Pont de Val

Parys

We took an hour ride down the N1 in the direction of Bloemfontein but took the Vanderbijlpark offramp. Just as we entered Vanderbijl, turned right towards Parys and about 18 kms down the road stopped at Pont de Val. Which is beautifully located on the Vaal River.

It is so good to get out on the bike after so many weeks in lockdown. The freedom of the open road and to feel the cool fresh winter air on your face. Although everything is brown and dry, typical Highveld winter conditions, it was great to see our beautiful country again.

Lockdown has made us all appreciate the small things in life again. Appreciate just going outside after being confined to your house. Seeing the open fields with cows grazing, seeing the trees along the side of the road and this beautiful countryside.

Pont de Val has a beautiful restaurant located along the banks of the Vaal River and tables and chairs underneath the most gorgeous oak trees. Seating is available indoors or outdoors but a reservation is necessary. No walk in customers are allowed. There are also three cute little private cubicles that can be hired for the day along the River bank. This includes lunch, a bottle of sparkling wine and desert, for that special occasion, anniversary or just a private lunch.

Lunch was fresh, delicious and 5-star quality presentation. Waiters and staff were extremely friendly and welcoming. Well prepared for the Covid screening, temperature checking and sanitizing. Overall a great day out and very impressed with the restaurant and will definitely return here in the summer.

We left and turned right and took a scenic ride through Parys town and stopped at the Ugly Duckling curio shop. Bought a cute gift and then headed back home past Fochville to the N12 back to Johannesburg. It was a great 270 km round trip.

At the bottom of this blog, you can scroll all the way to the bottom to view all the places we have visited over the past 4 years. Click on the name of the restaurant and it will open up, where we went and our experience of the place. Hope you enjoyed this blog, hope to see you out and about soon.

Pestana Lodge

Malelane, Mpumalanga

Type: Accommodation and Restaurant

We recently visited Nelspruit for a weekend away on the bike and decided to take a 30 minute ride out to Pestana Lodge for breakfast. What a beautiful Lodge, situated about 70m from the Kruger National Park Southern Gate, or a mere 800m from the Malelane Gate.

The Lodge has a stunning wooden deck overlooking the Crocodile River, which acts as a border between Mpumalanga and Kruger. We watched as a number of elephant, and buck came down to the river to drink. There were also a number of hippo already in the river.

We had a breakfast buffet, which had a big selection and variety of cold and hot foods on offer. It was a hearty breakfast for the price and well worth the ride through from Nelspruit.

They offer various forms of accommodation in this 4 star resort and with the Kruger just a few meters away, you can arrange a safari to go and see the wildlife literally on your doorstep.

At the bottom of this blog, you can scroll all the way to the bottom to view all the places we have visited over the past 3 years. Click on the name of the restaurant and it will open up, where we went and our experience of the place. Hope you enjoyed this blog, hope to see you out and about soon.

Glenburn Lodge

Muldersdrift

Type: Restaurant and Accommodation

Website: https://glenburn.co.za

We took a 20 minute ride out to Glenburn Lodge this morning, to have breakfast at the restaurant. Breakfast was a buffet with everything you need from yoghurt, fruit, breads, croissants, cheeses, to hot breakfast options including bacon, eggs, mushrooms and sausage. Help yourself to as much as you want, order tea, coffee, juice or water to finish it off.

Glenburn Lodge has large beautiful grounds and is situated along the crocodile river with a small waterfall feature at the bottom of the grounds. The beautiful gardens are laid out for you to take a leisurely stroll though, or just sit under the trees and relax.

Glenburn also offers accommodation in various forms, there are hotel rooms, garden cottages or a tented camp site. They have a number of conference venues and a chapel for weddings and a number of reception venues for small or large groups. Glenburn Lodge is a one stop for all your personal or business needs.

At the bottom of this blog, you can scroll all the way to the bottom to view all the places we have visited over the past 3 years. Click on the name of the restaurant and it will open up, where we went and our experience of the place. Hope you enjoyed this blog, hope to see you out and about soon.

