Those who are worried about the water crisis in Cape Town will be pleased to hear that Day Zero (the projected date when the city would cut the supply of water to its citizens) will not take place this year -  welcome news for both travellers and locals. 

​When considering the reasons why people visit Cape Town, many think of it as a top destination for Oenophiles (that’s wine lovers to the uninitiated), but there is also a foodie revolution going on in the metropolis. 

Bree Street, dubbed Cape Town’s coolest restaurant strip, is where foodies in the know are heading.  To get the inside track on the Bree Street food scene, we caught up with the team at travel agency Acacia Africa, who have offices in Cape Town, for their recommendations on the top 10 eateries in this new foodie hotspot. 

What’s Cooking On Bree Street? Top 10 restaurants to visit during your Cape Town holiday

La Parada

La Parada's amazing vibe comes a close second to the tapas served at the restaurant. If you’re a seafood lover, the seared sesame crusted tuna and prawn croquettes get top billing but arrive early if you want to experience the menu at sundown as you’ll be hard-pressed to find a seat.

Seabreeze Fish & Shell 
Oysters and bubbly anyone? Seabreeze Fish & Shell is one of the best places to down both, and if you’re a die-hard fish and chips fan or have yet to be converted, this is the place to get stuck in.

Pure Elixir Cafe
With its wooden Mother Earth vibe, it’s fitting that the Elixir Cafe is vegan-friendly. Its organic, preservative free and gluten-free options are thoughtful nods to the growing plant-based food movement and the homemade milk alternatives (such as almond, cashew, hemp, oat and coconut milk) will really get you enthused about living and eating more consciously. Not cheap, but the menu is progressive and the Organic Vegan Roti and Chocolate Smoothie should be on your “to go” list.

The Hot Skillet
Cooking from the screen to the streets, The Hot Skillet is run by former My Kitchen Rules SA finalists Gomotsegang Modiselle and Oginga Siwundla. You can expect a distinctly South African flavour in their dishes and their breakfast is “to get up for,” Eggs Benedict, Banger and Egg Sandwich and Cornflake Crusted Cinnamon French Toast on the mouth-watering menu. Every Friday is Braai Day, but housed inside The Young Blood Gallery, which exhibits incredible art from local artists, any day will be food for the soul.

Bowls on Bree
When you find out Bowls on Bree uses sustainably sourced ingredients, you know you’re on to a good thing. Their dishes are jam-packed with either trout, tofu or chicken - the added grains, greens and dressings ensuring you feel good from the inside-out!

Culture Club Cheese
Described as a “wedge of fabulousness,”  Culture Club Cheese is the place to dig into if you’re a fan of all things well, cheese - 80% of which is locally sourced. Toasted sandwiches which are literally drowning in toppings; healthy salads for the calorie counters amongst us, cheese platters, omelettes and more will have you seeing cheese in a brand new light.  The owner, Luke (a cheesemaker, monger and affineur from the UK) is impressively passionate about his offerings and there are many different flavours to be explored. Try the delicious tapas or even a camembert mac ‘n cheese.

La Tete
If you want to eat the whole beast head for La Tete. Chef Giles Edwards’ offal menu draws on dishes from the famous London restaurant St. Johns - where he worked previously - with a dash of South Africa thrown in. There are plenty of seafood options if you’re not big on meat and you can expect a varied menu on each visit as the menu is dependent on what's available locally.

Bacon on Bree
If you’re always left salivating when pork is on the menu, try Bacon on Bree, an upmarket 'baconporium.' Chow down on everything from bacon-and-brie croissants to baguettes topped with roasted tomato, bacon and brie. It has a relaxed ambience and checking out the secret courtyard is a must.

RED! The Gallery
Why settle for a coffee to go when you could stay and sip on your latte in an art gallery?  At “Red! The Gallery,” it’s all about appreciating South Africa’s best and emerging artists. Breakfast here will really fuel the imagination. Go for the campfire breakfast – three eggs cooked in onion, tomato and chillies all topped off with cheddar cheese. 

So, when it comes to finding a slice of foodie Heaven in Cape Town, head for Bree Street and you can't go wrong. ​

Sabine Behrmann

When we first arrived at Hopewell it was pouring rain, a huge disappoint to us but a welcome respite for the locals who had been battling with drought all year. Despite the rain, we were determined to enjoy our holiday, and our spirits were instantly lifted by the warm welcome from the staff who cheerily greeted us with chilled towels and a cold drink upon our arrival.

The accommodation
 
Located in South Africa’s stunning Eastern Cape, Hopewell is a chic private game reserve set within a malaria-free coastal valley bushveld. For guests looking for a more personal experience in a secluded environment, Hopewell is the perfect retreat as it only hosts groups of up to 12 guests.
 
