Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge

Die Ruhe, die Giraffe beim ersten Blick aus dem Fenster, der Sternenhimmel und abends mit einem Rosé an der Feuerschale sitzen.

Très bon accueil des propriétaires. Le chalet zébra était très confortable. Les petits déjeuner et dîner étaient excellents digne d'un grand restaurant. Piscine agréable avec une vue incroyable sur les animaux. Possible de faire une randonnée dans la réserve. Je recommande vivement cet établissement.

Tout était parfait

Die Umgebung ist herrlich mit den Tieren. Sehr gutes Essen sehr nette Gastgeber.

Nichts

Tiere

Wir waren alleine, Frühstück und Abendessen zu teuer, abseits gelegen, Schotterpiste, Preis für alles unangemessen. Wir hatten weit bessere Leistungen zu günstigen Preise.

A good off the beaten track resting place in beautiful mountain surroundings.

Das Kudu Haus hat eine mega Aussicht, ist sehr geräumig und schön im afrikanischen Stil eingerichtet. Auch das Haupthaus in der sich die Rezeption befindet ist die Einrichtung ebenfalls sehr eindrucksvoll und sehr gemütlich. Das Abendessen war ein Genuss und nebenbei kann man noch die Tiere beobachten. Zu erwähnen ist auch noch die Hilfsbereitschaft in jeder Hinsicht. Wir haben uns sehr wohlgefühlt !

EVERYTHING! Nice hosts, easy communication. A really nice, not crowdy, place to relax. Stay a bit longer! Our 2 nights weren’t enough! Varley gives you advices and tips: take them seriously. All of them are worth it! And then the dining! INCERDIBLE! All fresh and prepared with love. You will meet the animals at your cottage, on your way in and out. The night is peaceful

außergewöhnliche Lage, sehr sehr gutes Frühstück und Abendessen, extrem hilfsbereite und freundliche Gastgeber, Matratzen & Klimaanlage wie alles Andere einwandfrei - darüber hinaus ein idealer Ausgangspunkt für weitere Aktivitäten, z.B. Cangoo Caves, Weinproben etc.

Wer Ruhe und Erholung sucht, ist in dieser Lodge bestens aufgehoben. Traumhafte Lage mitten in der Natur. Sehr aufmerksame und freundliche Gastgeber.

Obwohl Frühstück inklusive, wurden Tee und Kaffee gesondert in Rechnung gestellt. Die "Tip-Policy" der Lodge ist etwas irritierend. Dass für den Übernachtungspreis (wir hatten eine Zusatznacht direkt in der Lodge gebucht) und die Buchung des Game-Drives (2 Personen, ZAR 1.600.-) in der 30 Selbstfahrerminuten entfernten Buffelsdrift Game Lodge in der Endabrechnung ebenfalls ein Trinkgeld erwartet wurde, hat uns leicht verwundert. Eigentlich ist es doch eher Usus, für das Servicepersonal (Bedienung, Küche, Room Service) einen Tip zu geben und nicht auch noch für die Buchung des Zimmers und einer Aktivität. Um die Trinkgeldzuwendung zukünftig transparenter zu machen, wäre es aus unserer Sicht sinnvoll, zwei getrennte Rechnungen zu erstellen: eine für Bezahlung der Unterkunft und gebuchter Aktivitäten und eine für Getränke und Abendessen. Man gibt gerne 15 - 20 % Trinkgeld, wenn man zufrieden ist, aber eben nur für die Servicekräfte. Vielen Dank!

In ruhiger, toller Lage mit einem wunderschönen Blick auf die Berge empfängt einen ein gemütliches, kleines Chalet, Das Haupthaus ist sehr geschmackvoll eingerichtet, vor der Terrasse (an einem Feuerkorb) spielt sich eine fantastische Dinnershow der Giraffe, von 2 Zebras, Kudu, Springböcke etc. ab, die man tagsüber auch im Gelände finden kann. Der sehr persönliche, herzliche Kontakt zu den beiden Besitzern war sehr schön und informativ, es wurde auch eine beeindruckende Sternstunde mit riesigem Teleskop organisiert. Die Ehefrau kocht ausgesprochen gut und abwechslungsreich, besonders beeindruckt waren wir von der zu jeder Mahlzeit wechselnden Tischdekoration. Vielen Dank.

alles prima

Tolle Lodge, sehr nette Besitzer, gutes Essen. Wir können diese Lodge sehr empfehlen.

