Leisure Portfolio Association

Month: October 2019

  • A Fresh Drink for a Sunny Summer Day

    A Fresh Drink for a Sunny Summer Day

    Gin and Tonic 1

    Cool off this summer with a Gin and Tonic infused drink or enjoy it as sundowner while admiring the view at your LPA Home Resort.

    With us already deep into summer and the warm scorching sun being upon us – it’s that wonderful time of the year where you shed all the layers of clothes, wear your favourite summer-inspired swimming attire, lay on the beach or next to your much-loved Resorts Swimming Pool on an outdoor lounger – and cool off with a summer-ready cocktail. With Gin and Tonic still on everybody’s lips as the new trendy drink – we thought we would share this cool-downer recipe for you to enjoy on your next visit to your favourite home-away-from-home Resort.

    Get the following ingredients to create this easy refreshing cucumber-cool cocktail:

    Aloe Vera Juice

    Ingredients:

    • 50ml (two shot glasses) of your favourite gin brand
    • 60ml sweetened Aloe Vera gel Juice.
    • The juice of one fresh lime and slices of lime for garnish
    • Slices of thinly-sliced cucumber
    • Blueberries for garnish (not essential)
    • 200ml of tonic water

    Instructions:

    Pour the shots of gin, aloe vera gel juice, juice of one fresh lime in a shaker and shake well. Strain into a cocktail glass and add thinly sliced cucumber, lime and blueberries. Pour tonic water over the mixture and stir with a cocktail stirrer.

    ‘It’s a summer thing’ – enjoy your refreshing drink, while soaking in the sun, taking in the view, and appreciate this time of year.

    Gin and Tonic 2

    Inspired by Town and Country magazine best spring cocktails recipes, see here for more.

     

  • The History of the Panorama Route

    The History of the Panorama Route

    When choosing Mpumalanga as your holiday destination – the Panorama Route should be your first choice. Mpumalanga, which is positioned farthest east within South Africa – is the first place where the light touches each morning. The word Mpumalanga literally translates to ‘the land of the rising sun’ in Swazi. The Panorama Route is a strategic holiday dictation, as it is connected to several cultural and natural points of interest within South Africa.

     

    So, what can you do on your next trip to Crystal Springs?

     

    berlin waterfall

     

    Add a bit of historical-flair and culture on your next trip to Crystal Springs, which is located on the Robber’s Pass near Pilgrims Rest. On your Panorama Route road trip, a route that is deeply entrenched within South African history, you will find numerous historical pit-stops.

    The Panorama Route played a vital part in many historic events, during the 1800’s. The use of this route dates back to 1871, when parts of the route were used as a transportation road. This was especially used, as an alternative road, between the towns of Lydenburg and Delagoa Bay. This road played an important role during the Transvaal gold rush in the late 1800’s. In his world famous book – Jock of the Bushveld – Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, a former storekeeper from Pilgrim’s Rest, wrote about the many “fortune seekers” crossing this mountainous landscape, with its rugged gorges, in search of gold. Do yourself a favour and get a copy of this book for a really good read on your next visit to Crystal Springs; read more about Percy and Jock, his faithful dog, and how they traversed this famous route.

     

    Panorama Route

     

    The route also played a fundamental role during the Anglo Boer War. The late General Louis Botha used this route to flee from the English troops. The route also boasts, “The Long Tom”, one of the oldest and most famous Victorian age canons.

    In 1986, the entire town of Pilgrim’s Rest was declared a National Monument. This town, which is one of many beautiful towns in South Africa, shows the rich history of how mining magnates ruled during this era.

     

    Pilgrim’s Rest

     

    Here are a few Bucket List sights to visit:

    1. Visit Pilgrim’s Rest and step back in time to the age of carriages, teatime and old photographs.
    2. Get your heart racing at The Big Swing in Graskop for a unique experience of this gorge.
    3. Visit the White River Gallery, a contemporary gallery, which exhibits both the best of local as well as national artists located at Casterbridge in White River.
    4. Go take a snap of the Berlin and MacMac Falls, two majestic waterfalls in this region.
    5. Kruger National Park, which is 100km from Crystal Springs, is Africa’s largest game reserve. It has a high density of wild animals, which includes the Big 5.

     

    So on your next trip to Crystal Springs – embrace the history of the magical surrounds – and go on a road-trip to the times of yesteryear.