Just what the doctor ordered,” my partner and I agreed as we sipped our cocktails while admiring the 25-metre pool at Canelands Beach Club and Spa and the view of the thundering breakers of the Indian Ocean, seemingly within arm’s length.
The dolphins were slicing through the surf and so I dutifully prised my partner from his seat so he could ring the bell to alert other guests to the action in the water. Most of them seemed to be ahead of us. They were easy to spot on the beach, what with their little flags which guests use to summon another drink or a bite to eat from the hotfooting beach butlers.
I’ve always loved Salt Rock – the rock pools full of interesting marine life, the coves, “grannies’ pool” to the left of Canelands, and safe swimming to the right.
King Shaka, whose handmaidens collected dried salt off the rocks at low ebb (hence the name), would no doubt have loved our abode for the night at Canelands Beach Club and Spa.
This is an elegant, stylish 10-bedroom (all en-suite) double storey, a step away from the beach.
The view and setting steal the show, but the design of the place has much to commend it. I particularly like the open plan kitchens, dining area and living spaces. You can keep an eye on the chefs hard at work while tantalising whiffs of what your taste buds can expect waft your way.
The smells exceeded expectations and I heartily recommend a visit to the restaurant for breakfast, lunch or supper. After all, it’s just minutes from Ballito and less than an hour from Durban.
Canelands Beach Club has WiFi facilities that can be reached in every room, lounge and bar area. If you don’t feel like watching TV in your room, the lounge area downstairs has a plasma screen. The lounge leads to the veranda, which is where I collapsed on a pool lounger following my meal. After soaking up some rays, I was glad about 0the pool and dashed off a couple of kilometres (and hopefully kilojoules) before starting round two of my indulgent stay in chic coastal paradise.
Watching the moon rise over the sea from the same loungers, every cell in our bodies felt relaxed. So much so that we turned in early enough to catch the sunrise the next morning before meandering on to the sand and into the surf to work up an appetite for more of chef Danielle Wright’s sumptuous grub.
We didn’t get to experience the newly opened Canelands Spa, under the management of beauty clinic expert Jennifer Eales, but that can wait for next time – under a gazebo overlooking the beach methinks. General manager Chris Wright is rightfully proud of the gem he keeps so carefully polished.
Rates at Canelands vary from R 1 600 per person sharing depending on season. For reservations, call 032 525 2300, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.signaturelifehotels.com - Sunday Tribune