Deep within the 60,000 hectare Timbavati Game Reserve lies Motswari Game Lodge. The open boundary with the Kruger National Park ensures that there is a constant flow of game through the reserve, offering plenty of excitement during safari activities. Qualified rangers accompanied by skilled Shangaan trackers will do their utmost to ensure that guests get the best possible sighting, and the area is renowned for its frequent sightings of the famed Big 5. Game drives are conducted in the early morning and late afternoon, when the animals are most active. Optional excursions such as guided bush walks and bush banqueting are also available.

The main lodge facilities include a traditional open-air boma, a spacious lounge and bar overlooking a beautiful dam, an art gallery exhibiting original wildlife art, and a refreshing swimming pool.

All 15 luxury en-suite bungalows have air-conditioning and overhead fans, and offer magnificent bush and river views. The naturally-furnished interiors of each bungalow reflect the wonders of nature that exist just outside the windows.  There are two sets of interleading rooms for families.

Motswari also prides itself on its sumptuous, home-style cuisine and friendly attentive service. The staff are passionate about their way of life and guests will be made to feel a part of this, be it around the campfire or sipping sundowners at a waterhole.

Guests can also enjoy a private 'under the stars' sleep out at the Giraffe's Nest hide (additional cost). The hide sleeps just 2 guests and is situated close to the main lodge yet far enough away that you get a truly authentic overnight bush experience. Adding to your comfort is an eco-bathroom upstairs so there is no need to leave your platform above the landscape. For those looking for a truly unrivalled experience, be sure to leave the front section of the roof open so that you can enjoy the stars on a clear night from your bed. You may be lucky to hear hyenas, a leopard or lions calling or the nocturnal birds like owls and nightjars piercing the night.

Address

Motswari Game Lodge,Off the Argyle Road, Motswari Private Game Reserve

Directions

From Hazyview: Follow the R40 towards Klaserie. Once past Klaserie, continue along this road until you see the turning off to the right for Eastgate Airport. Turn right here and proceed along this road until you reach the main Timbavati Control Gate/Enkhulu Gate.

From Eastgate/Hoedspruit Airport: Turn left and proceed along this road until you reach the main Timbavati Control Gate/Enkhulu Gate.

From Johannesburg/Pretoria: Take the N12 or N4 highway to Witbank/eMalahleni (from Johannesburg Airport, follow signs to Boksburg to find the N12). Follow the N4 highway past Middleburg (Toll Plaza), Belfast/eMakhazeni and Machadodorp (Toll Plaza). Follow the Schoemanskloof option on the N4 and then take the R36 to Lydenburg/Mashishing.

Follow the R36 to Ohrigstad, go through the Strydom Tunnel and take the R527 to Hoedspruit. Turn right onto the R40 towards Klaserie, and continue along this road until you see the turning off to the left for Eastgate Airport. Turn left here and follow the directions as above From Eastgate/Hoedspruit Airport.

From Kruger National Park/Orpen Gate: Exit the Park, and continue along the R531. Turn right onto the R40, and continue along this road until you see the turning off to the right for Eastgate Airport. Turn right here follow the directions as above From Eastgate/Hoedspruit Airport.

ONCE AT THE TIMBAVATI CONTROL GATE: For self-drive visitors, there is a vehicle entrance cash fee of R280 per vehicle payable at the gate (cash or Visa/MasterCard credit cards only and subject to change). Please retain your receipt as proof of entrance and have it stamped at your destination when you are leaving, which acts as your Exit Permit. Once inside the gate, follow the signs to the lodge through the reserve.

Do not get out of your car until you reach the lodge. You may see some wildlife on your way - if you do, slow down and maintain a good distance. Do not drive off-road in any circumstances.

Also, we would advise that you do NOT use a GPS once in the Timbavati, as it is likely to give you incorrect directions!

