It was a gloriously warm, okay hot Tuesday when I drove out to Ballito for the Rain Africa event hosted by the franchise owners of Pavilion, Gateway and the new Ballito Junction stores – Yusuf Sheik and Ryan Waters. Why a Tuesday? Well it was a public holiday! Human Rights Day to be exact.
This year’s event was held at the Rain Farm Game & Lodge which is a beautiful wildlife sanctuary that caters for day visits, getaways, conferences, weddings, parties and special events. I never knew that this place existed and I was blessed to be able to see it and especially to be able to go on a game drive. As usual I am jumping the gun.
The event started at 10am and we arrived right on time (Inge Loker of Snap, Sizzle & Cook and Cee from Ceeces Travel came with me). We were warmly welcomed by Yusuf and Ryan and also by Ronel from Rain Africa head office in Swellendam. I accepted a much appreciated cold fruit juice and a lovely wooden fan. We all put on our leaf name tags and chatted while we waited for everyone to arrive.
Once everyone was there we climbed up into the safari vehicles and went for the game drive and also to see the property. We had a highly entertaining young Afrikaans guy that was our guide and he certainly made the drive a memorable one. We saw Giraffe, Wildebeest, Ostrich and very plump Zebra. We also took a slow drive past the fenced enclosure where the two hand reared Caracal are kept. It is a beautiful property and I really enjoyed the drive, fresh air and lots of laughter.
Once we were back at the main building we made our way to where the event was set up, but first we were offered a hand massage with the wonderfully fragranced Biologie Manketti & Sunflower Body Scrub – which I accepted. Yusuf and Ryan always put a lot of effort into decorating the tables and this year was no exception. I loved the drinking bottles on the table (mine said “Sip Back and Relax”) and all the other little touches like the packet of tissues for each guest.
Yusuf welcomed us all officially and thanked us for attending. He explained a bit about how he and Ryan came to own a Rain Africa store and their surprise that they now own three. Ronel from Rain Africa head office spoke to us next and she did a demonstration on correct breathing. Ronel is the sales and spa manager for Rain Africa and is involved in the creation of the various treatments.
Then it was time for lunch and what a surprise it was – culinary creations! We had all decided what we wanted for lunch at the beginning of the event so what we were having was not the surprise, but the presentation certainly was. A beautifully arranged steak with sweet potato crispy ribbons and crunchy carrots. It was perfectly cooked and one of the best steaks that I have had.
After eating lunch and before dessert we got to look at, touch and smell the Mother’s Day range which is based on the fragrance of Waterlily. The range consists of bath fizzes, mist, slippers, hand & body lotion and hand & body liquid soap. I definitely want to buy the mist.
I chose the chocolate brownie for dessert #amazing and I loved the ice cream and the crispy meringue that was served with it. A perfect ending to a wonderful lunch.
Thanks so much Yusuf and Ryan for an incredible day!