Knysna Hollow Country Estate is a 'home away from home'

BY Aurelia Mbokazi-Kashe

When an invitation to join the fun-loving MD of VWSA, Martina Biene, and her team of female leaders for a weekend away in the Cape landed in my inbox, I didn’t hesitate. Even the 06h00 am flight from OR Tambo to Chief Dawid Stuurman airport, formerly Port Elizabeth, didn’t dampen the cheerful mood.

Excitement was palpable outside the airport with a joyful exchange of greetings with fellow female motoring journalists as we headed to VW’s Kariega Plant in style, in two Kombis and a Caravelle. After a generous breakfast, introductions and presentations from the team of VW ladies, official business was finally out of the way and it was leisure, relaxation, enjoyment o’clock.

Driving there

We got into pairs – a journalist and a VW representative – and hit the N2 for the 3-hour to Knysna Hollow Country Estate, on the Garden Route. My driving partner and I chose the sensible T-Cross as our ride. We managed to squeeze both our luggage in the boot and off we went. We couldn’t stop talking all the way and discovered we had a lot in common – both of us originating from the Eastern Cape even though we have since settled in Joburg and are moms to busy teenagers. Driving in a convoy, with our lead in a crazy rush since we were two hours behind schedule, the T-Cross held its own as the 3^rd car, keeping up with a Polo GTI.

Our first stop was Ristorante Enrico in Plettenberg Bay where were dined alfresco, overlooking the beach. We sampled the freshest and mouth-watering dishes that kept on coming to our long table until we couldn’t eat anymore. We set off for the remainder of the drive – 35 minutes to be exact – and arrived at our idyllic home for the weekend. The hotel can also be easily accessed from George Airport, an hour’s drive away.

Set the scene

The picturesque town of Knysna screams holiday and relaxation as you drive through it. Surrounded by large water bodies dotted with docked boats, it is an idyllic retirement village and there is no shortage of hotels, catering to every budget. Set among homes, the Knysna Hollow Country Estate exudes the coveted ‘home away from home’ feeling that so many establishments wish they could have. From the entrance that opens up to a Social restaurant that flows like a modern ouma’s eat-in kitchen and spills out onto the veranda. The 44 bungalow-styled garden suites are arranged around the pool and the carefully manicured garden and connected by a network of paved pathways. The hotel feels private and exclusive, and social. You casually greet your neighbours, hotel guests, as you move between your room and the restaurant. Each patio has a cosy sitting area where you can curl up with a book or watch life go by.

The rooms

The rooms are elegantly furnished with touches of wood, with the large bed and couch at the end of it taking centre stage. The second you step inside, you immediately want to kick off your shoes and relax. Being in South Africa in 2023, loadshedding kicked in as I walked into the room, jolting me back to reality. The backup solar light automatically turned on, illuminating the large room so I could survey it further. The extended desk boasts as a coffee station, with a Nespresso coffee machine, a bar fridge, and a TV with a wide choice of DSTV stations. The large, semi-private bathroom has a walk-in shower, two sink cabinets, and a private toilet. Late at night, the lack of a bathroom door became an annoyance with lights of cars passing behind the hotel flashing directly onto the bed. Another inconvenience was the single duvet covers, one for each of the two single beds that form the king-size bed but were not user-friendly.

Food and drinks

Social eatery offers a wide variety of food choices on the menu. These vary from Bo-Kaap lamb curry, grilled fresh linefish, and filled chicken breast among some of their delicious mains. The service is swift and with a smile. In no time, you feel like you are part of the family. Friendly waiters throw in jokes here and there but are careful not to overstep the invisible boundaries. For our table, the brief was to keep the bubbles, wine, and any other drinks flowing, and the waiters were in full form ensuring that no glasses were empty throughout the night. The breakfast spread did not disappoint, and the service was just as impressive. This time, we were on first name basis with the waiters enjoying the familiarity.

Local attractions

There is no shortage of attractions and things to do around Knysna. The energetic ones among our group opted for the park run, which was followed by a trip to Wild Oats Community Farmer’s Market, in the nearby town of Sedgefield. The market, adjacent the stunning Swartvlei lake-lagoon, runs every Saturday throughout the year and carries lots of goodies from fresh produce, memorabilia, and all sorts of yummy goodies. In the afternoon, we were off to the posh Simola hotel and spa, for some much-needed spa treatments and another decadent lunch. There are golf courses and loads of different water activities on offer in Knysna. Food is in abundance, with some of the finest restaurants in the country found here.

Dinner was at Butterfly Blu in Brenton Haven Beachfront Hotel, right on the beach. Once again, the service was excellent with much attention paid to each detail, ensuring that the trip was an overall success.

As we drove back to Gqeberha on Sunday morning, as friends, we shared so many special memories cemented over food, drink and a great time had at the Knysna Hollow Country Estate.