Oppie Oewer chalets

Tzaneen

Type: Accommodation

Website: https://m.facebook.com/Oppie-Oewer-Chalets-Camping-and-Adventure-Biking-1441179176183386/

We went with a small group of friends to Tzaneen for the weekend and stayed at Oppie Oewer chalets. What an amazing trip, we met at the Petroport just outside Pretoria. We headed up the N1 to Toeka se dae just before Bela Bela for breakfast.

Then through Bela Bela, Modimolle, Mookgophong and Mokopane. We bypassed Polokwane onto Tzaneen. There was no rush as we had the whole day stopping for lunch at Euphoria Golf Estate, and several stops for leg stretch and comfort breaks.

On arrival at Oppie Oewer we unpacked the bike and settled into our log cabin situated along the Letaba River. There was time to freshen up for supper and relax on the outside deck and bar area with an ice cold drink.

Oppie Oewer is a Camping and Adventure biking venue, the owner Gerrit takes adventure bikers on tours around the Magoebaskloof forests and tours to local interesting sites.

We set out on Saturday morning with a slight drizzle, but as the ride continued the rain got heavier and the fog got thicker. This proved more difficult to go off-road into the forests. So we decided to continue on the tar roads at about 60 – 80 kph. Winding down the Magoebaskloof pass we came across a biker who underestimated the wet roads and lost control into the side barrier. Luckily he was not going very fast and was not hurt.

We then decided to head out towards Phalaborwa where it was not raining. We headed out to Leydsdorp (the smallest town in South Africa) with only 7 outer buildings and a population of 4. Were we stopped for lunch, and we were amazed at how fresh and good it was given the location of this seemingly deserted little town.

We then headed out to one of the largest Boabab trees in South Africa, which is just about 2kms down the road from Leydsdorp.

We then headed back to Tzaneen, late afternoon and once again in time to freshen up, have a drink at the bar and enjoy a steak for supper.

Sunday morning we were up early, and after breakfast we headed to Haenertsburg for a fill up and then back on the road home bound.

At the bottom of this blog, you can scroll all the way to the bottom to view all the places we have visited over the past 3 years. Click on the name of the restaurant and it will open up, where we went and our experience of the place. Hope you enjoyed this blog, hope to see you out and about soon.

al Fiume

Riverside Restaurant

Type: Restaurant

Website: http://www.alfiume.co.za/

We visited al Fiume Riverside Restaurant on Sunday afternoon for buffet lunch. The restaurant has a live band playing during the afternoon, which creates a great vibe at the venue. The restaurant is set alongside the beautiful Hennops River a mere 20 minutes from Fourways.

The restaurant has a normal full functional restaurant, private seating along the river bank or a large outdoor seated area. Food is exquisite and 5 Star chef quality, prepared and presented to seduce the 5 senses. Attention to detail, elegance and style come to mind when thinking about the overall experience.

Bookings are essential.

At the bottom of this blog, you can scroll all the way to the bottom to view all the places we have visited over the past 2 and a half years. Click on the name of the restaurant and it will open up, where we went and our experience of the place. Hope you enjoyed this blog, hope to see you out and about soon.

Velmore Hotel

4 Star Hotel

Type: Accomodation and Restaurant

Website: http://velmorehotel.co.za

We came across this hotel on one of our breakfast runs around Hartebeespoort and made a note to return and try try it out. The hotel has huge grounds, a few conference venues and a beautiful spa. The building is unique with old rustic designs and the water features add to the ambiance and give it character.

The interior of the hotel has beautiful luxury finishes and we were thoroughly impressed by the food in the restaurant. Normally food in all hotels buffet style is cold, unappetizing, bland and tasteless. We asked if they had an a la carte menu, but to our surprise the buffet was delicious, warm and inviting. The hotel also offers a relaxing bar area with indoor and outdoor seating.

We took a walk around the gardens and found the pool area is designed specifically for weddings and events.

