BISHOPSCOURT // Kirstenbosch & Rhodes Memorial

KIRSTENBOSCH BOTANICAL GARDENS // RHODES MEMORIAL

The next morning I woke up early, made a cappuccino in my room and took my time getting ready.  It was going to be a full day.

The breakfast buffet has a little bit of everything, but I can never say no to French toast with bacon and maple syrup, so I ordered from the hot breakfast menu.  All dining tables face the mountain, which always warrants a double take.  It’s so close it surprises me every time!  

My view from the breakfast table

•••

Tessa recommended I walk to the world-famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens (Six Unforgetable Experiences).  For garden lovers it’s an absolute must, and for everyone else I highly recommend it.  It’s one of South Africa’s 8 National Botanical Gardens and one of the “Seven Magnificent Botanical Gardens of the World”.  Its 828 hectares are filled with indigenous flora, birds and small mammals. It hosts lilies, protea (The King Protea is South Africa’s national flower), medicinal plants, succulents, cycads, tons of trees and an array of fynbos.  You can spend the day chasing guinea fowl and maybe even get lucky and see a bat-eared fox!

© Gardens to Visit

Protea flowers from my visit to Kirstenbosch

 For families there is a small rock pool for the kids to dip in.  Adults can pack a picnic to eat on the grass or dine in one of their many cafes or restaurants. 

It also houses various art exhibitions and events all year round in different areas throughout the gardens.  During summer they have a fun summer concert series that invites guests to tickle their ears on the grass in the gardens at night.

Sculpture on exhibit when I was at Kirstenbosch

I spent 3 hours walking through the different gardens.  I imagine it’s a totally different garden depending on what time of year you visit.  Spring must be exceptionally beautiful. 

Adventurous? There's a 5-hour hike to Table Mountain that starts at Kirstenbosch...but I'm saving Table Mountain for another day.  I decided to continue my day enjoying the view from a different mountain.

•••

Cecil John Rhodes was an English born South African politician.  One of his favorite places to escape to was a wooden bench on the lower slope of Devil's Peak, the mountain residing next to the famous Table Mountain.  Rhodes dreamt of an English- Africa.  Upon dying, Rhodes gave his land to the nation, and parts are now the University of Cape Town, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and the rest undevelopment. 

Rhodes Memorial

His memorial was built in 1912, fashioned after a Greek temple and at the bottom sits Rhodes' original wooden thinking bench (fun fact: The memorial contains 49 steps- one for each year of Rhodes' life).  The view from Rhodes Memorial spans across the city, across the beach and over mountains.  Lucky for us there just happens to be a restaurant and tea garden nestled on the mountainside where you can enjoy reasonably priced lunches, snacks, hot drinks and fabulous Sunday brunches.  

You may also start a hike of Devil's Peak from just behind the memorial. I settled for hiking over to a table at the tea garden and ordering a baguette and coffee.  I watched two little boys chase each other around the garden and play in the fountain.  

After paying the bill, I wandered over to the actual memorial, walked down the 49 steps and joined everyone gawking at the city below.  I felt lucky.  Where else can you walk off breakfast in one of the world's best botanical gardens, enjoy a light lunch on a mountain and then gaze out across and ocean while being next to one of the 7 Wonders of Nature? Nowhere, only Cape Town. 

View from Rhodes Memorial Restaurant (Notice the slanted trees.  It's from the winds.)

BISHOPSCOURT // The Last Word

BISHOPSCOURT, Cape Town, South Africa

This leafy suburb of Cape Town started as a private farm and is now one of the must-have addresses in the city.  It is a very cozy and exclusive neighborhood whose residents include Nelson Mandela.  The best features are its oak-lined streets, lack of wind (which plagues the rest of the city), and dramatic mountain views.  

