Feature: City Centre

River Place Manor, Upington

River Place Manor, Upington

Convenient and comfortably appointed lodge on the banks of the Orange River

Upington may be dry, dusty and hot for most of the year but you will enjoy River Place which is a wine estate with grounds leading down to the welcome cool of the Orange River. There are 10 suite-style rooms and one family suite. Accommodation is provided on a B&B basis and dinner can be provided on Mondays to Fridays. Barbecue (Braai) facilities are available and you can even Braai on the river on the Lodge’s floating Jetty. There is a beautiful swimming pool for those wishing to cool off after the heat of the day.

About the Location

The lodge has a canoe for those wishing to  venture onto the river or you might just wish to fish. There is river rafting, a river cruise, amazing bird watching and, of course, wine tasting. Choosing River place as a base also allows you to visit Augrabies Falls which is an hour and a half’s drive along the Orange River. This is also a good stopover en route to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. It is a 2 1/2 hour drive to the entrance to the Park at Twee Rivieren.


Squirrels Way Cottages

Squirrels Way Cottages

Pretty self catering accommodation for families in a convenient location

This is a delightful and secluded property tucked away in a quiet and pleasant residential area of the  Cape Town suburb of Rondebosch right next to a park. The property has three fully self catering cottages. Two are twin bedded units with fully equipped kitchens and separate lounge and immaculate bathrooms. Each has a sleeper couch. There is also a third cottage with a queen bedded bedroom, kitchenette and separate lounge with sleeper couch. All three have patio doors opening out onto the secluded pool terrace.The properties are serviced twice weekly.  This is an ideal layout for those clients travelling as a family or two or three couples travelling together.

About the Location

Squirrels Way is ideally situated for Cape Town which is just a 15  minute drive. For those clients seeking a convenient location close to the sports venue of Newlands (Rugby and Cricket, this is ideal being a short 5 minute drive.  It is also easy to drive to the Constantia Winelands with some excellent wineries just 15 minutes away, Kitstenbosch Botanical Gardens are just a 10 minute drive. It is also very easy to reach the  Cape Winelands as it is only a 30 minute drive to Stellenbosch.


Pinoak Cottage

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.


Summerwood

Home from home in the heart of the Cape Winelands

This is a gem set in the leafy University district of Stellenbosch. This is one of the premier universities in South Africa and ensures that the town is lively with an excellent atmosphere in the evenings. Summerwood was built in 1904 and has 8 larger than average and beautifully appointed suites. The gardens are a welcome retreat during the hot summer days with a great pool to lounge around. Unusually, the owners prefer not to have coffee and tea making facilities in the rooms but will provide complimentary refreshments when required. Each room does have a minibar as well as full air conditioning.

About the Location

The centre of Cape Town is a 35 minute drive away, so rather than stay in the centre of the city, why not relax at Summerwood and use this as your base from which to see Cape Town & Table Mountain, the Cape Peninsula (45 minutes’ drive) and the winelands. Stellenbosch is often regarded as the centre of the winelands and it is easy to drive across the mountains to Franschhoek (20 minutes’ drive), Paarl (15 minutes’ drive and even Tulbagh (1 hour drive). There are numerous excellent wineries close by and you are spoilt for choice of restaurants to visit. We make this easy for you by suggesting some favourite wineries and restaurants.


Le Quartier Francais

Le Quartier Francais, Franschhoek

Luxury and style set in the centre of Franschhoek

Although the hotel is situated right in the middle of bustling Franschhoek, step through into the gardens where the 21 suite style rooms open onto the compact pool and you could be in the middle of the countryside. The atmosphere is very calming set among the fragrant bushes and herbs. The rooms are much larger than usual and exquisitely decorated – some with antiques but all very tasteful. The restaurant is renowned for its food and here you will also find a delicatessen and bistro.

About the Location

The hotel is part of the original village founded by the Huguenots in the early 1700s and many of the nearby buildings date back to that time. In Franschhoek you will find interesting boutiques, numerous restaurants and, of course, many excellent wineries. The spectacular Franschhoek pass is only minutes away and Cape Town takes around 40 minutes along good roads.


