Our Festivals
African Adventure, Africa
11-24 November 2023
What an adventure it was – by road (visiting the Cape Winelands), by rail (travelling from Pretoria to Victoria Falls) and by river (cruising along the Zambezi)! It began with a warm welcome from the Cape Town branch and an exciting food and wine matching dinner at the Foodbarn in Noorhhoek. Members then took to the Cape Winelands by road including Walker Bay, producing stunning white wines and tasted top wines from Paul Cluver at Elgin, then Burgundian style wines in the Hemel en Aarde valley at Bouchard Findlayson and Criterion accompanied by their Serendipity lunch.
A visit to Stellenbosch gave members the Bordeaux style experience followed in the evening with a dinner focussing on wines of Swartland. Then the Rovos Rail journey began which was the central part of this adventure. 36 members boarded the train at Pretoria for a magical four-day, five-star experience travelling some 1400 km north to the spectacular Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.
Stops on the way included game drives in Matobo and Hwange national parks where members marvelled at the many big game animals, viewed rock art and Cecil Rhodes’ grave.
The trip combined relaxed travelling and sightseeing by day with formal dining in the dining car each evening, with great food, South African wines and super service. The post-tour crossed into Zambia with two days alongside the mighty Zambezi to Livingstone. An evening river cruise provided opportunity to spot elephants, hippos and crocodiles as well as hand feeding orphaned elephants.
The final stop was a delightful dinner hosted by the Lusaka branch and then a super day hosted by the Luering family at their Mzimbilli Game Ranch. Many of you will have met Emily and Arne Luering who have attended a number of our Festivals namely Vancouver, London, Piedmont and DO Emporda.
A full report will appear in Food & Wine, issue 149.