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The Crags 6602, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa
PO Box 209, 6602 South Africa
Kurland is a fairytale family home on a vast and beautiful private estate; this luxury boutique hotel has buckets of old-world charm, a never-be-bored menu of things to do and staff who know the true meaning of the word ‘hospitality’.
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The Crags 6602, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa
The Kurland Polo Pavilion (+27 (0)44 534 8082) has its own bar and restaurant. After a scenic drive through Nature’s Valley and over the Blaauwkrans pass, have a lunch of deliciously matured dairy treats, salamis and salad at the Fynboshoek Cheese Farm (+27 (0)42 280 3879), on the N2 in the Tsitsikamma Forest.
At Kurland, to trot out that well-worn cliché, you are spoiled for choice – staff can arrange pretty much anything imaginable. Whilst there’s nothing more pleasant than hunkering down barefoot in one of the sitting rooms with a good book, there are quad bikes, bicycles and horses to ride around the estate, and tuition in tennis, polo, yoga, Pilates and many other activities can be arranged. The spa has a very good therapist, who gives Decléor treatments and soothing massages.
During the polo season, there are games almost every day on the estate at the Kurland Polo Pavilion and grounds, including what is probably one of the world's top 10 polo fixtures, so you can settle down and watch a few chukkas without having to make any effort at all. Kurland is on the edge of Tsitsikamma National Park (www.sanparks.org), home to huge areas of indigenous forest, deep river gorges and waterfalls, where you can hike, climb, boat and nature-watch, either under your own steam or with a guide.
The beaches of Plettenberg Bay (www.plettenbergbay.co.za) and Keurbooms are less than 20 minutes’ drive away; ask Kurland and it can arrange for you to watch whales, kayak with dolphins or snorkel with seals. This part of the Garden Route is also renowned for its world-class golf courses, including Pezula Championship Course (+27 (0)44 302 5300; www.pezula.com) and Plettenberg Bay Country Club (+27 (0)533 2132; www.plettgolf.co.za).
December–April The Plettenberg Bay area polo season.
For a full list of bars and restaurants in Garden Route & Winelands, click here
Romance, seclusion and the luxury of space – all against a backdrop of beautiful Western Cape mountains and mature farmland gardens.
Kurland’s team will provide a bespoke experience, dotting every ‘i’ and crossing every ‘t’ to make sure your big day is exactly as you want it. The hotel's wedding planner will consult with you to find out what you have in mind, and source the appropriate suppliers for everything from invitations to wedding favours.
You’ve 1,700 acres to play with, so there are numerous places you could hold the reception, including the Polo Pavilion. Beautiful antique roses are a hallmark of Kurland’s country-colonial style anyway, so it’s worth trying to incorporate them if possible. Kurland is also an excellent honeymoon choice, as it's very romantic, private and pampering.
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Luxury Suites and Superior Suites have ensuite loft rooms specially for children, with two, three or four single beds and their own bathrooms. They’re dolls'-house sweet, and so pretty that you’ll wish you were small enough to share.
Childminders are provided in peak season, and they plan and manage all activities (babysitters are available to book out of season). The crèche is open from 9am till 5pm.
There’s a brilliant play area to kick around in, and acres of grounds in which to burn off energy on foot, on bicycles or on horseback. Children’s activities are included in high-season rates, and pony rides on the Shetlands are free all year round. Older children have endless options: there’s a games room with pool table, a cupboard full of games, swingball, table tennis and quad bikes. Tennis and polo lessons can be arranged, and further afield there’s everything from bungee-jumping and canoeing to encounters with elephants and monkeys in nearby wildlife sanctuaries. As Kurland puts it, total exhaustion by sunset is pretty much guaranteed.
Separate children’s pool, with armbands and inflatables to play with, but it's only supervised during the festive season or when swimming activities have been arranged.
Older kids are welcome in the dining room, where gourmet children’s menus are on offer, but they also have their own dining area in the conservatory. Alternatively, they can take their tea in the playroom or even in the kitchen. Packed lunches can be provided, and staff are more than happy to heat up milk or baby food, or rustle up some milk and biscuits.
Babysitters can be provided for about R40 per hour.
Baby monitors are on hand, but do check availability during your stay before you leave yours at home.
Leave the extra toys and games behind – you really won’t need them and they’re just a pain to lug around.
If your children are still quite little, you may prefer to book Superior Paddock or Luxury Rose Garden Suites, as the loft rooms above the Superior Rose Garden and Luxury Paddock suites are accessed by an external staircase. Get a little edutainment into their lives with a treetop-canopy tour of the mighty Yellowwoods, 30 metres above the forest floor, in Tsitsikamma National Park.
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