Tag: Route 62

Dreamy Drives: The Best Road Trips Around the Cape

Cape Town,Cape Winelands,Top Lists
2 comments
By Melanie Du Toit on

With its dramatic scenery featuring mountains tumbling into the Atlantic Ocean to its vineyard-dotted terrain in the rolling Cape Winelands, it’s no wonder Cape Town and its surrounds are a regular backdrop for music videos, adverts, and even award-winning movies. We’ve compiled a list of some of our favourite routes that will take you on drives past iconic landmarks and along the most Instagram-worthy vistas in the Cape:

Chapmans Peak Drive, Cape Town
Image credit: Andrea Willmore

Chapman’s Peak Drive

From the confines of Hout Bay, Chapman’s Peak Drive stretches out along the Western Cape peninsula, skimming the mountainside and offering unparalleled views of the ocean. Drivers can pay a toll and drive all the way to Cape Point or grab a picnic lunch and stop at the drive’s turnaround point.

Clarence Drive

Coastal routes abound in the Cape! Clarence Drive takes motorists from the quaint town of Gordon’s Bay, along Route 44, and through the small hamlets and coastal villages that dot this winding road. This road is said to be home to a whopping 77 bends – four of which exceed 150 degrees.

Long drives through the Western Cape can be rewarding

Route 62

Route 62 is one of the most popular drives in the Cape and while its full length will take motorists into the country’s interior before coming out at the Garden Route, small portions of it can be driven for those wanting to still head back to their Cape Town accommodation. Starting in the Mother City, Route 62 meanders through the Cape Winelands, onwards into the Klein Karoo, before reaching South Africa‘s lush Garden Route bordering on the country’s Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces.

Signal Hill Road

This is a short drive and one you can cram pretty quickly into your day. The drive along Signal Hill Road showcases the Mother City in all her glory, from the expansive City Bowl resting beneath Table Mountain, to the Atlantic Seaboard and ocean beyond. This is a highly recommended sundowner spot by locals and tourists alike. Get there early, though, picnic spots go fast!

flowers on west coast flower season

West Coast Flower Route

In the spring months, Mother Nature casts her paintbrush across the landscape of the West Coast, leaving a carpet of colour in her wake. The West Coast Flower Route attracts photographers, nature lovers, and road trip aficionados who simply wish to marvel at the stunning views and stop off in the cute towns.

Helshoogte Pass

A day in the winelands is always scenic, even on a cloudy day, but for truly stunning views a trip along the Helshoogte Pass is a must. This mountainous road winds between the towns of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch – two of the oldest settlements in the country. Stop at any of the numerous wine farms along the way and enjoy a tasting or two.

The spectacular landscapes of Franschhoek
Image credit: andBeyond

Franschhoek Pass

Another scenic drive to embark on when heading towards the charming town of Franschhoek is the Franschhoek Pass. This road runs along rising mountains, plummeting gorges, and past the Theewaterskloof Dam. Built by a group of soldiers under the instruction of Lord Charles Somerset, the pass was completed in 1822 and carried traffic for 100 years before undergoing construction again in 1922. An original bridge arching over a kloof, known as Jan Joubert’s gat, has been incorporated into a more modern one, making it one of the oldest bridges in the country still in use.

Dutoitskloof Pass

In winter, the peaks along the Dutoitskloof Pass are often dusted in snow, best admired while traversing the road between Paarl and Worcester. The surrounding mountains are known for their excellent climbing opportunities, while the pass boasts the impressive Huguenot Tunnel which was built to quicken the journey between the two towns.

Victoria Road is great for drives with the sea and mountain

Victoria Road

The Atlantic Seaboard awaits you along Victoria Road as it stretches from Sea Point all the way to Hout Bay. Pass the trendy suburbs of Clifton and Camps Bay and be sure to snap magnificent pictures of the Twelve Apostles mountain range. If you’re lucky, you may spot a whale or pod of dolphins frolicking in the waves.

Boyes Drive

False Bay views are panoramic along Boyes Drive as it snakes along the lower slopes of the Muizenberg mountain. Colourful Muizenberg Beach, with its row of vibrantly painted beach huts and lengthy coastline, is a sight to see with the Cape Flats extending beyond. Bonus: Muizenberg Beach is also one of Cape Town’s premier surfing beaches. Why not hire a board and try to catch a wave?