The Beach Hotel is situated on Port Elizabeth's magnificent beachfront, directly opposite Hobie Beach and next to the Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment Complex. For history lovers, it is believed that the original Beach Hotel and surrounding area belonged to Piet Retief and his family. His home, a tennis court and servants quarters stood on this ground.

There are 3 onsite restaurants to suit everyone's palate. Enjoy a relaxing environment, sipping a cocktail white overlooking the ocean at The Verandah restaurant, or indulge in a buffet meal at The Crest.  Real foodies will love the fine dining cuisine at Ginger, voted one of the best restaurants in Port Elizabeth - it is definitely a must.

There is an outdoor swimming pool, and the hotel also offers complimentary high speed Wi-Fi.

The Beach Hotel offers homely comfort in its 58 spacious, en-suite bedrooms, some with stunning sea-views and others opening onto the tranquil courtyard.

The Non Sea-Facing Rooms are quiet, and overlook the tranquil surrounds of the courtyard. The Side Sea-Facing Rooms offer spectacular side views of the Indian Ocean whilst in the comfort of your stylish room, decorated in soft Mediterranean tones, and the Front Sea-Facing Rooms offer, as you would expect, front facing views of the ocean.

The Executive Rooms are spacious with large comfortable beds that invite guests to relax and take in the sights and sounds of the ocean. The suites offer generous, well appointed lounge areas as well as stylish bathrooms with separate showers. Finally, the well appointed, stylish Suite consists of a spacious bedroom with en-suite bathroom equipped with a freestanding bathtub.

Address

The Beach Hotel,Marine Drive, Summerstrand

Directions

From Port Elizabeth Airport: Turn right into Allister Miller Drive, drive straight down, then turn right into La Roche Drive. Follow the road for approximately 4 km until you come to a T-junction at the beachfront. Turn right here. Keep going along this road, and immediately after the Boardwalk Complex you will find the Beach Hotel on the right-hand side.

From The Garden Route: Take the N2 to Port Elizabeth. As you approach Port Elizabeth on the N2, take the R102 Cape Road/Kaapweg. Keep on Cape Road all the way (it will take about 15 minutes, depending on traffic). Cape Road eventually leads downhill and connects onto the M4 Summerstrand. Take the M4 Summerstrand - the sea will be on the left-hand side. Keep going along this road, and immediately after the Boardwalk Complex you will find the Beach Hotel on the right-hand side.

From Grahamstown/Eastern Cape Game Reserves: Take the N2 to Port Elizabeth. As you enter the city leave the N2 via ext 751B, merge onto the M4 heading to Summerstrand and follow the directions as above.

From Addo: Take the R335 towards Port Elizabeth, and join the N2 still heading towards Port Elizabeth. Follow the directions as above.

Situated right in the heart of the Garden Route and set on the shores of a beautiful lagoon, Knysna (pronounced 'Nysna') is a bustling little holiday town with a lively Waterfront area.

The excellent selection of accommodation and restaurants, coupled with the many activities on offer, makes this a superb holiday destination and a perfect base from which to explore the many attractions of the Garden Route. The annual Knysna Oyster Festival takes place mid-year in Knysna and is one of the area’s annual highlights, boasting amazing food, great music and friendly people.

The Knysna Lagoon is sheltered from the ocean by a coral reef and the Knysna Heads - 2 large cliff formations which form a natural narrow opening into the ocean. Several operators offer relaxing catamaran trips and sunset champagne cruises out to the Heads and into the open sea, which is a great way to escape the busy streets for a while.

The surrounding forests and nature reserves provide ample opportunity for leisurely walks or picnics, short hikes or more strenuous day walks, plus a number of biking trails. Nearby Brenton-on-Sea beach is a magnificent 7 km stretch of uninterrupted white sands around a half heart-shaped bay.

Located on the banks of the famous Knysna Lagoon and facing the sea through the Knysna Heads, the Knysna Quays Hotel is also an integral part of the vibrant Knysna Waterfront with its vast selection of restaurants, bars and speciality boutiques. The hotel has 123 rooms in total.

