished personalised service and enthralling Big Five game viewing in a pristine wilderness area that shares an unfenced border with the Kruger National Park.

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he history of Lion Sands Private Game Reserve is big on romance. In the 1920s, Irish-American Guy Aubrey Chalkley came to South Africa to seek his fortune as a mining engineer but ended up working at the newly formed stock exchange in Johannesburg. A keen hunter, he took extensive trips into the Lowveld and fell in love with Kingstown, a beautiful tract of land on the Sabie River bordering the Kruger National Park. He purchased the property from Transvaal Consolidated Mines for about £4000 in 1933, and set about building a small camp on the riverbank. For more than 60 years, the Chalkley and More families used Kingstown as a

private retreat, escaping to the bush with family and friends whenever they got the chance. From the beginning, the families were focused on preserving Kingstown’s pristine state – a conservation vision that is fundamental to the present-day Lion Sands. The land now forms part of the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve, an area that teems with game and is considered to be the birthplace of sustainable wildlife tourism in Southern Africa, and – thanks to unfenced boundaries – part of the Greater Kruger National Park. John More, who married Guy’s granddaughter, Louise, built the first two lodges on Kingstown in 1978 and began the process of opening the land

to paying guests. Then, in 2000, when the perennial Sabie River flooded its banks and washed away the family’s private camp, it precipitated a new era for the fourth-generation guardians of Kingstown. They took the opportunity to develop the property into a luxury brand that now comprises River Lodge (20 rooms and an Africology stocked spa), the glamorous Ivory Lodge and the exclusive-use 1933 with four suites offering extreme privacy and complete freedom from routine for families. Of the three lodges, Ivory Lodge with its six, private, villa-like suites is, perhaps, the most alluring of them all. Honeymooners or couples who simply

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want to get away from it all and tune into each other while tuning into nature, will not be disappointed. Each suite is a self-contained luxury hideaway set well apart from its neighbours with masses of personal space, a private infinity pool overlooking the river and the novelty of a heavensent butler at your beck and call. While you will probably spend as much time as possible either in the pool or in one of the deck chairs, armed with a chilled drink and binoculars (just one of many thoughtful touches), indoors there are a pair of inviting spaces â&#x20AC;&#x201C; twin glass cubes suspended in the bush, one a bedroom and the other a living room â&#x20AC;&#x201C; decorated in soothing, muted tones. Flooded with natural light, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to define where the inside ends and the natural surroundings begin.

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Whether you’re relaxing in front of the fire in your suite or enjoying a drink in the communal lounge, you’ll find interiors blend comfort with chic, contemporary style. The lodge overlooks the Sabie River, so dinners come with far-reaching views. Special sightings of a wide diversity of game are a highlight of any stay.

The living room is designed to fast-track relaxation and quiet contemplation with books, binoculars, a music system for spinning African grooves and a supersized mini bar with substantial snacks on the side. In fact, what stands out about Ivory Lodge is the attention to detail that puts each star into ‘five star’. Forgotten your sunscreen? It’s already in the bathroom, alongside a collection of indulgent body products for all-out, postgame-drive pampering. Feel like creating an original cocktail to remind you of your holiday? The cocktail shaker, fresh lemons, ice and complimentary bar are waiting for your imagination to run riot. A large fireplace warms up chilly nights, while a dining space is conducive to meals enjoyed privately. Usually, meals at Ivory Lodge are enjoyed in the company of fellow guests – an

opportunity to swap stories and compare notes about your day – but there are times that call specifically for a private tapas-style lunch by the pool – don’t resist delicacies like smoked springbok carpaccio – or a romantic lantern-lit dinner for two, paired to award-winning South African wines from Lion Sands’ extensive cellar. In the glass-walled bedroom of each suite, crisp white linen adorns a mosquito-net-draped, extra-large kingsized bed. Game viewing begins just after day break while you sip coffee in bed, delivered through a clever hatch as a gentle walk-up call before the early morning drive departs. The en-suite bathroom is a living space in its own right with an egg-shaped tub for a long, relaxing soak and an outdoor shower in a courtyard that is completely

private unless inquisitive monkeys are spying on you from the trees. It’s not that difficult to tick off the Big Five in this beautiful wilderness area. The twice-daily game drives at Lion Sands reveal the rich diversity and concentrations of wildlife for which the 66 000-hectare Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve is globally renowned. It’s particularly known for reliable leopard sightings, and people come here with high expectations. While sightings of elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo and white rhino are usually very rewarding, it is often the tiniest details of the surrounding landscape that begin to work their collective magic. Building up an understanding and appreciation of everything there is to experience on the reserve, from tracking big game on foot to dipping into the local language and

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folklore of the Shangaan, will leave as much of a mark on your soul as hearing the primeval roar of a lion for the first time. Learning to spot the intricate trap of a golden orb web spider in the dust or tuning into the sorrowful-sounding call of an emerald-spotted dove or the distinctive call of a leopard, are all memories that will become interwoven with that first enthralling sight of a leopard hauling a carcass up a tree or a pride of satiated lionesses sprawled in the grass. Each day brings new wonders. For an even closer encounter with the surrounding bush, guests can arrange to spend a night in the Chalkley treehouse, safely suspended 10 metres up in the branches of an enormous, 500-year-old leadwood tree. This is an experience of a lifetime, from the moment your guide leaves you there just before sunset with supper, a bottle of wine and a two-way radio, to the pre-arranged time you are fetched to go on the morning game drive. A treehouse stay is for the adventurous at heart, those who will appreciate the surround-sound thrill of sleeping out under a tapestry of stars without having to relinquish any creature comforts.

The impact of dozens of flickering, glowing lanterns become the chandeliers of the bush, welcoming you warmly into camp after an exciting evening game drive or lighting up a surprise bush dinner on a balmy night. Ivory Sand’s elegant interiors and superb cuisine are impressive, but what truly sets this lodge apart from many other excellent ones is the sense of belonging and homecoming that you feel every time you return to camp or settle between the sheets after an action-packed day. The generous-hearted staff, highly attuned to guests’ needs, is clearly briefed to deliver nuggets of personal attention while allowing each person’s unique experience of being in camp to unfold naturally. A butler who remembers just how strong you like your morning coffee or a multitasking, well-educated guide who instinctively adds enough lemon slices to your G&T at the drinks stop while identifying bird calls and regaling you with a hilarious anecdote about life in the bush – all without breaking a sweat – leave the sort of impressions that linger long after you’ve left Lion Sands. n Jane Broughton

The Chalkley Treehouse provides the ultimate bush bedroom for adventurous guests.

Ivory Lodge, Lion Sands

Lion Sands forms part of the MORE Collection.

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Photographs: lion sands private game reserve

Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve, Mpumalanga, SA Telephone: +27 (0)11 880 9992 Email: res@lionsands.com Website: www.lionsands.com

the major winnersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; bucket list Compiled by Larry Gould Eight world-famous South African golfers. Eight exceptional golf courses in South Africa. In this Opulent Living exclusive, the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s well-travelled Major winners share their ultimate bucket list of local courses not to be missed.

Photographs: Grant Leversha (course), Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images (portrait)

gary player country club

Sun City, North-West Province Course designer: Gary Player Championship tees: 6 938 metres Par: 72 www.suninternational.com

‘This is one of my favourite Championship courses in South Africa. I always enjoy playing this Gary Player course.’ Retief Goosen, posing with his trophy after winning the 2001 US Open at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, California

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Leopard creek

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The views from some of the tees are spectacular and apart from being a great test of golf, the conditioning is always superb.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Nick Price, pictured with his trophy at the 1994 PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club in St Louis, Missouri

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Photographs: Grant Leversha (course), Nick Price Golf Course Design (portrait)

Malelane, Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga Course designer: Gary Player Championship tees: 6 631 metres Par: 72 www.leopardcreek.co.za

Photographs: Juan Espi (course), Robert Beck/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images (portrait)

Durban country club

‘It’s a fantastic layout and a great place to play golf. I feel a special bond with the fans here and everyone at the club.’ Ernie Els, holding the Claret Jug after his win at the 2012 British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes GC, Lancashire, England

Central Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Course designer: George Waterman & L.B. Walters Championship tees: 6 111 metres Par: 72 www.dcclub.co.za

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the links at fancourt

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;All three courses at Fancourt are world class. But The Links is my favourite.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Sally Little, with her second Major trophy at the 1988 du Maurier Classic, Vancouver Golf Club, Canada

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Photographs: courtesy fancourt (course), vancouver golf club (portrait)

Near George, Garden Route, Western Cape Course designer: Gary Player Championship tees: 6 930 metres Par: 73 www.fancourt.co.za

Photographs: Grant Leversha (course), Jamie Squire/Getty Images (portrait)

royal johannesburg & east course

& Kensington Linksfield North, Johannesburg Course designer: Robert Grimsdell Championship tees: 6 940 metres Par: 72 www.royaljk.co.za

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;It requires quite a bit of shaping of the golf ball, which makes for a very interesting and challenging round of golf.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Charl Schwartzel, in his green jacket after winning the 2011 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia

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Humewood golf club Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape Course designer: Colonel SV Hotchkins Championship tees: 6 022 metres Par: 72 www.humewoodgolf.co.za

‘One of the only true Links golf courses in South Africa. I enjoy that type of course and never get tired of playing there.’ Louis Oosthuizen – hugging the Claret Jug after his impressive seven-stroke victory at the 139th Open Championship on the Old Course, St Andrews, Scotland, 2010

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Photographs: Juan Espi (course), Warren Little/Getty Images (portrait)

Photographs: Grant Leversha (course), Black Knight International (portrait)

blair atholl

Lanseria, northern Johannesburg, Gauteng Course designer: Gary Player Championship tees: 7 626 metres Par: 72 www.blairatholl.co.za

‘We designed huge features… bunkering, greens complexes, etc, within an 8 000 yard layout. These complement incredible views of the surrounding Magaliesberg Mountains.’ Gary Player, after his victory at the 1959 British Open at Muirfield, Scotland, one of nine Major titles in his impressive career

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erinvale golf club

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The second shot into the par 5 thirteenth with the backdrop of the Helderberg mountains is one of my favourites anywhere in the world.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Trevor Immelman, proudly wearing his green jacket after winning the 2008 Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia

Photographs: Juan Espi (course), Jamie Squire/Getty Images (portrait)

Somerset West, Western Cape Course designer: Gary Player Championship tees: 6 506 metres Par: 72 www.erinvale.com

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THE MAJOR WINNERS’ BUCKET LIST personal favourites from top sa golfers

Bobby Locke was the first internationally successful South African golfer, winning four Open Championships in 1949, 1950, 1952 and 1957.

It’s no easy feat rounding up eight of South Africa’s golfing greats and asking them to find time in their busy schedules to compile a bucket list of their favourite local golf courses. But, in a first for Opulent Living, they all agreed to share what courses and clubs hold a special place in their hearts. The results were interesting as all eight Major winners chose a very personal mix of old and new – merging clubs with sentimental attachments that took them back to their roots, cherished tournament venues where they played at their best, and exceptional courses that blend top design in a spectacular setting with a challenging game. The most popular course by far – and one which made it on to everybody’s list – was the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City. Most cited its excellent design, which allows the golfer to be enveloped into the heart of an African experience, as a reason for choosing it. Of course, it also hosts the annual Nedbank Golf Challenge, which celebrated its 30th year in 2011, and four of the players – Trevor Immelman, Retief Goosen, Ernie Els and Nick Price – all have fond memories of treasured victories there. It is interesting to note that five of the top choices by our Major winners are courses designed by Gary Player. It’s testament to Player’s understanding of not only the design aspects required for a Championship golf course, but also of how to blend this into an African landscape. Nowhere is this better highlighted than in his two masterpieces, Leopard Creek in Mpumalanga and The Links at Fancourt – both of which were highly rated by the panel of Major winners. The Leopard Creek course, bordering the Crocodile River and the Kruger National Park, meanders seamlessly into the surrounding bushveld. The immaculately manicured

fairways and spectacular green complexes offer a remarkable challenge. Adding to the visual pleasure of the sprawling bush environment is the array of wildlife that can be spotted on the course – giraffe, hippo, baboons, wild boar and even crocodiles have been sighted on the course that prides itself as ‘a gift to nature’. Says Nick Price, ‘I really enjoy Leopard Creek, where the biggest hazards are the wild animals!’ The Links at Fancourt is one of three golf courses on this upmarket estate near George, all designed by Player. The Links gained worldwide recognition during the Presidents Cup in 2003, when Tiger Woods and Ernie Els played extra holes in fading light and the event ended in a tie. ‘All three courses at this estate are world class but the Links is by far my favourite,’ says Sally Little. Another popular course is the Durban Country Club, which has for many years been recognised in the list of top 100 courses in the world. It’s par 5 third hole has been voted as the best par 5 hole in the world. Bordering the Indian Ocean and set in a lush tropical landscape, the course has hosted 17 South African Open Championships. Ernie Els particularly enjoys this venue. ‘I’ve been playing DCC for many years now and I’ve won two of my South African Opens there. It’s a fantastic layout and a great place to play golf. I feel a special bond with the fans there and everyone at the club.’ Perhaps one of the most pleasant aspects of receiving the choices was that the bucket lists are filled with the golfers’ fond memories of their beginnings in the game. For Southern Cape boy Louis Oosthuizen, Albertinia was a top choice. ‘I grew up playing golf there as my father introduced me to this wonderful game. It’s got sand and oil greens and the sixth hole is one of the toughest Par

South Africa has produced many internationally renowned golfers over the years, and also has a wealth of top courses. Major winners Gary Player, Nick Price, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Trevor Immelman, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Sally Little share their top local golfing venues with Opulent Living.

5s in the world. We call it the Devil’s 1st Hole as it has one of the tightest tee shots and the smallest green as a target.’ Retief Goosen also remembers his early years in Limpopo in three of his choices – Hans Merensky in Phalaborwa and the Polokwane and Lephalale (formerly Ellisras) courses. ‘Polokwane is where I grew up and where I played my first ever golf alongside my dad and my brothers, and the Hans Merensky Country Club was one of my preferred courses as a junior golfer,’ he explains. It was much the same for Trevor Immelman – who choose Erinvale, in his home town of Somerset West – and Charl Schwartzel, who included the Maccauvlei Golf Club in Vereeniging. ‘I love going back to play there as it always gives me a feeling of being home again,’ he says. The Metropolitan Golf Club in Mouille Point made it onto Sally Little’s list for much the same reason. ‘This is where I grew up and learnt my golf,’ she says. ‘It’s still my favourite nine-hole course: it’s challenging and, as it’s in the heart of Cape Town, very convenient.’ And what about the Black Knight himself, who has designed so many of South Africa’s top courses? Well, Gary Player’s list was full of courses he has designed – but his top course is the one with the most sentimental value. ‘Blair Atholl holds a special place in my heart, given that it was built on the estate where my wife Vivienne and I raised our family. We had plenty of space and a solid commitment from the developer. There are such incredible distant views of the surrounding Magaliesberg and everything is on such a grand scale.’ Ernie Els also looked to his family when selecting his favourites. ‘A bit of nostalgia comes into my choosing the Els Club at Copperfield, as my late grandfather, Ernie Vermaak, grew up on this plot of land, where

his family owned a farm. He was responsible for first putting a golf club in my hands.’ Top design and a challenging game were also key criteria for all the players. It’s what got Humewood Golf Course in Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth onto the bucket lists. ‘It’s one of the only true links layouts in South Africa,’ explains Louis Oosthuizen, who says he never tires of playing there, ‘especially as the wind makes it such a challenge.’ Designed by Englishman Colonel SV Hotchkins in 1929, Humewood certainly is a classic that has stood the test of time. Set among the Eastern Cape’s indigenous fynbos and home to an amazing selection of bird life, the course has hosted five South African Opens – while Port Elizabeth’s reputation as ‘The Windy City’ makes playing it a true test of skill. Humewood would almost certainly appear on the bucket list of the one South African Major winner we couldn’t ask – the late Arthur D’Arcy ‘Bobby’ Locke, who was a four-time winner of the Open Championship. He once said of Humewood: ‘This course is good enough to host the British Open if ever played outside Britain.’ Locke would also no doubt include Durban Country Club, as it was there that he won two of his nine South African Opens. Regarded by many as the Tiger Woods of his day, Locke’s remarkable winning tally in the US resulted in his being banned from playing there after two years. The reason given for the ban was that he hadn’t honoured his playing commitments – but the 1948 Masters Champion Claude Harmon is quoted as saying: ‘Locke was simply too good.’ Reputedly the finest putter ever, Locke is credited with the famous quote, ‘You drive for show and putt for dough’. Like top golfers the world over, he’d no doubt thrive on the fine local courses listed by his worthy successors in the realm of great South African golfers.

