After a manic week at the office the promise of some much-needed R&R at a wilderness reserve and spa in the foothills of the Cederberg Mountains was a brilliant idea.

Although I wondered how much rest would be involved as the invitation was for a media jaunt where my colleagues and I would get to experience a “swan party” – apparently an upmarket version of the ubiquitous hen or bachelorette party. These parties are becoming all the rage among the well heeled.

We travelled 270km through rolling lush green hills with dashes of colour from wild flowers in bloom to the award-winning Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Wellness Retreat. Near the entrance of the reserve we were warned that, except for rare, isolated areas, there was no cellphone reception – ideal for a fun girls’ getaway.

Upon arrival, chilled flutes of champagne were served. We were welcomed by warm and friendly staff – whose service turned out to be exceptional and, presumably, one of the reasons this reserve has won so many awards.

Each suite had a lounge with a fire place and a bathroom with underfloor heating – which turned out to be vital as the temperatures started to plummet. Standing on the room’s private patio I took in the landscaped indigenous gardens against backdrop of the ancient rocks and began to succumb to the serenity.

We lunched at The Homestead where chef Floris Smith had worked culinary magic. A mouth-watering spread was laid out, including cured salmon with an apple and fennel salad, rare roast beef with caramelised onions, mini Caprese salad, mustard Parma ham with marinated asparagus and parmesan shavings, duck liver parfait, spinach, smoked salmon and cottage cheese roulade and – my personal favourite – the seared prawns with corn relish, cucumber spaghetti and coriander. There was also soft camembert and matured Karoo bossie cheddar and preserved figs. For dessert, apple and cranberry crumble.

Then it was off to the spa – a must on the list for any bride to destress from the pressures of planning a wedding.

Time in the Crystal steam room flew by, followed by a 45 minute back, neck and shoulder massage that vanquished any tension that left in my body. I chilled in the spa’s tranquillity lounge where there was variety of juices, teas, chilled champagne on the rocks and strawberries dipped in chocolate sauce.

With an hour of me-time, I relaxed in my room. Besides the odd baboon bark and birds chirping there was silence. Bliss.

High tea was served at the spa gazebo in the garden especially converted into a dining area for the occasion. The table was decked with decadence, including scones, with strawberry preserve and fresh cream, chocolate and pistachio meringues, vanilla shortbread, strawberry frangipane tarts, caramel butter cupcakes, tomato and basil tarts, open sandwiches and mustard and parmesan palmiers. I wasn’t sure if I had any room after our lunch, but the mouth watering treats were hard to resist. I began to wonder how a weight conscious bride and her bridesmaids wanting to look their best for the big day would be able to show any restraint. You would have to have the will power of a wafer-thin super model to decline this fare.

At sunset we were taken on a game drive in the reserve where we spotted Springbok, Red Hartebeest, a Bontebok and a Cape Mountain Zebra. Our driver talked about the importance of conservation at the reserve and about some of the species on the Red Data list. Provided with ponchos, we were protected from the cold winter air as we made our way down a long a dirt road. Suddenly we came to an abrupt halt at orange tape cordoning off the road. The reserve staff looked at each other, puzzled. I started to try to figure out how we were going to back out of there. Suddenly, out of the bush popped a rare species, a topless, muscular tattooed ranger with a tray of shooters. The response from the jeep: giggles and glee. It was the start of an evening of female bonding.

The drive ended at a charming stone building that was once a shepherd’s lodging. Now it is an exclusive dinning area called Kadoro which translated from !Xam dialect of the San language means “Tinderbox of stories”. It is ideal for a bride-to-be and her entourage to have a memorable dinner, party filled with traditional games, shooters and cocktails.

The room was converted into a Moroccan-style setting with big cushions scattered around a crackling fire. Candles gave it a cosy feel.

For starters, there were halloumi skewers, lightly spiced lamb kebabs, corn fritters with sweet chilli sauce, coriander and lime prawn skewers, as well as Babaganoushe and humus.

There were rounds of games, wicked shooters and sparkling wine – all a necessary part of the female premarital ceremony. This was followed by chef Smith’s sumptuous Moroccan feast. It included butternut and cinnamon soup, Horiatiki salad – Moroccan tomato, feta, red onion, olive and parsley salad, guinea fowl tagine, BBQ lamb cutlets, tomato baked salmon with lemon, roasted vegetables, toasted almond and date couscous, pineapple and chilli salsa, aubergine chutney, tomato salsa and roti.

At this rate the bride, would have to be strapped into a corset or some such Victorian contraption if she was going to fit into her wedding dress.

The evening ended with dessert – a chocolate fountain with fruit skewers and shortcake, spiced saffron crème and baked camembert with melba toast.

Stuffed like a pig on spit, I was ready for a leisurely bath in the Victorian-style ball and claw bath in my room and a good night’s sleep.

A brisk hike the following morning to view one of the reserve’s 135 examples of bushman rock art probably did little to dent the amount of calories we’d consumed. And, unsurprisingly, I took some strain hiking iover the rocky terrain. So I was really surprised to find a neatly laid table and a Champagne breakfast, with a choice of continental and skottel braai, ready to be served next to the roaring Boontjies River. At noon, sadly, we had to return to the city.

Pity the poor groom who has to come up with a honeymoon to beat that. - Weekend Argus

p Peters was a guest of Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Wellness Retreat.

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