At the bottom of this blog, you can scroll all the way to the bottom to view all the places we have visited over the past 2 and a half years. Click on the name of the restaurant and it will open up, where we went and our experience of the place. Hope you enjoyed this blog, hope to see you out and about soon.

Fresh Farm Fusion

At Monaghan Farm

Type: Restaurant

Website: http://www.freshfarmfusion.co.za/

Situated on Monaghan Farm behind Lanseria Airport is the most spectacular hidden paradise called Fresh Farm Fusion restaurant. This feels like a piece of paradise was dropped off for us to use in the middle of the dry winter bushveld.

A great atmosphere and great food at Farm Fresh Fusion makes this the ideal spot for a family lunch or a peaceful breakfast with your partner. I love the outdoor set up and outdoor feel you get indoors. Service was fast, food was fresh and the price was just right.

Monaghan also offers plots for sale for farm style living just a mere 20 minutes outside the city. With excellent security and plots from 1,500sqm to build your ideal home on in the country with Curro private school on the farm – makes for an enticing offer. We had a look at their show house… isn’t this just beautiful.

At the bottom of this blog, you can scroll all the way to the bottom to view all the places we have visited over the past 2 and a half years. Click on the name of the restaurant and it will open up, where we went and our experience of the place. Hope you enjoyed this blog, hope to see you out and about soon.

Cradle Moon Game Lodge

Type: Restaurant and Lodge

Website: https://www.cradlemoon.co.za/

We were pleasantly surprised by this gem  right on our doorstep, literally 15 minutes ride from where we stay in Honeydew. You enter the game lodge through a security gate and then ride up this short potholed road up the hill that doesn’t look very promising, but as you come over the rise a lush green paradise nestled in a valley opens up before you.

We made a reservation for breakfast outside at the pool. We were shown to our table and ordered our coffees. What a beautiful setting, with a number of rondavels spread out under the trees and some zebra, giraffe and buck roaming free on the grounds. Breakfast was a buffet with anything and everything to eat. What a spread. After eating our fill and enjoying the outside summer air, we decided to take a walk down to the lake.

To our surprise we walked around to the dam wall and found the most beautiful falls. Water gushing over the dam wall after all the rains we have had lately was a sight to behold. We then sat on a bench under the trees and chatted about how lucky we are to experience these beautiful places in nature.

At the bottom of this blog, you can scroll all the way to the bottom to view all the places we have visited over the past 2 and a half years. Click on the name of the restaurant and it will open up, where we went and our experience of the place. Hope you enjoyed this blog, hope to see you out and about soon.

Mokoya Lodge

Mokoya Lodge and Sweet Thyme Restaurant

Type: Lodge and Restaurant

Approx cost: From R400 per person per night

Website: http://www.mokoya.co.za

We took a 40 minute ride through Muldersdrift and Hekpoort towards Hartebeespoort Dam, to Mokoya Lodge this morning. It was a cool ride as it was overcast and a cool wind was blowing. We turned off onto a dirt road and followed the signs to Mokoya. What a beautiful, peaceful little lodge situated along the Magalies River. We ordered breakfast and sat outside on the terrace with a nice cup of coffee and muesli and fruit. Then we got our breakfast , bacon, eggs, beef sausage, beans and toast. They have their special Mokoya chili sauce which was tasty and not too hot.

We had to try out their hammocks under the trees after breakfast.
We took a walk around the lodge, down to the river and the function lapa. There is a volleyball court on beach sand and a swimming pool for some fun in the sun. There is also a boma down by the river for those warm summer evening socials.

The boma looks beautiful at night with all the candles and fire.

At the bottom of this blog, you can scroll all the way to the bottom to view all the places we have visited over the past 2 and a half years. Click on the name of the restaurant and it will open up, where we went and our experience of the place. Hope you enjoyed this blog, hope to see you out and about soon.

