I continue my journey around South Africa looking at properties for Real Africa.
MON 20 MAY
After another glorious breakfast Chantel the manager showed us around the Robberg properties.
This is my favourite of all the Robberg Properties. We were in room B6 and I cannot recommend this room enough. It has a large seating area, big double bed and a bathroom with a separate shower and toilet. All Robberg Lodges are 5 star. The villa has the main breakfast room for all the properties plus a large communal lounge with a real fire. The villa also has a swimming pool that all the residents can use. The view from our room over the ocean was stunning. The room also had a small balcony with a table and two chairs. This is another property I cannot recommend highly enough.
Robberg House
This is also part of the Robberg Lodges and has enormous rooms. Guests can use the facilities at either Beachy Head Villa or Cottage Pie. The rooms in the house are very large and some have a slight sea view. This is a good option if Beachy Head Villa is full.
Cottage Pie
The rooms here are small but are tastefully decorated, slightly different to the other properties in the collection where the bedrooms are decorated in all the same colours. Cottage Pie has a real country feel to it. The guest house has two small lounges. Some rooms have a pool view, two have a garden view/semi private patio area and there is a stunning classic designed suite upstairs. The guest house has a pool. This would be perfect for a large family or for individual guests and for clients on a budget.
Amakhala Game Reserve
We then drove for just three hours along the Garden Route to Amakhala Game Reserve and our overnight accommodation; Woodbury Lodge.
Woodbury Lodge
Woodbury Lodge has 7 thatched, brick chalet style rooms. Our room also had a separate bedroom area for two children. The lodge is 4 star and the rooms are fine. The lodge has a swimming pool and a bonfire area where guests sit after their evening game drive with a drink. There is a terrace with a beautiful view over the reserve. They have an inside dining room that all clients sit round. 3 nights a week the owners host dinner and 4 nights a week the guides host. We had a good afternoon game drive with Justin in the reserve and saw zebra, elephants, red Hartebeest, kudu and waterbuck. On the way back to the lodge we also saw a cacheral.
TUE 21 MAY
This morning we were met by Shelley from Lions Roars and enjoyed breakfast. After breakfast we said goodbye to Nelis at Woodbury Lodge and started our site inspection of a few properties on the Amakhala Game Reserve. There are eleven properties on the reserve and we saw seven of them including Woodbury Lodge.
Woodbury Tented Camp
This was a nice tented camp owned by the same people as Woodbury Lodge. This is a 3 star camp. I preferred this camp to Woodbury Lodge however it is important to inform people that although the hand basin and shower are part of the tent the toilet is separate and is outside the tent. This is not of any concern as the camp is fully fenced.
Quatermains Camp
I loved this camp! It is very small and intimate as they only have three tents. You leave your car at Carnarvondale and before being transferred to this camp. It would be great to hire out for a whole family or group. The couple that run the camp are delightful and have a small son giving it a family feel. The tents do have a bathroom with a toilet included in the tent if this is an issue. The camp takes you back to the 1920’s in décor and feel. The tents are quite small but for the right clients this camp would be perfect. Within the activities at the camp is a game drive in Shamwari. This camp is also 3 star. I would highly recommend this small intimate camp.
Reed Valley Inn
This beautiful homestead has stunning views and a beautiful terrace area with manicured gardens. The homestead rooms are comfortable and a good size. The only downside of this camp is that all clients eat at Bush Lodge which means you get a 5* dinner but a chilly transfer if early in the morning or late evening! The game drives are also operated by Bush Lodge.
Bukela Lodge
This is one of the two 5 star lodges and we loved it! It has an infinity swimming pool and the lodge offers a small intimate lodge experience. Anton and Robyn run the lodge and they seemed extremely knowledgeable. The rooms are a large size with some excellent views. If clients are looking for a 5 star safari experience this is the lodge to send them to!
Posted by Paul Hickey-Fry