Chrisel's family has a little bush retreat, just over an hour's drive out from Joburg, near the Magaliesberg Mountains. It really did live up to its name and I loved my time here.
Highlights of the overnight stay included:
- Stopping off at The Hartbeespoort Dam on the way.
- Buying some delicious cheese from a local farm.
- Stopping at a huge African market and a distillery to get Chrisèl's family a thank you gift.
- Buying delicious berry jam at a quaint little farm stall on the way - maybe the best jam I've ever tasted.
- Feeling immediately relaxed as soon as we arrived. Such a gorgeous, tranquil setting right in the bush veld with the constant sound of birds calling.
- The view from the deck of the house, out onto a far away lake.
- Going for a walk along the river and stopping off to photograph white-fronted bee-eaters on the way back - one of my favourite birds.
- Making a delicious lamb potjie. We did one at The Amphitheatre, but this time I knew what I was doing and it was a considerably more relaxed experience!
- A stunning walk in the reserve next door along a dry river gorge, gazing in awe at some of the reddest and most ancient rocks I've ever seen. It certainly gives Australia's Red Centre a go for its money!
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| The houses in Utopia - built to meld into the landscape. |
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| A big deck to admire the view out onto the bush. |
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| A walk along the river. |
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| The local white-fronted bee-eaters, the iconic symbol of Utopia. |
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| Making a delicious lamb potjie. |
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| Exploring a river gorge. Aren't those rocks amazing! |
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| Lots of wind and water sculptured rock formations. |
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| A cute Vervet monkey along the way. |