Clifftop Exclusive Lodge

Clifftop exclusive safari hideawayType: Accommodation
Approx cost: R4,200 per person per night
Website: http://clifftoplodge.co.za/
This premium exclusive lodge is situated 3 ½ hours from Johannesburg in the Malaria free Welgevonden Private Game Reserve in the Waterberg Mountains.
Clifftop Exclusive Safari Lodge is a special place where service is exemplary and luxury is evident. We had to leave our vehicle at the main gate parking and was picked up by the owners in a Land Rover as the road leading up to the main lodge was too steep and rocky.

Each cabin is perfectly positioned along the cliff overlooking the Sterkstroom River to offer exclusivity and privacy. Each cabin has its own splash pool, outside deck and outside bed for those long summer nights.
We were introduced to our very own butler who would look after us for the weekend, he served us dinner in a private setting at the main lodge. We felt like royalty as the other cabins were all fully booked, but we didn’t see any of the other couples. Each couple was served the 3 course dinner in their own private setting at the main lodge. Quite extraordinary and exclusive and romantic all at the same time.

The next morning at breakfast was the first time we managed to see that there were in fact other couples staying over the weekend. (the price includes all meals and game drives) After breakfast we headed on the first game drive of the morning and came across a number of animals including, Lion, Rhino, various buck, zebra, giraffe and a troop of Elephants.

We were looking for Leopards on our game drive but these shy animals avoided being detected, hiding in the rocky outcrops. Out of sight to the untrained eye. The weekend was most relaxing and enjoyable. We got our fair share of game viewing, relaxing, privacy and 5-star service and food. Before we knew it the weekend was over and we were being driven back down to the main gate for our 3 hour trip back to Johannesburg.

At the bottom of this blog, you can scroll all the way to the bottom to view all the places we have visited over the past 2 and a half years. Click on the name of the restaurant and it will open up, where we went and our experience of the place. Hope you enjoyed this blog, hope to see you out and about soon.

Stonehaven on Vaal

Type: Restaurant

Website: http://www.stonehaven.co.za/

We took a 45 min ride out to Stonehaven on Vaal in Vanderbijlpark for our breakfast run. The restaurant is set alongside the Vaal River and features indoor or outdoor seating. On a nice summers day it is ideal to take advantage of the outdoor seating where mini gazebos are set up on the grass bank overlooking the Vaal river. This is a beautiful setting on the green grass bank, and if you are lucky you will see some sporting activities like water skiing, jet packs and jet ski’s also pass by from time to time.

We enjoyed it so much at Stonehaven a few weeks later, we took my dad there for breakfast . (Not on the bike, we went through by car)

Stonehaven restaurant offers fast friendly service, but they also serve a great breakfast at reasonable prices. Well worth the ride out.

Other attractions at Stonehaven, they offer boat cruises, Sunday lunch cruises and sunset cruises on the Vaal River. This has also become a very popular wedding venue.

While we were there we took a walk-about on the boat while it was docked.

There are also some benches along the waterfront to relax on, a swimming pool, a jungle gym for the kids to play on and a small petting zoo to see some farm animals. Fun in the sun for the whole family.

At the bottom of this blog, you can scroll all the way to the bottom to view all the places we have visited over the past 2 and a half years. Click on the name of the restaurant and it will open up, where we went and our experience of the place. Hope you enjoyed this blog, hope to see you out and about soon.

Lethabo Estate

Lethabo Estate accommodation and restaurant 

Type: Accommodation

Approx cost: from R850 per person per night

Website: http://lethaboestate.com

I was flying out of Lanseria airport and the plane banked to the left to turn towards the south (Cape Town flight) I was sitting at the window and saw a number of dirt roads that I thought myself and my wife could explore on the bike. On arriving in Cape Town I immediately went onto Google maps and started looking for a place we could to ride to on the bike. I didn’t find anything but thought we would go and explore anyway.

That Saturday we got on the bike and headed past Lanseria and took the dirt road just after Kromdraai Road. We went exploring and found this gem on the banks of the Crocodile River just behind Lanseria airport. We pressed the buzzer at the gate and was let in by a very friendly voice on the other end who came out and welcomed us after we parked.

