Pool Archives - Page 8 of 13 - South Africa Sun

Teremok Marine Lodge, Umhlanga Rocks, Natal North Coast

Stylish accommodation close to one of the top beaches in South Africa

This lodge, set in one of the most exclusive residential areas in South Africa, has a rich and romantic history. The land was acquired by a Russian immigrant, who fled the revolution and his wife in 1965. He subsequently died tragically and the house that had been built was eventually sold to the current owners in 2002. The property was fully renovated and enlarged, keeping many of the original features. The luxurious accommodation comprises 8 beautiful suites, each with their own balcony and some with sea views. The decoration is always cooling and whilst some rooms reflect the heritage of the original owners, others relate to the theatrical connections of the present owners.

About the Location

The Wellness Centre includes a well-equipped gym and a therapist is available to provide various treatments for that well-earned pampering! The tropical gardens include a wonderful pool for enjoying sundowners around after the heat of the day. The beach is 200 metres away and the lively centre of Umhlanga Rocks, with numerous, good restaurants, is just 1 km distant. This is within easy reach of Durban (15 minutes) and the airport (25 minutes) and is close to the Gateway Mall for inveterate shoppers! The renowned Hluhluwe – Umfolozi Game Reserve is approximately a two and a half hour drive.

Cathedral Peak Hotel, Northern Drakensberg

Cathedral Peak Hotel has the majestic Drakensberg Mountain as a natural backcloth for this traditional family owned hotel

Cathedral Peak is a well-established, family run hotel set in the dramatic scenery of the northern Drakensbergs. The accommodation is comfortable. There are a variety of rooms. Over 100 Standard, Deluxe and Executive rooms, 4 Honeymoon Suites and one Presidential Suite. We suggest the Executive Rooms and the suites as the Standard and Deluxe rooms we find rather basic and can the decor can be a little dated. Cuisine is a traditional South African buffet style, which is among the best we have encountered in South Africa.

About Cathedral Peak Hotel’s Location

The hotel offers an abundance of amenities including tennis, a heated swimming pool with spectacular views, a 9-hole golf course, squash, badminton and bowls. This is an excellent base for hiking in the mountain scenery with a mixture of walks and hikes from a 30-minute stroll to a waterfall to a 10-hour hike to the top of Cathedral Peak (3,000 metres). There are guided hikes provided each day. Horse riding and helicopter tours can also be arranged. The area also has good fishing. There can be snow in the winter when the hotel takes on an altogether different but romantic air with blazing log fires but daytime temperatures can easily reach 20C (70F). Cathedral Peak is a 4 1/2 hour drive along good roads from Johannesburg and 2 1/2 hours from Durban. The Boer and Zulu Battlefields are within easy reach and the Northern Zululand Game Reserves are within a 4-hour drive.

Thanda Private Game Reserve, Elephant Coast

One of the great Private Game Reserves of KwaZulu-Natal

Thanda has 9 luxury bush villas each with their own lounge, boma and, heated, splash pool. The bathroom features indoor and outdoor showers. In addition to an exclusive villa, there are also 16 luxurious tents with sweeping views of the reserve. These enable guests to get even closer to nature yet benefit from the height of luxury. The central facilities include full bar, lounge and ‘wellness centre’. The beautifully crafted food features traditional Zulu as well as interesting fusion between Western and African cuisine.

About the Location

There are a variety of different activities and experiences on offer. In addition to ‘Big Five’ game viewing on the reserve where the original ecosystem is being restored, Thanda can also arrange bush walks, excursions to the nearby Indian Ocean beaches and a variety of Zulu cultural experiences. Private game drives can also be arranged. Accommodation is provided on an ‘All Inclusive’ basis including game drives. the best time of the year to visit this area for a wonderful game experience is during South Africa’s winter season between May and November. This is the dry season for this region and this will help with game viewing. The humidity which can be intense during the summer months is much less in winter.

