Our second stay at Gorah and it was just as memorable as the first. What sets Gorah apart from the majority of safari lodges we've been lucky enough to visit is the quality of sightings between game drives !! The proximity of the water hole directly in front of the lodge pretty much guarantees sightings of elephant, zebra, warthog, red hartebeest, black rhino, buffalo, vervet monkeys etc throughout the day & night. The game drives are terrific too. Gorah enjoys a strong team of guides, all with excellent knowledge of the Addo mammals, birds & plants which they share with enthusiasm and humour. The two drives per day explore both the Gorah concession and the broader Addo National Park in search of the best sightings. The modern vehicles are equipped with blankets, ponchos, hot water bottles etc as well as the obligatory camp table & portable bar for sundowners. The tented suites are fantastic, equipped with everything you would expect in a 5 star luxury hotel (including a free mini bar). Each suite has a deck overlooking the beautiful savannah which is a helpful reminder that there are no fences between you & the animals you encounter on your game drives !! The Manor House is an elegant throwback to the filmset of Out of Africa. Breakfast, lunch, dinner & afternoon tea are all served in the Manor House and were excellent quality. It's worth noting that all drinks (other than a few premium brands) are included at Gorah which is not always the case, so it's good value compared to other safari options, Gorah is lucky to have a fantastic team who go out of their way to make your stay a special experience. All of them were brilliant but for us Sia, Travis, Mavis, & Simoné were the absolute stars. Finally, if you self-drive from Port Elizabeth, make sure you follow the directions along the N2 to the Mathyolweni Entrance of Addo Elephant National Park and DO NOT take the shorter R335 through Motherwell, it's not safe...... We look forward to our third stay.....
This is not the first time we have stayed at Rietjiesbos and it will not be the last. It is a lovely place to stay. Very clean, neat, tidy, large rooms well equipped with lovely linen and towels. The small kitchen area has everything you need for your stay. The owners Valerie and Wilfred are very friendly and go out of their way to make your stay comfortable. The area is very safe and there is safe parking inside the property. I have no hesitation in recommending this lovely establishment. You will not be disappointed.
Exquisite scenery and situation overlooking the gorge Beautiful, clean, spacious family chalet, with comfortable beds and good linen/towels/gowns. Exceptionally well fitted kitchen. Charming partially enclosed patio dining area. Superb breakfast Friendly, professional staff - each and every one Stunning heated pool/tub/jacuzzi/ sauna facilities Only criticism of the chalet is the large skylight without a blind/curtain covering - unfortunately this made a good night's sleep very difficult. Aircon would also be a great addition, especially since the monkey problem requires windows to be kept closed.
Only stayed one night unfortunately as on a tour. Spacious room, very clean, lovely balcony overlooking the sea to watch the stars and have coffee in the sun in the morning. Excellent cooked breakfast. Also very much appreciated the cafetiere in the room! Would definitely stay again.
Stayed 2 nights on a low season package that included room, board and activities. I recommend the Red Route tubing - it was so fun! but not the zip lining, it's nothing special. The guesthouse was very quiet while I was there. Seemed to be very few independent travellers but the place would fill up if a tour bus was booked in for a night. Staff were friendly and called me by name. Dorm was clean and safe, right in the main building. Toilet had a very bad smell and there was just 1 in the dorm room which would be tricky if the 14 person dorm was full. Showers were fine. Other accommodation options were located behind the main building. Pool, bar, wood stove in the main dining area and fire pit area were all very nice. My favourite thing was the wood heated hottubs. Just be careful they get hotter and hotter the longer they are lit! Food is homemade and healthy. Hot food from the kitchen can take a while because it's frozen but just order in advance. I recommend the veggie lasagna. Great stay solo even with poor weather.
Zuurberg Mountain Village holds a special place in my Family's memory, and my Parents used to visit regularly back in the 1970's & 1980's. This Trip was a special celebration for my Dad's 90th Birthday, and I know that our Stay brought back memories of some wonderful times. From the moment that you drive up the Zuurberg Pass to the Mountain Village, you cannot help but be taken aback at the beauty of the area, and the Hotel and Rooms are wonderful and nostalgic. We have always received a warm welcome from everyone at the Hotel, and they almost make you feel like Family! Being the start of Winter, the old Log Fires were very welcome, and the Lounges and Bar are all very cosy. The Food was exceptional, with a Set Menu consisting of several courses, one of which was some of the best Moulle that I've ever tasted. The Sweet Trolley has to be seen to be believed! Breakfast the next morning was delicious, and set us up for the day. All in all, our Stay at Zuurburg Mountain Village was wonderful. We'll most definitely be back!