Other SA courses listed as personal favourites by the eight Major winners Albertinia Golf Club, Garden Route Clovelly Country Club, Clovelly, Cape Town East London Golf Club, Eastern Cape Els Club at Copperleaf Golf & Country Estate, Gauteng Glendower Golf Club, Edenvale, Gauteng Hans Merensky Golf Estate, Phalaborwa, Kruger National Park, Limpopo Legend Golf and Safari Resort, Entabeni Private Game Reserve, Limpopo Lost City Golf Course, Sun City, North-West Maccauvlei Golf Club, Vereeniging, Gauteng Metropolitan Golf Club, Foreshore, Cape Town Millvale Golf Estate, Koster, North-West Mogol Golf Club, Lephalale (Ellisras), Limpopo Mossel Bay Golf Club, Garden Route Oubaai Golf Club, near George, Garden Route Pearl Valley, near Paarl, Cape Winelands Pinnacle Point Beach & Golf Resort, Mossel Bay, Garden Route Polokwane Golf Club, Polokwane, Limpopo River Club Golf Course, Sandton, Johannesburg Steenberg Golf Course, Constantia, Cape Town Vaal de Gráce Golf Estate, Parys, Free State Zimbali Golf Estate, Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal

The ultimate guide to SA golf courses Photographer Grant Leversha’s Within an African Eden features 59 of South Africa’s most beautiful and challenging layouts in a sumptuous book that opens out to one metre. The leatherbound Premier Collection of 950 numbered books and the Masters Collection of 26 signed copies are true collector’s items. www.grantleversha.com

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A Daimler Brand

Seething beauty. The New SL. Aesthete, athlete. Consummate, cultivated sportiness: a body 140 kilograms lighter than before, sculpted from lightweight aluminium. A BlueDIRECT engine, as powerful as it is eﬃcient (up to 29% more economical than its predecessor). And of course, safety & driving assistance technology unsurpassed in its class. The New SL. It’s the art of performance. www.mercedes-benz.co.za/sl Vehicle speciﬁcations may vary. Models available in SA: SL 500, SL 63 AMG & SL 65 AMG.

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Strandloper Ocean Boutique Hotel ∙ South Africa

Not just another place, it’s another world

There are a handful of places on earth where you have to pinch yourself just to be sure that what you’re seeing is real. The quaint little fishing village of Paternoster, on the Cape West Coast, is one of these places – and Strandloper Ocean Boutique Hotel proudly honours the ancient indigenous travellers of this coastline, while welcoming modern-day discerning guests inspired by its serenity and surreal natural beauty. Here, heaven meets earth on the shores of the Atlantic. Opulent Living

Muted earth tones create calmness and an atmosphere of silence and restfulness in the spacious suites, making Strandloper Ocean a haven of serenity and relaxation.

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aternoster has plenty of stories to tell, some carried on the wind and others held closely to its chest to be revealed to those who listen closely. This is a place of wild beauty, and wide white beaches washed by an ocean that’s cool and enigmatic. Here too, the sea is strewn with the skeletons of ships that struck rock off the coast and settled forever on the sea floor. And so Paternoster came to be named. Shipwrecked sailors gave thanks to ‘our father’ for making it to shore safely after their crafts sank, and visitors to this little hamlet still give thanks every day for the privilege of soaking up the serenity of this soulful place. Everything and nothing has changed since the ancient Strandlopers ambled the deserted coastline feasting on shellfish and bountiful seafood. The plentiful fruits from the sea remain in vast quantities of fresh fish, huge black mussels and abundant West Coast crayfish, caught by traditional local fishermen for their livelihood. They venture out in tiny wooden boats painted in vibrant reds and blues, named to reflect their life’s priorities. Zenidine, Visveld, Wikkel and Troubles all lie on Paternoster beach, waiting for wind and tide to be right to head out to the fishing grounds, just like fishing boats – and fishermen – here have done for many centuries. As the oldest fishing village on the West Coast, Paternoster has a unique atmosphere of authenticity and gentle vibrancy imbued by its traditional community. Here life is lived to the rhythms of tides and winds and nature dictates the doings for the day, every day. So too at Strandloper Ocean Boutique Hotel, with its uninterrupted oceanscape views across vast expanses of perfect white beaches and twinkling turquoise ocean. These far-reaching vistas in watercolours are balm for the soul and splendid natural theatre. ‘Here you can completely leave the world behind,’ says co-owner Simone Jacke. ‘Strandloper is a retreat, a place of calm that is completely private and secluded. It’s so much more than a hotel, Strandloper is a philosophy of being in harmony with

nature and blending in with the delicate beauty of the surroundings. So interiors are silent. They don’t compete with what’s outside, but instead showcase the natural splendour of this unique coastline.’ At Strandloper, the nine rooms, three Ocean Suites and spacious King and Presidential suites are all appointed in organic, pared-down furnishings that reflect the surrounding natural environment of wood, stone and washed colours. Here, luxury is understated with clean lines, pure linens and a neutral palette of textures that are uncluttered and soothing. Small splashes of accent colours and Nguni hide mats lend layered depth. The charming Courtyard rooms enchant with intimate outdoor spaces for chilling in hammocks in complete privacy, to the sound of gentle running water – and there are outdoor showers, too. All are set in sweeping indigenous gardens of dancing purples and blues. While most suites have ocean views, others have languid nature views, but sun beds at the Ocean Lounge offer sea views to all guests in a relaxed and laid-back setting. This is also where meals are served – from sumptuous organic-inspired breakfasts that showcase fresh local cuisine prepared with unique flair, to delectable light and healthy lunches, and dinners that reflect the finest offerings of the area – all conjured up and prepared with finesse by master chef Lovemore Mandabva, whose passion for his craft is palpable. Afternoon teas and fresh baked cakes are also offered at the Ocean Lounge, which opens up to flow right onto the milky white beach. ‘Strandloper is driven by passion,’ says Simone, ‘it’s about offering our guests a full and authentic experience of Paternoster; experiences we hope will live in their memories long after they leave here, and which will encourage them to return for more.’ All around there is prolific bird watching and whales come into the bay to frolic between July and December. There are dolphins year round too, and the indigenous fynbos to discover, long, long beach walks, kayak trips at sea, seal and penguin colonies to visit, and the little village of Paternoster to browse in.

The West Coast is theatre for nature lovers. Here guests can walk the long white beaches or simply watch the changing moods of the Atlantic Ocean.

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The Presidential Suite flows seamlessly out onto the beach in summer, while in winter a large fire gives it a cosy ambience.

Uniquely though, Strandloper offers personal encounters with the local townsfolk and fishermen in a bid to create lasting impressions and true West Coast experiences for guests who wish to understand the rhythms of this ancient fishing village and its evocative culture. Yet Strandloper doesn’t just showcase the magnificent area, it gives back to it too as part of its holistic philosophy of integrated practice. The property has partnered with a local organisation focused on empowering disadvantaged children from Paternoster through ongoing education and health projects, so that the children of the West Coast can be proud ambassadors for the magnificent area they call home. Included in the Strandloper property is also four kilometres of undisturbed, sandy beach, where guests can amble along the shoreline at leisure or hike it and picnic on fresh shucked oysters and champagne at the end of their efforts. A gourmet picnic awaits them on the beach at Groot Paternoster reserve, in an idyllic setting surrounded by the region’s wild fynbos and flowers. Alternately, a gourmet picnic excursion to Cape Columbine Nature Reserve is also offered. Here, guests can climb the nostalgic

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white Cape Columbine lighthouse for sweeping views of the coastline, horizon to horizon. Having worked up an appetite, they’ll enjoy a gourmet picnic served along with champagne, while comfortably nestled among sea rocks with vistas of tiny bays and rhythmic waves. Seafood lovers have an enchanting option to head out with local fishermen to catch their own fish and crayfish, which is then prepared for them for dinner on a rustic beach grill under a canopy of stars. It’s pure romance, unfettered and real. Yet another popular outdoor dining option, is a traditional braai evening. This localstyled barbecue includes succulent steaks, spareribs, lamb chops and boerewors, all grilled to perfection on an open fire under the stars. It’s a classic way to end the day in true South African style, sitting around an open fire with ocean waves as background music, tasting the flavours of the Rainbow Nation. Alternatively, curl up in your secluded suite, order in and relax surrounded by views so breathtaking they could all be the subject of paintings. Throw open the doors and let the sun and sky inside. Every whim is met in suite too, with complimentary Wi-Fi, satellite TV, DVD

Delicious breakfasts, light lunches, afternoon teas and dinners that showcase fresh, local produce are served on the deck of the Ocean Lounge.

Strandloper Ocean Boutique Hotel

Photographs: strandloper ocean

Paternoster, West Coast, SA Telephone: +27 (0)22 752 2237 Email: info@strandloperocean.com Website: www.strandloperocean.com

and audio systems, mini bars, tea and coffee facilities and air-conditioning for hot summer days. Importantly, despite every laid-back luxury, Strandloper still treads lightly, using energy-efficient appliances, solar water heating and lowenergy air-conditioning. Owner managed and run by Deon Brand and Simone Jacke, Strandloper is a fusion of their combined West Coast and German

origins, which translates into attention to detail and personal service to all guests. ‘Our desire is to offer new and unmatched levels of hospitality in Paternoster, so the magnificence of the West Coast is opened to top-end visitors looking for a retreat, coupled with gourmet cuisine and a dash of natural romance,’ says Simone. It’s the best of both worlds. And even if you pinch yourself, it’s real. n Keri Harvey

Tucked away in the fishing village of Paternoster on the Cape West Coast, Strandloper Ocean Boutique Hotel is approximately 145km from Cape Town. It offers an authentic Paternoster experience to guests, which includes evocative excursions and lifestyle experiences that showcase this stretch of unspoiled coastline.

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Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa â&#x2C6;&#x2122; Mauritius

Local island beauty

A turquoise lagoon and a long, sandy, white beach set the scene for a deeply restful island getaway on the west coast of Mauritius. Grounded firmly in Mauritian culture, locally owned Maradiva offers the excellent service for which the island is celebrated and exclusive villa accommodation for the ultimate in privacy, space and comfort.

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M Spacious and airy, the villas all incorporate a private terrace and plunge pool. The resort is particularly known for its holistic Ayurvedic spa and its diverse culinary offerings reflecting the island’s multicultural heritage.

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aradiva Villas Resort & Spa is a romantic hideaway that offers the best of both worlds: a private villa combined with all the services and amenities of a five-star deluxe hotel. Both honeymooners and families will appreciate the luxury of space, the allimportant privacy, the on-request butler service and the option of in-villa dining and spa treatments. Check-in takes place in the comfort of your own villa and includes a discreet process of culinary profiling to ensure that every meal feels tailor-made and exclusive. The resort’s setting is unsurpassed, with 65 villas spread out in 27 acres of lush tropical gardens. Some overlook the ocean while others have serene garden views. It lies on the west coast of Mauritius, sheltered from the trade winds, on Wolmar Beach, overlooking picturesque Tamarin Bay where pods of dolphins are often seen.

The villas lead directly onto the sort of long, linear, soft-sand beach for which Mauritius is renowned and guests can stroll along the water’s edge, take a dip in the protected lagoon, and scuba dive or snorkel above the coral reef with its wealth of colourful fish. A boathouse offers many watersports and there’s a secure, self-contained kids club. The island’s landmark Le Morne Mountain can be seen in the distance, and just off shore is Benitiers Island, easily accessible by boat as a day trip. The village of Flic en Flac is a short drive away and offers a slice of local island life, shopping and night clubs. ‘How cool to decamp somewhere Mauritian owned – it feels so much more local,’ is how Tatler magazine described Maradiva. Indeed, what is particularly appealing about this resort is that it is one hundred percent locally owned. Designed by famous Mauritian architect

Swap the red tape for the red carpet

“NAC’s VIP Charter service always makes me feel like a rock star! They think of everything I could possibly need and pay special attention to detail, when it comes to my safety, security, privacy and comfort. Wherever I’m headed, NAC’s fleet of long and medium range jets and twin turbine aircraft get me there on time, without the added aggravation of having to deal with check-in queues, waiting for baggage or having to wade through red tape at airport terminals.” So if you’re considering chartering a flight, speak to NAC, and they’ll make you feel like an A-lister on the red carpet!” – Gabby van Staden, frequent charter client.

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Photographs: maradiva villas resort & spa

Maurice Giraud in 2003, it offers a great sense of place. The villas were inspired by colonial sugar-plantation residences and have a seamless flow between indoors and outdoors, as well as seductive views. Rich attention to detail typifies the interiors, which feature teak floors and spacious marble bathrooms leading to outdoor showers. Ornately carved Indian doors and local art reflect the island’s fascinating melting pot of cultures. Garden and Luxury Suite Villas each have a private pool and garden and a covered outdoor living area. Some have direct beach access and unobstructed views of the lagoon. Interconnecting rooms make these ideal for families. The Exclusive Suite Villas have, in addition, spacious indoor lounge areas, bigger pools and lagoon views. At the heart of the resort are the two Presidential Villas with two en-suite bedrooms, vast living areas inside and out and a huge heated infinity pool. Standard features include televisions, an entertainment system, iPod dock, minibar and Nespresso coffee machine. There’s no doubt, though, that the spa offering holistic Ayurvedic treatments, yoga and meditation is key to the Maradiva experience. The highly trained therapists have a deep understanding of the therapeutic properties of Indian herbs and essential oils, and treatments are finetuned to suit individual needs. Whether it’s a soothing Indian head massage or a specialised Ayurvedic body treatment, each begins with a delightful ritual of bathing the feet in water perfumed with essential oils and flowers. Daily morning yoga practice balances and rejuvenates body, mind and soul while also enhancing the effects of any spa treatments. The air-conditioned gym is state-of-the-art with personal trainers on hand and bicycles in case you want to explore the island a little further. The resort is also known for its fine cuisine reflecting the island’s diverse cultural influences. Overseeing the kitchen is French chef Jérôme Rigaud, who joined the resort after three years as executive chef at The Kremlin, where he regularly catered banquets and state dinners for the Russian

Maradiva is situated on the west coast of Mauritius, which offers spectacular island sunsets and a warm, dry climate. It leads onto a long white beach that gives way to a protected, coral-fringed lagoon.

president and visiting heads of state. Under his direction, The Cilantro has a new menu of modern Indian and Japanese food, while Coast2Coast makes the most of the resort’s organic kitchen gardens and offers easy eating, Mediterranean style, plus Mauritian specialities and seafood throughout the day. Breakers Bar, with its sofas and day beds around the infinity pool, is a sophisticated yet relaxed scene for indulging in rum cocktails, local beers and imported wines, accompanied by low-key entertainment in the evenings. And for a special occasion, head down to the beach, where billowing white tents create romantic alcoves for starlit dinners on the sand. Ultimately, what makes the resort so special is that it’s large enough to offer all the facilities you want, but small enough to provide a high level of personalised service and attention to detail. n Jane Broughton

Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa

Wolmar, Flic en Flac, Mauritius Telephone: +230 403 1500 Email: info@maradiva.com Website: www.maradiva.com

Opulent Living

Jaci’s Tree Lodge ∙ South Africa

An oasis of calm perched high in the trees Inspired by a love of nature and unfettered playfulness, Jaci’s Tree Lodge in the Madikwe Game Reserve is pure romance and enchantment. Built on stilts, high above the ground with tree-top views, it transports you to another world – one that’s cocooned and carefree.

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‘Y

es, wild dogs regularly pass through the reserve, because they are always on the move,’ Tree Lodge ranger David Mosiane tells his guests aboard the afternoon game drive in Madikwe Game Reserve, ‘but there are no guarantees of seeing them.’ His sentence is barely finished when a guest points animatedly and says: ‘Look there.’ In the distance, darting in relays across open veld, a pack of wild dogs is hunting. ‘Amazing,’ says David, turning the gamedrive vehicle in the direction of the sighting. ‘Guests who spend a few nights here have an excellent chance of seeing wild dog but, really, this is your first game drive since arriving in Madikwe. This place is so special.’ Jaci’s Safari Lodge and Tree Lodge owners, Jan and Jaci van Heteren, spent years in

Madikwe. ‘We missed it so much when we left,’ says Jaci, ‘that we had to get back, so we opened Jaci’s Safari Lodge in 2000 and Tree Lodge three years later.’ Jaci’s Tree Lodge is a literal ‘dream come true’ for Jan. ‘He always wanted to build a lodge on stilts,’ says Jaci, ‘and this particular area, with its steep drop off, lends itself perfectly to that.’ Guests arrive at the main lodge and from there follow raised walkways to their elevated tree houses. Built from African rosewood and thatch, they blend seamlessly into their surroundings. When the front doors of a suite are completely open, guests are as close as they can get to life in the trees – all in perfect luxury. ‘Tree Lodge is different and the atmosphere is comfortable,’ adds Jaci. It’s decorated with bright accent colours

and there are king-sized beds and marble baths for two, along with outdoor ‘jungle’ showers. Even the bathroom opens up to be at one with nature if you so desire. To cool off in summer, Jaci’s Tree Lodge has an enticing circular swimming pool, surrounded by a wooden deck under shady trees. Guests can go for a dip or relax on loungers in sunshine or shade. Yet another relaxing option is the menu of massages offered at the Masala Spa, a few minutes’ walk from Tree Lodge, where the

Bright colours bring a warm, playful touch to the interiors and were chosen to capture the changing moods of the surrounding African bush.

