From The Twelve Apostles Hotel, it’s a mere 15 km hop over the peninsula to Groot Constantia. One moment you’re gazing at the sparkling Atlantic and the next, it’s the Indian Ocean you’re viewing from the rising vineyards of this historic estate.

Groot Constantia is the birthplace of South Africa’s wine industry. From its founding, Constantia wines made gifts for the Kings and Queens of Europe, as well as historical giants such as Sir Walter Scott and Napoleon Bonaparte. Indeed, Napoleon was supplied with Constantia wines throughout his exile on St Helena. As he lay on his deathbed, so the story goes, his final request was to be served a glass of the ‘liquid gold’ of the Cape.

Today the estate retains the elegance of its heyday. Approaching the original manor house through a valley of antique cultivars, it’s easy to tumble through history, and see the vineyards as they were seen by the estate’s founder, Governor Simon van der Stel.

Van der Stel was born at sea, and his innate sense of adventure led him to a job with the Dutch East India Company, running the Cape settlement as a refreshment station for ships en route to the Spice Islands. Van der Stel saw more in the station than just a ‘tavern of the seas’, and chose the Constantia Valley for his farm in 1663. As an experienced vintner, and stickler for quality, van der Stel’s wines quickly rose to prominence, a position retained to this day.

Groot Constantia offer tours of their vineyard as well as cellar (above)

Groot Constantia now offers wine tastings, and cellar and vineyard tours. The estate has three museums. The Manor House is a 300 year-old Dutch-Renaissance beauty, replete with gables and 18thC furnishings. The Orientation Centre houses artefacts, photographs and paintings depicting the history of the estate and slavery. Lastly, The Cloete Cellar showcases antiquarian drinking vessels and winemaking equipment. Best of all, you know that a chilled Sauvignon Blanc awaits at one of the restaurants.

Groot Constantia has two restaurants with panoramic views of the vineyards and False Bay. Try Jonkershuis for more traditional Cape fare (or a picnic basket to be enjoyed on the lawns), or Simons Restaurant for more avant-garde, fusion cuisine.

For more info about opening times and tours, go to www.grootconstantia.co.za

We’re very excited about some new developments at Red Carnation. You’d think we would stop at the epic scenery, opulent suites and sumptuous dining, but we thought we’d give you even more to look forward to! September 2011 sees the grand re-opening of the famed spa at Cape Town’s glorious Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, and the unveiling of our long-awaited range of deluxe body products and spa treatments, B|Africa.

The Spa  has been touched by the brilliant hand of designer, Toni Tollman, of Red Carnation’s Tollman family-owned business.

The Spa Lounge at The Twelve Apostles

An unearthly, all-white crystal grotto is just the beginning of the sensual journey you’ll undertake at this magical spa. Stone, marble, granite and glass are used to create a natural temple for body and soul. No detail is left to chance, as walls and ceilings are patterned with ornamental cornices and motifs.

The Rasul Chamber

The treatment rooms are state-of-the-art, and include hydrotherapy baths and rain showers, as well as a Rasul Chamber for traditional steam and mud cleansing rituals; a very special experience. You’ll also find a superbly-equipped salon, Tranquility Lounge, Vichy Shower and Wild Lanyana Arometherm Room.

Are you pining yet? We know we are. “We have no doubt that our guests are going to love it as much as we do,” says Toni Tollman. “While the interior of The Spa is exceptional, The Twelve Apostles’ unique position on the mountains overlooking the Atlantic Ocean means that a sunset treatment or romantic couples picnic in our newly-renovated outdoor gazebos is an absolutely unforgettable experience.”

B|Africa

But there is more good news. Our award-winning South African spas at the ultraluxurious Twelve Apostles, The Oyster Box and Bushmans Kloof will now be stocked with B|Africa, our exclusive new product range.

We turned to the ancient African landscape for inspiration and ingredients of potent restorative power. Bea Tollman, founder and president of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection says, “The unique natural habitats of each of the Red Carnation properties are encapsulated in our sensational B|Africa products and treatments, which harness the essential, life-giving properties of Mother Nature’s rich bounty to calm, detoxify, nourish and energise body, mind and spirit.”

