Best hotels in Garden Route

Knysna is a lively seaside town, with lots to do in the area and the scope to explore at your own pace on a self-drive houseboat. No experience is needed – a brief skipper’s course will show you all you need to know for a safe enjoyable experience, with a back-up option of on-hand staff to help if necessary with mooring and other boat-related issues. Each boat is fully kitted out to rigorous safety standards. A permanently moored cottage on the water offers a second more spacious option, with all facilities required for a comfortable self-catering stay on the water.

Located in popular Plettenberg Bay, Christiana Lodge combines four-star luxury with good old-fashioned South African hospitality. The structure itself combines environmental thoughtfulness with crisp, modern design, and the interiors continue that theme, along with echoes of the family's Karoo history in the old cane chairs, pretty porcelain light fittings and wrought-iron chandeliers. This light-flooded, west-facing lodge lies on Solar Beach, and both the amazing Brakkloof Wetland and Robberg Nature Reserve are almost on its doorstep. Come here for some spoiling, to ramble through the incredible natural surroundings, and to top up your tan on the beautiful beaches.

Stashed away on South Africa's southern coast, along a private stretch of Noetzie Beach near Knysna, the Pezula Castles are exclusive, luxurious and absolutely fabulous. There are actually three 'castles' on the estate (Pezula, Cliff and Beach Castle), each from the pages of a fairytale. Think stone-clad turrets, peeping from the boughs of elephant-filled (or so rumour has it) forests and truly magical views, as well as a private butler to attend to your every need. Stay nestled away in your private suite, or venture to the nearby Pezula Resort for the golf course, spa and award-winning restaurants; you've got the best of both worlds at the castles.

Tucked away on the edge of indigenous forest just outside Plettenberg Bay, stylish Hog Hollow Country Lodge lies in its own private nature reserve. Various accommodation options dot the grounds, including three villas, the largest of which is delightful Hog Hollow Villa – a true Garden Route gem. Located a short distance from the main lodge, this elegant yet relaxed country home has gorgeous views across the bird-filled valley to the Tsitsikamma mountains. If the views from the dreamy deck aren't delightful enough, the property's other amenities and leisure activities, like walks and dips in the pool, surely are.

If you're driving the Garden Route, there may come a time to escape the car and put your feet up for a few days - and we think we've found the perfect spot. Laird's Lodge Country Estate is set on a blissful, 24-acre private estate between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. Spend your days sipping homemade iced tea in one of the pretty courtyards, stroll through the gardens, or go for a leisurely dip in the secluded swimming pool. And if you're not quite finished exploring, the estate is a fabulous base from which to explore Plettenberg, Knysna, and the stunning beaches and landscapes that makes the Garden Route as famous as it is.

Turn off the N2 Garden Route between Plettenberg Bay and Nature's Valley and travel just five minutes to reach Buffelsdam Country House, a lovely bed-and-breakfast retreat in a truly beautiful setting. This rural area backed by the lush Tsitsikamma Mountains is called, aptly, The Crags, and the lodge its heart is an affordable yet rather wonderful place. Its six well-appointed rooms face the mountain or garden, and there's a three-bedroom family unit that's perfect for families. There's no shortage of activities either, from exploring the Garden's Route's pretty towns to beach walking, birdwatching or simply relaxing in the garden.

The luxurious 31-roomed Protea Hotel Mossel Bay is a graceful landmark, built in 1846, overlooking Santos Bay and the harbor. 20 min drive to the airport and halfway between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. Nestling on the Mossel Bay shoreline with the majestic Outeniqua mountains as a backdrop, the Protea Hotel Mossel Bay is singled out from other establishments.The stone walls and Mediterranean-style out-buildings belie the fact that the main building is one of the oldest in Mossel Bay and forms part of the Dias Museum Complex. Previously The Old Post Office Tree Manor Hotel, the Protea Hotel Mossel Bay, situated off Santos beach, could best be described as a hotel complex. It comprises of a breakfast patio with sea view, the Cafe Gannet Seafood Restaurant - "Mossel Bay's Seafood House", overlooking the Bay and Outeniqua Mountains. The Blue Oyster cocktail bar, adjacent to the pool, overlooks Santos Bay.

