There is NOTHING small about the Robertson Small Hotel; well there is; actually it’s the small extras and gestures that make this hotel BIGGER and BETTER than most.

For instance on arrival at reception you are kindly told to drive to the end of the road, turn left and left again and the porter will wait for you. Yes it takes up the whole block almost, nothing small. The garden is divided into lush greenery and Karoo vegetation with large cactus plants. The Spa is separate and they boast 2 pool areas on the property, yes nothing small once again.

You are greeted with a smile and a glass of spritzer as your welcome drink and it goes down very well after a road trip.

As they show you to your room you pass lots of plants and the garden area is very tranquil and relaxing. But the minute you step into your room, you feel like you have gone from Cinderella into the Princess. The room is large and spacious and luxurious in all ways. A beautiful bunch of flowers awaits in your room for your stay, or to take with if you wish. Mini bar is stocked up and is included in your rate, a selection of teas and coffee – from filter to instant, mini sweets and chocolates for you to enjoy. Then if that is not all, you have a bottle of Sparkling wine on ice waiting for you, and a bottle of Red wine. I mean I could stay in my room all day and night, I did not want to leave, so comfortable, relaxing and everything I wanted. The only thing missing was my own Butler. They do a turn down service, I guess that can do for now 🙂

Where do I start, the bathroom is massive, with a large shower and in the shower is a bucket that says “save water, shower together” and a huge bath with lots of shelf space for your wine glass. And one of my favourite small things that I especially enjoy in a room is having my own slippers and towelling gowns to use,  and yes they even thought of socks to go with it. I just love coming out of a shower in the morning or evening and putting on my gown while enjoying a cup of coffee and relaxing. The bathroom has double basins with soaps, shampoos and creams available to enjoy. Plus a real added bonus is that all the water from the bathroom is recycled into the lovely garden, so no water wastage at this hotel. Another small thing that is a big thing, is they have shutters between the bathroom and bedroom, so you have a choice of keeping them open or closing them for privacy. I just love that they thought about the cupboards by providing lights in there, such a bonus to see your clothes!

Outside my room is a lovely patio area with different seating options overlooking our pool and the garden, and the perfect spot to sit and read or do some writing.  Forget the cell phones and enjoy the peace and tranquility this hotel has. As you sit and sip your coffee, you hear the lovely garden birds sing and soon you forget about this world and wander into a fantasy of fairy-tales and white horses.

Dinner was so delicious, we chose the oxtail, it was soft, juicy with meat falling off the bone. The starter beetroot and cheese salad we shared and mozzarella and spinach balls with sauce, was just right. After the most enjoyable dinner I could not resist some dessert, and it was worth it! So much worth it I never had time to take a photo, it went down too quickly, sorry.

At breakfast you are spoilt for choice with a large variety of yoghurts, seeds, freshly baked breads, cured meats and and and…..plus a hot breakfast is available with your own pot of filter coffee.

The Robertson small hotel is perfect for a honeymoon couple or just some sneaky time away from home. Please visit and be spoiled, you deserve it!  We believe it’s the small things that count in life.

This hotel has also won some awards and rightly so:

Tatler Travel Guide 2012 – Best Hotel in the World

Luxury Hotel Awards Winner – 2014

Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence

Bookings can be made at reservations@the robertsonsmallhotel.com

There are some places and experiences that I believe is on everybody’s bucket, like trekking untamed Mountain Gorillas, surely? Is it the adventure or the adrenaline that captures us, or just plain curiosity of being so close to Gorillas?

What seemed like a fairy tale, the reality was that I was booked and ready to go Gorilla trekking in Uganda to meet the Mountain Gorillas, did I say the Untamed Mountain Gorillas? Deep into Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in deep deep Africa.

The thought of embarking on this journey was somewhat daunting. I mean I am not tall, nor am I anywhere near to having mighty strength like Samson.  I am not invisible or as small as a mosquito. I was only but a human treading in nature’s way, traversing on Gorilla homeland. What if the Gorilla did not like me, my smell, sensed my fear, saw my height and what if our eyes locked and he felt threatened by me? Yes is was exciting and at the same time a once in a lifetime experience, but as the quote by Sir Edmund Hillary states: “It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” The challenge was not only being in the presence of those amazing creatures but the challenge was climbing and conquering the mountain. I had watched the videos and was prepared to know that it was not going to be an easy task at all. But I was not planning to give up!

Firstly I had to buy proper hiking boots and walk them in, I chose the K-Way Atlas boot. https://www.capeunionmart.co.za I trained every day, climbing up hills and down, up and down till the sweat was pouring off my face. Till I could not walk anymore, then I knew my training for the day was done. 3 months before my journey was to begin, I had started to train. I trained hard as I was not going to go all the way to Uganda and not be able to finish what I had trained for, what I had paid for, what I had dreamed about. I was not going to fail and I was not planning on dropping out. I drank water, ate well and exercised hard. It had paid off.

