Klein Karoo

Lord Milner Hotel

Name: Lord Milner Hotel
Address: Klein Karoo & Surrounds, South Africa
Price range: From US$100 per person, per night

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Lord Milner Hotel

About Lord Milner Hotel

The perfect portal to a timeless Victorian town, in South Africa's Karoo

The playful medieval-cum-Victorian facade of the Lord Milner Hotel in the Karoo town of Matjiesfontein strikes a giddying first impression. Anyone with an ounce of childhood fancy can attest that there's something intriguing about a castle – and the turreted Lord Milner does indeed seem the stuff of fairy tales. In fact, the hotel served as both hospital and headquarters of the Cape Western Command during the South African (Anglo-Boer) War, and later became a stylish spa getaway for wealthy Victorians. In 1975 the building was declared a National Heritage Site, one of several in this resurrected town.

Klein Karoo , South Africa

From $90 per person/per night

Retreat

50 Rooms

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Property details

The property

The hotel's grand Victorian facade, embellished with broekie lace and arched windows, leads you into an opulent era of dark-wood balustrades, red carpets, velvet furnishings, elaborately tiled floors and flourishes galore. The richly ornamented restaurant, with its high ceilings, large windows and red-jacketed staff, makes every meal an occasion. The elegant canary-yellow lounge has an antique piano and large hearth, recalling those Victorian evenings, when people gathered in the drawing room after dinner for song and conversation.

The rooms

Fifteen classically decorated double rooms within the main hotel are bright, with en-suite bathrooms featuring black-and-white tiled floors, and deep bathtubs (some have side-by-side tubs). Separate from the hotel are four suites and villas: the cosy Olive Schreiner Cottage (named for the famous South African author); the Swimming Pool Suite (with two luxury rooms that open to a private courtyard, pool and terrace); the double-storey, Mediterranean-in-feel Reston Villa (four double bedrooms); and the historic three-bedroomed Old Museum Suite. Sheer luxury!

Activities

Matjiesfontein, with its single main street, is regarded as something of an oasis of culture and tradition in the surrounding Karoo scrubland. There's certainly a lot to see, including the Transport Museum (dozens of antique cars); the Old Coffee House (enjoy a mean afternoon tea); two chapels; the Old Post Office; working railway station and Railway Museum. Take the 10-minute tour in a double-decker London-style bus. For some chills, the ghost tour takes in many of the reportedly haunted buildings.

Trips

Klein Karoo Tours & Trips

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South Africa

Alternative Garden Route

12 nights from $4.4K per person

Cape Town Robertson Cape Winelands

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How to book Lord Milner Hotel

How do I book Lord Milner Hotel?

Lord Milner Hotel can be booked with Timbuktu as part of a tailor-made South Africa trip, rather than as a standalone room reservation. Start online, customising one of our recommended South Africa trips featuring Lord Milner Hotel or get advice and suggestions from one of our South Africa specialists who will design the trip around your dates, check availability and handle every booking for you.

How much does it cost to stay at Lord Milner Hotel?

Stays at Lord Milner Hotel start from around $90 per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.

South Africa

Klein Karoo & Surrounds

Out-of-time and off-the-map allure abound in this stretch of mountain-flanked semi-desert.