An attractive Garden Route destination for adventurers and beach-loving travellers alike, The Bungalow, Plett has a fresh, captivating vibe in one of South Africa's most beloved seaside locations. The villa is a stone’s throw from the water’s edge at Hobie Beach, a popular playground that offers access to both countryside and marine treasures. Stop overnight if you're en route elsewhere, to fortify yourself with a cocktail and plate of sushi. Or come for a week to slough off the real world. The service is swift and the bungalows strike the perfect balance between modern and beach-casual.

Just 6.4 km from the original Botlierskop Game Reserve lies the newest addition to the family – The Village Lodge, remote enough for a country escape, near enough for a wonderful day out. Offering magnificent views of the majestic Outeniqua Mountains, the Lodge is set on the landmark Kleinvlei Farm, which now forms part of this picturesque 4,200-hectare, malaria-free reserve. The child-friendly, 16-bedroom Village Lodge is located on the northern side of the Reserve, close to the historical Friemersheim, the original mission station and site of the slave quarters for Great Brak River. The Village is a harmonious collection of new and vintage houses, some dating back to the 1800s. Each house is individual in style, but uniform in luxury, style and comfort. These have been lovingly-restored to blend in with their modern, contemporary-country style counterparts. Each unit is en-suite with spacious, light-filled open-plan interiors. There is also a family wing where each of the four suites has its own entrance and patio with either a garden or mountain view. The expansive herb and vegetable gardens are laid out in a wagon-wheel formation with central focal dams Watermollen (Watermill) and Perdedam (Horse Dam) – also known as Grootdrink of Dors (Large Drink or Thirsty). The water flows past the houses in a series of canals. The abundant fresh produce that’s lovingly coaxed from these gardens supplies the popular Bellevue Restaurant, formerly the district’s school house. Local legend has it that one of the last pupils of The Bellevue School in 1938 maintained that Kleinvlei had one of the strongest athletics team of all the rural schools in the area. The Village Lodge is child friendly and all ages are welcome. Aside from sailing paper boats in the canals, your young ones can enjoy the playground, spacious lawns, sandpit, swimming pool, tadpole fishing and pony rides, while you take time out to relax at the Botlierskop Bush Spa, go on a guided bush trail or horseback safari.

To drive along South Africa's exquisite Garden Route is to encounter a bouquet of attractions: exquisite winelands, indigenous forests, gourmet restaurants and farmers' markets, an array of wildlife and flora and, of course, pristine beaches. Plettenberg Bay (Plett) is a must-stop spot for sea-lovers, nestled on a long stretch of white beach with a belt of dune forest. Just beyond the green belt is Robberg Beach Lodge, a compound of four separate villas with a total of 29 rooms, each varying in size, and self-catering cottages. It offers plenty of luxury and a front-row seat to the southern Indian Ocean.

It may be a mouthful, but Bobbejaanskloof strikes just the right note as a place to restore your calm. Set in the foothills of the Tsitsikamma Mountains, just 20 minutes from the seaside town of Plettenberg Bay, this farmhouse retreat sits on a 150-hectare private nature reserve of deep valleys, indigenous fynbos, old-growth forests and rolling plains. Sit in the shelter of the deep stoep and watch the horizon – occasionally interrupted by passing Nguni cattle – and wallow in the luxurious tranquillity in this deeply satisfying setting.

The Redberry Farm cottage offers guests an enjoyable and comfortable stay. Located in George, it is ideally positioned to explore the Garden Route allowing you to enjoy fun family adventures! Redberry Farm is a commercial strawberry grower that offers family-friendly activities such as picking your own strawberries, exploring the largest permanent hedge maze in the Southern Hemisphere, a Tea Garden and Farm Stall, the Red Shed Coffee & Berry Bar, miniature train ride on Redberry Express, a large outdoor playground, pedal go-carts, pony rides as well as bumper boats and bubble balls on the dam. Visitors can experience a taste of paradise with Framboos’s handcrafted ice cream, the Noshery’s wood-fired pizza and Houtbosch’s local wines and craft beer. This holiday accommodation is ideal for families wanting to experience the peaceful nature of the farm within close vicinity to entertainment options.

