Four Rosmead Guesthouse is situated on the slopes of Table Mountain in the select Oranjezicht area and enjoys 360º views of the mountain, Lions Head, Signal Hill, Table Bay and the city. This elegant boutique hotel/lodge is within walking distance of the city centre, vibrant Kloof Street with its restaurants and alfresco café scene, and is 5 minutes by car to the V&A Waterfront, or the beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay. Warm hospitality, discreet and efficient service are very much the hallmarks of Four Rosmead. Built in 1903, Four Rosmead has been sensitively and stylishly remodeled so that its classic Cape heritage has been sympathetically combined with a contemporary style. The decor is chic with a subtle, distinctive African spirit. Accommodation consists of eight individually styled en-suite bedrooms (1 suite, four deluxe and 3 luxury rooms) which offer extra-length beds, air conditioning, satellite TV, telephone, minibar, dvd player, ipod base station, safe, bath robes, coffee/tea facilities and Wi-fi internet connectivity. Selected rooms also have a fireplace, private garden, balcony or courtyard. A small massage room spa offering a variety of treatments, and a patio overlooking the pool deck and herb garden all contribute to a sense of urban sanctuary in which guests can relax and unwind.
Four Rosmead displays selected artwork crafted by local South African artists. Guests are able to choose from a variety of works ranging from wire sculptures to oil paintings to beaded animals. Most are available for purchase as a tangible memory of your stay at Four Rosmead. Another very welcome facility is the shower and changing room for early arrivals/late departures. English, French and German are spoken.
3 Nights
Bed and Breakfast
River Manor Boutique Hotel & Spa, in Stellenbosch, has a quiet riverside location in a peaceful avenue of oaks, yet it is within two minutes walk of the museums, street cafes, restaurants and art galleries of the historic centre of Stellenbosch. In this owner-run lodge, bedrooms are stylishly furnished with a sure hand. They seem to combine a colonial style, with antique pieces and artefacts, with a modern African twist in the soft furnishings. River Manor consists of two separate houses which have been combined to create the lodge. This means that there are two separate sitting rooms, two large swimming pools and plenty of space in the gardens so there's always a quiet spot to relax with a good book.
Facilities in the 14 bedrooms include telephone, television, minibar, overhead ceiling fan and complimentary sherry & port. Air-conditioned rooms are available on request. Enjoy leisurely breakfasts and pre-dinner drinks at the poolside or in the pretty first floor conservatory. The Studio Spa in the gardens have two treatment rooms and completes the restful ambience. There's no restaurant but a range of restaurants all within easy walking distance and a simple in-house dinner is on offer with a small wine list.
Lagoon Lodge on Mosaic Private Sanctuary is an enchanting lodge on the edge of Hermanus lagoon in an ancient milkwood grove. Lagoon Lodge has a spectacular setting with views overlooking a bird sanctuary and lake towards the beautiful Overberg Mountains. The five shady, spacious en-suite stone and thatch suites are built on the lagoon's edge. Each has an ensuite bathroom with large tub and outdoor shower as well as a wooden deck overlooking the lagoon with its mountain backdrop. One is a large family suite which can sleep two adults and two children. Wooden boardwalks take you to the open 'lapa' area where lunch is served and the main lodge. Here you can enjoy the magnificent sunset over the lagoon or a drip in their modest swimming pool. Lagoon Lodge is very unusual in the Hermanus area as it has the feel of an African safari lodge with its open central building and use of natural materials.
The other big plus for Mosaic is the range of activities on offer on the estate.
Nature enthusiasts can discover the amazing Cape Floral Kingdom and its magnificent fynbos and birds by exploring the 933ha reserve on foot or kayak. The rates at Mosaic Farm include a guided morning nature walk and a range of sundowner activities (weather permitting). Hop onto their open 4x4 vehicle or a quad biking excursion and discover fynbos, birds and the pristine Walker Bay Beach and Nature Reserve where you can enjoy beautiful sunsets over the ocean. Between June and December, Southern Right Whales migrate from Antarctica to the shelter of Walker Bay to mate and calf. You can cruise among the water birds on the Hermanus Lagoon aboard the 'Spirit of Angus' perhaps enjoying an impromptu swim off the boat. Or try kayaking on the lagoon to view the stunning blue cranes and water birds in this natural wetland. Also included are archaeological cave tours to Klipgat Cave, beach walks and wine tasting at Springfontein Wine Estate.
However Lagoon Lodge at Mosaic also offers a number of optional activities (at extra cost) such as spa treatments as well as offsite excursions such as shark cage diving, boat-based whale watching and scenic tours by plane.
Mosaic offers birdlife, a beautiful lagoon setting and masses to do, yet it is only 30 minute drive to the picturesque fishing and resort town of Hermanus, and 20 minutes to the whale-watching viewpoints of Die Kelders and Gans Bay. As there's so much to do at Mosaic, we recommend at least two nights and ideally three.
SELF-CONTAINED COTTAGES
3km away the historic Spookhuis operates as an independent bistro/deli on the Mosaic estate, and offers some indoor entertainment options (television, extensive library, board games) in case of inclement weather.
