Feature: Non Malarial

River Club, Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route

The River Club has to be one of the best locations for a family holiday but it is ideal for couples as well

River Club is a development of similar properties situated just a 10 minutes walk from Plettenberg Bay’s beautiful Central Beach. Here we feature Primrose Cottage which is a pretty bungalow in traditional South African colonial design.  There are 3 double bedrooms, with one en-suite and a family bathroom. The cottage has a large living area with a wood burning stove for chilly winter evenings and a great kitchen. Facilities include television, DVD player, Hi Fi radio and CD player, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer and microwave. A barbecue (braai) completes the specification. The local butcher will amaze you with the quality and price of the meat prepared specially for a traditional  braai. In addition to Primrose Cottage there are a number of other similar properties, some larger, to rent in the same development.

About The River Club’s Location

The complex has a pool, tennis and squash courts. It is situated close to the Piesang River that has an abundance of birdlife. You may also see the occasional otter. The centre of Plett is close, 5 minutes’ drive, and here you will find plenty of shops for all your needs. There is also a mall for some of South Africa’s leading chain stores. The spectacular Robberg Peninsula Nature Reserve has some wonderful coastal walks. Although the properties are self catering, there are so many great restaurants locally it is possible to eat out for all your meals.


Laird’s Lodge

Laird’s Lodge, Plettenberg Bay

Quiet location and comfortable accommodation in the Heart of The Garden Route

This is a small luxuriously appointed country lodge set in the Harkerville Forest that lies between the N2 highway and the spectacular coastline close to Plettenberg Bay. There are 16 beautifully appointed rooms and a level of privacy that gives Laird’s Lodge  an excellent reputation for people looking to ‘get away from it all’. The gardens are a veritable botanists dream and provide a calm oasis to chill out and relax – maybe savouring a drink beside the pool. Laird’s Lodge is particularly renowned for its fine restaurant.

About the Location

The Lodge is situated on the edge of the forest around 10 minutes’ drive to the centre pf Plettenberg Bay and its fine beaches. You are also only 15 minutes away from bustling Knysna and around 20 minutes from the animal parks in The Crags.  The lodge is at the centre of the Garden Route Wine Trail with its 17 wineries – many offering fine cuisine with your wine tasting.


Milkwood Manor, Plettenberg Bay

A true beachfront hotel in the heart of the Garden Route

Milkwood Manor must have one of the best locations on The Garden Route. It is adjacent to Lookout Beach, which is one of the three main beaches in Plettenberg Bay. The 11 bedrooms are beautifully appointed,  stylishly decorated and are a reasonable size. Many have balconies with views over the tidal lagoon. If the beach isn’t enough then you can relax with a drink beside the pool or on the terrace overlooking the lagoon.

About the Location

This location is an ornithologist’s dream with a wonderful range of bird species right outside your bedroom window. The hotel has a Thai restaurant, open from October to April, reflecting the owner’s part Asiatic origins. If you need alternative cuisine then the Lookout Deck is just across the car park. This is a renowned local haunt where you can order excellent seafood and grills overlooking the Indian Ocean. The centre of Plettenberg Bay is a short drive away and, for the energetic, you can walk into the centre.


Naries Namakwa Retreat

Naries Namakwa Retreat, Nr Springbok

Naries provides unusual accommodation in a rarely visited corner of South Africa

Naries Namakwa Retreat is a  truly unique property is situated 20 kms west of the one time copper mining town of Springbok. There are 5 double rooms in the manor house, some with sweeping views over the valley to the east. Additionally there are 3 extraordinary Namakwa style huts perched high on a ridge. These overlook the dramatic Specktakel Pass with the original copper mine discovered in 1671 still apparent at its base. These huts are as luxurious as some of the finest game lodges in South Africa and are thatched on the inside as well as the outside. This keeps them cool in the blistering summer sun and warm in the chilly winters. There are also 2 family cottages. The lodge prides itself on its excellent cuisine served in a romantic candlelit dining room.