This property will be closed from May 2025. Much-loved Plettenberg Bay is a pretty coastal town on South Africa’s Garden Route. Renowned for its clean white beaches, ancient mountains and lively holiday feel, it has plenty to offer for nature lovers, sporty types, foodies, and those who appreciate kicking back and soaking up the magnificent scenery. Milkwood Manor is an eye-catching Georgian-style guesthouse on a small peninsula that juts into the Keurbooms River lagoon along the beach. Its 12 beautifully appointed rooms, stylish restaurant and bar are in a setting that’s as close to perfection as it gets.

Built by the Dutch East India Company in 1777, The Old Rectory has seen its share of change over the centuries, from church, to school, to blacksmith workshop, amid other incarnations. Today, it's reborn as a boutique hotel, its lovely Cape Dutch style blended with plenty of modern class. The hotel sits in a cul-de-sac in a quiet seaside neighbourhood of Plettenberg Bay (known to locals as Plett). Renovated to preserve the integrity of this national monument, and as a commitment to ultra comfort, The Old Rectory is a sumptuous slice of heaven on this ethereal coast.

Modern and stylish, this small guesthouse with just six luxurious rooms offers good value-for-money accommodation in a gloriously tranquil setting on the cliffs above Plettenberg Bay, with far-reaching views of the Robberg Peninsula and out to sea. As one of South Africa’s favourite Garden Route holiday destinations, Plett (as it's fondly known) has a number of pristine beaches and wildlife sanctuaries nearby. Bosavern Guest House lies an easy 15-minute walk from the bustling town centre, so it's in a prime position for anyone who appreciates a mix of exciting outdoor adventure activities and sophisticated seaside living,

Perched on a rocky headland in the heart of one of South Africa’s favourite seaside vacation towns, The Plettenberg is a luxurious hotel that showcases some seriously breath-taking vistas from long stretches of golden beaches to mountains and dense, green forests. The accommodation and service are five-star fabulous, and the hotel is popular with people looking for some top-end relaxation and pampering. Plettenberg itself is a holiday resort with an interesting history and lots of nature reserves on its doorstep, so there's plenty to see and do - unless sunbathing on the beach or poolside is your dream, in which case The Plettenberg is pretty good for that too.

Scallop Lodge is a small bed and breakfast getaway in a peaceful part of Plettenberg Bay, one of South Africa’s most popular holiday spots along the Garden Route. Five individually decorated rooms provide a luxurious base from which to explore the beautiful beaches, nature reserves and lively village centre just a short distance away. With its comfortable homely feel, modern decor and relaxing holiday atmosphere, Scallop Lodge is perfect for couples, or a group of friends or family travelling together, as it can be booked exclusively as a sole-use villa.

Tamodi Lodge is a small family-owned and -run bed-and-breakfast retreat on the outskirts of Plettenberg Bay, one of South Africa’s most popular Garden Route beauty spots. The lodge lies in a nature conservancy, and is surrounded by indigenous forests and lush valleys ringed by the ancient Outeniqua Mountains. The lodge is known for its horseriding (there are private stables on-site) and the network of trails that wind through the forests. It's an intimate guest lodge, well suited to couples looking for privacy and romance in a natural setting, with the buzz of Plettenberg Bay a few minutes' drive away.

Nestled between Plettenberg Bay and Nature's Valley is Fairview at the Crags. Owned and run by the historic Rattray family, the quaint house and cottage are located in a beautiful spot overlooking the Keurbooms indigenous forest as well as several mountain ranges. It's the ideal coastal getaway for families and small groups, and there are whale watching opportunities and lovely forest walks a mere 10 minute drive away. Make a day of it and spend a few hours doing both. There's also a couple of spectacular golf courses if you want to practice your swing and become a pro. Or simply relax in the beautiful fynbos garden and enjoy this magnificent part of South Africa.

The farm known as Kay and Monty Vineyards lies 26-odd kilometres from Plettenberg Bay in the lush area known as The Crags, a particularly pretty part of the Garden Route. On the farm, surrounded by vines, is Rare Earth Country House, a restored farmhouse that's available for exclusive use only (max 10 people). Explore the property on foot or horseback, by bicycle or quad-bike. Head to the tasting room to sample the estate's award-winning wines, and to the on-site restaurant if you're not in a cooking frame of mind. Then sit back and enjoy the real good life.