Extravagant ingredients include Baobab oil, avocado butter, indigenous honey, rooibos, Mongongo nut, Ximenia and Marula oils, and west coast sea salt high in mineral value. These natural wonders are used to create such products as Fynbos Sugar Scrub, Ceremony Bath Milk, body balms and crystal-infused body oils.

We have developed a body range that is luxuriant and decadent, but with a deep sense of responsibility for the beloved land from which we obtain the vital elements to make it so. We are passionate about Fair Trade, sustainable harvesting practices and organic ingredients.

Horst Frehse

The Garden Route is a stunning 200km stretch of coastline about half a day’s drive east from Cape Town. The climate is the second mildest in the world (after that of Hawaii), so the landscape is magnificently verdant and ecologically diverse, with a wealth of wildlife, forests and Fynbos. Many describe the area as “South Africa’s Garden of Eden”.

The attractions are too numerous to list here but here are my top tips.

The Tsitsikamma National Park is one of South Africa’s most dramatic protected areas with massive breakers crashing into towering cliffs, deep gorges covered in thick forest and towering mountains rising steeply inland. Adrenalin junkies can jump off the Bloukrans Bridge, the world’s highest commercially operated bungee jump (216 metres!). The park also boasts one of South Africa’s best long-distance hikes, the 42km Otter Trail, offering five days of superb coastal walking with rivers to ford and plenty of time to swim, snorkel or just relax.

The jewel of the Garden Route is Plettenberg Bay. Originally christened the “beautiful bay” by early Portuguese explorers, it offers miles of unspoilt coastline and beautiful, uncrowded beaches. It is also known as the whale watching capital of the world. Southern Right Whales come within metres of the shore, along with Bottlenose Dolphins, Fur Seals, Humpbacks and Killer Whales.

The Cango Caves, in the Klein Karoo mountains, are near the top of the list of South Africa’s most popular attractions. A series of dripstone caverns, stretching for 4kms, open into vast halls of towering stalagmite boasting formations with names like ‘the bridal couple’, ‘glass flower fantasy’, ‘weird cango candle’ and ‘the hanging shawl’. ‘Cleopatra’s Needle’, which stands 9 metres high and is at least 150,000 years old, is one of the main attractions, but the beautiful dark grey roof, with its smoothly sculptured hollows and pendants, comes a close second.

Oudtshoorn, at the heart of the Klein Karoo, is a remarkable town – in the late Victorian and the Edwardian period it became incredibly wealthy from the production of Ostrich feathers, much in demand with the fashion industry. Demand is not the same these days but the area still boasts a number of ostrich ranches producing meat, leather, eggs and feathers – you can even go for a ride on the world’s biggest bird!

The Garden Route is also a magnet for surfers with Victoria Bay, Buffalo Bay (last wild buffalo to roam the beach was in fact killed here in 1883!) and Plettenberg Beach all being very popular. The really serious guys carry on east to Jeffrey’s Bay to tackle the legendary “supertubes“.

The Garden Route offers a wide range of spectacular scuba diving opportunities. In Plettenberg Bay there’s Groot Bank, Redbait Reef, Deep Blinders, Shallow Blinders, Dolphin Column, Jacob’s Poort and Whale Rock, as well as the MFV Athina wreck (1967). At the Tsitsikamma Marine Park there are trails for scuba-diving and snorkelling. In Knysna there’s the Dagleish Bank, East Cape Reef, Bruce’s Bank and the Pinnacle, with the wrecks The Fairholme (1888), The Paquita (1903), and the Phantom wreck. And in Mossel Bay there is the reef at Klein Brak River Mouth, Stingray Reef, Mitch’s Reef, the Santos Reef, Dolosse and the shallow and deep blinders of Windvogel Reef. You really are spoilt for choice!

