Cape Town - Sun, wind, rain, mist, calm, hoots of delight and laughter – another lovely four-seasons-in-one-day with something for everyone at Silvermist Estate on the apex of Cape Town’s Constantia Nek.
A lot has happened since the Louws decided to transform what was a hillside of pine, gum and bush into a stunning estate. Of their 51 hectares, 8.5 is under vine with more on the way, while fynbos is constantly rehabilitated. It’s all happening apace and, sitting with winemaker Gregory Louw, it’s easy to see why.
Louw has an infectious energy and makes beautiful wines on the area’s only organic certified estate, with the Rocket Dog Red and single vinyard 2014 sauvignon blanc long sold out.
The standard sauvignon blanc, which we sipped in the delightful Green Vine, was superb too. As was the food (great breakfasts) and the Rocket Dog Bar’s chilled atmosphere.
Just over a year ago, celebrated La Colombe restaurant moved to Silvermist – book well in advance for a table with forest and mountain views – and SA Forest Adventures set up a zipline (from where the hoots and laugher originated), which affords even better views while catching your breath. You overlook Longkloof Nature Reserve and the Twelve Apostles mountain range to the north and, to the east, Constantia Valley, False Bay and the distant Hottentots Holland mountains. Plans include a boutique hotel, truffle and mushroom production. Sold – zipline and sinker.
We had a suite with large bathroom, tasteful décor and comfy chairs before an excellent fireplace, opening onto a private stoep which looked on to the back of Table Mountain, a tree-lined garden, and steps down to a lovely, large pool area.
We had to skip the breakfast rosti we loved for a seven-and-a-half-hour drive to the Karoo which I’d previously associated with long, long stretches of parched scrub one races through to get somewhere else.
Once we turned from Beaufort West, however, the scenery changed and our destination, Mount Camdeboo Private Game Reserve east of Graaff Reinet, was rather unexpected.
What a wonderful place, with accommodation in large, gracious gabled manors with lovely gardens and swimming pools – attentive, friendly staff and impeccable service. For me the best recommendations for Mt Camdeboo are chef Charles McDonald and Juanita Slabbert’s stories. They arrived as guests and returned as staff. High teas, elegant dining and bush braais, and game drives with Les Slabbert were rewarding and educational.
The Sneeuberg mountain range valley is a more verdant than the surrounding countryside and, once up the steep slopes, one has fabulous views of typical Karoo mountain formations and plains beyond, while being in grasslands teeming with game.
The 14 000ha Mt Camdeboo reserve is home to White rhino, Cape buffalo, giraffe, mountain zebra, a host of antelope, birds galore and unique flora and, eventually, we spotted an elusive cheetah – most surprisingly (no doubt for him) being chased by a zebra.
It is hard to adequately photograph the wraparound magnificence – far easier to put the camera aside and just take it all in. Night time in the vast stillness, under the canopy of a four-poster bed, is – pun intended – the stuff dreams are made of.
l Visit www.silvermistvineyards.co.za and www.mountcamdeboo.com
Adrian Rorvik, Sunday Tribune
First Car Rental is proud to be the car hire company of choice to drive Adrian Rorvik to experience the best in luxury lifestyle. He travelled to Silvermist Mountain Lodge and Wine Estate, tucked away on the Table Mountain Reserve hills above Constantia Nek and to Mount Camdeboo Private Game Reserve, five-star luxury property in the heart of the great Karoo. Experience the Cape with First Car Rental – www.firstcarrental.co.za