Pool Archives - Page 9 of 13 - South Africa Sun

Foresters Arms, Swaziland

Conveniently situated in the Kingdom of Swaziland halfway between the Kruger Park and Northern Zululand

This is a long established and renowned lodge in the middle of Swaziland. The lodge is well appointed with 34 luxurious rooms set in beautiful grounds overlooking the rolling, green hills of Swaziland. The style is English Country House with tasteful furnishings. The restaurant is reputed to be one of the finest in this tiny kingdom.

About the Location

The capital of Mbabane is fairly close with its market full of Swazi and other African crafts with the gaily-dressed stallholders milling around. From here you can also visit the world famous Swazi Candles and Glassblowing as well as some ancient mines. In the south of the country as you drive towards KwaZulu-Natal you will find Game Reserves with unique accommodation.

Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge, Sabi Sands

Ecological opulence in the African Bush

Minimalist opulence probably best describes the accommodation experience at Earth Lodge. This is also reflected in the price for staying here. The entire location has been designed to be almost obscured from the surrounding bush cleverly using a combination of natural materials in the building process. Each of the 13 suites are exceptionally private and large and although air-conditioned they feel naturally cool. The bathroom is a feature with a large bath and equally sizeable shower complimented by an extravagant private outside shower. Each room has a large living area and a tiled patio leading onto a welcome, cooling splash pool and a view of the nearby waterhole. You are well aware of being right in the bush with the sound of exotic birds and hippos grunting breaking the unique silence of the African bush.

About the Location

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 the lodge’s popular Wellness Centre – but be sure to book your treatment well in advance! The food and wine matches the lodge’s reputation as one of the top game lodges in South Africa.

Londolozi, Sabi Sands

Ultimate luxury in the African Bush

Londolozi has the deserved reputation as being one of the best and most luxurious of all the lodges in South Africa. The property is divided into four separate ‘lodges’, each with their own character. These are Founders Camp, Pioneer Camp, Battleur Camp and Tree Camp. Game drives are into the Sabi Sands section of the Kruger Park and the game viewing is usually excellent. This is an all-inclusive lodge and you will marvel at the high level of the cuisine that can be achieved in the middle of the bush.

About the Location

Sabi Sands, on the edge of the Kruger Park is renowned as one of the best locations for animal viewing. In particular, sightings of lions and leopards as well as elephant and plains game are usually assured.

Highgrove Country House Lodge, White River / Hazyview, Mpumalanga

A beautiful location especially when the jacaranda trees are blooming

For clients looking from an ‘away from it all’ experience in total luxury, Highgrove is definitely worth a visit. Set in its own parkland the 10 suites are beautifully decorated with the style you would expect from leading hotels. You are ensured a friendly welcome and the cuisine is regularly rated by our clients among the high points of their visit to South Africa. During springtime (October) you will also gaze in wonder at the avenue of jacaranda trees, which, although not native to South Africa, are almost as much of a floral icon as the Proteas of the Cape. The property is very popular as a wedding destination. As well as the luxurious accommodation, Highgrove is known for its fine cuisine.

About the Location

Highgrove is an excellent base from which to explore the Panorama Route including the Blyde River Canyon, Pilgrim’s Rest and it is also just a 40-minute drive to the Paul Kruger Gate for the Kruger Park. The lodge does arrange game drives into the park. The area around White River and Sabie is steeped in history and the little towns are home to many craftsmen and artists. The Lodge also has beautiful walking trails in the stunning surrounding coutryside. For those who wish to be pampered, visit the Orchard Spa.

Avondrust, Graaff-Reinet, Eastern Cape

Avondrust is a Victorian style property right in the centre of this pretty, historic town

Avondrust is a great, owner run, Guest Lodge located in the centre of Graaff Reinet. There are 11 beautifully appointed rooms, all decorated in cottage style. Most rooms are set in the quiet and relaxing garden with a pool and distant views of the surrounding mountains.

About Avondrust’s Location

There are a number of reasonable restaurants within walking distance. Graaff-Reinet is one of the gems of the Karoo with plenty of whitewashed cape dutch houses and a beautiful church based on Salisbury Cathedral in the UK! The dramatic Valley of Desolation is a 10 minute drive and here you will get a sense of walking in the footsteps of dinosaurs. In fact you are! This region is one of the top fossil locations globaly where numerous dinosaur remains have been found. Sleepy and slightly eccentric Nieu Bethesda lies approximately 25 kms outside the town and here you can amble around and view the incredible Owl House which is literally full of strange sculpures from the life of eccentric artist Helen Martins. The village also boasts an excellent micro brewery where you can lunch on home made goats cheese and kudu salami. This is a great location for just exploring this fascinating region which is almost entirely off the international tourist route.