Arriving at our Gorilla Safari lodge for the night, we all knew it was not going to be a long night of gin and tonics or laughter. But a good night’s rest was needed for the full day’s adventure the next day.

We had an early morning wake up call, ate a good solid hearty breakfast, cameras ready and off we went with our guide. I was dressed in comfy but old attire with long sleeves, thick garden gloves and socks pulled over my well-worn jeans, I looked ready for a trek.

On the drive to Bwindi Forest we were all excited and nervously laughing and chatting to each other; but no one was listening to anyone. All just deep in thought with silent prayers being prayed as we knew this was it. Yes the echo of the song came to mind “If this is it, please let me know…”

The rangers were all dressed in forest green military uniform with rifles positioned on their side and a machete in their pocket. They split us into small groups of eight and did a safety briefing, explaining the different sounds we might hear from the Gorillas. Permits were paid and forms signed. I felt my heart racing and increase waves of nervousness which I was hoping no one would notice as I gave a fake laugh and smiled to everyone in our group. I was silently praying I would see tomorrow, I was really scared! Thoughts and questions raced through my mind, had I trained enough and would I be safe? This was no exaggeration!

We had the option of paying extra for a porter, which I did – it was the best 20 USD I have ever spent!! He carried my backpack plus 2 litres of water and never left my side. 

We each grabbed a walking stick for the trek which was free for us to use. Last minute toilet stops and then we were ready to roll. Actually we were ready to come face to face with Mountain Gorillas. It was scary as we were told we have to be quiet and we had to walk behind one another in a row. There were wild elephants in the forest which we might encounter. Now if Mountain gorillas were not scary enough to deal with, we were also told about wild elephants which could be greeting us. I knew enough about elephants to have respect for them and keep out of their way. I wanted to be in the middle of the row, but the ranger asked me to be in the front and lead us. Like really? Are you kidding, I was the smallest and probably the most petrified. But as I walked with my porter next to me, I realized how professional the rangers were, as they choose either the oldest, smallest or youngest to keep the pace, so there is no gap between the rows of walkers. I felt safe as the Ranger and Guide were in front and another Ranger at the end of our row with a machine gun; in case we encountered aggressive elephants, plus a few porters in-between.

We started our walk up and then slowly down a bit, then up again in a zig-zag direction. It had rained two days prior and the ground in some places was still wet and soggy. Certain areas we had to climb over broken tree branches and roots that elephants had trodden over and broken. Puddles of water in some places meant we had to balance on wet rocks to cross over; whilst holding onto our legendary porter so that we did not slip in the mud or twist an ankle.

Again we walked up. We had started our trek early and kept walking and walking. The forest had no pathway and it was difficult to imagine that we were doing a trek without a trail to guide us. The forest was dense with greenery, thickets and branches into twined with each other. It is not called the Impenetrable Forest for nothing! The name itself says there is no exit.

As we walk our experienced ranger in front had a machete and with an quick swift sway of his arm the dense branches were hacked away to make space for us to enter through thickets of stinging nettles. We forged through the thick forest leaving behind broken branches and leaves until we reached the Gorilla family. Not only had I started to feel safe but very Victorian with my own porter, a little like Royalty, as he helped me traverse through the difficult and dangerous terrain, tying my shoelaces as they came off, stopping to give me water and holding my hand going down and pulling me up.

Deep deep in the African bush and forest we went, searching for Gorillas and listening to the forest sounds. But there were no sounds except the earth being trampled as our boots hit the soil, the swish of our longs pants as we moved one leg in front of the other. The leaves brushed against our sleeves and walking sticks pushing into the ground was the only sound that came from our group as we took deep breaths with every step. The bright hot sun pierced through the high trees as we walked further and deeper into the forest. Our energy started to drain as the trek got intense with every hour.

Finally we all gathered on a small open piece of land and took a break. Caught our breath, drank water, took some photos and munched on a biscuit and fruit. We gathered more strength and continued our journey.

And somewhere along my journeys I always find a heart, it gave me hope and I instantly knew it was going to be a glorious day!

Up and up we climbed, but not just a climb. We were taking steps through the forest up on a mountain where there was no path, only jagged rocks, thick vegetation, a gathering of roots and a hugging of branches as we had to lift our legs over every obstacle. Our Porter held our hands and pulled us up as we held onto our  walking stick for extra support. With each pull we took a deep breath of extra forced energy to make it to the top. At times our shoelaces came off and our porters politely bend to tie them. We were all on a mission to reach the Gorillas and there were very few moments of taking time to take pictures.

Every stop we made meant the whole team stopped, every pause we made slowed the team down. There were no scenic stops to admire the ground below, or the surrounding mountain vegetation. This was not the time or place to do bird watching. There was only one mission and one mission only, to get to the Gorillas as they stopped to eat lunch before they moved again. It was a jungle out there, as we moved forward so the Gorillas moved; and so the game was on like cat and mouse. Time was of essence, and we didn’t stop for anything else, getting to the Gorillas was all that mattered.

