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Pinoak Cottage

Simple yet comfortable accommodation in a secluded location

This is a delightful and secluded property tucked away in a quiet and pleasant residential area of the leafy Cape Town suburb of Constantia. The property offers two fully self catering, twin bedded units with a studio layout including a kitchenette and ensuite bathroom. Each has a sleeper couch. There is also a third ensuite twin bedded bedroom. Each are self contained with individual doors opening onto the secluded pool terrace. This is an ideal layout for those clients travelling as a family or two or three couples travelling together.

About the Location

Pinoak is ideally situated for the Cape Peninsula and is only 10 minutes’ drive from the popular False Bay resort of Muizenberg with its blue flag beach and just a 30 minute drive to view the African Pengiuns at Boulders Beach. As the property is close (1 km) to the main highway into Cape Town, the city centre is just an easy 25 minute drive away. It is also easy to drive to the Constantia Winelands with some excellent wineries just 10 minutes away or the more extensive Cape Winelands as it is only a 35 minute drive to Stellenbosch.

Arniston Hotel

Arniston Hotel is a comfortable choice for clients on a budget as it is close to the ocean in one of the most remote and fascinating coastal nature reserves in South Africa

Arniston Hotel is fairly large with 60 suites and rooms. Most overlook the bay and some are pool facing. The rooms are fairly large and many have balconies. From here you can enjoy a restful sundowner overlooking the bay and the fabulous sunsets. The hotel has a well equipped spa and wellness centre as well as a restaurant and lively bar. The food is good rather than exceptional but the fish is locally caught and very fresh.

About Arniston Hotel’s Location

The much photographed thatched and whitewashed fishermens cottages in an area called Kassiesbaai are adjacent to the hotel. This area, dating back 200 years, has been declared a national monument and photographers are welcome. The huge sea cave of Waenhuiskrans (Ox Wagon Cave) is an interesting walk away and can be reached easily at low tide. Arniston is named after the wreck of the British naval ship of the same name that foundered in 1815 with the loss of 200 lives. The whole of this coastline around to nearby Cape Agulhas (the southernmost point in Africa) is littered with wrecks of ships that missed their way – indeed as recently as 1970! The De Hoop Nature Reserve is a day’s journey and a fascinating coastal reserve. The southernmost point on the African continent is just a 40 minute drive. Cape Agulhas is an interesting location with a lighthouse dating back to 1849. The architecture is fashioned in the style of the ancient Pharos of Alexandria and there is a restaurant and museum.

The Overlook, Keimoes, Northern Cape

The Overlook is a wonderfully unique location and accommodation – definitely one of our favourites!

The Overlook is a small property with just three well appointed thatched, hut-style rooms. These are cool in the summer and have well equipped kitchenettes and bathrooms with excellent showers. We particularly enjoyed the little touches that provide a very African feel. The infinity pool is in a good position overlooking the vineyards and you can arrange a gourmet dinner to be served on the deck. The Overlook even has its own resident meerkats! The American / South African owners are attentive and will ensure a comfortable stay.

About The Overlook’s Location

Conveniently situated in the Orange Riverside village of Keimoes, The Overlook provides a convenient stopover between Upington and Springbok. It is only 50 kms from Upington but from your accommodation you will get beautiful views over the Winelands that skirt either side of the impressive Orange River. From here you can easily drive to the Augrabies Falls and up to the Kgalagardi Transfrontier Park. There is plenty to see and do in this area and we suggest spending at least three days exploring. Mid summer can be exceptionally hot so we suggest Spring, Autumn and late Winter. A stay here can be combined with Naries and the Kgalagardi Transfrontier Park.

Rooipan Guest Farm, Nr Upington, Northern Cape

Rooipan is a convenient location with warm, Afrikaans hospitality

Rooipan is set halfway between Upington and the Kgalagardi Transfrontier Park. This is truly an oasis in a very dry landscape. Here you will receive typical Afrikaans hospitality in accommodation that is crisply decorated, immaculately clean and cool in the searing midday sun. There are two suites that can also be used as self catering as they have a small kitchenette. The main bedroom is separate and has an en suite bathroom. The lounge area has a couch that can be used for young children. There is a small pool with an adjacent gazebo where dinner can be served. This is a large sheep farm and so the home cooked lamb is a must.

About Rooipan’s Location

The owners arrange a sundowner experience on the farm where you may see some of the rather special and occasionally weird nocturnal animals that inhabit this region. This is truly a unique experience.

Goudini Spa, Rawsonville, Worcester

Goudini spa is a family resort set around hot springs in the mountains to the north of Cape Town

This is a hot spring spa set in the Hex River Mountains not far from Worcester and close to the main N2 Highway. This is a busy resort with comfortable and fairly simple accommodation provided in rondavels or apartments and cottages. Accommodation can be catered or self catering – the choice is yours.

About Goudini’s Location

The main pool is a hot spring and very therapeutic. There is a separate waterslide and nearby the countryside is good for hiking. The little town of Worcester is known for its agricultural produce and vineyards are never far away. There is an interesting folk museum nearby. The old Du ToitsKloof pass through the mountains to Paarl and Cape Town is spectacular and you will often see baboons near the road.

