The Cellars-Hohenort Hotel & Spa has introduced a guided tour of its nine-acre garden, which features some of Constantia’s most beautiful indigenous flora and is meticulously maintained by Head Gardener Leigh-Ann van Wyk and her team.
Along the way, you’ll find that meandering through an enchanted forest and past ancient trees and fragrant rose beds, followed by tea and scones served on the terrace or in The Conservatory, couldn’t be a better way to start a day.
Also read: A new High Tea offering at The Cellars-Hohenort in Constantia
The 5-star Cellars-Hohenort Hotel & Spa is part of The Liz McGrath Collection and is located in the historical Constantia Valley, a short 15-minute drive from Cape Town’s city centre.
The Conservatory restaurant is known for taking diners on an unforgettable culinary journey, and the Conservatory hotel has 51 elegant guest rooms and suites.
The Cellars-Hohenort Hotel & Spa is well-known for hosting weddings and special events, as well as serving delectable picnics and decadent Classic High Teas.
All rooms have stunning views of South Africa’s iconic Table Mountain range as well as the hotel’s extraordinary gardens.
The expansive garden at The Cellars-Hohenort includes the second-oldest camphor trees in South Africa, an enchanted forest, a vineyard, secret doorways, a rose garden and much more.
The trees in the surrounding forest at The Cellars-Hohenort Hotel & Spa date back 300 years to when the property was known as Klaasenbosch Farm.
The gardens’ various sections showcase some of Constantia’s most beautiful indigenous flora, which is meticulously maintained by Head Gardener Leigh-Ann van Wyk and her team.
Van Wyk, who holds a National Diploma in Landscape Technology, has been the groundskeeper since 2016.
Garden tours are led by van Wyk herself, who enjoys sharing her favourite highlights of the season. Some visitors may also be lucky enough to see the resident duck family, Cape dwarf chameleon colonies and squirrels, as well as bird species such as the cinnamon dove, Cape white-eye, lemon dove, African paradise flycatcher, forest canary and many others.
The garden offers breathtaking views of the Table Mountain range and a plethora of delights, including the Picnic Garden and Hohenort Lawns, popular wedding venues as well as a structured garden with a beautiful water feature and several ponds.
The gardens’ eco-zones include 950 vines as well as herb, vegetable and citrus gardens that grow fresh produce for the hotel kitchens.
The herb garden is particularly significant because it is not only visually appealing but is constantly invaded by chefs from both the Greenhouse and The Conservatory restaurants for their expert culinary undertakings.
Currently, there are more than 2 500 roses in the garden. The rose beds are carefully maintained and require about six tons of compost each year.
After the garden tour, guests are invited to sit down to freshly-baked scones and tea, including the signature Cellars Hohenort Blend of Nigiro tea, blended by Master Tea Blender Mingwei Tsai, and which incorporates the spicy fragrance and bronze/apricot colour of the Liz McGrath Rose, which was hybridised in 2003 to commemorate the late Mrs McGrath.
The Cellars Hohenort Hotel & Spa Garden Tours are available to the general public by reservation and are held every Wednesday at 10am for R190 per person (which includes the guided garden tour, tea, and scones). Reservations are required. Private groups may also be accommodated by prior reservation on their preferred dates and times, subject to availability.
One thing is for certain: you will leave the Cellars-Hohenort knowing that its ducks, squirrels, and geese inhabitants couldn’t have been smarter when choosing their accommodations.
Details:
- Location: The Cellars-Hohenort Hotel & Spa | 93 Brommersvlei Road, Constantia Heights, Cape Town
- Website: thecellars-hohenorthotel.com
- Contact: 021 794 2137 | [email protected]
Book a garden tour and tea and experience with Cellars-Hohenort:
The Cellars-Hohenort Garden Tour and Tea are available for booking on Wednesdays.
- Day and time: Wednesdays | 10am
- Cost: R190 per person
- Booking inquiries: 021 794 2137
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Hike, see wildlife and dine on this unique walking experience
Picture: Supplied
