South Africa: game on!

While Johannesburg has a host of new selling-points (such as the acclaimed Apartheid Museum and trendy Melrose Arch quarter), many Cape Town denizens will insist their hub (dubbed ‘The Mother City’) is where much of South Africa’s globally destined food, fashion and lifestyle trends are taking shape

Kapama Lodge, Distell’s dwelling of choice for guests and corporate gatherings, is quintessential safari South Africa. Its cottages are appropriately comfortable and elegant, yet avoid the trap of jungle kitsch or blingy décor. Dinners are served open air in a lapa courtyard with an array of seasonal, simple sides and made-to-order grilled meats. The well stocked bar also offers Amarula cocktails and the opportunity to sample snifters of local brandies such as Richelieu, Klipdrip and Van Ryn, 12- and 15-year-old.

The lodge has decent internet access, but email loses its urgency when you’re totally surrounded with a serenity built upon the area’s lush greenery and sprawling river. Though camping here is hardly “roughing it”, Kapama’s approach puts you back in touch with nature, right down to nyala antelopes and monkeys strolling nonchalantly past your cottage, greeting committees of giraffe and elephants and an astute and youthfully energetic staff. The lodge’s raison d’être is that being in such a setting as nature intended is a luxury in itself.

Though you could do Kruger National Park on your own, guided tours are ideal for shorter stays and eco-tourism virgins. Game drives conducted by Kapama’s guides in tricked-out Land Rovers deliver on their promise of genuine thrills and “wow” moments, ample photo ops and plenty of witty commentary from guides as they make earnest efforts to ensure you see at least four of the “big five” (lions, elephants, water buffalo, rhinoceros and the elusive leopards) as well as other equally interesting specimen of wildlife. However, this is the jungle, so expect surprises. Our group delighted in stumbling into a family of cheetahs en route to the Amarula visitor centre.

The other side of the country, the Western Cape, is first and foremost known for generations of wine production, quaint Dutch-flavoured villages and jaw-droppingly gorgeous landscapes that will take the proverbial breath away (if a hearty lunch and wine tasting at establishments such as Durbanville Estates doesn’t do that first).

In nearby Constantia, the Steenberg Hotel and Winery, in its own way, embodies the new South Africa. Though the resort itself is relatively new, several of its buildings are certified historic monuments. Its wines and restaurants are inspired by and named for key historic events. The suites, décor-wise, have European underpinnings but are differentiated by the eclectic use of antiques, local African crafts and delectable beauty products by Cape Town-based Charlotte Rhys. Catherina’s and tapas-and-tasting-focused sibling Bistro Sixteen 82 are subtly modern and showcase the Cape’s local produce beautifully.

Stellenbosch, meanwhile, merits a day trip on its own, especially if eclectic interior design shops and high concept fine dining are your thing. The Big Easy is a lovely embodiment of South Africa’s interior design and foodie chic, and serves up superb fish cakes, steaks and salads, along with the kind of ambiance that may prompt you to paint a wall in your own home a bold red, gold or green and take your collection of paintings or antique flea market finds out of storage. Durbanville Hills’ winery and restaurant is another perfect place to drink in the splendour of Cape Town’s Winelands with all one’s senses involved.

While Johannesburg has a host of new selling-points (such as the acclaimed Apartheid Museum and trendy Melrose Arch quarter), many Cape Town denizens will insist their hub (dubbed ‘The Mother City’) is where much of South Africa’s globally destined food, fashion and lifestyle trends are taking shape. Though the central business district at press time could be described as a diamond in the rough thanks to construction, it is nonetheless a brilliant diamond. Its mingling of people from all backgrounds is at once a crowning achievement of Robben Island “university’s alumni” and an afterthought.

Nowhere is the realization of this dream more apparent than at this past February’s Design Indaba 2011, which conveniently put the country’s best clothing, jewellery and home décor designers under one roof, all spinning European, African and even Indian æsthetics into fashion statements that were fresh and very desirable. During the rest of the year, fashionistas will be able to suss out these cool finds at the city’s go-to Long Street boutiques (Mememe, Mungo & Jemima, David West, Merchants on Long) and nearby interior design havens (Church, Avoova, Imagenius, Still Life).

Though there are many high-end African craft and jewellery emporiums around the city, street markets like Greenmarket Square are well worth perusing for both their people-watching and souvenir-hunting. Though foodie spots at all price points abound, Heritage Square is where most of the most buzzed about eateries like Savoy Cabbage and HQ are situated. Adderly Street and St George’s Mall bring together an eclectic mix of local department stores and craft stands.

However, venture away from the CBD and you will be richly rewarded. While Camps Bay and Sea Point are reminiscent of similar beach-y stretches like Bondi, Ipanema and Venice Beach, they are quintessentially South African, thanks to the locals who frequent them.

Though the Victoria & Albert Waterfront, in contrast, is one of the more unapologetically touristy areas in Cape Town, the fact that its restaurants and shops are strongly supported by residents says a lot. For example, Fiona Sacks, who accompanied me on my visit to the Jewish Museum, recommended Willoughby & Co. for sushi. In spite of a very “restaurant chain”-sounding name, the line to get in told me everything I needed to know, and the sushi was drop dead delicious. Col’ Cacchio, around the corner from my well appointed apartment hotel (Protea North Wharf), was a part of a national chain, but had the soul of a neighbourhood Italian bistro, with a clientèle of all ages. The same also goes for the Pride and the Glory and &Union, which stand as leaders in the craft beer and cocktail scenes. The same goes for Bascule, an outstanding whisky bar based at the Cape Grace Hotel (reportedly Bill Clinton’s lodging of choice).

Other essential destinations include Kirstenborsch Botanical Gardens, the Company Gardens and Table Mountain, places where past and present converge, and with great style and humanity as people from all backgrounds, races and persuasions mix and mingle. No matter where you go in the new South Africa, the whole world is literally watching—whether or not there’s a football or rugby game on. •

For more information on South Africa, visit www.southafrica.net, and for information on flights into South Africa, visit www.flysaa.com.

Elyse Glickman is US west coast editor of Lucire.

Stellenbosch


The Big Easy


Long Street


Greenmarket Square


Adderly Street


Camps Bay


V&A waterfront


Table Mountain from the V&A waterfront


Sushi at Willoughby & Co.


Pizza at Col’ Cacchio


&Union