Roxanne Reid - Africa Addict
  • Home
  • Book author
    • Travels in the Kalahari >
      • Photo gallery: Travels in the Kalahari
      • Book reviews: Travels in the Kalahari
    • A Walk in the Park >
      • Photo gallery: A Walk in the Park
      • Book reviews: A Walk in the Park
    • The Essential Guide to Self-Editing >
      • Book reviews: Essential Guide to Self-Editing
    • Betrayed
    • Book reviews online
  • Editing & proofreading
  • In the media
    • Travel features
    • Health features
    • Online media
    • Media kit
  • Blog
  • Testimonials
  • Links
  • Contact

Fancourt: things to do that are NOT golf

17/10/2018

4 Comments

 
Fancourt - things to do that are not Fancourt golf
By Roxanne Reid
Let’s play word association. You hear the word Fancourt, what’s the next word that pops into your head? Golf? Yet despite three top-rated golf courses, this hotel in George offers a lot more than golf. It’s in easy reach of activities on South Africa's Garden Route and the Little Karoo. Here’s my pick of things to do that are NOT golf at the estate and nearby. 

​I’ll admit that when I was invited to visit the Fancourt Hotel, I wondered why. I’m not a golfer. I’ve edited books about golf so I know the lingo – driving and chipping and putting, doglegs and par fours, birdies and bogeys. But I’ve never held a golf club, nor am I likely to. But I discovered there’s so much else to do on the estate and in the area that you don’t even need to set foot on the fairway to have a cracking good time. 
Fancourt Hotel on the Garden Route
Fancourt's main buildings against the backdrop of the Outeniqua mountains
​We arrived in bucketing rain so I did hop onto one of those neat little golf carts to get my luggage and myself to our room. But that’s as far as the ‘golfing’ went.

With rain pelting all around, it was a pleasure to spend time in our suite, its lounge with desk and balcony, its roomy bedroom, its views of the drenched gardens. 
Fancourt Hotel, George - bedroom
Our elegant bedroom at Fancourt
Fancourt Hotel, George accommodation - living room of the suite
The sitting room of our suite, with a balcony overlooking the gardens
In a lull between showers we made a dash to explore the main reception areas. I soon got lost among the old photos near the Club Lounge showing the Fancourt White family who owned this estate in the 19th century and after whom it’s named. 
Fancourt golf course
Gardens, water features, hump-backed bridges and mature trees are all part of Fancourt's charm
Fancourt golf - the Club Lounge
The Club Lounge, open to Fancourt visitors, has a balcony that overlooks the Montagu course
The Manor House, a boutique hotel on the Fancourt property, was originally the Fancourt White family’s house, built in 1859. It was intriguing to see photos of them in Edwardian dress on the lawns or next to the pond – lawns and a pond that are still there today. I may not appreciate golf, but I do love a bit of history. 

If you stay at The Manor House, ask to see the infamous large table that was the scene of a tragedy here in 1916 when Henry White’s son Ernest Montagu White and two guests ate mushrooms that turned out to be poisonous. All three of them died.
Fancourt's Manor House boutique Hotel
The building that is the Manor House today was built in 1859 as Henry Fancourt White's home
Fancourt George - the Manor House boutique hotel
Classic elegance in this suite in the Manor House
Fortunately, the grey skies and rain retreated and the next morning was clear, so we could appreciate the gardens, the brick pathways for walkers and cyclists, the gazebo at the Manor House, the wraparound golf course views against the backdrop of the Outeniqua mountains.
Fancourt - the gazebo at the Manor House
If you stay at the Manor House, you get to relax inside this beautiful gazebo near the lily pond
We discovered lots to do, from Roman baths to tennis courts, walking trails to spa treatments. Fancourt is also well placed here in George to get to both the rest of the Garden Route – think Wilderness, Sedgefield, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Tsitsikamma – as well as to explore part of the little Karoo around Oudtshoorn.

Here are some ideas to help you plan your activities during your stay at Fancourt – that is, if you don’t plan to spend your days on the golf courses.

