Hog Hollow Country Lodge
One of my favourite properties on the Garden Route! This 4 star lodge is located on the edge of the Matjies River Gorge, 18 kms out of Plettenberg Bay and it offers a breath-taking view of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
The rooms are decorated in vibrant bright coloured fabrics and kept in a comfortable African style, all units have a spacious bathroom and a terrace as well as a view onto the trees.
You can enjoy the same view from the pool and pool deck which invites guests to relax and cool off on a hot summer’s day.
There’s a big terrace in the main building which is almost like an outdoor lounge. What I really liked was the fire pit on the terrace which is great in summer and in winter, always nice to have a fire on in the evening! Very South African… 🙂
The restaurant at Hog Hollow serves breakfast, lunch and dinners. Normally there’s a children’s meal for dinner already included while the parents can order from the a la carte menu.
There’s a long dinner table where guests are seated all together and can chat about their travel experiences. This might not be everyone’s cup of tea, so if you prefer to enjoy a quiet evening with your loved ones only, a private table will be arranged for you.
The lodge offers great horse trail activities for everyone from beginners to advanced riders. You actually drive past the horse stables on your way to the lodge. One can walk comfortably to Birds of Eden and Monkeyland and then get a lift back to Hog Hollow afterwards.
This is a lovely place to just relax and put your feet up but also be close to some of the most beautiful nature sites that South Africa has to offer. Definitely worth recommending!
Hunter’s Country House & Tsala Treetop Lodge, close to Plettenberg Bay
Wow, what a stunning property! Hunters Country House is located 10 km from Plettenberg Bay and 24km from Knysna.
Hunters Country House is a 5 star resort that combines traditional elements with modern comfort. The rooms are individually decorated, all are thatch- roofed and offer a fire place, spacious bathrooms and interior in natural, earthy colours. Some of the higher room categories have their own private terrace with a pool and garden.
There is a lovely outdoor boma in a bedouin tent style with comfortable couches and arm chairs, perfect to enjoy a pre-dinner drink or just read a book and put your feet up! The boma is located next to a large swimming pool to cool off on hot summer days.
For families there is a play area for children as well as a club house with DVDs, video games etc. for teenagers.
The main building including Reception and Dining Room showcases beautiful antique furniture and paintings which make this a special spot to have dinner.
Breakfast is served in the conservatory while lunches and dinners are arranged in the dining room or -on a warm evening – outside on the lawn.
We were shown around by Andrew who is one of the Managers and he mentioned that most of the staff have been working there for years. Always a good sign!
After our visit at Hunters Country House we also went to see Tsala Treetop Lodge which is on the same estate as Hunters Country Estate, about 5 min walk (or a quick drive) between the two.
Tsala is also part of Hunter Hotels however the style and interior is completely different to Hunters Country House. The lodge’s interior creates a warm atmosphere with an African feel to it while being quite modern.
The rooms are built high up above the treetops and offer a fantastic forest view while being completely private. Elevated wooden pathways connect the main lodge with the rooms and other facilities.
The rooms have a private outdoor deck and small private infinity pool. Once the glass doors are open it feels like indoors and outdoors are just the same!
Tsala has a wonderful wine cellar which invites guests to try one of their excellent wines.
Dinners are either prepared for guests at Tsala, or at the beautiful Zinzi Restaurant which is one the firm favourites of the locals in the area, and one of the best restaurants on the Garden Route.
What I liked about the property is the feeling of staying in a tree house in the middle of a jungle, however bars, shops and stunning beaches in Plettenberg Bay are only a 10 minute drive away from Tsala. A lovely option for guests who are looking for luxury in the middle of nature and are willing to spend a little more on their accommodation… well, quite a bit more… 🙂
Hunter’s Country Cottage
Tsala Treetop Lodge
Hotels, Gästehäuser und Lodges in Knysna – unsere Favoriten!
In Knysna we stayed for 3 nights at the beautiful Stannards Guest Lodge where Andrew and I had stayed before. We had booked the two luxury cottages which are situated on the side of the property and have a separate entrance and a private veranda each. Stannards Guest Lode is owned and managed by Patrick and Helene-Marie, a French couple that has travelled extensively which shows in the interior of the lodge. The guest house is located a only a 5 mins drive away from Knysna centre and offers tranquil surroundings and nature.
Each of the 6 double rooms is decorated individually and has its own entrance, private patio, full en-suite bathroom with shower and/or bath, television with DStv, free internet Wifi, tea and coffee making facilities.
There’s a very large swimming pool and the hammock in the garden invites you to relax, read a book and just snooze under the tree. You’ll find more details and pictures on their official website: http://www.stannards.co.za/
Patrick and his wife are always there to help arranging activities, restaurants and give advice what to do in the area.
Stannards is definitely one, if not THE best, 4 star guesthouse in the Knysna area if one looks at their prices and location. A superior double room including breakfast in the middle of high season is currently less than EUR 100 per night….!