Swartberg Hotel, Prince Albert

Traditional style in the Victorian gem of Prince Albert

The Swartberg Hotel has been operating for 150 years, is a national monument and has been fully refurbished and updated. This is a great country hotel offering accommodation in reasonably sized en suite rooms with air conditioning and many with beautiful antique furniture complimenting the beautiful wood floors. The restaurant is well regarded locally and in the warm summer evenings a cool beer on the stoep dripping with colourful bougainvillea is a must.

About the Location

Prince Albert is the town where time has stopped. Established in the Victorian era, the area specialises in rearing Karoo Lamb (also a local delicacy), citrus fruit and olives. The town boasts an excellent, small, leather shop and an outlet, which specialises in hand made rugs and other woollen items all made in Prince Albert. You are close to the spectacular Swartberg Pass and Meiringspoort Pass.

Saxe Coburg Lodge, Prince Albert

Old world charm in a comfortable lodge with excellent service

We love the hospitality at this small seven-room lodge – almost opposite the Swartberg Hotel. Some of the rooms are in the historic old house and four are in cottages in the grounds overlooking the distant Swartberg Mountains. There is also the possibility of accommodating a family in a suite of 3 bedrooms with two bathrooms, a small kitchen and a room housing memorabilia from the Boer War. A sumptuous breakfast is served by the owners either in the dining room or on the stoep overlooking the gardens.

About the Location

In the grounds you will see the property’s own dam, which stores water for irrigation purposes. This is fed by the interesting channels which go down each side of the main street and once a fortnight a sluice is opened allowing the owners to replenish their dams. As this indicates this is a very dry area with limited rainfall. The owner can arrange guided hiking tours into the Swartberg Mountains and into the mysterious Gamkaskloof (called ‘The Hell’ locally) which is a valley cut off from the rest of civilisation until the early 1960s. Alternatively you can enjoy the local produce based on Karoo Lamb, Olives and citrus fruit.

Saxe Coburg Lodge

Queen’s Hotel, Oudtshoorn

Traditional South African Country Hotel with a regal history

A delightful oasis set in the centre of hot, dusty Oudtshoorn. This is a timeless, if slightly impersonal, hotel frequented in 1947 by the British Royal Family on their trip to the, then, Union of South Africa. The hotel has undergone extensive renovation and the 40 rooms are clean cut with extensive use of cooling white most with en suite bathrooms. The lounge and dining room are beautifully decorated and the reception area with its black and white floor tiles and rich yellowwood staircase is a local landmark. There is a small pool in a very private garden.

About the Location

This is a good base from which to explore the sights of the region including Ostrich leather workshops and retail outlets, Cango Wildlife Ranch where you can stroke Cheetah (5 minutes drive), Ostrich show farms (a number within 10 minutes’ drive), The Cango Caves (20 minutes’ drive and the Swartberg Pass (45 minutes away).

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.

Eight Bells Mountain Inn, Robinson Pass, Garden Route

Eight Bells Mountain Inn is great for families in a beautiful location

Eight Bells is a charming, well-established country inn in the midst of the beautiful Robinson Pass over the Outeniqua Mountains between Mossel Bay (30 minutes’ drive) and Oudtshoorn (20 minutes’ drive). Accommodation is very comfortable mainly in cabin style rooms and suitable for children. The Inn is unusually well equipped for children with a good pool, snooker table and horse riding. For the energetic, the surrounding countryside is good for hiking particularly in the spring and autumn (September / October and April / June). The restaurant provides good food and we recommend trying their milk tart.

About Eight Bells’ Location

The inn is close to two Ostrich show farms. These are based on two ‘Feather Palaces’ built at the end of the 1800s and you will be able to experience these intriguing birds up close. In the nearby town of Oudtshoorn you can find some excellent outlets for goods made out of ostrich leather. You are also fairly close to the beaches between Mossel Bay (rather industrial) and Wilderness (approximately a 30 minute drive). If you are feeling energetic, drive the Swartberg Pass. The pass is a mainly gravel road approximately 45 minutes’ drive from Eight Bells. Just before you arrive at the pass, you will see the world renowned Cango Caves which are definitely worth visiting. Once on the pass, at the summit (in Afrikaans called Die Top) you will see a road to Die Hel. You can drive 2 1/2 hours into a valley that was left undisturbed by modern life until 1962. At the far end of the pass, you will arrive at pretty Prince Albert. A shorter drive will take you to Calitzdorp which is the centre of South African port production. You will be able to visit some excellent port wineries.