As A Gautenger, I’ve become very familiar with Magaliesburg and the Cradle of Humankind area over the years, yet every time I return there are attractions I haven’t noticed before or been to yet. And it struck me en route to De Hoek Country Hotel recently that we don’t give enough credence to this part of the world, little more than an hour from Pretoria.
Sure, the landscape is hardly awe-inspiring, being mostly spaghetti Western-style savannah, but it has its own Herman Charles Bosman sort of charm, and there’s plenty to do here.
If you can afford to splash out, the hotel is ideally located near the town, from which all kinds of activities can be launched, although when I got there, it became apparent that, like most five-star establishments, the idea is really to stop the madness and scale down to serenity, so that by the end of the weekend you’re essentially meditating.
There’s not much to do on the property itself but read and dine, which is just what the doctor ordered if you’re a workaholic living in the city. There is no spa, but you can get a massage in a single treatment room if you book it at least a day before – the Thai masseuse is sent from Fourways.
De Hoek is owned and run by Michael and Michelle Holenstein, who transformed it from the original seven-bedroomed sandstone house built by two brothers, Johann and Andre Redelinghuys, into a welcoming establishment.
“The day we first saw it in 1994, the trees were small and the house felt large and impersonal. We envisaged De Hoek as a wonderful country house with the emphasis on food and service,” says Michelle.
The Holensteins live on the plot adjoining De Hoek, so have a direct hand in running the show. They have certainly realised their dream. The cuisine, overseen by Michael, is superlative, a combination of Mediterranean, Swiss and French influences in dishes served at candlelit tables set with crystal and silver. A new five-course menu is created every evening by his team of well-trained professionals.
What also stood out for me was the excellent and diverse selection of books lying around, not just the usual wildlife fare but biographies, novels, travel and foodie treasures, and one that had me engrossed, Louis Wilsenach’s curiously narcissistic ’n Lewe in Ink en Verf (A Life in Ink and Paint). These tomes are entirely at home in De Hoek, a gleaming, yellow-lit, hushed setting with lots of mahogany and leather furnishings reminiscent of an aristocratic English home, but with a definite Swiss feel to it as Holenstein is a Swiss name. De Hoek’s literature boasts “majestic views” of the Magaliesberg, but this is not the case. Tree-filled seclusion is more apt.
This is a classy country hideaway that is not child-friendly. If the kids are over 12 they can stay, but best you then look to the activities in the area, of which there are many. Just up the road is Melon Rouge, a country restaurant with an antiques and second-hand book shop as well as a vintage dress boutique. And you can pick up some funky art at its Artichoke gallery.
Another commendable place to lunch (or stay over) at is Barton’s Folly further up the drag on the Hekpoort road. It’s a self-catering manor house and cottages overlooking the Hekpoort Spruit and fronted by a high cliff. There’s a swimming pool, forest walks and a huge enclosed children’s play area. For rugby nuts there’s also a 42-inch flat screen TV, so everyone is provided for.
One of my favourite haunts in this vicinity is Goblin’s Cove, a three-storey thatched restaurant next to a man-made lake and forest and a magic gift shop. Nooks and crannies full of murals and sculptures of goblins and fairies make this a delightful place to explore. And there’s a play area for kids.
If you’re a spa junkie, Askari big five game reserve, also on the R560 Hekpoort road, is where to go. The entire spa opens up on outdoor relaxation areas and private gardens and it offers every treatment you can think of. You can also book elephant encounters there. - Pretoria News
l De Hoek: Rate is R1 472 per person sharing for an executive suite. Tel: 014 577 9600 or visit www.dehoek.com
l For information on the area go to www.magaliesmeander. co.za -
The Gauteng Tourism Authority launched its ‘I’m a GeePee’ campaign this month. It encourages citizens to become tourists in their own region. You can apply for a GeePee card, which entitles you to great discounts on a several Gauteng attractions, one of them being Maropeng near Magaliesburg. To see the options and apply, visit www.gauteng.net and submit your cellphone number to receive an SMS or downloadable version of the GeePee card.