With the heat and sweat our faces were not as fresh as it was in the morning. Each of us started to feel the pressure of the trek. Each one knew this was a bucket list and we had to reach the Gorillas before the day was over. Each of us had determination written all over our faces as we continued to walk up and up towards the sky we continued. There was no time for idle chatter or small talk.

Elevations in Bwindi forest range from 1190 – 2707 metres above sea level and 60 percent of the park has an elevation of over 2000 metres. I think we almost reached the highest point. It felt like we were that close to heaven, the closest we would ever get. Suddenly our ranger stopped and we all stopped to listen and wait while at the same time catching our breath. We stopped but all we could see was dense bush around us, high branches, thorny branches and we were jam packed in the forest like sardines in a tin. Our ranger showed us a route we were going to take to the Gorillas, they were very close he said. I looked at him with big eyes and asked where? He motions to the dense bush and said “this way up”, and again we continued ascending to the top as he hacked away making another path for us.  We climbed straight up the side of the rain forest mountain with only the view of the person in front of us. My porter was indispensable to me, he pulled me up from one muddy step to another and took complete care of me, never letting go and always asking if I needed a sip of water.

Suddenly in front of us we saw the back of a massive dark hairy Mountain Gorilla, his silver back shiny and his muscles well exercised. His shoulders were broad and he was busy with Mother Nature. We smelt his strong faeces as it was coming out,  and stopped in silence and stared, hoping he would turn around so we could capture his face. We each grabbed our camera and tried to take a quick photo. As soon as he was finished he moved back into the forest. We just heard his heavy footsteps and branches move while he disappeared. As massive as he was, he was suddenly gone and unseen. Our Ranger ushered us to keep going, keep moving forward, there was more to see he promised.

We kept climbing and walking for what seemed like forever when finally we arrived at the Bitukura Gorilla family. We have trekked for 4 hours and with sweaty and shaky hands we tried to take photos. We were all still standing in awe on the mountain side, at an angle trying to balance our shaky legs and trying hard to not breath too loud.

This was live, this was nature, this was not planned or a circus performance where the Gorillas were going to do tricks for us. There were no seats to sit on and watch with popcorn in our hands.  The ground was not flat or comfortable where we stood watching them, no this was wild and at the same time natural, this was what Gorilla trekking was all about, this was what we had come here for. And immediately the memory of our long strenuous trek was forgotten as excitement took over.

Each of us slowly moved in front of each other as we took photos of the Mountain Gorillas. Cell phones and cameras were working overtime. As we watched the Gorillas we were very much aware of any noise that was in the distance and on alert to any sudden movements. The only noise that was heard was our heavy breathing of excitement and nervousness of finally having reached our Gorilla family and the clicking sounds of cameras, sounding like a broken record playing. 

We spotted a playful 10 month old baby gorilla that looked like a teddy bear that had just come out of the washing machine swinging from the tree onto a tree stump. He was enjoying himself and showing off. He climbed up and stumbled down, and his beautiful big eyes were watching us, but so was his dad lying on the ground hidden behind the bush, his deep serious eyes watching our every move. The baby gorilla was having fun, but we all knew that if baby came to us, dad would be on top of us in no time, and as much as we wanted to have him come towards us and touch us, we were also silently praying that he wouldn’t. We did not want to have an encounter with heavyweight Silver back dad.

I locked eyes with dad and for a moment was afraid that he thought I wanted to challenge him and a chill ran down my spine, I took a few photos and watched him through my lens instead. His face alone was the size of a wall clock as he continued to eat while watching me, pulling leaves from the bushes he was resting on towards his open mouth, stripping each branch clean and munching away without taking his eyes off me or the group . He watched every move. He looked relaxed and uncaring, but we knew he was watching and guarding his baby. While we watched them, they watched us, except they had the “popcorn”

Suddenly we heard leaves rattle and saw another mommy gorilla come out of the bush, and then another Silverback came out as well towards us and stopped two meters away, turned his back to us and ate. The reality hit us as we witnessed their size, height and muscles resembling a 4 wheeler quad bike. Here and there we heard them and saw sudden movements as they came out and went back in the bush like an action thriller, we were caught in the midst of them, not Gorillas in the mist but curious humans in the midst of a Gorilla family. They were all around us and we slowly moved from one side of the group to the other taking it all and at the same time staying close to each other for safety and protection. 

As we took our photos and selfies, for once the last thing we were worried about was social media as to whether our hair was right, our skin soft or our sweat and red faces showing. We had limited time to take photos as the gorillas kept moving around. Suddenly one went into the bush and another came out.  Just Silverback dad stayed in the same place, guarding his baby.

It felt like we had been in their presence for only 10 mins when our rangers informed us we needed to go, an hour had passed.  You are not allowed longer than an hour with them. If we didn’t want to leave, the gorillas themselves seemed to know time, and they made their way and left. We couldn’t see them but we heard them as they went back into the bush. We stood for a moment and held onto the last memory of them, the last sound they made as we too slowly made our way back.