Accommodation options at Hopewell Lodge include two executive suites (located in the main lodge) and four luxury suites (separate from the main lodge), all of which are surrounded by lush vegetation, giving each guest the impression they are the only people on the reserve. 

Each luxury suite has its own magnificent infinity pool and an expansive sundeck large enough for entertaining - although it’s unlikely you’ll want to share the jaw-dropping views with anyone other than your loved one as you gaze in awe at the impressive natural environment before you.
​
Whatever accommodation you choose, you’re guaranteed a superb view of the reserve, just don’t be surprised if the local wildlife pay a visit.  We had no sooner unpacked our bags to settle in to the Buffalo Suite, when an inquisitive kudu (a type of antelope with large Micky Mouse style ears) wandered up to the shrubs near our sundeck for a cheeky afternoon nibble.  Given our limited exposure to wild animals in London (apart from rowdy revellers on the night train), we were thrilled to witness the kudu going about his daily business without a care in the world and we watched silently until he disappeared back into the bush once he’d had his fill of leaves. 

The Buffalo Suite
 
Our suite was a study in rustic-chic casual elegance with polished concrete flooring and tasteful dark walnut furnishings.  The white-washed wooden ceiling beams created a striking focal point, competing only with the brick fire place, which takes centre stage in the room along with a free-standing bath that’s begging for you to sink into it with a glass of South African pinotage in one hand and a book in the other.
 
Finishing touches to the décor provided a subtle reminder of the location; in keeping with our suite’s namesake, our suite had a buffalo motif including ceramic buffalo heads, a buffalo sculpture and buffalo pillows. 

The chic decor in the Buffalo Suite

Private infinity pools don't get much better than this

​The suites have been designed with couples in mind as the shower is fully open in the centre of the bathroom, so it’s best suited for exhibitionists! For those wishing to embrace their naturist spirit, they can also shower in the buff in the outdoor shower where they can scrub to their heart’s content while watching the sun rise of over the hills.

Each night, the cleaner provides a turn-down service, which includes a lovely chocolate on your pillow. Given our visit fell over the Valentine’s Day weekend, she scattered fresh rose petals in the bath and formed a heart shape with the petals on our bed, which made the day even more special.

​The cuisine
 
Hopewell Lodge operates on an all-inclusive basis with all meals, house wines, local beers and spirits, soft drinks, tea and coffee included in the rates. Meals are served three times a day with meal times scheduled around the game drives.  As all meals are communal and served in the main lodge, it is advisable that you make friends with the other guests upon arrival so you can all collaboratively agree on timings for your drives and meals.
 
For breakfast guests can graze on fresh fruits, yogurts, cold meats and cheeses. There is also the option of a full English breakfast for those who wish to have a cooked breakfast.   As there is no menu to choose from for lunch and dinner, fussy guests or those with allergies should inform staff in advance of their arrival, to ensure that they’re catered for.  With two three-course meals a day, all prepared by the chef using local produce, you won’t go hungry!  To accompany each meal, guests can select a bottle of fine South African wine from the cellar or choose a beverage of their choice from the fully-stocked bar.

​The safari experience – daily game drives allowing guests to encounter a wealth of animals in their natural habitat
 
Each day guests are given the opportunity to go on two game drives – typically early morning (from 6am) and late afternoon (around 4:30), although guests can pick which time is most convenient for them. Given that my husband and I aren’t exactly morning people, we were thrilled that our first morning drive was at 8:30am, allowing us to get a bit of much needed shut eye.
 
For each drive, guests (a maximum of eight at one time) pile into a Land Cruiser to embark on a two-hour drive through the reserve in hopes of catching a glimpse of the amazing animals living there. With a cool breeze on my face as the Land Cruiser bumped along over the muddy path, the stresses and strains of city life were a million miles away.  As your eyes continually scan for animals, shrubbery and logs start to take on animal-shaped guises as you will yourself to see something, anything, however, we needn’t have worried about not seeing any animals. 

Over the course of three drives, we saw an abundance of wildlife including: cheetah (Hopewell runs a cheetah sanctuary and they even have a hand-reared cheetah named ‘Tabo’ who you can pet under supervision of the ranger on duty), rhinos, giraffes, impala, hippos, zebra, water bucks, bush pigs, spring hares (small animals similar to a mini kangaroo), hartebeest (the fastest antelope in South Africa), kudu, elante (South Africa’s largest antelope), spotted eagle owls and a variety of other exotic birds. 

