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| MARCH 2008 NEWSLETTER |
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"MY
INCREDIBLE JOURNEY" BY ELAINE VAN DER WESTHUIZEN
On Friday, 11 January I, along with my fellow travellers General Manager Nelson Rodrigues, Jeanine de Vos (Reservation Manager), Sandra Perang (Chef de Partie), Gerhard Smith (Special Projects Manager), and Jurgen Zimri (Maintenance Supervisor), departed Cape Town International airport to attend the Annual Staff Appreciation Ball held by sister hotel group Red Carnation in London. After a long overnight haul we were thrilled to arrive at Heathrow airport the next morning, after which we spent two days exploring all the wonders that the vibrant London 'buzz' has to offer. We had the opportunity to work with our colleagues in various London hotels to gain experience in our respective departments. The highlight of our trip was undoubtedly the glittering function, held at the London Hilton Hotel, where tribute was paid to the star performers of each of the properties attending. Bushmans Kloof Maintenance Manager, Jurgen Zimri was presented with the Bushmans Kloof Employee of the Year Award. Jurgen hails from Wupperthal in the Cederberg and joined Bushmans Kloof in August 2004. |
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Night
had fallen over Bushmans Kloof, and a call came in from a
distressed farmer near Algeria that had been losing livestock.
A caracal - better known in these areas as a 'Rooi Kat' (Red
Cat) - had been caught in a walk-through trap. Resembling
a cross between a leopard and a lynx, its reddish-brown coat
and distinctive tufted ears with white markings around its
eyes and on its throat, chin, and belly, these feline creatures
are often viewed by the farming community at large as vermin.
The farmer had adhered to conservation guidelines and the
animal was captured unharmed. This is no mean feat, as caracal
are almost impossible to see in the wild, not because there
are so few of them, but because they hide extremely well.
Jaco Fourie and Jacques Tredoux, our Field Guides headed out
on an hours' journey to collect 'Rooi Kat'. With hopes, blankets,
ropes and adrenalin firmly in tow, they made the journey over
Pakhuis Pass towards Algeria.
JACO
RECOUNTS HIS EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCE:
'In the dead of night, a few endless minutes go by and we
see lights on the horizon, signally the oncoming vehicle carrying
the precious (and decidedly precocious!) cargo. We position
ourselves on the flat lands of the property with the majestic
mountains acting as a backdrop. We carefully and silently
unload the cage. I hear a very distinctive hissing from the
inside of the cage which reverberates through me and has me
anxiously wondering whether the cage is strong enough to hold
back this beautiful wild animal.
I feel the excitement and the hairs on my arms raise at the
anticipation of releasing a new family member into our reserve.
Before releasing him we check to see that he hasn't sustained
any injuries. His large expressive eyes pierce the darkness
and then without hesitation he turns and faces me, as though
he is inspecting me - am I friend or food?
After what seems only a split second Jacques is standing above
the cage and anxiously opening it after we respectfully move
some distance away. We stare in disbelief as 'Rooi Kat', with
no hesitation, leaps into the night and disappears into the
dark night shadows. I feel a sense of unexpected loss as we
collect the cage and load it onto our Landrover, at the fact
that we might never see him again, perhaps only his footprints
in our sandy soil.
The next morning as dawn breaks we hear news on the radio
of a fresh springbok kill and 'Rooi Kat' spoor found in the
vicinity. Could it be the newcomer we so readily welcomed
into our Bushmans Kloof family or rather the large male we
sighted a month ago?
I am humbled by the fact that we are the custodians of these
and so many other creatures and hope that we will make a difference
now to their continued existence so that our children may
also experience the joy of coming face to face with these
irrepressible animals in the wild.' |
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SPECIAL EVENTS 2008
A
variety of Special Events ranging from Archaeological
and Botanical Breaks, Gourmet Food and Wine weekends
and Chef's Speciality events, to a 3-night Winter
Getaway, as well as our 2-night Nurture in Nature
Package - there's a special experience to suit everyone.
All packages include luxury 5-star accommodation,
four meals daily, early morning rock-art excursions,
evening nature drives with sun-downers in the reserve
and standard lodge activities which include rock-climbing,
mountain biking and archery.
