About
The town of Oudtshoorn is worth stopping at for ostrich farms, for the cathedral-sized Cango Caves and for its spectacular desert landscapes in which meerkats live. The best place to stay is this old colonial homestead on the town’s outskirts, backing onto an extensive rose garden which provides the name and offers a lovely burst of greenery in this arid area. Inside, yellowwood-beamed ceilings and antique furniture deliver an authentic Victorian vibe.
Accommodation
Through the gardens are 12 individually-decorated bedrooms, each with air-conditioning, small verandas, a homely feel and all the usual mod-cons, framed around a courtyard. Set 100 metres apart, two Executive Suites offer the additional boon of their own plunge pool, huge bathrooms, exercise bikes, lounges and private patios facing the Swartberg Mountain.
Facilities
In its main lodge, Rosenhof has a cosy ‘pub’ and several relaxing, understated lounges with fireplaces and works by well-known South African artists. Award-winning country cuisine with a cordon bleu touch can be enjoyed in the dining room, ably supported by an extensive wine collection. No need to worry about a sore head, either: the soothing Wellness Center offers massages and other treatments along with its sauna, fully-equipped gym and beauty clinic, plus there’s a large swimming pool with loungers, and a tranquil gazebo out among the fragrant roses and herbs.
Activities
All those Little Karoo sights mentioned above are within easy reach, as are quad-biking, golf and a cultural museum. For those not off on safari, the nearby Cango Wildlife Ranch promises lemurs, red river hogs, Nile Crocodiles, jaguar, lion and even white tigers.
Child Policy
All children are welcome.
The Best of South Africa Travel map displays the locations of the destinations and accommodation that we have selected and visited; for each item, hovering over or clicking the marker will display a short summary and photo of that place or hotel, and hotel pricing. Follow the links in the info box to the full page listing which has much more information.
Note that the online map offers both a satellite view (click satellite in the top right) and, for some locations, a street level view (Drag the person in the top left onto the map). These let you explore the country; and when you wish to explore in person, or if you have any questions about the places you see, give our staff a call, or request a quote. Our staff regularly visit the places and accommodation that we feature.
When you book a holiday with us we will provide full driving instructions for reaching your accommodation, where necessary; these can be used by yourself, or you could enjoy the luxury of a driver. Alternatively we will arrange private (car rather than coach) transfers for you; helicopter transfers are also possible for some destinations.