Our Ranger told us we were taking the short route and we all agreed. Down we went firmly holding onto our porters as there were no steps to stand on and guide us. We slipped and slid and fell and stopped, then up we got up and continued.  On one of the falls I fell on top of my porter and his face was only 10 cm away, he then asked how old I was? We just laughed and continued.

After a short while we all stopped to have some lunch. I sat on a branch and slid down a bit as there was no flat surface.  We were all scattered trying to find a place to sit, eat and breathe. I was sitting on dust and ants, but I didn’t care, I needed to sit and take a break.

After a 15 min break we continued to the end. Our short route was down and up again, then down and up again holding onto vines to stop us from falling. My mind was wrestling with the fact that surely if it was a short route and we were headed back, we should not be going up at all but only down, and so I had to train my mind to just keep going, it was almost the end. By that time it was mind over matter and I would not let it get the better of me. I was talking to myself to just keep going, the end was near and finally convinced my mind it was the short route as I remembered the quote: “It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves” and so I kept pushing myself to keep going, moving forward one step at a time, until the finish line.

Our trek was a total of 6 and half hrs walking straight up 90 degrees and straight down in the Rainforest mountain of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. It was a hard trek, and I was glad I had trained. I had made it. We all agreed the porters were the second best thing about that day; they made sure we made it safely. My porter protected me, took care of me and never rushed me. Without him I wouldn’t have made it. They are the backbone of your trip and experience and totally invaluable! You also get given a Certificate stating the date of your trek and the Gorilla Family you saw and met, a nice memento touch. 

We were all alive with excitement and the reality that 2 hrs prior we were with a family group of Wild Endangered Mountain Gorillas had to still sink in once we arrived at our lodge. Our boots got wet, our faces were red and our hearts were satisfied. We conquered the mountain, we survived. On arrival at the lodge we all just sat and discussed our trek as though we were all with different Gorilla families. Finally after celebrating with a gin and tonic we all went to our warm cosy rooms that provided complete serenity. I had a long leisurely bath and then my bed welcomed me to take a two hour nap under heavy comforting blankets. I fell into a deep sleep with memories of the baby gorilla. The lodge was  fantastic and amazing in every way, situated right in the middle of the Rainforest and from my deck I enjoyed hearing and watching the activities from the Pigmy Village on the border of the property.  They even cleaned my dirty boots after my trek, dinner was delicious! That one precious privileged hour of being in their presence will last a lifetime.

I would highly recommend staying at the Gorilla Safari Lodge!! Everything was amazing, service, food and creature comforts for any season! To book your Gorilla Safari trip this company will make sure you are well taken care off and in the right hands:

Tips for Gorilla trekking:                                                                             

Be prepared for a long hard hike – train well and be fit – if you are one of the few that meet their Gorilla family after a short distance, count it a blessing and enjoy it – but be prepared to trek.

Take a porter with you – it also gives them an income as most are ex-poachers and trust me you will need your own – don’t share porters

They provide free walking sticks – take it – you will need it and if you don’t your porter will carry it

Go-pros are great to fix to your cap as you don’t have much time to take photos of your trek and the Rangers are not worried about this – for them getting to the Gorillas is priority – not scenic shots.

Take a backpack and at least 2 litres water per person, energy snacks, rain jacket and camera batteries/cards – nothing else is needed.

Put long lasting high factor sunblock on before your trek, most places are shady from the trees.

Take photos as soon as you see the Gorillas, they keep moving.

After you have taken the photos you want, take 5 min to just watch them and enjoy them –time goes quickly.

It is a rain forest, so it can rain – have a rain jacket – but don’t take your best as it might get damaged and torn due to the branches and thorns.

Have hiking boots that are solid and well worn-in so that you don’t get blisters, and that can cover your ankles for good protection.

Wear old loose jeans or light long pants that will be comfortable to lift your legs over roots and bushes etc.

Long socks to pull over your pants are important, so that the red ants don’t bite you.

Wear a light long sleeve top to cover your arms and gardener’s gloves for your hands.

If you travelling through Uganda and doing adventure activities as well – pay the extra and fly from Kampala to Bwindi Forest – the drive is about 9 hrs and the roads are bad.

Stay at a lodge that is close to the Forest so that you only have a short distance to the entrance in the morning thus saving you time, otherwise it will be a very very early morning.

I had been looking forward to our Sunset Bridge Dinner at the Hippo Hollow Country Hotel, even though I had no idea what to expect. We raced through from Johannesburg Airport in our rental car to Hazyview. Due to traffic and an accident on the road, we ran a bit late and I really wanted to shower and check in before arriving at dinner.

We had to be at dinner at 5h30pm sharp, and we did not want to be late! We also did not know what to expect, what is a Sunset Bridge Dinner? I looked at the details of the booked dinner and it stated that we had to be there promptly at 5h30pm. It said that we would be met and then briefed before the dinner.

