Where to stay in South Africa

i-escape's collection of favourite small hotels and hip hideaways

Click on the hotel name for a detailed independent review, with practical tips, feedback from other users, and a direct, secure booking service - all provided for free.

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Cape Town
Kensington Place
Higgovale
£££ One of Cape Town's most stylish small hotels, an ultra-chic town house set on the slopes of Table Mountain

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White Villa
Camps Bay
£££ Stunning beach house fit for "A-Listers" with direct access to secluded Glen Beach and a short stroll to Camps Bay (sleeps 2-10) New!

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The Bishops' Court
Bishopscourt
£££ Luxury boutique guesthouse with a fun, easygoing atmosphere and stunning views of Table Mountain

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Cape Heritage Hotel
City centre
££ Tastefully-restored hotel on the edge of Cape Town's historic Bo-Kaap area, well-placed for trendy restaurants and shops. Closed for renovation from 25 June - 9 August 2008

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Derwent House
Tamboerskloof
££ A light, uplifting and fabulously friendly boutique hotel on a quiet backstreet of Tamboerskloof

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Glen Beach Villas
Camps Bay
££ Collection of stylish self-catering villas and a Penthouse for 2-8 on Glen Beach; great for couples or families New!

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Lion's View
Camps Bay
££ Seriously stylish holiday home above trendy Camps Bay, with separate penthouse apartment and views to die for (sleeps 4-14)

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The Hout Bay Hideaway
Hout Bay
££ Beautifully decorated 1930s-style Art Deco home set in a lush garden near Cape Town (B&B or self-catering, sleeps 1-12)

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Les Cascades de Bantry Bay
Bantry Bay
££ Chic guesthouse with a tropical Afro-Balinese feel, set high above Cape Town’s exclusive Bantry Bay with ocean views to die for

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Four Rosmead
Oranjezicht
££ A stylish, art-filled guesthouse on the slopes of Table Mountain with fabulous city views and 8 designer-perfect bedrooms

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Balfour Place
Camps Bay
££ A rare find: a stylish 5-bedroom villa in the heart of popular Camps Bay, just 200m from the beach (sleeps up to 10)

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Jardin D'ebene
Tamboerskloof
£ An old Cape Dutch guesthouse, restored with an eye to modern Africa

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Villa Surprise
Camps Bay
£ A stylish, friendly little guesthouse overlooking Camps Bay, one of Cape Town's hippest suburbs

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An African Villa
Tamboerskloof
£ Excellent value, fun and spacious contemporary-styled guest house created from three Victorian terraced houses

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The Tarragon
Hout Bay
£ Five luxury serviced cottages for 2-6 in a magical setting on the southern slopes of Table Mountain, ideal for exploring the Cape Peninsula

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Cape Winelands
Mont Rochelle Hotel
Franschhoek
£££ Small luxury hotel and wine estate with stunning views, just minutes from Franschhoek, the Cape's gourmet hotspot

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Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse
Hermon
£££ Fabulous historic homestead set on a working farm and nature reserve with lake, mountains, and vineyards beyond


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Akademie Street Guesthouses
Franschhoek
££ Intimate, stylish and supremely comfortable guest cottages an easy stroll away from the restaurants and shops of historic Franschhoek

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Klein Genot
Franschhoek
££ Bijou retreat and vineyard where Feng Shui meets traditional Cape Dutch architecture in the lee of the stunning Franschhoek mountains

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Palmiet Valley Estate
Nr Paarl
££ Elegant, tranquil and historic wine estate offering value for money and plenty of activities, just 40 minutes from Cape Town

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Lekkerwijn
nr. Paarl / Franschhoek
££ Historic Cape Dutch homestead in the heart of the Cape Winelands, offering friendly B&B or cottage accommodation

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Hawksmoor House
Nr Stellenbosch
£ Stylish, homely Cape Dutch country manor and wine farm close to Stellenbosch and Cape Town New!

