Discover Cape Town's Natural Bounty with Mount Nelson Hotel's Urban Foraging Experience

  • October 28, 2013
Discover Cape Town's Natural Bounty with Mount Nelson Hotel's Urban Foraging Experience
An urban sanctuary that effortlessly blends leafy tranquility and contemporary glamour, Mount Nelson Hotel overlooks Table Mountain and boasts South Africa's largest outdoor heated pool. The colonial-style property is set in a sprawling garden estate near the spot where Cape Town's 17th-century founder, Jan van Riebeeck, grew fruit and vegetables for Dutch sailors who used to stop at the city on their way to search for spices in the East.

Harking back to this plentiful past, the three-hour urban foraging experience takes in spectacular views of the city as guests uncover culinary treats in one of three beautiful locations: black mussels, giant sea snails and seaweed on the Atlantic coast; edible plants, nuts and mushrooms in the mountain forest; and herbs such as fennel, nettle and Cape sorrel on the slopes of Devil's Peak.

Mount Nelson Hotel foraging

The intrepid outdoor adventure is led by local hunter-gatherer Charlie Standing, who is passionate about using regional ingredients from his local environment and teaches guests all about the wildlife they collect along the way. In keeping with the tour's back-to-nature theme, participants can quench their thirst with pure mountain spring water infused with aromatic buchu leaves, which are native to South Africa and traditionally used for medicinal purposes by its indigenous people.

After gathering an array of fresh natural ingredients, guests return to Mount Nelson Hotel to learn how to prepare and cook the fruits of the forage during The Chef's Table, a custom-designed, interactive culinary experience. Seated at an oak table in an alcove of the kitchen, guests have a front-row view as chefs create mouth-watering dishes such as quick-steamed black mussels with local herbs or a rich mushroom pasta. This unforgettable experience ends with the chance to tuck into the delicious creations, bringing a whole new meaning to the phrase “eating fresh”.

Mount Nelson Hotel garden suiteGarden Suite

The urban foraging experience is available for up to four people and is priced from £315 for two people and an extra £22 per additional person (excludes accommodation). Prices at Mount Nelson Hotel start from £414 per night, including taxes, based on two sharing a Superior Room with breakfast. For further information or to make a booking, please call the Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. UK reservations team on 0845 077 2222 or visit www.mountnelson.com.