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resident therapist has magical hands that iron out stress. There’s everything from Indian head massages to pampering foot massages on offer in the spa – or in the privacy of your suite if you prefer. For guests who destress with exercise, between Safari Lodge and Tree Lodge you’ll find a little gym with a treadmill and exercise bike where you can work up a sweat in the shade of an acacia tree. Alternatively, stretch your legs on the short river walk between the two lodges. If you want to experience the brilliance of an African star-lit night, there’s a unique offering for guests: a star bed. Close to Jaci’s Tree Lodge, a small watering hole and wetland area attracts a wealth of wildlife. If you spend a little time in the small hide there, you’ll experience natural entertainment as it happens – but if you spend the night in the romantic four-poster bed atop the hide, you can sleep under a million shining stars. Unusual offerings are actually plentiful at Jaci’s Tree Lodge. ‘We like to offer guests specialised encounters,’ say Jaci. ‘We host photographic safaris with

renowned wildlife photographer Roger de la Harpe, and we offer specialised birding and walking safaris, too.’ Dining options also go beyond the norm of boma dinners. ‘We regularly do meals in unexpected settings,’ adds Jaci, ‘like stopping during a day drive and making hamburgers in the bush. As much as we can, we eat outdoors and cook on open fires. Our cuisine is thoroughly South African inspired, and uses seasonal, fresh, local ingredients.’ Weddings and group celebrations are extremely popular at Jaci’s Tree Lodge, and are fully catered for. ‘But what I really love about Madikwe,’ says Jaci, ‘is that the reserve was originally proclaimed to create jobs. So it is not just environmentally but also commercially sound. Madikwe is about community, private and public investors and it’s about the people who are there and ensuring the future of wildlife.’ David couldn’t agree more. For him it’s a privilege to work in Madikwe. ‘Just being here is enough for me,’ adds Jaci. ‘After 20 years in Madikwe, for me every day here is as special as the first.’ n Keri Harvey

Enjoy a night under the stars in the romantic four-poster bed set above the hide next to the waterhole. Brunch is served in the spacious dining room in the main lodge.

Jaci’s Tree Lodge

Photographs: jaci’s lodges

Madikwe Game Reserve, North-West Province, SA Telephone: +27 (0)83 258 7828 or +27 (0)83 447 7929 Email: jacisreservations@madikwe.com Website: www.madikwe.com

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Jaciâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tree Lodge lies in the heart of Madikwe, which covers 75 000 hectares in the remote north west. Previously dotted with maize and cattle farms, it was reclaimed for sustainable wildlife tourism in the early 1990s.

African Pride Crystal Towers Hotel & Spa ∙ South Africa

In the mood for glamour Stunning modern design, an award-winning spa and top conference facilities are just some of the reasons why this deluxe Cape Town hotel attracts both holidaymakers and business travellers who want to ‘Live the Crystal Life’.

oll up at the impressive entrance to African Pride Crystal Towers Hotel & Spa and – as you take in the swimming pool dramatically suspended over the entrance, the views towards Table Mountain and the sparkling promise of feel-good lighting. – you can be forgiven for seeing it more as a pleasure than a business destination. Yet, while the hotel is known for offering glamorous weekend getaways, it has a

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discreet alter ego as a highly desirable place to do business, with superb conference facilities that are unrivalled by any other Cape Town hotel. The double-volume lobby functions as a central street between the two towers of the hotel and the light-hearted architectural style, high-tech lighting and thoughtful layout highlight its dual function. This hotel can be whatever you want it to be. Unabashed pleasure-

seekers enjoy top-to-toe pampering in the Life Day Spa, sunset sushi on the pool deck and chic cocktails in the glittering, chandelier-festooned Ruby Bar; dynamic business people take care of work, conferences and meetings in style, then destress with a dip in the heated pool, a massage and a relaxed evening of excellent food and wine. The location, too, is perfectly judged for both business and pleasure. The urban

The stylish modern bedrooms with their mood-enhancing lighting offer beautiful views over Table Mountain. The hotel has the second largest conference venue in Cape Town.

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hub of Century City is home to many international businesses, but also holds the city’s biggest shopping mall, easily accessible from the hotel via the suspension bridge over the palm-lined canal. For business travellers, the Virgin Active gym is within walking distance, while for holidaymakers there’s a complimentary shuttle to the leisure attractions of central Cape Town, just 15 minutes away – or you can book a chauffeur-driven car to attractions further afield. The modern-retro glamour of the rooms reinforces the multi-faceted personality of African Pride Crystal Towers. Recessed magenta mood lighting and designer furniture are trumped only by the views over Table Mountain. The king-sized bed with its crisp, 350-thread-count, cotton percale linen is exceptionally comfortable and, in futuristic fashion, is moulded with an executive desk at the head and a cunningly hidden TV that pops up from

Photographs: african pride crystal towers hotel & spa

The stylish breakfast buffet provides a delicious spread to set you up for a day of work or play. The Canal Walk shopping mall is situated just across the canal that runs past the back of the hotel.

the foot of the bed at the touch of a button. The ‘crystal shower’ is a much vaunted feature in every room – a frosted-glass circular shower cubicle that glows with mood lighting and is spacious enough to party in. Or there’s a large tub where you can soak in the soft glow of scented candles. The mini bar includes a selection of snacks and there are complimentary tea- and coffee-making facilities. Let’s take for granted a successful conclusion to your business – after all, with four state-of-the-art conference rooms overlooking the canal, eight deluxe private boardrooms and an ultraefficient business team, everything is bound to have gone smoothly – and repair to the seclusion and peace of the private lounge-bar decorated with African travel memorabilia in honour of adventurer Kingsley Holgate. From here the hardest decision is whether to move on to international gourmet cuisine in the

Towers restaurant, or sample the more down-to-earth fare on the Pool Deck menu while you watch the twinkling lights of the city at night. Or play pool and chat in the bar until late before grabbing a light meal at the 24-hour deli. The award-winning Life Day Spa (a sought-after retreat for in-the-know Capetonians) is not to be missed. If you have time, a relaxation session in the Rasul chamber rejuvenates the spirits. Hard-pressed businesswomen can stop in at the new nail bar on the pool deck for a half-hour manicure or book a therapeutic massage in one of the private treatment rooms to end their day. And, when the sensory stimulation of the fast-lane gets too much, you can always escape to the Dead Sea flotation tank. If anyone asks if the carefully designed mood-enhancing lighting really works, you’ll soon find the answer in your own glow of wellbeing. n Kit Heathcock

African Pride Crystal Towers Hotel & Spa

Century City, Cape Town, SA Telephone: +27 (0)21 525 3888 Email: reservations @crystaltowershotel.com Website: www.africanpridehotels.com/ crystaltowers

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More than 60 breathtaking lodges, exquisite resorts and fabulous hotels in one stunning book.

Opulent Living Book Volume 1 296 pages in full colour Hardcover with dust jacket Large coffee-table format 32 x 24cm From the coffee-table magazine for the finer things in life.

Opulent Living VO L U M E 1

Available in major book stores and on www.opulentliving.co.za

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Style is knowing who you are, what you want to sayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, said author Gore Vidal. This section looks to the past and future of its expression.

Humanitarian, supermodel and designer Alek Wek is the new face of Amarula Cream. She wears an outfit by Johannesburg-based designer, Suzaan Heyns.

Opulent Living Style

A shared authenticity Good craftsmanship, simple aesthetics and cutting-edge design were key features of the 2012 BMW EuroStyle Tour, which culminated with the launch of the BMW Zagato Coupé.

On its 2012 EuroStyle Tour, BMW SA partnered with top-tier players to explore what it means to be a luxury superbrand. by Barbara Lenhard

very minute of every day we are bombarded by branding. On television and in our real and virtual worlds, we are so accustomed to being perpetually sold to that we’ve become largely oblivious to it. As a result, for a brand to make us sit up and take notice, it has to offer something of value to our lives, an experience we would not otherwise encounter; the chance, essentially, to redefine our realities. BMW is one such out-the-box brand. Far from resting on its illustrious reputation, the automotive giant works tirelessly to be relevant in an age of supersonic technology where, ironically, emotional drivers increasingly determine purchasing decisions. It differentiates itself from its competitors by offering its customers a three-dimensional brand experience and, as a result, has come to stand for far more than simply a manufacturer of highperformance products. Today, BMW is a life partner, a promise keeper, a dream maker – and its customers are its true brand ambassadors. Far from existing in a vacuum, however, BMW has made it its business to seek out strategic alliances with other thought

70 Living 106Opulent Opulent Living

leaders in the markets where it occupies top-of-mind status. The aim of the eighth annual BMW EuroStyle Tour to Munich, Lake Como and Milan was to share – with the companies and individuals that the BMW Group respects – the designs, experiences and principles that unite and benchmark seemingly unconnected brands within the premium market; to define that unmistakable ‘essence of luxury’ that bridges diverse sectors – from motorcars to yachts, furnishings to cuisine – through a shared authenticity, belief system, mission statement and values. Take the example of luxury brand, Riva. The legendary yacht- and boat-builder asserts style, design and performance as the core of its business ethos. It is in the beautiful setting of Lake Iseo in Lombardy, Italy, that Riva’s impeccably designed crafts first feel the kiss of the water. Generations of craftsmen have fashioned these elegant vessels for detail-focused connoisseurs – and heady success in the powerboat-racing sector in 1950s and 60s brought the company unprecedented acclaim, making the name Riva synonymous with la dolce vita.

A shared authenticity

The

Concorsa

d’Eleganza d’Este,

Villa staged

in the gardens and grounds of the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este and neighbouring Villa Erba on Lake Como in Cernobbio, Italy, is an annual exhibition of the world’s most beautiful classic cars, as well as of the latest concept cars and prototypes. It was first held in 1929 and was an annual event until 1949. It was revived in the 1990s and has been sponsored by the BMW Group since the turn of the 21st century. It’s become a premium social event that now also includes special shows – generally to celebrate anniversaries of famous designers – and exhibitions of the BMW and Rolls Royce brands. Held in late May, the 2012 event saw the BMW Group Trophy – awarded for ‘an

Produced since 1962 and, undeniably, the default timeless watercraft, the AquaRiva is wholly unfettered by the whimsical constraints of fashion. The lacquered mahogany vessel’s wraparound windscreen and aquamarine interior mesh 1960s cool with an enduring elegance – the reason, no doubt, that it has been indelibly linked with A-listers from Brigitte Bardot and Sophia Loren, to Sean Connery and George Clooney, not to mention various royals. Its distinctive soft, clean lines, meticulous spatial design and scrupulous attention to detail, plus, of course, the use of stateof-the-art materials, are attributable to Officina Italiana Design, which has designed all Rivas for the past 25 years. Indeed, it is these matchless characteristics that make the new AquaRiva a noble heiress to a centuries-old history of excellence and craftsmanship.

Like Riva, BMW, too, chose the glamorous north Italian lake district as the venue for the launch of its stylish new Zagato Coupé, which, much the same as the boat manufacturer’s famed vessels, embodies the time-honoured and trusted. Exemplifying the hallmarks of motordesign excellence, the Zagato proves that authenticity – the ability to stay true to who you are in a frenetic world – is a key differentiator for the endurance of a premium brand such as BMW. Riva 1920 is another classic example of a brand that has succeeded in flouting fashion’s short-lived fads. The furniture company produces designs that defy time. ‘In the 1920s, my grandfather and father started the company. My brother, Maurizio, and I learned the secrets of wood carving from them,’ says current co-owner Davide Riva, explaining that the firm consistently ensures that the core

extraordinary automobile, which expresses beauty, passion and uniqueness’ – go to the 1933 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS 6th Series Coupé bodied by Figoni. Other notable

entrants included the 1939 Mercedes Benz 540 k Spezial Roadster, 1935 Avions Viosin C 25 Berline Aerodyne, 1939 Aston Martin C Type Speed Bertelli Roadster and 1969 Porsche 917k.

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The beautifully crafted AquaRiva Super sits ready to

assets of the brand, from the performance of the product to its design sensibility, are upheld in the furniture they craft. Respect for the environment is also crucial and recycling is taken seriously with the company constantly looking for ways to reuse wood and transform it into a stylish sustainable piece of art that can be passed down to future generations. ‘Unique items like our Claudio Bellinidesigned Venice Table and Philippe Starck place settings are made from briccole, the oak posts salvaged from the Venice Lagoon when they are replaced because of damage,’ explains Davide. ‘A magical metamorphosis restores the wood’s soul, giving it new life.’ Nature and aesthetics co-exist in similar harmony at the Vigilius Mountain Resort in South Tyrol, Austria, where words like ‘discerning’ and ‘connoisseur’ – so frequently bandied about in the hotel world – find a worthy beneficiary. Italian architect Matteo Thun, himself no stranger to these values, designed the eco-hideaway, located 1 500 metres above sea level, as a place where beauty lies in simplicity. Perched discretely on the flanks of the Vigiljoch, Austria’s landmark peak, the hotel’s ecological commitment is evident in the use of natural construction methods and sustainably sourced local resources, including grass cladding for the roof, 300-year-old timber for the rafters and internally heated clay walls. Accessible only by cable car and entirely devoid of the techno-trappings of urban life, television included, it is the ultimate camping trip minus all the associated

be put through her paces on Lake Iseo in Lombardy, Italy.

inconveniences. ‘More eco than ego,’ as Thun succinctly puts it. Perhaps, like Vigilius, not egocentric, successful brands invariably have a strong personality that pervades all they do. Some have even become a form of currency in certain places. Bellavista, the producer of Italy’s finest sparkling wine, is a good example. Situated to the sun-kissed west of the Franciacorta zone, its wines compete with Reims’ finest. The glacial soil here is stony and perfect for the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes that go into Franciacorta. Winemaker Mattia Vezzola’s special cuvée is produced in limited quantities and is lauded as a Gran

Cuvée of matchless quality. Indeed, the only other region whose bubbles enjoy such distinction is Champagne. The ancient metodo tradizionale technique of using small barrels gives the Chardonnay grapes a distinctive feminine edge, while the labour-intensive process of riddling (remuage in French) to which the bottles are subjected daily, produces a persistent creamy mousse, a fine strawyellow hue and a bouquet reminiscent of peach blossom, honey and hazelnuts. Rather than forcing nature, the attraction of Bellavista’s Franciacorta is that it works with the secrets of its surroundings, so that the poetry of the land is revealed in the pleasure of the toast.

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Photographs: BMW group, riva 1920, vigilius mountain resort, bbg / harry abfalterer, riva yachts / ferretti group

A shared authenticity

BMW’s new eco-friendly 5

Photographs: BMW group, riva 1920, vigilius mountain resort, bbg / harry abfalterer, riva yachts / ferretti group

Series, the ActiveHybrid 5, is

While consistency of message is vital to the way in which a brand connects with the consumer, it also needs to relate on an emotional level. Celebrated architect Dame Zaha Hadid understands this concept implicitly. The award-winning Iraqi-British architect designed BMW’s striking factory in Leipzig, Germany, as well as the landmark ski jump on the Bergisel mountain, an important Austrian landmark used in both the 1964 and 1976 Olympic Games. A structural masterpiece that balances towering concrete with steelentwined negative space, the visionary construction seamlessly integrates a ski ramp and lifts with a café over some 40 metres of the Bergisel, providing an unparalleled vantage point from which to enjoy alpine landscapes while watching athletes fly over the Innsbruck skyline. Providing spectacular views of the town below, the tower’s iconic silhouette extends the topography of the ski slope into the sky above. Equally sculptural and visually arresting, the Zagato Coupé is the result of a oneoff collaboration between BMW and famed Italian coachbuilder Zagato. BMW’s decision to introduce the world to its extraordinary new automobile on the banks of Lake Como was no spontaneous quirk. It is here, in the gardens of the palatial 500-year-old Grand Hotel Villa d’Este, overlooking the famous glacial lake in Cernobbio, Italy, that the Concorsa d’Eleganza, an annual exhibition of the world’s most coveted classic and concept cars, is staged. Indeed, celebrated pianist Franz Liszt could well have been

referring to the marriage between BMW and Zagato when he penned the words, ‘When you write the story of two happy lovers, let the story be set on the banks of Lake Como.’ While the Zagato inevitably demonstrates the persistence of BMW’s age-old pledge of excellence, the superbrand knows better than to simply rest on its credentials. Reinvention and flexibility, it understands, are key to brand sustainability. While the company has at its foundation a clearly defined, well activated brand strategy, BMW also, importantly, has an intimate understanding of its customers’ needs and an ability to anticipate their desires. In the same way that the aforementioned premium brands appreciate their clients’ concern for protecting the earth’s natural assets, so BMW Group shares a commitment to enhancing environmental sustainability and energy efficiency. Its ActiveHybrid 5 illustrates the point perfectly. Merging past and future, the ActiveHybrid 5 sees the traditional build quality that defines BMW meet the very latest in hybrid technology. Forwardleaning kidney grilles, a low horizontal grille and wheel arches synchronise with the rear of the car to create a lithe, perfectly integrated aerodynamic design. Adrian van Hooydonk, Head of Design at BMW, puts great store in quality and innovation and points out how the vehicle’s hybrid technology combines exceptional performance with emissionfree electronic mobility. These, then, are the flashpoints between tradition and modernism – and common to all of the world’s most celebrated

the first BMW hybrid model to be introduced in South Africa.

brands is the ability to balance heritage with foresight; to stay true to original time-tested values but still constantly innovate and always to be relevant. Given the ease with which the group is able to embrace change and move

effortlessly with the times, it’s no wonder that BMW South Africa has retained its title of Coolest Corporate Citizen in the Sunday Times Generation Next Brand Survey 2012. On receiving the award, Bodo Donauer, Managing Director of BMW South Africa, possibly summed up the secret to the brand’s durability better than anyone else: ‘BMW has become far more to South Africans than simply a manufacturer of vehicles.’ Publisher Barbara Lenhard joined the 2012 SA BMW EuroStyle Tour.

