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turn off your phone, this would be<br />
it – but, then again, that would be<br />
a wasted opportunity. The smooth,<br />
calm waters also make this an ideal<br />
spot for trying out your stand-up<br />
paddling skills. But if that idea<br />
doesn’t grab you, perhaps the<br />
thought of cruising slowly down<br />
the river, bubbles in hand, will.<br />
Plett’s beaches are also a favourite<br />
party spot for whales and<br />
dolphins. We played tag with them<br />
out on the ocean, and although<br />
the dolphins proved somewhat<br />
shy and elusive, nothing could<br />
beat the exhilarating sensation of<br />
streaming over azure blue waves.<br />
Then there are those boutiques<br />
and bakeries. Those<br />
who love browsing<br />
through interesting<br />
stores will find time<br />
flies as they meander<br />
down Plett’s high<br />
street, refuelling<br />
occasionally with a<br />
flat white and slice<br />
of buttery cake.<br />
As much as all these activities are<br />
food for the soul, there’s just as<br />
much fulfilment to be found at<br />
the hotel itself. It’s as though every<br />
angle and corner of Sky Villa has<br />
been carefully designed to make<br />
you stop and stare – inside the<br />
hotel, a luxe palette of metallics<br />
is offset by moody wallpapers<br />
and floral fabrics. Clearly, this<br />
establishment hasn’t been created<br />
merely as a place to relax; it’s also<br />
intended as a treat for the senses.<br />
The hotel’s gardens are even more<br />
pleasing. Flurries of fynbos make<br />
for a smudgy pastel landscape,<br />
while the vista rolls all the way<br />
down to that sapphire<br />
sea. You can’t blame a<br />
girl for wanting to take<br />
it all in – which is why I<br />
spent much of my stay<br />
at the heated pool on the<br />
rooftop bar. The espresso<br />
martini I’m sipping certainly<br />
doesn’t hurt, either.<br />
The panorama from the<br />
restaurant is similarly<br />
spectacular. That might be the<br />
reason the hotel is fast gaining a<br />
reputation as a favourite breakfast<br />
destination, although it’s the<br />
dinners that really got my mouth<br />
watering. The menu draws on<br />
Mediterranean influences, so<br />
expect plenty of fresh, bold<br />
flavours that pair perfectly with<br />
your coastal location. My all-time<br />
hero dish is Live By Chocolate, a<br />
chocolate experience so densely<br />
delicious it will take care of all<br />
cravings for the next week: think<br />
a duo of mousse, lashed with<br />
butterscotch sauce and finished<br />
off with a dollop of home-made<br />
ice cream. Of course, life isn’t<br />
just about dessert (would that<br />
it could be). I also loved the<br />
avocado and salmon tartare,<br />
with a liberal drizzle of sesame<br />
oil complementing the Asian<br />
complexity of the dish, while the<br />
pork belly received lavish praise<br />
from my companions. A word<br />
of advice – go hungry! Sky Villa’s<br />
portions are generous, to say the<br />
least, and you’ll definitely want to<br />
do them justice.<br />
After just one weekend here, I feel<br />
cosseted and cocooned – and<br />
more than ready to tackle life<br />
below the clouds.<br />
Info ...<br />
Rates (per room on a bed and breakfast basis) range from<br />
R2 200 for a standard mountain-facing room in low season up<br />
to R9 900 for the presidential suite in high season.<br />
Details: Sky Villa: Capesummervillas.co.za; Ocean Blue<br />
Adventures (whale and dolphin watching): oceanblueadventures.<br />
co.za; SUP Keurbooms (stand-up paddling and champagne<br />
cruises): standuppaddling.co.za<br />
<strong>Aug</strong>ust <strong>2019</strong> Get It Joburg <strong>South</strong> 33<br />
GIS0802_032_2693130.indd 33<br />
<strong>2019</strong>/07/17 04:03:38 PM