For
reservations and enquiries, please call +27 (0) 21
685 2598 or info@bushmanskloof.co.za.
A FAMILY AFFAIR
Discover
the wonders of nature as a family, and share an exceptional
wilderness adventure with your children, spending
quality time together.
| 3-nights:
adults |
R4
800 |
| children
6 - 12 years |
R3
550 |
| children
3 - 5 years |
R1
950 |
children under 2 free
March
23 - 26*, March 30 - April 2*, June 29 - July 2, July
4 - 7,
July 10 - 13, December 7- 10, December 11 - 14
* Please note: Easter Weekend Supplement Rates apply
BOTANICAL BREAKS
Dr.
Penny Mustart presents this popular event that explores
the distinctive Bushmans Kloof flora.
2-nights:
R3200pp (R1 600 per person sharing per night)
August 13 - 15, August 20 - 22, August 24 - 26
THE ART OF ARCHAEOLOGY
Hosted
by Prof. John Parkington and resident curator Siyakha
Mguni, two of South Africa's foremost experts on the
history of the Bushman.
2-nights: R3 200pp (R1 600 per person sharing
per night)
April 9 - 11, May 21 - 23, June 22 - 24, July 16 - 18
GOURMET FOOD AND WINE WEEKENDS
Indulge
in the seduction of a world class culinary weekend with
mouth watering cuisine and tempting wine tastings, led
by some of South Africa's leading winemakers.
2-nights: R3 200pp (R1 600 per person sharing per night)
April
18 - 20
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L'Aviner
Vineyards |
| May
9 - 11 |
Waterford
Wine Estate |
| May
23 - 25 |
Bouchard
Finlayson / Wine Concepts |
| June
6 - 8 |
Steenberg
Vineyards |
| June
27 - 29 |
Buitenverwachting
Estate |
| July
18 - 20 |
South
African vs. International Wines |
| July
25 - 27 |
Klein
Constantia |
| August
1 - 3 |
Cederberg
Wines |
CHEF'S SPECIALITY WEEKENDS
Our
exceptional team of chefs will share their recipes and
divulge secrets of how to conjure up gourmet meals in
your own home.
2-nights: R3 200pp (R1 600 per person
sharing per night)
| March
28 - 30 |
Cooking
with Fynbos |
| May
16 - 18 |
Pasta
the Italian Way |
| June
20 - 22 |
Having
Fun with Chocolate |
3-NIGHT WINTER GETAWAY
Escape
to the breathtaking Cederberg wilderness for three nights
and enjoy a unique, enriching wilderness experience,
exciting outdoor adventures and education, and supreme
luxury, remarkable comfort and relaxation.
3-nights: R3 900pp
(R1 300 per person sharing per night)
1 April to 31 August (including
weekends)
2-NIGHT 'NURTURE IN NATURE'
WINTER
MID-WEEK BREAK
A
luxurious mid-week break to restore the soul - this
2-night package offers stimulating outdoor adventures
and soothing activities designed the challenge the body,
fortify the spirit, enlighten the mind and fuel the
senses - the ideal sanctuary to relax and reconnect
with nature.
| 2-nights: |
R2
500pp (R1 250 per person sharing per night) |
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South
African residents only |
1 May to 31 July (Sunday to Thursday) |
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The renowned Tatler Travel Guide, issued annually with
the January edition of the UK Tatler magazine, has named
Bushmans Kloof among the best wilderness reserves in
the world. Significantly adding to this recognition
is the additional listing of Koro Lodge, the luxurious
new private villa in the heart of the Bushmans Kloof
reserve, which proudly stood its ground to receive its
own independent listing as a 'Privately Attached' property,
resulting in Bushmans Kloof being on the Top 101 hotels
list - twice!
Tatler cites this magical reserve as 'a green oasis
at the foot of the Cederberg mountains, dramatically
beautiful, blending into the landscape with thatched
cottages and traditional farm buildings housing stylish
lounges and dining areas and three infinity pools.'