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The lineage of luxury Lineage, rare materials, craftsmanship and peerless customer service are what set luxury brands apart.

Key to the longevity of iconic luxury brands is that they seek out new innovations while preserving their heritage. by Silvana Bottega

he grand maisons of luxury stand tall and proud on the highestpriced retail frontage in the world, from New and Old Bond Streets in London, Avenue Montaigne and Rue du Faubourg St. Honoré in Paris, Stoleshinkov Lane in Moscow, Via Montenapoleone in Milan and Via Condotti in Rome, across Nanjing Xi Lu and on the Bund in Shanghai through to Fifth Avenue in New York. Over time, the near holy names of Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Chanel, Breguet, Cartier, Tiffany & Co, Bottega Veneta, Ferrari, Patek Philippe, Krug and Balvenie among others have secured their place in history as exemplars of unrivalled quality that warrant being conserved across generations. They forge together the future and the past – looking forward by investing in innovation and cutting-edge materials while respecting and preserving the exemplary savoir-faire garnered in the past – to retain market share and continue to resonate with clients seeking a repertoire of timeless collectibles that are rare, exceptional and authentic. To understand the value of luxury lineage, one only needs to look at the example of Tiffany & Co. In 1851, it was the first to

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adopt the 92.5-percent silver standard that has endured as the industry benchmark. Its trademark Tiffany diamond setting, created in 1886, resulted in one of the most revered engagement rings to date. Today its designers recognise that crucial to the brand’s lasting lustre is the longevity of the Tiffany & Co name and, by association, the intellectual property of its products – including its new Rubedo, a rose-coloured metal alloy appreciated as an accessible ‘rose gold’ by the ever-consuming East. Beyond an exclusive brand image, luxury value is based on intrinsic rarity – incorporating materials that are either distinctive or truly scarce, such as fine leathers or hued diamonds of exceptional size and brilliance, and lacking in flaws. Luxury brands equally hold dear the importance of craftsmanship and the need to preserve age-old skills that utilise the most rare item of all: time. The labourintensive craftsmanship gives rise to products of exceptional quality that elicit an emotional response from devotees of these marques who appreciate that they are buying an object of lasting worth. In recent years luxury brands have also been valued on the extent of their

Long histories of quality and style mean top brands trade on the value of their

The Southern Africa Luxury Association aims to establish a solid foundation for the luxury and premium lifestyle industries in South Africa. It encourages interaction, provides industry

insight

and

debate,

facilitates

networking and fosters collaboration between businesses in luxury and wealth management that target affluent clientele.

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distribution. Once cherished for being unique and ‘only available there’, luxury has commercialised an ever-greater array of limited editions, available wherever you may be. Harrods is perhaps one of the few large retail stores that still places a value on being sold ‘Exclusively at Harrods’ – not surprising as its ethos has always been about giving access to a whole new world of exclusivity. Renowned jeweller, Joel Arthur Rosenthal (JAR) in Paris is one of the few who has single-store distribution and holds true to absolute ultra-exclusivity,

limited distribution and silent branding. An unnamed door, no advertising and yet this master of jewels boasts a client list that includes royal dignitaries and the connoisseur following of Ann Getty, Mary Pinault and Jo Carole Lauder. Outside of a few exceptions like these, most mega luxury businesses are focused on global presence with operational and retail distribution efficiencies. Hand-in-hand with unparalleled product experience goes peerless customer service. In South Africa, at the annual SALA Wealth Summit hosted by the Southern Africa Luxury Association, heads of business explored how on the African continent the affluent elite are embracing a new era where they were being enticed, educated and emotionally inspired by luxury brand experiences and events. It was also found that, while traditionally, luxury brands in Africa had lagged in service-led engagement, a more competitive marketplace now means service is playing a greater role. When investing in luxury, affluent consumers the world over are buying a signature of excellence – a story of lineage – that is expected to consistently perform at both the product, service and experience level. According to The Luxury Institute, a New York-based independent research consultancy, 57 percent of high net-worth consumers identify superior service as a defining quality of luxury. Key to the success of leading luxury groups, says Institute CEO Milton Pedraza, is the shift in mindset that luxury champions must create compelling experiences that ‘out-behave – not just outperform – the competition’.

Photographs: greatstock / corbis, carlton davis / tiffany & co.

well-established names.

Photographs: greatstock / corbis, carlton davis / tiffany & co.

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A league Open Air of for Generations rare vintage Founded by old-wine specialist Malene Meisner, The White Club provides access to illustrious cellars like Romanée-Conti and Petrus Pomerol.

The White Club was designed for a breed of fine-wine and Champagne connoisseurs who belong in a league apart. by Jocelyn Warrington

n the world of the uncommon and elusive, exceptional wine stakes an indisputable claim. Rare is the breed of connoisseur, then, who is truly adept at appreciating – and celebrating – the hedonistic virtues of the vine. These gifted individuals, allied through a mutual passion for the finest of vintages, form the core of The White Club, a private member-owned society wholly dedicated to the enjoyment of remarkable wine and Champagne in the company of like-minded devotees. Access to this extraordinary league of gentlemen and women is by invitation only and exclusivity is assured by way of a strict policy of limited numbers and an annual membership fee starting from €15 000. More than simply intent on capturing the imaginations – and palates – of serious collectors and investors, The White Club strives to share with its members that magical moment when a great bottle of wine is uncorked. This it does through a series of private tastings held at venues handpicked from among the most distinguished on the planet and catered to by the world’s top chefs. The wines enjoyed at these glittering black-tie events include such high-

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calibre rarities as the Dom Pérignon Rosé 1959, widely recognised as the scarcest of the world’s Champagnes, the famous “shipwrecked” 1907 Heidsieck, and the most elusive of the Romanée-Conti vintages, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 1923, not to mention the incomparable Château Lafleur 1947, Château Mouton Rothschild 1945 and Château d’Yquem 1921, among other top-tier greats. Impressive to say the least, these wines are expertly chosen and sourced by Malene Meisner. Arguably the most skilled (and undoubtedly the most well-travelled) woman in the world of wine today, it was Meisner who, together with club president, Danish wine connoisseur Rene Dehn, founded The White Club. Sommelier-trained and boasting a track record that includes a phenomenal 10 tastings of the legendary Château Petrus Pomerol 1961, three each of the 1907 Heidsieck and Mouton Rothschild 1945 and two of the Dom Pérignon Rosé 1959, Meisner has hosted more than 50 of the largest and rarest wine tastings in the world. Both professionally and in a private capacity, old vintages are her true love and she has an extensive personal collection of

Champagnes and fine wines from which she frequently pulls a rare gem for sharing with privileged club members. Indeed, sharing is at the heart of Meisner’s wineappreciation theory and the enjoyment of an exceptional fine wine inseparable, in her view, from the company and setting in which it is imbibed. In keeping with this philosophy, then, when the club’s members assembled in Prague for a tasting of rare old Bordeaux and Burgundy wines, the awardwinning Restaurant Le Terroir provided a fitting venue. Michelin-starred Czech chef Jan Puncochar created a multicourse culinary masterpiece designed specifically to complement the distinctive rose and violet, truffle and leather aromas of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 1960 and the oriental spice-box flavours of Château Petrus 2001, to name but a few of the vinous attractions. No less spectacular was the Champagne flight of perfect-condition Krug de Mesnil 1989, Salon 1982 and La Tâche 1951 held in snow-clad Helsinki, nor the tastings in Hong Kong of Château Petrus 1945, Château Lafleur 1947 and Château Lafite 1953. In Copenhagen, a pair of Michelin-starred chefs demonstrated their gastronomic wizardry while awardwinning rapper Kanye West wowed guests with a private concert. Without question, however, the true stars of the show were a rare Dom Pérignon Rosé 1959, Château Petrus 1945 and Château Latour 1961. When South Africa recently played host to a highly anticipated tasting of The White Club’s sought-after First Growth wines, the elegant Dining Library at The Saxon

in Johannesburg, recipient for the last six years of the World’s Leading Boutique Hotel accolade, provided the setting for a seven-course French-inspired tour de force in which each dish was impeccably matched to wines hailing from France, Italy, Spain, Australia, the United States and South Africa. At every level of tasting, no detail was overlooked – even the wineglasses, over 400 of them made from ultra-fine lead-free glass, were imported for the occasion – with the result that those assembled were treated to a tasting of unsurpassed professionalism focused on the sharing, in equal quantities, of knowledge and pleasure. Indeed, as a destination for the 10 to 12 private tastings The White Club holds annually, South Africa has fast become a favourite among members. In addition to the Saxon, the majestic Delaire Graff Estate in the Cape Winelands as well as the exotic Taj Cape Town hotel at the base of Table Mountain have played host to these exclusive events, with more scheduled to come. As an extension of Meisner’s insistence that a fine wine is only as enjoyable as the experience of its drinking, The White Club has also introduced to its members the opportunity to host tailored dinner parties of their own invention – a chance to entertain non-member friends or business associates at the venue of their choosing, complete with a private chef, bespoke wine list and a fine- and rare-wine specialist to inform (and entertain) guests. Among the other unique benefits of membership to The White Club is unlimited use of The White Club Concierge, a

Key to The White Club’s wine-appreciation philosophy is the belief that the enjoyment of an exceptional vintage is inseparable from the company, setting and ambience in which it is shared.

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A league of rare vintage The White Club is the world’s most exclusive society for connoisseurs of rare fine wine and Champagne.

Considered among the most sought-after in the world, First Growth wines were initially classified as such in Bordeaux, where wine brokers ranked châteaux according to reputation and price. While the original First Growths comprised the legendary LafiteRothschild, Latour, Margaux, Haut-Brion and Mouton-Rothschild, today the term refers to any standout wine of exceptional quality. The White Club’s exclusive First Growth series, which features faultless gems from Europe,

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A technical expert, lifestyle assistant and bespoke wine and Champagne investment partner all in one, The White Club Concierge effectively provides members with the ultimate in personalised service at any time of the day or night, whether they are at home or abroad. The goal, in one word, is perfection and, like the singular men and women who comprise The White Club’s exclusive membership, the Concierge operates according to the same exacting standards as those for whom mediocrity is not an option; connoisseurs, in other words, who appreciate the difference between the ordinary and the truly extraordinary. For membership enquiries or for more information contact The White Club at concierge@league-people.com or visit www.thewhiteclub.com

Australia and the US, now also includes six South African megastars: MR de Compostella 2008, Vergelegen V 2007, Villafonté Series M 2009, Waterford Estate The Jem 2007, Epicurean 2006 and Columella 2009. This distinguished collection was introduced at a series of high-end tastings held in the country and garnered huge admiration from the assembled glitterati of the wine world. It is now being introduced to fine-wine lovers around the world.

Photographs: courtesy the white club

personalised wine and Champagne partner dedicated to providing incomparable investment advice, provenance checks and exclusive access to the coveted collections of the world’s most prestigious cellars, often at prices significantly lower than those tendered on auction. Recognising, too, that its members qualify as true global citizens, and taking its cue from the rarefied world of luxury travel, The White Club Concierge also functions as an indispensable travelling companion, providing information on everything from destination-specific dining and entertainment to insight on local culture. Strategic partnerships, meanwhile, give club members access to over 2 200 highend venues in more than 100 countries worldwide, and efficient service is assured by way of a personal code that provides a seamless method of contacting staff.

Photographs: courtesy the white club

Shaping our world A respect for the relationship between space and place is evident in architect Stefan Antoni’s Bantry Bay home.

A new generation of South African architects is at the very forefront of international design and is being asked to turn plum plots around the world into head-turning showpieces. by Laura Twiggs

f garnering international awards, winning world-wide competitions and scooping the highest-profile global tenders are anything to go by, a new breed of South African architect is now easily on the frontline of innovative contemporary design. The projects that have put these architects there span multi-million-dollar blue-chip tourist developments to groundbreaking residential homes everywhere from South America to the Seychelles and New York to Nigeria. And while the acclaim and fame may seem sudden, it’s actually been a long time coming. The architectural philosophy and design sensibility manifest in the recent slew of big-name, huge-kudos projects far from South Africa’s shores can be traced back to architect Dr Gabriël Fagan and the practice he started in Cape Town in 1964. Fagan has been responsible for too many projects to mention, but among his most notable achievements is the restoration of some 200 South African historical buildings, including the Cape Town Castle. Unlike the other architects discussed here (and there are a good many more equally deserving), Fagan may not

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claim credit for palatial international architectural eye candy, but his 2009 American Institute of Architects (AIA) lifetime honorary fellowship and medal for lifetime achievement in architecture was a watershed. It placed him on a par with such Modernist icons as Frank Gehry, Frank Lloyd Wright and Philip Johnson, the designer who coined the phrase ‘The International Style’. For, while Fagan’s early beginnings and phrases like ‘historical buildings’ and ‘lifetime achievement’ might suggest a traditional, if not old-fashioned, approach, nothing could be further from the truth. His contribution to the development of the entire Modernist project is only now fully being appreciated – and made more remarkable given his South Africaspecific portfolio. In 2008, the year before Fagan walked off with the world’s highest architectural accolade, Arthur Baker explained: ‘The epitome of universal Modern architecture is the Miesian glass box where … [a] direct, monotonous and often climatically unsuitable relationship is established between space and place with little

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Shaping our world

The curved roof of VDMMA’s Mountain House takes its cue from the Table Mountain cliffs above. SAOTA has a name for luxurious living spaces.

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mediation between inner and outer worlds. … Fagan has noted that thermal mass is essential for comfortable living … and that the glass box is not suitable for [the Cape’s] setting. To mediate the concerns of a comfortable indoor environment, external connection and thresholds, Fagan uses a series of spatial, experiential and formal approaches....’ It was this that singled Fagan out: his total commitment to inspiration by context, and his signature style – a fusion of modern and traditional, regional vernaculars. In the words of Stefan Antoni, perhaps South Africa’s most internationally-recognised architect today, ‘Fagan captured contemporary regionalism at its best: the spirit of a particular place interpreted through poetic and timeless architectural solutions.’ Fagan lists his on-going ‘primary concerns’ as ‘designing buildings to suit

the site, working with weather constraints, orientation, topography, context, views, and human scale’ – and of course, this is relevant to a context far broader than either Cape Town or South Africa. It’s exactly the sort of thinking one would wish informed any half-way successful plans intended for similarly punishing climates. It may not have meant much in Paris, New York or London before the advent of the global village, but wouldn’t you wish for such consideration for your idyllic stand of unspoiled land along, say, the Peruvian Coast, or on a remote tropical island, not to mention that pristine bushveld in hottest, humid, darkest Africa? Where would be the joy in your superlative expression of steeland-glass Modernism if it did not take on board the climatic relationship between space and place in, say, the Okavango Delta? Or India? Anywhere, in fact, that’s not an extension of an ‘Old First World’? It’s not hard to see why these considerations have become the foundation on which everything we currently understand about responsible, eco-aware design rests – and especially not when one focuses on the very top end of the world property market’s demand for new, untrammelled private and exclusive sanctuaries. But it’s not just about privilege. In design as in everything, today’s social and cultural climate prioritises the principles of sustainability, environmental sensitivity, authenticity and integrity. Today the global environmental message is low impact, with emphasis placed on giving back to the local community, developing skills and providing jobs. And

A strong respect for context and exclusive, elegant and sensual design are buzzwords for Cape Town practice, SOATA.

while the rest of the world is only now grappling with and hastily attempting to adopt this intellectual framework, Fagan’s metaphoric ‘sons’ and ‘daughters’ learnt it at their father’s knee. The obvious place to pick up on Faganinfluenced, cutting-edge South African architects is with GAPP, if only for its remarkable restoration work to Ellerman House, now one of Cape Town’s most lauded historical landmarks and the boutique hotel of choice for the likes of Oprah and Elton John. (To give an idea of the scope of GAPP’s work, bear in mind that it’s the team behind Tinapa, a worldclass integrated business and leisure resort on the Calabar River in Nigeria.) GAPP was commissioned to convert the old Ellerman House, a 1912 Edwardian

perched above the Atlantic in Bantry Bay, into an upmarket guest house and later, to create an adjacent villa for the owners. The brief included the requirement that guests should always ‘feel part of the view’, and this Fagan-esque directive has been more than realised. GAPP has ensured that sweeping views are inescapable: ‘balustrades’ are sheets of tempered glass and everything from temperature control to drawing curtains is just a click away. The crowning achievement, though, is that while the original character of the building has been preserved, it’s now overlaid with a modernist architectural style and a combined sense of place, history and context that’s unsurpassed. On the further end of the internationallyrecognised Fagan-influenced examples,

it’s hard to beat OMM Design Workshop’s Andrew Makin and Janina Masojada. Their Singita Lebombo and Sweni lodges in the Greater Kruger National Park consistently walk off with top honours and are among the most desirable game lodges in the world. Made of wood, steel and glass, both Lebombo and Sweni employ Modernism’s vernacular while introducing natural interruptions in the form of trees rising up between the slats of viewing decks and trunk-like textures on interior walls. But don’t imagine these creative minds shine only in the bushveld environment: the same ethos and this ‘wow’ yet sensitive style pervades all of their work, including the far-from-bush setting of their superexclusive design for Ilha Quisiva Island Sanctuary in Mozambique.

This integration of exterior natural and interior built environments is a family trait among the new vanguard of South African architects, as if part of the DNA of its designs. For these architects, learning from Fagan’s commitment to inspiration by context renders words like ‘incorporate’, ‘include’ or ‘conjoin’ meaningless when it comes to the relationship between the natural environment of the site (think rocks or trees) and the form, material and experience of the built space. Natural additions aren’t afterthoughts or pretty features. They are so digested and assimilated into the most nascent conceptualisation that, in some cases, they systematise the entire design. One such case is The Tree House in Cape Town, designed by VDMMA’s Anya van der Merwe Miszewski and Macio Miszewski, whose other projects include the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

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Van der Merwe is also a recipient of the AIA’s lifetime honorary fellowship and medal for lifetime achievement in architecture, and borrowing from Antoni’s description of Fagan, her and Miszewski’s work, too, interprets the spirit of a place ‘through poetic and timeless architectural solutions’. Taking the surrounding pine trees as their structural concept and primary reference, Van der Merwe and Miszewski used five tree-like structures to anchor the roof of this home to the ground and provide shelter for the functions gathered under it. These trees are surrounded by an entirely separate lightweight, transparent steel and glass enclosure supported on a heavily rusticated stone base. This extraordinary residence is such a masterful example of contextual responsiveness and connectivity that it was among the very first South African designs to gain ‘star status’. It won a World Architecture Award

for best built residential project in 2001 and announced that the days when South Africa was an architectural nonentity or worse, a design backwater, were over. It would, however, be misleading to imagine that all of South Africa’s leading architectural lights prioritise context quite as radically as The Tree House or Singita. For Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects (SOATA) – probably the most ‘famous’ of them all, particularly for several showpiece homes in South Africa’s über-exclusive suburbs – there may be ‘a strong respect for context’ but it does not take precedence over ‘exclusive, elegant

Sophisticated, original design is a guiding principle for architect Nick Plewman, who designed Marataba in the Waterberg.

GAPP designed Ellerman Villa to maximise its ocean views. Enrico Daffonchio’s The Outpost reveals the integrity of its structural elements.

and sensual design’. This is as true of Antoni’s massive international projects, like the Seychelles’ Miska Resort Estate, as it is of his own Cape Town home. That SOATA’s sister company, OKHA interiors, matches its architectural design with interior décor and furnishing, only adds to the ‘finest of the first world’ factor. Described as ‘a work of contemporary architectural art’ that ‘floats up into the sky’, massively-desirable Miska is understated. Its 50 residences rest on stilts to lower their environmental impact and utilise green energy systems like solar water heating and photovoltaic panels. But Miska isn’t made extraordinary by such energy-efficient and sustainable innovations. These innovations are another strand in current South African architecture’s DNA and unassailable proof that designers from Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town aren’t just enjoying ‘flavour of the month’ status. Their new place at the international creative helm has been forged on projects like Miska, in far-flung destinations. In terms of eco-awareness in South African architecture, it’s impossible not to mention Enrico Daffonchio, despite his having been born in Italy. He’s a firm believer that proportion, light and colour affect people’s moods and part of his design ethos is to show building materials and structural elements with integrity, as graphic and sculptural patterns. He’s also passionate about the broader effects that buildings have on the environment – evident through his several groundbreaking residential homes, inner-city projects and multiple award-winning

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Shaping our world

Dr Gabriël Fagan has been credited with advancing the Modernist project through his total commitment to

commercial work at sites of ecological sensitivity – The Cradle Restaurant at The Cradle of Humankind (a World Heritage Site) and The Outpost in the Kruger National Park are his best known. House Samios in Westcliff, Johannesburg, features turf roofs, and most of his designs include several or all of passive solar design, photovoltaic electricity, evaporative cooling, solar underfloor heating, rain-water harvesting, solar geysers and embodied energy systems. No less pioneering is husband and wife team Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens of INK Design Lab, whose notable projects

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include Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Makalali Bush Camp and the Seychelles’ North Island. INK’s philosophy is ‘design based in nature’, and the couple takes this ideal a step further than most by living on site for entire projects. They also include in the process the transfer of skills to the local communities from their core team of builders (North Island’s villas were all handcrafted on the island from wood, local stone and ‘alang alang’ thatch). In similar vein is Nick Plewman Architects, responsible for more international tourist developments than any other. (Among the finest are Pashan Garh Wilderness Camp in India, Mnemba Island Lodge on Zanzibar, Xaranna Tented Safari Camp in the Okavango Delta and Lake Manyara Tree Lodge in Tanzania.) Plewman lists his guiding principles as ‘uncompromising ecological responsibility’, ‘sophisticated, original design’, ‘energy neutrality and

sustainable resourcing’ alongside ‘deriving style from aesthetic integrity that refrains from cliché, waste and wantonness’ and ‘respecting tradition while exploring the dynamic opportunities of modernism and technology’. His firm, too, takes up opportunities to uplift local communities – for example, at Pashan Garh it drew on the local building tradition of dry packed stone, and at Mnemba, it made use of traditional crafts and materials. The respect-worthy global reach enjoyed by South African architects at present shows no signs of slowing. If anything, all indicators suggest these designers are merely beginning to take their place as not only celebrated design players, but more importantly, as instrumental shapers of our future world – through their exemplary philosophical and aesthetic sensibilities as much as through their concrete achievements.

Photographs: saota, hunter hotels, ellerman house, gabriel fagan architects

inspiration by context.

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Back to the bean

The demanding artisan chocolate movement demands perfection in every step from precious bean to glossy bar. by Nikki Werner

Back to the bean

hen it broke, the chocolate made a clean, satisfying snap that all superior chocolate should. On the nose it released the deep, mysterious aromas associated with Cluedo-style libraries of pipe-smoke and leather-bound books: tobacco, wood, caramel… In flavour it imparted a fruit intensity that alluded to a summer’s afternoon in the Black Forest: the sweettart play of ripe black cherries. All of this from a single-origin slab that was part of a tutored tasting – a São Tomé 70% cacao bar made with Forastero beans from the west coast of Africa. It was lined up – along with other squares made in the Cape Winelands by the De Villiers family of DV Artisan Chocolates – next to a wheel demarcating flavour ranges such as ‘Earthy’ or ‘Roasted’. If it sounds like wine tasting, there are similarities. Paul Richardson writes, in his book Indulgence: One Man’s Selfless Search for the Best Chocolate In The World, that ‘Scientists, in their wisdom, tell us that cacao as a substance may contain as many as four hundred identified aroma chemicals, to say nothing of the unidentified ones.’ It’s because of this that the smell of chocolate may remind us of anything ‘from woodsmoke and hazelnuts to plums, dried apricots, orange peel, nutmeg and roses,’ he adds. That is, if it’s made right. DV aims to offer the full expression of chocolate, ‘from spiciness to full-bodied fruitiness’, by not only sourcing five of the best cocoa bean varieties but roasting them at its Cape Dutch-style headquarters to develop the optimal flavour profile of

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The leathery fruit of the

Theobroma cacao delivers the large seeds or beans from which cocoa butter is extracted.

each one. Just as a winemaker’s skill lies in the ability to coax out the qualities of a particular grape, the same goes for a chocolate maker and cocoa beans. While a chocolatier is a professional skilled in the art of making bon-bons, truffles and pralines, the chocolate maker is the person who purchases the cocoa beans, roasts them, grinds the nibs, adds sugar and conches them to create the chocolate needed for these creations. There are chocolatiers the world over but very few chocolate-makers who succeed in the art of creating their own outstanding brand of chocolate. When

Pieter de Villiers, owner of DV, explains his process, he emphasises that flavour begins with the bean and the soils but fermentation (on the plantation) further develops flavours precursors. At this stage only acidity and earthiness are discernible as the chocolate aromas are released through roasting. ‘We try to optimise every bean for its profile,’ says Pieter who, because he’s working such a variable raw material, tastes and tweaks every single roast. Conching further develops flavour, aeration mellows it and his chocolate is then aged for one month after making it – again like wine. Making chocolate from scratch is complicated (each bean is different), not to mention costly (machinery, storage, space, risk and losses), but it gives

Chocolate makers create the raw material from which

ultimate control. The artisan chocolatemaker knows exactly where the beans come from and whether they’re ethically sourced. He or she can manipulate and fine-tune the flavour compounds inherent in that heart-shaped pod that is the cocoa bean, and can determine what is added or omitted in the final product. Just consider the South African companies making their own chocolate. DV can proudly guarantee authentic ingredients, namely pure cocoa butter that has not been bulked with vegetable fat. Cape Town-based Honest Chocolate can eliminate emulsifiers for a texture that melts on the tongue. Chocolate by Tomes, based at the V&A Waterfront, can make an African Origin Chocolate

by prioritising west African cocoa, Madagascan vanilla and South African sugar. Cocoa Fair, operating from a factory near the Old Biscuit Mill in Cape Town’s Woodstock, can ensure that everything that goes into its asymmetrical slabs is one hundred percent organic. And for purists, what could be better than producing chocolate at source. There has always been a disconnect between the cocoa beans grown in hot-climate countries and the chocolate these beans are used to produce in cold-climate countries, but Madagascan chocolate company Madécasse is committed to changing that. The cocoa-bean mark it imprints on each block of its chocolate is a subtle reminder that the chocolate is

chocolatiers craft the sweet treats so loved the world over.

made in the same country as where the cocoa beans are harvested. Madécasse endeavours to make chocolate that not only rivals the finest in Europe, but that is Fair Trade in the extreme. It ensures farmers get paid a fair price for their beans, invests in the local community and keeps every part of the chocolate-making process in Madagascar. As Madécasse points out, ‘Seventy percent of the world’s cocoa comes from Africa. Less than one percent of chocolate is made there.’ Most of the beans may come from Africa, but the best in the world are said to come from Chuao in Venezuela. From these, Alessio and Cecila Tessieri, the brother and sister team behind Tuscan chocolate house Amedei, have crafted a slab that both Parisian pastry genius Pierre Hermé and culinary icon Ferran Adrià have called the world’s greatest chocolate. The Tessieris have won the ‘Golden Bean’ award in the ‘bean to bar’ category for four consecutive years. Back in France, Bernachon is one of just a handful of chocolate-making chocolatiers So in demand is the Bernachon signature Palet d’Or, flecked with real gold and filled with the smoothest ganache, that it doesn’t even make it into the display cabinets before it’s snapped up by the chocolate-lovers who travel to Bernachon’s Lyon store and A l’Etoile d’Or in Paris especially to taste it. The home of milk chocolate has to be Switzerland and it was Swiss Rodolphe

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Back to the bean

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his mentor when he started Von Geusau Chocolates in the small Western Cape town of Greyton. Known for his topquality slabs in subtle flavours such as Earl Grey, Crème Brûlée and Masala Chai, Richard personally writes all the labels in his own script. Visit his factory and inevitably his desk will be covered with foiled-wrapped slabs neatly stacked according to colour. A chocolatier who writes every label by hand adds a unique, personal touch in our mass-produced age – as do those who are passionate enough to craft their creations all the way from bean to bar.

WHERE COCOA BEANS ARE GROWN Côte d’Ivoire 1 230 000 tons

34.7%

Ghana

730 000 tons

20.6%

Indonesia

490 000 tons

13.8%

Cameroon

210 000 tons

5.9%

Nigeria

210 000 tons

5.9%

Brazil

165 000 tons

4.7%

Ecuador

130 000 tons

3.7%

Malaysia

32 000 tons

0.9%

Two African nations, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, together produce more than half the world‘s cocoa beans!

The Sprüngli chocolate factory dates back to 1845. It merged with Lindt in 1899 to become one of the top names in Swiss chocolate.

Photographs: Greatstock / corbis, lindt sprüngli

Tortes. For the more advanced, there are even demonstrations on how to make decorations by tempering chocolate. Tempering involves smearing swathes of melted chocolate across a heat-absorbing surface, like marble, and scraping it into a decorative shape with a beautiful sheen and deliciously crisp snap. It is a process that is now mostly mechanised, but Honest Chocolate prides itself on hand tempering on a granite table-top in its Wale Street store – as well as handdipping every single one of its truffles. While making your own chocolate certainly has its advantages, there are many chocolatiers who have made a meaningful contribution using boughtin couverture. Take multi-award-winning Barcelona-based Oriol Balaguer, who has elevated his craft to high art with everything from sculptural pieces to an avant-garde chocolate-coated caramelised popcorn lolly. His Collection 4 comprises chocolate renditions of the cocoa bean in hues of passionate red, and features flavours such as crispy mandarin praline, rose truffle and yuzu. Then there’s Chantal Coady, who opened her chocolate shop Rococo on London’s King’s Road in the early 1980s to educate the world about ‘real’ chocolate. Her whimsical creations, which include salted-caramel chocolate ‘raviolis’ earned her the title of Chocolatier of the Year in 2011. Fittingly, the Academy of Chocolate also awarded Coady a Lifetime Achievement Award for changing the way people think about chocolate. Certainly it was Chantal Coady who chocolatier Richard von Geusau chose as

Source: Wikipedia

Lindt - founder of the eponymous chocolate house – who invented one of the greatest contributions to chocolate. Lindt discovered a way of grinding cocoa particles so incredibly finely that only a luxurious creaminess was discernible on the tongue, a process known as conching. Lindt, the brand, has made a mark in South Africa with Chocolate Studios offering training to all levels of chocolate lovers, from classes teaching children how to make Easter eggs to lessons in mastering the art of Les Grande Tarts and

Photographs: Greatstock / corbis, lindt spr端ngli

A legacy of lithe grace A woman with distinctive flair, Jeanne Toussaint took Cartier’s jewellery department to new heights. One of her most famous pieces is the diamond and sapphire panther brooch made for the Duchess of Windsor.

Cartier’s iconic panther motif owes much to the exotic panache of its decades-long director of fine jewellery, Jeanne Toussaint. by Toni Muir

symbol of feline elegance but also of wild, dangerous power, the beautiful panther has become synonymous with Cartier, the luxury jewellery brand that rendered it in precious metals and sparkling stones for the 20th century’s elite. The jungle cat’s lithe form first slunk onto the scene almost a century ago, in 1914, through a drawing, used to illustrate a Cartier exhibition card, that was commissioned from the great French illustrator George Barbier. In the same year, its distinctive spots also appeared on the face of a wristwatch, decorated in diamonds and onyx. But it was when the flamboyant and style-setting Jeanne Toussaint took on the role of Cartier’s Director of Fine Jewellery in the early 1930s, that it really leapt to power. Born in 1887 to a Belgian lace-making family, Jeanne moved to Paris in her late teens, at the height of the Belle Epoque, where she mixed with many of the fashionable artists, musicians and designers of early 20th century France. In 1918 she met Louis Cartier who, together with his brothers Jacques and Pierre, had built up the Cartier brand

Opulent Living

– founded by their grandfather LouisFrançois Cartier 1847 – into one of the great names in jewellery. Louis was struck by Jeanne’s charm and inventiveness, as well as her knowledge of the decorative arts, and invited her to join the firm’s accessories department. A contemporary of Coco Chanel, Jeanne had a similar flair – and a style that was chic but exotic. She liked to wear Indianstyle turbans paired with silk evening pyjamas adorned with long strings of pearls. Her strong affinity to the jungle cat, coupled with her lithe beauty, indomitable spirit and independent nature, earned her the nickname ‘The Panther’. Jeanne was named Director of Fine Jewellery at Cartier in 1933 and, with her characteristic panache, wasted no time in channelling all her creative energy into developing the department, moving it away from abstract Art Deco designs and into more figurative, nature-inspired pieces. She gained much respect for her fresh eye, natural instincts and famous ‘Toussaint Taste’, and is credited with modernising jewellery through her novel use of simple shapes, indulgent colours and imaginative ways of wearing different

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The first Cartier panther design, this 1914 wristwatch features jungle-cat markings in diamonds and onyx.