Facilities include a swimming pool with a uniquely designed wooden sun deck, individual moorings and jetties at your doorstep.

This really is a great base to explore the Garden Route from.

Address

Protea Hotel Knysna Quays,Waterfront Drive, Knysna Quays, Knysna

Directions

From Cape Town/Hermanus/The Winelands/Swellendam/Wilderness: Follow the N2 to Knysna. Once you have entered Knysna, at the first traffic intersection turn right into Waterfront Drive. Turn right again at the next traffic intersection, into Gray Street. You will see the hotel, it is a 3-storey yellow building, next to the Waterfront shopping complex.

From Port Elizabeth/Plettenberg Bay: Take the N2 to Knysna. At the first set of traffic lights as you enter into Knysna, continue straight. Continue through another small (2nd) set of traffic lights, and at the 3rd set of traffic lights turn left into Waterfront Drive. At the 2nd traffic intersection of Waterfront drive, turn left into Gray Street. You will see the hotel, it is a 3-storey yellow building, next to the Waterfront shopping complex.

From Oudtshoorn: Follow the N12 for 54 km down to George and merge onto the N2, then follow the directions above.

Located on the south coast and within a 2 hour drive of Cape Town, Hermanus and Gansbaai are amongst the world's leading destinations for both land-based and boat-based whale watching. From June to December each year, whales can be seen as close as 20m from the shore and can come right up to the side of the whale watching boats.

With excellent accommodation options, fine restaurants and a glorious coastline in addition to the attraction of getting within a few metres of some of the largest animals ever to have lived on this planet, this is a place that every visitor to South Africa should try to see.

Hermanus is a pretty town and the local 'Whale Crier' walks the streets during the whaling season, informing visitors when the whales are present with a blast on his kelp horn. At the Old Harbour Museum, an underwater microphone transmits the whale songs and calls into the museum hall for everyone to hear. Don't miss Bientang's Cave restaurant, where you can watch whales less than 100m away whilst eating an excellent seafood lunch. Other good vantage points are from the Old Harbour wall or the cliff path.

Gansbaai, 50 km from Hermanus, is the starting point for more boat-based whale watching, as well as cage diving with great white sharks, as well as trips to the Dyer Island seal colony.

The Auberge Burgundy Guest House is a charming Provencal style establishment with fragrant courtyards and stone terraces. It is set above the picturesque Old Harbour in the historic heart of Hermanus (the hub of the famous Whale Coast). The guest house is surrounded by restaurants, craft markets, boutiques, art galleries and quaint shopping malls, and the cool blue sea of Walker Bay is just 50m from the doorstep.

Guests are offered a variety of accommodation options. The Middle Room is the smallest room type, situated on the first floor in the Main House. It has an en-suite bathroom with a shower, and whilst it does not have a balcony, it does have lovely mountain views and looks over Hermanus Town.

There are 13 Standard Rooms - 10 in the garden and 3 around the pool.  5 of the garden rooms are situated on the first floor and have balconies, and the other 5 open out onto the garden. The 3 Standard Rooms around the pool obviously have pool views!

The 2 Standard Suites are situated in the Main House, and have a lounge area and a balcony with views over Walker Bay.  The Poolside Suite has a separate lounge with a fireplace, a kitchen area, and a stunning sea view from the lounge balcony. The 2 Penthouse Suites can be interleading if required, and have sea views.

Address

Auberge Burgundy,16 Harbour Road, Hermanus

Directions

From Cape Town / Stellenbosch: Follow the N2 to George / Mossel Bay over 2 mountain passes (Sir Lowry's Pass and Houwhoek Pass).

After the 2nd pass, turn off right onto R43 to Kleinmond / Hermanus. You will pass suburbs called Hawston, Fisherhaven, Vermont, Onrus and Sandbaai.

