True, it lies a fair distance away from us, sitting about 26 km outside of Barrydale running towards the Oudtshoorn side, but after my first experience with the quaint Warmwaterberg Spa resort I can definitely say that it won’t be the last time I’ll make that particular trip! :)
A couple of weekends ago saw Chantelle and myself join up with the rest of the Montgomery clan for a bit of a family weekend away, lured to the inviting naturally warm mineral pools by Cheryl and Monty who rate this as one of their favourite getaway destinations. So Friday night after work we finally managed to hit the road (joined by Robert who decided to catch a lift through with us) and after an uneventful couple of hours drive featuring just the one stop at Buffelsjag and the “turning off the headlamps in order to gauge just how dark it is” incident, we finally made it to the resort in the dead of the night, guided in over the dusty gravel road by Monty’s lone torchlight shining brilliantly in the night.
The seven of us (Monty’s folks were tagging along) were bunking down in one of Warmwaterberg’s wooden chalets (they have a number of different accommodation options, including tenting, caravaning and even a stay in their ancient bathhouse), and I was pleasantly surprised just how spacious the cabin was, featuring a number of separate rooms, a little lounge, kitchen and even a nice patio of all things. Outside of course we were blessed with tons of beautiful space to call our own, a braai place and of course tons of peacocks and fluffy chickens who all seem to come as part of the package!
The area itself is of course dominated by the pool complex where they have two natural warm water baths and then one big fibreglass cold pool, though that unfortunately is currently out of action thanks to a splintering bottom, meaning that one of the warm pools has been hastily converted into a bit of a mixed temperature pool. Outside of that, there is also the giant lapa complex to take into account, featuring a huge indoor entertainment space that hosts a pool table, dart bard, snoopie, bar and even fully licensed restaurant if you’re feeling too lazy to play tongmaster at any point in time.
As for the stay, well the best way to say it is simply that both Chantelle and I returned from the weekend feeling more relaxed than what we have in quite some time. Highlights of the stay was of course Monty taking his cellphone for a dip on the first day, midnight bathing under the stars, Robert playing tongmaster with excellent results as per usual, breakfast at the restaurant, me whipping Rob’s ass at pool, meat eating peacocks (seriously, they stripped the meat right off the rib bones!), watermelon, more swimming than what you can shake a stick at, and of course, Robert’s infamous heart stopping moment when he accidentally grabbed a big hairy spider that was hiding under the balcony beam.
Needless to say, it WAS a good weekend away! :)
(Oh, except for all those damn long thorns I kept stepping in! Was like a giant human pin cushion I tell you!)
An exterior shot of our delightful little wooden cabin tucked away amongst the thorn trees
The Montgomery clan sans one (Rob was checking the cricket score) plus one Lotter. Breakfast was good by the way!
There was quite a lot of this going on the weekend...
...and loads and loads of this! :)