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pieces. She invented the jewellery clip and championed yellow gold and Indianstyled enamelled jewellery, which she sourced from Delhi. She worked closely with Cartier designer Peter Lemarchand, whose sensitivity and vigorous lines she both admired and trusted. A graduate of l’école Boulle, Peter possessed keen powers of observation, honed through the countless hours he spent at Paris’s Vincennes zoo. His sketches had a softness and a wonderful sense of movement – traits that were magnificently captured by the Cartier craftsmen and gem-setters. Some of the pair’s early whimsical designs included delicate ladybirds and exotic parrots and flamingoes. They became famous for their ‘caged bird’ brooch, designed in 1940 to symbolise occupied France. The red-white-and-blue bird (made of diamonds, lapis lazuli and coral) in its gold cage was prominently displayed in the window of Cartier’s Paris store. At the end of the war, they created L’Oiseau Libre, which shows the cage door open and the bird singing. But it was Jeanne’s love affair with great cats that took centre stage and truly set her apart. Legend has it that, on a trip to Africa with Louis Cartier, she spotted a panther and exclaimed: ‘Onyx, diamonds, emeralds – a brooch’. Certainly, she made this cat wildly fashionable, not just through her jewellery but through a stream of personal accessories ranging from powder compacts to cigarette cases. Jeanne had a private salon at Cartier’s rue de la Paix boutique and here, in sensational splendour on the first floor,

she advised the world’s elegant elite. Among her ardent supporters were the Duchess of Windsor, Mexican actress María Félix, fashion editor Daisy Fellowes, heiress Barbara Woolworth Hutton and Princess Nina Aga Khan. The Duchess of Windsor was the first to acquire a Panthère clip, ordered for her by her generous husband, the Duke of Windsor, in 1948. The brooch – believed to be the first production of a threedimensional panther – featured a cat in yellow gold with black enamel spots, the magnificent beast crouched on top of a 90-carat emerald cabochon. Just one year later, the Windsors ordered another, even more magnificent, panther brooch. Made of platinum, it is encrusted in diamonds, with sapphire spots and glittering yellow-diamond eyes, and reclines on a sapphire cabochon weighing more than 152 carats. (Cartier re-purchased this famous piece at a charity auction in 1987 and it now forms part of the Cartier Collection.) The Duchess of Windsor added to her bigcat jewellery collection in 1952 with a panther bracelet. This onyx and diamond piece with emerald eyes captured the grace of the beautiful feline in an innovative flexible but jointed design. The Duchess, whose elegant style was always much admired and copied, soon set a trend for Jeanne’s distinctive cat motifs among the rich and famous. Barbara Hutton placed her first order in 1957, for a brooch featuring a fully jointed tiger. She bought tiger earrings and a bracelet in 1961 – and also placed an order for a black satin bag with gold

Photographs: courtesy cartier

A legacy of lithe grace

Cartier’s modern Panthère Collection builds on earlier work, such as the famous bracelet (below), designed for the Duchess of Windsor in 1952.

clasp featuring a cat striped with black enamel, which she presented as a gift to her sister-in-law, Princess Nina Mdivani. English model Nina Dyer joined the ranks of the cat collectors in 1958 when her second husband, Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, ordered a full collection of extravagant pieces for her. Among the items were a blouse pin, an articulated panther brooch, a ring, an open bracelet with panther heads, and a gold fluted bracelet with panther heads that could also be worn as earrings. Generously sprinkled with sapphires and paved with brilliant-cut diamonds, these pieces remain among the most spectacular naturalist jewellery creations ever produced in three-dimensional relief. Jeanne’s remarkable talent was recognised the world over and, in 1955, the French government honoured here with The Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, in acknowledgement of her influence on jewellery and modern design. She died in 1978, aged 91, leaving a lasting legacy. In

the words of Pierre Claudel, son-in-law to Pierre Cartier, Jeanne was the woman who ‘led jewellery into the modern age without ever sacrificing good taste to purely commercial interests’. Her great panther motif has continued and has become an enduring symbol of the House of Cartier. The brand’s signature watch range, launched in the 1980s, is called Panthère de Cartier, and there have been several recent Cartier jewellery collections that feature the big cat – though its modern rendering is more stylised and abstract that Jeanne’s whimsical designs. There’s also the Panthère de Cartier perfume, its bottle stopper recreating that famous 1949 brooch made for the Duchess of Windsor. Now, a short film, L’Odyssée de Cartier – directed by Bruno Aveillan – features her classic diamond panther coming to life to document 165 years of Cartier’s illustrious history. The film’s panther is a powerful, elegant figure – much like the strong woman who first moulded its fierce legacy.

1914: Panther spots appear on a Cartier watch. 1918: Jeanne Toussaint takes up a position in the Cartier accessories department. 1925: Cartier presents a lavish vanity case with a panther decoration in black enamel. 1927: Designer Peter Lemarchand joins Cartier. He works closely with Jeanne Toussaint to develop graceful animal forms. 1933: Jeanne Toussaint becomes Director of Fine Jewellery at Cartier. 1948: Cartier develops a three-dimensional panther for the first time, in a brooch commissioned for the Duchess of Windsor. 1949: Cartier exhibits a Panthère brooch made of diamonds and sapphires – an interpretation of the legend of the Golden Fleece. It’s bought by Reginald Fellowes, the influential head of Harper’s Bazaar in Paris. 1950s: More panther pieces are developed, for the Duchess of Windsor, Barbara Hutton, Princess Nina Aga Khan and the ‘Mexican panther’, actress María Félix. 1978: Jeanne Toussaint dies. 1983: The Cartier Panther watch is launched. 1985: The Silverium line is introduced featuring highly stylised animal forms. 1987: Panthère de Cartier perfume appears. 1987: Cartier buys back two key panther pieces, both of which belonged to the Duchess of Windsor, for its Cartier Collection. 2003: A black and white Panthère collection in platinum, diamonds and onyx is launched.

Photographs: courtesy cartier

2005: Panthère jewellery in yellow gold and diamonds is introduced. 2012: Cartier launches its L’Odyssée de

Cartier film commercial to celebrate its 165th anniversary. It features a classic Cartier diamond panther coming to life.

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THE HEAT IS ON: Siemens flexInduction hobs n Induction is one of the quickest, safest and most efficient methods of cooking available. Now it’s also more flexible, thanks to the new flexInduction hobs from Siemens. At the touch of a button, cooking zones can be combined to create one large induction surface that automatically adjusts to the number and size of your pots – perfect when you’re cooking with large roasting pans. Another useful innovation is the touchSlider control that allows you to adjust the temperature of the cooking zones by sweeping your finger along the dial to select one of the 17 power levels that guarantee precision cooking.

www.siemens.com

ITALIAN STYLE: Chateau d’Ax in SA n Following on the success of

WILD AT ART: Woodlands lampshade n Inspired by the silhouettes of

its Johannesburg store, European

meandering elephants and buck,

furniture brand, Chateau d’Ax has

this Savanna Woodlands wood

opened a second South African

printed parchment lampshade

store – in Cape Town’s Green Point

projects a soft dappled landscape

design and décor hub. The Italian

across surrounding walls. Sharon

company’s range of bedroom and

Boonzaier is an artist and

kitchen furniture will be available,

designer, focusing on creating

as well as its bespoke sofas and

awareness for the preservation

chairs, which come with lifetime-

of endangered rhino and blue

guaranteed frames. www.chateau-dax.co.za

swallows. Her original paintings of wildlife are converted into design elements and added to

LIGHT FANTASTIC: Omi.MGX pendant n Made from a single piece of polyamide, this pendant light fitting by Israeli designer Assa Ashuach is a flexible work of art that can be twisted into a variety of organic shapes and gives a soft, soothing light. www.mgxbymaterialise.com

draught guardian: Nemo door stoppers n This nifty door stopper from Keilbach Designprodukte is unobtrusive but highly efficient. Standing just 15cm high, it weighs a hefty 1.2kg and has a non-slip rubber base – so it won’t give an inch when it comes to the battle against rattling doors. The rubber band around its middle also ensures it doesn’t damage any finishes.

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www.keilbach.com

lighting and other décor products. www.sharonbdesign.co.za

Opulent Living finds ANIMAL MAGIC: Tapestry sculptures n Inspired by her grandmother’s tapestries of hunting scenes, French artist Frédérique Morrel has created a series of animal tapestry sculptures. Part of the Visitors Collection is the 240cmhigh Dr Zhivago. www.frederiquemorrel.com

POP ART: Tomato soup pays tribute to Andy Warhol n It’s 50 years since Andy Warhol first exhibited his now famous Campbell’s Soup Cans, a series of 32 canvasses depicting each of the canned soups offered by the household brand at the time. To commemorate the anniversary, Campbell’s has launched a limited-edition of condensed tomato soup cans, with four labels in strong pop art colours that have been inspired by his iconic work.

www.campbellsoup.com

AHEAD OF THE GAME: BMW launches the ultimate gaming mouse n Thermaltake and BMW Designworks USA‘s Level 10 M gaming mouse blends all the design savvy of BMW’s top race cars with some serious gaming features. The latter includes five programmable keys and a Z-key that will change your gaming profile on the fly. The optical unit‘s DPI defaults to 5 000, but can be tweaked up to 8 200 if you need it. Seriously cool, too, is the perforated top, designed to prevent sweaty palms from losing their grip in the heat of battle.

SMOKE AND WATER: Porsche Design Shisha n Combining high-quality

FANTASY FASHION: New Hermès collection n Hermès designer Christophe

materials such as aluminium,

Lemaire offered up an exotic mix

stainless steel and glass with the

for the luxury brand’s Autumn/

pure design aesthetics of luxury

Winter 2012 Collection, with

brand Porsche, this stylish 55cm-

gently draped dresses, oversized

high Shisha offers a classy take

masculine tailoring and – of

on the traditional hookah pipe.

course – the most beautiful of

www.porsche-design.com

scarves.

www.designworksusa.com

www.hermes.com

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HIGHER CALLING: Tag Heuer smart phone n The Prestige Full Gold Smart Phone features pure 18ct rose gold detailing and a luxurious battery

covering

black

alligator leather. Inside is hightech phone with an Android operating system. www.tagheuer.com

TWENTIES GLAMOUR: New Fabergé collection n Part of a new collection celebrating the Roaring Twenties,

STREET SMARTS: Shirts with style and conscience n Swedish shirtmaker Strenstöms has for decades been a purveyor

the Zénaide Pompon pendant

of fine garments to the Royal Court of Sweden. The luxury brand

incorporates Art Deco motifs

promises style, quality and comfort in every detail – from its classic

within a magnificent diamond-

men’s shirts and women’s blouses to its accessories and ties. Now it’s

encrusted centrepiece. A tassel of

also offering a chance to help the less privileged – and has partnered

pearls adds a whimsical finishing

with Street Smart South Africa to help highly vulnerable street

touch in true Great Gatsby style.

children. Its Street Smart Collection comes with a special label and

www.faberge.com

promises a donation for every purchase.

www.stenstroms.com

PAGES OF LUXURY: Opulent Living Book n Published by the creators of Opulent Living Magazine, this beautiful coffee-table book oozes glamour, from its rich purple dust jacket to the satin bookmark and glossy large

bucket list of top destinations

SPIRIT OF GENIUS: Unique artisan whisky n Michael Couvreur’s small-

and is an absolute must-have.

batch whiskies have earned

format. Devoted to luxury travel in Southern Africa, it provides a

www.opulentliving.co.za

him cult-figure status among connoisseurs and aficionados. His 1983 vintage single cask

SEA OF TIME: Chopard Happy Fish watch n The new watch from Chopard, part of its Happy Sport Collection,

malt whisky is only bottled on

features an underwater world with a dial in various shades of blue.

spends a different period of time

Inside the ‘aquarium’ are three clown fish in 18ct rose or white gold,

in wood – and is consequently a

set with gems. The case comes in steel or in 18ct rose gold with a bezel

truly unique offering.

set with diamonds, while the strap is blue satin. www.chopard.com

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request so each and every bottle

www.whisky.co.za

The stylish M Bar provides an intimate setting for cocktails and tapas. Makaron Restaurant (opposite page) is a light and visually stimulating venue in which to enjoy top cuisine.

Majeka House ∙ South Africa

Designed for magic Tucked away in a quiet street in Stellenbosch’s Paradyskloof, this gem of a boutique hotel enjoys a sheltered, sun-drenched aspect and beautiful mountain views. Dramatic interiors, a super-stylish restaurant and a serene spa add to its charms – and make for a magical escape in the Cape Winelands.

wner-managed and blissfully private, Majeka House is an ideal base from which to explore the historical town of Stellenbosch with its interesting shops, galleries, museums, and alfresco café culture. Numerous famous vineyards and award-winning restaurants, dotted along the Stellenbosch wine route, are within striking distance. This prime location combines with luxurious accommodation, thoughtful service, a sophisticated bar and restaurant,

a professionally run spa and spacious grounds to create what is undoubtedly one of the most stylish boltholes in the Cape Winelands. After extensive renovations and a designer makeover in 2011, Majeka now boasts 22 rooms and sophisticated yet witty interiors. There are two new luxury mountain suites above the main hotel with large mountain-view balconies, and three new garden junior suites overlooking a shared, exclusive-use

pool area. And, while the entire hotel is ‘parent friendly’, there’s also a fully selfcontained villa – set apart from the main hotel and with a large private pool and garden – that is designed specifically with families in mind. The new suites were all conceptualised and decorated by interior design wunderkind Etienne Hanekom, who is also responsible for the award-winning interiors of Makaron Restaurant, the lobby and bar. They capture a sense of drama with bold

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Dramatic wallpaper, bold colours, muted metallics and rich textures characterise the interiors of the new suites. At the restaurant, Chef Tanja Kruger showcases ‘farm to fork’ eating on a plate.

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colours, rich textures and eye-catching custom-designed wallpapers but are also comfortable, inviting spaces for complete rest and relaxation. All contain thoughtful extras, such as comfy Crocs instead of hotel slippers, a Lavazza espresso machine, Wi-Fi internet and a DVD player with a wide choice of movies. The spacious and cleverly designed en suite bathrooms are fragrant with local Moya toiletries made with indigenous plant extracts. In Makaron Restaurant, Etienne has created a stylish, contemporary interior using a clever mix of repurposed and recycled furniture complemented by modern statement pieces. Beautiful tables by Cape Town designer Gregor Jenkins and Louis Ghost chairs take pride of place. The result is a visually stimulating space that offers extreme comfort and encourages complete immersion in the dining experience. Owners Lloyd and Karine Dequeker-Van der Merwe say what

they love most about Etienne’s design is the way in which he has combined raw textures with smooth, glossy and reflective surfaces. The overall effect is an understated feeling of luxury. ‘To me it was important to stay true to the honesty of the industrial-feel raw materials – such as concrete, metal, copper, wood and glass – that were used within the space,’ says Etienne. ‘The steel beams influenced the colour palette, too. I chose muted metallics and grey enlivened by accents of bright colour.’ Airy and light, the restaurant overlooks lush gardens and leads onto a sheltered terrace for alfresco dining. It is in this stimulating setting that resident chef Tanja Kruger presents her menu of fresh, modern cuisine grounded in the French classics. Tanja has enormous respect for the quality and provenance of each ingredient that comes into her kitchen and takes pride in working with ethical producers and suppliers who share her

Photographs: majeka house

The reception area showcases the hotel’s witty and confident interior style, while raw, natural textures contrast with glossy, reflective surfaces in glamorous Makaron Restaurant. Hydrotherapy is the focus of Majeka Spa.

philosophy of excellence. ‘I am working more and more with raw vegetables, fruits and flowers inspired by a recent trip to Paris,’ says Tanja, who spent time working under celebrated chef Alain Passard at the Michelin-starred L’Arpège in the centre of Paris. Here she was exposed not only to the finer details of French cooking techniques but also gleaned up-to-the-minute tips for plating food. It has inspired a collection of handmade crockery, made exclusively for the restaurant by Franschhoek potter David Walters. The irregularshaped plates and bowls, decorated with colourful swirls, provide the perfect blank canvas for Tanja’s beautiful food. Complementing Makaron Restaurant is M Bar, an inviting lounge-style bar with the decadent ambience of a Parisian salon and an enticing menu of ‘floating food’, as the chef calls it, that is ideal for sharing and for pairing with a cocktail, beer or glass of chilled wine.

The in-house Majeka Spa is the perfect foil to all these gourmet pleasures. Anti-ageing facials and deeply relaxing massages are the order of the day in the three new treatment rooms. Use of the sauna, steam room and hydrotherapy features in the heated indoor swimming pool is complimentary for all hotel guests. The pool has powerful massage jets and a water current to swim or walk against. The spa also offers salt crystal therapy on a specialised Himalayan salt crystal bed. It’s a non-invasive, deeply relaxing therapeutic treatment that combines the healing properties of salt crystals with the therapeutic benefits of light therapy. All in all, it makes for the sort of hotel where guests don’t want to spend all their time out and about in the Winelands – they want simply to remain within the confines of Majeka and enjoy all the expected and unexpected luxuries that its gracious hospitality has to offer. n Jane Broughton

Majeka House

Stellenbosch, Western Cape, SA Telephone: +27 (0)21 880 1549 Email: reservations@majekahouse.co.za Website: www.majekahouse.co.za Majeka House is set on a private garden estate and offers quiet, secluded luxury in 22 rooms and suites. It‘s a 45-minute drive from Cape Town.

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Pearl Valley Golf Estates ∙ South Africa

At home on the green Living life to the full on this peaceful residential estate in the beautiful Cape Winelands includes nothing less than having one of the best championship golf courses on your doorstep. There’s also relaxed dining and a spa with unique offerings – all surrounded by the spectacularly rugged Simonsberg and Franschhoek mountains.

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‘G

olf,’ Jack Nicklaus once said, ‘is, above all, a game.’ While dyed-in-the-wool golfers may recoil in horror, it’s a typically lighthearted comment from a man who even managed to fit in a round of 18 on his wedding day – and then went on to become perhaps the greatest golfer of all time, playing in a record 154 consecutive Major championships between 1957 and 1998, winning 18 of them. So it’s perhaps fitting that it was Nicklaus – dubbed the ‘Golden Bear’ – who was given the honour of laying out the course that is the heart and soul of Pearl Valley, a residential golfing estate that occupies some of the most scenic countryside in the Cape Winelands. The Franschhoek mountains tower to the east, while the rugged Simonsberg forms a striking backdrop to many of the tee boxes. Nicklaus has brought a challenging playfulness to this manicured course, so it’s no surprise that Pearl Valley is ranked among the best championship layouts in South Africa. Bunkers leap out without warning, water hazards creep into play when you least expect them to, and tee boxes and greens are used to dramatic effect. It’s a course that will bring a smile to your face – while making your knees tremble. Tee up when the weather is clear and it’s as perfect a day of golf as you’ll ever experience. Play when the Cape’s

legendary winds are blowing and you’ll wish you had the big-hitting Bear at your side for some sage advice. Whichever it is, this course has deservedly become one of the most sought-after in the country. Yet the 18 holes that have hosted the South African Open three times in the past six years are not the only attraction at Pearl Valley. Spread across the 212-hectare estate, you’ll find everything from innovative spa facilities to fine bistro-style dining and luxurious accommodation. While a range of villas and self-catering lodges are available for rental, Pearl Valley has more importantly become one of the most sought-after property investments in the Cape with year-round residents, upcountry tycoons and overseas ‘swallows’ owning upmarket homes on the security-controlled residential estate. The safe environment and convenient location are both major draw cards, while building and landscaping guidelines ensure the estate always looks its best. Residents – as well as guests at the Pearl Valley lodges – enjoy access to the estate’s modern clubhouse with its complimentary Wi-Fi internet and its laid-back eatery, The Valley Restaurant. This has wonderful estate views and serves up stylish bistro cuisine from the knife of Executive Chef Jeromy Joubert. Residents and guests also receive unlimited use of the sparkling swimming

The sparkling pool outside the Pearl Valley Clubhouse is the perfect spot to cool off after a round on the championship course designed by Jack Nicklaus.

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Situated between Paarl and Franschhoek, and surrounded by the mountains of the Cape Winelands, the Pearl Valley golf course has been voted among the top five in the country.

The Valley Restaurantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s light and airy bar overlooks the 9th and 18th holes. A selection of upmarket family homes are available for short- or long-term holiday rental.

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Photographs: pearl valley golf estates

The luxury homes on the secure residential estate are designed for easy indoor-outdoor living. Anyone wanting to become a permanent resident can choose from a selection of existing houses or build their own dream home on one of the vacant plots still available.

pool, tennis courts and modern gym facilities. If you find – between the golf, tennis and gym – that you need some downtime, the clubhouse is also home to one of the finest spas in the Winelands. The Breathe Spa is a subterranean sanctuary offering a full portfolio of treatments, including a unique take on the hot-stone massage. In this one-of-a-kind offering, heated golf balls are massaged across selected pressure points to aid in relaxing stiff muscles, releasing toxins and improving circulation. ‘Golf requires players to have flexible muscles for an outstanding swing and the treatment not only does that, but aids in reducing stress too,’ says spa manager Lizelle du Toit. Limber and lithe, residents can also access the well-equipped equestrian centre offering riding lessons as well as out-rides on the estate and into the surrounding Winelands. In the pristine fynbos that

envelops the golf course and residential properties, a well-maintained network of hiking and biking trails offers a close-up glimpse of this Winelands jewel. Perhaps most importantly, a selection of plots and established houses are still available, offering potential investors the choice of a front-row seat at the fairway, or the tranquillity of fynbos vistas. From tennis to the table, golf to galloping, your days will be full here, never mind that the fine restaurants and boutique wineries of Franschhoek, Paarl and Stellenbosch are a short drive away. It’s why so many guests have chosen to become permanent residents, investing in property to turn a dream holiday into a lifestyle. Golf may be just a game, as the Golden Bear once opined, but here at Pearl Valley the important business of living life to the full is taken very seriously indeed. n Sebastian Bartlett

Pearl Valley Golf Estates

Paarl, Western Cape, SA Telephone: +27 (0)21 867 8000 Email: info@pearlvalley.co.za Website: www.pearlvalley.co.za Pearl Valley is conveniently situated just 40 minutes from Cape Town.

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Mount Nelson Hotel ∙ South Africa

Timeless Mother City icon Affectionately known as The Nellie or Cape Town’s Pink Lady, the Mount Nelson Hotel is as much a city landmark as the imposing slopes of Table Mountain. Established in 1899 to serve distinguished visitors to the Cape, it continues to delight first-class travellers with its mix of traditional hospitality and cutting-edge contemporary offerings.

Table Mountain forms a dramatic backdrop to the Mother City’s famous ‘Nellie’.

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The hotel’s nine acres of tranquil gardens incorporate a sparkling pool and offer a serene escape in the heart of the bustling city.

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hat do Sir Winston Churchill, Robbie Williams, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Charlize Theron have in common? Over the last century they’ve all – with good reason – sojourned at the regal Mount Nelson Hotel when visiting the Mother City Indeed, weighty and waifish feet alike have trodden the hallways of Cape Town’s most famous hotel over the years. The changing fashions and fortunes of South Africa are all but written in the fabric of the fine lodgings that have graced the top of Government Avenue since 1899. The hotel began life under Sir Donald Currie, owner of the Union-Castle shipping line, who dreamt of building a stately hotel to host the line’s First Class passengers. When Sir Donald threw open the doors of his hotel it was the first in the country to offer hot and cold running water, and today this Orient-Express establishment continues to show that grand old ladies can keep up with the times. Take the Planet Bar and Restaurant, for instance. The once stuffy Cape Colony restaurant was in 2010 transformed into one of the city’s most talked about finedining venues; an airy modern space that melds the building’s heritage with chic

décor dominated by a striking chandelier that sparkles like the Milky Way. The menu is just as impressive. Acclaimed chef Rudi Liebenberg likes to both challenge and entertain diners, utilising the best produce – usually organic and ethically sourced – southern Africa has to offer for his innovative combinations of flavour and texture. Expect the likes of smoked crocodile, rooibos-cured ostrich, fresh salmon trout and Namibian crab. After dinner a nightcap in the Planet Bar is all but obligatory, whether you’re spotting celebrities or enjoying a glass of the Cape’s famous Vin de Constance. And while Planet is all about modern influences and cutting-edge cuisine, the Mount Nelson is never one to forget her roots. Afternoon Tea enjoyed in the sunsplashed lounge – or out on the terrace – has become a Cape Town institution, with its range of fine leaf teas and a table groaning beneath a cornucopia of baked treats from pastry chef Vicky Gurovich. Sitting happily between the historical afternoon spread and the modern influences at Planet is the new Oasis Bistro, which offers chic à la carte breakfasts and lunches at terrace tables overlooking the Mount Nelson’s nine acres of manicured gardens. Over-indulged, or need to wind down? Down the proverbial garden path, past the expansive lawns and sparkling pool, you’ll discover the serene Librisa Spa. Hand-painted silk wallpaper adorns the walls of these historical buildings, where the eight treatment rooms are a world away from the city bustle beyond the gates. Each room is named for a flower, and the spa similarly embraces the Cape’s floral bounty by using local Africology products – famous for their healing essential oils drawn from endemic plants – alongside the international expertise of Dermalogica. Treatments are carefully customised to destress and detoxify, with facial and body products tailored for men, women, pregnant women and teenagers. Afterwards, take time out to relax in the sun-dappled conservatory. While you might be tempted to settle in on your lounger, happily it’s no hardship

CADEK Media /PF/OL8

OPEN TUESDAY TO SUNDAY FROM 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM FOR SUNDOWNERS MONDAY BY APPOINTMENT - FOR PRIVATE EVENTS, PLEASE CONTACT US P.O. BOX 12605 – ANNANDALE ROAD – STELLENBOSCH – SOUTH AFRICA . 7613 PHONE: +27 21 881 3677 – FAX: +27 21 881 3667 INFO@PETERFALKEWINES.CO.ZA – WWW.PETERFALKEWINES.COM

The Planet Bar and Restaurant are glitzy, glamorous venues, while light and airy bedrooms are calm, comfortable havens.

Mount Nelson Hotel

Photographs: orient-express hotels

Gardens, Cape Town, SA Telephone: +27 (0)21 483 1737 Email: reservations @mountnelson.co.za Website: www.mountnelson.co.za

to wander back up to your spacious suite. It was Churchill that dubbed the Mount Nelson ‘a most excellent and wellappointed establishment,’ and the tradition of fine hospitality endures. While hot water indoors may not be the innovation today that it was at the turn of the 20th century, constant refurbishments and upgrades ensure that each of the bespoke 198 rooms and suites offer a stylish and luxurious sanctuary from the hurly-burly streets of Cape Town.

Rooms and suites in the main building are ideal for short stays, while the spacious privacy of the Garden Cottage Suites will suit guests settling in for longer. And that’s perhaps what old Sir Donald would have hoped. After a long sea voyage from England, guests checking in at the Mount Nelson would have been in no hurry to leave. And with the array of fine dining, world-class facilities and luxurious accommodation on offer today, neither should you. n Sebastian Bartlett

The Mount Nelson forms part of Orient-Express Hotels, which operates high-end hotels, cruise and train services around the world. It is situated in the heart of central Cape Town, a short walk from trendy Kloof Street, Parliament, the Company’s Garden and the central business district.

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Taj Residences Cape Town ∙ South Africa

Sophisticated inner-city sanctum Set within walking distance of the Mother City’s parliament, business and legal districts, as well as its many cultural, retail and entertainment attractions, Taj Cape Town enjoys a central location second to none. Pair this with the warm hospitality and exquisite luxury for which Taj is world renowned and you’ve got a five-star offering perfectly suited to discerning international travellers. Now, with Taj Residences launched, there’s the option of owning a private sanctuary within this elegant hotel.

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he lavish Taj Cape Town – a member of The Leading Hotels of the World – sits in the heart of the Mother City, offering tourists and business travellers world-class hospitality in a location that effortlessly blends heritage and contemporary urban dynamism. Part of the international Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces group – the famous hospitality subsidiary of the global multinational, Tata – the hotel straddles two of Cape Town’s most beautiful historical buildings. Taj (and its partner Agencies) invested more than R500 million in meticulously restoring these late 19th-century city landmarks – the original South African Reserve Bank and the old Board of Executors (BOE) building – and harmoniously combining them with a contemporary high-rise tower. Today, spacious guest lounges, top restaurants and bars, a spa, executive business facilities and 176 rooms, suites and residences span 17 storeys, offering magnificent views over either the city or towards Table Mountain. Established in 1903, Taj is one of Asia’s largest hotel groups, with offerings ranging from modern business hotels through idyllic beach resorts to mesmerising Rajput palaces. It has a sterling reputation for breathing life into heritage buildings across the world and availing them in all their glory to its guests. From its flagship Taj Mahal Palace

in Mumbai to the stately Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, in which the reigning king and his family still reside, the Taj brand has become synonymous with offering both refinement and typically Indian warmth in some of the world’s most beautiful, and historical settings. Taj Cape Town is no exception, especially with its prime setting in the dynamic historical and cultural hub of South Africa’s oldest city. It is within short walking distance of Parliament, Government Avenue and the park-like Company Gardens, as well as of the provincial Law Courts and St George’s Cathedral. The National Gallery and a wealth of important museums are close by, as are St George’s Mall and Greenmarket Square – both alive with street markets selling colourful local crafts. And that’s not to mention the many trendy boutiques and retail emporia in the vicinity, or the plethora of vibrant restaurants and bars. Ask the concierge for the special Taj map of local highlights and stroll out to explore them for yourself, or get a more in-depth view on one of the free guided history tours that depart daily from the lobby. When the sightseeing gets too much, relax at the Taj’s spacious Jiva Grande Spa, where therapists offer speciality massages, authentic Indian therapies or signature treatments designed to treat the body and mind holistically.

The 10 elegantly furnished Taj Residences range from studio rooms with city views to large twobedroomed apartments with separate living areas and a breathtaking outlook towards Table Mountain.

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All apartments have fully fitted kitchens and luxury bathrooms with a dual-headed walkin shower. Some also feature large balconies for al fresco dining.

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For a spot of refreshment, head to bistrostyle Mint restaurant, where a table under the trees on pedestrianised St George’s Mall offers the perfect spot to simply sit back and watch life flow by. The restaurant boasts a spectacular wine cellar, and its show kitchen serves up a mix of local and international dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In the evenings, the Twankey Bar provides an upbeat but cosy atmosphere in which to enjoy craft beer and delicious tapas – including local West Coast oysters. If it’s authentic Indian fine dining you’re after, then look no further than The Bombay Brasserie, sister to the top UK restaurant of the same name. Don’t miss the spicy tempered prawns, tandoori chargrilled prawns, dal makhani and the khushk raan (slow cooked leg of lamb),

then sweeten the experience with the masala chai crème brûlée. Your stay might even overlap with an evening in the celebrated Taj ‘Expressions Series’, which sees guest chefs from different Cape wine regions hosting food-andwine pairing dinners. The Taj is not just a leisure destination, though – it’s also a business venue with first-class facilities and state-of-the-art technology catering to top executives. The Taj Club, comprising 13 rooms and various suites with an Executive Club Lounge, offers a convenient and private meeting place with free Wi-Fi internet access, a selection of drinks and snacks available throughout the day, and a dedicated butler always on hand to organise any necessary arrangements, from restaurant bookings to airport transfers.

The original wood-panelled boardrooms in the old Board of Executors building provide conference and banqueting facilities and are complemented by a technologically advanced business centre that offers IT and secretarial support. At the end of a busy day of meetings, business travellers can unwind in the fully equipped fitness centre where there’s a 15-metre heated indoor swimming pool, a Jacuzzi and steam room. For those guests who find that either business or pleasure brings them to the Mother City on a regular basis, there’s now an additional highlight – the chance to own one of 10 residences in this five-star hotel. The studio, one- or two-bedroom apartments available for sectional-title purchase range in size from 80m2 to 136m2 and are spread out over various

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As part of Taj Cape Town – situated on the corner of Wale and Adderley Streets – the Residences enjoy a convenient city-centre location. Owners have access to the fully equipped gym, the serene spa and the fine Indian dining at Bombay Brasserie.

