A day of luxury at the One&Only

The Only&Only is one of the ultimate luxury hotels in Cape Town. 

Surrounded by water canals and the vista that is Table Mountain, the One&Only is a stone's throw from the city center of Cape Town and borders the famous Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. This establishment engulfs you in the lap of luxury. 

I was lucky enough to spend the day exploring the hotel and all it has to offer. The day started off right with bubbles and a feast at the well know Reuben's. This restaurant is his first urban restaurant and showcases local flavours and produce while honouring heritage and culture. Reuben and his head Chef Chris Mare have partnered up with sommelier Luvo Ntezo who has paired top quality food with some of the best local wines to take you on a taste journey that will leave you wanting for more. 

If you find yourself at the One&Only and needing the ultimate relaxation then why not book yourself into their spa? The spa is fully equipped, the treatments are professional and elaborate with qualified therapists ready to tailor make an experience to suit your unique needs. If you are having a massage, then definitely add in the hot stone therapy to work out the tension. 

Once you are finished and wrapped in a spa cocoon (aka spa gown) you will be treated to a variety of healthy snacks, a swim in their glorious pool that wouldn't find itself out of place in a Bond caper.

If you are yearning for more "me time" why not visit the saunas and hot tub for that extra needed R&R?

Treat Yo Self. 

Ending off the day with the sunset over the ocean and the clouds dancing like fire in the sky, I sat over looking the canals at cocktail hour with a flavorsome cocktail in one hand and a devil-may-care attitude in the other.

The mixologist focuses on less processed sugary cocktails and rather uses real food flavoring such as citrus peel and rose petals. Ask for the Moscow mule, you won't regret it. The perfect combination of flavors with frozen gooseberries and dried grapefruit is, in my opinion, a close 10. 

After sundowners, I enjoyed a world class experience at Nobu Restaurant. With Asian inspired dishes the food was simply delicious. 

You can try the full a la carte menu or the lighter tapas menu. Each dish was unique and well thought out with the perfect execution. Coupled with a few litchi martinis I was indeed a very happy girl!  

The One&Only offers an experience that makes you feel truly considered. Friendly, helpful staff with a magnificent location, spectacular food and all the amenities you could want for. 

It stands up to some of the top international hotels I have experienced and offers that extra special something that only South Africa can.  

-Melissa 

Cellars Hohenort & GreenHouse Restaurant

Picture a five-star oasis tucked away in the forest at the foot of a mountain in one of the oldest suburbs in Cape Town, Constantia. 

That is Cellars Hohenort. Part of the Liz Mcgrath collection this establishment boast one of the top ten restaurants in South Africa - The Green House, a luxurious spa, the Conservatory restaurant and of course, the most exquisite garden towering with giant oaks and lush green vegetation that you have ever seen. Oh and did I mention the cute ducks waddling around? Jemima Puddleduck eat your heart out!

Cellars have created the ultimate getaway experience where you will never want to leave and the best part? It is only a 25-minute drive outside of the Cape Town CBD. 

The hotel offers multiple amenities from guided garden walks, free gym passes, free wifi, airport shuttles, city tours and of course arranging wine tasting at the wonderful wine farms in the area. 

The rooms are large and sophisticated with king size beds. The bathrooms offer a large walk in shower and bath with heated towel rails and all the extras you could need for. My room over looked the lush gardens with a gorgeous balcony where you can sip your morning tea and enjoy the view as the sun rises. Each room has a mini bar and full tea set along with a welcome bottle of wine. Every detail has been thought of to ensure ultimate comfort. 

Dining at Cellars will leave you with several options of breath taking restaurants and bars. The first is the Conservatory. A classic dining experience with local food and flavours that have been elevated to a taste sensation experience brought to you by head chef Paul Nash and Executive chef Peter Templehoff. Perfect for a romantic dinner away from the hustle and bustle of the city. This restaurant over looks the beautiful gardens and has an oak tree encased in the middle as they built around this giant as if to honour it. The food is eclectic and light and is perfectly executed. The menu has local favourites and something for everyone. Make sure you try the Boland cheese souffle with gin sauce! You will never be the same again! 

