ENTICING SPECIAL EVENTS OFFERED AT     BUSHMANS KLOOF THIS YEAR - APRIL 2005

Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Retreat is proud to announce an exciting special events programme for 2005, for guests to experience, explore and discover the essence of this magical reserve, and learn something new.
 
Special events range from Archaeological and Botanical breaks, to Chef speciality weekends, a Yoga Retreat weekend, Winter specials, as well as Family Fun packages during the school holidays. This South African Natural Heritage site is the perfect haven for a healing, yet stimulating getaway. Deep in the African wilderness, yet a mere 270 kilometres north of Cape Town, Bushmans Kloof is a malaria-free nature reserve offering enrichment, relaxation and well-being from outdoor adventures, healing spa therapies, education, supreme luxury and remarkable services and facilities. The lodge is an oasis in contrast to the ancient landscape of wind-sculpted rock formations, and is surrounded by natural beauty, priceless ancient rock art sites and an abundance of indigenous flora and fauna. With no large predators, it is not only a safe haven for unique and highly endangered species of indigenous plants and animals, but safe for you to explore by yourself – to look, listen, smell, and get back in touch with nature.
 
Bushmans Kloof was recently lauded for providing outstanding value, when the USA Travel + Leisure magazine voted it as number one in the Africa/Middle East Worth the Splurge category and fourth world-wide for Value Overall (March 2005). In 2004 Travel + Leisure placed the lodge as the 5th Top Hotel in the World for service excellence and satisfying the guest’s every need.
 
SPECIAL EVENTS FOR 2005
 
THE ANNUAL CEDAR TREE EVENT

Bushmans Kloof is dedicated to restoring and preserving the land to the splendour of centuries ago and is recognised as the premier wilderness experience in the Western Cape.
 
This has led to the Cedar Tree initiative with Bushmans Kloof giving its long-term commitment to assist the Botanical Society and Western Cape Nature Conservation in an effort to save the endangered Clanwilliam cedar tree (Widdringtonia cedarbergensis) from extinction.
 
Every year Bushmans Kloof offers guests the unique opportunity to participate in seed and tree planting. This year, the programme will include a visit the charming village of Heuningvlei, where young cedar trees will be planted in a newly established grove. Both the Cedar Tree planting event and the other three Botanical Events will be expertly hosted by Dr Penny Mustart of the Botanical Society.
 
BOTANICAL BEAUTY
 
The Botanical Breaks will provide a general overview of the natural botanical richness of Bushmans Kloof, which includes more than 755 indigenous plant species, representative of three major vegetation types: Fynbos, Forest and Karoo biomes.
 
Guests will discover Bushmans Kloof’s very own ‘Cederberg Seven’ - plant species unique to the area that are being established on the property, including some highly endangered species, as well as other more common plants that are unique to the area, such as the Cederberg vygie, Rooibos tea and the Clanwilliam sugar bush.
 
Another highlight will be a guided visit to the unique medicinal herb garden adjacent to the Bushmans Kloof Heritage Centre, to learn about these fascinating plants and the medicinal remedies used by the San throughout the ages. The Heritage Centre is home to many original ancient Bushman artefacts, including jewellery, dancing sticks, hunting kits, musical instruments, dolls, digging sticks, magic sets as well as historical photographs documenting the San Culture.
 
BUSHMAN ROCK ART WEEKEND 
 
Professor John Parkington and Anthony Manheim – two venerated archaeologists, will be sharing their vast knowledge and experience on the Bushmen. South Africa’s earliest inhabitants, the Bushmen roamed this region during the Later Stone Age and today are recognised as one of the oldest civilisations of mankind. Bushmans Kloof is custodian to more than 130 remarkable rock art sites. These ancient sites, located amidst overhanging cliffs and rocky shelters, have been meticulously preserved and recorded, and reflect some of the finest examples of rock painting in all of South Africa.
 
The Heritage Centre at Bushmans Kloof was established to provide guests with further insight into the history and lives of the San people, through artefacts and images. It has also acquired historical photographs documenting San culture and displays a collection of exceptional photographs by renowned wildlife photographer Michael Poliza.
 
GOURMET FOOD AND WINE
 
The cuisine at Bushmans Kloof has recently been transformed by Executive chef Floris Smith, who brings a touch of magic to dishes prepared from the freshest ingredients and the best local fresh produce, harvested daily from the Bushmans Kloof organic gardens. Creative new choices of a la carte menus and Chef’s Specials offer a profusion of gastronomic, healthy or home-style comfort foods. His award-winning cuisine is boldly flavourful yet surprisingly low in calories and fat – and a feast for the eye as well as the palate. Bushmans Kloof was again voted a Wine magazine Top 100 Restaurant this year.
 
Two of South Africa's leading wine makers Peter Finlayson, from Bouchard Finlayson and David Nieuwoudt from the Cederberg Cellars, will share their wine-making expertise with interesting wine-tasting sessions, and teach the importance of food and wine pairing. Both vineyards have wines of outstanding quality, which have been awarded world-wide recognition and accolades.
 
Bouchard Finlayson is a boutique winery located in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley near Hermanus, and is dedicated to making some of the finest Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
 
Cederberg Cellars is situated at Dwarsrivier in the remote Cederberg mountains and is best known for its Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.
 
CHEF SPECIALITY WEEKENDS
 
Additional gastronomic events will also be showcased this winter with Executive Chef Floris Smith’s Chef Speciality Weekends:
 
The Symphony of Cooking with Fynbos
 
During the Cooking with Fynbos weekend, guests can expect dishes with a touch of the fairest of the Cederberg Fynbos – anything from infusions, smoking and cooking, to marinating and the finishing of dishes. Tulboghla capensis, sour figs, wild olives, Leonoti leonuris pesto. Indulge in seafood touched with wild fennel, Springbok loin smoked with wild rosemary, or a dessert study with rooibos, finished with wild mint to tantalise taste buds.
 
