Waving goodbye to Table Mountain we reached Langebaan uneventfully - we hit our first speed bump here, but it's all about the adventure now isn't it.
We drove through the seaside town of Langebaan renowned for its Club Mykanos. Stopping to ask for directions back onto the R27, we found, was a big mistake as the forward gentlemen attempted to hitch a ride with us by trying to open the back door. We sped off in haste and were finally pointed to the right track.
You'll notice that a lot of the towns on this side of South Africa start with the letter 'V' - with my co-pilot forgetting to read the directions (we'll forgive her since she was severely hung-over - a disability in its own right), we ended up in Veldrif when we should have turned off towards Vredenburg. After asking another eager hitch-hiker the location of Shelley Point we somehow managed to find St Helena and were once again making our way closer to the hotel.
Driving through St Helena you'll find it isn't much of a town with hardly any convenience stores. We did find a candle factory - don't see those in city central. We finally arrived at the Shelley Point Hotel which is located on an enormous stretch of land. The hotel itself consists of 42 suites and two garden villas and facilities include a gorgeous swimming pool that overlooks the nine-hole golf course, a spa and wellness centre, a youth area for the kids, a hairdressing salon, a lovely restaurant that overlooks the estate as well as tennis courts, a gym, a bowling green and facilities for conferences.
Arriving at the front desk to check in, the staff were friendly and helpful - we made our way to our room and settled in. The room had a sophisticated modern feel but was at the same time warm and homely. With a complimentary bottle of wine and a delicious bowl of fresh fruit we had a light snack before exploring the estate. While heading toward the seashore we were greeted by a 10m-high statue of Vasco da Gama - you'll remember this European explorer from primary school history. The water on this side of the coast is cold to say the least so swimming is definitely for the brave-hearted. After exploring the rock-pools and discovering a large number of sea anemones lurking about, we gave up our search for an elusive starfish and headed back to our room - with a TV installed and a bouquet of channels to choose from, we were fairly occupied till dinner time.
Stepping out into the howling wind to reach the restaurant was definitely worth it. The food was divine - a menu for all tastes. My starter consisted of large crumbed mussels - larger than you usually get back in Cape Town. They were delicious, but very filling leaving me little space for my main course which was a succulent steak with mushroom sauce and fries on the side - needless to say this meal was doggy-bagged.
With not much of a night-life we headed back to the room. I took a bath in the air-jetted bath tub, which while a tad noisy was rather soothing. With nothing much on TV, and the weariness of the days drive catching up, we headed to bed. We were unfortunately disappointed the following morning when our spa appointments were cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances but were taken on a thrilling joyride of the estates golf course that will soon be expanded into an 18-hole course. Our tour guide and driver, taking his corners quite sharply and at quite a speed, we held onto the cart trying not to fall over - now wouldn't that have been a sight. It was plenty of fun though as he explained various facts about the
estate and how it had come to be. If you're planning on taking a swing on the golf course, be warned, there is a tree/bush that is the home to some of Africa's deadlier serpents - so we're told.
Exploring the rest of the hotel we came across the youth centre and had a go on the trampoline - a great workout indeed - but it was time to head back to the concrete jungle. Checking out is always a sad occasion, especially when you've really enjoyed your stay. Shelley Point Hotel is a great holiday destination for all groups of people - kids included. If you're looking for a quiet, relaxing vacation away from the manic rush of the city or you want to see what the Western Cape has to offer apart from 'the mountain', this is it.
Heading back to Cape Town, Table Mountain felt like a beacon for home - and there's no place like it.
For more information, go to www.shelleypointhotel.co.za.