This is what the email stated:

Please be at Hippo Hollow at 17h30 for the Sunset Bridge Dinner briefing as well as pre-dinner drinks. Dinner will start at 18h00.

As we were driving to our destination we were trying to guess and put this puzzle together. Early meeting time for dinner at 5h30pm, then briefing….ok. So we finally realized with shocked faces that this was actually a Bridge game and most people who played Bridge were more of the older generation. We had no idea at all on how to play Bridge. Plus we could not get any cell phone reception to look up the game for tips.  We had to meet early and, knowing from our grans, the older generation preferred to eat earlier than later. The briefing we worked out was explaining how Bridge worked and which teams we were in. Well, we would have to go in our road gear even though we were feeling dusty, as we could not be late at all!!! We would not look the part of well- presented, neatly dressed, showered and smelling clean, actually we would be a little embarrassing to say the least. More like road rats that had just arrived unexpectedly.

5h30 pm: Arrival at the Hippo Hollow Hotel

We finally arrived and tried to make our un-kept hair look a little neater. We went straight to reception where we were told to take a seat. Sitting in the lobby were a few other elderly couples and some British tourists down on holiday who were waiting. Next to the lobby we could smell and see the dinner buffet and it looked good and smelled delicious. I had a good look around and never saw any table that could be used for our Bridge game. But we waited and waited…..

6h00pm:

Roll on 6h00 pm and we still waiting. By now I am starting to get anxious, the details were very clear that we could not be late and had to be at reception at 5h30. By now some of the British tourists had left to find themselves seats and were eating, chatting and laughing. Ok, so they were not part of our Sunset Bridge dinner after all.

6h30pm:

1 hour had lapsed and still no cards on the table!! We were still waiting and sitting in the lobby, frustrated now to say the least. I got up and went to go speak to Reception to enquire about what was going on. She called the Duty Manager Lebo who told us that they were still waiting for a few more people, and then we would start. By now this was not turning into the fun game we had imagined. We needed a shower, we were thirsty and we never felt fresh and clean. Plus it was getting a bit cold.

7h00 pm:

And still no ace was brought to the table. Finally I got up now and I demanded to know what we were waiting for as we were told 5h30 and we didn’t even go and check in, or shower after our airport arrival .We were now not in the mood for games! Again Lebo was called, and came and informed us that they had phoned the other ladies and they were on their way. We asked for a drink, which they gave us and we continued to wait again.

7h30pm:

Leisurely in walks 3 ladies without a care in the world, looking smashing, well dressed, showered and in a good mood. We all got seated together for our briefing and received a welcome drink. The briefing was really about wanting to know what drinks we would like with our dinner! We were going out onto the bridge for our dinner!! It was supposed to have been a Sunset dinner on the Bridge!! Well we had missed the sunset!! We had been caught in a bluff!!

We go out to the dinner on the bridge. There are hippos below, but the light is too dark to take photos. We can hear a few sounds, but the cold has muffled the enjoyment. We are each given one blanket, and when I asked for more blankets as I was so cold, I was told they don’t have?? So I guess they can only cater for 5 people for the Sunset dinner.

The food was not outstanding! Actually the whole Sunset Bridge Dinner was a let-down, and the only thing that was on time was the Sunset!! Which we had now missed!

I did email Management the next day to express our feelings and thoughts on this arrangement, stating that if clients pay R450 pp for the Sunset Bridge dinner, that they should not have to wait for other clients to arrive, it was unprofessional!!

I also gave our opinion and suggestions for the menu. We received feedback to say that Management would get back to us, which they never did! And no apology at all was given either.

It could have been one of the highlights of our trip, but it failed miserably and was the worst experience we had ever had. We were glad we were not booked into that Hollow for the night.

At you open the door to the Ginkgo Luxury Spa Arniston you feel like you have stepped into another world, a sanctuary of total bliss. The ceiling lights form a pattern that flow through the reception area creating a soft light reflecting on the pale wooden parquet flooring. Walls painted in soft blues with large oversized paintings of white flower heads. St Joseph lilies were standing in tall glass vases and soft music plays in the background. The outside world is shut off as the door closes and all that goes through your mind is: “it’s me time and revitalization”, no guilt, no regrets. You tiptoe on light fluffy clouds to the reception desk and announce your arrival.

Once you have filled in the thorough questionnaire forms asking you to give all information relating from your medical condition to your body requirements and facial needs you then get a moment to enjoy Chai tea served in a small cup decorated with a lavender strip. The Chai tea was delicious and warm and added to the fuzzy feel of excitement. It was so good I got to enjoy a big cup at the end in the Relaxation room.

My spoil for the day at Ginkgo Luxury Spa Arniston started with a 20 min sauna. The changing zone was fully kitted out with bath sheets, shampoo, conditioner and body wash for your enjoyment. A generous locker with shower cap, disposable panty, gown, slippers, bag for wet clothes, hangers and a water bottle. So impressive! Everything was well thought of and perfectly planned for your unique Luxury Spa experience and we have only just begun!

