According to Wikipedia: ‘Magic realism is an artistic genre in which magical elements or illogical scenarios appear in an otherwise realistic or “normal” setting’. If one applies the term to tourism, or more realistically, tourism in South Africa, you’ll discover some wonderfully imaginative spaces…
Sulina Faerie Sanctuary
If you think you’re never too old to believe in faeries, then Sulina Faerie Sanctuary in Swellendam is the place for you. The enchanting garden is dedicated to faeries of all shapes, sizes and forms and has become a placeof inspiration for local artists.
Wandering through the lush garden with all its faeries is like walking through the pages of a storybook, and an enjoyable experience no matter what age you may be. You can also buy faerie memorabilia while you’re there (including faerie dust) and you’ll have the opportunity to adopt a faerie too.
Eco-Shrine Hogsback
If you feel the need to get back in touch with Mother Earth, then why not visit the small Eastern Cape town of Hogsback.
This scenic area is very popular with new-age visitors in search of enlightenment. A major draw card is the Eco-Shrine, developed by artist Diana Graham in 1995 to ‘celebrate the forces of nature’. The Eco-shrine is a giant open-air art exhibition of cement sculptures, mosaics and oil paintings. The aim of the shrine is to get travellers back in touch with Mother Earth.
Mother Hubbard’s Shoe
There are not many people who will build an entire house in the shape of a shoe, but then there are not many people like artist Ron van Zyl. A wood-sculptor by trade, Van Zyl’s double-story home in Canyonlands is certainly not your everyday homestead. Old Mother Hubbard’s Shoe can be found on the banks of the Horingsneskrans along the eastern escarpment of the Drakensberg.
Goblin’s Cove Restaurant
Not too far from the Magaliesberg you’ll find a fantastical restaurant dedicated to goblins of all shapes and sizes. The brainchild of artist Charles Gotthard, Goblin’s Cove Restaurant is a favourite haunt of open-minded city dwellers. The artist also runs sculpture workshops and art classes. Definitely worth a visit if you feel like an otherworldly experience. Make sure you take your inner-child along for the ride.
Hobbit Houses
If you’re a dedicated Lord of the Rings fan, you’ll be pleased to know that you can stay over in a hobbit-type house in Stanford in the Western Cape. These clay hobbit homes are found on Crystal Kloof Farm. Owner, Val Crocker, says the homesteads are organically-shaped free-flowing forms and that she gave builders full permission to “get creative” during the building process.
The eco-friendly homes were made using clay, sand, straw and water. Pieces of wood, roots of trees, and coloured glass and stones add to the overall effect.
The Daddy Long Legs Art Hotel
And now for something totally different! It seems that the moment artists get involved a whole new world comes into being. This is certainly true of the Daddy Long Legs Art Hotel in Cape Town. Different artists, musicians, writers and poets were responsible for creating each room – resulting in some pretty wild places to sleep. You could always choose to spend the night in the Karaoke Room, or the ‘You Are Here Room’... Say no more, just check out the website.
Horse Labyrinth, Celtis Lodge
Celtis Lodge in the Magaliesberg is dedicated to new-age philosophies and holistic healing. The lodge also boasts something rather unusual – a horse labyrinth that is instrumental in one’s quest to find answers to life’s questions. Simply ride around the labyrinth on the back of a horse contemplating any big questions you may have. It is said that by the time you have completed the labyrinth, clarity will be yours. And if that doesn’t work you can alwaysopt for a healing alternative treatment afterwards to make you feel better.
Dick Heysteck’s Game Farm
Who said the Big Five had to be real? If you’ve ever visited Dick Heysteck’s game farm in Mpumalanga, you’ll know what we mean. The farm boasts a number of life-sized concrete sculptures of wild animals (incl. lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo & leopard) created by Heysteck before he passed away a few years ago.
An excellent example of ‘outsider art’, one certainly gets the idea that wherever Heysteck is today, he is smiling down on the one place in the world where tourists are guaranteed sightings of the Big Five.
uShaka’s Phantom Ship
uShaka Marine World in Durban is no doubt one of the most fun places to visit no matter what your age or inclination. The Phantom Ship is a major attraction for visitors – allowing one to live out all manner of pirate-type fantasies. One of the major highlights of uShaka is having dinner in the Cargo Hold restaurant, which forms part of the Phantom Ship. Nothing like having dinner while you eye-ball a great white shark or two.
© Photograph courtesy and copyright of Goblin’s Cove Restaurant
© Photograph courtesy and copyright of Daddy Long Legs Art Hotel
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