Living Our Sunshine with Susann Deysel
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Graceland Eco Retreat: Escape to the mountains of Limpopo

Perched atop a mountain above the Kudu River Valley, lies Graceland Eco Retreat. A place where you will find quiet, endless views and a free-roaming family of giraffes.

Graceland Eco Retreat is where your hosts, Anders and Douglas, have created a farm-style eco-friendly retreat in a beautiful setting.

Stay a while

The accommodation at Graceland Eco Retreat was designed to take advantage of it’s beautiful location. At sunrise you can watch the valley wake up while the sun slowly rises over the mountain – but if you sleep in, you might just find a curious giraffe staring at you through a window.

Enjoying your morning coffee or sundowners on one of the terraces, pergolas or at the splash pool with a view of the valley may just be one of the highlights of any stay here.

Wildlife

At Graceland Eco Retreat you will meet giraffes named Elvis, Priscilla, Lisa Marie and their children born on the farm named, Tennessee, Nashville and Phoenix. There are also Kudu, Impala, Klipspringer, Mountain Reedbuck, Bushbuck and more that you may catch a glimpse of whilst hiking.

Birding enthusiasts will be spoilt with sightings of birds such as the Verreaux, Crowned and Long-Crested Eagle, Lanner Falcon, Alpine, Purple Crested Turaco, African Black Swift as well as the famous African Fish Eagle. Since they also border the forests and plantations of Magoebaskloof and the Woodbush Forest Reserve, you might even spot Cape Parrot, Narina Trogon and Black-fronted Bush Shrike and the rare Samango monkey.

Off the grid and just 50km North-East of Polokwane

Graceland Eco Estate is totally off the grid and the sun is responsible for pumping their water, clean the pool, run their fridges and keep you connected.

The retreat is perched on the side of the mountain with the sunlit Olyfberg to one side and the fertile Kudu River Valley to the other side.

What else can you do while staying at Graceland Eco Retreat?

PAUSE to eat

Pause, a new addition to the offering at Graceland, is a converted steel barn enclosed in glass panels with views overlooking the Kudu River Valley. The restaurant has a large fire-place in the dining area with a collection of art created by a variety of well-known South African artists.

The kitchen at PAUSE aims to create meals through a fusion of flavours, aromas and impressions with strong influences from the Scandinavian, Asian and Mediterranean palates, creating a bold taste fusion to tease your senses.

Pause is not open for walk-ins, but they do open up the venue once a month for their Table D’hôte (The Host’s Table) during which guests can feast on a 5-course luncheon. The menu is advertised 2 weeks in advance and bookings are essential.

Covid-19 may have an impact on Pause restaurant’s service. Please contact Graceland Eco Retreat for more information.

Add Graceland Eco Retreat to your Limpopo bucketlist

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Into the wild: Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve

The further my car got from the gates of our security complex the more it felt like a weight was lifted from my shoulders. It felt great to have Google maps navigate us to a destination again. It felt good to see the tar with its white lines in my rear-view. It felt good to have some freedom.

Padkos (ˈpadˌkɒs) snacks and provisions for a journey

An Afrikaans word literally meaning ‘road food’

We had booked tickets to the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve near Krugersdorp. We wanted to go to the Lion Park near Harties, but it’s over a provincial line. It was a great decision tho!

The kids could barely contain their excitement at the gate with the elephant sculpture but once we started seeing the animals grazing in groups they were beside themselves. The Rhinos were a highlight especially with the little one staying closes to its parent – Lexa even tried to take photos on her tablet of them.

This is the first time Lily has seen a Rhino 🙂

Lily growled and miaawed at the white lions with their beautiful coats. They yelled at the ostriches because we shoo away all birds. The cheetach lazily meandered over to our car before finding a new shaded spot to rest in. There were even a few Springbokkies playfully running about.

Lexa was really excited to see Pumba! Can you spot them?

At the end of a 4-hour drive in the park the kids were spent. They had finally been outside the gates of our complex. Did something exciting with their parents. They were out in the wild – and they loved it.

Road trip (ˈroʊd ˌtrɪp) long trip or holiday taken by car

What to do with kids while in Gauteng

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Beyond the Vine

Travel is not allowed right now, but it doesn’t mean we can’t dream about travelling. When this is over, we will need to help rebuild our country’s economy and one way to do that is to travel local.

