Must-see hotels in Garden Route

  • Views Boutique Hotel

    Garden Route

    With bright, modern, glass-fronted rooms looking on to the glorious beach, this hotel makes the most of its awesome location. It's worth paying the…

  • Hog Hollow

    Plettenberg Bay

    Hog Hollow, 18km east of Plett along the N2, provides delightful accommodation in African-art-decorated units overlooking the forest. Each luxurious unit…

  • Turbine Hotel & Spa

    Knysna

    The clever design of this power station-turned-boutique hotel makes it one of Knysna's coolest places to stay. Elements of the original building have been…

  • Under Milkwood

    Knysna

    Perched on the shores of Knysna Lagoon are these highly impressive self-catering log cabins, each with its own deck and braai (barbecue) area. There's no…

  • Point Village Hotel

    Garden Route

    The quirky, fake lighthouse on this exceptionally well-priced hotel’s exterior speaks to what you'll find inside: a range of fun, funky, bright rooms and…

  • French Lodge International

    Garden Route

    Rooms at this town-centre guesthouse are in luxurious thatched-roof rondavels (round huts with a conical roof) set around the pool, with satellite TV and…

  • Protea Hotel Mossel Bay

    Garden Route

    Part of the Protea chain, this is a classy hotel set in the old post office building. Its restaurant, Café Gannet, has a large seafood, meat and pizza…

  • Fancourt Hotel

    Garden Route

    This is the area’s most luxurious option, with three 18-hole golf courses designed by Gary Player, a health spa and four restaurants. It's about 6km from…

  • Plettenberg

    Plettenberg Bay

    Built on a rocky headland with breathtaking vistas, this five-star place is pure decadence, with fantastic rooms, a spa and a top-class restaurant (mains…

  • Eight Bells Mountain Inn

    Garden Route

    This country inn oozes old-world charm and boasts a lovely mountain setting at the foot of the Robinson Pass. Its large grounds feature tennis and squash…

  • Fairy Knowe Backpackers

    Garden Route

    Set in leafy grounds overlooking the Touws River, this long-running hostel is based in a 19th-century farmhouse. The bar is in another building some…

  • Ebb & Flow Rest Camp

    Garden Route

    As well as riverside campsites there are rondavels (round huts), some with shared ablutions and all with rudimentary kitchen facilities. In the southern…

  • Brenton Cottages

    Knysna

    On the seaward side of the lagoon, the hills drop to Brenton-on-Sea, overlooking a magnificent 8km beach. The chalets have a full kitchen while cabins…

  • Surfari

    Garden Route

    It might not be close enough to smell the ocean, but Surfari is highly recommended. A family-run boutique backpacker lodge, it has bright, beautifully…

  • Mvubu Bush Camp

    Garden Route

    Mvubu is a large, wooden chalet set amid milkwood trees and with views of Groenvlei lake. Sleeping four in two bedrooms, it also has an expansive deck and…

  • Point Hotel

    Garden Route

    This modern hotel boasts a spectacular location, right above the wave-pounded rocks at the Point. There’s a decent restaurant (mains R60 to R120) and the…

  • Mossel Bay Backpackers

    Garden Route

    This well-run and long-established backpackers has two sections – a backpacker wing where rooms share a bathroom and a more upmarket wing with en-suite…

  • Abalone Beach House

    Plettenberg Bay

    This extremely friendly backpackers hostel is two minutes' walk from a magnificent beach; body boards are provided free. To reach the house, follow the…

  • Belvidere Manor

    Knysna

    A tremendously peaceful place to stay, with luxury cottages around an immaculate lawn, some with lagoon views. There is a restaurant (mains R85 to R170)…

  • Inyathi Guest Lodge

    Knysna

    This lodge has changed address and had a complete overhaul, but the cheery owners and tasteful African decor remain. Accommodation is in self-catering…

  • Wilderness Beach House Backpackers

    Garden Route

    Southwest of town, this breezy hostel provides awesome ocean views, simple rooms, and a lapa (circular area with a fire pit) bar and cafe serving…

  • Fountain Shack

    Garden Route

    This spectacularly located beach-side shack is reachable only by a two-hour hike, so you need to be fit to get here. There's no electricity and you'll…

  • De Bakke Santos Caravan Park

    Garden Route

    As well as more than 300 campsites – many of which have ocean views – there are well-equipped thatched chalets here (the chalets were about to be…

  • Caravan Park

    Garden Route

    There are wonderful sea views from this campsite and caravan park. It's worth paying a little extra for a site on the Western Terrace (per site from R415)…

  • Nothando Backpackers Hostel

    Plettenberg Bay

    This excellent budget option is owner-run and it shows. There’s a great bar area with satellite TV, yet you can still find peace and quiet in the large…

  • Fish Eagle Loft

    Garden Route

    A stylishly decorated loft apartment with awesome views of the ocean. The loft is closed until mid-2018 due to fire damage in the Goukamma Nature Reserve.

  • Protea Hotel Knysna Quays

    Knysna

    Rooms are tastefully decorated at this stylish hotel. It has an inviting, heated pool and is moments away from shopping and eating options at the…

  • Milkwood Manor

    Plettenberg Bay

    A remarkable location, right on the beach and overlooking the lagoon. Rooms have a bright, beachy feel. There’s an on-site restaurant (mains R110 to R200)…

  • Interlaken

    Garden Route

    It gets rave reviews from readers, and we can’t argue: this is a well-run and very friendly guesthouse offering magnificent lagoon views. Delicious…

  • Jembjo's Knysna Lodge

    Knysna

    A small, friendly hostel run by two former overland truck drivers. There's lots of info on activities in the area, mountain bikes to rent (R20 per hour)…

  • Albergo for Backpackers

    Plettenberg Bay

    Well-run and friendly, Albergo can organise just about any activity in the area and there are free body boards to use. The upstairs dorm has huge windows…

  • Park House Lodge & Travel Centre

    Garden Route

    This place, in a gracious old sandstone house next to the park, is friendly, smartly decorated and has beautiful gardens. Breakfast is R55, and staff can…

  • Makarios

    Garden Route

    Luxury sea-facing apartments a stone’s throw from the sand with self-catering facilities. Prices rise in school holidays and everything gets booked months…

  • Knysna Log Inn

    Knysna

    This inn is said to be the largest log structure in the southern hemisphere. The rooms are comfortable, many with balconies, and there’s a lovely pool in…

  • Island Vibe

    Knysna

    A funky backpackers with excellent communal areas, cheery staff and nicely decorated rooms. There’s a lively bar and a small pool on the deck.

  • Periwinkle Guest Lodge

    Plettenberg Bay

    This bright beachfront guesthouse offers airy rooms, all with great views – you might even be able to spot whales and dolphins.

  • Riverdeck

    Garden Route

    Just off the N2, on the Goukamma River's banks, this backpacker resort offers safari tents and simple cabins as well as en-suite rooms and four-sleeper…

  • Santos Express

    Garden Route

    The position of this converted train, right beside the beach, can’t be beaten, but the compartments are undeniably cramped. There’s an attached bar…

  • Amakaya Backpackers

    Plettenberg Bay

    The focal point is the bar and deck with views of the Tsitsikamma Mountains. There are two 'private dorms' – basically a twin room with bunks – offering a…

  • Buffelsbaai Waterfront

    Garden Route

    A one-stop shop for accommodation, meals and information on the area. Accommodation is in apartments and houses dotted about the town. It's best to book…

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