The magnificent boutique hotel, Ellerman House in Cape Town has partnered with Benguela Diamonds to launch the first-ever local ‘diamond safari’ to South Africa’s west coast. Baroque Travel has all the details
If you’re lucky enough to be staying at Ellerman House, which is a plush boutique hotel in the exclusive suburb of Bantry Bay in Cape Town, you can take advantage of their special one-day adventure, a diamond safari to the mineral-rich Western coast of South Africa. The special day’s visit includes road transfers, a private jet, all food and beverages, for US$ 15,700 for up to six people. To purchase a diamond and have a piece of diamond jewelry designed and manufactured is at a separate cost.
Guests are picked up in a chauffeured limousine early in the morning and driven to a private terminal at Cape Town International Airport for a special charter flight from Cape Town to Port Nolloth on the west coast. The flight in a Swiss-designed PC12 Jet or a Kingair 200 aircraft takes approximately 75 minutes.
This once-in-a-lifetime experience will be of particular interest to couples planning to get married, celebrating a special anniversary of an important milestone. They will be part of a sea diamond’s special journey from its humble start at the bottom of the sea to its transformation into an exclusive jewel that symbolizes love and beauty.
In Port Nolloth the guests enjoy a gourmet breakfast and lunch specially prepared for them by a private chef in a luxury villa. This is washed down with wines from Ellerman House, which is renowned for its impressive collection. Guests have the unique opportunity of joining the Benguela dive masters under the water where they can actually dive for their own diamond, or be on the boat for when the precious seabed gravel is brought up to the surface. They then fly back to Ellerman House and enjoy the hotel’s signature Dom Perignon Experience, sundowners with a vintage bottle of bubbly paired with a delicious bento-box style dinner prepared by the hotel’s executive chef.
The unique diamond safari is available from 1 September 2016 and is dependent on weather conditions.
Of course, staying at Ellerman House is another delightful experience that is not worth missing. The hotel is located in a house that was originally built for British shipping magnate Sir John Ellerman. Exclusive and plush, it offers all the comforts of a private residence with every possible amenity offered by a luxury hotel. With an idyllic setting with panoramic sea views, this elegant Cape Edwardian structure is chic and modern and boasts an impressive art collection. It’s ideally situated just 10 minutes from shops, restaurants and entertainment at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, and within walking distance of both Clifton and Camps Bay beaches. Accommodation is a choice of opulent rooms and suites in Ellerman House itself or in one of its ultra-modern villas. Dining is a gourmet experience, paired with fine vintage wines. The hotel also offers daily wine and brandy tastings. Guests can also embark on tours to explore three of the Cape’s famous farms in the Winelands.