The town of Knysna is in an absolutely gorgeous spot and was named one of the Top 100 Destinations in the World in the TripAdvisor 2008 Travellers’ Choice Destinations Awards. Apart from the splendours of the surroundings the unassuming little angling museum (entry by donation) is home to an unusual biological curiosity, a preserved Coelacanth. This is a “missing link” fish, with fins resembling primitive arms and legs. It was thought to be extinct until a specimen was caught in a deep-sea fishing net off the South African coast in 1939. Since then divers have discovered several colonies in the depths of the Indian Ocean.

Brett Davidge

Cape Town is often cited as the world’s most popular destination – and for good reason. Even in the cooler winter months, when the northern hemisphere is basking in the sunshine, there are loads of brilliant things to see and do down at the tip of Africa.

1. A trip to Seal Island is especially spectacular in our winter. That’s when the Great White Sharks are at their most active and it’s easy to see why the waters here, with their huge numbers of seals, have been described as a “McDonalds for sharks”! For adrenalin junkies, go Shark Cage Diving in Gansbaai or Mossel Bay.

2. White water rafting is more enjoyable during the cooler winter months because the rivers in the Cape are in flood – and there’s loads of raging torrents, with turbulent rapids, to keep you absolutely drenched!

Water Rafting

3. Namaqualand Flower Route is a must-see, with spring wild flowers starting to bloom from July to October. This brilliant spectacle can be enjoyed along the west coast of the Northern Cape and just north of Cape Town.

4. The Protea Garden at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden is most magnificent in Winter when the proteas, conebushes and serrurias are in flower. These gardens are world renowned for the beauty and diversity of the Cape flora they display and for the magnificence of its setting against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain.

Whale Watching

5. The Whale Watching Season, mid-June to November. Southern right whales leave their Antarctic feeding ground to frolic in the warmer waters of the Western Cape coast, providing spectacular opportunities for observing these gentle giants.

6. Hiking on a sunny winter’s day is much more comfortable than in the hot summer months – you don’t have to be up at the crack of dawn to avoid the fierce mid-day sun. There’s no shortage of spectacular Hiking Trails with the Western Cape offering the most varied and interesting concentration of hiking trails in the world.

7. Cape Town beaches are less crowded in the winter, and no less spectacular, with a choice of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans on the doorstep.

8. There are some great festivals and events around Cape Town in the winter months – everything from sport to music, food to crafts, and art to dance.

9. Visit one of the many game reserves in the Western Cape region – they’re still teeming with wildlife in the winter.

10. Spend a day indoors at the Twelve Apostles, unwinding in the spa, then relaxing by a warm fire with a glass or two of local wine from the excellent cellar, followed by dinner in our newly refurbished Azure restaurant.

Horst W Freshe

Cape Minstrel’s Carnival. An incredibly colourful spectacle, the annual Kaapse Klopse is a traditional New Year’s celebration. A flamboyant affair involving up to 13,000 costumed dancers, a colourful parade, live music, entertainment, cultural shows and row upon row of food and drinks stalls.

The Cape Argus Cycle Tour. First took place on 28 October 1978 and attracted 525 entrants. Since then it has grown to be the biggest single-day cycle race in the world and attracts around 35,000 entrants. Contestants cover 109 kilometres in some of the most scenic landscapes on the planet. This year it takes place on Sunday 13th March and is preceded by Lifecycle Week, a whole series of events and expos for the whole family.

The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa offers the best vantage point to watch the cyclists on their way to the finish. We have created a unique package for participants and spectators.

Horse Racing

J&B Met. Arguably South Africa’s most glamorous horse racing event, held annually at Kenilworth near Cape Town, the oldest course in the country. The event draws 50,000 brightly bedecked spectators and is a social event that one cannot afford to miss – clear your diary for the 29th of January 2011!

The Splashy Fen Music Festival in Underberg is one of South Africa’s longest-running music events. Concerts and outdoor activities take place every Easter (this year 21st-25th April) on a farm beside the Umzimkulu river in the shadow of the Drakensberg mountains. The festival offers 10,000 music lovers a four-day line-up of some of the country’s hottest acts, top-class sound and lighting, plus a wide choice of outdoor leisure activities for the whole family.

