8 Incredible Experiences at Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town
Our inVOYAGE home for three days in South Africa, we take a deeper look at what’s on offer at Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel, Cape Town, from Chef’s Table experiences and classic car tours to wild wine adventures and delightful first light walks…
1. Indulge in the time-honoured tradition of Afternoon Tea
Tick off Mount Nelson’s top bucket list experience and take your tastebuds on a tour of the world’s finest teas as you tuck into the Duchess of Bedford’s centuries’ old tradition of afternoon tea.
Taken in the outdoor conservatory, gardens or Tea Lounge, it boasts a beautiful, refined affair, complete with silver tiered stands, a sumptuous array of sweet delicacies and smooth savoury classics. A perfect way to enjoy a moment’s quiet away from the bustling meeting rooms it’s a service even the Duchess would have approved of. Enjoy finger sandwiches of roast beef, cucumber, smoked salmon and creamy egg and treat your sweet tooth with a bite of velvety chocolate cake and lemon meringue as you connect with colleagues, the Belmond way.
2. Treat your clients to the Chef’s Table Immersive Experience
Head into the heart of Mount Nelson’s hotel kitchen and get lost in the energetic sights and sounds of Cape Town’s most talented chefs as they prepare you an array of innovative, regional specialties, right before your eyes. An incredible, immersive experience, Mount Nelson’s Chef’s Table is a chance to really take your clients on a culinary journey as they feel the steam on their skin, breathe in the aromas of succulent meats and rich sauces and feel the creative energy of a full-working kitchen team.
Open Wednesday to Saturday, for groups of up to 12 people, it’s the perfect addition to a small incentive itinerary and an experience that’s guaranteed to stay in the minds of many.
3. Enjoy a moment’s quiet at Belmond’s Librisia Spa
Step into Mount Nelson’s luxurious spa and relax in the presence of Cape Town’s most experienced team as they indulge your senses and help rejuvenate your body. Choose from an extensive range of blissful massages, body wraps and facials and relax back in one of their eight treatment rooms as you feel the restorative benefits of their local botanicals.
Drawing on the latest state-of-the-art spa techniques and local herbal blends, Mount Nelson’s Librisia Spa really captures the essence of Cape Town and strives to give guests a truly authentic African spa experience using products you simply can’t find elsewhere.
4. Walk the footsteps of a Marine Biologist off Cape Town’s shores
Head beyond Cape Town’s shores and discover the extraordinary world of marine life that lives beneath the surface from Cape Kelp Forests, sharks, starfish and sea urchins to dolphin, octopus and seals. A chance to veer off-piste with a local marine biologist and take in a whole new side to Cape Town, guests herald this as one of the best experiences and Justin Blake knows just how to deliver exceptional moments with his underwater camera and unparalleled knowledge.
After your expedition, take a breather on a nearby island or sea cave as the Chefs from Mount Nelson treat you to your very own sustainable seafood picnic. The perfect end to an active day of snorkelling and rock pooling, you’ll leave with a new perspective and stories that’ll live on for years to come.
5. Embark on a Wild Wine Journey into the Constantia Winelands
Take a trip to the wild side and head deep into Cape Town’s lavish landscapes for a wine tasting experience that’s hard to top! Get ready to taste the “best Sauvignon Blanc in the world”, meet the region’s most heralded winemakers and tuck in to a feast of tapas as you trial their sparkling Méthode Cap Classique refreshments.
A truly off the beaten track experience and chance to tour three of Cape Town’s historic wine estates, it’s the perfect supplement to any incentive and a chance to immerse your clients in the countryside airs and learn more about its history from the locals themselves.
6. Head on a once-in-a-lifetime Sidecar Adventure
Ever fancied yourself a trip in a vintage Sidecar? Now’s your chance! Hop into Mount Nelson’s pink vintage sidecar and explore Cape Town’s horizons in style! A fully chauffeured experience, guests can choose from a range of itineraries from soaking up ocean views along Chapman’s Peak Drive to Bloubergstrand’s West Coast.
Either way, tie up your hair, grab your sunglasses and get ready to live out your 60s dream…
7. Indulge your vintage-inspired dreams with a Classic Car Tour
A rather different take on the classic Winelands trip, opt for one of Mount Nelson’s Classic Car Tours and find yourself cruising down some of the most breath-taking landscapes as you drink in Cape Town’s Vine-woven valleys and mountain slopes. Learn more about what goes in to making Constantia Valley’s signature white wines and explore the world-class estates of Stellenbosch and Paarl before heading out for an afternoon of wine tasting or outdoor picnicking.
8. Wake up early and enjoy Belmond’s magical First Light Walk
Experience “the majesty of first light” with Belmond and watch with awe as dawn breaks and “a gentle light steals over the landscape”. A truly mesmerising experience, completely unique to Belmond, it’s a chance to wander Cape Town’s most beautiful landscapes, watch the morning rise and encounter the captivating flora and fauna of Table Mountain from a new perspective through your own binoculars. Join an expert guide and photographer and take part in an unforgettable hike that’ll surprise you in more ways than you can imagine.