I had a quick shower before jumping into the Sauna, a requirement for hygienic reasons.  After 20 min in the spotless clean sauna with towels already lay out, I was ready for my massage and facial.

I climbed onto the bed and lay on my stomach with my hands hanging on my side, and all of a sudden feeling like a beached whale that needed a new life.

My therapist was polite and very professional. She introduced herself before asking what pressure I was comfortable with. After she had massaged she put a hot compress towel on my back before taking the excess oil off. What also impressed me was that she took the time to look at the form I had filled in and knew which areas to focus on. She applied peppermint oil for relaxation and Arnica oil to soften tight muscle mixed with shea butter, and it worked!! I was already starting to feel like a new person and the thought of a beached whale was erased from my mind!

I then turned on my back to end with a facial. A hot moon shape bean bag was placed on my tummy to keep me warm, my legs rested over a long round pillow, and we were set to go. The product that was used on my face was BABOR – a German beauty pioneer that has made headlines as a great brand, using science to create the best facial products for your skin. My facial began with a soft warm steam to open the pores, then a milky cleanser followed, Annie then massaged a powder exfoliator mixed with warm water onto my skin. Powder exfoliators are brilliant for your skin as they do less damage and don’t cause broken capillaries. So if you have fine broken capillaries on your face; don’t stress your facial exfoliator can then be used on your hands instead! You will be able to flaunt those hands after a while. Eye cream is also brilliant to apply to your lips especially if you are a smoker. Annie massaged the mask in to activate and open my pores and regenerate my skins protective barrier. She also touched up my brows. Before stepping off the massage bed, soft warm slippers were put on my feet and I walked out feeling like a Princess.

Before retiring to the change rooms I popped in to the soothing tranquility lounge/Relaxation room. A variety of herbal teas and mineral water were laid out for you to help yourself to and enjoy.

Long loungers with soft fluffy blankets were available to help you keep warm while you relaxed. You could read magazines or just close your eyes and doze off before reuniting with the outside world again.

Annie was my Fabulous Therapist, and she has been a Qualified Therapist for 13 yrs. and working for 2 years at Ginkgo Luxury Spa Arniston at Arniston Spa Hotel. I learnt such a lot about my skin and not only do you leave feeling like you have been given a new lease on life but that damage on your skin has been reversed. She is an outstanding Therapist; do not miss the opportunity to be treated like a Princess, visit Ginkgo Luxury Spa at Arniston – a Sanctuary of Total Bliss awaits!

Read about my article on the Arniston Hotel https://www.wanderingwarthog.com/blog/2019/05/17/arniston-hotel-and-spa-the-ship-has-landed/

*This article was not paid by for Ginkgo Luxury Spa*

We left Cape Town passing over Sir Lowry’s Pass and continued on the N2 towards the quaint seaside village town of Arniston and Ginkgo Luxury Spa Arniston en-route stopping at a fig farm where we purchased fresh figs for our trip.

We followed the signs that led us to the town of Arniston/Waenhuiskraal, and after taking a Shot’left we finally arrived at our destination: the iconic Arniston Spa Hotel & Spa, only 2 hrs from Cape Town. The hotel is next to the old fishing town of Kassiesbaai and close to sand dunes, sea caves, endless beaches and nature reserves.

The entire front of the Arniston Hotel, the “grand old lady” is sprawled across lush green lawns facing majestic ocean views.  My first thought was “the ship has landed” We “embark” the steps that open to the iconic hotel that has withstood many storms.  This iconic hotel stands upright with unspoilt panoramic Indian Ocean views and only a few steps away from the beach.

The Porter took our baggage and quietly led us to our luxurious and spacious ‘state room’ with a king sized bed and a large over-sized white bath in a family size bathroom. From the main bedroom a few steps below was a comfortable lounge area opening up to panoramic sea views – no porthole on this ship!

Fresh clean ocean air wafted in through the lacy curtains that flowed and invited us to just relax and unwind. A carafe of Monis Medium Sherry sat on the table waiting to be poured as this gorgeous hotel welcomed us to this side of the coast. In the room was a coffee/tea station, bottled water and an information booklet available for our perusal. In this booklet you can read all about the famous Arniston Ship that ran aground as well as all services offered by the Hotel. We sat on the open air balcony and watched the turquoise ocean while sipping a sherry; aah this is the life! All aboard!
A walk around this majestic ‘ship’, the iconic Arniston hotel where crystal clear waters invite you to a pool area with sun lounges, a sea facing bistro and lounge area to read or treat yourself to a luxury spa treatment at the Ginkgo Spa and Wellness centre that is on the property.

This iconic hotel in Arniston supports most of the community in Kassiesbaai by creating jobs for the locals, from kitchen to dining staff, keeping the grounds neat and weed free to keeping the rooms in tip top condition. In the shop you can purchase cards and paintings from a local artist or aprons sewn with love from another local. Down the street in Kassiesbaai was also a local craft shop.

