The Cellars-Hohenhort Lodge, in partnership with Glamtrails, has launched an inspiring new visitor exercise that we had absolutely the pleasure of experiencing.
The exercise combines the 2 worlds of mountain climbing and positive eating to create an unbelievable expertise for its members.
As you arrive, visitors can be shuttled from the Cellars fundamental entrance to the Kirstenbosch gardens the place an immersive, guided strolling tour by way of the gardens awaits, concluding with a Basic Excessive Tea again on the resort.
Guided by accredited mountain information, creator and Glamtrails proprietor, Tim Lundy, walkers will get pleasure from a fascinating surroundings and tales of native historical past, together with the small print of the fauna and flora informed with a witty but infectious sense of humour that in some way manages to make the exercise much less strenuous.
Strolling by way of the well-known scented backyard you’re met by completely different fragrances of flowers, some exuding a fascinating perfume that resembles an Italian fragrance with sure crops giving off a really disagreeable scent which Tim defined attracts pollinators equivalent to beetles and flies.
The stroll then continues to a pure spring that was was a freshwater pool by Colonel Christopher Fowl, the British Deputy Colonial Secretary, within the early 1800s. Unsure whether or not it was purposefully achieved as a solution to self-praise or whether or not the form of the tub was an uncanny coincidence, however walker’s will certainly discover that the tub is definitely within the form of a tiny hen which I believed was fairly fascinating.
You’ll then proceed winding down a delicate slope, with the subsequent cease being the Dell. An space throughout the gardens which incorporates crops like Cycads which existed through the time of Dinosaurs. To emphasize this reality, the gardens strategically positioned Dinosaur sculptures throughout the world which additionally makes for good Jurassic Park recreations for the avid content material creator.
From the Dell, walkers will undergo the Protea and Erica gardens which home our well-known nationwide flower The King Protea. That is the place I additionally realized that the King Protea is the one Protea on the earth with a shorter stem, a undeniable fact that Tim cleverly identified is but to be refuted as a result of a bunch of detectives in our group the place already consulting with Mr Google. The tour is full on interactional which allowed us to not solely be taught extra concerning the gardens and several types of vegetation, but in addition ask questions and immerse ourselves in the entire studying expertise.
For these with a scarcity of health or people who smoke lungs, that is the half which was inevitably unavoidable. From the Protea and Erica gardens the trail climbs up across the gardens with a reasonably steep slope which lasts about 3 minutes earlier than you attain stage floor once more.
Following a brief break for us to catch our breath, Tim lead us in direction of the dam for some spectacular views over Cape City earlier than heading to the Rycroft Gate and out of the gardens. The stroll crosses Rhodes Drive and continues by way of the Secret Forest on the best way to the Cellars-Hohenhort, taking a detour for visitors to view the manicured gardens of the resort.
The Glamtrails route covers 4km and took us about an hour and 45 minutes to finish with the pit stops and common head counts included. A primary health stage is required though the information was utilizing a average tempo all through to accommodate all of the tour members. You’re suggested to put on comfy closed footwear, a correct becoming hat as a result of the wind up the hill will get very unpredictable and sunscreen.
As you enter the resort resort, the legendary Liz McGrath Assortment hospitality awaits with a refreshing welcome drink of both champagne, freshly squeezed juice or water. As a result of wonderful sense of fulfilment which got here with finishing the hike.
Everybody was in a celebratory temper and opted for a glass of champagne which helped alleviate my sense of guilt as a result of I used to be fairly skeptical of being the one one ingesting champagne after a hike. The welcome drinks are then adopted by a four-course Excessive Tea, served towards the gorgeous backdrop of Desk Mountain. For the avid tea lover, a presentation is then achieved by one of many extremely skilled resort employees to inform us concerning the completely different tea’s on provide and the elements which have been used to make them. You’re then allowed to select your favorite tea from the presentation and proven a demo on tips on how to mix your individual cup.
For starters was the savoury assortment which included cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches and biltong infused croustades topped with feta and child tomatoes, adopted by a second course of caramelised Onion Tart, Smoked salmon which was my favorite, Mousse cornets and Goats’ cheesecake. Buttery scones are the subsequent spotlight, served with strawberry jam and Chantilly cream, earlier than the grand finale of irresistibly decadent delicacies equivalent to Walnut Carrot Cake, Key Lime Pie, and Mini-Milk Tarts, to call a couple of.
The Basic Excessive Tea additionally comes with a alternative of 11 loose-leaf teas, in addition to espresso. Every tea is meticulously curated by Grasp Tea Blender, Mingwei Tsai, who created a singular Cellars-Hohenhort Mix of Nigiro tea, incorporating the spicy fragrances and bronze color of the Liz McGrath rose.
The Cellars-Hohenhort Glamtrails tour is out there by prior reserving throughout November, December and January at a value of R1285 per particular person. Youngsters aged 12 and older are welcome at R915 per baby.
Photos: Equipped
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