Ilanga Travels for you – Educational Experience with Anke

De Zeekoe Guest Farm

De Zeekoe is based on a working farm about 10 to 15 minutes drive from Oudtshoorn’s town center. Most of the rooms are centred closely around the main house where the restaurant is, but the cabins and eco-cottages are about 5 minutes drive away from the main building. We were staying in the superior honeymoon room which had a nice balcony with a view of the wetlands/river. The room was very spacious and the interior had this typical farm cottage feel with lots of wood and warm colours. The bathroom was also very big and nicely decorated. Additionally, the bathroom had an outside shower. The other rooms at the main house are similarly decorated but differ in size.

The cabins are located at a dam and are best described as rustic wooden chalets which are not comparable to the standard of the rooms around the main house, but are still a nice option for clients on a budget. There are also bikes and kayaks available for rent at an additional charge. The Eco-cottages (Self-catering) are new and they are very well equipped and have a modern apartment feel. The manager advised me that they are planning to add pools to those cottages. The cottages are located in the middle of a field and are sold at a similar rate as the highest room category at the main house. The staff at De Zeekoe are very friendly and made us feel very welcome.

Tsala Treetop Lodge

When arriving at Tsala you drive through a beautiful and well maintained garden. The entrance area and restaurant have an Indonesian and exotic feel thanks to the many beautiful carved wooden ornaments. The Suites/Chalets are located along a board walk surrounded by forest. We stayed in the last one which was very private. The lounge, bedroom and bathroom are all on different levels and there are no doors separating the rooms. From the balcony you have a great view over the forest and it’s very peaceful and perfect to relax. We had dinner one night at the Tsala restaurant which had a very nice atmosphere and the service and food offered a high standard. All in all, Tsala offers a very special and romantic experience which is perfect for honeymooners and nature lovers. The service staff were very attentive and super friendly.

Gorah Elephant Camp

Gorah is located on a private concession within the Addo Elephant National Park and the area around the lodge and chalets is unfenced which allows you to experience the animals up close. After our first dinner at the lodge we had a coffee on the terrace, which overlooks the waterhole, and saw elephants and a lioness which came very close. The next evening we saw a rhino at the waterhole.

We did not have a view of the waterhole from our tent, but there were plenty of zebra and warthogs right in front of our tent! The gamedrives were nice and we got to see big herds of buffalo, zebra and elephants. The gamedrives are driven on both the private concession of Gorah as well as the public area of Addo.

The lodge and the tents have a strong colonial feel and there are plenty of old pictures decorating the walls showing more about the history of the lodge. The tents are big and open plan. The bathroom area is fairly basic and only has a shower. As an eco-friendly resort, most of the electricity comes from solar panels. There is however a separate plug for appliances which is powered by a generator during daytime hours.

The management staff are very caring and personable and make you feel at home immediately, and the service staff are also good. The restaurant and food are very good.

Amakhala Hillsnek Camp

The Camp consists of only 4 tents (one of which is a family tent). The interior of the tents is quite modern and accentuated with some colourful fabrics and the bathroom offers a lot of comfort and high standard, considering it’s a tented accommodation. There is an outside shower and a bathtub inside the tent. The tent also comes with a minibar (which is included in the rate) and coffee station. The staff is very friendly and present at all times to make sure you are comfortable. The main area is open and relatively small and guests get to socialise with one another. The dinner and breakfast is served at one big table. If you prefer your privacy, you can request dinner in your tent. The food and service were very good.

The game reserve is very beautiful and during our short stay, we saw cheetah, giraffe, lion and rhino.

Storms River Camp – Sanparks

The location of the camp is about an hours drive from Plettenberg Bay. Our Cottage (Honeymoon Cottage) was located right on the cliff and had fantastic views of the ocean. Storms River Camp is perfect for active people who enjoy sport activities in nature. There are many hiking trails in the surrounding area and you can go kayaking and kloofing amongst other things. For people who don’t want to cook for themselves, there is also a restaurant close by.

Kanonkop Guesthouse

The guesthouse is perfectly situated in Knysna, offering amazing views of the Lagoon, and is also peaceful and quiet, although it’s only a 10 minute drive from Knysna’s town center. Marc and Liezl are perfect hosts and make you feel part of the family. Their philosophy is to bring all guests together at one table in order for them to share their holiday experiences. They also offered us help with restaurant bookings and recommendations for activities. We stayed in the paradise room which offers great views of the lagoon. The room is open plan and offers a lot of comfort. The other rooms in the same category are located on a lower level but still offer lagoon views. Each of the three rooms has a different feel and different décor. The garden rooms are located right next to the pool and are also quite spacious and nice but don’t have a terrace/balcony. The Selwyn Suite (highest room category) offers plenty of space and feels quite luxurious and comes with a minibar and espresso machine. Right opposite the suite is an extra room which can be booked in addition to the suite for children (from 12 years and older) or for a guide.

Alkira Lodge (Knysna)

Alkira Lodge is managed by Sam, the sister of Marc from Kanonkop. The lodge has recently opened and is located close to Brenton-on-Sea on the Western Head and is a 15-20 minute drive from Knysna’s town center. The lodge is in the midst of a Fynbos garden and offers amazing panoramic views of Knysna, the lagoon, Brenton-on-Sea and Buffalo Bay which are quite difficult to compete with. The main area consists of a massive deck and big open kitchen with lounge area. The style of the rooms is puristic and has a bit of an Asian touch. The best room is the Luxury Suite with ocean view. The other Luxury Suite is also very nice and opens on to the fynbos garden. The whole feel of the lodge is very upmarket and is in my opinion a very good alternative to Kanonkop Guest House. They also follow the same philosophy as Kanonkop, in bringing guests together at meal times in order for them socialise.

Boschendal Farm Cottages

Our stay at Boschendal Cottages was definitely a highlight at the end. We only stayed one night and did a winetasting and had dinner at the Deli which are both very well run and definitely recommendable. There is also a restaurant on the wine estate and you can have a fabulous picnic under the trees – which we didn’t have a chance to try. Boschendal Farm Cottages are based on a working farm and surrounded by beautiful gardens. Their aim is to produce most of the products that they serve to guests on the Boschendal Estate.

We stayed at one of the larger Werf Cottages. The interior is very cosy with a fireplace and nice kitchen, as well as a spacious lounge area. All rooms have a rustic old cottage feel with a lot of charm and attention to detail. The kitchen is well equipped and has everything you need for a longer stay available. The lounge area is quite spacious and offers enough space for an extra bed. There is also a private terrace on which you can enjoy the sunset. I also got a chance to have a look at the smaller werf cottages. Their interior is a bit more modern and the colours used are lighter. The lounge and bedroom have been combined. The cottages also have a terrace which however doesn’t offer as much privacy as the larger cottages do. The Orchard Cottages are located on the other side of the street and a 5 minute drive away from the main area.

Courtesy Anke Giese 16-26.04.2016