Many of the thousands of guest houses/lodges around South Africa are owner-managed and they offer far more than a comfortable place to stay. Proudly South African, the proprietor/s will share their knowledge of the area and make sure you get the most out of your stay.
From jet-set Cape Town to the economic powerhouse of Johannesburg to the roads-less-traveled in the wilderness areas, you will find warm, welcoming South Africans inviting you to enjoy their accommodation and the sites and activities in their region.
The general definition of a guest house is a privately-owned establishment with five to ten rooms either in a country setting or in a city or smaller town.
A guest lodge is generally larger and has more of a hotel feel (with mini-bars and restaurants) but still retaining the personal touch of the owner.
The luxury guest house/lodge category offers accommodation of the highest standard. Furnishings, ambience, food preparation and service are of an exceptional, international standard.
An example of an owner-driven success is Oaklands at the top of Van Reenen’s Pass on the Drakensberg escarpment. Owned by the charismatic Jamie Bruce, he enthusiastically shares his extensive knowledge of the Drakensberg, Bushman paintings, Zulu culture and the Anglo-Boer battlefields and teaches guests to ride his polo ponies.
Other notables include:
- River House Lodge in Malelane, Mpumalanga, on the southern border of Kruger National Park. The lodge offers old-fashioned hospitality in superb surroundings.
- Heysbrook Country Lodge, Waterval Onder
- Le Quartier Francais, Franschhoek
- Franschhoek Country House & Villas, Franschhoek
- Kloofzicht Lodge, Muldersdrift, Cradle of Humankind
- The Bishops Court Guest House, Cape Town
- Foster’s Manor, Oudtshoorn
- Rosenhof Country Lodge, Oudtshoorn
- The Barney Barnato, Kimberley
- Gorah Elephant Camp, Addo, Eastern Cape The Dunes, St Francis Bay
- Valley Lodge, Magaliesburg, amongst many others.
Quality Guaranteed
A good benchmark of quality in the Guest House and Lodge market is the voluntary star-grading system for the hospitality industry managed by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA).
Establishments are awarded one to five stars – from fair to good to very good to superior to exceptional (matching best international standards) - for overall quality, including comfort, furnishings, service and guest care.
The Portfolio of Places collection also include a number of top class properties.
The AA (Automobile Association) Travel Guides also host an annual awards ceremony – highlighting the top achievers in the hospitality industry, including guest houses and guest lodges.
GHASA is the Guest House Association of South Africa and was established in 1992 when a group of guest house owners decided to get together to promote the guest house industry. An excellent reference source.
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