{{futureEnquiries.length}}
Michelle recently went on holiday to Plettenberg Bay where she had an amazing time at the warm and luxurious Kurland Hotel where she went horse riding, quad biking, and spent many hours reading and relaxing in front of the fire.
Along the Garden Route, hidden amongst mountains and indigenous forest, is the picturesque and serene Kurland Estate. After a scenic drive up the beautiful East Coast, my friend and I arrived at the estate gates ready for a weekend of relaxation at the five-star Kurland Hotel.
We were immediately captivated by the beautiful natural surrounds and the white gabled buildings in the Cape Dutch tradition. We arrived to unexpectedly grey skies, putting paid to our plans of afternoon excursions. However, once we'd entered the main house we were soon thanking the heavens for the rain as we were greeted by warm, cosy fires crackling in every room. The main house has an old world elegance that makes one feel both pampered and at home.
We were set up in our aptly-named Luxury Suite which was elegantly decorated in an English country style with its own terrace overlooking the pool and meadows, a luxuriously large bathroom and best of all - two large lounging chairs for curling up in front of the fireplace. Each suite has its own unique style, but all are spacious and well-appointed. One of my favourite things about our stay was the smell of the jasmine cascading from the archway which we had to pass through whenever entering or exiting the suite.
We were eager to get back to the main house where we knew that coffee and scones awaited us, and we settled down in front of a warm fire to read. Most of the day was spent in this posture while the rain pattered outside, or strolling through the rose garden and beside the paddocks whenever some rays of sunshine broke through. Professional, friendly and attentive staff made sure we had everything we needed or wanted and in the evening we were welcomed back to our suite by an already blazing fire in the fireplace. We enjoyed it with a glass of wine and a movie and secretly began to half hope that the following day would be rainy as well.
The next morning the rain gave way to a mild day and we were ready for some activities. There is plenty to do in the area surrounding Kurland including visiting Birds of Eden, Monkeyland and the elephant and snake sanctuaries all just a stone's throw from the estate. There are also the Nature's Valley and Plettenberg Bay beaches, the Tsitikamma Forest with its canopy tours, and Storms River Mouth National Park not far off.
The 700 hectare estate itself has plenty to keep one occupied, and if you are like me you will be eager to spend as much of your time there as possible. For the active there is a jogging track that travels past forest, dams, polo fields, avenues and stables. There are also mountain bikes, a gym and a tennis court. The dam is stocked with fish and guests are free to grab a fishing rod and put it to the waters. A break in the rain allowed us to explore the estate on horseback - one of my highlights of the weekend. I had a lovely chestnut-coloured mare, and we travelled across much of the estate over fields and past friendly calves, accompanied by one of the estate's curious Jack Russells. We later upped the adrenaline and armed with a map, set out on quad bikes for a thrilling ride exploring more of the estate. For those who prefer a more relaxed regime, you can opt to pamper yourself with some of the many treatments available at the spa, or simply lounge by the poolside.
To me one of the most important parts of any successful holiday is the food, and this was a successful holiday indeed. Breakfast takes place in the quaint main house restaurant with a feast of cold options and à la carte menu. I had the eggs benedict which was so delicious that it merited a repeat order the following day. For my dinner a special vegetarian meal was prepared of the most delectable aubergine with wild mushroom ragout, and after one bite I had a new favourite dish. For dessert I ordered my favourite - chocolate fondant - and this one was easily the best I have ever tasted.
After an idyllic sunset stroll along the paddocks, the rest of the evening was enjoyed in much the same way as the first, enjoying the views and comfort of the main house terrace followed by a glass of wine in front of the fire. The following morning we set out for home thoroughly relaxed and content, and agreed that this would certainly not be our last visit to Kurland.
To find out more about Kurland Hotel and to book a weekend away in Plettenberg Bay, click here.