Bainskloof Pass for Tolkien-like drives

Bainskloof Pass

Like something out of a Tolkien novel, Bainskloof Pass’s winding route along green mountains speckled with granite boulders passes between the towns of Wellington and Ceres. Drive along a route once frequented only by horse-drawn traffic in an area declared a National Monument.

Have you done any of these dreamy drives along the Cape? Let us know & comment below. We’d love to hear from you!

Mileage & Memories on the Garden Route

Cape Town,Garden Route,South Africa
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By Melanie Du Toit on

While many consider the Garden Route to be a stretch of coastline running from the South African towns of Mossel Bay in the Western Cape to Storms River Mouth in the Eastern Cape, the Garden Route road encompasses so much more than that. Begin in South Africa’s darling city and meander across the Cape, passing biodiverse floral kingdoms, semi-arid desert areas, forests, and tiny coastal hamlets along the way. Let us show you the Garden Route.

Cape Town (0km)

Panorama of Cape Town at sunrise

The first stop of your Garden Route adventure starts before you even hit the road. Take yourself 1, 085m up into the air and onto the flat top of the Mother City’s most iconic landmark: Table Mountain. From here you can look upon the city, marvel at its surrounding mountain and coastline, and drink in what is arguably one of the most intoxicating viewpoints on the planet. At the same time, you are within the smallest but richest of the world’s floral kingdoms — and this is what puts the garden in Garden Route.

Swellendam (220km)

Swellendam's peaceful mountains along the Garden Route

One of the shining stars of the Overberg region and sprawled along the base of the Langeberg Mountains, Swellendam has long been used as a pit stop to and from Cape Town. Swellendam is often considered the start of the real Garden Route. From here, the landscape becomes more mountainous, lusher, and prone to verdant greenery. As your speedometer clocks back the kilometres, you approach what many consider to be the country’s own garden of eden.

The soft, colourful fields of Overberg

As South Africa’s third-oldest town, Swellendam naturally has a number of sites of historical interest — such as the Drostdy and Mayville Museums, and the Old Gaolyard — dotted along its streets. With its white walls and towering spire, the town’s Dutch Reformed Church is said to be one of the most photographed churches in South Africa. A visit to the Bukkenburg Pottery Studio, Kunstehuijs Fine Art Gallery, and Village Market are delightful ways to pass the time in this artistic hub, while an array of restaurants will satiate any appetite.

Oudtshoorn (422km)

Group of ostriches along the Garden Route with yellow rapeseed fields in background, South Africa
Image credit: Andrea Willmore

Nestled snugly between the Swartberg and the Outeniqua Mountains at the end of the scenic Route 62 in the Klein Karoo, Oudtshoorn is renowned for being the ostrich capital of the world. But that isn’t all this charismatic town has to offer…

The magnificent Cango Caves in Oudtshoorn

Travellers can explore the caverns of the Cango Caves, Africa’s largest cave system, which lies at the foot of the Swartberg Hills. Guests can take a tour to the nearby Cango Wildlife Ranch to observe its inhabitants before stopping by the Highgate Ostrich Show farm, where they can try their hand at riding an ostrich! Oudtshoorn is also the host of an annual national arts festival and forms a part of the Klein Karoo wine route.

Wilderness (441km)

A view of Wilderness along the Garden Route

By now the road has wound its way into the lush coastal region and through forests. Wilderness is anything but, considering its lively beach town atmosphere. Stretching for kilometres, the beach in Wilderness is no doubt one of its star attractions. Visitors can play in its warm waters or enjoy a variety of leisurely water sports along the gentle Touws River which leads into the ocean.

The town’s skyline is often scattered with paragliders who have leapt from a hilltop opposite the Map of Africa viewpoint. This viewpoint makes for a magnificent photo opportunity and is a great spot to bid farewell to the day and watch the sun go down. From here and from this angle, the Kaaimans River has carved an outline in the surrounding valley that is eerily reminiscent of the African continent. On clear days, travellers can see up to 6km of coastline stretching towards the neighbouring town of Sedgefield.

Perfect boardwalk to unwind at Wilderness

Tired of the N2 road running through the Garden Route? To be fair, it’s hard to be with all that beauty, but just in case, travellers should take the road (literally) less travelled by and venture onto the Phantom Pass which winds just above the town and forms part of the 7 Passes that connect George to Knysna. Be sure to have a camera with you!

