Awake and refreshed after a lovely evening at Rosenhof we said our goodbyes, left Oudtshoorn behind and headed toward the town of George passing through some of the most spectacular Mountains in the region. So spectacular that rumor has it the town planners in George are campaigning to build a cable car up to the peaks, much like our very own Table Mountain Cableway. Soon after leaving George we passed through Wilderness, the sleepy little town would see our return the following day but for now we simple waved as we drove by. After Wilderness we headed into Sedgefield an even sleepier little town! And there we made our first stop at Lake Pleasant Living.
Lake Pleasant is built on the shores of a freshwater lake just behind the dunes and forms part of a conservancy. We managed a whistle stop tour of the facilities which include a full spa and relaxation area, gym and two swimming pools. The rooms themselves are incredibly large, the most spacious we saw on the Garden Route and all are self catering.
The town that marked the furthest point in our journey was Plettenberg Bay, but before we arrived there we stopped just outside to see two of the most beautiful properties on the Garden Route. Hunters Country House and Tsala Treetop Lodge are owned and managed by the same family. However there are very different in style. While Hunters features colonial African styling and individual thatched cottages, Tsala is very modern with its individual luxury suites build high in the treetops. At Tsala each suite features its own plunge pool and spectacular views over the forest. Hunter’s is very family friendly and includes a designated kiddie’s area with sandpit and toys and all sorts.
Next up we saw two properties in the town of Plettenberg Bay. Periwinkle Guest House is a smallish guesthouse close to Robberg beach. The hallmark of this property was definitely the views from most of the rooms out over the ocean towards Robberg Island. The Plettenberg Hotel also features some great views and is situated closer to the centre of Plett. We were shown around by one of the nicest people we met on the entire trip, by now we had come to the realization that judging a property often comes down to how friendly or not friendly the staff are!
Just outside Plett we visited the colourful Emily Moon River Lodge. Emily Moon has one of the most well known restaurants in the area and has amazing views of the river and floodplains below. Each of the rooms is individually decorated with African artwork collected personally by the owners. To my mind this is one of the best properties on the Garden Route, probably because I enjoy the bright colours.
Last on our list before we stopped for the night was Hog Hollow. Framed by the Tsitsikamma Mountains, verdant indigenous forests and lush gardens, Hog Hollow certainly has a beautiful setting. Fireplaces, hammocks, earthy tones and fabrics abound and the service is of course excellent. In addition we saw their new exclusive use villa, and what a sight! It was exceptional, with its own private pool, garden, kitchen… everything.
Our stop for the evening was the fantastically amazing Trogon House and Forest Spa. Trogon House is set far into the lush forests close to Monkeyland and Birds of Eden and is almost completely isolated. It’s the perfect venue for those seeking peace and quiet or for those travelling in groups as you can easily book an entire section and have your own private pool area and lounge. There’s even a Jacuzzi and spa amidst the trees and everything is connected via wooden walkways suspended above the treetops. There is also a fantastic boma area with layered cushions where you can spend an evening while the staff play jemba drums and entertain you. This place is fantastic and we had an awesome party here, did I mention it’s fantastic?
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