When did you last take a trip to a “mystery venue”?   

Time Out and Traveltime Exclusive Tours are one of YEI’s first advertisers, and when they planned their end-of-year outing to an unknown destination, our interest was piqued, and YEI decided to join in the fun.

We clambered on to the Hylton Ross bus at Constantia Village (the first pick-up point is in Table View) at 09h15 on Sunday 11^th December, to  be met by our friendly hosts, Carol and Brian Coombes, the owners of Traveltime.  Traveltime and Time Out have quite a large membership, and about 30 or so members were already on board – mostly ladies and some of their husbands.

First stop was the Gabrielskloof Wine Estate, an hour from Cape Town, along the N2, also known as the “secret gem of the Bot River wine route”.   The Gabrielskloof team are united in their focus to perfect the art of wine-making, and are determined to make top-notch, well-priced and expressive wines that showcase the spirit of the Bot River region.  Other than the carefully planned vineyards, Gabrielskloof also boasts olive groves that are right at home in the cool Mediterranean climate that is so kind to their grapes.  So together with the wine tasting, one can also taste and buy the olive oil, as well as buy other olive and lavender products from the restaurant’s deli.  We savoured  the wines while comfortably seated in an interesting courtyard surrounded by lush lawns and tranquil, reflective ponds.

And on to our mystery venue…   All we had been told was that we would be enjoying a feast of royal proportions in a laid back restaurant in a unique place 120 km from Cape Town.  We had also been given further clues, which were snippets from Wine magazine and Eat Out restaurant guide – the chefs open their rustic farmhouse on Sundays for a nostalgic journey in a series of help-yourself courses.  And it feels like you’re eating dishes out of an ‘80’s cookbook.   Well, who wouldn’t be intrigued?

And then all was revealed…  We arrived at the Driefontein Farmhouse, 1 km on a dirt road, off the N2 in the general direction of Greyton.  The rustic farm house has been home to the family for generations , evident by the heavy mahogany furniture, dainty cutlery, rugs, family trinkets and fine art which make up the décor.

Herman de Kock and his partner Philip Hugo open up their Greyton farmhouse on Sundays for lunch – in fact, feast is definitely the right word.  And it’s planned on whim!   So one Sunday is never the same as the next.  There’s the Greek chicken in phyllo pastry, a whole salmon, mussels, prawns, Afrikaans favourites like pumpkin fritters, vetkoek and sweet potatoes cooked in orange juice.   Roast beef, roast pork, pavlova, chocolate mousse, trifle and malva pudding.  Each course brings with it about ten to twelve variations of sincere cooking – fantastic food, amazing variety and on groaning platters.

So if you are looking to avoid a fashionable urban haunt, and are looking for a hidden gem in a less-known country venue,  look no further.  Driefontein is highly recommended – oozing with character and luring discerning diners.   They say that if this was theatre, there would be standing ovations.

So, all kudos to the Traveltime team who are notorious for planning exciting and different single and multiple day tours for their members.   Their motto is “Take Time Out to have some fun in your life today” and they certainly deliver this.  They research and plan their trips with the utmost of care, negotiating the best service, accommodation and meals.  They source places that are generally not on the tourist route which afford you the opportunity to meet the people who live in these areas and experience their way of life.   Chatting to some of the group members, they are united in their opinion that Traveltime and the Time Out Ladies Club has enabled them to experience new found friendships, and indeed changed many lives.

For further information, please visit www.traveltime.co.za