A VISIT to the bushveld always conjures – apart from the adventure of night game drives – juicy braais at the boma against the backdrop of the sunset haze of orange colours glowing on the horizon.

It also conjures the breathtaking views of herds of silhouetted game.

While the magic of boma braais in the middle of the wild is unparalleled, a parched soul can sometimes long for something more intimate rather than the outdoors.

A wine-and-food pairing evening in the serene surrounds of the bushveld can also spin its own magic – as happened during my visit to the bushveld resort of Mount Grace Country & Spa in Magaliesburg.

The resort nestles in the foothills of Magaliesburg Mountains, about an hour’s drive from Johannesburg.

The evening involved pairing an eight-course dinner with wines from Nitida Cellars at the hotel’s Rambling Vine Restaurant. In keeping with the laid-back ambience of the bush, the pairing was conducted at a snail’s pace to allow guests enough time to ponder each meal.