Only 10km or so from the hubbub and glitter of Sibaya Casino and a mere 3km from the bustling Ballito Lifestyle Centre sprawls the paradise that is the Zimbali coastal resort.
The elegant boutique hotel is the five-star Forest Suites At Zimbali, which has proved popular since opening in 2006 and, since April, has been managed and marketed by Signature Life Hotels.
Set between a tranquil coastal forest and the Indian Ocean, and deftly blending into the natural foliage, Forest Suites At Zimbali offers 10 identical, but individually placed luxury units, each with large windows, sliding doors and a large, wooden balcony.
My wife and I had the pleasure of spending a weekend there recently and it was a calm, peaceful escape from weekday blues.
We were quick to unpack and relax with a cup of tea on our Suite 6 balcony which is snuggled into thick foliage and embraced by tree trunks and branches. It was wonderful to lean back in wooden loungers to watch as vervet monkeys and a buck paid visits in the foliage below.
The unit’s decor is rich in traditional African themes, with a western touch. Think much warmth, dark wood, autumn tones and generous comfort. Think ornate wall hangings, tall potted bamboo and palms and wood carvings which evoke the natural and cultural surroundings.
Each unit offers a spacious living area including a sofa bed and chunky diningroom table that seats up to four people, which can be sectioned off from the bedroom by an adjoining door.
Entertainment amenities include a DVD player, and both the lounge and bedroom have flat-screen TV sets offering 10 DStv channels. Another technological convenience is wi-fi internet connectivity.
All units, which can sleep two adults and two children, have air-conditioning, an open-plan coffee station, a radio, telephone, hairdryer, electric razor plug, multi-electric plugs for international use and multi-telephone plugs for computer connection.
All this is great but two things provide a real wow factor, most notably the large, five-piece bathroom with its large oval, freestanding bath which was decorated with red rose petals for our arrival.
The bathroom boasts fun Victorian-era tap and shower fittings, and – a great touch – a glass wall that faces onto a small pond and private outdoor shower area reached via a door leading from the indoor shower.
The other wow factor is that each unit comes with its own electric, easy-to-drive, two-seater golf cart, allowing you to explore the estate’s brick-paved pathways and, as we did, visit the impressive Valley of Pools which border the fab private beach on the estate.
Besides having access to the Valley of Pools, which offers a 1000m² swimming pool complex with a refreshment kiosk and 3km of pristine beach with dune vegetation, residents are also permitted to use tennis facilities and play golf at the resort.
Forest Suites At Zimbali is surrounded by an 18-hole golfcourse (designed by Tom Weiskopf), a lake and the Indian Ocean, providing the ideal location from which to observe the natural flora and fauna.
With private check-in, a 24-hour butler service, access to a private rim-flow swimming pool on the premises, and located in close proximity to the Zimbali Club House, it makes for a good choice if you’re planning an idyllic romantic getaway, a private family retreat or are seeking something special for a small corporate group.
The hotel boasts two conference venues which surround the cosy Milkwood restaurant, a stone’s throw from the open-plan reception.
Milkwood serves fine buffet breakfasts (included in your accommodation costs) as well as light lunches and good dinners, and seating spills outside on to a deck which, covered by a tree canopy, overlooks the pool.
Zimbali staff can arrange a variety of special interest trips in the vicinity. On offer are cultural tours or the extreme alternative of quad-biking, microlight or helicopter trips.
For more information and bookings contact Signature Life Hotels at 031 312 6250. - The Independent on Saturday