Feature: Horse Riding

Hunter’s Country House Hotel, Plettenberg Bay

Wonderfully traditional country house hotel with luxurious and large rooms 

This is a fine 5 star hotel at its luxurious best, set in a beautiful setting with a remote feel yet close to the main highway and only 10 minutes away from Plettenberg Bay. This is gracious country living based around 23 romantic thatched cottages each with exquisite decor and ultimate luxury. The restaurants are renowned for the sumptuous cuisine and in the heat of the day why not cool off with a drink by the side of the pool. The staff are very attentive and you will find a level of service comparable, if not exceeding, that in luxury hotels worldwide. This is a very popular destination for weddings with is pretty thatched chapel set in the forest.

About the location

This is, however, not a beach hotel so is more suited as a romantic location for couples. From here, however, it is a short drive to Plettenberg Bay, Knysna and the Garden Route Wine Route.

Tamodi, The Crags, Garden Route

Tamodi Lodge is for the nature lover with views from each room of the indigenous forest and the Outeniqua Mountains

Tamodi  is an exquisitely designed typically African lodge  overlooking the  thickly wooded valleys of The Crags. The lodge is 15 minutes’ drive from the center of Plettenberg Bay. The lodge has just four rooms and suites, Each room and suite has wonderful views and access to the extensive balcony with infinity pool. Each room has a distinctly African feel with comfortable beds and over-sized bathrooms – some with private outside showers. Underfloor heating is provided for those chilly winter nights. Tamodi has two large lounges with three massive log fireplaces to make your stay cozy even during the winter months. Sumptuous breakfasts are provided. Tamodi is for nature lovers! You will enjoy the quiet solitude of the African bush with the occasional sightings of baboons and vervet monkeys. This is a great location for bird watching.

About Tamodi’s Location

Tamodi Lodge is located 7 minutes drive from the main N2 highway in the midst of the forest. Keurboomstrand with its spectacular beach scenery and renowned beach restaurant Enrico’s is just a short 10 minute drive. Guests wishing to enjoy horse riding will not be disappointed as Tamodi is also an equestrian center.  The fascinating animal parks in The Crags are within a 10 minute drive. These parks enable you to get close to small cats, birds, elephants, monkeys and, yes, even snakes! The highest bungy jump in the world is a 30 minute drive and the Tsitsikamma National Park is 45 minutes away. You will enjoy a walk on the beach at Nature’s Valley  which is one of the most unspoiled locations along The Garden Route. The Plettenberg Bay wine route is close by  and a hike on the spectacular Robberg Peninsula Nature Reserve is just a 20 minute drive.

Aquavit, Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route

Aquavit is a beautiful property with one of the best views in Plettenberg Bay from your room!

Aquavit is all about luxury, comfort and spectacular views. The property has one of the top ratings on Trip Advisor of any establishment in South Africa and clearly deserves its 5 star rating. Aquavit has five exquisitely appointed rooms. Each room has its own semi private balcony or poolside patio. The owners have decorated each room in light earthy tones which, with the crisp white bed linens and huge windows gives a very airy and spacious feel. The large sliding windows open onto the balcony or poolside patio. Here you can relax in a lounger over looking one of the best views of Plettenberg Bay we have encountered. Aquavit is a small property and very popular so in the main season you should book well in advance to ensure availability. We at South Africa Sun are sure you won’t be disappointed.

About Aquavit’s Location

Plettenberg Bay is the gem of the Garden Route. The three main beaches are among the finest in South Africa. All the beaches are within a 5 minute drive of Aquavit. The town of Plettenberg Bay has some excellent restaurants so you will not be short of fine places to eat. If you enjoy a relatively easy hike choose the Robberg Peninsula Nature Reserve. The location offers a variety of hikes from the relatively easy to the fairly challenging. With each hike, however, you will be rewarded with some of the best photo opportunities. Robberg Peninsula was the site of the first semi permanent settlement in South Africa when  a Portuguese ship foundered in 1630. The survivors stayed for nine months before departing on the two ships they built.

You can drive from Aquavit to the numerous activities close by. Plettenberg Bay has its own wine route featuring 17 wineries and just 15 minutes’ drive away you can enjoy the fascinating animal parks at The Crags. Drive 30 minutes to the world’s highest bungy jump. A further 20 minutes will take you to the spectacular Tsitsikamma National Park and Storms River where you can enjoy a Tree Top Canopy Tour.

Granny Mouse Country House, Balgowan

Luxurious Old World Charm set in the scenic Natal Midlands

Set in beautiful gardens, this attractive thatched country house has a variety of luxuriously appointed rooms and suites. Accommodation is provided on a B&B basis but the property has two well rated restaurants. One is a bistro and the other boasts fine dining.

