"The beauty about this road trip is that my friends are in for the experience of a lifetime as I take them on what works out to be an all expenses paid holiday where they get to relax and let their hair down and I get to cook for them. Now just so you know, I’m not a chef, I’m not even a cook, I’m just an average Jo with a passion for life, love, food and my friends, and this is my way of sharing my passions with you."

Now this being our first episode, we travel from Cape Town, otherwise known as the mother city, to a spot called ‘Around the Bend’ on the banks of the Breede river, a distance of about 250 kilometres.

We pick some water blommetjies for late lunch, early dinner.

"And this ladies and gentlemen, is going to become our dinner this evening. Nature’s bounty and could it be any fresher than this."

"Okay guys, let’s go. And I think we should probably get out of here before the farmer finds us on his ground."

We travel to the river mouth for a spot of fishing where Justin make some chilli coffee and breakfast for the boys.

"I’m going to make a little quick breakfast for them as well. Everything’s just going to get chopped up roughly in here. We’re going to mush it when it’s in here... I forgot my knives... up at the house. I had to borrow... Robbie’s little fishing knife and it’s as sharp as it can be. Oh, and then I borrowed a pan from the lady. She said she’d come and haunt me if (laughing) I didn’t return her pan. She’s... worried about it..."

And in the late afternoon, Justin cooks up a Waterblommetjie Potjie which is Afrikaans/English for a water-flower stew for thirty odd friends.

"You know what I rather be doing at sunset, you know,… sunset’s a bad time for me to cook hey, because I rather be standing here."

John makes “pap” wile everyone chills.

Friend: "It’s like mash potato, that’s very... quick."
Justin: "You see how he’s working it? There’s a whole technique involved here. A push and shove and a poke."

And that night, after dinner, we set the bar on fire.

"I just want to make a little announcement. Which is to say thank you very much to all of you for been here. And I don’t know how to say thank you, other than to give you some tequila."
Gareth: "To the man who is cooked, and if not, after 30 days, will be cooked!"

This idylic hideaway situated on the banks of the Breede River just two hours from Cape Town, has become South Africa's first choice corporate conference, teambuild and client getaway. The rooms are beautifully designed and are built using river stone walls with thatched roofs. Very importantly, all beds boast the very best down duvets with upmarket matching linen. The bathrooms range from offering total privacy to the most unique outdoor shower experience under African skies.

Our main lodge is the hub of excitement and action, huge fireplaces create the perfect atmosphere with our bar adorned with previously elated guests well wishes and praise. Our conference centre is the perfect mix of business and pleasure that allows the success of the most intense strategic session to a 100 delegate motivational hour or two. All standard conference equipment offered (hiring of other requirements available).

Another feature of the lodge is the expansive sundeck and communal fireplace, perfect for sundowners and our tasty evening snacks, or in the rafting season a steamy cask of gluwhein and roasted marshmellows.

Although, the hallmark of an experience at Round the Bend, is the wide range of unique corporate teambuilding and motivational activites available. These range from the classic river rafting (peak times throughhout the rainy months), abseiling, foofie sliding(210 metres long and 35 metres high), soft adventure race, catty paintball and our famous survivor series. All of the other general and well known activities are also available. For 16 years, the group has sought to cater for the the corporate market in ensuring that all of our activities suite all ages, fitness levels and genders.

Choosing this venue for your next conference or event will ensure that your team will return rejuvenated, motivated and enriched, call us and you will be pleasantly surprised at our superb rates because "you wont know until you go".

Activities in the area:

Swimming, hiking, canoeing, bird watching, fishing, or just plain chilling...
Visit the small town of Swellendam.