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Garden Route & Eastern Cape
Shamwari Game Reserve
Nr Port Elizabeth
££££ Big 5 game viewing in a malaria-free area - an ideal stop-off after touring the Garden Route

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Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
Nr Montagu
££££ A newly created nature reserve and spa lodge in the klein karoo between Cape Town and the Garden Route

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Bay Lodge
Plettenberg Bay
£££ Barefoot luxury lodging, top contemporary design and furnishings, and views out to the Indian Ocean

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Kurland
Nr Plettenberg Bay
£££ Luxurious, family-run country house with sumptuous rooms, swimming pools, stables, spa and child care

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Grootbos
Near Hermanus
£££ Wonderful wilderness retreat between Cape Town and the Garden Route, with pristine beaches, whale-watching and horse-riding

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Phantom Forest
Knysna
£££ Hidden in private woodland above Knysna’s lagoons, 10 eco-chic treehouses with fine restaurant and freshwater pool

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Plettenberg Park
Nr Plettenberg Bay
£££ A luxurious, contemporary hideaway perched high above the Indian Ocean, with endless sea views

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Hog Hollow Country Lodge
Nr Plettenberg Bay
£££ Friendly, comfortable and stylish lodge with delicious food, between the Tsitsikamma Mountains and Indian Ocean

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The Windermere Hotel
Port Elizabeth
£££ Port Elizabeth’s first boutique hotel means you can now combine safari style with urban chic…

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Lalibela Game Reserve
Nr Port Elizabeth
£££ A private Big 5, malaria-free game reserve with 3 stylish and reasonably-priced lodges just an hour east of Port Elizabeth

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Blue Gum Country Estate
near Hermanus
££ A blissfully peaceful, rural retreat with superb food, close to the sea, the winelands and the Overberg mountains (2 hrs from Cape Town)

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Southern Cross Beach House
Plettenberg Bay
££ A beach-facing deck, picture-perfect colour coordination and five cosy bedrooms in an airy Planters-style house just yards from the Indian Ocean New!

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The Elephant House
Addo
££ A small, friendly lodge on the edge of Addo Elephant Park, perfect for independent game viewing near the Garden Route

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Farm 215
Nr Gansbaai
££ Stunning eco-chic retreat and private fynbos nature reserve with far-reaching views of the unspoilt southern Overberg New!

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Bloomestate
Swellendam
££ A luxurious Zen-inspired retreat in a leafy suburb of historic Swellendam

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La Gratitude
Hermanus
£ Historic villa with pristine grounds, pool and prime location by Hermanus' endless beach, 90 minutes from Cape Town (sleeps 5-10)

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Johannesburg
Ten Bompas
Sandton
£££ Wonderfully stylish small hotel with a top-notch restaurant, conveniently located between downtown and the business districts of Sandton and Rosebank

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The Peech
Melrose
££ A funky boutique hotel in the leafy suburb of Melrose with every conceivable mod con, eye-catching contemporary design and its own bistro and champagne bar

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KwaZulu Natal
White Elephant Safari Lodge
Pongola Reserve
£££ Tranquil Zululand lodge offering luxury tents, stunning mountain and lake views, excellent birdlife and great Tiger-Fishing

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Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse
Nr Giant's Castle
£££ Beautifully decorated, gourmet hideout on the doorstep of the newly declared World Heritage Drakensberg Mountains

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Three Trees at Spioenkop
Ladysmith
££ Peaceful hilltop retreat, with simple yet stylish period cottages offering a fascinating insight into local wartime history

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Kosi Forest Lodge
Maputaland
££ A superbly crafted eco-lodge at the heart of the Kosi Bay Nature Reserve, close to the Indian Ocean and the enchanting waterways of the Isimangaliso Wetlands

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Madikwe
Makanyane Safari Lodge
Derdepoort
££££ A stunning safari lodge in the malaria-free Madikwe park, with superb guides and exquisite suites

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Thakadu River Camp
Eastern Sector
£££ A child-friendly riverside ecolodge, with top spec tented accommodation and big game galore, in the malaria-free Madikwe Park

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Jaci's Safari Lodges
Madikwe Game Reserve
£££ Twin, award-winning lodges in the heart of the Madikwe Game Reserve, imbued with the spirit of their colourful and innovative creators, Jaci and Jan New!

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N & NW Province & Mpumalanga
Lion Sands River Lodge
Southern Kruger
££££ An awe-inspiring lodge on the banks of the Sabie river, with some of southern Africa's best game viewing, top rangers and finest gourmet cuisine

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Lion Sands Ivory Lodge
Southern Kruger
££££ Sleek black-white styling, private plunge pools and prime river frontage set this above all other Kruger lodges, with game viewing to match

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Honeyguide Tented Safari Camps
Nr. Hoedspruit
£££ Excellent game, walking safaris and delicious food in a pair of elegantly simple tented camps

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Garonga Safari Camp
Nr. Phalaborwa
£££ Holistic, stylish, heavenly retreat (and safari camp)