Animal of the month

The hype is over but the memories will remain with us forever. To the guests that joined us for the world cup, thank you for making Tintswalo Ayoba. We are all asking ‘now what?’, well the answer is a winter getaway. It’s time to treat yourself to five star meals, decadent hot chocolate by the fire, waking up to the sound of the ocean, whale watching and a choice of spa treatments. The Whales (spotted by a very excited Melissa) made their first appearance a few days ago, and will be seen in increased numbers between now and November. Make this winter even more memorable by experiencing the beauty of a Cape Town winter in the luxury of one of our island themed suites.

Guides Diary

Southern Right Whale

The southern right whale has made Cape Town, South Africa one of the world centers for whale watching. During the winter months (July–October), southern right whales come so close to the shoreline that visitors can watch whales from strategically placed hotels.
Adults may be between 11–18 m in length and typically weigh 60–80tons. The most typical lengths are 13–16 m. The largest specimens may weigh 100 tons. Right whales swim slowly, reaching only 9.3 km/h at top speed, but are highly acrobatic.

WHALE VIEWING - DIFFERENT BEHAVIOURS

Southern right whales have a variety of behaviours that can be observed when they are close to shore. For example:

Breaching: leaping out of the water in an arching back flip and falling into the water. This may be a form of play, communication, or an aggressive display. Whales usually breach four or five times in a row.

Lobtailing: slapping their flukes on the surface, creating a sound which carries for a considerable distance.

Spyhopping: standing vertically with head and body, as far as the flippers, above the surface. This enables the whale to have a clear view of its surroundings.

Blowing: exhaling and then inhaling through the blowholes when surfacing.

Grunting: emitting a roaring sound which can be heard 1-2km away (especially at night).

Mating: Often a group of whales may be observed interacting within an area, this is usually a mating session. Several males will attempt to mate with a single female.

Feature of the month

Media coverage of the month

Ryno and Melissa du Rand, General Managers of Tintswalo Atlantic - "We have been a part of the Tintswalo Team for going on three years now. Joining 6 months before the completion of Tintswalo at Waterfall, we had the pleasure of being involved in the set-up of the stunning boutique hotel. Tintswalo at Waterfall will always be very dear to our hearts as that is where we exchanged our wedding vows.
We now spend our days ensuring the smooth flow of the glorious exclusive shoreline lodge, Tintswalo Atlantic, in Hout Bay. Once again we had the opportunity of watching the lodge evolve from a dusty site to a luxurious 5 star property.
Tintswalo Atlantic is the only lodge in Cape Town on the Atlantic Ocean's edge. As General Managers our goal is to put this lodge, which we feel so deeply passionate about, not only on the map as one of the best boutique destinations in South Africa, but one of the most special boutique destinations in the world. Guests who have the privilege of experiencing Tintswalo Atlantic, will know just how magical it is!"

Odyssey Magazine
Click here for the report

Recipe of the month

HOT CHOCOLATE

Hot chocolate is a quintessential favourite amongst any individuals whom have ever been cold on a winter’s day or simply craved the richness and satisfaction of warm melted chocolate.

NB: Use good chocolate and try a vanilla pod

INGREDIENTS

½ cup full cream milk
¼ cup double thick cream
½ teaspoon vanilla essence
140g milk chocolate (experiment with dark chocolate, or perhaps chilli chocolate!!)

INSTRUCTIONS

Add both the milk and the cream to a pot and allow to come to a simmer
Add the vanilla
Add the chocolate and gently whisk in until fully incorporated
Allow to simmer for a minute and serve immediately

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