When you enter the centre of town, turn right into Park Avenue (at the Shell garage and Friendly 7/11 - supermarket), and left at the stop sign into Marine Drive. Follow the road as it curves round the coast - approximately half a kilometre. Turn left into Harbour Road then you will see Auberge Burgundy, which is a 3-storey Proven?al-style building.

From Franschhoek: Take the R45 towards Villiersdorp. Turn left and drive to Villersdorp, then take the R43 towards Botriver. (You will turn onto the N2 for a short while). Take the R43 in the direction of Hermanus. You will pass the Kleinmond turn and then the suburbs of Hawston, Fisherhaven, Vermont, Onrus and Sandbaai. Follow the directions as above.

From the Garden Route: The N2 brings you west past Swellendam and Riviersonderend. 10 km past Riviersonderend turn on to the R326 to Stanford and then follow the signs to Hermanus. Follow the main road into the town centre. On reaching the centre of town, turn left at the Wimpy Bar into Market Square Street, and then right into Marine Drive. Follow the coast road past the Old Harbour, and turn right into Harbour Road.

South Africa is today one of the major producers and exporters of wines worldwide, and has been producing wine since the middle of the 17th century. The Cape Winelands region is set amongst rolling mountain slopes and valleys, with classic colonial style architecture which is some of the oldest surviving in South Africa.

There are literally scores of wine estates, and staying in the area will give you the chance to either search out the labels you are familiar with from home or to go on a voyage of discovery and find new favourites.

The major wine producing areas in the region are around Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl, Wellington and Constantia. There are well established wine routes in each of the major areas which take in a wide range of wine estates, many of which have daily wine tastings, cellar tours and restaurants serving lunches which are open daily to anyone passing by.

Just metres away from the historic town centre, Mont d'Or Franschhoek is within walking distance from Franschhoek’s enviable variety of restaurants, museums, monuments, exclusive shops, art galleries – and the famous wine tram, of course.

There are just 11 rooms in total, and each room is decorated in a unique style. A great way to experience the charms of this renovated 19th century Cape Dutch house is to stay in one of the loft rooms. Beneath the sloping roof, under exposed wooden beams, these rooms are wonderfully charming and snug. One of the loft rooms has two single beds, while the other has a double.  There are also 5 double rooms on the ground floor of the guest house, with 3 more in the garden cottage overlooking the pool. There is also one honeymoon/family suite which open up directly onto the garden, with a double room on the ground floor and 2 additional single beds on the mezzanine floor.

Facilities include complimentary Wi-Fi access, a swimming pool and secure parking.

Address

Mont d'Or Franschhoek,32 Van Wijk Street

Directions

From Cape Town (via N1): Drive out of Cape Town on the N1 past Belville and Brackenfell turn-offs. Continue past the Winelands 1-Stop Engen petrol station as well as the first Stellenbosch turn-off after the petrol station. Take the next turn-off named Stellenbosch/Klapmuts and turn right at the stop on the R44.

Approximately 600m further, go over the 4-way stop. Shortly after the 4 way stop (+/-400m) turn left at the Franschhoek sign. Carry along this road for approximately 8 km until it ends at a T-junction at which you turn right to Franschhoek on the R45. This road will take you straight into Franschhoek (approximately 16 km further).

Continue down the main street of Franschhoek and onto Huguenot Street.  Turn right onto De La Ray Street and take first left onto Van Wijk Street. Mont d'Or Franschhoek is along here on the right hand side.

From Cape Town (via N2): Drive out of Cape Town on the N2, and take the first Stellenbosch turn-off (Baden Powell Drive/R310) and keep on travelling to Stellenbosch. You will eventually pass the Spier Wine Estate (on your right) and a few kilometres after that, the road will end at a T-junction (approximately 13 km from the N2 turn-off).

Turn right at the T-junction and travel into Stellenbosch. You will pass over 3 traffic lights - keep to your left. The road ends at a T-junction at which you turn left. Pass over 3 traffic lights and shortly after the 3rd set, turn right at a set of lights at the Franschhoek/Idas Valley sign.