About Naries’ Location

The extensive grounds of this private nature reserve are crisscrossed with walking trails. Although good at any time of the year, during July, August and early September you will be walking amongst the dense and vivid Namakwaland flowers that bloom briefly. From here you will be able to get to the extraordinary Richtersveld National Park. Here you will experience its moonscape terrain and equally weird vegetation. The coast is mainly controlled by De Beers because of the extensive offshore and onshore Diamond mining activities. It is possible to join a guided tour of these activities and also of the extensive shipwrecks littering the coast. This location can be combined with a visit to the extraordinary Kgalagadi Transfrontier park sandwiched between Botswana and Namibia in the Kalahari desert. In between, you can visit the Augrabies Falls where the Orange river plunges down a series of impressive waterfalls.


 

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.


Belvidere Manor, Knysna, Garden Route

Belvidere Manor has sweeping views over the renowned Knysna Lagoon and is an historic property with a charming tavern

Experience the convenience of your own cottage in the grounds of Belvidere Manor  with incomparable views of the Knysna lagoon. Each of the 30 cottages has a lounge with open fireplace, fully equipped kitchen, a double bedroom with en suite bathroom and spectacular views thrown in as an added bonus! Breakfast is provided on the stoep (veranda) of the historic manor house. Reviews are generally very favorable but there have been some (very few) concerning service quality and the  need in places for some refurbishment.

About Belvider Manor’s  Location

Belvidere is the quieter side of Knysna – especially in the high season (December and January) but the town is easily accessible  with its restaurants and interesting boutiques and art galleries in addition to the beautiful lagoon side beaches on Leisure Island only 15 minutes drive away. You can stay here as a base for your stay in the Garden Route with Plettenberg Bay just a 30 minute drive, the Tsitsikamma National Park an hour away and the  spectacular coast at Wilderness a 20 minutes’ drive.


Hog Hollow Country Lodge, Plettenberg Bay

Set in a forest close to Plettenberg Bay, this long established lodge consistently rates as 5 star on Trip Advisor

This is a veritable ecological experience 15 minutes drive from busy Plettenberg Bay. All 16 suites are decorated in true African style with extensive use of natural woods and colours. Relax by the pool and soak up the panoramic views across the forest and the Tsitsikamma Mountains in the distance.

About the Location

Hikes can be arranged through the indigenous forest with its abundance of bird life or you can extend your trip down to the Indian Ocean where you will see Dolphins and, in season, Southern Right Whales. Monkeyland is also close at hand where you can see an extensive variety of primates -many of which have been rescued from zoos to be relocated in a more natural environment. If the calm and peace of life at Hog Hollow listening to the myriad of birds in the trees begins to pall, then Plettenberg Bay is close with its three glorious beaches. You could drive to nearby Nature’s Valley at the start of the scenic old Bloukrans Pass and a beach which is great for walking but the tides make this dangerous for swimming, or maybe a quiet trip up the Keurbooms River stopping to relax and picnic (basket provided by the lodge) at one of the remote beaches will entice you. Whatever your interests, making Hog Hollow your base will allow you many options for your holiday.


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.


Tsitsikamma Lodge, Storms River

Rustic accommodation in log cabins which are great for families

Although very close to the N2 highway, as soon as you go through the gates you pass into a different world. The emphasis is on quiet ambience with accommodation set around 32 log cabins complete with private decks and barbecue area. The mountains provide a spectacular setting. The cabins are comfortably appointed and are large and many feature a spa bath. The swimming pool is a feature and is a good location to cool off from the heat of the day. The restaurant provides good food throughout the day and may feature an extensive buffet in the evening.

About the Location

A short distance away is the Storms River Gorge with a spectacular bridge but unfortunately pedestrian access is now prohibited. A little further and you will be able to walk into the Tsitsikamma Forest to see the incredible Yellowwood trees. Storms River Adventures is in nearby Storms River Village that is a 10-minute drive. Here you can abseil, go black water tubing, mountain biking or take the unique and exhilarating Tree Top Canopy Tour. The Tsitsikamma National Park is 15 minutes’ drive away and here you will find trails into the forest, the pedestrian suspension bridge across the River Mouth (not for the faint hearted and caves where some of the earliest human beings once lived. There is also a small sandy beach and a restaurant. All the features of this area are only a short drive away.


Kurland

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.