December 22 marked the opening of the Pezula Resort Hotel and Spa, South Africa's first truly luxury resort hotel. The magnificent 78-suite boutique hotel, which is the latest addition to the 1,000 ha Pezula Estate, lies on the East Head of Knysna, adjacent to the Pezula Championship Golf Course. Set in dramatically scenic surrounds, with stunning views of the Indian Ocean and Knysna Lagoon, the hotel sets new standards in Africa.
From the moment you arrive in the foyer, you realise this hotel is truly exceptional. The doors have opened to a whole new world of luxury and style, driven by a passion for outstanding personalised service and an unswerving attention to detail.
Here the furnishings, art and sculpture are creatively packaged with an “Elegant African” interior design style. These are the details you would expect of a world-class international hotel.
For the executive traveller, Pezula offers a comprehensively equipped Business Centre and two luxuriously appointed Executive Conference Rooms, fitted out with the most up to date audio visual presentation equipment.
All travel requirements, from a chauffeur driven limo service to chartering of Pezula's Eurocopter or 8-seater Hawker jet are taken care of from the Pezula Travel Desk.
Pezula's Championship Course is rated as one of South Africa's top golf experiences. This spectacular course, together with all the amenities that Pezula has to offer, like its “Field of Dreams” sports centre, with tennis courts, golf driving range, Cape Riding Horses, canoe trips on the Noetzie River, romantic walks on the Noetzie Beach, and guided hikes through Pezula's indigenous forest, coupled with everything that Knysna has to offer, means there is no better destination to enjoy a break of a week or more than The Pezula Resort Hotel and Spa.
The hotel's intimate Bar offers over forty different whiskies, from the finest blends to “Ten year and older” single malts and an unusually rich selection of Bourbon and Irish whiskies too. Pezula's Champagne and Cigar Bar offers the experience of fine living and chic ambience at its best.
The elegant Bar Lounge opens onto the North deck, ideal for sundowners whilst watching the sun set over the Knysna lagoon.
There are restaurants, and then there is Zachary's. No ordinary hotel restaurant, Zachary's embodies a culinary standard that sets Pezula apart. With a philosophy of “local products, global influence”, Zachary's is an elegant, intimate dining experience serving gourmet meals worthy of only the finest of international boutique hotels.
The adjacent Wine Cellar offers over five thousand fine wines. Most are limited edition handcrafted wines. All are handpicked by Zachary's internationally renowned executive chef Geoffrey Murray.
Those who prefer to spend their holiday being pampered will find skilled therapists and a vast range of specialized treatments at Pezula's extraordinary spa and gym. Nowhere on this continent will you find a Spa with such superb facilities, equipment and unique treatments. From exotic scrubs and wraps to thirteen different massage options, to complete beauty treatments.
Add to all of this a gym with a complete selection of state-of-the-art Techno equipment with highly qualified personal trainers, a 12 metre heated pool, a sauna, steam room and rain shower.
Pezula's Chairman Keith Stewart is as passionate about preserving the glorious natural abundance of Pezula as he is about offering the most extraordinarily indulgent experience to holiday guests.
Part of Pezula's philosophy, in building the private residential estate, the superlative golf course and now the top-class hotel, has been to create a blueprint for environmentally sensitive real estate development in South Africa. Where most developments utilise a greater majority of land for building purposes, Pezula Private Estate has used only 10%. The remaining hectares of old forest area have been treated with extreme care. Over a million invasive alien trees have been removed, and the forest is being reseeded with indigenous fynbos, as this delicate ecosystem is gradually restored to its natural state.
This commitment to environmental responsibility by the developers received international recognition in February when Pezula was awarded two gold medals in the Homes Overseas awards for Most Environmentally Aware Development in the World and Best South African Development.
‘I've travelled extensively and I believe this is the best unspoiled coastline in the world,' says Stewart. 'What makes Pezula different is that the focus is on nature. Pezula is set to become probably the most complete lifestyle experience anyone can offer. There is a different level of service here. We set the bar, and by the time someone reaches our height, we've raised it again.’