In February I hopped on over to Cape Town to have a birthday weekend with my bestie and we went on a wine farm tour with Beyond the Vine. It was so much fun – it definitely beat doing a self-drive just to taste wine.

We left from a hostel in Cape Town on a very comfortable shuttle with a mix of South Africans and Americans onboard. Robbie, co-owner and tour leader, entertained us on the way to our first taste of the winelands.

Villiera Wines

At our first winery stop, Villiera Wines, tasted four of their wines and had a special tour within their cellar. The Villiera Wines cellar tour is not available through all wine tour operators.

Muratie

Sitting in this historic winery with its cobweb dating from the year voetsek! Was quite an experience. We were entertained with tales of the past and how the farm ended up in the hands of the first owner, saw the original farm owner document and tasted wine around old creaky tables.

Delheim

Our stop at Delheim included a lunch with a view.

Middelvlei

Last time I was at Middelvlei we tried the delicious braaibroodjies and wine pairing, but with Beyond the Vine we blended our own wine. During the wine blending experience you had to work out which percentages of different wines would offer you the best blend. I even got to cork my own wine!

I would really recommend joining Beyond the Vine on a tour – and I paid for the tour myself. They offer experiences beyond just wine tasting and that is what travel is about (don’t be a tourist, be an explorer). After my winelands tour with Beyond the Vine they’ve added quite a few other tours. You can read more about their tours on www.beyondthevine.co.za.

What else to do while in Cape Town

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Why Rooftops Rule

You know when you visit your best friend a few provinces over and she’s been there a (long) while but she doesn’t know where the coolest spots are still? Yeah, that is a thing in my life. I got you tho, because I know…

When in Cape Town you (like the locals) always want a view of the mountain – no matter where you are. Even better if the space you are occupying is high up in the sky and can offer you spectacular views.

Some restaurants try to attain that rooftop vibe by installing floor to ceiling windows to capitalize on views – but… I however prefer breathing in fresh air, feel the wind in my hair. The perfect rooftop venue for me has to offer some shelter from the elements without obstructing the views; be comfortable, but keep it classy and lay on a food, drink and music experience that matches the effortless ‘cool’ of looking down on the bustling city streets.

Now I can tell you about 180 Lounger in the heart of Cape Town. The space atop the 16th floor of The Terraces building on the trendy restaurant strip of Bree Street delivers panoramic views of UNESCO World Heritage Site and official member of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Table Mountain, as well as down towards the Foreshore where luxury cruise liners from around the world pull into the majestic Table Bay harbour.

View from 180 Lounger in the heart of Cape Town

180 Lounger is more than an always-on party hotspot but rather a customizable multi-use event space which offers a pristine location for corporate events, business functions, product launches or private functions and an ‘out-of-the-box’ meeting venue or working facility.

You can find out more about 180 Lounger on www.180lounger.com, facebook.com/180Lounger or on Instagram @180Lounger.

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Eat at Charly’s Bakery – Cape Town

When my BFF said she wanted to go to Charly’s Bakery I recalled all the many episodes I watched on some DSTv channel many years ago about all the amazing cakes, cupcakes and cookies they make. It was like a heavenly little store… on the other side of the world. I had forgotten about them.

Mucking Afazing

Charly’s Bakery

The Charly’s Bakery is an old Jewish bookstore with a yellow Cape Town frame next to it with Table Mountain as its backdrop. It’s a pretty old building with pink accents and a delicious secret inside.

Inside you can observe the cakes, cookies and cupcakes being decorated or feast your eyes on the ready-to-buy baked goodies. Spend a little time, order a coffee and cake and sit outside at a table.

Charly's Bakery
Charly’s Bakery Cape Town

Charly’s Bakery truly is a special place where best friends can meet before setting off on an adventure.

Best things to do in Cape Town - find Cape Town's yellow frames
Cape Town has many yellow frames but this one is at Charly’s Bakery

What to do in Cape Town

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3 Great Food & Wine Pairings in the Cape Winelands

Yeah, I’m just not that into wine that I would want to go to a bunch of wine farms to taste wine – but when you add food or a snack to the equation…I’m in!

On my recent trip to Cape Town to visit my BFF we decided that we wanted to find the most amazing food and wine pairings to try – because after a year in Cape Town, my BFF had forgotten the first rule of drinking… to eat. Just an FYI, we had a designated driver who didn’t partake.

Drinking good wine with good food in good company is one of life’s most civilized pleasures.

Michael Broadbent

Braaibroodjies and Wine Pairing at Middelvlei

This was the most interesting pairing on paper and even more delicious on the tongue. I grew up with braaibroodjies on the fire with every braai so this was my number 1 food and wine pairing to try.

Wine and food pairing at Middelvlei in Stellenbosch

We watched them roast our food on a fire and was kept company by the big black dog in front of the fire. The food and wine pairings were spot on and I easily could’ve stayed for more!

Macaron and Wine Pairing at Blaauwklippen

This was an experience! The day before there was a wedding at xxx and we were treated to a wonderland of flowers hanging from the roof.

Macarons and wine pairing at Blaauwklippen

The decadent macarons were perfectly complimented by their wine pairings. It was a feast for the eyes and the tongue.

Pizza and Wine Pairing at Brennaisance

Anyone who says that money cannot buy happiness has clearly never spent their money on pizza.

Andrew W.K.

This was our lunch and it was amazing. The last red wine was a bit heavy for me, but it went well with the pizza it was paired with. This was R200 per person – but well worth it!

Wine and food pairing at Brennaisance in Stellenbosch

Next time you venture down to the Cape Winelands (or Stellenbosch) hit up these wine farms and do a food and wine pairing. I’m a wine heathen, but you can trust me on this.

What to do in Cape Town

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Suitcase parenting: Travel with your kids!

The one thing I have learnt is to not stress about the small stuff – but to be in the moment enjoying it. A wind that sweeps hair in your face while you’re trying to take a family selfie is nothing compared to your kid laughing about your misfortune. Having mud on your clothes is a small price to pay for scooping up your baby and hearing them giggle…

I took my kids to "Thailand" and took this picture
I was there… I snapped the picture of hubby and the kids in front of Nan Hua Temple

Don’t count the days; make the days count.

Muhammad Ali

I believe it’s never too early to take your kids on an exploration of the world. They may not remember everything, but they will remember you were there with them – and that’s all I want. You don’t have to tell me that it is exhausting to take kids on trips (even if it is just to a grocery shop) and that your luggage exponentially multiplies…

Two of the greatest gifts we can give our children are roots and wings

Hodding Carter

Remember this photo?

I posted it last year June/July. We were on a family holiday on Reunion Island – 3 generations nogal! It was my mom’s first any only overseas trip and my oldest kid got to have this trip with her grandmother, grandfather and parents. Who wouldn’t one day want to remind their kid of such a special holiday?

Living on Earth is expensive, but it does include a free trip around the sun every year.

Unknown

Not everyone can afford to jump on a plane to an international destination, but you can jump in your car to some of the most amazing places right here in South Africa.

I joked about it to a friend, but you can really fake a trip to Thailand and Paris not too far from Joburg…

  • Nan Hua Buddhist Temple in Bronkhorstspruit (I’ll post some more photos later)
  • The Eiffel in Parys

You also really don’t have to go too far from wherever you stay – just do stuff with your kids. Go to the movies, parks, National Parks or even just prepare meals together…

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yellow frames south africa
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Best things to do in Cape Town: Visit Cape Town’s yellow frames

Finally landing in Cape Town after almost 5 years I knew what to expect from the sleepy town at the southern tip of Africa. I was here with my parents and then again with colleagues for a marketing summit – where we made time to get out a bit. We visited the V&A and we all got on the yellow frame and had fun with it.

The iconic yellow frames in Cape Town perfectly frame some of the most iconic and picturesque attractions. Here is a list of where you can find Cape Town’s yellow frames:

  • Signal Hill, Cape Town
  • Blaauwberg – Eden on the Bay
  • V&A Waterfront overlooking the harbour and Table Mountain
  • In front of the Zeitz MOCAA at the V&A Waterfront
  • Cape Town station
  • Lookout Hill, Khayelitsha
  • District Six, Harrington Street – right next to Charly’s Bakery
  • Silo District

These frames will definitely help tourists find the best spots to take photos and to have an awesome souvenir photo of places visited in the Mother City.

