South Africa

During our 2005 tour of South Africa, we stayed in eight hotels, which varied from three to five star rated. In the main, we found the ones with fewer stars better than those with most. Our own emphasis was on comfort and friendly service. Also shown below are two hotels where we just had lunch and did not stay overnight.

The Cape Manor is run by a British ex-patriot and many of the customers were British (on a Saga holiday, as we were). The staff appeared very happy and could not have been more helpful.

Although the rooms were fairly small, most had views either of the sea or of the Lion's Head mountain (adjacent to Table Mountain).

Food was plentiful and tasty, and it was possible to get an 'English breakfast'. The Cape Manor was one of our favourite hotels of the entire trip.

It is conveniently located a few hundred yards from a huge, sandy beach beside the Indian Ocean. The beach can be reached safely on foot without crossing any main roads. Pleasant walks are also available beside a nearby lagoon.

Our only complaint here was that, after the friendliness of the Cape Manor in Cape Town, the staff appeared unfriendly, stand-offish and unhelpful.

However, because it was near the docks, we were strongly advised not to venture out as it was unsafe after dark (as we stayed in Durban for one night only, this was 100% of our time). Also, the staff were attentive to the point of being a nuisance- unless of course we actually wanted something, when no-one was around. Several of those on our tour reported being badgered by phone to give an opinion of the hotel, even though they had only just arrived and were still trying to freshen up. The food was adequate but not hot enough.

Facilities include horse riding, 4-wheel-drive trips into the mountains (which we did - see elsewhere on this site), golf and walking in the extensive grounds.

We would have liked to stay more than the two nights spent at this hotel.

We did not enjoy having to wait nearly an hour for a snack lunch, by which time those who had ordered after us were well into their meals. Nor did we like the impossibly noisy and drafty air conditioning; we eventually turned this off and were rewarded by mosquito bites (essential to take malaria medicine). Also annoying was the habit of waiters talking to each other in their own language whilst serving us - perhaps they had been trained not to fraternise with the guests, but to us it was just rude.

On the plus side, there is a large open-air craft market a few hundred yards outside the hotel. You are unlikely to get mugged here, but the walk does involve crossing a busy main road. All sorts of carvings, paintings and souvenirs are on sale at dozens of stalls and bargains can be had by haggling a little. Some market items were on sale at the hotel itself at greatly inflated prices. We were pleasantly surprised by the Swazi people we encountered on our short walk (mostly returning from work and catching the ubuitous white taxi-buses) who all smiled and said "hello" - in contrast to the hotel staff.

River House Guest Lodge, Malalene
This was another place we stopped just for lunch, but what a location! It is right beside the Crododile River, the other side of which is the Kruger National Park. The food was excellent and the service friendly and entertaining (the staff sang and danced for us). The decor has to be seen to be believed - every surface is crammed with artifacts, old and new, from all round the world.

It is when we went outside that we discovered the best bit - a large open-sided shelter (which we needed as the temperature was nearly 40 degrees C) built out over the river bank, and a few feet below us were several hippos cooling themselves. A little patience revealed a crocodile near the far bank.

This would have been a really great place to stay, but with only a dozen rooms it was too small for our 30-strong party.

Hotel The Winkler, White River
Located conveniently for the Kruger National Park, the Winkler (pronounced 'Vinkler' as it is owned by a German company) is set in impressively large, lawned grounds with peacocks roaming around. The rooms are on the ground floor and the reception, bar and dining areas are reached by a short outside walk (rain is not normally a hazard, though there was a shower whilst we were there).

This is a place to relax. If you don't fancy being energetic in the swimming pool, the lounge is large, with a calming view of the grounds. The staff are efficient and friendly. Dinner is signalled by a native drummer, and the food - German influenced - is good and hot.

Rosebank Hotel, Johannesburg
Situated in the relatively safe suburb of Rosebank, this Hotel was up-market and in keeping with the rest of our experience in South Africa was less friendly than the less luxurious ones. The food was good, but the buffet service seemed shambolic. We had one meal in a chinese restaurant which was part of the hotel. The view from our window (see picture) was of the Post Office tower in central Johannesburg and the many beautiful jacaranda trees for which this area is famous.

We were able to walk outside the hotel to a large, modern shopping mall a few hundred yards away. The shoppers appeared much more wealthy than most other South Africans we had come across, even in Cape Town. Shops selling guns, tazers and flak jackets nestled alongside boutiques and cafes.