Everything about the Coral Tree Colony in Southbroom on the lower Hibiscus Coast shouts “comfort”.
Hosts Liz and Dave Page are convivial and relaxed, and their handsome house, though modern and chic, recalls cotton plantation manors in America’s deep south.
But what brings visitors firmly back to South African earth is that the Coral Tree Colony’s breakfast terrace has a birdie eye view of Southbroom Golf Club’s 12th green. Beyond, the 12 and 13th fairways lead the eye towards the breakers and distant horizon.
Keen golfers are spoilt for choice with eight courses within easy driving (excuse the pun) distance. The Pages can sort out your tee-off times and when there’s a large golf group, sometimes offer an after-golf braai.
Liz’s family has been on the coast for generations and she knows the area intimately, while Dave is an escaped Pom who has been here longer than many of us have been alive.
He is a trained chef and his sense of humour and fantastic breakfasts are the perfect start to the day.
The comfort of Coral Tree Colony is nowhere more apparent than in the six bedrooms. The superior extra length beds with percale linen had me eyeing my own clearly sub-standard pallet with suspicious misgivings on my return home.
Each green-grey bedroom has a separate entrance, large private verandah, air conditioning and fan, as well as DStv, fridge and tea and coffee facilities.
The large and airy breakfast and lounge area with wicker wingback chairs and Oregon pine floors opens out onto the breakfast patio and indigenous garden.
I love wrap-around verandahs – so suited to our sub-tropical climate – and could not help but raise a glass to Liz and Dave’s daughter Emma, the architect and muse who has had so much to do with the building and ambience.
Apart from golfing, there are several nature trails through the coastal dunes and forests, and you don’t have to be a hardcore hiker to do them. Visit www.southbroom.org for more information.
The nearby beaches are some of the best in KwaZulu-Natal. Southbroom has an excellent point break for surfers. Around the corner is Granny’s Pool, a delightful little cove with a tidal pool, lots of rock pools and easy access via a boardwalk.
Further south is Marina Beach’s Blue Flag beach.
We are just entering whale watching season, with sightings almost every day until November.
Riverbend Crocodile Farm offers a close-up look at these pre-historic monsters and Pure Venom has an incredible collection of reptiles.
You may of course opt to do little more than laze about in the comfortable environs of Coral Tree Colony, or stroll down to any of several restaurants.
Broomers is a little intimate restaurant in the middle of Southbroom village. Their menu covers most bases. They have an incredible bar which would not be out of place in Manhattan.
The Trattoria or “The Trat” has earned a chef’s hat or two from Anne Stevens, while Riptide overlooks Southbroom’s main beach and is an informal place to chill out, especially in the evenings.
Coral Tree Colony is a benchmarked member in the Luxury segment of Portfolio Collection (www.portfoliocollection.com).
Their rates, coupled with the feel-good factor of Coral Tree Colony, equate to excellent value and I recommend calling them on 039 316 6676, or e-mailing [email protected] - Sunday Tribune