Knysna (541km)

Knysna Heads

After passing through the natural beauty of Wilderness you arrive in Knysna — alive with inviting shops and restaurants and many natural attractions which are the staple of this route. Cruises on the town’s famed lagoon float right up to the imposing formation of the Knysna Heads — a regal natural gateway to the ocean worthy of a fantasy novel. The Knysna Heads are defining features of this town: two imposing headlands appearing to face off with one another, allowing water to pass from to the estuary around which the town is built.

The Waterfront in Knysna

Submerged rocks and changing tides deceived sailors for decades as they tried to make it safely into port, resulting in a variety of shipwrecks littering the estuary floor (which subsequently makes for excellent snorkelling and diving today). Thanks to advanced equipment and plenty of trials-by-error (by past mariners), it’s smooth sailing from here on out and visitors can now safely pass through these magnificent headlands on a catamaran boarded from the Waterfront.

The Simola golf course in Knysna
Image credit: Simola Golf and Country Estate

Aside from its warm waters and plethora of beach options, Knysna is also a popular golfing destination with an astonishing three golf courses within its boundaries—impressive for its size! Enjoy long greens dappled in the shade adjacent to the estuary at Knysna Golf Club, magnificent views and the odd baboon on the tee box at Pezula, while Simola’s undulating hills undoubtedly offer the most magnificent views of the town.

Plettenberg Bay (608km)

Seascape with rainbow at Robberg, Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route, South Africa
Image credit: Robberg Nature Reserve

Plettenberg Bay is sprawled across a picturesque stretch of coastline in the Garden Route and flanked by verdant afro-montane forest. Long revered as a top notch beach destination by South Africans at large, word has leaked out and this quaint seaside town now attracts international tourists along with nationals.

Robberg Peninsula stretches out to the right of Plett’s Central Beach and is a protected reserve — its 11km hike is a well-known circular trail in the area. Those who don’t quite feel up to it will be pleased to know there are shorter 2km and 4km options, as well as ablution facilities, barbeque facilities, and a breathtaking beach.

The scenic hiking route at Plettenberg Bay

See the peninsula from a different angle with  a marine safari leaving from Central Beach. Travellers can hope to see seals, dolphins, and the odd orca, while migrating humpback and southern right whales call the safe haven of the bay home at certain times of the year. Afterwards, a lounge and lunch on the beach is a great way to end off the day.

Visitors can even soar through forest canopies suspended on a zip line with Tsitsikamma Canopy Tours. This activity is fun for young and old alike and will see visitors zoom past ancient Yellowwoods, some of which experts estimate to be 700 years old! Keen eyes may even spot a Knysna Loerie and other woodland creatures.

Storms River (633km)

The bridge over the river at Tsitsikamma

The evocatively named Storms River is a place where adventure and exhilaration meet natural beauty. Emerald forests and winding rivers dip into the salty shores of the Indian Ocean in this region which extends along part of the Garden Route in South Africa’s Western and Eastern Cape, attracting birders, photographic enthusiasts, outdoorsmen, and hikers. Keep your courage in check while braving the highest bungee jump in the world. Bloukrans Bridge extends over the steep ravines which enclose Storms River. This is a must for daredevils and thrill seekers who want to knock this death-defying feat off their bucket list.

The calming hiking trial at Plettenberg Bay

Get acquainted with feathered and furry friends alike at Birds of Eden and its neighbouring Monkeyland in the Crags. Birds of Eden’s 2-hectare expanse is the largest free-flight aviary on the globe while Monkeyland boasts 18 different species of primate from lemurs to langurs. Still not intrigued? Well, to top it all off—Jukani Wildlife Sanctuary is also within walking distance and provides a safe home to a variety of big cats.

Group of boats on the shore

Kayak along the steep ravines and meandering waterways of Storm’s River, before transferring to a lilo for a leisurely float/paddle up the Storms River gorge. From this angle, adventurers can truly be struck by the magnificent scenery surrounding them.

Are you ready to let us take you there? Take a look at some of our tour options for the Garden Route or simply contact us to get started.

On the Road in the Winelands

Cape Winelands
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By Tamlin Wightman on

“What is that feeling when you’re driving away from people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? — it’s the too-huge world vaulting us, and it’s good-by. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies.” – Jack Kerouac, On the Road

Christmas time approached, the countdown began, kids munched away the chocolates in their advent calendars, and I said hello to two weeks of freedom. Holidays! Having fourteen days to suddenly do as you please – no work, no meetings, no deadlines – can be overwhelming. You want to get the most out of the days, to not miss a moment.

