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Tarn Country House, The Crags

Great location, fabulous reviews and pretty accommodation and surroundings

Tarn Country House is located 15 minutes’ drive from bustling Plettenberg Bay with its wonderful beaches. Situated against the backdrop of the Tsitsikamma Mountains in the Whiskey Creek Nature Reserve, there are 8 large beautifully decorated suites each with their own, private entrance. The extensive grounds are attractively landscaped with indigenous plants.

About the Location

There is a large pool and the sea is just 2 kms away. Tarn has an excellent restaurant with a good choice of freshly prepared food. The Mauritian Stir Fry is exceptional! There are many activities in the locality. Nature’s Valley is a short drive and the fine beach is a draw for surfers – unfortunately not so good for swimming. Keurboomstrand has exceptional coastal scenery and for bathing you will love Plettenberg Bay. Storms River and the Tsitsikamma Forest National Park is a 30-minute drive. The animal parks at The Crags are just down the road and here you can walk with elephants, wild cats, monkeys and birds for a truly unique experience. Renowned Bramon winery is very close.

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Kurland, The Crags, Plettenberg Bay

Ultimate luxury in a parkland setting within a short drive of spectacular beaches

This is a fascinating and luxurious hotel set in the countryside with views of the impressive Tsitsikamma Mountains. Although Kurland is one of South Africa’s leading stud farms and is renowned for its polo field and events, the hotel has a very relaxed atmosphere and is designed to ensure that families are not only welcome but exceptionally well catered for. The 15 suites are beautifully decorated and very generous in size. The style is Cape Dutch and so very traditional South African. Some family suites have a separate first floor open plane bedroom and bathroom for children complete with stair gate and cuddly toys on the beds to provide your children with a feeling of their own space. Some of the extra large suites also have their own private plunge pool.

About the Location

There is a childrens’ playroom complete with equipment and games right next to their own pool and outdoor games area. Activities include horse riding and quad bikes and the beach is approximately 15 minutes drive away. The Crags has some fascinating animal parks populated mainly by animals rescued from domesticity and here you will be able to get close to cats, elephants, monkees and even snakes, There is the largest aviary in the southern hemisphere and you can round off a visit with a tour and lunch at a local winery. Storms River with the Tree Top Canopy Tour experience and the spectacular Tsitsikamma Coastal National Park is just 35 minutes drive while for the exceptionally brave, the World’s highest bungee jump is even closer.

Kurland, The Crags

River Bend Country Lodge, Addo National Park

Great accommodation close to The Addo National Park

As a place to stay, now within the borders of the recently enlarged Addo National Park, and be pampered this small hotel of just 8 luxury suites offers their guests a calm and relaxed environment. The hotel’s rooms are exquisitely decorated and are in bungalows set around a central courtyard.

About the Location

After a morning’s game drive, return and have a leisurely breakfast overlooking the beautiful scenery of the Sunday’s River Valley, maybe relax beside the pool and then visit the health and beauty facilities before taking another game drive in the late afternoon. We advise an early and late drive because you will see different varieties of game. In the early morning you will see many different antelope including the massive, but normally shy and reclusive, Eland. Springbok, Kudu and Hartebeest abound and you are quite likely to spot a pair of jackal returning after a hard night’s work! Elephants will be walking to the waterholes for a morning’s refreshment and you will also see Warthog, Zebra, Meerkat, Ostrich and the extraordinary Secretary birds as the search for snakes! In the late afternoon you should see Rhino and Cape buffalo and, as they are introduced, Lion.

Elephant House, Addo National Park

Elephant House is a charming retreat close to the Addo National Park

Elephant House has a very African feel. The seven rooms are arranged around a courtyard and are thatched with deep verandas; there is also a separate cottage. The rooms are simply, but effectively decorated to a very high standard and they are larger than average. They have a pleasantly cool feel, which is necessary during the summer heat. The pool is very welcome after a hot day spotting game in the nearby Addo Park. We believe the value represented by The Elephant House will amaze you.

About the location

You can take an organised game drives into the Addo National Park with an experienced ranger or maybe you would like to drive yourself into the reserve. Elephant House can also arrange safaris into the private game reserves such as Schotia, Shamwari, Lalibela and River Bend. These will provide a different experience with the rangers able to drive off the main paths into the bush to find game.

Ocean View Hotel, Coffee Bay, The Wild Coast

A charming location by the side of a spectacular beach

For the adventurous, Coffee Bay will reward you with a beautiful beach, rugged coastline near to the impressive ‘Hole in the Wall’ which is one of the Wild Coast’s renowned views. Ocean View is a simple hotel comprising 30 double rooms (most en suite) some with stunning views over the ocean. We were particularly impressed by the spectacular sunrises! The pretty grounds extend down to the beach and include a pool and bar. The food in the dining room is simple, traditional South African fare served by friendly and obliging Xhosa locals. By South African standards this offers good, if slightly simple, but inexpensive accommodation.

