Family Fun in Cape Town with Steenberg
Cape Town, South Africa, is a fantastic family holiday destination. Not only is it an easy overnight flight from London (great if the kids sleep the whole way), but the time difference is minimal meaning there is no jet lag to contend with. The flights are probably the biggest expense, but once you are there, South Africa offers fantastic value for money in terms of eating, drinking and enjoying some fantastic activities available - for all the family.
Where better to base yourself than Steenberg – a luxurious hotel on the Cape’s oldest farm – where discerning parent travelers can enjoy all the luxuries and facilities of the #1 Luxury Hotel in Africa (as voted by TrIpAdvisor and Conde Nast Traveler Readers in 2011) with the knowledge that the youngsters will enjoy it too. This beautiful old Cape-Dutch styled hotel is surrounded by lots of wide open space including rolling fairways, lush gardens and a working vineyard and with mountain views that stretch all the way down to False Bay. The perfect base for families! It’s just a 20-minute drive from both the airport and Cape Town City Centre with two complimentary shuttles to the V&A Waterfront daily should guests prefer not to drive – ideal if you want to indulge in a few glasses of wine with your lunch at one of the many restaurants in this shopping and entertainment hub.
Although Steenberg is in no way “a resort for children”, families are made to feel welcome in an understated, subtle manner. On arrival, children under 2 years will find a cuddly soft toy awaiting their arrival on their bed or a gift bag with treats for older children – as well as age appropriate bed linen to make them feel right at home and extra special. The swimming pool is equipped with some kiddie play items and games and the hotel sets up croquet and boules on the lawns. The hotel has mountain bikes for complimentary use for our guests including one for a child – a great way to explore the Estate, head out for a picnic and possibly even spot some of the resident wildlife including the family of Spotted Eagle Owls who live in the oak tree outside Catharina’s. To keep children busy at the hotel there is a trunk of toys and craft items, board games, children’s DVD’s and nannies are available 24/7 on request so parents may have a little down time too – to perhaps visit the spa, wander up to the Winery for a complimentary wine tasting - or even enjoy a round of golf at Steenberg’s 18-hole championship course.
Steenberg offers 2 family rooms which are elegant, spacious and have private patios. One room has a separate lounge with a sofa bed and one bathroom while the other has two twin bedrooms, one of which is ensuite – ideal for 2 adults and 2 children under 12 years. A family room costs from R4535 (a little over £300) per night B&B off peak (1 April to 31 Oct 2013).
Or you could push the boat out if your children are over 12 years of age and hire the lavish Khoi Khoi Heritage Suite which is like your own duplex home from home – complete with two ensuite bedrooms, decadent living room with cozy fireplace, dining room, kitchen, all the latest gadgets and its own private pool! This contemporary styled suite has real “Wow factor”, covering an impressive 1,753 sq. ft. and contains artefacts and original illustrations depicting the Khoi-Khoi (San Bushmen) tribe’s marvellous animal paintings found on rocks and cave walls throughout South Africa. It includes butler service, in-room complimentary refreshment bar, complimentary laundry service, complimentary wifi and internet service, I-pod station, flat screen TVs and an audio entertainment system. The Cape Colonial Heritage Suite is also suitable for families as it has 2 sleeper couches in the private downstairs lounge.
Families will love dining at the trendy yet relaxed Bistro Sixteen82 located at the Steenberg Winery. They will love the tapas served in the terraced restaurant or alfresco - surrounded by enchanting gardens with reflective water features, indigenous plants and a glass floating bridge – somewhere they can explore while their parents get down to some serious wine tasting. Catharina’s at the main hotel offers dining between 1100 and 2300 both inside its elegant dining room or outside under the trees which is ideal for families who might want to enjoy some of Garth’s culinary masterpieces – but a more informal ambience in the early evening.
Cape Town has so much to offer visitors, including the usual “must see” attractions such as taking the cable car up Table Mountain, visiting the many Constantia wineries, fantastic shopping and boat trips to Robben Island.
