Day 4: SA + Forum Homini Boutique Hotel
Today’s tidbit: “Happy and successful cooking doesn’t rely only on know-how; it comes from the heart, makes great demands on the palate and needs enthusiasm and a deep love of food to bring it to life.” ― Georges Blanc
It’s a busy blog week! I have not been feeling well (changing weather led to a bad cold) so I was able to work on editing pictures and put together some posts in bed, complete with tea and my snuggly dog Sammy. There is just too much I want to share 🙂
So far the posts have mostly focused on amazing wildlife. This one is mixing it up, showing another place we stayed at and 5 star dining: Forum Homini Boutique Hotel. It was the splurge day and a belated (very special) birthday present from my mom. As I mentioned in the very first SA post, there really is diversity and beauty everywhere and we saw that from the tours to accommodations. That’s how you have to travel I think, experiencing as much variety as you can! As far as accommodations, we stayed in 3-4 star (with this 5 star exception) lodges, rondavels, hotels and resorts – all of which were unique and had a different feeling.
Sneak peek image:
Be sure to click below to read more and check out more pictures. Enjoy!
As the website states, Forum Homini means: A place where people talk about… people, art, culture, food, wine and many more.
“The vision for Forum Homini was to make the dramatic story of the development of humans accessible, interesting and fun – a place where talking to each other is stimulated by the environment. Forum Homini is situated on the Letamo Game Estate where the variety of natural occurring habitats such as savannah, acacia bushveld, wetlands and koppies, cater for a large variety of game that inhabit the estate. The hotel was designed to blend into the environment, making landscaping very important. Small walkways, grass covering the roofs and the use of more than 140 endemic plants to the area create a unique and natural effect.” Read more.
{Entrance + hotel grounds}
{The room} Check it out!
There are different types of rooms to choose from, including wedding packages. When we were there they were actually getting ready for a wedding the following day. Lucky enough to find availability, we stayed in the standard suite (although there was nothing standard about it) for one night. It included a feature fireplace & stalactite lights, double indoor & outdoor shower plus an oval bath in lounge. Yes the shower was amazing and it wasn’t just a bath, but a bath in lounge (you’ll see in pictures below!). It also included a 6, yes 6-course dinner & 5-course breakfast for two. SO incredible!
Pictures below show the rooms – see how they blend into the environment, which was a focus? So neat! You also see the spectacular double indoor & outdoor shower I mentioned. So special + unique!
{Roots. Wine tasting + 6-course dinner} Check it out!
Roots is a Johannesburg top fine dining restaurant with popular monthly wine tastings. We were fortunate to be able to participate in the September 13th tasting with Rainbow’s End, a local winery and new favorite. It was a bonus to be able to talk with the head chef and wine maker himself throughout dinner! The wine was perfectly paired to the exquisite food. Just take a look at the pictures below, that is fine dining! (and accommodated a gluten free diet).
{After dinner} We were able to talk with a hotel manager for a while after the wine tasting + dinner was over. He was the nicest guy with such interesting stories!
{Room at night}
{Bath in lounge + shower at night} One of the best baths I have taken!
{Morning view + 5-course breakfast} After the amazing wine tasting, 6-course dinner, relaxing bath and cozy night sleep this is what we woke up to. Waiters coming with course after course of breakfast food (all gluten free), coffee, teas etc… you name it! We enjoyed it all sitting outside in our pjs and bathrobes while watching the wildlife roam and birds chip. Unbelievable!
The only way I can summarize this night/morning would be unique + relaxing + luxurious + delicious! I highly recommend it and would love to go back!
Have a wonderful weekend! I will be driving up to upstate New York this morning with my brother and will be visiting family for the next week.
Nicely captured, it looks fantastic! Although the accommodation and food seem first rate, obviously your mum hadn’t discovered the benefit of ordering her famous Chicken Salad yet. I do see you two had long before discovered red wine though 😉
So true. Yes this was before our tour with all of you started! Too funny
Haha Chris! Yes by the time we met you my budget for fine dining was blown and I had to settle for the numerous delicious versions of chicken salad throughout the rest of the country! Not really settling, as they were quite impressive, but less gourmet than this special night for Alyssa’s 25th birthday.
Everything here looks top notch: from the gorgeous stone walls, to that amazing shower/view, to the food, wine and company. Forum Homini indeed. Love, love, love the presentation of everything here. Definitely a day fit for a queen.
It really was top notch and special! You’d enjoy it for sure.
Yes please, I’m ready to check in! I want to sink into those beds right now!
This post just makes me hungry….and want to go on vacation instead of just interview traveling haha. Looks absolutely lovely! How special.
So true! I wish you could have been there with us… but you had a bigger celebration to get ready for… your wedding!
AHHHH… I am so glad you also have fond memories of that very special place, room, food and wine tasting which we did to celebrate your 25th birthday!!
Absolutely!! It was fantastic 🙂
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