Tree lined street in Bishopscourt

THE LAST WORD: BISHOPSCOURT

TLW- Bishopscourt only has five rooms. I’m staying in Room 3, the Superior Double.   As soon as Tessa opens my door, I’m stunned with a spectacular mountain view.  My room is large and opens directly onto a little patio.  The décor is stylish and subtle. A welcome note is waiting for me on the bed.  The bathroom has heated floors, a stand-alone bathtub with bath salts, bath milk and bubble bath. “His” and “Hers” neck rests balance on the edge of the tub.  Both are decorated with a single pink flower.  Nice touch.

Superior Double

Separate Bathtub with neck cushions and bath compliments

There are no less than 25 flowers in my room.  I feel special.

Walking a little further out of my room is the infinity pool.  I spend an hour lounging by the pool until Shariefa, the chef, offers me afternoon tea and cake.  The air is clean and all I can hear is the pool flowing and birds tweeting. I can’t believe how far away from the city this feels. Well done.

•••

Sundowners are provided upstairs in the lounge, but I opt to watch the sunset from my room before heading to dinner.

Their signature dish is a traditional Cape-Malay 3-course set menu. It does not disappoint. The perfect combination of spice and flavor served with five freshly prepared sambals to compliment a homemade chicken curry.  The meal is finished off with a milk tart.  Everyone who is a guest at TLW- Bishopscourt should try some of Cape Town’s cultural fusion with this menu. 

Prawn springroll, beef samosa and snoek pate Cape-Malay starter

 •••

Around midnight, I found myself in a hot bath with a cold glass of local Sauvignon Blanc.  I’m quite enjoying the first box of my Bucket List and I haven’t even left the hotel!

BUCKET LIST DESTINATION #1: CAPE TOWN, WESTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA

© CapeIntern

Cape Town is South Africa’s oldest city and first appeared on paper by the hand of Portuguese explorer, Bartholomeu Dias in 1488.  Information about the city's prior history is left to rely solely on fossil remains and local rock art. 

It’s no secret that since 1488, South Africa has had a sordid past, but many people are unaware of this country’s resilience.  They have come quite far in such a short period of time.  People are friendly, the major cities are developed and it's surprisingly metropolitan. 

© Panoramio

I’ve chosen Cape Town as a Bucket List destination because it’s got it all- history, cuisine, mountains, ocean, nature, wine and shopping.  It’s even got penguins.

There are Six Unforgettable Experiences listed in Cape Town and I intend on crossing off them all.

1.    Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

2.    Constantia Wine Valley

3.    The V&A Waterfront

4.    Robben Island

5.    Table Mountain

6.    Cape Point

And again, despite what you may have heard or envisioned, Cape Town is really a very modern city with plenty of safe places to stay.  You don't have to sacrifice style or luxury either.  Hosting a collection of unique properties in fabulous locations around the city and near all my points of interest, I’ve decided to stay with members of the Mantis Collection.  

Plus, you can’t go wrong with a name like that, right?

So, grab your suitcase and a pen and let’s start crossing off my Bucket List.

THE PLAYING MANTIS BUCKET LIST PROJECT

Hello Fellow Travelers, Adventurers and Explorers, 

I’d like to introduce myself.  My name is Katherine Alex and I am The Playing Mantis, a travel bug.

Throughout our lives we compile and add to a list of places we long to explore, cultures we want to experience, and cuisines we’d love to sample.  This is our Bucket List, an ideal of things to live before we die.  What’s on yours?

Most people treat their Bucket List as a suggestion, something to passively tackle in the future- maybe.  I say, Make It a Pledge.  It will be one of the most rewarding promises you will ever make to yourself, for yourself. 

My Bucket List of destinations is vast and new entries are often added.  I can’t wait any longer to start ticking off the list.  These destinations deserve to be experienced now and in later years. Why should I wait until I get older to have all the fun? There’s no time like the present.  So, I've teamed up with The Mantis Group to get the ball rolling.

Join me as I embark on an exploration through an ultimate travel Bucket List.  My journey jump starts in South Africa where I will stay at each destination two nights and report back to you on all of my experiences. 

If a Playing Mantis can do it, so can you.  Maybe you’ll even find a few new places to add to your Bucket List.  I hope so. 

Grab your passports,

The Playing Mantis

                                                                   •••

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” - Mark Twain