The Comrades Marathon, 29th May 2011. Regarded as the world’s greatest ultra-marathon, it’s run in KwaZulu-Natal between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, a distance of 90 kilometres.

The South African soldiers who gave their lives in World War I gave veteran Vic Clapham the idea to stage a running race in their honour. The first Comrades Marathon was run in 1921 and, except for 5 years during World War II, has been an annual event ever since.

One of the quirkiest fireside tales about the Comrades Marathon involves a Springbok rugby player called Bill Payne, who arrived at the start wearing his rugby boots. En route, he ate a full English breakfast, followed by a hearty chicken curry, a couple of beers at a country hotel and a lot of peach brandy before finishing an incredible 8th. He then played a game of club rugby the next day!

Canoeing

The Unlimited Dusi Canoe Marathon. 17-19 February 2011. An annual event that has as much spectator appeal as competitive spirit and camaraderie. Traversing the Umsundusi River through the Valley of a Thousand Hills in KwaZulu Natal . When the Dusi started in 1951 there were only 8 competitors, but now around 2,000 competitors take part with countless spectators waiting along the rivers edge to cheer intrepid adventurers along.

Cape Outback Mountain Bike Expedition. 18- 21 March 2011, Gouritz, in Western Cape. The route takes participants through the rugged, but incredibly beautiful, Hessequa, Cape-Agulhas and Overberg regions of the Western Cape.

Jazz Festival

Cape Town Jazz Festival. 25-26 March 2011. Now in its twelfth year – this proudly South African event will be hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre and promises a star studded line-up.

Time of the Writer. International Writers Festival 14-19 March 2011. The written word will envelop Durban as writers from around South Africa and Africa arrive in for a stimulating week of books, ideas and talk. The festival will feature a diverse gathering of literary luminaries that will include representatives from the many branches of the art such as novelists, short story writers, humour writers, political commentators and more.

Ladysmith Swartkop Challenge. Saturday, 09 April 2011. This is an extreme sport event for teams of 20 + 2 leaders to draw a gun weighing some 1300kg up a hill of up to 1:1 over a course of some 130m. It was inspired by feats of arms in the South African War of 1899-1902 when heavy guns were repeatedly mounted on the top of kopjes and manpower was the only resource once the incline became too steep for draught animals.

Whichever of these events grabs your fancy Red Carnation Hotels will be delighted to welcome you to our award winning family run properties in Cape Town, Durban and the Cederberg Mountains.

Luvo Ntezo

You’ll see the names on the wine lists at the Twelve Apostles, The Oyster Box and Bushmans Kloof, but when you can visit the estates in person it’s too good an opportunity to miss – we have some of the most beautiful vineyards in the world and they produce some outstanding vintages. 

Picking just ten wineries is almost impossible, but here goes.

Bouchard Finlayson.  I love Pinot Noir, so this is my all time favourite.  It’s in the Hemel-en-Aarde valley, which translates as Heaven and Earth, so you get an idea of how breathtaking it is!   Framed by mountains and within sight of the ocean it enjoys a perfect microclimate – the surrounding peaks trap the clouds and moisture from the sea.  Summers are warm rather than hot, winters are mild and frost-free. The sea breezes keep vines cool and encourage slow ripening of flavour-rich grapes.  The most perfect clay shale vineyard soils complete the picture and their Galpin Peak Pinot Noir is legendary.

Wine Cellar

Steenberg Wine Estate.  My initial interest in wines was nurtured by Johan Lopshur of Steenberg.  The estate, only 20 minutes from the centre of Cape Town, hold the distinction of being the oldest farm (1682) in the picturesque Constantia Valley, which is generally considered to be South Africa’s premier wine growing region. With its cool, sea-facing slopes and majestic granite ridges, this vineyard has developed a worldwide reputation for producing excellent Cape wines.

