Visit Zambia, and Summerfields Rose Retreat and Spa
Visit Zambia
Five Star sophistication The Royal Livingstone
The Royal Livingstone is a five-star, 173-
roomed luxury hotel whose sophistication
will be appreciated by international tourists
and businessmen.
The bedrooms are in two-storey clusters
which capture the essence of an opulent
bygone era. Each cluster comprises 10
en-suite, air-conditioned rooms, offering
private balconies or terraces, and enjoying
superb views overlooking the Zambezi
River and its magnificent panorama of ‘the
smoke that thunders’.
Inspired by the grand estate houses still
found in Zambia, the architecture captures
the unique spirit of the region with large,
shaded verandas and deep, relaxing,
internal spaces cooled by swirling fans
and floor-to-ceiling shutters to exclude the
midday sun. All the rooms have satellite
TV, radio and video, mini-bar, mini-safe
and telephone with message/wake-up/
voice-mail facilities. In-room dining is also
available.
A dramatic view of the river can be
enjoyed from the central reception, and
the same panorama unfolds from the other
public areas. An ideally positioned Bar
and Lounge under an open-thatch roof is
cooled by the silent swish of punkahs, and
decorated in harmonious greens, creams
and ebony. With its comfortable armchairs
and low ottomans, the Lounge is the place
to enjoy an impeccably served high tea or
to linger over port and cigars.
The à la carte restaurant reflects the same
high standard of service and opens onto
spacious verandas furnished with deep
planters’ chairs, wrought iron seats and
tables, rattan and luxurious rolling lawns
that end at the river’s edge.
For more information, please go to
www.suninternational.com.
Three-star favourite Zambezi Sun
The Zambezi Sun is a three-star, 212-roomed
hotel appealing primarily to conference
delegates. Its idyllic location, a stone's
throw from the majestic Victoria Falls,
inspired the architects and has resulted in a
shaded oasis totally in harmony with, and
open to, the African landscape.
The sweep of the two-storey en-suite
rooms welcomes the rising sun with private
balconies or patios. Outside, the earth
colours are warm and stimulating. Inside,
the airy rooms are alive with bright ethnic
reds, blues and oranges. Added amenities
include independent air-conditioning,
satellite colour TV, fold-out couch, minisafe
and telephone. Vending machines
conveniently sited for the rooms supply
cold drinks and snacks.
The central reception area houses a familyfriendly,
high-quality buffet restaurant,
pool deck, bar and a lively, alfresco grill
and entertainment area which spills over
into the natural riverine forest zone. A
children's facility, which is every child's idea
of holiday heaven, is also situated close to
this hotel, giving parents plenty of free time
to discover all the area’s attractions.
Steam locomotive fantasy
Fulfil your romantic fantasy, escape on a
train journey amidst the untamed natural
Zambia bushveld. Sun International is
proud to announce the inauguration of the
Royal Livingstone Express, a joint venture
between Sun International and Bushtracks
Africa.
The Royal Livingstone Express is a
unique dining experience combining
the luxury of Sun International’s Royal
Livingstone Hotel with the charm of rail
travel. The train is an all-inclusive, luxury
rail experience rooted in the nostalgia of a
bygone era. This is a journey into a timeless
world of grace, elegance and romance,
where the natural splendour will stir your
imagination and the luxurious comfort
soothes your soul.
This unique, luxury rail restoration
is an extension of the five-star Royal
Livingstone Hotel. The train provides fine
wining and dining as you travel through
the picturesque Irwell Valley in Pullmanstyle
coaches which have been lovingly
restored to their former glory.
The Royal Livingstone Express consists
of five air-conditioned carriages, two
dining cars, a kitchen car, lounge car,
and an observation car, and is pulled by
either a 10th class 156 or a 12th class 204
locomotive. One of the dining cars, The
Wembley, was built by the Birmingham
Railway Carriage and Wagon Company,
and went on display in London at the
British Empire Exhibition in 1924. It was
shipped to the Union of South Africa and
entered service on 19 May 1926.
The ambiance of the dining carriage
offers more than warm elegance. The
large windows allow for panoramic
views of the passing parade, while the
incandescent lighting adds intimate
warmth from individual lamps on each
table, gently illuminating the beautifully
detailed wooden interiors. The silver
cutlery, crystal glassware and damask
linen provide the ideal backdrop to the
exquisite cuisine created by the Royal
Livingstone Hotel chefs.
The journey begins at the restored 19th
century period railway station, the old
Mulobezi Line Offices, where guests
board the immaculate vintage first
class restaurant carriage. There are two
dining cars with a seating capacity for 94
passengers, and a fully equipped kitchen
car to produce a five-course gourmet
dining experience.
From departure the train moves directly
onto the old Mulobezi Line, which has
also been restored. It was once the largest
privately owned railway network in the
world and was set up by the Zambezi
Sawmills in 1916. Guests will be travelling
through Dambwa suburb towards the
Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, running
parallel to the Zambezi River. Guests will
catch glimpses of white rhino, buffalo,
elephant and other wildlife.
From there, the train ascends a small hill
beyond Simonga Siding (past Tongabezi
and River club) to the 19 km peg called
Devulu. The train will pause at the
top of the hill, affording passengers an
excellent view of the Zambezi River and
an opportunity to stretch their legs and
take a closer look at the locomotive and
chat to staff. The journey finishes back at
Bolton Street Station.
The companies involved in the
resurrection process are: Sun International
Zambia, Victoria Falls Steam Railways,
Bushtracks Africa, Rovos Rail and
the National Heritage Conservation
Commission.