Koro Lodge, the old farmhouse that has been transformed
into a gorgeous villa on the reserve, is credited with
'adding a fresh new kick to Bushmans Kloof ', that is
'terrific for families and comes with its own guide,
chef and hostess'. |
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Koro Lodge is a luxurious family villa in a breathtaking
setting, located approximately 4 kilometers from the
main lodge and within easy walking distance of one of
the main dams. This perfect home-away-from-home offers
flexible accommodation options for up to 8 people, ideal
for friends and families travelling together, where
children are welcome all year round.
A special games and entertainment room has a flat screen
TV with a variety of DVD's, games and toys, and is equipped
with 2 single beds and a bathroom, to provide additional
accommodation. An upstairs loft area is filled with
toys, story and colouring books for the younger ones
and a host of outdoor activities to enjoy together as
a family, includes fishing and fly fishing, canoeing,
archery and swimming in the nearby rock pools.
Flexible guest programmes allow the active young adventurer
to set off on a treasure hunt or learn more about animal
tracks and behaviour, accompanied by experienced Guides.
For the aspiring artist, specially selected pieces of
rock face provide the perfect setting for your canvas,
to practise painting like the San.
A visit to Koro Lodge includes the services of a dedicated
chef, hostess and a guide with a game viewing vehicle
(for a maximum of 8 passengers) and all meals, local
beverages, and activities. |
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Our
luxurious accommodation options and superb facilities
combine with discreet, personal world-class service
and hospitality, as well as mouth-watering cuisine
and an award-winning wine list, to guarantee a
magical, unforgettable wedding.
The beautifully styled five star Relais &
Chateaux lodge provides the ideal venue for a
wedding celebration, accommodating up to 32 guests.
The recently renovated Riverside Supreme Suite
is perfect for the wedding couple, with its large
master bedroom and four-poster bed, a living room
with fireplace as well as a spectacular outdoor
shower and an exclusive infinity pool, offering
total privacy and seclusion so you can discover
true romance in the heart of Africa.
Koro Lodge, the exclusive private villa in the
reserve offers another perfect honeymoon option,
or alternatively a flexible accommodation alternative
for the bridal party, of up to 8 people, including
2 luxury bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms leading
to their own terraces, one with a private outdoor
shower. Offering all the mod-cons and breathtaking
vistas onto the reserve, this is also the ideal
venue to host a private wedding reception.
At Bushmans Kloof the bride and groom can share
special moments together enjoying nature walks
and glorious night-time drives with your trained
guide. Discover and explore the reserve's natural
gifts and indulge in delicious dips in cool rock
pools, dive in the cascading waterfalls or relax
with soothing spa treatments. |
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On
4 December 2007 our Cape Town-based team joined over
20 000 participants representing hundreds of organizations,
in the 25th Annual Community Chest Twilight Run, an
event that raises funds for various Cape Town based
charities. Bushmans Kloof's Jeanine de Vos, Natalie
Wolf, Nadia Venter and Denise Faria, donned self-designed,
hand painted t-shirts and along with many others interesting
characters, ranging from bunny rabbits, Superman, Pirates
of the high seas, The Pink Ladies and even a team of
doctors dressed in their scrubs and tackled the 4,5km
race through the streets of the inner-city precinct.
Kicking off at 7pm the route winded through the streets
of Cape Town with the Mother City's 'party hub' Long
Street, being the favoured refreshment pit stop. Live
bands added to the action along the route and supporters
cheered participants on from restaurant entrances and
shop windows. A true carnival atmosphere reigned with
the city's Christmas Lights complementing the festive
spirit as people ran, walked and crawled to the finish
line at the Grand Parade, the Mother City's traditional
public gathering square.
There were smiles all around as the spirit of compassion
and contribution to those less fortunate was observed.
None celebrated with more spirit than the Bushmans Kloof
team! |
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SALES
& RESERVATIONS
P.O. Box 38104, Pinelands, Cape Town, 7430, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0) 21 685 2598, Fax: +27 (0) 21 685 5210, info@bushmanskloof.co.za
LODGE
P.O.Box 267, Clanwilliam, 8135, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0) 27 482 8200, Fax: +27 (0) 27 482 1011, lodge@bushmanskloof.co.za
www.bushmanskloof.co.za
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