South Africa

I have to tell you about this fantastic area of Mpumulanga (Eastern Transvaal) in South Africa. I just got back from my first visit to that part of the world, and my fiancé and I discovered the most wonderful inn about one hour outside of Kruger Park. It's called the Chili Pepper Inn, located in the low valley regions of the Eastern Transvaal, surrounded by green, hilly mango groves and bright fuscia bougainvillea trees.

The Inn is run by a retired couple from Johannesburg, Gerd and Jean, and has five separate rooms all with private balconies, situated around a small Italian-style piazza with a fountain. They welcome you with a glass of local sherry, and proceed to set up reservations in the nearby town restaurants for your dinner every night. There's an outdoor pool lined with black slate, a pond with lilly pads and frogs, litchi fruit trees and a wonderful breakfast every morning. The most amazing thing is the price - with the current exchange rate between the rand and the dollar, one night at the Chili Pepper Inn costs around $35, everything included.

We have already made a deal with Gerd and Jean: when they retire, we're going to move down there and take over! I cannot tell you how relaxing, calm and elegant this little inn is -- I highly recommend it! And that part of South Africa is truly an amazing area - a mix of the California wine region, the Grand Canyon and the Vermont hills all rolled into one. I'm definitely going back sooner rather than later!

Elise

 

 

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