White Elephant Safari Lodge, Pongola, Northern Zululand

A real back to nature experience in the African Bush in Northern Zululand

White Elephant Lodge offers safari with a difference. Accommodation in the Safari Lodge is in 8 luxurious safari tents. These are well equipped with beautiful bathrooms, private, outdoor canvas shower, private veranda and personal bar. Exquisite white percale bed linen completes the style and each tent has insect gauze on the windows, ceiling fans and mosquito nets. Sumptuous meals are served at the main house, which is a restored colonial homestead. Accommodation in the Bush Camp is simpler in 7 thatched chalets. There is the same attention to style and quality and meals are taken in the dining area close to the viewing deck. Both lodges have a welcome swimming pool for relaxing beside after the day’s activities.

About the Location

The lodge is situated close to the border with Mozambique and Swaziland approximately a 5 1/2 hour drive from Johannesburg airport and 3 hours from Durban Airport. Two eco activities are included in the price. Activities include game drives into the Pongola Game Reserve, which was the first to be declared by President Kruger at the end of the 1800s, guided walks, Rhino walks, and Elephanting where guests participate in the reserve’s elephant monitoring project. Guest can also take a scenic flight with the flying doctor service into local communities, experience a number of cultural tours into the surrounding Zulu communities or participate in a programme where a psychologist provides a de-stressing programme with the elephants. The lodge also has a fully equipped wellness centre. Therefore, whether you are looking for a game experience, want to discover Zulu culture or just a chance to relax and de-stress, White Elephant should provide you with a memorable experience.

Hartford House, Giant’s Castle, Drakensberg

A stylish 5 star country house hotel in the beautiful Natal Midlands

This is one of KwaZulu-Natal’s finest boutique hotels. The location is exceptional as the hotel forms part of Summerhill, which is one of South Africa’s leading racehorse stud farms. There are 14 luxurious suites decorated in a style that befits this gracious Victorian estate. There is a renowned restaurant for fine dining and the Natal Midlands area is home to numerous good and casual restaurants. The Wellness centre will pamper you especially after a long flight and swimming and tennis are also available in the exquisite gardens. This is a very popular location for weddings.

About the Location

Durban Airport is a 2 hour drive and from here you will be able to drive easily to the Drakensbergs (Giant’s Castle is relatively close and Cathedral Peak is not too far). There are numerous Boer War battlefields close by and the Zulu battlefields are a 1 1/2 hour drive. Personal tours into the Drakensbergs can be arranged.

Lythwood Country Hotel, Lidgetton, Natal Midlands

The English Countryside comes to scenic Natal Midlands

This is an exclusive country lodge set on a 275-acre estate surrounded by forest. The lodge has 11 luxuriously appointed rooms, one honeymoon suite and there are also a selection of self-catering lodges for families. Fine food and wine is a feature of the lodge and we particularly like the flexibility provided by the a la carte menu.

About the Location

The extensive grounds provide a pool, croquet and numerous walks to soak up the peaceful atmosphere while this is also a bird watcher’s paradise. There are many activities and excursions that can be provided including a 4X4 day trip up the breathtaking Sani Pass over the dramatic Drakensbergs into Lesotho. Many cultural activities can also be provided giving guests a unique insight into the local communities, some of which are direct descendants of the original San inhabitants. There are many excellent craft shops along the Midland Meander and here you will also find the home of South African made Tsonga shoes and leather goods.

Royal Hotel, Pilgrim’s Rest

A living museum with style

This is a step back into the past. The whole of Pilgrims Rest is a living museum dating back to one of the earliest gold rushes in South Africa. The Royal Hotel has 50 bedrooms beautifully decorated in the Victorian style that harks back to its origins as a miners’ hotel. The accommodation is comfortable rather than the height of luxury and where possible some original touches have been maintained – particularly in the miners’ cottages which form part of the hotel. A feature that has changed very little over the years is the hotel bar that is a national institution reputedly with the greatest variety of scotch anywhere in South Africa.

About the Location

The entire street is a national monument and there are a number of interesting buildings in the area dating back to the 1870’s. Pilgrims Rest is close to the Panorama Route and Blyde River Canyon and there is fishing in the innumerable mountain streams nearby. The hotel has a pool and can arrange horse riding and golf. The Kruger Park is an hour’s drive away so this can be incorporated as an interesting stop over from Johannesburg.

