family life
L&L | SEPTEMBER 2019 | 91PHOTOGRAPHY
BRAHMAN HILLS; SONYA NAUDE
the Tranquility room with its comfy
reclining chairs and sweeping views
for a pedicure and some bubbly.
Happy mama, happy baby!Walking the reserve
The 1 000ha Blue Crane Nature
Reserve begs to be explored. Made
up of several farms that have been
bought and returned to nature over
the years, your kids will love the
freedom of the great outdoors and
getting up close with the wildlife.
There are several meandering paths
and walking trails for different fitness
levels – but do make sure you take
along some water and that you’re
wearing hats and sunscreen.
I had the chance to accompany
one of the resort managers on a
gentle three-hour hike past grazing
impala, zebra and wildebeest as
well as a few relaxed Brahman and
Nguni cattle, which roam free on thereserve. During our walk, I caught
glimpses of neighbouring homes,
stopped to admire birds and butterflies
along the path, and took on one
hill after another at my own pace.The Windmills Kitchen
All the fresh air and exercise can make
the kids really hungry, so besides
ordering a picnic basket from the
hotel to enjoy along the way, a good
place to head to after a walk is The
Windmills Kitchen (previously The
Midlands Kitchen). Situated at the turn-
off to Nottingham Road, it’s a popular
stop during trips to or from Durban.
A market-style food hall with 15
different kitchens serving up an
array of delicious food, it has a
trendy atmosphere that buzzes with
activity. From gourmet pizza and
burgers to delicious curries and pies,
there’s something to appeal to every
member of the family. The kids will
love watching the chefs in action and
tucking into delicious homemade ice
cream from the Gelato station − so be
warned! (Tip: Order a freshly-prepared
meal from the Harvest Table to take
home with you − that’s dinner sorted!)THE MIDLANDS
MEANDER
Exploring the Midlands Meander
is easy from here. There are
several circular routes to explore
(do ask for a map at reception)
but whichever one you choose,
you’ll find there’s so much to see,
do, eat and drink in the area that
you really can’t go wrong. The
highlight for me was visiting the
famous Mandela capture site,
but other favourite stops included
The Barn Owl, Abingdon Wine
Estate, Spiral Blue, Culamoya
Chimes and Lime & Roses.Try somewhere new
Springholm is a new property at Brahman
Hills, located about 4.5km from the main
hotel in a valley overlooking a dam. It offers
seven, brand new furnished cottages and
four stand alone rooms with both self-
catering and bed and breakfast options.
Definitely worth splashing out on!
For more information and rates, visit
brahmanhills.co.za or phone 033 266 6965.