The Harts Honeymoon in South Africa: Lanzerac Spa

I’ll be honest, the end of a trip is always difficult for me. No matter how long I’ve been away and no matter how much I might be missing home, I always want more - more time, more exploration, more memories. Not to mention the often less than positive anticipation of a long flight home, which I often dread despite my best efforts. But I may have found a solution to ending a vacation on the best possible note - spa time.

We had one last morning to enjoy in South Africa before our journey home began that afternoon and had decided to spend that morning at Lanzerac Wine Estate. The estate and vineyard first dates back to 1692, with remnants of the original manor house from the 1800’s still incorporated into the modern facilities. First converted into a hotel in 1958, Lanzerac is a gorgeous and peaceful spot.

We arrived early to enjoy the spa facilities. For me, what makes or breaks a spa experience is the attention to detail. Lanzerac Spa checked all of the boxes. I love when the spa facilities such as the hot tub are co-ed so that I can enjoy them with Brandon. The pool room was full of light with an incredible view of the surrounding vineyards and mountains. The changing rooms had fancy showers with deliciously wine-scented shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. A sauna and steam room were available, as well. We had a serene hour of relaxing and taking in the view before being called back for our couples massage.

We booked their winter special, which included a 90-minute Elemis hot stone massage and drinks after the massage. The reservation said hot chocolate, but we received champagne. I didn’t complain. The massages were fantastic. I had the post massage crazy hair going on and I was so relaxed I didn’t even care. We got to share the drinks in the sunny relaxation room. There were also light snacks to pair with the champagne. With a book, I could have stayed there all day.

Alas, all good things come to an end. I took a nice long shower knowing it would be my last before the 40+ hour trek home. We decided to have lunch at the onsite bakery and restaurant. There were no regrets there as we enjoyed soup and sandwiches amid the inviting atmosphere.

We shared our favorite memories from the previous weeks, storing up happiness from what had been the most incredible honeymoon. As usual, reality came crashing down quickly with rather miserable flights and a homecoming to a 100 degree house due to a broken air conditioner that had decided to blow heat instead. But that’s okay. We are fortunate to have adventures in far off places and to have them together. Whether we are navigating a new place or getting through a night in a sweltering hot house, there’s no one I would rather have by my side or on my team. Our honeymoon was a collection of days full of so many of the things that we love, but most of all it was time with the person I love most. Be it in South Africa or back home in Oregon, USA, life with Brandon will always be the best kind of adventure. I can’t wait to see what’s next.

What’s next on the blog is one final South Africa post all about the budget if that’s your sort of thing. Thanks for tagging along for our honeymoon!