This road will take you over the mountain on the Helshoogte Pass, trough Johannesdal and through Pniel and eventually ends at a T-junction (16 km from Stellenbosch). This T-junction is shortly after the Boschendal Wine Estate (which would have been on your right). Turn right at the T-junction onto the R45 to Franschhoek. This road will take you straight into Franschhoek (approximately 13 km further).

Continue down the main street of Franschhoek and onto Huguenot Street.  Turn right onto De La Ray Street and take first left onto Van Wijk Street. Mont d'Or Franschhoek is along here on the right hand side.

From Hermanus/The Garden Route: Either follow the N2 to the Baden Powell Drive/R310 exit, and follow the directions as above OR you can take the more scenic route via the Franschhoek Pass - leave the N2 at the R43 towards Villiersdorp (16 km past Caledon) and follow this road to Villiersdorp. Turn left onto the R45, and after approximately 8 km turn right to stay on the R45 and go over the Franschhoek Pass to Franschhoek. Turn right into the Main road (R45) at the Monument and drive down Huguenot Street (the main street in Franschhoek).

After Approx 550m turn left onto Bordeuax Street and then take the first right turn onto Van Wijk Street.  Mont d'Or Franschhoek is along here on the left hand side.

Nestled at the foot of the majestic Table Mountain and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Town is consistently voted amongst the top cities in the world to visit and it is no surprise that this wonderful city is one of the highlights of a holiday to South Africa. The climate is Mediterranean, with mild winters and hot summers.

One of the main tourist attractions is the tastefully restored V&A Waterfront with its many shops, bars and restaurants. There is also an aquarium and one of the largest craft markets in Southern Africa. Boats offer tours of the harbour from the quayside and the whole place is always buzzing with life and activity. The City Bowl is home to many museums and historical buildings which can all be viewed from a 'topless' hop on/hop off tourist bus, complete with interesting commentary as you ride around the city.

The adventurous can climb up (or abseil down) Table Mountain, windsurf or kitesurf at Bloubergstrand Beach, dive in shark tanks, or do any one of a dozen more adrenalin pumping activities. For a more relaxed pace of life, there are miles of sandy beaches for soaking up the African sun, or enjoy a quiet stroll through the beautiful Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

Southern Sun The Cullinan is a stylish and grand hotel that offers travellers easy access to most of Cape Town's venues and is within walking distance to the world-renowned V&A Waterfront.

Complementing the rich, cultural heritage of Cape Town through timeless architecture, the opulent decor creates a mood that is a world-away-from-home, while service and attention to detail ensure your every need is taken care of.

The 410 elegant and spacious hotel rooms all boast spectacular views over the many aspects of Cape Town - enjoy either the view of Table Mountain, the bustling Table Bay Harbour and Waterfront or the city centre.

Rooms are lavishly decorated with rich finishes and furnishing, and all offer luxurious private bathrooms and in room amenities to enhance your stay and make it as comfortable as possible.

The outdoor pool is ideal for those who enjoy a fresh dip in cool waters and the fully equipped gym is accessible to all guests of the hotel.

Address

Southern Sun The Cullinan,1 Cullinan Street, V&A Waterfront

Directions

From the N2 (Cape Town International Airport/the Winelands/Hermanus/The Garden Route): Take the N2 towards Cape Town. Keep on this road, following the signs for Cape Town North, and then M6 Sea Point. If in doubt, keep bearing right the whole time! You will then see the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) on your left-hand side (very large cream-coloured building), and there will be a set of traffic lights at a major junction. Turn left into Walter Sisulu Avenue, the CTICC will still be on your left. At the first set of traffic lights, turn right into Long Street. At the next set of traffic lights, turn right into Wharf Street. Wharf Street curves and becomes Cullinan Street and the Cullinan will be on your left-hand side. 

From the N1: Follow the road to Cape Town, and you will see the CTICC on your left-hand side. Follow the directions as above.