Here Mosaic also offers four self-catering cottages about 3km away. Make yourself at home surrounded by beautiful natural finishes, wood-burning stoves, braai, stoep and a huge deck. However braai baskets, breakfast baskets and other food goodies are available at the Spookhuis Country Deli.
2 Nights
Full Board Plus - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, Lunch and Activities
1x Lagoon Lodge at Mosaic (Double)
5 Star
Lodge
Spoken Languages: Afrikaans, English, Xhosa, Zulu
No. Rooms: 5
Special Interests: Adventure, Beach / Coastal, Birding, Cycling, Flora, Gourmet, Hiking, Leisure, Nature, Relaxation, Watersports, Wine
La Plume Guest Farm near Oudtshoorn is a working ostrich farm with peaceful views over the Olifants river valley to the Swarberg mountains. The attention to detail really sets La Plume apart: pretty cushions on the outdoor furniture and flowers on your patio table. The attractive Victorian homestead is decorated in period style and all 12 en suite rooms are well-appointed, air-conditioning, ceiling fan, complimentary port, television, bar fridge and furnished with Cape antiques. The honeymoon suites are particularly spacious and offers South African antique furniture. The two-bedroom cottage with two bathrooms is ideal for families. Farm tours and Karoo farm-style dinners are available on request, if you don't feel like stirring from this tranquil oasis. There's also a pool in the pleasant garden.
The Little Karoo is perfect for children with the Cango caves, the ostrich farms and the Cango wildlife ranch amongst other options. La Plume has a two-bedroom cottage with two bathrooms which is ideal for families of up to five. This can also be taken as a two bedroom cottage for smaller families. The individual bedrooms can also accommodate one child on an extra bed.
1 Night
Bed and Breakfast
1x Superior Suite (Double)
4 Star
Guest House
Spoken Languages: Afrikaans, English
No. Rooms: 20
Special Interests: Birding, Cycling, Flora, Golf, History & Culture, Indigenous Culture / Art, Leisure, Nature, Relaxation, Star Gazing
Periwinkle Lodge is a stylish guesthouse overlooking Robberg Beach, a long sandy beach in Plettenberg Bay of the Garden Route. It's decorated in a relaxed and comfortable way as would typify your own beach house, if you had one, with lots of beach references (shells surrounded mirrors and wooden artefacts) along with a provencal style - with bright cheerful fabrics. The sitting/dining room is attractive - a large open plan space with an arched yellowwood roof - with floor to ceiling glass windows and doors leading out to the balcony overlooking the beach and Robberg Nature Reserve on the other side of the bay.
The four superior rooms at Periwinkle Lodge offer gorgeous views of the Indian Ocean from the bedroom, with floor to ceiling window and French doors opening onto a balcony, and a full bathroom with bath and shower. The standard rooms are similar in size but with sea or partial sea views from their balconies only, and with a shower only in the bathrooms. One room has a garden view only. All are furnished in a bright, colourful Provencal style and offer TV, telephone, tea/coffee facilities and bar fridge. Enjoy breakfast on the balcony, from where you can watch the dolphins frolicking in the bay (all year) or whales coming in to calve (typically from August to November). Dinners are available at Periwinkle Lodge on alternate nights of the week for guests who don't want to eat out. (Most of the restaurants in Plett cannot offer the view from the balcony that Periwinkle Lodge can!). There's no swimming pool at Periwinkle Lodge but the beach is only metres away.
3 Nights
Bed and Breakfast
1x Superior Room (Balcony) (Double)
Covering 10,000ha of beautiful and diverse bushveld, Kariega Game Reserve offers abundant game including lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, hippo, hyena, giraffe, zebra and numerous antelope species. The birdlife along the river banks is excellent with martial and crowned eagles often soaring above you and the plantiff cry of the fish eagle often heard.
Kariega River Lodge is Kariega's superior four star game lodge which has a stunning riverside setting. Perched on the banks of the Bushmans River, it offers spectacular river views from its ten well-appointed, spacious thatched suites.
Kariega River Lodge offers a particularly good range of activities. As well as morning and afternoon game drives open vehicle game drives, they offer river cruises on their African Queen boat, beach visits by boat to Kenton on sea, great fly-fishing from the deck, canoeing from the lodge jetty, bush walks, and a range of combinations such as a river cruise followed by a game drive. Indeed if you like the idea of combining a safari with some relaxation on the beach, it doesn't get much easier than from Kariega River Lodge!
The main lodge has a homely ambience with a large deck which overhangs the river. It's offers a warm, friendly ambience with plenty of places to relax in privacy from the riverside deck, the lap pool, lounge, upstairs reading deck and upstairs TV area. Each air-conditioned suite has river views with spacious en suite bathroom with bath and shower as well as ceiling fan, satellite TV and minibar.
2 Nights
Bed and Breakfast
1x Double Room
4 Star
Safari Lodge
Spoken Languages: Afrikaans, English, Xhosa
No. Rooms: 10
Special Interests: Big 5, Birding, Fishing, Flora, Hiking, Leisure, Nature, Relaxation, Star Gazing, Watersports, Wildlife
