ESCAPE

FOUR UNIQUE STAYS JUST A FEW HOURS’ DRIVE FROM JOBURG

#HelloJoburg

by Bianca Spinner Images: Supplied

ROSEMARY HILL FARM, PRETORIA Drive: 45 minutes

If you want to reconnect with nature in a tiny house in the forest, Rosemary Hill would happily invite you in. That’s if you can secure a booking, of course. Still, this needs to be on top of your bucket list.

We had the most memorable experience, staying in their so-called Cabinville – a collection of cabins on the most fashionable farm just outside of Pretoria.

Rosemary Hill’s beautiful dwellings are so unique and exquisitely designed, you wouldn’t want to leave. Here, each of the units or pods are unique. We recommend staying in The Huddle - a converted shipping container. This tiny home away from home sleeps two and it’s the perfect escape for couples, boasting a romantic outdoor bath and fire pit. Or opt for Pod Idladla, designed and manufactured in South Africa by Clara da Cruz Almeida. Also a two-sleeper, this pod radiates grooviness with a touch of luxury.

Rosemary Hill’s Cabinville has to be one of the chicest, most fun-filled experiences we’ve had in a long time.

You don’t need to travel far to witness magical majestic settings within our country. Just a short drive from the Joburg CBD is where you will find these explorations. Go on, leave the pubs behind for a weekend and create everlasting memories.

LUSH LODGE, BLACK RHINO GAME RESERVE Drive: 2hr 50min

This luxurious lodge is one of South Africa’s best kept secrets. Remote, exclusive, opulent and complete with villa-style accommodation, this bush lodge is the epitome of a five-star stay. The three story private villas have ample space and feature a private plunge pool, coffee station, outdoor tub and shower, as well as a deck with swinging chairs from where you get to watch shimmering sunsets.

Being family-owned and managed, Lush Lodge has that extra special touch of excellence. The food is divine, the daily game drives are fabulous, the staff are friendly and all your needs are catered for. There is an effortless connected flow between indoor and outdoor spaces and you will soon see the lodge as the hero of the Pilanesberg.

Here is where you enter another world as your door opens to your villa. It’s nothing short of magical. You will marvel at the architecture and design - so pristine, so oversized and luxurious and oh, so lush.

Q @lush_lodge

KWA MARITANE BUSH LODGE, PILANSBERG Drive: 2 hours

When a hotel chain as well-known as Legacy is onboard, you know the experience will be an unforgettable one.

We recently visited Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge and we were blown away by the vast variety of child-friendly activities and other offerings.

It’s tranquil and beautiful, and the rooms have everything you need. Even leading up to your arrival, your expectations are high and well, it certainly delivers.

Kwa Maritane’s staff clearly takes pride in what they do and as a team they only add to an already incredible and authentic African feel – something one can only expect from the bush.

Not only does Kwa Maritane offer safaris for children from as young as 6 months old, but on site there is a trampoline, a rock-climbing wall, bush golf, a jungle gym within a giant sandpit, swings, slides, child-friendly heated swimming pools, tennis courts, bush boma dinners for the entire family and finally, the hide. The hide is spectacular for the entire family. This is where you will venture down a dark cave-like walkway to enter the beauty of the bush. Situated in front of a watering hole, the hide allows you to truly be one with nature. Here you can witness leaping springboks and zebra braying and snorting. All the wildlife sightings here are spectacular and you might even spot a lion snarling or a hyena chuckling.

Q @kwamaritanesa

LEADWOOD SAFARI, DINOKENG Drive: 1 hour

This Safari camp is a once in a lifetime experience, nestled in the Dinokeng Nature Reserve, which is just around the corner! Boasting lovely self-catering teepee tents, Leadwood Safari’s glamping experience is enriched even further with exciting daily game drives.

Glampers can take over the entire camp too, which makes for a fabulous family weekend away, or an exciting year-end company getaway. Here you can immerse yourself in the beauty and rawness of nature.

There is a kitchen on site, plus some roaring enclosed hot burners in the tents for those chilly spring evenings. The bell tents are warm and cosy, allowing you to fall asleep to the sound of gruff barking of kudus nearby. This destination reminds you to appreciate the beauty of nature. It’s an oasis with impressive additions and genius inclusions, like a hot tub and a natural bushveld-style pool for warm summer days. H