Bloomestate, Swellendam

Dining: Breakfast meets top hotel standards, with fresh ingredients from local farms and suppliers. The full breakfast is served in the main house. Dinner can be arranged at several very good restaurants nearby, some within walking distance. Coffee and tea facilities are always available and on request a lunch or small diner platter can be served on the terrace. Cool drinks are on hand day and night in the funky Moonbar, where you find a choice of beers, wines and spirits. The extensive wine list includes wines from the local Robertson Wine valley. Enjoy your sundowner or nightcap on the terrace with views of the garden and mountains.

Children of all ages are welcome. Pets are not allowed.

Special Events: Bloomestate is perfect for small scale conferences, board meetings, work shops, brainstorming sessions and incentives. Swellendam is strategically situated halfway between Capetown and George, and Bloomestate has an inspiring ambiance as well as facilities such as a large conference room with conference table, coffee and tea facilities, computer with printer and WiFi Internet access. All facilities, stationary and audiovisual equipment is at your disposal. Request an estimate and tailor made program for your group of 2-21 people.

Wellness: special beauty, wellness and massage treatments relax the body and inspire the mind. Your professional therapist Suzaan takes special care of you. Treatments take place in the privacy of the designated air-conditioned treatment room located in the Sunlounge. Pre-bookings are recommended, but arrangements can also be made upon arrival or during your stay.

Services and facilities include: 24hr reception, complimentary welcome drink and information about the area, free wireless internet (WiFi) on the entire premises including bedrooms, use of guest computer in the lounge, international DVD library, inspiring garden surroundings, cozy guest lounge, terrace and bar, complimentary coffee and tea during your stay, in-house wellness and beauty treatments, solar heated swimming pool and outside Jacuzzi, free Afrikaans, English and Dutch newspapers, full fresh breakfast, served in the main house.

Swimming pool: Relax by the large heated saltwater pool on loungers underneath individual shades, on the deck by the pond, or slip into the Jacuzzi.

Garden: Outside the tasteful Sunlounge is a large covered, north-facing terrace with warm sun in winter and cool shade in summer. The 2.5 hectares of modern architectural gardens have green lawns, indigenous plants and trees and a natural lily filled pond with a large wooden sundeck. The abundant birdlife in the garden and near the pond is wonderful. Try the cozy sitting areas to read a book or just doze in the South African sun.

Onsite activities: Inside is a collection of recent international and South African magazines, board games and a DVD library. E-mail can be checked in the computer corner and there is also wireless internet access all over, although you may not want to use your laptop, I-pod or Blackberry in the Jacuzzi!

Area Activities: There is really something for everyone here. The hosts are happy to provide several day trip suggestions, including maps, brochures and inside information!

Town: Swellendam is a bustling country town and the third oldest town in South Africa. In the lush green streets you will find many beautiful old buildings showing off the history of Swellendam with the Drostdy Museum and the Mother Church as highlights. The Drostdy museum is at 3 minutes to drive from bloomestate. It's also a nice area to browse around, with small art galleries, potteries and boutique shops, as well as a few nice restaurants and cafes. Culinary experts can find their way in Swellendam, as there is a variety on good restaurants, and two within strolling distance from bloomestate. Arrangements can be made for you, depending on your taste and mood of the day! Taste the local wines from the area.

Golf: Active golfers won?t be disappointed by playing the 9 holes golf course (soon to be a 18 holes), beautiful situated with spectacular views over the Langeberg Mountains. A hidden gem for routine golf players and you will feel welcome to play there.

Horses: Horse riding can be organized in the nearby Langeberg Mountains, tailor made tours available for experienced and first time riders!

Nature: In the part of Swellendam which is known as the Hermitage Valley you can visit Wildebraam Berry Estate for tastings of liquors and jams, in season you can pick (and eat) your own berries. Enjoy the canola fields in August and September. For the young ones there is the world renowned fairy tale garden of Sulina Faeri Sanctuary to visit.

Swellendam is a paradise for hikers, trained or untrained. Explore the mountains of the Marloth Nature Reserve, with walks to waterfalls and an abundance of wild flowers. Also nearby is the Bontebok National Park, cradled between the Langeberg Mountains and the Breede River. The park is home to rare bontebok, zebras, rheboks, grysboks, red hartebeests and it bursts with birdlife. Swimming and picnics are possible on the banks of the river. Enjoy swimming also in the dam in the Hermitage Valley, and in the Buffeljachtsdam. Here you can also enjoy sunset ?cruises? on a double-decker wooden raft (weather permitted and by arrangement).

De Hoop Nature Reserve is an unspoiled nature area on the coast of the Indian Ocean. There you will find a fynbos area with wildlife and flowers bordering the white sand dunes and the unspoiled rocky coastline as far as you can see. In season this is the best spot to see whales, and you will be surprised how many there are! Ask for the special Bloomestate picnic and your day will be complete. On the way you can experience the hand drawn pontoon over the Breede River at Malgas.

Whales & Beaches: Whales can be spotted in Witsand, there is a 4km long white beach here. Another popular beach is in Arniston, a 1 hour drive from Bloomestate. Arniston can easily be combined with Cape Agulhas, the most southern point of Africa.

Wine: Wine lovers will find their way in the renowned nearby wineries of Robertson and Bonnievale with famous wine houses of Van Loveren, Springfield, Arendsig and Graham Beck. Here you are welcome to have free wine tastings and get all the information on wine growing in this area.

Tour through the Little Karoo mountain area. First you pass the former mission post, now pretty village of Suurbraak, then turn off to the Tradouws Pass and drive into Barrydale with its wineries and arts and crafts shops, follow the route 62 towards Montagu, famous for its hot springs. Visit the alpaca farm on the route and the Soekershof Maze and botanical gardens.
East of Swellendam is Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve, an indigenous forest, famous for giant trees and abundant birdlife.

Supporting the Local Community: One of the local projects is the Swellendam Bursary Foundation, a foundation to raise funds for high skills learners to complete their education on a higher level. Please ask Carla & Maarten about details and how to support this highly beneficiary project.