​We also encountered what appeared to be the world’s largest, scariest looking spider in our room, which turned out to be a huntsman spider - a long-limbed, lizard eating spider that is second in size only to the tarantula - a stark reminder that we weren’t in Kansas anymore, as the saying goes!

During the highly educational safari the ranger shared a wealth of interesting facts, arming us with lots of ammunition that we can use at our next pub quiz, such as the gestation period of different animals (15 months for a giraffe, for the curious minded).

​The verdict
 
Hopewell Lodge is the perfect place for those looking to get away from it all, providing guests with both unrivalled relaxation and an exhilarating safari experience that you’ll remember for years to come.
 
The details
 
Prices from £680 per night for an Executive Suite based on two sharing (prices vary depending on time of year you book).

​The nearest airport is Port Elizabeth. As there are no direct flights from the UK to Port Elizabeth, UK travellers need to fly to Johannesburg and take a connecting flight to Port Elizabeth.  For a stress-free arrival at the reserve, guests have the option of arranging a private airport transfer (journey time is approximately 40 minutes).

Hopewell Lodge
Colchester
Eastern Cape
South Africa
PO Box 374
Alexandria
6185
​
www.hopewell-lodge.com

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Thanda Island, Tanzania

Situated in southern Tanzania’s Shungi Mbili Island Marine Reserve, Thanda Island offers exquisite tropical privacy for families and friends to enjoy on a sole-use basis.

It has taken 10 years to discover and develop this remarkably uncommon destination. Off-grid and solar-powered, Thanda Island offers guests an environmentally sensitive, fun and restorative Indian Ocean experience in total seclusion. Comprising an expansive five-bedroom villa featuring an impressive glass rim-flow swimming pool and a huge indoor aquarium to rival its outdoor counterpart, it combines casual beach-house living with outdoor ocean adventures. The villa accommodates 10 adults, with the option of additional children sharing.

Exclusive use of Thanda Island is available through Aardvark Safaris from US$10,000 (£7,150) per night, (minimum stay of 3-7 nights depending on the season). This all-inclusive rate includes a team of dedicated staff, boat transfers from Mafia Island and all the activities offered on the island, along with all meals and drinks including Thanda’s handpicked selection of wines and champagnes. Spa treatments, diving, exclusive wines and champagnes are extra.

Essque Zalu Zanzibar 

Essque Zalu Zanzibar is a stunning boutique beach front property, nestled in a natural cove on the north east coast of Zanzibar.  Featuring 40 suites and nine three and four-bedroom villas, three distinct restaurants showcasing local cuisine, and a stunning spa, the retreat already offers the bespoke, personalised service for which Per AQUUM is renowned.
 
Available through Aardvark Safaris from £300 per night on B&B basis.

www.aardvarksafaris.co.uk 
​

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True Luxury Travel, a new luxury travel agency has announced the first 5 star safari and fit camp hosted by Broga founder Matt Miller in May 2016 at the Leobo Reserve in South Africa.

The all-inclusive 7-night adventure isn’t your conventional yoga retreat. Safari based activities in the private reserve will be combined with daily yoga and fitness sessions as well as personalised food plans organised by Matt.

Leobo is one of only a handful of sole-use private reserves in South Africa allowing guests full access to the entire estate and all of its facilities. Hosted by celebrity trainer Matt Miller, you will enjoy sunset yoga and sundowners overlooking the plains and in the evenings you will enjoy customised healthy gourmet cuisine by a top chef.
 
Leobo combines adventure and thrills with flora and fauna. This is a luxury fitness safari like no other. Think quad bikes, helicopter flights, cross country Polaris buggies, sky diving, and night drives with military grade vision kit. You may not even have time for your complimentary massage. 

The lodge sits high on a kopje and captures from the moment you arrive with breathtaking views over the African savannah. Head chef Chris will produce outstandingly nutritional cuisine throughout your stay to compliment your exercise each day. 

Each morning, acclaimed trainer Matt Miller will lead optional boot camp sessions and running safaris. After an afternoon at your own leisure in the playground that is Leobo Lodge, Matt will host sunset yoga and sundowners overlooking the plains - the perfect way to start an evening of customised healthy gourmet cuisine. Not to mention the staff are a dream and it boasts a wine cellar stocked with the finest Cape vintages on tap. 
 
Daily Activities Include:

• Morning fitness activities with celebrity trainer Matt Miller
• Sunset Yoga and sundowners
• Night time game drives with thermal imaging equipment
• Heated pool and Jacuzzi

The all-inclusive seven-night trip starts at £2,500 per person (excluding flights).

www.trueluxury.travel
 

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