Rozendal Guest Farm, Stellenbosch, Cape Winelands

Rozendal Guest Farm is a well priced alternative set among the vines for families!

Rozendal Guest Farm is a well-kept secret in Stellenbosch, nestling beneath the Jonkershoek mountains. A key feature is the cottage style breakfasts complete with organic produce from the farm. The accommodation is set a little apart from the main house, across a farmyard, which reminds you that this is also a working (vinager) farm. The 16 bedrooms are contained in cottages, which are situated like a small village street. The decor is simple rather than luxurious but all the rooms are a good size with well-appointed bathrooms. Each bedroom has a stoep with a mountain or vineyard view. This is a quiet location but a good one for children who are encouraged to look at the farm.

Aboutd Rozendal’s Location

Stellenbosch is only 10 minutes drive away with its delightful historic centre, small shopping mall and restaurants. This is a good location for exploring the Cape Winelands with Franschhoek and Paarl just a 30 minute drive away. Cape Town, too, is just a 45 minute drive.

Spier Village, Stellenbosch

Village style accommodations set in a large wine estate

Spier is a long established winery, which has developed substantially in recent years initially as a restaurant and a small cheetah conservation project to a fully-fledged resort, with a distinctly African feel, in beautiful grounds overlooking the Jonkershoek Mountains. Accommodation is located in the Spier Village, which extends to 155 rooms encompassing luxuriously appointed rooms and suites. Here you can hold a raptor, go for a segway tour, have a picnic by the lake, relax by one of the seven pools or indulge yourself in a wine tasting only a short stagger from your room.

About the Location

There are three rated restaurants and delis to cater for every taste. Horse and pony rides can be arranged and the property also boasts an 18 hole golf course. The property is conveniently situated 20 minutes drive from Cape Town International Airport and it will only take you 30 minutes to drive into the centre of Cape Town. Stellenbosch is 10 minutes away by car, The Strand with its excellent beaches is close by as is the Somerset Mall in Somerset West for shopping.

Fregate Island

This is a wonderful island with giant granite boulders that are synonymous with the Seychelles scenery

The resort can accommodate up to a maximum of 40 guests in 16 beautiful villas strategically built on the granite rocks overlooking the Indian Ocean. The size of the island and the location of the villas ensures privacy. Local building materials have been utilised such as the indigenous mahogany and so the villas blend in very naturally with their surroundings.

Each villa has two bedroom, a large terrace with a day bed and a Jacuzzi. The tropical feel of the villas is imparted by light and plenty of space. The island has two freshwater pools and seven beaches with one, Anse Victorin renowned as one of the most beautiful in the world. Another, Anse Macqueraeu is for private use on a first come first serve basis! Activities abound for the energetic. Snorkelling, hobby cats, kayaks and fishing aboard the island’s launches are all available.

About the Location

There is a fully equipped gym and for the really energetic the 125m Mt Signal is a worthwhile climb. Children are well catered for with their very own Castaway Club to keep them occupied in their own tropical paradise.Fregate is also a culinary experience. As the island has its own fresh water source, much of the fruit, vegetables, salads and herbs used by the kitchen are homegrown. Dinner is served either in the historic and romantic setting of Plantation House for wonderful Creole cooking or in Fregate House where a gourmet menu is prepared daily. Guests can dine in the comfort of their own villa or eat casually at the beach bar.

Le Vieux Cep, Cilaos

Family style hotel in the centre of this unusual island

A charming hotel with excellent facilities including a wellness centre. The hotel is quite large with 45 rooms including a few suites. The accommodation is tastefully decorated in a combination of local Creole and rural France style. Natural wood finishes are used extensively and although the standard rooms are quite small they are, nonetheless comfortable. The pool is an exceptional feature and the activities include mountain bikes. The restaurant is well regarded locally and is charmingly situated by the pool. The mountain views are among the best of any of the hotels in this area and each room is designed to maximise the view. Some English is spoken. The hotel caters for families.

About the location

Cilaos is one of the most spectacular locations on this extraordinary island. The views from the hotel are stunning and you are within walking distance of all this little, very French, town has to offer.

Hotel Le Cilaos, Cilaos

Simple but comfortable accommodation on the edge of this fascinating town

This is a medium sized, 24 roomed, country hotel. All the rooms have commanding views over the spectacular mountain scenery around Cilaos including the highest point on the island – Piton Les Nieges at 3,300 metres. The standard rooms are simple in decor but comfortable. The larger rooms are similar in style but with individual touches. Bathrooms, again, are fairly standard in size but reasonably equipped. There is a mini bar in the room. The hotel has an excellent pool and from here the views of the mountains are awe-inspiring. The hotel also has a sauna and wellness centre. The restaurant serves mainly buffet style food for breakfast and evening meals and this is a mixture of local and international cuisine – mainly French inspired. We would rate the food above average for the Island. English is spoken and we found the staff friendly and helpful. We would, however, warn that the hotel is built on many different levels and, common with most of Reunion, there is no porter service so you will be faced with carrying your own luggage often up fairly steep steps.

About the location

The hotel’s location is on the edge of town – approximately a 10-minute walk to the centre. This is a good base for hiking in the mountains and the hotel has details of the excellent and well-marked and maintained hiking trails in the area.