Decadent Desserts
 
An introduction to preparing impressive, mouth-watering and exotic desserts, that are easy to make at home. Presentation plays an integral role and the chef will share his secrets to innovative ways to present culinary delights.
 
Pasta Making Weekend
 
Guests will take part in informative, interactive cooking demonstrations and learn how to make fresh egg pasta. Master the various pasta cuts such as taglioni, tagliatelle, lasagne and ravioli, as well as superb, easy to make sauces to accompany the homemade pasta.
 
FAMILY FUN
 
Bushmans Kloof has introduced special opportunities for families with young children who want to bond and spend fun times together in nature.
The packages offer adventurous, enriching and stimulating activities for the whole family. Children will learn more about animals and birds, the Bushmen – their rock art, hunting techniques and tracking of animals, canoeing, fly-fishing, hiking, collecting treasures in the veld, trying their hand at creating their own ‘rock art’, as well as a night of (optional) camping out with experienced rangers.
 
The special children’s programme ensures that parents have ample time to relax and enjoy the 5-star facilities of the lodge and Spa. Special early children’s dinners are prepared from a healthy and child-friendly menu, and activities such as night-walks, game drives, videos and board games are offered while parents enjoy a romantic dinner for two.
 
YOGA RETREAT
 
Kris McIntyre, a qualified Zen Shiatsu practitioner and yoga therapist will be hosting Bushmans Kloof’s first ever Yoga Retreat weekend. The Yoga Retreat weekend will feature Ryoho Yoga – a dynamic blend of Japanese Yoga Therapy that uses specific corrective exercises to give access to traditional yoga postures and address structural and physiological imbalances in the body. The package will include daily yoga classes, guided meditation and gentle exercise, and lodge activities such as guided rock art walks and nature drives with plenty of free time to enjoy spa treatments or to simply relax in the soothing natural environment.
 
WINTER SPECIAL
 
WINTER IN THE WILDERNESS
 
Winter is the ideal time to escape to Bushmans Kloof to relax, restore and unwind. World-class luxury and service, roaring log fires, under-floor heating, hot water bottles and electric blankets guarantee warming and soothing guests on chilly nights.
 
The Winter Special of ‘Pay for 2 nights and Stay 1 extra night free’ is valid during the low-season months of April, May, June and July 2005, at R3800 per person sharing, all-inclusive. (Subject to availability)
 
 
BUSHMANS KLOOF WILDERNESS RESERVE & RETREAT
EVENTS PROGRAMME 2005
  
Annual Cedar Tree Event
27 – 29 May
The 2-night package is available all-inclusive, at R2000 per person sharing.
 
Botanical Beauty
19 – 21 June
22 – 24 July
12 – 14 October
The 2-night package is available all-inclusive, at R2000 per person sharing.
 
Bushman Rock Art Weekend
25 – 27 May
10 – 12 June
20 – 22 November
The 2-night package is available all-inclusive, at R2000 per person sharing.
 
Gourmet Food & Wine
15 – 17 April (Bouchard Finlayson)
29 April – 1 May (Cederberg Cellars)
3 – 5 June (Cederberg Cellars)
29 – 31 July (Bouchard Finlayson)
The 2-night package is available, all-inclusive at R2500 per person sharing.
 
Chef Speciality Weekend
6 – 8 May: Cooking with Fynbos
24 – 26 June: Pasta Making Weekend
5 – 7 August: Decadent Dessert Weekend
The 2-night package is available all-inclusive, at R2500 per person sharing.
 
Family Fun
27 – 30 June
3 – 6 July
8 – 11 July
12 – 15 July
4 – 7 December
11 – 14 December
The 3-night package is available, all-inclusive at R3750 per person sharing, R2700 for children 6 – 12 years, R1350 for children 3 – 5 years, and no charge for children under the age of 2.
 
Yoga Retreat
19 – 21 August
The 2-night package is available all-inclusive, at R2500 per person sharing.
 
  
All packages include:
- 5-Star luxury accommodation
- Four gastronomic, home-style meals daily
- Daily early morning rock-art excursions
- Evening nature drives with sun-downers in the reserve
- All lodge activities including: hiking, rock-climbing, mountain biking, archery, fly-fishing, canoeing, swimming in  crystal clear rock pools, bird watching, painting, reading, botanical tours and star gazing.
- Specialised programmes include expert hosting and additional guided activities
 
All packages exclude:
- Extraordinary dining
- All beverages
- Purchases from the Trading Post curio shop
- Telephone and fax calls
- Spa treatments
- Transfers to and from the lodge (available on request)
- Special air shuttle rates:
 
From Cape Town International Airport: R4800 per person (return)
From Johannesburg International Airport: Price on request
 
 
Issued by Janie van der Spuy:                                            
Janie van der Spuy & Associates                          
Tel + 27 (21) 462-1677                                                       
Fax  + 27 (21) 462-1676
Mobile: + 27 (0) 83-324-5558                                                        
vdspuy@iafrica.com
 
USA: Arnelle Kendall Public Relations
Tel: +15 61 659 2174
Fax: +1561 835 1636
Cell: +1561 789 8286
Email: arnellek@aol.com
c/o 363 Cocoanut Row
Palm Beach FL  33480
USA
 
On behalf of Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Retreat:
Jill Wagner
Marketing and Sales Manager
Tel + 27 (21) 685-2598
Fax + 27 (21) 685-5210
jill@bushmanskloof.co.za