Notten’s Bush Camp, Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve

A firm favourite in one of the best locations for game viewing

Set within the heart of the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Notten’s Bush Camp is an exclusively intimate retreat. The Lodge has been run by the Notten family for the past 30 years and is alive with the heart and soul of Africa. This is truly one of our and our clients’ favourite game lodges. Each of the 8 private suites is traditionally styled, spacious and cooled by ceiling fans. This very different to most of the private game lodges with the deliberate absence of electricity. Ambient candlelight and lanterns capture an enchanting spirit of romance and the African bush reminiscent of a bygone era. You will warm to the wonderful staff many of whom are from the local Shangaan people and who have been with the lodge for many years. This speaks volumes for the friendly and relaxed atmosphere of the unique lodge which has been voted one of the best game lodges in Africa. The rooms are all en suite, with mosquito netting on the windows and doors, and private viewing decks.

About the Location

The views in this peaceful setting are breathtaking and relaxation is guaranteed. Guests can also explore the regions prolific wildlife on safaris led by experienced rangers in open-top Land Rovers. Daily bush walks are available, and lazy hours at the sparkling infinity pool or a visit to the well equipped spa can fill the gaps. Notten’s prides itself in offering its guests some of the best wildlife experiences on offer in South Africa. The evocative sounds of the African night sets the perfect mood for dinning in the enchanting candlelit boma, beneath a canopy of stars. The massage deck is an ideal, peaceful setting for relaxing therapeutic treatments. Other facilities include the indoor lounge with a large fireplace, bar and wine cellar. The open-plan lounge and dining area leads onto a wooden deck overlooking a vast plain and waterhole. Our clients regard a visit to Notten’s as one of the highlights of their stays in South Africa.

Blyde River Canyon Lodge, Hoedspruit

Blyde River Canyon Lodge is one of the most romantic locations in South Africa

Blyde River Canyon Lodge is a pretty, 7 roomed thatched lodge. The lodge is situated near the town of Hoedspruit in the ‘state’ of Mpumalanga, east of Johannesburg. Accommodation is clean, simple and comfortable. The rooms and bathrooms are fairly basic but they do have air conditioning. In contrast, the common guest areas including the pool are excellent. Breakfasts are served on the veranda overlooking the grounds often in the company of zebra and reasonable dinners can be arranged. The enduring features of this property are the wonderful views from the grounds and the semi-tamed zebra, impala and even an elusive bush baby and occasional visit from a hippo.

About Blyde River Canyon Lodge’s Location

This is situated close to the spectacular Blyde River Canyon that is the world’s third largest canyon. This area is exceptionally photogenic. You can hike through the bottom of the gorge on good footpaths or go for a cruise on the Dam. This is an experience you won’t forget. You will walk among trees teeming with monkeys. You will gasp at the hippos and crocodiles basking on rocks as you cruise by at a safe distance. From the lodge you can drive to romantic Pilgrim’s Rest that hosted one of the earliest gold rushes in South Africa. History abounds in this area. This is also where the High Veld of the South African interior comes to a dramatic end plunging to the Low Veld some 2000 feet below. For clients who wish to travel to the Kruger Park, Orpen Gate is only a short (40 minutes) drive from the lodge. The area also boasts numerous private game reserves and animal rehabilitation centres. In the main, however, you will want to gaze in awe at the scenry along the Panorama Route.

Sabi Sabi Selati Lodge, Sabi Sands

Hark back to a bygone age of colonial exploration in the bush

This contrasts with Earth Lodge with a style that harks back to the early days of exploration in the bush. The name evokes the pioneers who built the Selati Railway line to Mozambique to service the early gold rush. The accommodation is in 8 beautifully and traditionally furnished thatched cottages. You will feel that you are in a luxurious pioneer camp. The honeymoon suite is exceptionally large with a bathroom to match! The suite also has its own private pool opening right out onto the surrounding bush. There is a central pool area with a viewing deck to enjoy a relaxing sundowner after the heat of the day in anticipation of another exiting evening game drive.

About the Location

You are well aware of being right in the bush with the sound of exotic birds breaking the unique silence of the African bush. There are two game drives a day into the surrounding Sabi Sands Reserve that is part of the Kruger Park. The reserve has some of the best game viewing in the Kruger area with frequent sightings of all the predators. When you are not seeing game, you can be pampered in Earth Lodge’s popular Wellness Centre – but be sure to book your treatment well in advance! The food and wine matches the lodge’s reputation and relaxed air as one of the top game lodges in South Africa.