Grant Horsfield moved from Cape Town, South Africa to Shanghai, China almost 20 years ago. While the world was exporting and taking things from China he was looking for something he could bring in.
The challenge was finding just the right thing to import to a country that manufactures anything from electrical machinery to soybeans and everything in between. After our visit to Naked Stables, we believe he got it, spot on.
We first heard about Naked Stables and the Naked retreats a few years ago while looking for somewhere naturally beautiful not too far from Shanghai. We read about Grant and his vision, which was to give city dwellers a place to go to fill their lungs with crisp clean air, stretch their legs on dirt trails and take in all the natural beauty China has to offer. We knew we had to experience this home away from the homeland.
Our visit to the Naked Stables coincided with our anniversary celebration and our hosts were ready with treats and gifts. The service and hospitality is easily the best we’ve experienced throughout the mainland. As South Africans in China it’s often difficult to reconcile the massive difference between the hospitality we grew up with, and what we’ve come to experience in our host nation. To say we felt right at home from the moment we arrived would be somewhat of an understatement. And that includes Bailey. Despite only reviewing their pet policy last year our room was kitted with a dog bed and bowls, they even have a special menu for dog meals.
The Naked Stables resort is the kind of place where you could just sit on the deck looking out at the lake, the trees and just take it all in and do nothing for days and be fueled. But there’s so much to do, the resort offers activities for creatives, outdoor enthusiasts, families and fur friends. Full disclaimer we had our share of do nothing moments but also took advantage of the activities on offer.
I found myself plonked in front of one the smaller lakes with a blank canvas and had some fun. We also got to make dumplings and do a different hiking route through the forest every day.
If that’s not enough you can hop on a shuttle and visit the sister resort, Naked Castle, less than 6 kilometers away. The Castle was built in 1910 by a Scottish missionary, Dr Duncan Main and now boasts multiple accolades as it spearheads sustainability in Asia’s hospitality arena.
This probably reads like a review or a promotional piece but our stay was really special. Not being able to return to our home country from more than two years makes these experiences; the hospitality, the South African wine, the bush-style huts and décor all the more heart warming.
Something that isn’t distinctly African, however, is the gift we received on our last day. SNOW!
The white fluff started falling lightly during breakfast as we looked over the lawns and forest and by the time we finished dinner we could trace our footprints in the icy rug.
Bailey wasn’t too keen at the start but his appreciation grew quickly.
In true African fashion we were out there, mouths agape, crunching and squishing with every step having the best send-off imaginable. A magical end to a tremendous stay.
There is so much more I could tell you about our visit, like how the food was the best vegetarian-friendly meal I’ve enjoyed across the mainland, how the managers knew our names and the breakfast staff greeted me with an Oatly cappuccino every morning. We hope to return in the summer to enjoy the infinity pools and perhaps I’ll tell you more then.
For now though…
Comment and share with us a place you visited that exceeded your expectations or a place that reminded you of home or something beloved and helped you fuel up for the day to day highs and lows we call life.
So glad to be the first to leave a mark in the comment section! This blog entry sounds as if it were taken from a Top Billing script. Hopefully you’ll get to experience the infinity pools when the weather warms, but for now I hope you and Wes managed to get some hearty South African wine back to your place, to see you through the last few days of winter. If not, make some boeber (using Oatly of course) and I’m sure Bailey could enjoy a helping too 😅
Last month Amee and I got to experience snow in Innsbruck, Austria, while trying out skiing for the first time. As an African, I loved the magical white stuff and I can tell you guys loved it too.
Stay safe. Stay sane. And for now, keep wandering the unexplored corners of your home during lockdown!
Fern
Hi all. It felt like I was there at the place as I was reading about your visit. How adventurous, all the stuff you were able to do and experience.
Waiting anxiously to hear about the Naked Stables and Naked Castle when you go back in the summer.What a special treat and exciting time you had.
Moeder in die Wes-Kaap.
Lovely pics and story of naked stables mamsie, so you guys had a great time celebrating your wedding anniversary, lovely guys whoop whoop
I am going also for a weekend to Club Mykonos for the first time cam yoi believe it……damn yes …….now only everyone asks? So what??……yes that was my reply lolllll ! Will send pics hey…….love you guys mwah mwah mwah.
This is beautifully written my Elle and I read it with your gorgeous voice in mind . 💕💕
You are too kind dear Lele, do you have a favourite travel memory to share? We so enjoy your video diaries.
Loved this piece, dear wanderers. Transported to Naked Stables. How lovely that you got to explore so much before the lockdown. Feels surreal in be doing these things when the rest of the world is moving swiftly into the future. But hey, more time for writing and editing and reading and napping. Keep sending your adventures. Sending love, x
I agree with Lelé, totally read this as if you were telling me directly and also as if I too was on the deck overlooking the lake. This is definitely on my list. Thanks for sharing
Too kind! Please let us know if you do get to go out for a visit xx
Thank you Ms Sunshine, this was sooo beautifully written and I now have renewed hope for the post – lockdown summer days🌸🌸🌸
Oooohhh, the infinity pool will be a great summer spot. Let us know if you do get out there for a visit.