We have created a list with cool, unusual and unique hotels in Eastern Cape, South Africa. We have also included accommodation in lodges, holiday homes, boats, manor houses, farm stays, chalets, country estates, guest houses, villas, romantic hotels and apartments. Hope you enjoy it. We think it might be the best of its kind around. Tip: Set your dates to see room prices!
A list by Ella Hofer & Maryna Kravets. Updated February 2024.
Lodge.Highly elegant. Popular among couples. Located in the Amakhala Game Reserve, this lodge is set on the banks of Bushman’s River. It features an outdoor pool and luxurious tented chalets with panoramic views of the plains. HillsNek Safaris has spacious tents with a private bathroom and outside shower. Each tent is elegantly decorated with wooden furniture, and offers a fan and tea-and-coffee-making facilities. Guests can have their dinner while enjoying the African sunset, or use the barbecue facilities. The lodge’s bar serves refreshing drinks. The Amakhala Game Reserve hosts an abundance of wild animals and birds. HillsNek Safaris offers wildlife experiences with game drives, night drives, walking safaris and boat cruises. This malaria-free lodge is located 70 km outside Port Elizabeth, where guests will find warm water beaches and a selection of water sport activities.Show full description
This is the most elegant lodge in Eastern Cape. It is very popular among couples travelling to Eastern Cape!
Lodge.Elegant. Great value. Popular among couples. The 5-star Pumba Private Game Reserve lodge has views from a private wooden deck overlooking Lake Kariega or the African bush. Located 20 km from Grahamstown, some chalets include a private plunge pool. A hearty buffet breakfast is served daily on the terrace and light lunches are available in the afternoon. The à la carte restaurant has gourmet cuisine and a bar/lounge area has an extensive wine selection. Pumba Game Reserve includes a swimming pool and a well-equipped gym facility. Guests can also relax at the exclusive spa and wellness centre with sauna. All of the air-conditioned chalets have natural wooden or stone features, luxury furnishings and a thatched roof. A fireplace, a four-poster bed and a private bathroom are common in all very spacious interiors. The lodge provides many opportunities for viewing the Big 5 and you can also organize a 4WD Safari tour. Port Elizabeth Airport is a 1.5-hour drive away.Show full description
Chalet.Charming. Lovely surroundings. Nestled within an indigenous botanical wetland forest, Boutique Vintage Forest Cabin offers accommodation in Stormsrivier. This hand-built cabin boasts a large deck and views of the mountains. Boutique Vintage Forest Cabin features a kitchenette, equipped with a wood-stove, refrigerator, toaster and kettle. The bathroom has a bath tub, urinal and a composting toilet. There is also a private outside garden shower with hot and cold water. Bed linen and towels are provided. Guests of Boutique Vintage Forest Cabin are able to prepare salads and snacks from the garden's produce. The deck has built-in BBQ facilities and a smoker, and a variety of seasoned woods are provided. The cabin has private access along the forest path and is located 23 km from the Bloukrans Bungy. The Tsitsikamma Canopy Tours are within a 10-minute walk from the property.Show full description
I think this place could be the most CHARMING, COOL AND CREATIVE chalet in Eastern Cape. WOW!
Luxury Tent.Unique. Great bar. Popular among couples. Situated in the Amakala Big Five Game Reserve, Bush Lodge offers an intimate lodge experience. It features an outdoor swimming pool, viewing deck and a number of game drives and bush walks. The luxury tents have a deck with private plunge pool and views of the surrounding bush. They come with thatched roofs and wooden floors, as well as a fireplace and minibar. Guests can enjoy all-inclusive meals in the dining area and relax in the shared lounge or by the outdoor fireplace. In addition to game drives and bush walks, there is also the opportunity for bird watching. Bush Lodge is located 50 km from Addo Elephant Park and 47 km from Grahamstown. Port Elizabeth Airport is 100 km away.Show full description
Luxury Tent.Historic. Great bar. Gorah Elephant Camp is situated in the malaria-free Addo Elephant National Park. It features a spacious swimming pool and an open patio offering views of the water hole. Free Wi-Fi is available. Each tented luxury suite has a private deck with panoramic views and plush interiors. It comes equipped with tea-and-coffee-making facilities and the en suite bathroom has a shower with free toiletries. Meals are served in the dining room at the colonial Gorah House and in an enclosed outdoor area around the fire, where guests can enjoy a gourmet barbecue and African cuisine. High tea is served every afternoon. For relaxation, guests can lounge around the swimming pool, or enjoy the game viewing activities such as game drives and nature walks at the lodge. Grahamstown and it’s more than 70 declared National Heritage sites is located 103 km away and Port Elizabeth is 105 km from the property.Show full description
Luxury Tent.Lively. Offering an intimate Big 5 safari experience, Quatermain's 1920's Safari Camp features a boma bonfire and BBQ facilities. It is located in the Amakhala Game Reserve. The colonial-style tents come with a private patio and outdoor seating. They also have military campaign-style furniture and rustic bathrooms equipped modern facilities. All meals and beverages are provided by Quatermain's Safari Camp in the communal boma bonfire area. Also available are Big 5 safaris, guided bush walks and bird watching. Addo Elephant Park is situated 50 km away and Grahamstown is 47 km away. The camp is a 45-minute drive from Port Elizabeth, and 1 hour’s drive from Port Elizabeth Airport.Show full description
Holiday Home.Creative. Lovely interior design. Boasting air-conditioned accommodation with a private pool, mountain view and a balcony, Mukti is situated in Nieu-Bethesda. This property offers access to a terrace, free private parking and free WiFi. The property is non-smoking and is set 700 metres from Owl House Museum. The spacious holiday home has 2 bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen with an oven and a microwave, and 2 bathrooms with a walk-in shower, bathrobes and a washing machine. Guests can take in the ambience of the surroundings from an outdoor dining area or keep themselves warm by the fireplace on colder days. The holiday home offers bed linen, towels and laundry service. In the warmer months, you can make use of the barbecue facilities and dine on the private patio. Guests at the holiday home will be able to enjoy activities in and around Nieu-Bethesda, like hiking. Guests can also warm themselves near outdoor fireplace after a day of cycling.Show full description
Lodge.Elegant. Great bar. The malaria-free Hopewell Private Game Reserve is set on 3000 hectares of African bush with an abundance of wildlife and birds. Guests can enjoy panoramic views, game drives and free WiFi. The spacious and air-conditioned suites at Hopewell offer views and are equipped with a terrace, tea-and-coffee making facilities, bath and shower. Bathrobes and complimentary toiletries are provided. Guest of the Luxury Suites have access to the swimming pool. All meals and drinks are included and served at the main lodge or outdoors in the boma area. Included daily guided game drives, conducted in an open safari vehicle. Addo Elephant National Park is 35 km away and Nanaga Farmstall is a 12-minute drive from Hopewell Private Game Reserve. Port Elizabeth International Airport is within 75 km of the reserve.Show full description
Farm Stay.Relaxing atmosphere. Great value. Copperleigh Trout Cottages offers self-catering accommodation set on the banks of the trout-stocked Mavela Dam, located 30 km from the town of Howick in KZN, of which 7km is gravel road. Free WiFi is provided in all units. The Lodge has a fully-equipped kitchen and has a lounge with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. There are 2 bathrooms upstairs, each with a shower and free toiletries. The log Cabin has one bedroom and is located right on the waters edge providing fantastic views. The very popular Midlands Meander is only a short drive away, which includes the famous Mandela Capture Site 30km away.Show full description
I would describe this as one of the most RELAXING farm stays in Eastern Cape.
Lodge.Elegant. The malaria-free Samara Karoo Reserve is situated near Graaff-Reinet in the Great Karoo. The reserve offers luxury accommodation and game drives. Accommodation is offered in two intimate lodges. The rustic-chic Karoo Lodge is a renovated farmhouse and boast a veranda while the elegant Manor House has an infinity pool. All units have air-conditioning, a patio, tea-and-coffee making facilities. All meals and selected drinks are included and served in the dining area or outdoors. Guests can join two daily game activities, such as game drives or bush walks with an experienced game ranger. Port Elizabeth is a 2.5 hour drive from the accommodation and there is a private air strip located 20 minutes' drive from the lodges.Show full description
Lodge.Great value. Popular among couples. Offering panoramic views of the Zuurberg Mountain Range, Camp Figtree by The Oyster Collection features a variety of game drives, safaris and game walks. There is also an infinity pool and a restaurant. The spacious suites all feature a veranda with garden and mountain views. They also include elegant décor and a seating area. Each en suite bathroom is equipped with a bathrobe, slippers and hairdryer. The lodge offers game drives through Addo National Park, game walks on the property and guided sundowner walks. In the restaurant guests can enjoy contemporary South African cuisine. Also available are bush picnics and weekly dinners around the boma fireplace. Camp Figtree by The Oyster Collection is located just 15 km from Addo Elephant National Park. Port Elizabeth Airport is 85 km away.Show full description
Lodge. Fort D'Acre is a private game reserve at the mouth of the Great Fish River along the Eastern Cape's Sunshine Coast. With 1200 hectares of pristine bushveld set against stretches of sandy beachfront, our property is truly spectacular. We offer exclusive use, self-catering accommodation in a beautifully appointed, recently renovated thatched lodge, Hunter’s Lodge. The lodge consists of 5 rooms, 4 of which are en-suite. Guests will have private access to a secluded beach at the edge of the reserve. There is free WiFi, TV with DSTV, and magnificent panoramic views over the reserve and sea. The lodge is open plan with a dining room and lounge area set around a central wood-burning fireplace. The undercover veranda overlooks the large garden and outdoor pool and is the perfect spot for alfresco dining. There is a braai (BBQ) area adjacent to a thatched pub for evenings around the camp fire, and a beach lapa with fireplace and a large deck with sun loungers overlooking the sea. The lodge’s kitchen is well equipped with all that one may need to whip up a braai, birthday cake or family roast dinner. No need to worry about loadshedding as the property has an alternate power supply that comes on automatically. Game drives onto the reserve can be organised upon arrival. Activities such as canoeing, deep-sea fishing and river boat cruises are available nearby. Fort D'Acre is located just 25 km away from Port Alfred and 37km from Bathurst. There is no restaurant on the property. The property does not offer shuttle services or airport pick-ups. It is advised that guests have their own transport in order to access the beach and to explore nearby towns and villages.Show full description
Apartment.Very stylish. Superb interior design. Situated 7.9 km from Walmer Country Club, Skoon Seaside Accommodation offers accommodation with a patio, as well as a garden and barbecue facilities. This property offers access to a balcony, free private parking and free WiFi. The apartment has private entrance. The apartment provides guests with a terrace, sea views, a seating area, a flat-screen TV, a fully equipped kitchen with an oven and a microwave, and a private bathroom with walk-in shower and a hair dryer. A toaster, a fridge and stovetop are also available, as well as a kettle. At the apartment complex, each unit includes bed linen and towels. Guests at the apartment will be able to enjoy activities in and around Skoenmakerskop, like diving, fishing and hiking. Little Walmer Golf Club is 10 km from Skoon Seaside Accommodation, while Sardinia Bay Golf Club is 10 km from the property. The nearest airport is Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport, 9 km from the accommodation.Show full description
Bed and Breakfast.Historic. Great value. Hacklewood Hill is a Victorian manor house in Port Elizabeth with individually decorated rooms and a large garden. The grounds include a tennis court and outdoor swimming pool surrounded by sun loungers. The rooms feature private balconies overlooking the landscaped garden. They contain Victorian features and some are furnished with four-poster beds, open fireplaces or claw-foot baths. All room have a spacious private bathroom. Guests can enjoy a fine-dining experience in the restaurant, which has wooden floors, white table clothes and chandeliers. Breakfast can also be enjoyed in the privacy of the rooms. It is a 10-minute drive to the beach in Humewood and there are 3 golf courses within 5 km of Hacklewood Hill Country House. Free private parking is available and a shuttle can be requested to Port Elizabeth Airport, only 4 km away.Show full description
Hacklewood Hill Country House is a historic guesthouse with a Victorian Manor House built in 1898. The individually decorated rooms have balconies. The upscale restaurant and pool add to its charm.
Boutique hotel.Unique. Great location. Tenahead Lodge & Spa is perched in the tranquil mountain town of Rhodes, the lodge offers panoramic views of the Drakensberg, Witteberg and Maluti Mountains meet. It provides luxurious rooms that feature open fireplaces. Rooms at Tenahead Lodge & Spa enjoy stylish furnishings and modern decor. Bathrooms feature twin washbasins and a separate claw-foot bath. Panoramic mountain views can be enjoyed from the double-glazed windows. Breakfast is served each morning at Tenahead Lodge. All meals are served in the dining area and there is a well-stocked wine cellar featuring some of South Africa’s best wines. The property is reached via the Naudes Nek mountain pass. Lodge Tenahead features a library boasting over 2000 books and a spa and wellness centre for relaxation and well-being. A range of outdoor activities are also offered including fishing, hiking and horse riding.Show full description
Guest House.Beautiful. Offering an outdoor pool and garden, Broadlands Country House is located in Kirkwood in the heart of the Sundays River Valley. Rooms at this restored farmhouse will provide you with a patio, a seating area and tea-and-coffee-making facilities. You can enjoy a pool view from all the rooms. Extras include a safety deposit box. Breakfast is provided every morning. Dinner is available by prior arrangement at a surcharge. A barbecue area with a deck and honesty bar is also available for guests. Ironing and laundry services are available. Activities such as fishing and canoeing on the lake alongside the farmhouse can be arranged. The Addo Elephant National Park is about 57 km away and the Kirkwood Golf Club is a 10-minutes’ drive from the property. Free parking is available at Broadlands.Show full description
Holiday Home.Lively. Great views. Set in Port Elizabeth and only 2.9 km from Maitland Beach, Maitlands Cottage offers accommodation with sea views, free WiFi and free private parking. With mountain views, this accommodation features a terrace. On clear days, guests can head outside to enjoy the holiday home's outdoor fireplace or simply kick back and relax. Boasting a Blu-ray player, the holiday home has a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, an oven and a microwave, a living room with a seating area and a dining area, 2 bedrooms, and 2 bathrooms with a walk-in shower and a bath. A flat-screen TV with streaming services and DVD player, as well as an iPod docking station and a CD player are offered. This holiday home is allergy-free and non-smoking. There is a snack bar, and a minimarket is also available. There is a garden with a barbecue at this property and guests can go fishing and hiking nearby. Seaview Game & Lion Park is 13 km from the holiday home, while Sardinia Bay Golf Club is 21 km from the property. The nearest airport is Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport, 36 km from Maitlands Cottage.Show full description
I really like this place... I think it is one of the most lively holiday homes in Eastern Cape.
Farm Stay.Delightful property. Gorgeous surroundings. Hillmoor Stone Cottage is situated in Hillvue and offers free bikes and barbecue facilities. Guests can benefit from a patio and an outdoor fireplace. You can play table tennis, darts and tennis at the farm stay, and the area is popular for cycling and hiking. The farm stay also features free WiFi, free private parking and facilities for disabled guests. The farm stay features 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, bed linen, towels, a flat-screen TV, a dining area, a fully equipped kitchen, and a terrace with mountain views. Guests can take in the ambience of the surroundings from an outdoor dining area or keep themselves warm by the fireplace on colder days. The accommodation is non-smoking. An indoor play area is also available at Hillmoor Stone Cottage, while guests can also relax in the garden. The nearest airport is Queenstown Airport, 137 km from the accommodation.Show full description
Holiday Home.Very cosy. Nice interior design. Set in the picturesque town of Kenton on Sea, The Boat Shed by The Oyster Collection features a terrace and a garden with an outdoor pool. Featuring free private parking, this holiday home is within 1 km of the beach. Free WiFi is provided . This 4-bedroom house features a fully-equipped kitchen and an open-plan living area with a flat-screen TV. It boasts a covered terrace with a dining area and built-in barbecue facilities. 2 bedrooms offer an en suite bathroom with twin basins and a walk-in shower, while the other 2 bedrooms share a bathroom. Relax on the furnished terrace overlooking the pool, or enjoy an evening under the stars around the firepit. The Boat Shed by The Oyster Collection also features an outdoor shower, where you can rinse off after a day at the beach. There are a number of shops and restaurants within 1 km of The Boat Shed by The Oyster Collection, while Port Alfred is 25 km away.Show full description
I rate this as the most COSY holiday home in Eastern Cape.
Holiday Home.Romantic. Great location. Trengwainton House is located in Hogsback, within less than 1 km of Eco Shrine and 37 km of Katberg Eco Golf Estate. This property offers access to a terrace and free private parking. The holiday home provides garden views and an outdoor fireplace. All units comprise a seating area with a sofa, a dining area, and a fully equipped kitchen with various cooking facilities, including an oven, a fridge, a stovetop and kitchenware. A patio with an outdoor dining area and mountain views is offered in each unit. The units include a private bathroom, free toiletries and bed linen. There is a garden with a barbecue at this property and guests can go cycling nearby. The nearest airport is Queenstown Airport, 108 km from the holiday home.Show full description
We do our best to keep this list very up to date. It was last edited in February 2024. If you know of a unique hotel that should be on the list, let us know. Click here to contact us. Thanks!
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