My last trip to South Africa was particularly special. It encompassed such a range of experiences and really was over the top!
We started at for the first few nights at Jaci’s Camp, in Madikwe reserve, a red-earthed area near Botswana. I was so pleased to be put in the Nare Suite, which was originally Jaci’s home with her husband and kids while they were building the lodge. My bedroom (pictured above) opened up to the outdoors, and a private plunge pool looking out at the forest. Upstair were children’s rooms...and I can’t wait to come back with my Bill and the kids!
Then we headed to Cape Town for a luxurious stay at the Cape Grace Hotel. It was here that I discovered a new drink called a Strawberry Dream using one of my favorite South African concoctions, Amarula (made from a berry which grows in South Africa, and makes the elephants drunk!) They blend Amarula with strawberries, ice, cream and vodka, and served it in a tall cone shaped glass, topped with a strawberry and a real porcupine quill stir stick.
Later that day, we were walking on the beach with my friend Michael, and the owner and founder of Grootbos Nature Reserve, sipping champagne and learning about the amazing ecosystems, dunes and flowers in the Western Cape outside of Cape Town. The next day he took us whale watching off the coast, while great white sharks swam past our boat as we observed people cage diving with sharks.
This was followed by a visit to interact with rescued cheetahs being saved and protected by Annie Beckhelling at Cheetah Outreach. It was very special to be able to touch a real cheetah. I was taken by how rough their fur is.
Then we made our way to La Residence, the ultimate wine country villa in Franschoek, where we were guests of Liz Biden’s team Len and Johann is their fabulous ultra-chic chateaux. Especially fun was sitting in couches in the kitchen (pictured below) with them while they cooked meals to die for, while sipping on a local pinot noir. I had an amazing bedroom and my bathroom (also pictured) was large enough to have a small cocktail party in...(and I did!)
Finally we flew up to Royal Malewane up in the Hoedspruit area bordering Kruger National Park for the last part of the trip. Royal Malewane is Liz Biden’s game ranch where she and her husband Phil used to simply entertain their friends, turned ultimate luxury safari lodge. Liz likes to joke that her husband Phil says that if he isn’t careful she’ll turn their home in Cape Town into a hotel too, since she has already done so with their beach house -- Birkenhead House, wine estate - La Residence, and now Royal Malewane! Royal Malewane was truly one of the most beautiful lodges I had ever seen. The food was incredible -- accommodations being the largest suite in Africa...and game drives with master trackers --
On our last night, they set up a Moroccan tent in the middle of the wilderness, took us out by torch light, and we ate a feast made for kings! Oh, I swear I’ll never be the same again.