About the Location

This is a very convenient location for those arriving at Durban Airport. This is an easy 1 1/2 hour drive and breaks any journey to the Drakensberg or the Battlefields. This is probably one of the most English of all locations in South Africa. The area is full of craft locations, great restaurants, trout fishing and one of South Africa’s premier schools, Michaelhouse, is close by in the village of Balgowan


Montusi Mountain Lodge, Drakensberg

Montusi is an exceptional family owned and run property in a magical location

It is rare that we repeat verbatim the words from the website of a property but in our minds having spent time here, these words are perfect: “Montusi Mountain Lodge offers genuine hospitality in the tranquility of one of the most beautiful settings in Southern Africa. Space, comfort and peace are what you will find. Treat yourself to the natural splendour and peaceful, romantic ambiance of this Drakensberg haven.”  There are 10 spacious, self contained Garden Suites, 4 Family Suites and 2 much larger Mountain Suites. These are set in an estate of 1,000 hectares with the glorious backdrop of the imposing wall of The Amphitheatre. This is one of the most spectacular areas of the Drakensberg.  Accommodation is on a Dinner, Bed & Breakfast basis with food served in the main thatched lodge

About Montusi’s Location

The property has a swimming pool and tennis courts and horse riding and guided hiking can be arranged. Guided hiking can be arranged to the top of Montusi Mountain. Excursions to a cave with Bushmen paintings as well as into the nearby Royal Natal National Park are also offered. For the adventurous a guided hike to the top of the Amphitheatre can be arranged. You can hire Mountain Bikes and ride on the 100 km Drakensberg Mountain Biking Trail which goes right through the property. Fly fishing is available on the lodge’s two dams and for those seeking extreme thrills, All Out Adventures is a 10 minute drive away. Add a stay at Monusi to a battlefields location and a KwaZulu Natal Game Reserve.


Maison Chablis

Franschhoek charm

This is a charming house with 7 tastefully appointed en-suite rooms – most with a private entrance. The grounds are compact but there is a reasonable sized shaded pool.

About the Location

The property is located in the oldest part of Franschhoek – the area known as the French Quarter with many properties dating back to the 1700s and the early French Huguenot settlers. The lively town centre is a short walk away and there are numerous fine restaurants to choose from. The South Africa Sun ‘Care Package’ will help you select the right one for you. The Franschhoek Valley abounds with fine wineries so a wine tasting tour (this can be arranged by Maison Chablis) is always guaranteed to be a memorable experience.


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.


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.


Franschhoek Country House Hotel, Franschhoek

An exclusive luxury boutique hotel in the centre of stylish Franschhoek

This is a small country hotel on the edge of Franschhoek. Note that you need to drive to the village centre.  The grounds are beautifully landscaped and overlook the mountains and vineyards, which are such a feature of the Franschhoek valley. The accommodation is very comfortable and decorated in a typically Cape style and some have private stoeps and balconies. The hotel has 25 bedrooms including 12  villa suites, which offer the ultimate in luxury and space and the peace, and tranquility of the surroundings is complemented by fine modern cuisine in the rated restaurant, which, in summer is served on the terrace overlooking the gardens. There is a swimming pool with wonderful views of the surrounding mountains.

About the Location

Here you are situated among some of the finest wineries anywhere in the world. From the hotel you can join the Franschhoek Wine Tram which offers a unique way to see some great wineries and sample their products without driving! Franschhoek has many fine restaurants and such is the popularity of this area, you will need to book some of the restaurants well in advance at the busiest times of the year – especially over Christmas and New Year.


Diemersfontein Manor

Diemersfontein Manor, Wellington

Diemersfontein is a beautiful winery with comfortable rooms and some luxurious cottages set in luxuriant gardens

This is one of our favourite places to stay in the Cape Winelands.  Diemersfontein, which is one of the most successful new wineries with some excellent wines, is set in its own extensive landscaped gardens full of the colours and scents of South Africa. The swimming pool is small but beautifully positioned within the gardens. The 10 bedrooms are either alongside the garden or in a separate cottage among the extensive vineyards. The rooms are air conditioned and decorated in a clean cut cottage style. The cottages are relatively basic and regarded as typically 3 star. The estate, however, has three houses set in the grounds which are 4 star and very comfortable. This are 5 bedroom houses and guest will rent the entire house. This is ideal for couples traveling together. The restaurant is receiving critical acclaim and the estate’s wines have won numerous awards. We recommend a wine tasting during your stay.

About Diemersfontein’s Location

The entrance to the estate is across the road from an unusually tidy township. Although some guests may find this a little off putting, once inside the estate the beautiful scenery will captivate you. Horse riding is available from the stables at the hotel and we would recommend an evening ride into the mountains followed by a sunset braai (barbecue) on the trail. This is a good base to explore the Winelands and with Cape Town only 45 minutes away along a first class motorway, there is excellent access to shopping malls, the centre of Cape Town and Table Mountain. Tulbagh in the Northern Winelands is a 40 minute drive. You can also explore two of the most spectacular road passes that navigate a way over the mountains that hem the Cape Town area to the north.