Ken Forrester.  Situated on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain, in the heart of South Africa’s most famous wine region Stellenbosch, this winery produces iconic chenins.    The farm was established 1689 and is blessed with duplex soils, mountainous terrain and a Mediterranean climate. The picture-perfect trellised vineyards have created many fabulous vintages, one of which was served at the 85th birthday of President Nelson Mandela.

Shiraz Grapes

Anura.  At the foothills on the Simonsberg Mountains in the Stellenbosch region.  Their passion is red wine, specifically Shiraz, but plantings of Mourvedré, Petit Verdot, Sangiovese and Malbec cater for a wide variety of tastes.

Veenwouden.  A small boutique winery, belonging to international opera singer, Deon van der Walt.  Situated in the Paarl region with spectacular views over the Klein-Drakenstein Mountains. 

Elgin Vintners.   A partnership of 6 dedicated grape growers in the cool climate area of the Elgin valley, to the east of the Stellenbosch region and 70km from Cape Town. 

Hamilton Russell Vineyards.  Another producer in the Hemel-en-Aarde valley in the Walker Bay region. 

Dieu Donné.  Situated high on the steep south facing slopes of the Franschhoek Mountains, the winery benefits from the cool climate and rocky soils of weathered granite. 

Du Toitskloof.   Located in a beautiful area near the town of Rawsonville in the Breede River Valley, at the entrance to the spectacular Du Toitskloof Mountain Pass.

Klein Constantia Estate.  In the verdant Constantia valley and part of the original vineyard that became famous for producing “Constantia”, prized throughout Europe in the 18th century by the aristocracy.   Klein Constantia has revived this world class sweet wine.

I’d love to discuss South African wines with you in person, but in the meantime you’ll find more information on my podcast.

Clive Bennett

How much football can one person watch without a break?  Quite a lot, I should imagine, if you are passionate enough to come all the way down here for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™!   But even if you stay totally football focussed every day in the group stage (3 games a day!) there are gaps in the schedule once the tournament goes into the last fortnight.  What are you going to do?!

The list of options is endless, so I’ll just give you a few of my personal tips. 

If you spend any time in Cape Town (and you’d be crazy not to – it’s got to be in the top 5 of the world’s best cities) then Table Mountain is a must.  Seasoned travellers will tell you this view rivals anything they have seen anywhere else across the globe. If you’re reasonably fit you can climb to the Upper Cable Station via “Platteklip Gorge” in about 2.5 hours – and be down in just four minutes via the cable car!  But schedule some time at the top for the view, and refreshments at the restaurant.

Great White Shark Diving

If you are more of an adrenalin junkie you could try climbing into a shark cage then being lowered beneath the waves to go eyeball to eyeball with the ocean’s most fearsome predator, the Great White.  Best place to do this is near the 60,000-strong Cape fur seal colony. If you dare to take the plunge then you will soon realise why locals call it the “McDonald’s drive-through” for sharks.

Those who like to take life a little easier should certainly visit the wine growing region of Western Cape.  Regarded as the most beautiful in the world, they are an easy one hour drive from Cape Town.  Dutch settlers first started cultivating vines here in 1655 and today some of the world’s finest vintages are created in this idyllic landscape. Personally, I’d head for the Hemel-en-Aarde (Heaven and Earth) valley.  Framed by mountains and within sight of the ocean at Walker Bay, it’s not only breathtakingly beautiful, it’s also home to Bouchard Finlayson, a boutique winery dedicated to the making of Pinot noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc wines of outstanding quality.  Walker Bay is also the best spot for whale watching – the southern right whales come to calve here during our winter season, from July to November.  So Walker Bay has wine and Whales to recommend it!

Bouchard Finlayson Winery

The matches are being played all over South Africa, so you’ll probably spend some time on the coast in Durban.  This is in the heart of KwaZulu region, home of the Zulu nation.  If the words Isandlwana, Rorke’s Drift, Colenso, Spioenkop, Ladysmith, Dundee, Churchill, Blood River, Cetshwayo and Boers ring some bells from your history lessons then don’t miss your chance to explore the internationally renowned KwaZulu-Natal battlefields and relive the amazing stories. The Drakensberg region is also reasonably nearby, combining staggering natural beauty with a wealth of biologically diverse fauna and flora.  It’s a mountainous wilderness that remains virtually unchanged since the indigenous Bushmen roamed these dramatic hillsides 10,000 years ago.

