Whale watching, South Africa
| country: | South Africa |
| location: | nr Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route |
| price: | Three night package: Special rate: R940 per person per night, valid May, July & August (closed all June) including bed and breakfast and whale permitted boat for whale & dolphin watching (weather dependent). |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
description
A private nature reserve, set on the edge of indigenous forest, this hotel has breathtaking views of the surrounding valleys and Tsitsikamma Mountains. The 14ha property is zoned a private nature reserve by Cape Nature Conservation.
Enjoy outstanding cuisine, personalised accommodation, panoramic views, sincere hospitality and numerous activities. Twelve rooms in unique African-style offer private wooden decks, king-sized beds, most with cosy fireplaces. Superb breakfasts and dinners are served on the pool deck or around the communal candle-lit dining table.
Attractions nearby include: nature walks, bungy jumping, boating, a forest journey, horse riding, golf, canoeing, sandy beaches, boat-based whale and dolphin watching trips or a scenic flight … the list is endless
Lush indigenous vegetation and forests framed by majestic mountain ranges on the one side and the Indian Ocean with its pristine white beaches on the other, make the Garden Route, situated on the East Coast of Southern Africa, one of the most beautiful parts of South Africa.
We are situated 18km East of the small coastal town of Plettenberg Bay in the heart of the magnificent area providing guests with an ideal base to explore the Garden Route.
In addition, a newly constructed path to Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary givesguests the opportunity to view numerous indigenous species such as Stinkwood and Yellowwood trees, a variety of Fynbos and wildlife such as Bush Pig, Bush Buck, Lynx, Otters, Baboons, Monkeys and prolific bird life including the Knysna Loerie, whilst enjoying the hour long walk starting at the lodge.
Fifteen uniquely individual rooms offer uninterrupted views over the indigenous forests and Tsitsikamma Mountains. These comfortable African-styled rooms, situated in the gardens surrounding the main house, are decorated in earthy colours, naturally woven fabrics and artefacts from north-eastern Africa, and local handcrafted woods.
Each room has a private wooden deck with wooden deck furniture each fitted with its own hammock just perfect to while away those balmy sunny days overlooking the forest and an en-suite bathroom with bath and shower.
Single story accommodation, again richly decorated in the African theme, with French doors leading out onto private balconies with hammocks and spectacular views over the Gorge and the Mountains.
The Loft Suites are double storey accommodation, decorated in the rich textures of Africa and with original artwork. Upstairs is the master bedroom, with en-suite bathroom (shower and bath). Downstairs French doors lead out from the lounge onto private wooden decks, again with hammocks in which to recline.
Freestanding cottages, with French doors leading out onto full-length wooden decks with hammocks to while away those balmy sunny days. King-sized bed, lounge, bathroom (shower and bath). The rooms are beautifully appointed in rich textures, ochre & cream fabrics and original artifacts from Africa.
Traditionally our honeymoon suite. This unique, circular duplex decorated in naturally woven fabrics, artifacts & earthy tones from northeastern Africa, has a lounge downstairs with restful views over the gardens and indigenous forest. Upstairs, the master bedroom with en-suite bathroom has a wooden balcony overlooking the Matjies Gorge & Tsitsikamma Mountain range.
From Port Elizabeth: Approximate travelling time: 2 hours. Take the N2 towards Cape Town. You will pass (among others) the towns of Jeffrey's Bay, Humansdorp & St Francis' Bay and the Storms River Bridge Petroport. Once past the Tsitsikamma Toll Road, you are approximately 18km from the lodge. You will then see two brown Road's Department information signs. Take the turn-off on your left at the second sign. It is a farm road called ASKOP Road. We are 1.3km further along this road on the left.
From Cape Town: Approx travelling time - 6 hours. Take the N2 towards Port Elizabeth. You will pass (among others) the towns of Swellendam, Mossel Bay, George, Wilderness, Sedgefield, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. About 18km after Plettenberg Bay, you will see two brown Road's Department information signs. Take the turn-off on your right at the second sign. It is a farm road called ASKOP Road. We are 1.3km further along this road on the left.
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Enjoy outstanding cuisine, personalised accommodation, panoramic views, sincere hospitality and numerous activities. Twelve rooms in unique African-style offer private wooden decks, king-sized beds, most with cosy fireplaces. Superb breakfasts and dinners are served on the pool deck or around the communal candle-lit dining table.
Attractions nearby include: nature walks, bungy jumping, boating, a forest journey, horse riding, golf, canoeing, sandy beaches, boat-based whale and dolphin watching trips or a scenic flight … the list is endless
Lush indigenous vegetation and forests framed by majestic mountain ranges on the one side and the Indian Ocean with its pristine white beaches on the other, make the Garden Route, situated on the East Coast of Southern Africa, one of the most beautiful parts of South Africa. We are situated 18km East of the small coastal town of Plettenberg Bay in the heart of the magnificent area providing guests with an ideal base to explore the Garden Route.