The pride of the Mcgrath collection is the flagship restaurant, GreenHouse restaurant. Run by Executive Chef Peter Templehoff and Head Chef Ashley Moss. A sleek and modern restaurant on the property that will take you on a taste journey, unlike anything you have experienced before. He combines theatre and art into food with immaculate plating and wonderfully paired wine. The tasting menu at The Green House is one of my favourite local dining experiences and I can see why it has ranked top ten for the last eight years in the prestigious 'Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant awards' 

A wildly talented team that create the perfect bite, every. single. time. 

If you are in the mood for the ultimate relaxation then why not take a leisurely walk post lunch through the gardens at Cellars Hohenort and explore all the corners of the property before you make your way to the spa to get enveloped into the lap of ultimate luxury. 

What ever your needs the friendly and helpful staff will make sure they are filled. Cellars Hohenort is a wonderful establishment to host you all year round in ultimate comfort and sophistication and I for one, cannot wait to return. 

-Melissa 

AfrikaBurn - Play - A photo journal

I don't want to tell you how to survive Burn. You can read that on their site. It's called radical self-reliance (a practice that should be carried out in your everyday life). I want to instead, share with you ten points. I believe these points will help you thrive once all the prep is done and you have arrived in Tankwa Town, a magical place that will inspire you and leave you changed. 

1. Let go of comparing. 

2. Let go of competing. 

3. Let go of judgments.

4. Let go of anger. 

5. Let go of regrets. 

6. Let go of worrying.

7. Let go of blame. 

8. Let go of guilt.

9. Let go of fear. 

10. Have a good belly laugh at least once a day, especially about your inability to let go of any or all of the above. 

Remember this; be kind, don't litter, support each other and look after our planet - we only have one. 

-Melissa 

p.s Life is short. If you can go, GO!

Cederberg Mountains and the Wolfberg cracks!

So my friend Julie has this boyfriend named Ian. He is a really great guy that loves adventure more than anyone or anything. I like Ian. I didn't like Ian when he chose to have his 30th birthday in the Cederberg which involved the dustiest dirt road that was horribly rough on my little car and entailed a giant hike that was 6 hours long. Kidding (not really).
My car had beeping lights the entire way and I was convinced it was going to fall apart.

A four-hour drive out of Cape Town and we arrived at our campsite in Krom Rivier. Julie and I, of course, decided that Ian deserved a giant Steri Stumpie cake. For those of you who aren't South African; it is a local strawberry flavoured milk drink. Needless to say, the cake barely made it intact to the campsite. I was very impressed it survived the journey. The heat was absolutely unforgiving on my perfect buttercream! Eventually, I was happy to be safe in the camp site under oak trees, eating cake. 

The main event of the weekend was, of course, the Wolfberg cracks. I will let you guys in on a little secret. I exercise because I have to. If I didn't I would be morbidly obese with my career. Julie had spent the better part of the Saturday morning telling me that the hike wasn't that bad. That I could totally do it. The question was would I be able to walk after I had done it?

The answer, no.

I couldn't walk properly for two days afterward. Was it worth it? Absolutely yes. It was simply spectacular. The cracks are unlike anything I have ever seen. If you ever find yourself in the area - it is a must. The cool part is that once you are down you can go wine tasting and swimming in a crystal clear river. I couldn't believe that something so beautiful was right in our back yard. Often with my life on social media, I have this wanderlust for travel. Have you seen the Utah slot canyons? Well if you dream of them then this one is for you. If you are local, it is so affordable. For R100 per person you can camp and for R50 per person, you can get a permit for the hike! What a win. I spent the week dreaming of going back and believe it or not, I am booking it for my birthday in January despite the wide range of emotions I had on that mountain.

So in closing. Thank you, Julie, for lying to me and Ian for turning 30. I will return to this magical place and I am dragging you with me! 

Click here for details if you would like to book or read up more about this adventure! 