Rosenhof, Oudtshoorn

Rosenhof, Oudtshoorn

Luxury Boutique Hotel in Oudtshoorn

This is a charming, and popular, small hotel on the outskirts of Oudtshoorn. The 12 bedrooms and two executive suites are mostly arranged in small cottages around a central, gassy courtyard set aside from the principal Manor House. This has the beautiful dining room and lounge as well as the reception area. As you can see from the pictures the rooms are of a generous size with big bathrooms.  The emphasis is on luxury and this shown to great effect in the two bed roomed executive suites, which are complete with their own plunge pool. There is a pool for general use. This is a property, which continues to get very good reviews from our clients and this is in part to the great hospitality shown by the staff.

About the Location

The lodge is on the edge of Oudtshoorn in a quiet residential location. The Cango Wildlife Ranch is a 5 minute drive and the Cango Caves are 15 minutes away. There are several ostrich ‘Feather Palaces’ within a short drive as is the great headquarters of ‘Ostrich International’ for an amazing variety of ostrich leather goods.


The Fairlawns, Morningside, Johannesburg

Stunning luxurious Boutique hotel in a leafy suburb of Johannesburg

Fairlawns is an exceptionally luxurious boutique hotel set in the heart of Johannesburg’s business district of Sandton. The emphasis is, however, on tranquillity and gracious living. All 19 suites are very spacious and fully equipped to the highest standards. There is a huge gym equipped to international standards and a large outdoor pool.

About the Location

Temporary membership is arranged for the nearby golf courses, tennis and squash courts. The bar with its renowned wine list complements the a la carte restaurant.  the financial district of Sandton is close by (10 minute drive) complete with its extensive mall and great restaurants. For clients looking for something a little different in Johannesburg this is one of the best small hotels we have discovered.


Sun River Kalahari Lodge, Upington

A great jumping off point situated on the Orange River

Sun River Lodge is a convenient starting point for your travels in the Northern Cape. Just 10 minutes from Upington Airport, it is situated on the banks of the Orange River overlooking the railway bridge that is one of the features of the town. This owner run lodge has 16 comfortable, air conditioned rooms. Some first floor rooms have a private deck over looking the beautiful grounds and the river. There is a great bar by the pool and also a deck extending over the river for a romantic glass of local wine at sunset with the cooling air of the water tempering the heat of the day.

About the Location

This can be used as a base from which to explore the area. The Airport is also noteworthy as the second longest runway in the world and the only other place that can be used as a landing strip for the US Space Shuttle other than Edwards Airforce Base in the US.


Kensington Place

Kensington Place, Higgovale, Cape Town

A great location for this sophisticated boutique hotel just ‘beneath’ Table Mountain

This is a beautiful, small boutique hotel situated close to the city centre yet in a refreshingly leafy residential area. The property has 10 bedrooms that are a reasonable size and decorated in clean cut, modern style. There is a small dining room for breakfast and the garden is cool and shady with trees and bushes. There is a small deck and pool to relax by in the heat of the day and at night the garden area is ‘alive’ with candle light.

About the Location

Higgovale is just below the Table Mountain Cableway and so is very convenient for visiting the mountain. Camps Bay is a 10-minute drive and the city centre and The Waterfront is a 5-minute drive. For people who like walking to restaurants, the Kloof Road area is alive at night with numerous restaurants, cafes and bars. This is a 5-minute walk away, but the return is up quite a steep hill! For people who want to be in the centre of Cape Town but in a quiet, almost country style location, Kensington Place is an excellent choice.


O on Kloof

O on Kloof, Bantry Bay

The Perfect Boutique Hotel  set in a convenient location

In this eclectic hotel the owner, Olaf, has combined modern, almost minimalist decorations with the ultimate in luxury. The rooms are large with exceptionally spacious and well-fitted bathrooms. The honeymoon suite is on the top level with views across to the ocean. This also has the benefit of its own very private patio complete with Jacuzzi. The pool is an extraordinary feature. It is indoors on the lowest level of the building, large and heated. The roof partially retracts. The pool area has been developed into a gym and wellness centre. The bar and restaurant are well regarded and to complete the service, internet is available.

About the Location

The small beach at Bantry Bay is a 5-minute walk from the hotel and popular Clifton Beach is a 5-minute drive. Camp’s Bay is just 10 minutes’ distant and the City centre takes 10 minutes whilst there is a frequent shuttle bus nearby to The Waterfront. The Table Mountain Cableway is a 15 minute drive. You are also 40 minutes to the Cape Winelands and an hour to the Cape Point National Park.