The Arniston Hotel was built as far back as 1933 and would only allow the men to stay over; single ladies were not welcomed. But today it is the vibrant hub of Arniston, supporting the locals and inviting everyone in. Yes for this little picturesque town, the good ol’days was no good at all.
This was the perfect location to settle in for a few days and absorb the area. You can walk around the well-known fisherman houses of Kassiebaai and chat to the locals. I did a walking tour with Miems and you can read all about it on my post that is coming soon. There are plenty of photographic opportunities of the much loved white fishermen houses, each with a story to tell.

Enjoy late afternoon romantic walks along the coast or visit the famous photographed Waenhuiskraal caves at low tide. Scenes at sunrise are breath-taking and will fill your memory card very quickly, be warned.

Enjoy the beach directly in front of the hotel which offers the warm Indian Ocean waters and is shallow enough to swim in.  When you return back to the “ship” a foot bath is at the entrance where you can wash the sea sand from your toes as you enter the hotel.
We were booked for the first seating at 06h30 for dinner, but decided to do room service instead. The Dining area looked relaxed with a soft ambience as fellow travellers shared their stories of the day and findings over low lit candles. Room service was exceptional at this luxurious 4* Hotel. A Butler brings in a silver trolley with silver domes and all the condiments you might need to enjoy your meal. I was highly impressed as he turned his back to not look in the room, as I signed the bill.  He was Professional and discreet.

We ordered the Fatoush salad and it was delicately balanced with grilled pieces of pita bread and fine slices of radish. We chose to top it up with olive oil and balsamic vinegar which left a delicious salty tang in our mouths. Our main dish was grilled stuffed chicken breast filled with ricotta cheese and spinach and served with basmati rice and grilled vegetables on the side, delicious and cooked to perfection giving height to the plate.

Turn downs included a chocolate for the night, plus a card with information of the next day’s forecast of the tides and weather so you could plan your beach walks. They offer complimentary bath products from Charlotte Rhys collection for your enjoyment to use and a bath soap that you can take home with you to remind you of your luxurious beach stay.
We fell asleep to the sound of the waves as they tossed back and fro creating a relaxing and gentle lullaby rhythm. In the morning after a great sleep we enjoyed coffee on the patio as we greeted the sunrise. The sun gently glowed over the sea, inviting fishermen to venture to sea and soaking up the night dew on the green grass and fynbos dunes.
Breakfast is an absolute delight to the foodie enthusiastic and makes for great food porn.  We knew it was 5 o’clock somewhere in the world, so we hit up a Bloody Mary for breakfast. You can also enjoy Sparkling Blush if you are celebrating or maybe a Tomato cocktail with Vodka for the night owls, freshly squeezed juices for the health fanatic or filter coffee for the caffeine addict. Teas were not boring either with a choice of camomile to green teas.

Cereals, granola and yoghurt to fresh and canned fruits of your choice, pastries and freshly made flapjacks with real cream and topped with syrup or honey for those who love something more sweet. Pastries and freshly made traditional scones only making your decision to choose even harder. The correct way to start your breakfast buffet is with something sweet then savoury, whereas dinners are first savoury then ends with sweet/dessert. I took up this opportunity and enjoyed the flapjacks and a scone.
Far too many cheeses to mention, salmon and cold meats with breads, croissants and jams are included in the array of cold buffet.

The hot buffet has apart from bacon and sausage, savoury mince and roasted potatoes cubes plus eggs anyway you enjoy it including boiled eggs.  The omelette was made to order with mushrooms and a generous helping of cheese that left my mouth longing for more, but my stomach telling me I had enough to eat!

The Management and staff are very friendly and provide you with information of places to go and visit. Excellent service is given and the dining staffs are very knowledgeable who knew the dinner menu exceptionally well. Dining is open to the public and you can choose the formal dining area or the beach side bistro.

This is the go to place to get away for a week-end and not too far to travel to experience this coastal town. A perfect base to discover Struisbaai, stand where the Indian and Atlantic Ocean meets at Cape Agulhus, visit the lighthouse, shop in Bredasdorp or stroll through the Shipwreck museum. Play golf at the award- winning 9-hole golf course in Bredasdorp, 2 sets of clubs available for use at the Arniston Hotel.
This luxurious 4* Hotel is worth every cent and you will want to come back again and again! Great news is that they are offering a winter special -specials/ which includes a decadent buffet breakfast and you might just spot a whale!

Arniston Spa Hotel  provides many options to linger longer from a beautiful size swimming pool to soaking up the sun and swimming, get pampered at the Ginkgo Luxury Spa Arniston with a well-deserved “me- time” or enjoy a couple’s treatment. Read all about it here: https://www.wanderingwarthog.com/blog/2019/06/13/beached-whale-given-new-life-in-a-sanctuary-of-total-bliss/  Experience the outdoors with body boards for riding the sea waves or bicycles to cycle around the town, available for use at the Hotel.  There are plenty of photographic opportunities to hone in on your skills from land to ocean.

