Best hotels in Garden Route

Views Boutique Hotel could not be more aptly named: the outlook from its hilltop setting are simply breathtaking. And the service here is as elevated as the location – pure luxury, with a dash of glamour. The hotel lies just outside Wilderness, a quiet, pretty town on the Garden Route, South Africa's best-loved road-trip destination. The property is enormous, with several tiers and balconies and a design that combines contemporary style with an emphasis on privacy. Book here to spend some time on this beautiful stretch of pristine coastline, where you'll find plenty of natural treasures, good eateries, and markets.

Driving the Garden Route between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth is normally all about exploring the coast, with a few stops in cute little dorpies (towns) en route. Now, Gondwana Game Reserve, just inland from Mossel Bay, offers travellers the chance to stop over and see some big game. Surrounded by the impressive Outeniqua and Langeberg ranges, and forming part of the world's richest plant kingdom (1000-plus species on the reserve alone), Gondwana is a nature-lover's treat. Ulubisi House is its newest and most exclusive offering. Booked on a sole-use basis, it has its own private guide, chef and butler.

If there was ever a place where the world appears through rose-tinted glasses, it's Fairview House. Living up to its name as it looks over an idyllic scene of mist-infused mountains and fynbos-covered valleys. These views even inspired two novels written by the family matriarch! Once a hand-built home, Fairview has been transformed into a impeccably styled boutique hotel with South African artwork and touches to remind of its heritage - the ornate fireplace makes for a cosy spot to curl up. Tucked away from the fast lane, Fairview is an inviting refuge with the beauties of the Garden Route within arm's reach.

Hog Hollow Country Lodge and Villa is set on the edge of an indigenous forest, with breathtaking views of Natures Valley and the Tsitsikamma Mountains. It's also just 18 kilometres away from the coastal town of Plettenberg Bay, making it a perfect place to experience the best of both worlds. At the lodge, expect soft green lawns, flower-covered cottages, turquoise pools, wooded valleys and wonderful views. It's also an excellent destination for families with many activities available in the vicinity, as well as the amazing hiking trails and nature walks in Natures Valley.

Gondwana Game Reserve sits on South Africa's southern coast in the topographically blessed Western Cape. Located within the Cape Floral Kingdom and edged by the spectacular Outeniqua and Langeberg Mountain Ranges, the natural beauty of this place is brought to life with the storybook wildlife and you'll find most of the major mammal species ambling around. Kwena Lodge's uniquely domed and thatched architecture is a nod to the region's original inhabitants, the Khoi-San, but the accommodation has come on leaps and bounds since then! Think plenty of modern comforts with a touch of understated class.

The pretty town of Knysna is a highlight of any Garden Route trip, and, if you're looking for somewhere to stay that isn't quite in the hubbub of the town, try Belvidere Manor Hotel. Situated in a quiet, upmarket suburb on the outskirts of Knysna, the 28 pretty cottages are surrounded by lush gardens and the most beautiful views of the lagoon. It's a laid-back sort of place, and the historic manor house (dating back to 1834), has kept its gracious Georgian style and luxurious yet homely feel, whilst the cottages are modern and stylish. The perfect combination, really.