The Steam Locomotive 156 is a 10th Class
originally belonging to the largest private
railway network in the world, Zambezi
Sawmills Limited. It was used on the
Mulobezi Line to pull logging carriages
from the forests in Mulobezi to the
railhead in Livingstone. David Shepherd,
renowned wildlife artist, rescued the
locomotive and totally renovated it to its
previous grandeur. He then donated it
to National Heritage, and Bushtracks has
subsequently restored the locomotive to
working order.
Bushtracks spent two years searching for
carriages in order to operate this excursion.
Rohan Vos of Rovos Rail South Africa,
reputed to be ‘the most luxurious train
in the world’, found five carriages which
were purchased in December 2006. Rovos
Rail also agreed to renovate the carriages
to their former glory and work began on
3 January 2007.
This unique eco experience can be enjoyed
from the comfort of your carriage while
enjoying one of the most scenic railway
passes in southern Africa. Experience the
wilderness, waterfalls, tunnels, flora and
fauna with panoramic views.
Contact Dreams on 011-217 5555 or e-mail
dreams@za.suninternational.com
to book a stay at either hotel.
How to get there
Airlink departs from Nelspruit Kruger (Effective
from 17 August 2009) on Mondays, Wednesdays
and Fridays at 11h35 and arrives at Livingstone
at 13h50. Return flights depart from Livingstone
at 14h20 and arrive at Nelspruit Kruger at 16h45
on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
For Reservations contact your travel agent,
tour operator, SAA Central Reservations on
+27 11 978 1111 or visit
www.flyairlink.com.
Summerfields Rose Retreat and Spa
Where to stop and smell the roses in the Lowveld
A fusion of Africa with rows of scented
roses – perhaps it’s this which gives
Summerfields Rose Retreat and Spa
its intriguing charm.
Or is it the bygone romance defined by
percale linen in a luxuriously-appointed
tented safari suite? If not that, then perhaps
the fact that you can enjoy a treatment in
a spa pavilion within the fragrance of a
sub-tropical forest?
Either way, with its lodge, destination
spa, gourmet restaurants and subtropical
farm within which to wander,
Summerfields Rose Retreat and Spa near
Hazyview, Mpumalanga is the ultimate
sanctuary for the senses.
The setting of jade-coloured hills of
ancient forested giants is also the most
romantic space to say “I do” and perhaps
the most inimitable place to hold a
wedding or spend a honeymoon. Special
menus are created in consultation with
executive chef Lienkie Erasmus for two
remarkable reception areas, the 40-seat
River Café and the original Summerfields
Kitchen, seating 80, while any one of the
farm’s numerous rose varieties may be
chosen for the bride’s bouquet.
On the banks of the lazy Sabie River –
with its own resident croc and hippo – the
Lodge tents are sited under a canopy of
jackalberry trees, with bathrooms open to
the cascading sounds of the river. Inside,
aircon deals with the sultry Lowveld heat
while bed-side iPods lend contemporary
comfort, and unwinding with a book on
your deck is mandatory.
New to Summerfields Rose Retreat is
the Stone House, an organic rendition of
earthy tones and materials which enjoys
beautiful views of the surrounding wilds.
Ideal for the smaller group or family
traveller, the Stone House’s three rooms
sleep six and children of all ages are
accepted.
The ultra-luxurious and brand-new
Summerfields Villa is on a plateau with
breathtaking 360-degree views, presenting
absolute privacy with a private butler and
chef, as well as a dedicated vehicle and
driver at the disposal of guests. Facilities
include a private pool, gym and a personal
therapist. (The Villa accommodates six
guests in three rooms, and children over
the age of 16 are welcome).
Downstream, reached by wooden boardwalks,
the Spa Pavilions have an air of
serene outdoor sensibility, surrounded by
forest fever trees and aromatic shrubs.
Indulgent and immediately healing,
the Spa presents a variety of signature
treatments as well as a unique outdoor
hydrotherapy meander (with signature
showers set into a boulder adjacent the
river) and rose-quartz steam bath, reached
by a sole-smoothing reflexology walk.
After treatments, guests may wish to
soak in the infinity pool or simply read
in the open-air boma-style lounge while
later, a bath butler is on hand to run a
relaxing or energising bath before dinner.
Word is spreading like wildfire in Lowveld
culinary circles of the country-chic style
being created in Summerfields’ Kitchen (a
member of the Lowveld Gourmet Route)
by chef Lienkie Erasmus. With outdoor
pillars clad in iron-stone purchased from
a local clan, Summerfields Kitchen’s menu
is influenced by seasonal fresh produce
supplied by local farmers and from the
restaurant’s own garden, with everything
from chutneys to mayonnaise and bread
being homemade.
Starters include a (LM) prawn, mango and
sunflower seed salad and deli platters of
homemade tapenades, while mains range
from lamb cutlets with rosemary potatoes
to a rump with parmesan mash and green
peppercorn sauce, complemented by
desserts such as home-grown litchis in
ginger and Pavlova with Chantilly cream
and confetti of fruit. The riverine forest
is a good place to choose for an intimate,
candle-light dinner in Summerfields’ new
River Café, a glorious new culinary space
in idyllic surroundings.
Certainly, in the vicinity are all the
adventurous ideas one might want to
consider – from game drives (the Kruger
National Park is only 10 km away) to
tree canopy aerial walkways – you
will be forgiven for staying put. For at
Summerfields Rose Retreat and Spa you
may literally wish to stop and smell the
roses.
Find out more
Summerfields Rose Retreat and Spa
and Summerfields Kitchen:
www.summerfields.co.za;
013-737 6500.
Airlink has daily flights from Johannesburg,
Cape Town and Durban to KMIA near
Nelspruit.
Tourist information – from whitewater
rafting to game drives and balloon trips:
www.mpumalanga.com.