Explore and discover this quaint little town” with easy beach strolls or hike the dunes for the energetic. Enjoy sun-downers over the ocean or romantic moonlight walks, as they say “what happens on the ship, stays on the ship” Yes this ship has docked and it really felt like the Q2 on land, utter luxury and excellent service, the best guaranteed getaway location to revitalize your mind.

*This article was not paid for by The Arniston Hotel*

This was the perfect location for a few nights to discover the nearby towns of Sedgefield, Wilderness and is right opposite Buffels bay. It is such an amazing place and totally hidden from the outside world, surrounded by indigenous forests and along the Goukamma River. The river water is black in colour from the tannins hence the name Blackwaters River Lodge! I could’ve stayed at the Lodge without even venturing out, as it had everything I needed to just relax, read, rejuvenate and unwind without hearing car sounds at all. Blackwaters River Lodge is a 4 Star Bed and Breakfast in Knysna, on the Garden Route, just off the N2.

On arrival you are offered a choice of infused water or sherry to welcome you, a fruit kebab with tasty chocolate sauce drizzled over plus a warm face cloth to freshen your face. This immediately speaks “we care about you!” Tick.
My room was upstairs with a beautiful river view, peaceful with nothing to disturb my amazing tranquil views. The balcony of each room is separated by a wall making it completely private to sit outside and enjoy the views in your pj’s with the Sherry provided in your room, tick. There are 4 upstairs and 4 downstairs rooms with a river view. They have garden units for small families and pool facing rooms, a total of 20 rooms at this hidden gem from Luxury to Classic Rooms. All rooms have their own uniqueness and special touch of décor.

My humble abode had all the fine warm touches that represent comfort. Little inscriptions of the black water river with little notes to welcome you, plus colour therapy provided with bright pencil crayons and colouring paper to add to your relaxation. Homemade biscuits, mineral water, tea, sachets of coffee, coffee granules with a percolator in each room added to the warmth and luxury, all complimentary, tick tick! Fresh milk sachets, double tick!!Peaceful sleep and insect sprays are provided in your wardrobe making your stay comfortable, another double tick! And if it should rain there is an umbrella in your unit to use as you explore the nearby towns, tick. And a generous carafe of Old Brown Sherry to enjoy.
Every afternoon they offer tea/coffee and a sweet treat of the day on the deck area.
I enjoyed my afternoon tea and red velvet cake with cream on our first day of arrival which they delivered to my room to enjoy after our long drive, tick.
Sun loungers laced with swimming towels and cushions at the pool area where I enjoyed a brisk swim in the pool.  Nothing is forgotten, another tick to the box.
No other guests were expected on my first night, so I made use of a night swim as well. Welcoming me was a black toad which I thought was appropriate to go with the name of Blackwaters Lodge; he was polite and left me alone, triple tick!
As the sun went down so the birds started preparing their sleeping nests and monkeys which do not steal your food start getting ready to sleep. I was fortunate to witness the Knysna Turaco with its bright red chest fluttering in the tree by the pool. The night birds awakened and an owl flew past. Frogs starting to croak and crickets communicated with each other. Reflections were cast in the river as the hills and forest darkened.
Chocolate and a Jeripico shot were delivered as a night cap to my room at turndown, huge tick. I enjoyed the fragrant bath salts in my luxurious bath and large fluffy bath sheet, another tick, and then I finally put my head on the pillow as I allowed the sandman in.
As the sun rose the next morning and shone on the forests and hills to warm the night dew so I sat on my balcony enjoying my coffee and Traditional Ouma rusks. I was excited that I had 2 nights at this heavenly place and did not want to leave!
Breakfast was hearty with a menu choice for the hot breakfast plus a continental buffet with juice, tea or coffee in their Earth and Fire Restaurant. They are part of the Street-smart project.
They offer lunch and dinner for in-house guests. The restaurant is not open to the public which makes the venue even more private and intimate allowing the guests to enjoy the peace and tranquility of Blackwaters Lodge.
That afternoon on arrival from exploring Knysna I enjoyed fresh scones and cream by the swimming pool which was bliss, tick.

Some other guests had arrived to play at the 9 hole/18 Tees par 3 Mashie golf Course on the property. Equipment hire is available to guests.
Also for in-house guests are canoes that you can use to do some bird watching on the river or just a leisurely paddle.  30% of Garden Route birds have been identified already on this welcoming property, more ticks here for the twitters.
The lounge is a communal area with Television, board games, reading books, Sherries and a fireplace for winter.

So many more ticks to add to this beautiful place! And as Arnold Schwarzenegger says “I will be back!” A pre warning though, 2 nights is not enough!! Do book and enjoy this hidden gem that ticks all the boxes! You also receive a thank you/goodbye gift on departure.
To book this peaceful gem that has been re-opened after the devastating Knysna fires that took place on the 7th June 2017, contact info@blackwaters.co.za