Good times come rain or shine

Being a South African I count myself among the luckiest in the world as we have very few natural disasters.

Heavy rains do often affect the less privileged in squatter camps and there are also lighting tragedies in KwaZulu-Natal. But, generally, our climate is well behaved.

I have never witnessed a raging river breaking its banks and certainly have no desire to witness the Jukskei and Klipspruit rivers sweeping down my street. The recent heavy rains in Gauteng left many roads washed away and shack dwellers stranded.

This deluge happened the same weekend I visited Glenburn Lodge in Muldersdrift and, for the first time in my life, I saw rising water levels turn what was just a stream, into a raging monster.

The thought that I was about to witness a natural disaster first-hand crossed my mind as the Blaauwbank and Crocodile rivers swelled to enormous proportions overnight.

But, thank heavens, nothing of the sort happened and we ended up enjoying our stay at Glenburn, without having to worry about possible evacuation.

At first glance, Glenburn Lodge is unassuming; but there are a few surprises on the property.

Just 40 minutes by road from both Joburg and Pretoria, it is a hidden gem for those who enjoy the outdoors and country living, where the air is fresh and grass is wild.

Glenburn is part of Guvon Hotels and Spas group and after arriving at the lodge, having left the chaos of your congested suburb behind, you are filled with a sense of tranquility and harmony.

It is a perfect place for Sunday lunch with family and friends, or a quiet weekend getaway to reconnect either with yourself, friend or partner. Whatever your goal, Glenburn will not disappoint. You can start your day with a spa treatment or fishing and bird-watching and at sunset you will smell the freshness of the wild plants that abound on this three-hectare property.

The staff are professional and warm, adding to the already fantastic experience.

We arrived at Glenburn Lodge on what seemed like just a cloudy Friday afternoon. But things changed in the early evening when the heavens opened and the river passing right in front of our small suite grew from a little trickle into a real river.

Around 7pm, we navigated our way to the reception area in the Lexus LS460, as plans to take a short walk to dinner were dashed by the downpour.

It also thwarted our plan to explore Glenburn but we did get a glimpse of the place on arrival and before the heavens opened.

A look around soon proved that although Glenburn is a three-star resort, it is decent in every way. Ivor Spark, Glenburn Lodge's operations manager and Vincent Lauwers, the executive chef, welcomed us and then it was off to our suite which turned out to be immaculate albeit, small.

Unlike some country resorts this one had television so we breathed a sigh of relief. Outside is a little patio with a table and two chairs. Dinner was a buffet and I headed straight for my favourite, chicken curry. It was delicious and healthy. We then braved the pouring rain to return to our room as the dining room got colder.

A word of advice: before you book make sure there aren't company team-building events or conferences scheduled because these can get noisy, especially if you are there to unwind and clear your head.

The biggest surprise - if not the biggest contrast - at Glenburn is the Chicama country spa. I took a short drive to the spa for a facial and, to my surprise, found a place that compares favourably with any major five star hotel.

From the outside, Chicama looks small but, upon entering, you are immediately surprised by its size and modernity.

The spa also serves lunch. The furniture is beautiful and classy and the staff very professional.

After my treatment I went to the spa dining area, where a table was set. I liked the idea that you could actually book a spa treatment and lunch and drive back home afterwards.

Glenburn might not be the Saxon Hotel but it offers the peace of mind any city dweller needs from time to time.