-Melissa 

Tilney Manor at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve

Picture the Klein Karoo 350 years ago. Its beauty awe inspiring with deep blue skies, glowing red rocks and succulents scattered across the land.  The big five (Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Elephant and Buffalo) roam free and are found thriving in a seemingly unforgiving landscape. Incredulously, this harsh environment that is classed as a semi arid desert has the ability to sustain South Africa’s greatest game.

Now, insert modern man. The farmer to be more accurate. In a nutshell? The beautiful animals disappeared and everything changed. 

It sounds like a rather sad story and in truth, man has a lot to answer for. I could discuss at length how we are destroying our planet but instead I am going to tell a tale of the glass half full. 
A reserve that is doing everything in their power to reintroduce animals that once roamed free in the Klein Karoo and restore balance and sustainability to a landscape all but denuded in the interest of human settlement and western progress. 

Sanbona wildlife reserve is one of the largest private game reserves in the world, covering roughly 54 000 hectares. It boasts several lodges on the farm and I stayed at Tilney Manor, more suited for a couples retreat. Tilney Manor is a beautiful house that dates back to the early 1900’s and is run by friendly staff.
The manor offers a rim flow pool, spa, outside showers on your patio and a view over the entire Karoo from your luxurious bedroom complete with fireplace to keep you warm in the winter.

The reserve is owned by the Caleo Foundation, in association with Shamwari Group an NPO with a clear vision to conserve both people and animals on an equal footing, since both feed off the success of the other in a well balanced symbiotic relationship. 
I grew up going to the bush further north. The landscape is thick, lush and green close to the Kruger National Park. The Klein Karoo is the opposite. I was aware that the reserve host the big five but I couldn’t quite picture it. How did these animals survive this climate? There aren’t many trees to offer the animals respite from the scorching sun and at night temperatures can plummet to well below zero. 
It is testament to the strength of the animals to not only survive but thrive in this habitat and I could not wait to go on safari and see them.

I was lucky enough to experience two game drives a day with an incredibly knowledgeable ranger, Chris, in one of the newly appointed safari vehicles which ensured a luxurious drive throughout the reserve.
Our first sighting was something I haven’t experienced before. Since the game vehicles are not allowed to venture off the road, we alighted and took to the bush on foot.
After walking for about 250 metres we were stopped and briefed on the animal we were about to see, *Insert keep calm here*
Amazingly, we were upon a female cheetah with a fresh kill, less than 20 meters away. I stood in awe of such a majestic animal. 

Every sighting was humbling to say the least. The reserve has 6 lions, 3 of which are white lions. White lions are a result of a recessive gene and are beyond magnificent to see in the wild. 
The Lions at Sanbona are some of the last remaining white lion left on planet earth that continue to hunt for themselves in the wild. 

With buffalo and an amazing elephant herd sighting to follow, we were spoilt. We experienced a safari by boat and caught sight of the reserves hippo pod.
Each afternoon drive was finished off with sundowners and a beautiful view. To stand in silence and take in the Klein Karoo was simply spectacular! I had to take a moment and just… breathe.  

The food is centered on traditional South African cuisine and meals are served outside on the patio (weather permitting).
We were treated to a traditional South African braai, which in my books you can never go wrong with! Sipping gin and tonics around the open fire we talked about our days of exciting sightings with other guests and gazed up at the milky way. 
The food is unpretentious and made with love. The Chef is local and is truly a man who puts his heart and soul into his food.
My favorite dish was the crispy pork belly with camembert and juicy fig, finished off with the perfect crème brulee.

Thinking back over the last two days of my time at Sanbona and the amazing animals I saw, I felt a sense of hope. Hope, that game reserves such as Sanbona and the wildlife conservation programs they are running - one day, the beautiful landscape will be restored to its former glory. 
Hope that one day we can truly view nature as it should be, with respect for all things great and small.

-Melissa 

*If you would like to donate and help raise awareness against poaching in South Africa then click here. EVERY cent helps. 

*This blog post was sponsored by Sanbona wildlife. All opinions are my own.