Living and Loving – September 2019

90 | SEPTEMBER 2019 | L&L

Planning a weekend

away with friends and

family? Brahman Hills

is a country retreat just

waiting to be discovered.

By Sonya Naude

COUNTRY

ESCAPE

Accommodation

BrahmanHillsoffersbothhotelrooms

forcouplesaswellasself-catering

accommodationsuitedtofamilies.The

hotelroomsaremodestanddelightfully

elegantwithking-sizebeds,white

percalelinenandelectricblankets.

They’reallinwalkingdistanceofthe

mainhotelfacilitiesandrestaurants.

Thecottagesarefoundfurther

awayfromthehotelonthereserve

itself.Amixofmoderncomfortand

rusticcharm,eachhasafullystocked

kitchenandanopen-planloungeand

diningareawithacosyfireplaceto

cuddleupinfrontofwhenitschilly.On

warmdays,youcancooloffinyour

ownprivateJacuzziorenjoyeating

outdoorsoverlookingthegreen,rolling

hillsandabsorbingallthepeace

andquietfromyourwoodendeck.

L

ike magic, the stress of

the daily grind melts away

the minute you drive

through the beautiful

sculpted gates of Brahman Hills.

Situated on the Blue Crane

Reserve in the heart of the KZN

Midlands, the four-star country retreat

offers a range of accommodation,

loads of space for the kids to play,

and a chance for you to kick back,

relax and just breath in the sheer

beauty of life in the countryside.

Tired moms will be delighted that

the cottages are serviced daily and

there’s the option of having a chef

from the hotel deliver a meal or two

so you can have a holiday, too!

The food

While it’s economical and convenient to

prepare your own meals if you’re staying

at one of the cottages, your family is

certain to enjoy tucking into a hearty

breakfast or lunch at Brahman Café,

too. While it’s not exclusively gourmet,

the menu is carefully considered,

offering a range of healthy, satisfying

dishes that are beautifully presented.

For a more intimate, fine-dining

experience, book a babysitter and

treat your partner to a romantic dinner

at 89 on Copper. Located underneath

the hotel in an old wine cellar, you’ll be

welcomed by warm copper accents,

exposed brickwork and a bar that

invites you to relax while you sip on one

of their fine wines. The cosy restaurant

has an incredible Chef’s Selection menu

but you can order a la carte, too.

The spa

The spa is one of the defining features

on the property, and one you’ll want

to spend time in at least once during

your stay. Situated a short way from the

hotel and cottages, it blends seamlessly

into the landscape with rough stone

walls and recycled corrugated sheeting

on the outside. As you step inside,

however, you’ll find a typical pared-

down Zen environment with natural

light, neutral tones and wood finishes

to soothe frayed nerves and pamper

your sleep-deprived, tired body.

During my stay, I was treated to a

full body scrub and aromatherapy

massage from one of their excellent

therapists, followed by a long soak in

a hot tub with essential oils. From here,

still in my spa gown, I was ushered into