As offices closed and families gathered around lit up plastic trees and stuffed themselves with mama’s trifle, I decided the best idea was to jump in a car with friends and family and head on straight down the highway out of town.

On the road

Road trips – they’re the epitome of freedom. In a plane you miss all the good stuff. But on the road it’s all at your fingertips. You can stop off at all the places along the way – the farmstalls, wine farms (definitely my favourite), the fields of hay barrels and sheep and cows, different B&Bs and hotels and backpackers and guesthouses and game lodges, the ostriches, the hawks on electricity wires, the crows in the sky… You get to meet weird locals and foreigners with stories to tell.

We started on the coast – headed out from Cape Town on the N2 and along Clarence Drive, one of the most picturesque drives in the Western Cape. The road meanders around the mountain with the waves lapping up against the cliff on the other side. Out the window you can spot seals, whales, speedboats, kayakers, people fishing off the rocks and the horizon in the distance with Simonstown and Kalk Bay on the other side of the wide False Bay and Atlantic Ocean.

Pringle Bay has the best views

We pulled into Pringle Bay in the Cape Overberg for some shut eye and down time. Such is holiday life – beach days, sundowners and stargazing on the balcony and cheesy pizzas at the local bar-restaurant Perigators. Whatever our hearts desired.

On Christmas Day we drove on past Betty’s Bay and Kleinmond to the Botrivier Hotel for Christmas lunch – home cooked and wholesome, grandma’s kitchen style. Botrivier is a small village also in the Overberg, in the foothills of the Houw Hoek Mountains, en route to Hermanus. The hotel is friendly and unpretentious with comfy accommodation options if you plan to hang around longer.

Beaumont Wine Farm

Just a stroll away is the Beaumont Wine Farm, home to the region’s oldest wine cellar, which dates back to the 1700s. We did a wine tasting and bought a few bottles for the trouble. Beaumont is a family-run estate and has an intimate feel about it. They sell hand-crafted, classically-styled wines at the cellar and homemade produce. You can overnight in their farm accommodation and during your time experience one of the oldest working water-mills in the Overberg, meander through vineyards on foot or horseback, see the abundant bird life, or take a hike in the fynbos trails of the Green Mountain Eco Route.

Beaumont Wine Farm

We jumped back in our laden car and travelled on to McGregor, a small village in the mountains of the Western Cape. It’s known for being a bit of a hippy, new age town with its artists and carpenters, cob houses and permaculture courses, and so on. I stayed in the hippiest joint of all – Temenos, a spiritual retreat where loud talking and excessive drinking (two things I do very well) are frowned upon.

It’s a playground really, a country retreat with intricate gardens that go on forever, sacred spaces starring giant Buddhas and other deities and beautiful peacocks trailing around majestically. Every religion and belief sect is featured so that neither one is preferred. Whether religious or not, Temenos is meant to be a place to escape the city to, the stress and noise, for some navel-gazing and contemplation. It’s kind of perfect around the end of a year and beginning of a new one.

The peaceful McGregor
Image credit: Marion Whitehead

After a hypnotising aromatherapy full body massage with one of the local masseuses, we swam in the pool (it can get pretty hot in the countryside this time of year) and spent some time in the huge library, brushing up on our Jungian knowledge. You can’t help but relax in McGregor, slow down to a snail’s pace and just be. The main street is dotted with a few delis, restaurants and antique stores. The roads are wide and the street lamps old and from another time. We dined at night at Tibaldi’s Restaurant – which is annexed to Temenos. And spoke too loudly and drank too much. But hey…

What a view! - Boesmanskloof Hiking Trail

The next day we headed into the mountains on the Boesmanskloof Trail. It’s so rugged and wild out there, in the heart of the Riviersonderend Mountains surrounded with mountain peaks of the Langeberge and Galgeberg. The heat is intense but the reward is a beautiful oasis of a rock pool and waterfall. We hiked about 8 kms and then turned back like happy little campers.

It’s always a bizarre realisation to me to have travelled this country so extensively, to have lived here my whole life, but to still be finding places that I’ve never seen or heard of. You could probably live in South Africa for a lifetime and not even see all it has to offer. But you can try… and I recommend you include the areas mentioned here.

Hiking the Boesmanskloof Trail in McGregor

Hot, sweaty and Cape Town bound, we drove on and stopped in at Gabriëlskloof Wine Estate. I’ve knocked back a bottle or two of theirs before so it was nice to see where it actually comes from. The estate is seemingly in the middle of nowhere, away from the pack of wine farms that dot Stellenbosch and Franschhoek like spots on a dalmatian. Tucked away among rolling valleys, just an hour from Cape Town along the N2, you could call it the secret gem of the Bot River wine route. We sat outside and devoured gourmet burgers, as little blonde girls in pink tutu-like princess dresses ran around the pools in the garden.

