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Near Stellenbosch, Wine Region
Spier is located in the scenic Cape Winelands in the
greater Stellebosch region the Western Cape, South Africa. The Village
at Spier comprises numerous double-storey buildings, which are grouped
around a few private courtyards, each providing its own swimming pool
and entertainment area. The guest rooms at the Village at Spier are
simply, yet elegantly, appointed in traditional country style, which
resemble the outdoor living atmosphere amongst the vineyards.
History of Spier in Stellenbosch
The history of the Spier estate in Stellenbosch, South
Africa, is very rich. The settlement of this land dates back to
the early Stone Age and today implements from that era are still
present across the Spier estate. Towards the end of the 17th century,
when the first European settlers reached this particular area of
the Cape winelands, the land was already populated by Khoi cattle
farmers who migrated seasonally between South Africa’s West Coast
and what is today known as Stellenbosch. In the year 1692, the
Cape Governor Simon van der Stel granted the farm to a German settler
called Arnout Janz. Hans Heinrich Hattingh bought the farm in 1712
who named this estate after his home town Speyer.
In 1993, the South African businessman, Dick Enthoven, bought the
Spier estate. Meticulous renovations at Spier have restored the gracious
Cape Dutch buildings to their former glory and today the scenic surroundings
make the Spier estate an ideal weekend getaway from the bustling
city of Cape Town.
Facilities at Spier at Stellenbosch
Facilities which can be found at The Village at Spier
include: shopping facilities, jogging trails, tennis courts, De
Zalze Golf Course, Cheetah Park, Eagle Encounter Park, horse back
riding, Spier Train, wine tastings and wine sales, picnics, a lake,
and several restaurants. Boardrooms, a leisure and travel desk,
shuttle services, laundry, 24-hour room service, a diverse array
of dining options as well as a health and beauty spa are also provided
to guests staying at the Spier estate.
Indulge yourself in a variety of massage and holistic treatments
including aromatherapy and reflexology at the Health and Beauty Spa
at the Spier estate. Take advantage of the facials, manicures, pedicures
and other specialized skin care therapy and treatments at the spa
located at The Village at Spier Hotel.
The Cheetah Outreach Programme at Spier Village
The Cheetah Park has become a dominant attraction at
the Spier Estate. Spier has become home to a group or hand-raised
cheetahs which are in the care of the Cheetah Outreach Programme.
Visitors have the opportunity to get up close and personal with
these beautiful creatures and even enter the enclosure. The Cheetah
Outreach Programme at the Spier estate assists the Cheetah Conservation
Fund in their efforts to ensure the survival of the free-ranging
cheetah. This is done through education programmes, which increase
the awareness of the declining numbers of free-ranging cheetahs
in the wild. Annie Beckhelling founded cheetah Outreach in January
1997 on a hectare of land, which was donated by Spier. The education
programme began with two cheetahs Inca (6-year old male) whose
role was to greet visitors at Spier and Shadow (1-year old male)
who travelled to community events.
Eagle Encounters at Spier Village
Eagle Encounters at the Spier estate, founded in 2001,
is a bird of pre rehabilitation, education and conservation centre.
The long-term vision of Eagle Encounters at the Spier estate in
Stellenbosch lies in the preservation of the eco-environment by
protecting bird of prey through the release of prime rehabilitable
birds and by creating community awareness. Personal encounters
with birds of prey can be experienced at Spier. Eagles, hawks,
owls, kites, buzzards and falcons can be observed in flight demonstrations.
De Zalze Golf Course at Spier in Stellenbosch
The Frost Golf Institute at De Zalze Golf Course at the
Spier estate in Stellenbosch offers golf lessons to
Spier hotel guests. Sam and Zoë, founders of the Frost Golf Institute,
form a unique golfing couple each with their own field of specialty
at De Zalze Golf Course. Zoë is a professional tour player
who has competed on the US LPGA Futures, European, Asian and South
African Tours. Zoë played collegiate golf in the US where
she won two individual national titles, was Rolex Collegiate
Player of the year and made the All American Scholar
Athlete Team. Sam
on the other hand grew up in a golfing family with
older brother David winning sixteen tournaments on
the US PGA Tour. Sam coached
professional golfers on the US PGA, European, Asian
and South African Tours; where amongst the players
were Retief Goosen, Steve Ballesteros,
Arjun Atwal, Andrew McLardy and many others.
The Health and Beauty Spa at the Spier Wine Estate
Guests can choose from different health and spa treatments
while staying at Spier which include the Swedish Massage, Back
Neck and Shoulder Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Reflexology, Aromaflex
as well as Skin care therapy such as hydrating treatments, anti
aging treatments and deep cleanse treatments.
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