About the Location

Coffee Bay can be reached from the N2 highway near Umtata, along a reasonable tarred road but there are potholes and free roaming domestic and wild animals that means a good hour’s drive. To get to Coffee Bay you will most likely either fly into Port Elizabeth or Durban (7 hour’s drive) or to Umtata (less frequent flights but only 1 hour’s drive. Driving through the Transkei, as this area of the Eastern Cape is known, is an experience – this is ‘real’ Africa with bustling towns and markets and the hill tops dotted with pretty rounds huts. It is, however, a relatively poor area and you will see scenes of poverty, over grazing and appalling soil erosion. Once you arrive at Coffee Bay, however, you will be rewarded with one of the most scenic coastal vistas and a beach that has been voted one of the best in South Africa.

Kariega Private Game Reserve,Nr. Kenton-on-Sea

A great option for families seeking a safari

This is a perfect safari location for families. Accommodation is in three lodges. The largest, Main Lodge, has log cabin style accommodation with large central dining facility and boma (open fenced area for wonderful evening meals around a log fire) and a great infinity pool looking over the characteristic Eastern Cape bush with views across the Bushman’s River and the Indian Ocean in the distance. Ukhozi Lodge is smaller; just 10 log cabins, and are more refined lending itself to older families. River Lodge is more exclusive with just 5 luxurious suites and is reached by boat for an even more exotic ‘feel’. The Homestead is for families who want the seclusion of their ‘own’ accommodation complete with their ‘own’ staff.

About the Location

The Game Reserve is divided into two. The area that includes the three lodges does not have the large predators, which means that walking safaris are arranged with children in mind for a special up close encounter with a wide range of plains animals. The lodge also has a boat for river-based safaris on the Bushman’s River. Game drives into the other part of the reserve will provide guests with memorable encounters with the ‘Big Five’ including Lion, Elephant Rhino and Cape buffalo. The remaining member. Leopard, are endemic to the region but tend to be very shy so sightings happen only occasionally. The game is managed on this reserve and we understand that the big predators are fed by the management. Although reducing the authenticity of the ‘Safari Experience’, this will help to conserve the usual prey of the big cats.

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Houtkapperspoort Manor & Cottages, Constantia Nek

A excellent option for families set in a scenic location yet close to amenities

These are 26 cottages and suites set in beautiful surroundings in the heart of the Cape Peninsula. The accommodation, which is ideal for families, is prettily furnished in stone cottages with traditional green painted iron roofs. The cottages and suites vary from one bedroom to four bedrooms and are fully equipped with TV, and barbecue facilities.

About the location

The location is ideal for walking up onto the Table Mountain range and there is a jogging trail to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Hout Bay (with excellent seafood restaurants) is just seven minutes away, the centre of Cape Town is an 18-minute drive and Cape Point and the False Bay beaches are 30 minutes away. There are a good choice of restaurants in Hout Bay and in the Constantia region.

The Vineyard Hotel, Cape Town

Slightly impersonal but a very convenient and comfortable hotel

The Vineyard is a large family owned and run hotel set in beautiful garden in the leafy Cape Town suburb of Newlands. It is very convenient for the cricket and rugby grounds and Cavendish Square Mall that is within walking distance. The reasonably sized rooms are comfortably furnished and decorated and either have a courtyard view or a mountain view. There are two excellent restaurants that offer a wide choice of cuisine. The pool and wellness centre must be seen to be believed with state of the art design and facilities. Guests will also find the ancient giant tortoises a delightful encounter as they wander around the luxuriant gardens.

About the Location

The hotel is one of the closest to the airport (approximately 20 minutes) and only 15 minutes from the city centre yet with a country ambiance. This is a very convenient location for the Kirstenbosch Gardens which are a 10 minute drive. Cape Point is approximately a 40 minute drive while the Cape Winlands around Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are just a 30 minute drive.

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.

The Bay Hotel, Camps Bay

If you are looking for a stylish beach-side luxurious hotel – The Bay Hotel is for you

This is a well-known hotel with one of the best beach-side locations in the Cape Town area. Just 10 minutes drive from the Table Mountain Cableway and the bustling city centre; you will be a short walk across the road to one of the most popular beaches in The Cape. The accommodation and public areas has been the subject of an extensive refurbishment and in our view offers excellent accommodation at a reasonable price. The hotel has good facilities including restaurants, a wellness centre and two pools but its location means that you will be within easy walking distance of some well-rated restaurants in the busy centre of Camps Bay.

About the Location

This is a good base for touring around the scenic Cape Peninsula and Table Mountain beckons from most windows. You should note that during the main South African school holidays, especially over Christmas and New Year, the Camps Bay area becomes very busy.