Eventful short trip a challenge
BUT CASAMBO A GEM IN THE HILLS
A TRIP to a luxurious lodge in Mpumalanga was just what the doctor had ordered after weeks of hectic work.
Ahead of the trip, I imagined a tranquil place with beautiful views and a chance for sound sleep with no worry about stories and deadlines – also away from from my demanding threeyear-old son.
I was up early on the day of the trip, and left home at 5.30am to meet the 8am departure deadline from Tsogo Sun’s head offices in Fourways.
Despite my effort, Joburg traffic did not budge. I ended up arriving few minutes after 8am.
We left Joburg just before 9am and imagined reaching our destination, the Casambo Exclusive Guest Lodge in Nelspruit, in three or four hours.
But boy were we in for a surprise. It turned out that our driver did not know or forgot how to get to Nelspruit. After hours of driving around we ended up somewhere in Limpopo!
At that moment I though this was definitely not the trip I had imagined. After eight hours of unscheduled sightseeing from Limpopo, we finally arrived at Casambo.
Nestled between rocky outcrops, the attractive structure with its inviting environs and warm reception, just showed why it was named Tsogo Sun’s guesthouse of the year in 2014. And that was in just second year of its existence. Once inside the lodge it almost feels like you’re at an island and the only thing you can see from far are the local mountains with their lush foliage. More trees surrounding the lodge also give it a feel of a forest.
A beautiful musical item by a local school choir welcomed us, before we were ushered into the spacious a nd beautifully decorated VIP lounge.
We were served a very late lunch at the lounge, which is also used as a conference centre or wedding venue. Its decor is a touch of African and modern designs. The furniture is largely dominated by nude colours and a bit of white. After lunch we sat down for a presentation by Tsogo Sun about the programmes they provide to empower small establishments such as Casambo. The lodge’s owner Carol Sanderson took us on a tour of the place. She regularly invites local small businesses such as fashion and bead designers to showcase their work to her guests.
We were also treated to a small fashion show by models who also work closely with the lodge.
After the tour we finally had a chance to check-in and relax a bit after a long, long day.
We got the shock of our lives as I and two fellow journalists were told we would be sharing a chalet.
There is nothing wrong with sharing but we felt someone should have had the courtesy of telling us in advance.
Anyway, we were driven to our chalet and despite our earlier disappointment, it was comforting that the chalet had three bedrooms and a bathroom. The chalet was classy, with fitted cupboards, a fridge and microwave. The rooms were equally beautiful and comfortable.
After freshening up we went back to the VIP lounge where there was a party. We were treated to a sushi starter before enjoying braai meat.
There was also entertainment from a local band and a poet. Despite the fatigue, we somehow managed to dance the night away.
The next morning when we hit the road after breakfast we made sure this time we used a GPS to shows us the road to Jozi!
I felt I needed more time to relax and experience Casambo lodge better. I guess that will happen with a planned getaway with friends or family in future,
It was an enjoyable trip overall.