Gabrielskloof Wine Estate

The countryside never fails to disappoint. As we entered Cape Town again it felt like we’d been away for weeks but only a few days had passed. Wine farms, mountain pools, massages and good food… Wish I was there now.

Keen for a road trip of your own?

Route 62 is another popular road trip destination. It meanders its way between Cape Town and Oudtshoorn and is the inland alternative to the Garden Route, passing through the Karoo’s many little towns on its way.

We can help you plan the perfect self-drive tour that incorporates several destinations in the Cape Winelands and Overberg or further. Simply contact us to find out more and to book your trip. Read here for more about winelands tours and here for a list of great accommodation options in the area.

A visit to the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees

Cape Town,Garden Route,Traveller's tales
1 comment
By Craig Harding on

This past weekend saw the start of a truly South African experience and after a trek and a half I arrived in time to see the sights and hear the sounds of the Klein Karoo Nationale Kunste Fees (in English, the Little Karoo National Arts Festival). Held in Oudtshoorn, it is a celebration of the all the wonder that is Afrikaans culture and art.

After a 5 hour drive down the Whale Route past Gordon’s Bay, Kleinmond and on to Mossel Bay before taking a sharp turn inland and over the Outeniqua Mountains you get to Oudtshoorn. It’s a beautiful little town famous for ostriches, heat and the nearby Cango Caves… oh, and ostriches. Did I say that already? Well, there are many of these flightless birds in these parts and it is big business! Apart from the annual influx of tourists for the week long festival, the feathers keep the town flying high and are in high demand in the fashion capitals of the world.

Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees - Art Installation
My drive back to Cape Town was along the famous Route 62. The endless desert road, flanked by mountains and not much else, is a gruelling one. Dotted with little towns famous for the strangest things you might come across, whether it’s the award winning Port in Calitzdorp or a little farm stall on the outskirts of the town that is a pioneer in the field of Solar Ovens. You will also see geological marvels like the Red Hills.

As you make your way back to the Mother City, less isolated towns like Montagu and Robertson greet you with vinyards and orchards. You’ll see many a cellar that you might only have ever seen on the labels in your local bottle store.

While my visit was a quick two day roundtrip, I suggest you contact one of our travel consultants to plan your Garden Route experience and turn this 1000km round trip into a leisurely journey of fine spirits and feathered friends.

Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees - Route 62

 

Niki visits Sanbona Wildlife Reserve in the Klein Karoo

Garden Route,South Africa,Traveller's tales
1 comment
By Matthew Sterne on

 

Now I was dying to see for myself what Sanbona Dwyka Lodge was all about since I had heard so much about it! After our stay in Swellendam on the Route 62, we made our way through the Tradouw’s pass to Sanbona Wildlife Reserve. This is a big reserve at around 54 000 hectares in the Klein (Small) Karoo. The area is stunning and with views to die for, you can guarantee a very different safari experience.

A few Rhino Africans managed to see Sanbona Dwyka Lodge last year after it opened in April 2009 and they raved about the accommodation. There is no doubt they were not wrong with their judgments. The suites are designed so perfectly for the environment – with canvas roofs and elegant decor inside, you wouldn’t think they are so luxurious inside. But they really are!  As you can imagine, the Klein Karoo does get a little cold at this time of the year, so we were eagerly waiting to see if there was some sort of heating and were happy to find that there was! Fully equipped with under-floor heating and standard heating / air-conditioning, you will be fine (the plunge pool is NOT heated though and best saved for those summer months).

Sanbona

We arrived at the Welcome Lounge / Staging Post which is about 20 minutes from the gate to the reserve where you are met with some coffee / tea and escorted to the Lodges. Tilney Lodge is about 45 minutes, Sanbona Gondwana Lodge is about 55 minutes whereas Sanbona Dwyka Lodge is a little further from the Welcome Lounge. IMPORTANT: It is recommended that you take this transfer (free of charge) as driving the rough terrain between the Lounge and Lodges is long and quite tiring! It’s best that you don’t arrive at the lodge frustrated and stressed since you are on ‘holiday’ after all, so please take this well-organised service and arrive before the scheduled times of the transfers which is at 12:30 and 16:00. Your car is safely parked at the Welcome Lounge for the duration of your stay and you will be safely escorted back to your vehicle when you leave.

