International Shark week is around the corner. How is that important you say? It is if you settle on a close encounter with the stupendous shark fish. Yes, you can do that as One&Only, Cape Town promises to “get guests up close and personal” with creatures of the ocean. Not all its offers are as menacing though. It also promises patrons another kind of dive, into the finest wines of the region, that is and homegrown creations by a celebrity chef.
This August, the lush resort invites guests to check in for a ‘4-night Close Encounter Experience’, in which adrenaline junkies can combine with gastronomic endeavors, extraordinary underwater adventures. World-renowned Great White Shark expert Chris Fallows, also the owner of ocean encounters company APEX Predators seeks to showcase some of the most astonishing ocean excursions. The opportunity also promises to be a photographers delight through cage dives, photographic safaris or boat- based sightings of oceanic wildlife. And capturing the rare sight of breaching by Great White Sharks! Judging from that information, the sight of a 20 feet long, 4200-pound prehistoric beast in pursuit of a scampering Cape Fur Seal, is more likely to be imprinted on one’s brain better than any photographic memory. According to Chris “seeing natural predation is the pinnacle of most wildlife watchers wish lists and during the season from April to September this is a daily opportunity with multiple predatory hunts possible in a single morning’s expedition”. So, there you go. Cameras steady. Feet, steadier please!
For the stronger willed and definitely swifter footed, there are also free dives, such as the chaperoned daily tank dives with Ragged Tooth sharks at the Two Oceans Aquarium in the V&A Waterfront.
Also available are surfing lessons at Muizenberg Beach and Cape Point Nature Reserve visiting Boulder’s Beach Penguin Colony for sighting happy feet.
And for happy stomachs after, is Reuben’s where celebrity chef Reuben Riffel spreads a sumptuous fare of eclectic offerings. From slow cooked curries, redolent with heady Malay spices to just-seared A-grade steaks, Reuben’s offers a taste of rustic local cuisine in an upscale five-star restaurant environment. Did anyone say best of both worlds? Don’t stop just yet as there is another world, the wine world to explore. A private wine tasting is hosted by award winning sommelier Luvo Ntezo who leaves no opportunity of swirling his favorite South African wines along with new cellar surprises from the resort’s 5000-strong wine collection. An ardent advocate of lesser-known boutique wineries, Luvo possesses an enthusiasm as infectious as that post wine-tasting buzz.
These close encounters with sharks via One&Only Cape Town are tailor-made for each guest and are available as an ongoing offering at the resort’s ravishing V&A Waterfront property situated a real 25 minutes away from Cape Town’s beaming False Bay. So encounter away!
One&Only Cape Town
Dock Road, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Cape Town 8001, South Africa
Tel No + 27 21 431 5888
[Via – One&Only-Resort-Cape-Town]
