With bright and cheery rooms around a courtyard, a lively themed bar, and an al fresco terrace, the Canyon Roadhouse is another interesting addition to the portfolio in the private Gondwana Fish River Canyon Park.

Canyon Roadhouse is a roadhouse like no other because it's likely to be your destination. The upbeat and quirky décor barely disguises the age old coaching house of early pioneer days and the mood is set by a strong desire to go nowhere quickly.

Twenty four bright and comfortable en suite rooms line a courtyard - complete with all those the odd-looking plants that make you realise you're far from home - and there is a shaded campsite on the riverbed.

The living area features a lively bar and an á la carte restaurant dishing up hearty meals with fresh home-grown ingredients. The Kalahari is a hot, dry and dusty place, so the swimming pool is worth special mention here: large, cool and clean, it's almost as inviting as the cold beers in the bar.

The Canyon Roadhouse is en route to the Fish River Canyon and inside the Gondwana Canyon Park - a revelation of enterprise and home-brewed charm. The private reserve is twice the size of the Isle of Man and runs along the eastern edge of the length of Fish River Canyon conservation area.

The two other accommodation options in the park include the pioneer's farmhouse of Canyon Lodge and the rural inn of Canyon Village.