I’m putting it out there, I like fun useless facts…

  • Did you know that the yellow frames are 2.8m tall by 4m wide?
  • The frames are painted in yellow or Pantone C109.
  • The V&A Waterfront was the first location to receive its yellow frame.
  • Signal Hill received the second yellow frame.

Here are some OBVIAAAS tips to get great photos of you in one of Cape Town’s yellow frames:

Best things to do in Cape Town - find Cape Town's yellow frames
Cape Town yellow frame in front of the Zeitz MOCAA
  • Don’t ask a stranger to take your photos.
  • As you can see on the photo above this stranger snapped while I was still getting on the frame and forgot to check that she actually captured the landmark (Table Mountain) in the frame. The rest of the series aren’t better either.
  • Snap pictures of just the frame and landmark.
  • Stand back, seriously, you don’t have to stand on top of the frame to snap a picture. Look for the white X to stand on.
  • The frame, when you stand on the right spot, will perfectly frame the landmark.
  • Take photos in landscape – just like the one my BFF snapped at Charly’s Bakery (see below).
Best things to do in Cape Town - find Cape Town's yellow frames

What to do in Cape Town

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Exploring Cape Town on a City Sightseeing Red Bus Tour

The simple truth about getting on the City Sightseeing Red Bus Tour in Cape Town is that it is a must. I loved it! It was a cheap way to get around Cape Town and I get to see a lot of interesting places without having to look for parking…

Cape Town seems to have a shortage of parking spaces. I even saw a car being pushed out of the way into a wall with a car. I don’t know if it’s normal, but if I rented a car I would get the smallest car possible and take super waiver damage insurance – just saying.

There I was, sitting at the top of the City Sightseeing Red Bus Tour under a canopy/roof looking at all these beaches filled with people… on the beach and not in the beautiful blue freezing water. (Clearly this is not KZN)

I even got off my perfect vantage point to walk and snap photos.

I only booked a 1 day ticket – and it even included stops at 3 wine tastings… The route stretched from the V&A via the Bo-Kaap (depending on the colour line you took)past Kirstenbosch, wineries and even up Table Mountain and down along the coast. It was a really well-planned route!

If I was to ever go back to Cape Town – and I only get there every decade or so – I would totally book my spot on some of the more expensive excursions they have… which are more wine tasting orientated.

If you want to see more of the wonderful things you can expect when you hop on, visit www.citysightseeing.co.za/en/cape-town or if you are in my hood (that’s Jozi) www.citysightseeing.co.za/en/joburg.

PS. They didn’t pay me to say nice things. I paid for my ticket as if I’m a real person.

What to do in Cape Town

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Hello Table Mountain – solo travel in Cape Town

Let’s talk about all the places you want to visit in Cape Town (and surrounds)… I did the tourist thing and got on a City Sightseeing Red Bus Tour (well, after an Uber).

It was a sunny day in Cape Town, no wind, no clouds and only blue skies. I set off on my solo travel experience of the Mother City with Table Mountain as my first stop.

Pre-booked tickets in hand I stood there looking at the incredibly long queue to get up the mountain by cable car. The long line was made up of local and international visitors all excited about the prospect of having a clear view from the top. One and a half hours in the African sun and an eye-rolling employee later trying to get us to all stand closer to each other – obviously I blew a little gasket explaining in no uncertain terms there will be no getting on top of each other after being baked to shreds. If I hadn’t paid a whopping R330 for the privilege of working on growing skin cancer just to get up a mountain, I would’ve left.

The Table Mountain cable car was a nice surprise. The cable car rotated and gave all its passengers different views. It felt safe enough as they are fairly new – I still don’t like heights.

I followed the footpaths on the mountain, stopping occasionally to snap a picture of the city at its feet. I stared at the wild landscapes on the Hout Bay side and watched the waves break over rocks and even a ship or two.

I might’ve spent more time on the mountain, but 40 minutes later my legs and back begged for somewhere soft to rest and I got back in the queue to make the journey down the mountain. Two minutes after hitting tar the City Sightseeing Red Bus Tour arrived and down the mountain we went.

Looking back, I made a few simple mistakes. I didn’t arrive at 7 am to get in a queue and 750ml of water wasn’t enough for that 1.5 hour wait – and I couldn’t very well leave the queue to go buy stuff… I was solo travelling!

Check my (mostly) solo travel experiences in Cape Town.

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