The friendly staff member showed us around the restaurant but due to the fact that we did not have a reservation, we unfortunately could not have something to eat there. But the place looked so beautiful and private that we immediately made a reservation for Sunday lunch. We then asked about the accommodation and was shown some brochures of the rooms, and this is when we fell in love with Lethabo.

Lethabo offers the most private accommodation along the banks of the Crocodile river, with private outdoor areas, picnic spots and beautiful views. This is the ultimate weekend getaway for you and your partner to just relax and enjoy the time alone. Each room is designed to give you ultimate privacy and luxury with indoor and outdoor features for those hot summer nights and cold winter days.

We came back for our lunch reservation on Sunday and was treated like we were the only couple for lunch. Exclusive pampering and a table set out on the deck just where we requested it. Drinks were served and we literally felt like the entire spread was set out just for us. Private picnic spots are also available to be booked along the river bank or set up under the trees. This really was a special treat and one we will recommend to friends and will definitely return to again.

At the bottom of this blog, you can scroll all the way to the bottom to view all the places we have visited over the past 2 and a half years. Click on the name of the restaurant and it will open up, where we went and our experience of the place. Hope you enjoyed this blog, hope to see you out and about soon.

Askari

Askari game lodge and spa:

Type: Accommodation and Spa

Approx cost: R1430 per person per night

Website: http://askarilodge.co.za

We found this gem by absolute chance. We were just out riding through Muldersdrift and Hekpoort when we came to a t-junction in the road. Left to Magaliesburg or right to Hartebeespoort, we decided to go left. About 3 kms down the road we came across a large Askari Game Lodge signboard and decided to take a look, we have never been allowed in at game lodges before as the bike is either dangerous or noisy. We got to the main gate and asked if we could go in as we wanted to go for breakfast at the lodge. To our surprise they allowed us in.

So we took the ride up to the main lodge, on the way we were able to see many buck, zebra, giraffe and we even saw 2 elephants drinking at the watering hole. WOW what an experience our first viewing on the BMW GS. We got up to the lodge very excited and talking about this unique experience not knowing what else Askari has to offer.

We were then shown where the restaurant and spa was situated. We were taken back in time to the Voortrekkers with the Ox wagons surrounding the restaurant. They also have an old museum in a barn with numerous old wagons and carts.

The breakfast was a delight at R225 per person for a full buffet and we sat outside on the patio and enjoyed the view. We only realized afterwards that this was a very popular wedding venue and couples select Askari to get married at because you can have your photos taken with these beautiful huge elephants. They also have a nice selection of accommodation available from self catering, to garden cottages and deluxe suites. Check out the Askari website for details.

At the bottom of this blog, you can scroll all the way to the bottom to view all the places we have visited over the past 2 and a half years. Click on the name of the restaurant and it will open up, where we went and our experience of the place. Hope you enjoyed this blog, hope to see you out and about soon.

Van Gaalen Kaasmakerij

Cheese farm and Restaurant:

Type: Restaurant

Website: http://www.vangaalen.co.za

A beautiful farm style setting meets you at van Gaalen Kaasmakerij in Skeerpoort near Harties. It has the following attractions on the cheese farm, an outside restaurant with tables and chairs under the trees, a bicycle track, picnic spots along the river and a play area for the kids to swing or climb on the jungle gym. The Farm shop stocks a selection of wine, preserves, souvenirs, a range of Dutch favorites, sweets and a selection of various cheeses.

Stop by for a breakfast on your way to the Hartebeespoort dam, or stop for lunch after you have done the Bill Harrop balloon ride. Either of these attractions are 10mins away from Van Gaalen’s.

At the bottom of this blog, you can scroll all the way to the bottom to view all the places we have visited over the past 2 and a half years. Click on the name of the restaurant and it will open up, where we went and our experience of the place. Hope you enjoyed this blog, hope to see you out and about soon.