Cape Town - It was just past sundown, in evening light with the mountains across the Hermanus lagoon becoming cardboard cutouts and swift flocks of birds sweeping past to roost for the night.
Still, beautiful, all seen from my bed. It was even more vibrant in the afternoon sun from the plunge pool at Mosaic Lagoon Lodge, a G&T from smiling Sandra Mushata in hand.
I’ve driven the R43 between Hermanus and many places often, and the opposite side of the lagoon – where we now were – looked nondescript, featureless. Now that we were here, it was anything but.
Heading from Knysna, the drive took us along sweeping roads and down past the Raka Wine Estate to Stanford, through the village and onto the Wortelgat dirt road to the 1 000 hectare Mosaic Private Sanctuary.
Enjoying a cuppa early in the morning looking again at those mountains in a different light, I reflected on our long trip. I wished I could wrap up my surroundings- and the whole experience – and physically take it with me.
I could just as easily have gone in reverse order, but Mosaic seemed a fitting end point (barring a leisurely two hour trip to Cape Town International Airport).
Bustling and busy, Silvermist above Constantia and Hout Bay provided a perfect springboard to my adventure. It was a surprisingly tranquil and rural spot metres from a busy road, yet detached from the sprawling city below. Here they are building a future to conserve.
At luxurious Mount Camdeboo Private Game Reserve seven-and-a-half hours away in the Karoo, they are carefully conserving our natural heritage and history.
At Zuurberg Mountain Village in Addo history lives in the walls, floorboards and rooms of the ancient manor, while the “village” arose from smoking ruins.
Interesting then that Brenton Haven in Knysna arose from a similar fire, all new and an instant hit with travellers.
Each place was so very different. So were aspects of the drive. We had covered almost 2 500km, through varying countryside and climates with many memorable sights.
The wind farms in the Eastern Cape for example – the tall, silent windmills bringing to mind War of the Worlds, with aliens marching over the land – though these are benign and serene in the silent, peaceful domination of their surroundings.
Mosaic Lagoon Lodge is peaceful too. Very – apart from the thrills of quad biking through the fynbos reserve. A game drive to pristine Walker Bay beach is a lovely outing too. I recall seeing it from a boat, watching whales last September.
Southern Right Whales migrate to Walker Bay between June and December and can be seen as close as 20m from the shore.
A cruise on the lagoon past the flamingos, yachties and swimmers (in summer) is highly recommended and guides Vitalis Chingo and Riehan Groenewald are always on hand to take you on whatever outing you desire.
Everything except mealtimes is flexible it seems.
Thatched Lagoon Lodge, with just five safari-style suites and a spa around a central building is a treat. The ancient Milkwood trees have been left intact.
The stone self-catering cottages down the road are quite different and lovely too, accommodating from two to nine people. They’re next to South Africa’s longest jetty and the Spookhuis, a lovingly restored 1892 dairy with a spooky tale or three, now a great place for light lunches and events.
Lagoon Lodge’s facilities are fabulous, the service even better – attentive but not hovering.
Like Mount Camdeboo, there are plenty of little touches that make a difference. A lot of those touches are fattening, so jogs and cycling through the reserve may be a good idea, or just pop down the road to Springfontein Wine for easier exercise, then perhaps an aeroplane flip. Whatever you choose, you’ll enjoy your stay.
l Visit www.mosaicsouthafrica.com
Adrian Rorvik, Sunday Tribune
First Car Rental is proud to be the car hire company of choice to drive Sunday Tribune’s Adrian Rorvik to experience the best in luxury lifestyle. Rorvik stayed at the Mosaic Lagoon Lodge, a safari-styled retreat built from stone and set among Milkwood trees and fynbos gardens. Experience this idyllic lagoon with boat cruises, fynbos, quad biking and whale watching. FirstTravel with First Car Rental – www.firstcarrental.co.za