Things to do at Fancourt
  • Play golf. This is a no brainer at Fancourt, which has three of South Africa’s top-rated golf courses, all of them chockfull of gorgeous views (though golfers probably won’t notice those). ​
Fancourt golf - three top-rated courses on one property
Although you don't have to play golf at Fancourt, you'll enjoy beautiful courses if you do
  • In summer when the rose garden is in full bloom and wafting its scent across the warm air, order a picnic lunch to enjoy on the lawns nearby.
  • Take a walk or cycle along one of the routes laid out around this 248ha property. Distances vary from a gentle 2.5km to a more invigorating 20km. Enjoy the gardens with their clivias, camellias, azaleas, petunias and mature trees, as well as the views along the way. You can hire a bike from the leisure centre if you didn’t bring your own.
  • Channel your inner Nero or Julius Caesar with a visit to the heated Roman baths near the spa to soothe tired muscles, refresh and relax.
Roman baths at Fancourt on the Garden Route
The Roman baths near the spa are heated
  • ​Indulge yourself with a treatment at the spa. Choose from a menu that includes relaxing massages, body wraps and facials as well as hand and foot treatments.
  • There’s a leisure centre and full-on gym for those determined to stay at peak fitness while on holiday.
  • In good weather, cool down with a swim in the outdoor pool. If the weather is chilly or rainy, do some laps in the indoor pool instead. ​
Indoor swimming pool at Fancourt Hotel
An indoor pool means you can swim and relax no matter what the season or the weather
  • ​Eat! Choose from one of Fancourt’s four restaurants, including the Club Lounge and La Cantina for a Mediterranean-inspired menu. We enjoyed a sophisticated classical menu with a twist at the more formal Henry White’s at the Manor House. For instance, there were starters of Japanese-style beef with pickled mushrooms and ginger, or a duo of Karoo venison. Venison and beef also appeared on the main menu together with delicious fish in a creamy balsamic and garlic sauce. For me the highlight was the passion fruit and boerpampoen dessert. 
Henry White's at the Manor House, Fancourt
Henry White's restaurant in the Manor House
Other things to do in the area beyond Fancourt
For all your on-Fancourt activities, there’s an activities desk in the reception area. For anything to do beyond the estate, talk to the travel desk between reception and the Club Lounge. They’ll help you with maps and brochures and can even organise a tour with a guide if you don’t want to drive yourself.
  • If you enjoy historic passes, drive the old Montagu Pass that used to be the only way to get from George to Oudtshoorn between 1848 and the mid 20th century when the Outeniqua Pass was built. There’s an association with Fancourt too, because the engineer who built the pass was Henry Fancourt White, who also built the Manor House at Fancourt. The pass from George to the small settlement of Herold at the top is about 17km long, including more than 120 twists and turns, and some steep gradients. Keep your eyes peeled for oncoming traffic, especially on the single-width parts and remember that climbing vehicles have right of way.
    ​If driving the pass sounds too challenging, hop on board the Outeniqua Power Van at the George Transport Museum and ride up the pass in old-fashioned railway style while a guide tells you about the area's history.
  • Pop in at Herold Wines near the top of the Montagu Pass for a wine tasting, cellar tour or light meal. When we visited, we learnt the story of a lovely wine called Schaam Schaap (blushing sheep) sold only on the estate. It was a blend of pinot noir, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc, but the winemaker had left it on the pinot skins a bit too long and it turned pink.
Herold Wines - things to do in George
Visit Herold Wines at the top of the Montagu Pass, which Henry Fancourt White built
  • Visit Redberry Farm, which produces 400 tons of strawberries each year and is just a 5-10 minute drive away from Fancourt. Best to go in spring and summer when you can pick your own strawberries. There’s a farm stall and coffee shop on the premises, as well as a hedge maze with 10 000m of pathways for those who like a challenge. 
  • If hiking and the outdoors is your thing, you’ll enjoy the forest walks in the area, such as the Groeneweide trail through forest and fynbos between the Kaaimans and Silver rivers on the Seven Passes road (9-13km long) or the Pass-to-Pass hiking trail from the top of the Outeniqua Pass to Montagu Pass with good views out over George (7.5km long).
  • Visit the George Museum at 9 Courtenay Street in George. The building was originally the Drostdy back in 1813 and later the Victoria Hotel. It became the museum in 1976. There’s a mini-museum of the personal collection of Charles Sayers who founded the museum, old printing presses that used to print the local newspapers, a Victorian room, collections of record players, music boxes and toys, and posters about the forced removals of Lawaaikamp in 1988. Don’t miss the cross-section of an 800-year-old yellowwood with various global and local historical events marked on its annual rings.
  • Just down York Street and in walking distance from the museum is the Ground Control Espresso Bar. Their flat whites, carrot cake and cheese cake are superb. There’s a sign saying Ground Control on the window, but it’s not very visible, so just look for Van Kervel Huis at 117 York Street.
Seven Passes road - things to do from Fancourt
Drive the gravel Seven Passes road through indigenous forest and over historic bridges
  • An absolute must is to drive at least part of the magnificent Seven Passes road that takes in the back roads and a number of historic bridges over rivers as it winds through indigenous forests between George and Knysna. As the name suggests, the full route encompasses seven different passes running on one after the other. 
  • If you’re looking to spend some time on the beach, a 15-20min drive will take you to the creamy sand and surf of Wilderness.
 
