Down time in Tshwane...

Location: Tshwane, Gauteng, South Africa

Sure, I come from Pretoria and have an undying love for the city and of course, I may be bias when it comes to the Capital City, but believe me when I say that Tshwane has some of the most amazing hidden gems when it comes to good food and even better accommodation. All the prior mentioned biases and non-biases 😊, easily led to the invite to #DiscoverTshwane and today’s post is dedicated to exactly that. Although I believe that these locations can be best experienced with a loved one by your side, I discovered them during one of my solocations.

Kievits Kroon Gauteng Wine Estate, Tshwane

If you’re looking for a good weekend (or even weekday) retreat, this is for you. The venue is perfectly situated in Kameeldrift East and is reminiscent of the Cape Winelands with lush green manicured gardens. A perfect place for picnics, pool side lounging and dinner dates. If you’re a person who enjoys starting your day with oysters and a fountain of mimosas, then the buffet breakfast is for you. The service received on the premises (i.e. reception, restaurant and pool side bar service) makes up for anything that the venue currently lacks. During the time of visit, the spa was under renovations, however I still got to enjoy a spa day held at the executive rooms. The rooms are value for money always makes up for it as you would be parting with roughly R1800 for a two night stay (inclusive of the buffet breakfast).

Music : Swallow

Rating:

- Cleanliness

- Facilities

- Value for money

- Overall experience

Note: Refurbishments and renovations are currently underway at the venue and with this being one of the spots which I realise has been severely impacted by the negative effects of Covid, do be cognisant that you may not be experiencing the venue at its best. I would have rated it much higher under normal circumstances

Apogee Boutique Hotel & Spa, Tshwane

This boutique hotel may cost you slightly more than my usual recommendations, however it really is one of my favourites. Be it for an afternoon drinks session or a weekend away, Apogee ranks highly on my radar when it comes to luxurious boutique hotels (irrespective of which room you book). Upon arrival, you are greeted by a drive way filled with sculptures and beauty! If you appreciate fine art, views of the capital city and impeccable service, then this is the place for you. Whether you’re having a glass of wine in the evening by the Boma (overlooking the Pretoria skyline),taking a dip in the pool, enjoying the art and interior design,(it really in the small details for me) or simply having a lazy day in your room.

Apogee is guaranteed to deliver on every front!

Other amenities include spa services which can be booked ahead of time, concierge services, and dry cleaning. It’s always nice to know that all rooms are soundproofed and come with free WiFi, pillowtop beds and complimentary snacks and drinks😊. Something extra that the venue offers (for child-hearted individuals like myself) is a cereal and cookies room. Yep, imagine a room filled with every cereal that you can imagine and freshly baked cookies (yep, I am crying a little as I write this piece). Everything to make your little heart skip a beat! Baby cots are also available for mommies and daddy’s visiting with babies.

To enjoy this experience, you’re probably going to part with around R1700 for a standard room per night with breakfast costing just over R200 p/p. Budget a little for this venue but be sure to visit because it really is excellent one every front!

Music : Balloon

Musician : @iksonmusic

Rating:

- Cleanliness

- Facilities

- Value for money

- Overall experience

Rosemary Hill, Tshwane

If you’re a lover of nature, farm life and outdoor activities, then Rosemary Hill is the perfect venue for you. Rosemary Hill has multiple accommodation options to choose from, be it guesthouses, cottages, cabins or the famous pods. Each has their own special features which leave visitors feeling rejuvenated after spending some time with nature. For purposes of this blog, I am going to be reviewing the pods as this was the perfect accommodation for my solocations. I wanted some time to disconnect from the world and reboot. The pods come standard with a bedroom, kitchenette, and a curved bathroom. The only downfall about this bathroom is that I don’t think that tall people will enjoy the showers just because of the spacing. The room comes with a small balcony and a net overlooking a large pond which is perfect for reading and enjoying sunsets.

Because Rosemary Hill is a massive organic farm (situated on the outskirts of Pretoria), day visitors enjoy coming for bike rides, enjoying breakfast at the restaurant, enjoying the hiking trails and purchasing fresh and organic foods and products. Because of its picturesque countryside feel, the venue has fast become a wedding venue or a place perfect for outdoor photoshoots. Other outdoor activities available onsite include horse riding, picnics and spa dates to mention but a few. Apparently their specialised carrot cake and homemade jam are definite buys to take home. Try them and then let me know what you think!

Rating:

- Cleanliness

- Facilities

- Value for money

- Overall experience

Whether you’re looking for a luxurious experience, some down time or just a wholesome weekend, Tshwane is guaranteed to have something on offer for you.

I hope that you’re encouraged to go and discover the city which I call “home” and enjoy every minute of it.

Feel free to share your comments about your experiences at the suggested venue and don’t forget to comment, like and subscribe to the blog. Until next time, it’s byeeeee for now 😊