Blog-Press - Page 4

Le Grand Jardin Villa is the signature residence of Wonderland Escapes. The private Estate is in the heart of the historic Stellenbosch Winelands. The newly refurbished private Manor House is set in 5 acres of timeless gardens, surrounded by the Vineyards of Devon Valley.

At Le Grand Jardin, all paths – and there are many – lead to pleasure. Ensconced in the Winelands’ Devon Valley, with a five-hectare garden all to yourself, this lavish, family-friendly villa is like nothing you’ve experienced before.

One night, we sprawl out on the lawn to watch The Secret Garden under the stars, on a screen set up against the glass- house. Gardens can be tame and polite – but as we know from fiction, they can also be places of wild imagination and conjuring, from Tom Long’s magical midnight one to Rebecca’s Manderley. ‘I have a much-loved T-shirt with the slogan “Stay young, stay foolish” that has become my mantra,’ Sue tells me, ‘although I don’t think childhood is foolish.’ Later, my sons convince me to join them for a nocturnal swim in the eco pool, splashing alongside the frogs and fish. Here’s somewhere to be foolish; a private playground amid the manicured winelands of South Africa.

A feature in the Sunday Times Travel Section on the rise of the Private Villa