Sanbona

The game-viewing was better than I expected. During our 1 night stay, we happened to spot white rhino (several times), jackal, lion (tawney and white), giraffe, all the buck (eg. springbok, rhebok, hartebeest, kudu, gemsbok, eland etc.) and one or two ostrich (can’t miss them!) as well as exquisite  birdlife (such as eagles). We also saw the lonely Harry the Hippo and we had to look for him several times since he was a little scarce! We unfortunately didn’t stay long enough to see the elephants who were on the other side of the reserve at the time. Trevor, our game ranger, was superb and really catered to our every need. He was a great host and has numerous years of experience which showed in the way he handled us as guests. The vehicles that are used are great bucket seat vehicles with canopies (a little useful in the rain) and in winter you will get your trusted blankets and hot water bottles to keep you toasty!

Sanbona

One of the best features and draw cards of Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is the magnificent white lion and their rehabilitation programme to get them back into the wild. These animals are absolutely beautiful and a wonder to see. So far, they have been very successful with the programme and the lion continue to adapt to the environment they are in. The lionesses do interact with tawney lion on the reserve and we were very fortunate to see them hunting some game in Sanbona Wildlife Reserve. It was spectacular.

If you are looking for a wilderness experience or looking for more of nature oriented programme, then Sanbona Wildlife Reserve is great and offers excellent game-viewing as well as rock art walks, star gazing, bird watching and world-class accommodation and services!

Sanbona

This isn’t the first time a Rhino African has had the pleasure of visiting Sanbona, you can read our previous posts about Sanbona on our blog:
https://blog.rhinoafrica.com/2009/09/10/sanbona-revisited/
https://blog.rhinoafrica.com/2008/06/02/a-san-inspired-sanbona-safari/

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We are currently running a competition on our Facebook group, the prize a luxury safari worth R70 000. All you have to do is ‘Like’ us to stand a chance to win. Find our group at https://www.facebook.com/RhinoAfrica
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Onwards and Eastwards

Cape Winelands,Doing Good,Garden Route,General,South Africa,Traveller's tales
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By Matthew Sterne on

 

This is the second instalment of Niki’s recent road trip…

After our stay in Franschhoek, we continued over the mountains and through the Franschhoek pass towards Robertson and onto Swellendam near the well-known Route 62. We stayed at a gorgeous little hotel called Schoone Oordt. What a beautiful place!! It is run brilliantly by Richard and Alison who are true professionals and experts in making you feel comfortable. Alison even does her own unique breakfasts in the mornings – aside from the traditional bacon and eggs (which she can do if you want), she will serve a lovely muesli which she makes herself, baked apples, and for us she made french toast with a twist – served with bacon and banana. Yum! Maybe not to everyone’s tastes but I certainly enjoyed it !

Schoone Oordt Country House

I was pleasantly surprised by the stay – entering the grand, old house when we first arrived, I expected a stiff welcome but instead was pleasantly greeted by Richard and Alison who are warm and friendly. After our welcome drink of wine / ice tea and snacks, we immediately felt at home.

The rooms are superbly 5 star standard with elegant country-style furnishings, creating a warm and cosy atmosphere! There’s a splendid tea and coffee station with your very own home-baked crunchies (well needless to say those didn’t last very long). The bathrooms are a mixture of ‘old fashioned’ and modern features – it really works well and the open showers are superb. The rooms also come complete with fireplace – all ready to go with fire starters and matches so being a cold, rainy day, this was perfect for us to snuggle up with a good book.

The town of Swellendam is a beautiful historical town and built in 1853 Schoone Oordt encompasses everything that Swellendam represents. This grand manor house has been delightfully resorted and is hard to miss when you take a stroll through the historical part of the town. But not easily seen from the road are the magnificent lawns and swimming pool surrounded by rose gardens and fountains. It does feel like you have stepped back in time. There are eight luxury cottages and a honeymoon suite.

One thing that does remain in my mind when I think of Schoone Oordt is the attention to detail!  Alison and Richard really live up to this and I can truthfully recommend this establishment for a 1 or 2 night stay, when passing through to Cape Town or onto the Karoo / Route 62 towards Oudtshoorn or along to the towns of Mossel Bay and to the Garden Route. It’s a great place to stay if you enjoy the countryside or like the historical nature of the area. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!

Schoone Oordt Country House

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