Things to do on a day trip further afield
  • Take an hour’s drive to Knysna during whale season (June to November) for a whale-watching boat trip to see magnificent migratory humpback and southern right whales.
  • Visit the Cango Caves a 90-min drive away to learn about the formation of the caves and its stalactites and stalagmites. 
Old buildings at Oudtshoorn - things to do from Fancourt
Enjoy beautiful old buildings in Oudtshoorn, once an ostrich feather boom town
  • Explore the Karoo town of Oudtshoorn about an hour’s drive away to see lovely old buildings dating back to the ostrich feather boom of the late 1800s and early 1900s. It’s also worth visiting the CP Nel Museum to get a feeling for what life was like back then.
  • Take a 90-min drive to Calitzdorp, the port capital of South Africa. Enjoy wine and port tastings at estates like Boplaas and De Krans.
Ring-tailed lemurs at Monkeyland, Garden Route - things to do from Fancourt
See the charismatic ring-tailed lemur at Monkeyland
  • If you don’t mind driving two hours to get there, visit Birds of Eden and the Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary at The Crags, Plettenberg Bay. They’re Fair Trade accredited and embrace ethical principles that include sustainability and respect for animals and their environment.
  • Not far away from Birds of Eden (so just over a two-hour drive from Fancourt) is the Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour if you want to spend a few hours playing Tarzan on a zipline in the treetops of an indigenous forest.

Note: I was a guest of Fancourt Hotel for two nights, but was given free rein to write what I chose. I paid for all travel costs and activities.

Like it? Pin this image! 
When you hear the word Fancourt you think of golf. And Fancourt golf is famous for its three top-rated golf courses. But there are other things to do at Fancourt Hotel in George on the Garden Route, South Africa. Think walking, cycling, Roman baths, spa, gym, swimming, Fancourt restaurants like Henry White’s. Further afield are mountain passes, wine-tasting, strawberry-picking, Cango Caves, Oudtshoorn and more. #Fancourt #FancourtHotel #Fancourtgolf #FancourtHotelGeorge #Georgeaccommodation
When you hear the word Fancourt you think of golf. And Fancourt golf is famous for its three top-rated golf courses. But there are other things to do at Fancourt Hotel in George on the Garden Route, South Africa. Think walking, cycling, Roman baths, spa, gym, swimming, Fancourt restaurants like Henry White’s. Further afield are mountain passes, wine-tasting, strawberry-picking, Cango Caves, Oudtshoorn and more. #Fancourt #FancourtHotel #Fancourtgolf #FancourtHotelGeorge #Georgeaccommodation
You may also enjoy
15 things to do near Knysna on the Garden Route
Garden Route itinerary for nature lovers, South Africa

Copyright © Roxanne Reid - No words or photographs on this site may be used without permission from roxannereid.co.za
4 Comments
Alison
21/10/2018 08:33:33 pm

Thanks for the insight into Fancourt. My hubbie normally goes there on a yearly trip to play golf. After reading your blog I realise there is more to do at Fancourt than chasing a little white ball around the course.
Thanks. I will have to join him next time.

Reply
Roxanne
22/10/2018 08:51:56 am

You can't believe how many people have said that to me, Alison! I'm going to get lynched by all the men whose wives now want to tag along, lol.

Reply
Julie
28/10/2018 10:42:00 pm

What blissful place to play golf. It’s good to see that there are alternates to experience if you are a non golfer.

Reply
Roxanne
29/10/2018 03:19:55 pm

Yes, quite a surprise, Julie. Not just lots to do at Fancourt, but lots in the area - although it's suffering at the moment with a really bad wild fire in the mountains, which is sad.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Get email links to the latest posts

    Buy my books
    Travels in the Kalahari, amazon.com e-book
    E-book 2012​

    A Walk in the Park, amazon.com e-book
    2nd ed e-book 2015
    The Essential Guide to Self-Editing, amazon.com e-book
    E-book 2017

    About 

    I'm an independent travel writer and book editor with a passion for Africa - anything from African travel, people, safari and wildlife to adventure, heritage, road-tripping and slow travel.
    My travel buddy and husband Keith is the primary photographer for this blog.
    We're happiest in the middle of nowhere, meeting the locals, trying something new, or simply watching the grass grow.
    Use this website to discover new places to go, revisit places you've loved, or take a virtual tour of destinations you only dream about.

    Categories

    All
    Baviaanskloof
    Books
    Botswana
    Camping
    Cape Town
    Chobe
    Conservation
    Drc
    Eastern Cape
    Etosha Namibia
    Food
    Free State
    Garden Route
    Gauteng
    Issues
    Kalahari
    Karoo
    Kenya
    Kruger National Park
    Kwazulu Natal
    Lesotho
    Limpopo
    Linyanti
    Malawi
    Mozambique
    Mpumalanga
    Namaqualand
    Namibia
    Nature Parks
    Northern Cape
    Okavango
    Overberg
    People
    Photography
    Richtersveld
    Tanzania
    West Coast
    Western Cape
    Wild Creatures
    Zambia
    Zimbabwe

    Archives

    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    January 2010
    November 2009


Copyright © Roxanne Reid - No words or photographs on this site may be used without written permission from roxannereid.co.za

Privacy Policy, GDPR and POPIA compliance
​* We promise that we take data safety seriously and use your private data only to offer a personalised experience
* If you subscribed to our newsletter, you will receive our newsletters. You can always unsubscribe by following the link in email or by emailing us
* If you gave us your name, it will only be used to personalise the newsletters
* We have never sold, we are not selling, and we will not sell any of your personal data provided to us
* The blog uses cookies to track activity. It is anonymous except for telling us your location and what you did on our blog
​
Photo used under Creative Commons from berniedup