Throughout 2012, the Hills of Africa team has been working on finding some of the best, hidden gems and secret finds of Southern Africa. Below are three of our favorite, most recent finds that are a must-experience for 2013!!
1. The Boat House with Chef Bruce Robertson in South Africa (image to the left of Chef Bruce Robertson preparing a meal for one of our clients!):
One of my favorite and recent secret finds is The Boat House with Chef Bruce Robertson. This dining experience is actually a newer concept that I’ve been seeing pop up all over South Africa. Essentially, The Boat House with Chef Bruce Robertson is a culinary experience for travelers where the famous Chef Bruce Robertson opens his home to travelers to learn about his cooking techniques and delight in delectable South African cuisine and fine wine. His stunning, Cape-Cod-inspired home, which is located on the ocean of the South Africa peninsula, is beautifully decorated and cozy. Each of his culinary experiences can accommodate up to 12 individuals, which makes for a highly sociable atmosphere and is a great way to get to know other travelers. The home is gorgeous and truly is the perfect setting for a lavish gourmet experience.
Chef Bruce also hosts beautiful picnics on his property and also has a guest room that can be booked for individuals who don’t want to take a drive back to Cape Town after spoiling themselves with exceptional wines and a five-course meal!
Private culinary experiences at Chef Bruce Robertson’s home are also offered.
Below are some photos taken by the Hills of Africa Cape Town / Cape Winelands guide, Pam McOnie:
Picture above is of Chef Bruce Robertson’s guest room, which can be booked as accommodation.
2. Aunt Flatter’s Culinary Experience in Zimbabwe:
Aunt Flatter’s in Zimbabwe is another extremely unique dining experience, which I discovered fairly recently. I took a group there in May 2012 and they absolutely loved it! Similar to The Boat House experience with Chef Bruce Robertson (except not as lavish), Aunt Flatter brings you inside her kitchen for a traditional Zimbabwean meal where you gather around the table with friends and fellow travelers as you learn about Zimbabwe food and cooking techniques and enjoy tasty South African wines.
3. Johannesburg City Tour with Andre of AfriFriends:
Another fantastic find was the Johannesburg City Tour with Andre of AfriFriends. He recently came up with this exclusive tour and I absolutely love it. What makes this tour so exclusive and creative is that it’s not a set path. Andre speaks with his guests at the beginning of the tour about their particular interests (whether it’s cultural, historical, architectural, art, etc.) and then tailors the tour for their specific interests!
In fact, I asked Andre to give you a little taste of how unexpected and surprising his tours can be, and here’s what he had to say:
“Take yesterday for example. Most of the coffee shops and eateries I frequent were closed because of the holidays, so my Aussie guest and I ended up eating at a Wimpy (similar to McDonalds) of all places! What a wonderful surprise that was. The waitress, quite an old girl, sat down and chatted non-stop about the city and her experience of it and introduced us to all the regulars. Two hours well spent and totally not guidebook.”
Images below taken by Andre, during his Johannesburg city tours:
Image above of braamfontein
Image above is of a display at The Bus Factory