So, on those days when there’s nothing to hold your attention on the pitch, you won’t be short of ways to pass the time!

Clive Bennett

I’m delighted to unveil a brand new look for the summer season at the iconic five-star Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa in Cape Town, South Africa.

Cape Town’s No. 1 hotel has been enhanced with an extensive multi-million Rand structural and interior design refurbishment. Our Founder and President Bea Tollman and her daughter Toni have used the splendour of the surroundings to great effect throughout the bespoke designer bedrooms, lobby, corridors, 24-hour Café and unique Presidential Suite. The ambience has been achieved with light, warm fabrics, natural wood shutters and various marbles to create a delightfully decadent feel in all the custom-built bathrooms.

Skilled local craftsmen provide some of the more unusual items, such as chandeliers made from recycled clay and candy stripe wool carpets that emphasize the relaxed beach feel of Cape Town. The interiors are adorned with impressive works of art and carefully selected antiques, while the extensive grounds have become a showcase for talented local artists. To get a flavour of what to expect on your next visit, view a choice selection of pictures in our photo gallery.

We’re confident that this stunning refurbishment will launch an entirely new era in the hotel’s illustrious history. Our team pride themselves on providing the ultimate in customer service and can’t wait to perform on what they see as a magnificent new stage.

We hope you’ve had an enjoyable stay at one of our thirteen luxury family-run boutique hotels. When you stay at a Red Carnation Hotel, you’re more than a customer; you are our guest.

It’s therefore very important for us to continually improve our service to ensure guests’ have the best experience possible. In order to do that, we’d be delighted to hear what you thought of your time with us.

Bea Tollman, Founder and President of Red Carnation Hotels, explains:

“The essential thing is that guests are delighted by what we do, and that we provide exceptional value for money. Above all, we want them to know that we care. When they check out of their room, they should leave with lasting memories of the best service they have ever received.”

We look forward to hearing from you.

Dover Sole, as the name suggests, is not a fish one catches off the steeply shelving coast of South Africa, but one that prefers the shallow continental water of the English Channel and North Sea.

I first encountered this delicacy when we moved to London in the mid-seventies, and very quickly developed a passion for it, either grilled or meunière. As with all fish dishes you need to find the best possible raw materials, then let the natural flavours speak for themselves – simple as this sounds in theory, it takes practice to perfect!

There are several little tricks that must be mastered. First, and perhaps most important of all, you must never overcook it. Secondly, and slightly contrary to the first tip, both sides must be as crispy as possible.

So, how to achieve the crispiness without spoiling the gorgeous melt-in-your-mouth moistness of the delicate flesh?

Start by lightly seasoning it with salt and pepper, then dust with flour. Next, brush both sides with about a tablespoon of olive oil. Then place it on a hot char-grill (or a ridged cast iron pan) for just 90 seconds (no more!), then carefully turn it at a 90° angle, on the same side, for a further 90 seconds to achieve a lovely diamond cross-hatching effect. Turn it over with a metal spatula (carefully!) and do the same again. Then gently transfer it onto a baking dish and place in the oven at 180°C for 8-10 minutes. The fish is done when the bones move easily away from the flesh when you delicately insert a fork.

It’s best served with simple accompaniments – home made tartare sauce, freshly squeezed lemon juice and boiled new potatoes (tossed with a touch of butter, olive oil and chopped parsley). Done properly, it’s a taste of pure heaven, and one that one never seems to get tired of.

That’s why it’s a regular feature on the menu at some of our hotels, and why I’ve included it in my cook book – entitled “A Life in Food” it celebrates those recipes which are enduring favourites with our guests.  All proceeds, excluding postage and packaging, will be donated to my favourite charities – The Startlight Foundation and The Tick Tock Club in the UK.