Easter retreats

Zamandosi Cele

JUST like Christmas, the Easter holiday period is much loved and widely celebrated.

For South Africans, it’s a time to take a breath and enjoy some much-needed time with loved ones.

If you are looking for family friendly destinations to explore on home soil, here are five bespoke ones you and your family can retreat to this Easter.

Akademie Street Boutique Hotel –Franschhoek, Western Cape

This 5-star hotel in quaint Franschhoek exudes a sense of luxury with its nine suites.

There is plenty to do in South Africa’s “Valley of Dreams”, from exploring wine farms to enjoying delicious cuisine from the region’s impressive restaurants.

Some of Akademie’s suites have their own plunge pools, fireplaces, and private hot tubs for a relaxing soak.

According to the boutique hotel’s website, hospitality and comfort lie at the heart of the Akademie Street experience.

“Our luxurious property, complete with wood-fired hot tubs and fragrant landscaped gardens, is designed to be a haven of sumptuous tranquillity with attention to detail throughout.

“The discreet, personal service is warm and welcoming, attentive and unlimited,” it said.

A stay at one of the hotel’s cottages starts from R9 000 a night.

&BeyondPhinda Game Reserve – KwaZulu Natal

When it comes to luxury, &Beyond is not small-scale: &Beyond’s Phinda Private Game Reserve is an impressive 29 866ha of protected wildlife land between Mkuze Game Reserve and the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park.

It’s home to Africa’s Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino), and 436 bird species.

The reserve is particularly well known for close-up sightings of the elegant yet elusive cheetah, as well as the rare black rhino.

Often described as “Seven Worlds of Wonder”, Phinda is a magnificent tapestry of woodland, grassland, wetland and forest, interspersed with mountain ranges, rivers, marshes and pans.

The reserve is also close to the unspoiled beaches and spectacular coral reefs of the Indian Ocean, offering an unmatched combination of bush and beach adventures.

Guests can experience interpretive game drives in open 4×4 safari vehicles, led by professionally trained &Beyond rangers and Zulu trackers, as well as a wide range of optional adventures at the beach, such as snorkelling and scuba diving.

Phinda is home to six magnificent lodges, each with its own individual charm and character: Mountain Lodge, Rock Lodge, Forest Lodge, Vlei Lodge, Zuka Lodge and Phinda Homestead.

A stay at &Beyond Phinda Mountain Lodge family cottage starts from R46 800 a night.

PHINDA Vlei Lodge, a secluded, plantation-style hideaway on the edge of a rare sand forest. | Instagram

A ROMANTIC and intimate room at Phinda Vlei Lodge. | Instagram

A BEDROOM with panoramic views of the Indian Ocean at Amalfi Coves. | Airbnb

Cape St Francis Resort, St Francis Bay – Eastern Cape

Cape St Francis, and its sister town, the canal-side “Little Venice” of St Francis Bay, are among the most inspiring places to spend downtime in on the Eastern Cape coastline.

A ROOM with a beach view at Cape St Francis Resorts. | Instagram

Swimming is one of its major attractions as the sea remains warm for most of the year and the wide beaches stretch from Seal Point to Shark Point, with a sheltered tidal pool for kids.

Bordering the beach at Cape St Francis and just 90 minutes from Port Elizabeth airport, Cape St Francis Resort ticks all the boxes as a perfect beach holiday destination.

The resort’s setting and selection of accommodation options, from conventional hotel rooms to three and four-bedroom cottages or luxury beach villas, appeal to couples, families and anyone who loves a beach holiday. All offer a bed and breakfast choice or a self-catering option.

The region is renowned for being a water sports paradise with surfing, kitesurfing, surf ski and canoe paddling on the beautiful waters off both Cape St Francis and St Francis Bay, as well as on the nearby Kromme River.

ONE of Cape St Francis’s beach-break villas. | Instagram

For golfers, the top 10-rated St Francis Links offers the keen golfer an excellent challenge of links golf, with the nearby St Francis Bay Golf Club offering an easier but still challenging round of golf.

A stay at one of the resort’s sea facing villas, Nautilus Place, starts at R6 500 a night.

Nkomazi Private Game Reserve – Mpumalanga

Described as a “family glamping destination”, Nkomazi is a five-star hotel alongside the Komati River in Mpumalanga.

The hotel has 14 glamping tents, each furnished in an Out of Africa style with all the comforts of luxury accommodation, and the tents blend into the natural landscape and are linked by stoned pathways through the bush.

The six “Deluxe Tents” offer panoramic views of the reserve, while six “Luxury Tents” are surrounded by nature, but offer extra proximity to the soothing surrounds as they are river-facing.

NKOMAZI Private Game Reserve boasts beautiful luxury tents with views of the Komati River. | Instagram

The hotel offers activities such as picnics along the Komati River and fishing, with excellent fishing opportunities for guests to enjoy.

The Komati River is home to numerous species of freshwater fish. This is a fantastic way to wind down, relax and enjoy being a part of the reserve, taking in the sights, sounds and scents of the local flora and fauna.

Nkomazi Private Game Reserve also offers incredible game-viewing opportunities, with four of the Big Five, as well as a wide variety of antelope, giraffe, zebra, cheetah and other species.

A stay at Nkomazi starts from R7 911 for two for a night.

ENJOY a game drive at Nkomazi Private Game Reserve. | Instagram

Amalfi Cove – Knysna, Garden Route, Western Cape

If you are looking for a beach and forest escape, this retreat is for you. Amalfi Cove is on the cliffs of the picturesque Knysna coastline and boasts panoramic views of the Indian Ocean.

Knysna has a lot to offer travellers, including beaches where you can participate in water activities such as kiteboarding, boating, windsurfing, sailing, canoeing and swimming.

Amalfi Cove is a magnificent find on Airbnb and perfect for a family seeking privacy at the self-catering villa.

Whether you’re here to work from home or spend time with family and friends, everyone will appreciate the tranquillity of the area, the breathtaking views and the opportunity to indulge in the true beauty of nature, comfort, and relaxation.

It boasts undisrupted 180o views from all three en-suite bedrooms, and each bedroom is designed with plenty of closet space, a dual vanity, and an ocean-facing relaxation bath for some much-needed recharging.

A stay at the villa starts from R7 100 a night.

THE signature baths found at the Vreugde and Oortuiging cottages at Akademie Street. | Instagram