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and a walk-in shower, as well as Molton Brown toiletries. The fitted kitchen includes a hob, oven, microwave and fridge, as well as a kettle and toaster. There’s secure undercover parking with a valet service, round-the-clock security with CCTV surveillance and the option of daily housekeeping services. Owners enjoy privileged access to the hotel’s business and leisure facilities, including the gym and spa. They can also lease or rent out their apartments on a monthly basis, so securing both annuity income and an appreciating asset. Certainly, whether you choose to purchase a lavish Residence or simply check-in for the night, Taj Cape Town offers a convenient, city-centre base that is sophisticated, secure and hospitable. Here, as the ancient Sanskrit verse goes, ‘Atithi Devo Bhavah’ – ‘the guest is God’. n David Allardice

Taj Residences Cape Town

Cape Town, SA Telephone: +27 (0)21 819 2000 Email: res.capetown@tajhotels.com Website: www.tajhotels.com, www.tajcapetownresidences.com Residences are priced from R2 995 000. Photographs: Taj residences cape town

floors in the hotel. They offer a private sanctuary in a well-managed setting with all the conveniences of a large hotel – be it 24-hour security, room service, housekeeping or concierge assistance. Each luxurious Residence is fully furnished and has either a walk- or sitout balcony that showcases the panoramic views. There’s air-conditioning, a home entertainment centre that includes satellite TV and the option of a DVD player or PlayStation on request, a telephone with international direct dialing, and a stateof-the-art Media Hub that allows you to connect your laptop to the TV, plug your iPod into the sound system or charge a device from a USB port. There’s even IT support should you not know how to make the most of the high-tech offerings. Bedrooms have double or twin beds, made up with luxury linen, while ensuite bathrooms feature an oversized tub

Entertainer’s dream Maroeladal Estate, Sandton, Johannesburg n For more information contact

This grand home of 1 100m2 is set on an enviable 8 380m2 on the green and leafy Maroeladal

Eddie Gillmore: +27 (0)72 873 3444

Estate in Johannesburg‘s north-western suburbs. One of the finest houses on the estate, it‘s

eddie.gillmore@seeff.com

built with every convenience for a relaxed indoor-outdoor lifestyle in a beautifully tranquil

SEEFF SANDTON Telephone: +27 (0)11 784 1222 Asking price: R15 million

environment. It‘s surrounded by landscaped gardens with rolling lawns and a sparkling swimming pool, and is well suited to an executive or extended family as there’s an additional, self-contained, two-bedroom cottage on the property. An impressive entrance, flanked by elegant architectural columns, leads to an imposing double-volume entrance hall with a spiral staircase leading to three spacious bedrooms upstairs. The luxurious main suite has an impressive celebrity-style dressing room, with all cabinetry beautifully finished in wood. Downstairs, each of the reception rooms – including the kitchen – has a fireplace, making them warm and welcoming. The gourmet kitchen has Caesarstone worktops, a gas cooker and a separate scullery. The open-plan layout allows for easy entertaining, and there‘s also a cellar where guests can sample their host’s finest wines. The house is built around a wind-protected inner courtyard and has three garages. Maroeladal is perfectly positioned between the established suburb of Bryanston and the rolling greens of Dainfern Valley Golf Estate near Fourways. It‘s close to the entertainment facilities at Monte Casino, and to the shopping at Cedar Square, the Design Quarter and Fourways Mall. Excellent private schools and medical facilities can all be found nearby.

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This luxury four-bedroom seafront apartment in a sought-after Bantry Bay security complex offers a once-in-a-lifetime investment opportunity.

Sophisticated seafront pad Bantry Bay, Cape Town Designed by Cape Town-based architects Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Associates (SAOTA) in conjunction with Dennis Fabian Berman Architects, The Bantry has become an iconic symbol of the best that Cape Town’s wind-free bay has to offer. The architects’ brief was simple: to maximise ocean views from every room. This they did by creating a curvaceous, glass-lined frontage that echoes the natural shape of the bay, and by designing luxe interiors that make the most of the views. When it was completed in 2007, Africa’s most influential flocked to own what is a true piece of heaven. Today, apartments in this architectural landmark are just as highly sought-after because they offer an excellent investment opportunity as well as a glamorous coastal lifestyle that’s hard to beat anywhere in the world. Set in the perfect micro-environment on the prized Atlantic Seaboard, The Bantry faces north and is well protected from the Cape’s changeable weather. Inside the security complex, a sense of

n For more information contact

calm prevails, with each apartment allowing owners to cocoon in an entirely private retreat that

Adrian Mauerberger: +27 (0)82 826 6454

offers the ultimate in seamless indoor-outdoor living right on the ocean’s edge. This sophisticated seafront apartment nestles just above the rocks and offers expansive accommodation in four sumptuous en-suite bedrooms. The large and splendid entertainment areas lead effortlessly onto a wide, glass-fronted terrace with a private, heated pool. There is direct elevator access to the home from three parking bays with round-the-clock security.

adrian@seeff.com Rose Karp: +27 (0)83 275 5474 rosa.karp@seeff.com SEEFF ATLANTIC SEABOARD Telephone: +27 (0)21 434 9175 Asking price: R27,95 million

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n For more information contact Norah Whittingham-Jones: +27 (0)83 628 5290 norah.wj@seeff.com Cynthia Todd: +27 (0)82 781 4404 cynthia.todd@seeff.com Seeff Randburg Telephone: +27 (0)11 476 3536 Asking price: R16 million

Contemporary cliffside living Northcliff, Johannesburg Perched on the northern side of Northcliff Hill, with magnificent views across to the Magaliesberg mountains, this ultra-luxurious 1 200m2 house is suffused with light. The executive home has impeccable finishes and a superb flow for glamorous yet intimate entertaining. Glass walkways lead off the entrance hall into light-filled reception rooms where guests enjoy surround sound and take in panoramic views. Off this living area is a study as well as two bedrooms and a bathroom – ideal for guests who stay over long after the sun has set. The modern, north-facing kitchen, which leads onto a patio with superb views, is cleverly designed and features smart space management with generous concealed storage. High-gloss finishes, Caesarstone countertops and quality appliances complete the sleek look. It incorporates an openplan dining area and an upstairs family room and bar featuring a gas fire. The lower level has a tasteful wine cellar and champagne bar with a wood-burning fireplace. Each of the three luxurious bedrooms is designed for space and privacy. The main bedroom is especially spacious with its own lounge, an en-suite bathroom with a steam shower, his-and-her dressing rooms and balconies. A second bathroom serves the other two bedrooms. The ‘penthouse’ guest cottage is self-contained with its own entrance, lounge and dining room, solid-oak kitchen, en-suite bedroom, balcony and built-in braai – all enjoying the same expansive This light-filled executive home with expansive views

Landscaped gardens with computerised irrigation, two Koi ponds with at least 70 fish, water

offers a rare opportunity on

features, thatched gazebos, a trampoline and jungle gym make this a welcoming family home.

Northcliff Hill.

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views. A second cottage or staff accommodation is identical in layout.

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State-of-the-art security, a guard house and five garages complete the executive lifestyle.

If we can sell South Africa’s most expensive home, think what we can do for you. When it comes to selling your home, there are various factors to consider…the ability to get the best price perhaps being one of the most important of these factors. With a 48 year history of sales success, we understand property, which is why when you appoint Seeff to handle the sale of your property, not only will you be working with an area specialist that understands your specific needs, but you can also be assured of smart advice…. and, the best price. With close on 200 offices and over 1000 agents to look after your property needs, make the smart move to Seeff.

Visit www.seeff.com or call 08600 SEEFF(73333) for any property related matters.

This triple-storey Tuscan-style villa in Constantia offers an executive lifestyle for the discerning buyer.

Grand family home Constantia, Cape Town This triple-storey Tuscan-style villa is one of most striking homes in the upmarket Cape Town suburb of Constantia. Located on Beaumont Avenue, high up in the Bel Ombre area, the large 1â&#x20AC;&#x2030;100m2 home offers panoramic mountain views and exceptionally luxurious living spaces. The entertainment rooms and all the bedrooms lead out on to Italianate balconies and terraces overlooking the swimming pool, the park-like landscaped gardens and the mountain beyond. The front door opens into a spacious entrance area with an eye-catching floor-to-ceiling window. A formal lounge and dining room lead off this space, as does the family room that is open-plan to the quality custom-built kitchen and its additional utility rooms. There is also a fully fitted bar, a private theatre, piano room, fitted study and wine cellar on the ground level, as well as a guest bedroom with en-suite bathroom on the lower level. No expense was spared n For more information contact

on the Tuscan design elements and there are columns, curved pediments, cornices, handmade

Shelley Kruger: +27 (0)83 700 9001

balustrades and marble fireplaces throughout.

shelley@seeff.com

The upper level has three en-suite bedrooms, all with custom-built wardrobes. The luxurious

Marie Durr: +27 (0)83 869 8608

main suite opens onto a private balcony and includes a fitted dressing room, bathroom with spa

marie.durr@seeff.com

bath, study and fully equipped gym. Separate-entrance, double-storey guest accommodation

Jenny Williams: +27 (0)83 656 6811 jenny.williams@seeff.com SEEFF CONSTANTIA

offers a lounge, kitchen and en-suite bedroom. The property includes garaging for five vehicles with parking for a further five. There is also

Telephone: +27 (0)21 794 5252

superior staff accommodation. Sophisticated automation includes fully computerised lighting,

Website: www.seeff.com Web no:Â 152016

house-wide remote-controlled sound, a multimedia and PABX system, as well as surveillance

Asking price: R20,995 million

cameras connected to the multimedia system. The 2 954m2 property is all borehole irrigated.

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Asian-inspired oasis Zimbali, Ballito This unique Asian-style home makes superb use of its golf-course setting and established forest surrounds, and blends seamlessly with the Zimbali lifestyle. It is generously proportioned and exudes a feeling of warmth from the moment the glass front door glides open to reveal the interior. Authentic elements of Asian design are thoughtfully incorporated and add exotic appeal, beginning with the large roof overhangs that create a comfortable outdoor lifestyle for all seasons. Wooden balustrading, columns and solid wooden eaves provide a natural framework throughout that perfectly balances the Singaporean and Balinese furnishing style. Two superb under-cover entertainment areas flank the home, and an informal dining area leads into a kitchen with uninterrupted views across the 100-acre conservation area. Ideal for entertaining, the spacious kitchen is a sleek combination of wood and dark polished countertops and incorporates a scullery. In addition to this open-plan living space, there’s a formal lounge and spacious dining area, as well as a television lounge that’s perfectly sized to create a comfortable retreat. Here bespoke wooden sliding doors can either be left open to integrate the space with the home or closed for complete privacy. The immaculate study is ideal as a home office as it looks

n For more information contact

out over the entrance to the property, where there is extra parking in addition to triple garaging.

Andreas Wassenaar: +27 (0)82 837 9094

The cleverly-designed courtyard protects the main living area from the wind and positions the

andreasw@seeff.com

pool to maximise its exposure to the afternoon sun.

Mark Johnson: +27 (0)82 600 6286

Upstairs, three bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms enjoy beautiful views – especially the main bedroom which has an undercover patio overlooking the lush coastal forest surrounds and Indian Ocean beyond. In the northern wing of the ground floor, there‘s a separate guest suite, which

markj@seeff.com Tim Johnson: +27 (0)82 424 6202 tim.johnson@seeff.com SEEFF DOLPHIN COAST

opens onto a private patio with an elevated outlook over the pool. Every detail of this home has

Telephone: +27 (0)32 586 0170

been carefully designed and constructed, using quality finishes and making it one of a kind.

Asking price: R14,95 million

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Couture and the city Under the theme of ‘Icons’, the 10th annual Mercedes-Benz Cape Town Fashion Week showcased everything from luxury cars and historical venues to the legendary style of South Africa’s design royalty.

ape Town designers presented a dazzling array of summer fashions at Mercedes-Benz Cape Town Fashion Week in late July. The top event on the city’s fashion calendar is organised by African Fashion International and sponsored by Mercedes-Benz, who added the sleek lines of its brand-new SL range to the glamour on display. Throngs of fashionably dressed masses converged on beautiful City Hall on opening night to see new collections from heavyweights Rosenwerth, Philosophy and Klûk CGDT – who stole the show with striking wedding dresses presented to music from a live orchestra.

Highlights of Day Two were Twenties flapper-style dresses from Jenni Le Roux of Habits, a collection of bright hues from Durban’s Leigh Schubert and cuttingedge creations from Craig Port. Then Gavin Rajah ended the day with lace and embroidery on a ramp dotted with trees. It was the turn of ‘Icons in the Making’ on Day Three, with the Cape Town Fashion Council presenting a show by emerging designers such as Pumeza Mekuto of Black Coal and Maloti Mothoni of Strato. King of drama, Johannesburg-based David Tlale, ended the event in suitably grand style with a bright ready to wear collection presented on the streets of the Bo Kaap.

[01] TV personalities Liezel van der Westhuizen and Jen Su. [02] The food was as glamorous as the fashion. [03] The new SL AMG 63 from MercedesBenz made its Cape Town debut at the event. [04] Durban designer Leigh Schubert’s elegant collection featured bright colours and soft, flowy lines. [05] Singer Lindiwe Suttle took to the stage with designer Craig Port. [06] Lalesso’s maxi dresses captured the tribal trend.

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[07] Inspired by the Victorian concept of The Language of Flowers, Gavin Rajah showed elegant dresses enlivened by digitally-printed blooms. [08] Dr Martin Zimmerman, CEO of Mercedes-Benz South Africa, with Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, Executive Chairperson of event organisers African Fashion International. [09] Fashionistas were treated to 18 shows over four days. [10] Global flair was on display at the Cape Town International Conference Centre. [11] Gavin Rajah takes a bow at the end of his flower-inspired show. [12] Opulent Livingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Florian Gast and Barbara Lenhard attended the event, along with Simone and Samuel Seeff. [13] The Habits fashion show brought gloriously flowy maxi dresses to the stage.

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porsche design

porsche design fashion

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Innovative technology. The perfect finish. And a good idea: less is more. The RawTech Blazer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a leather jacket without lining for men and women, cut from just one piece of the finest calfskin. Proof that fashion can become a timeless design classic. www.porsche-design.com Porsche Design Store Johannesburg | Hyde Park Corner | +27 11 325 5706 | Shop at: shopza.porsche-design.com

[01] Diners Club Managing Director Ebrahim Matthews and his wife Soraya. [02] Dr Wicus Nienaber and Elzilda Becker. [03] Chris Tinkler with Doreen and Teddy Hall. [04] Standard Bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Arnold Dippenaar. [05] Masterchef judge Pete Goffe-Wood was the chef for the evening. [06] The Conservatory at Franschhoek hosted the event. [07] Sugendhree Reddy of Standard Bank and Navin Reddy. [08] Opulent Livingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Barbara Lenhard and Florian Gast. [09] Former Springbok rugby player Bobby Skinstad paid tribute to the finalists. [10] Young Winemaker of the Year Anri Truter of Beyerskloof with Gugu Zikhali, Ian Oliver and Jane Ledger. [11] Radio presenter Elana Afrika, Ian Bredenkamp and Barbara Lenhard. [12] Sarah and Glenn Eccles. [13] Winemaker Nomonde Kubheka and wine critic and author Dave Hughes were both on the judging panel. [14] Judge and current Diners Club Best Wine Steward Ewan Mckenzie with Verity Fitzgerald. [15] The 2012 Winemaker of the Year Razvan Macici and his wife Melani show off his award.

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Honouring SA wine’s finest Wine lovers gathered in Franschhoek in November for one of the industry’s most prestigious events – the announcement of the Diners Club Winemaker and Young Winemaker of the Year.

he Conservatory, nestled among vineyards and ancient oaks in Franschhoek’s Happy Valley, provided the beautiful venue for the 32nd Diners Club Winemaker of the Year awards. The globally recognised credit card company supports fine wine through

various collaborations within the local wine industry and this prestigious event is one of the highlights of its calendar. Special Diners Club dignitaries flew in from as far afield as the US and joined industry leaders and previous winners of the coveted award at the gala dinner.

Aimed at encouraging winemakers in their quest to produce wine of ever-increasing quality, the awards are presented for the wine the judging panel considers to be the best in a specified class. The 2012 panel was chaired by wine critic Dave Hughes and joined by the International Wine and Spirit Board Winemaker of the Year, Neil McGuigan, CEO of Australian Vintage Ltd. For the first time ever, this year’s category was Dessert Wines (unfortified), and the winner was Razvan Macici of Nederburg for his Private Bin Eminence 2007. For Young Winemaker of the Year, the category was Dry Red, and Anri Truter of Beyerskloof won for his 2010 Diesel Pinotage.

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An evening of liquid gold AU.RA, South Africa’s longest-matured pot-still brandy, was launched to an exclusive Cape Town audience in October.

n a stylish evening put together by Opulent Living Experiences, brandy master Marlene Bester presented a truly exclusive brandy. Bishopscourt residence, La Montagne, provided the luxury setting and, with TV star Rapulana Seiphemo as MC, connoisseurs were treated to delicious brandy cocktails and gourmet canapés by chef Bertus Basson.

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Made at Van Ryn’s Distillery in Stellenbosch from a blend of rare pot-still brandies, aged for a minimum of 30 years, AU.RA is a collector’s item called after the symbol for gold, Au, and the Egyptian sun god, Ra. It comes in a crystal decanter and a oak case crafted by renowned local craftsmen. A true limited edition, there will ever only be 107 bottles available.

08 [01] TV star Rapulana Seiphemo. [02] Edward Morton, Horst Frehse, Nick Solomon and Nils Heckscher. [03] Johannesburg socialite Edith Venter with Opulent Living’s Florian Gast. [04] Leandra and Reagan Meyer. [05] Glass artist David Reade made the beautiful AU.RA decanters. [06] Shelley Ellse, Rapulana Seiphemo, Van Ryn’s master brandy maker Marlene Bester, furniture designer James Mudge, who made the oak cases, Barbara Lenhard of Opulent Living and Carrie Sanders. [07] Shay Davis and Angel Campey. [08] Bryan Slingers.

Photographs: andrew swarts