But there are also many attractions specifically aimed at children, including places like Planet Kids, a large indoor/outdoor activity centre near the hotel, or The World of Birds in Hout Bay and Higgeldy Piggeldy Farmyard in Kommetjie. For a breath of fresh air and some exercise, head for nearby Silvermine Nature Reserve which is part of the Table Mountain National Park and little feet will be rewarded with the discovery of gushing streams, hundreds of small caves and beautiful pools they can swim and splash in.
The Porter Estate Market held every Saturday is family friendly and offers great kids’ activities. Boulder’s Beach at Simon’s Town is a great place to swim with the penguins while Noordhoek offers popular pony rides. There are also sandboarding lessons in Fish Hoek and Atlantic Rail train rides from Cape Town to Kalk Bay to Simon’s Town daily. If in Simon’s Town don’t miss the original and now World-famous “Scratch Patch” where kids can hunt and fill up their treasure bag with semi-precious stones. Kite watching is great on Muizenberg Beach where an annual Kite Festival is held every October.
Excursions to Cape Peninsula National Park take guests to Cape Point where they can view wildlife such as baboons, ostriches and a wide range of bird life. Whale watching season is between August and December and can be experienced from the shore or by boat while dolphins can be viewed all year round. Children will also love the adventure of a charter from Hout Bay to Seal Island - to mention but a few of the numerous family activites on offer.
HOW TO BOOK:
AFRICAN PRIDE (www.african-pride.co.uk / 01904 619428) offers the following two options for families at Steenberg, which include return economy BA flights from Heathrow to Cape Town, group B hire car & all taxes:
4 nights in a beautiful Family Room for a family of 4 (children - under 12) from just £5,348 total
3 nights in their 2-bedroomed Khoi Khoi Heritage Suite for a family of 4 (children - 12 & over) from just £6,396 total, complete with private pool and butler service!
For more information on Steenberg please visit www.steenberghotel.com or call +27 (0) 21 713-2222. Please follow us on Twitter @SteenbergHotel
BACKGROUND:
Steenberg in Cape Town is and elegant boutique property situated in the leafy Constantia on the Cape's oldest farm. This Cape Dutch styled hotel has been beautifully restored and is a haven of serenity and gracious hospitality with a choice of 24 elegant rooms, three of which are luxurious Heritage Suites and the historic Manor House which has been declared a National Monument. But it’s not just the luxurious facilities and impeccable service that sets this property apart from the competition – it’s the “to die for” location! Surrounded by mountains, vineyards, sensory gardens and the rolling greens of the Steenberg Golf Course (voted Best Foreign Golf Resort 2012 by US Conde Nast Traveler) - yet just 20 minutes from Cape Town's bustling V&A Waterfront. Steenberg is also pure Heaven for lovers of food and wine, with a wide choice of gastronomic options – from its contemporary fine dining restaurant Catharina's with its bubbly bar to the trendy cellar-door restaurant Bistro Sixteen82 located at the Winery. Steenberg was voted #1 Best Luxury Hotel in Africa" 2011 and in the “Top 10 Best Luxury Hotels in Africa” again in 2012 by TripAdvisor Readers. Conde Nast Traveler US Readers’ Choice has also voted Steenberg “#1 Hotel in Africa” 2011, in its “Top 100” in 2012 and again recognised Steenberg on its prestigious 2013 Gold List. For full details see Steenberg’s awards and accolades page.
Claire Roadley
Marketing & PR Manager
Ethos Marketing®
Unit 5, Field Place Estate, Byfleets Lane, Broadbridge Heath, Horsham, RH12 3PB
Tel: 44 (0)1403 243619
claire@ethosmarketing.co.uk
http://www.ethosmarketing.co.uk
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Ethos Marketing is the UK Sales, Marketing and PR office for luxury hotels and game lodges in Southern and East Africa.
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