On her first visit to South Africa, TV presenter Gloria Hunniford was more than ready to be tempted by the wealth of experiences on offer – in particular the native cuisine and exquisite wines for which South Africa is renowned.
"Our visit to Cape Town and the Cape winelands was all about enjoying affordable luxury – ideal for people of my age group who have got a bit of money to spread around," she says. "In addition, the exchange rate in South Africa was very good, so my husband and I were able to treat ourselves."
Their starting point was the tranquil Camps Bay Retreat, a five-star boutique hotel boasting magnificent beach views. "It felt intimate and relaxing with a wonderful vibe," says Gloria, who appreciated the contrast of hot sun interspersed with cool, refreshing breezes. "I like warm weather but I don't want to get baked in it."
The main focus of Gloria's affordable luxury holiday were the guided tours of the lush winelands of Robertson Valley, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, enhanced by the sampling of South African cuisine along the way. "What was exciting was that each of the wineries we visited over three days had a different style about it, ranging from the most basic set-up to the positively luxurious," she says.
"We went to a small place near Franschhoek, where 80% of the wine made is drunk locally and none exported. At others we got a guided tour, a fabulous lunch and a sophisticated tasting session. Then there are tiny, family-run ones with no shopfront, but where they are equally keen to show you what they do."
One of the tasting meals was a luxury picnic on a high ridge, while at another each wine was matched with a different type of smoked salmon. "I like wine but I am no expert, so this way made it both enlightening and fun," Gloria says. "I also enjoyed the food immensely; it is all so fresh and the meat in particular is just fantastic. You have to try the traditional braai, where families and friends gather outdoors to eat different kinds of barbecued meat, with loads of delicious salads on the side."
For her first lunch, though, Gloria got something completely unexpected. "We went to try traditional Cape Malay food in Bo-Kaap, Cape Town's Muslim region, with its charming cobbled streets and housefronts painted in bright colours. There was no sign of an actual restaurant, which was puzzling, but then I realised we were going to somebody's home." Gloria's host served up a traditional tomato bredie, which is a popular Malay lamb stew. "It was lovely, and a great insight into Cape Malay life," says Gloria. "One of the things I really loved about South Africa was the genuine warmth and welcoming nature of its people."
One of Gloria's most sophisticated epicurean encounters took place at the Tasting Room at Le Quartier Francais hotel in the Franschhoek valley, rated among the world's top 50 restaurants. Its passionate and innovative chef, Margot Janse, spent 10 years studying South Africa's indigenous herbs and leaves in order to incorporate them into her cooking. Her tasting menu is breathtaking, says Gloria: "There are so many ingredients, they make each dish a work of art."
Gloria also loved the trendy Grand Beach Cafe at Granger Bay, inspired by Club 55 in St Tropez. Stylishly converted from an old boat shed and very laidback, it has a beach bar, sunshaded tables on the sands and a reputation for excellent food.
The last hotel on Gloria's itinerary was Spier, an award-winning winery near Cape Town. Guests can dine outdoors at its Moyo restaurant, as Gloria and her husband did, under ancient oak trees, or even high above ground in a treehouse. "While we ate we were entertained by students from a local college, dressed in traditional costumes and singing to us as they wove through the restaurant," recalls Gloria.
An unexpected part of Spier's attraction is its cheetah outreach programme. Eleven cheetahs live there in captivity because they are an endangered species, with only 11,500 left in South Africa. Cheetah Outreach is an education and community-based programme which encourages visitors to engage with the animals to raise awareness and campaign for their survival.
Table Mountain is the stunning backdrop to the Western Cape, rising more than 1,000m above the landscape, so Gloria couldn't resist taking an exhilarating cablecar ride to the summit. "It was such a thrill, because the cars revolve, so you can see everything for miles around. One thing I wasn't prepared for was the sheer size of the top of Table Mountain – there are eight viewing points."
From a distance, Table Mountain appears golden as it reflects the South African sunlight. However, Gloria says: "Once we got up there I was amazed to discover how green it is. There are more than 200 kinds of plants, shrubs and flowers on the rock. We were told that a lot of them grew from seeds that blew in on the wind from cargo ships in the bay below. It is astonishing how much wildlife you see up there – the little mountain rabbits are so cute."
Gloria and her husband spent two hours walking around the summit, taking in the spectacular views of Cape Town, Robben Island and the Atlantic shore. When they came back down to earth, there was another treat in the shape of two Harley-Davidson bikes, waiting to take them on a pillion ride along the scenic coast road to Hout Bay and Chapman's Peak. It was another new experience for Gloria, who enthuses: "I spent my life keeping our two sons away from motorbikes, yet here I was hopping on the back of one and flinging my arms wide with joy, because the bikes are so big and solid you feel totally at ease. It was marvellous – and my husband adored it."
Gloria says she will chiefly remember her trip to South Africa as a holiday of firsts. "It really whetted my appetite to go back, and I would love to take our grandchildren up Table Mountain.
"South Africa is a truly diverse and unique place, because in its landscape you feel energised, yet chilled out at the same time. My lasting impression is what a great experience it all was – six days of pure joy."
Be inspired
If you dream of a holiday in a sun-warmed climate that combines spectacular natural beauty with stylish, affordable luxury and superb hospitality, South Africa is the perfect destination.
Easily accessible from the UK, it is a vast country that is surprisingly easy to navigate once you arrive and start exploring. From the dramatic summit of Table Mountain to the lush wine routes and white-sand beaches, the astonishing diversity of the Cape culture and landscape is matched only by its broad-ranging cuisine.
It is a place to indulge yourself and be adventurous: try spicy, fruity Malay curries, meat cooked at a traditional braai and the freshest of seafood, accompanied by wines made from grape varieties that have been cultivated here for 300 years. You will find ancient African rituals and traditions sitting comfortably alongside the latest innovations. This is a country that encourages its visitors to experience everything it has to offer. Make a South African holiday your next mission.