In addition, a newly constructed path to Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary givesguests the opportunity to view numerous indigenous species such as Stinkwood and Yellowwood trees, a variety of Fynbos and wildlife such as Bush Pig, Bush Buck, Lynx, Otters, Baboons, Monkeys and prolific bird life including the Knysna Loerie, whilst enjoying the hour long walk starting at the lodge.
accommodation
Fifteen uniquely individual rooms offer uninterrupted views over the indigenous forests and Tsitsikamma Mountains. These comfortable African-styled rooms, situated in the gardens surrounding the main house, are decorated in earthy colours, naturally woven fabrics and artefacts from north-eastern Africa, and local handcrafted woods. Each room has a private wooden deck with wooden deck furniture each fitted with its own hammock just perfect to while away those balmy sunny days overlooking the forest and an en-suite bathroom with bath and shower.
Single story accommodation, again richly decorated in the African theme, with French doors leading out onto private balconies with hammocks and spectacular views over the Gorge and the Mountains.The Loft Suites are double storey accommodation, decorated in the rich textures of Africa and with original artwork. Upstairs is the master bedroom, with en-suite bathroom (shower and bath). Downstairs French doors lead out from the lounge onto private wooden decks, again with hammocks in which to recline.
Freestanding cottages, with French doors leading out onto full-length wooden decks with hammocks to while away those balmy sunny days. King-sized bed, lounge, bathroom (shower and bath). The rooms are beautifully appointed in rich textures, ochre & cream fabrics and original artifacts from Africa. Traditionally our honeymoon suite. This unique, circular duplex decorated in naturally woven fabrics, artifacts & earthy tones from northeastern Africa, has a lounge downstairs with restful views over the gardens and indigenous forest. Upstairs, the master bedroom with en-suite bathroom has a wooden balcony overlooking the Matjies Gorge & Tsitsikamma Mountain range.
how to find us
From Port Elizabeth: Approximate travelling time: 2 hours. Take the N2 towards Cape Town. You will pass (among others) the towns of Jeffrey's Bay, Humansdorp & St Francis' Bay and the Storms River Bridge Petroport. Once past the Tsitsikamma Toll Road, you are approximately 18km from the lodge. You will then see two brown Road's Department information signs. Take the turn-off on your left at the second sign. It is a farm road called ASKOP Road. We are 1.3km further along this road on the left. From Cape Town: Approx travelling time - 6 hours. Take the N2 towards Port Elizabeth. You will pass (among others) the towns of Swellendam, Mossel Bay, George, Wilderness, Sedgefield, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. About 18km after Plettenberg Bay, you will see two brown Road's Department information signs. Take the turn-off on your right at the second sign. It is a farm road called ASKOP Road. We are 1.3km further along this road on the left.
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how this holiday makes a difference
 At the lodge we are committed to the democratic ideals of the New South Africa. We strongly support transformation in this country and this is one of the reasons why we have used a likeminded company for our Whale and Dolphin package. They, too, are committed to the community and to the ocean they serve. The organisation that runs our whale watching trips is a very proactive company, it supports many local initiatives and is very involved in investing in the long term welfare & good health of our oceans & its marine life. Their motto is: Mother Our Oceans. They also run the ORCA Foundation (Ocean Research Conservation Africa), where post graduate students have hands on experience in studying this enviroment for specific projects and theses. Part of their project is to take young learners out on the boats and educate & inspire them in the importance of marine life. A percentage of all monies paid to the company is put into the Qolweni Community Trust, which is a township initiative which enables children to go to school, but also teaches them about the importance of reponsible tourism and responsible environmental care.  The property was bought eleven years ago and was at the time a wattle plantation – an alien species which has swiftly strangled the natural vegetation of the western cape. The de-wattlefication of the area is an ongoing process. And the progress has been enormous. The results being the indigenous forest is reasserting itself and climbing back up the gorge.During the rezoning process – changing from agricultural to resort – we chose to become a Private Nature Reserve, instead of a resort zone 2, so there would be a long-term protection mechanism over the indigenous forest which makes up 80% of our property.The sewerage system uses specific eco-friendly enzymes, which breaks down bacterial build up. These products are also used in our kitchen area, which operate on the same principle as the enzymes in the septic system. We are presently upgrading this system to a sannitree super-sewer system, which utilises a reedbed to purify the sewerage waste and make it reusable for gardening purposes. We help sponsor a project with our whale watching compnay called ORCA – Ocean Research Conservation Africa – a scientific boat, which looks at ways to mother our oceans while still being pro-active in the community. We send our guests out with the OBA in order to increase our guest's awareness of the importance of protecting the oceans. A portion of their fee goes to community upliftment projects. We also sponsor:
 On the administrative front, we reuse all our paper, that which is not used is sent to a nursery school, which is used in their art classes. 100% of our staff are recruited from the local community, spreading within a 50km radius from Kwanokathule township through to Kurland Village. During upgrades to the lodge, only local contractors are used, and in the decoration of the rooms, as far as is possible, local artists and crafters are contracted to design and construct the various artefacts. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |