Phakalane Retreat

The location is breathtaking! Mountain views, trees and birds. The forest hut (comfort king room) is as advertised. Plain and simple, but comfortable.

Bathroom is outside, which is fine, but the flimsy plastic shower curtain provides no privacy when in the shower or bath. No coffee, rooibos tea or milk placed in the room. Also no mention of where to refill drinking water. Breaksfast is self-service (one pan with scrambled eggs or shashuka), muesli, yoghurt and a bowl of fruit with bread. Again no rooibos tea - or staff to ask to have it. Check in desk is never staffed - not even when checking in or out. No additional services were offered. We had to phone to ask where to leave the keys, but received very rude communication. Although at first glance it seems to be a top end venue, it lacked that little attention to detail that make a stay (especially a wedding anniversary) special.

Phakalane Retreat is one of those hidden gems that we felt so lucky to discover. We were nestled in this harmonious peaceful quiet safe place. There is lovely walking trials inside and outside the property. We booked for 4 days to be near the shops, but decided not to go shopping at all and rather enjoy the beauty of our environment. The staff were so friendly and we enjoyed the fresh fruits and egg dishes for breakfast. The house was warm and cozy with a fireplace. The bed was comfortable with an electric blanket and the room had a heater for the cold wet nights. We will definitely be back, because it was also affordable. Thank you Phakalane Retreat, we really enjoyed our stay.

Nothing, absolutely nothing.

Beautiful location - the property is surrounded by nature and has a stunning design. The staff is super welcoming and friendly. The rooms are beautifully decorated and the mattresses are very comfortable (they even feature bed warmers). I loved the bathtub and open shower (shower gel provided, but no shampoo or conditioner). Breakfast is fantastic. There is also an option to use the outdoor sauna and cold plunge for a small fee. Lots of outdoor spaces to work and relax from. Beautiful temple where one can do yoga etc

Beautiful & tranqual setting

This is the perfect getaway to unwind and disconnect from the city bustle. The fireplace in the common area was amazing, especially now with the colder weather. You feel right at home.

Quite,comfortable,clean

None

Amazing stay. Made a smart choice of going there after a few days in the noisy and buzzy Cape Town. The staff at phakalane was amazing. The place is so zen and you really get to enjoy silence, with just nature sounds. The naps there are unmatched!

Nothing

Breakfast was simple but sufficient

Phakalane is a true sanctuary. We spend a few nights here after busy days in Cape Town and enjoyed it very much. It’s a peaceful place where everyone can find his or her spot to relax. The facilities are beautiful and a highlight that can be enjoyed on its own - but you’re still close enough to Cape Town’s attractions to do some sightseeing (though the temptation and option to not leave Phakalane is definitely there). Phakalanes location feels remote, but Uber still works (even though it might take some more time than you’re used to depending on when you’re ordering). Same for Uber Eats, works without issues. Breakfast is included and while there’s no huge variety, it’s tasty and completely appropriate for the small amount of guests (bread, butter, jam, cheese, yoghurt, fruit, muesli, warm egg option). We also booked a few activities linked to Phakalane (e.g. yoga, healing, etc.) and this very much contributed to our great experience. The staff is very friendly and not always around - this can add to the peaceful experience, but could also be weird, depending on personal preferences.

We experienced a couple of very hot days. Despite the facilities being so modern, there‘s no AC in the rooms. We received a fan and this helped a bit to cool the room down, but as we‘re rather sensitive to heat at night, we still missed AC.

Geweldige locatie, prachtige plek, super mooi ingericht, heel vriendelijke mensen, prachtige meditatieruimte

Alles was top

Amazing location in the woods, nice to be in the nature after a busy day in the city. The place is really tastefully put together and very serene. The staff are all incredibly helpful and the vegetarian breakfast is outstanding (healthy, fresh, delicious and varied)

Nothing

The cottage is lovely and set right in the bush, offering a true nature escape with peaceful surroundings and plenty of greenery. Unfortunately, it was hard to sleep at night due to strong winds; the staff kindly helped cut some branches, but it was still the worst sleep I’ve had in a while. Another note: the outside showers are visible if someone walks behind the cottage, as mentioned in other reviews. Breakfast was not a highlight either – it starts at 8:45, which felt late for Africa, and since we had an 8 a.m. appointment, we didn’t join. They left something for us, but it was not memorable. Despite these issues, the retreat’s natural beauty and the staff’s helpfulness make it worth a visit for nature lovers.

Service and attention to detail was missing.

Check in and clear communication by a professional manager

L’environnement, le calme.

Manque d’intimité dans la sdb extérieur, les autres bungalows peuvent nous voir par le chemin au dessus. La douche ne fonctionne pas très bien et surtout quand il y a du vent. Il n’y a rien pour cuisiner, pas de plaque de cuisson et pas d’évier seulement un lavabo dehors pas éclairé.

Phakalane Retreat was exactly what we wanted for the beginning of our honeymoon—a peaceful, relaxing environment where we could unwind. The daily breakfast was delicious, and the staff were generally very helpful.

Unfortunately, our experience was somewhat soured when the manager, Matthew, approached me (Amoy) in a public area of the retreat to admonish me for allegedly leaving dark makeup stains on the white linen sheets. In all our experience traveling for work and on our holidays, we have never been privately let alone publicly admonished by a host for something that is so normal. It’s inevitable that white linens, even after thorough makeup removal, will end up with small stains from mascara, foundation, lipstick etc. Anyone in the hospitality business, and any woman, would know this. After being publicly being singled out by the manager, I (Amoy) felt very uncomfortable, and we considered cutting our stay short. There were a few other stumbles. The towels and bed linens were not replaced for 4 days until we reminded the manager (which led to the above). We booked the sauna but they forgot to prepare it until reminded. Overall, the property itself is charming both in design and decoration, but we believe the management could do more to create a warm and welcoming experience for ALL guests. Without the uncomfortable episode, we would have happily given a 5-star rating.

Pleasantly surprised by the breakfast. Staff are helpful. The place is beautiful and quiet

It’s beautiful and comes as advertised. The location is perfectly situated within nature.

Nothing

The breakfast was amazing, all vegetarian fresh fruits etc, the location is absolutely amazing hidden away in a peaceful forest. The host Matthew was exceptional went above and beyond making our stay memorable. Really appreciated the friendly and helpful staff. Lovely experience would definitely book again!!

Such a beautiful and affordable place to relax and rejuvenate, my husband and I loved it. The rooms are so clean and great customer service. We loved their breakfast as well

Honestly there was nothing to complain about

Loved everything about this place. Went when the weather wasn't the greatest and the biggest highlight was the fire place. Made the place so warm and extra cozy. Would definitely be booking here again in the future.

The room was lovely and the staff was great. The breakfast shakshouka was really nice

The first full day the geyser tripper and we weren’t told. We had to wait for 2hrs for the water to heat up. It would be nice if they offered juice as an alternative breakfast drink outside of tea and coffee

The cottage was exceptionally good, the staff, Matthew and Lloyd was extremely accommodating. They made us feel at home.

I had a wonderful experience at Phakalane Retreat. The place is incredibly quiet and peaceful — an ideal setting for meditation, yoga, and relaxation. The atmosphere is calm and welcoming, making it easy to disconnect from the busy world and fully recharge. The staff were exceptionally friendly, attentive, and always ready to help with anything I needed, which made my stay even more comfortable and enjoyable. I highly recommend Phakalane Retreat to anyone looking for a serene and nurturing environment. I would definitely love to come back!

A true retreat where time slows down and you can truly relax. Beautiful surroundings, wonderful staff, gorgeous rooms. Matthew the host has been very welcoming and made us feel at home.

The only thing you will not like about this place is that inevitably sad moment of having to leave.

Amazing place with wonderful outdoor area, garden and sauna

My girlfriend and I had a fantastic stay at Phakalane. Our goal was to spend some time as a couple and away from the noise of the city. We definitely found what we were looking for at Phakalane. Everything is so thoughtfully designed. Beautiful and comfortable at the same time. Whether it was yoga on the deck at the lake, making use of the sauna and cold plunge, or just hanging out in the spacious living room - it all helped to reduce our stress levels. We can definitely recommend this place 👌

Beautiful property with great staff.

I had a truly luxurious and tranquil experience immersed in nature. The serenity was absolute, and well worth it. The breakfast and staff were also excellent. We certainly plan to return.

Peaceful ,aesthetically pleasing ,delicious breakfast, super friendly staff, safe neighbourhood and private and peaceful.

The breakfast was super great. And the service and quality were great as well..

Nothing!