Charter a private plane up the West Coast to dive for the perfect diamond for your perfect someone, head to Antarctica and back in 24 hours, or sample a cognac which has been bottled for a century. These are just some parts of the exclusive Ellerman experience on offer at Ellerman House where your stay is more than just a holiday – it’s the adventure of a lifetime.
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Ellerman Experience #1: Exploring the White Desert
Ellerman House‘s first experience takes bucket list and whirlwind adventures to the next level with a six-hour flight to Antarctica on a private Gulfstream jet into the heart of the white desert. Land on an ice runway, take a 4X4 ‘safari’ past cliffs, lakes, and science bases as you spend eight hours on the ground.
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After a gourmet champagne dinner in one of the most untouched landscapes on earth, you’ll find yourself back in Cape Town and in the warm embrace of Ellerman House a mere 24 hours later after the greatest day of your life. If a full day isn’t quite enough for you, 4-day and 8-day voyages to Antarctica are also on offer.
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Ellerman Experience #2: Benguela Diamond Safari
The perfect marriage is found in Ellerman House’s partnership with Benguela Diamonds and the Benguela Diamond Safari. Couples staying at Ellerman House are flown up South Africa’s West Coast for the day to Port Nolloth where they can dive for alluvial diamonds in the ocean’s mineral-rich waters – fed by the icy course of the Benguela Current which hugs the country’s western coastline.
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Spend the day at a villa on the shores of a private ocean concession where you can indulge in the romance of the West Coast and choose your rough diamond from the day’s pickings. It will be flown back to Cape Town with you; cut, polished, and set in Stellenbosch; and ready before your day of departure from the opulent confines of Ellerman House.
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Ellerman Experience #3: The Louis XIII Experience
Taste history, a century in a carafe, with The Louis XIII Experience. This reverential elixir is crafted by four generations of cellar masters and its origins can be traced back to Paul-Emile Remy Martin. He first began bottling this particular brand of cognac in 1874 in the Grande Champagne region of Cognac, France and today it is recognised as one of the most elegant and exceptional cognacs in the world.
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The Louis XIII Experience begins at dusk when guests greet the sunset with a flute of Le Lude and canapes which pay tribute to the first four decades of maturation of the eau-de-vies from which Louis XIII is crafted. What follows is an evening of insight into every aspect of creating Louis XIII, along with another selection of canapes, paired with Louis XIII, and a three-course dinner paired with South African wine. The evening ends with a gift: a beautifully bound Louis XIII book.
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Ellerman Experience #4: The Ellerman Sessions
Ellerman House has partnered with BMW, BVLGARI and Moët & Chandon to create the Ellerman Sessions where the art of storytelling is revived. There will be one session a month with a line-up alternating between a chef and musician who share the inspiration behind their cuisine and their music.
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The Ellerman Sessions will be open to only a few people at a time and exclusive to guests of Ellerman House. The 2018 musician line-up features the likes of Ard Matthews, Karen Zoid and the Parlotones while chefs Michelle Theron (of Pierneef à La Motte) and Peter Tempelhoff (of The Greenhouse) are also set to take centre stage.
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Ellerman Experience #5: The Ellerman Art Experiences
Art and Ellerman House go hand-in-hand, and it’s no wonder given that this boutique hotel is home to one of the largest contemporary South Africa art collections in the world whose worth is well into the multi-million Rand mark. After a tour of Ellerman’s own art gallery with their in-house art expert, guests can choose to enjoy Ellerman’s Art in the Winelands Experience or their Art in the City Experience.
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Those who choose the former will find themselves winding their way along the mountainous roads of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek (whose terrain they will have become well acquainted with given that these towns form the subject matter of much of Ellerman House’s art). The latter is a whirlwind tour around Cape Town’s most prominent galleries, from the Zeitz MOCAA and Everard Read to Stevenson galleries.
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Ellerman Experience #6: The Wine Experiences
Much like The Ellerman Art Experience, The Wine Experience either focuses on Cape Town (Signature Constantia Wine Experience) or the winelands (Signature Stellenbosch Winelands Experience). Constantia is home to one of the oldest wine regions in the Cape and produces grape varietals such as the world-famous Vin de Constance.
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In the winelands, guests will begin their journey at Antonji Rupert’s estate and enjoy a private tasting and visit to the Franschhoek Motor Museum. Stop over at Rust en Vrede next for lunch and a red wine pairing before enjoying dessert at Waterford Estate with their signature wine and chocolate tasting.
Captivated? So are we! You can read more about Ellerman House here:
A Look Inside the Exclusive Ellerman House