Leider kein Game Drive möglich.

Food was excellent. Dark skies

All was in oder and great

Extremely responsive host, personal touches everywhere from the catering specifically to our dietary needs, to entertaining our Toddler as if he was part of their Family.

Nothing

we had a great time. the food was great, the estate impressive, the animals very special. what we really liked was the way they thought along about activities. many thanks!

Very friendly and relaxed and good food

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My wife and I stayed overnight on a road trip from Cape Town to Johannesburg. Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge is exceptional, from being met by Constantine on arrival till departure. I would stay there at the drop of a hat. Our dinner and breakfast was superb and we made good use of the man cave/bar. Thanks once again.

This place is fantastic. It is situated in the middle of the mountain where there are only trees and animals around. The chalet has a good size, clean and with its own porch for you to sit and relax. The owners are extremely nice. They go above and beyond to make sure you have a memorable stay with them. They also give tips about places to visit.

There is no internet at the chalet. If you need internet you have to come to main reception area. I also find it strange to get charged for coffee at breakfast. Normally it should be already inclusive. However, this is just a minor issue. Our stay was very nice and we hope to return one day.

We liked everything about our stay. It is an excellent place to relax for a weekend away. Great views of Zebra and giraffe from our stoep. Clean, comfortable stay. Owners were great hosts and went out of their way to let us feel at home. Friendly and warm atmosphere with good food. Decorations on tables were also pretty. Will definitely return. Highly recommended.

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Beautiful scenery, very comfortable and well designed chalets and very attentive, hospitable, charming and friendly hosts. Also, great food and wine 😁

No negative comments here!

the place was incredible and the owners were extremely kind. The view of the stars at night was a highlight and it was peaceful beyond belief being surrounded by mountains. cannot recommend the place enough!

A wonderful accommodation in a quiet location surrounded by beautiful nature. The charlets are tastefully furnished. The breakfast and dinner are really delicious! Varley and his wife are wonderful hosts and warm people who went above and beyond to help and support us in a minor medical "emergency"! Thank you for that!!! We can highly recommend them!

Nothing!

Beautyful lodge in stunning surroundings. Great food and lovely room in own cottage.

Owner managed , close to DeRus and Oudshoorn . Lovely comfortable chalet with all the amenities , Aircon , outdoor seating area and private braai . Lovely hiking trail on the property with game in close proximity and able to view the game feeding from the deck at the lodge

Nothing

I recently stayed at this hotel, and it was an unforgettable experience! The breathtaking mountain scenery was like something out of a postcard, providing the perfect backdrop for a peaceful and relaxing getaway. The entire property was impeccably clean, with every detail carefully attended to, which made our stay even more comfortable. The food was absolutely top-notch—delicious, fresh, and beautifully presented. Whether you're looking for a serene escape or just a place to unwind and enjoy nature, this hotel exceeds all expectations. Highly recommended!

Everything was perfect - the hosts took great care of our well-being. The meals smelled very delicious and the rooms were very comfortable. We enjoyed watching the animals and talking to our hosts! Clear recommendation!!!

Zwartberg Mountain view is an amazing place! Wonderful owners; very friendly and gave us very useful tips. The terrace is absolutely astonishing. Having a drink by the fireplace overlooking the animals and of course, Melvin. My children adored the place! Very clean and spacious lodge (we stayed in the Kudu Chalet). Would recommend!

No wifi signal in the chalet.

The family owners. They made us feel at home and did everything possible for us - provided us with detailed information regarding safari activities close-by and arranged all the bookings. The breakfast and evening meals were exceptional. A unique experience especially with the onsite wildlife including a giraffe, zebra etc. Didn’t want to leave. Many thanks to the Varty family for making our stay so relaxing and enjoyable.

Nothing

The hosts put a lot of effort into taking care of their guests. Kudu accommodation is clean and large.

The view from the accommodation is nice, but the chalet was outside the fenced property with the animals. In our opinion it is one of the higher priced accommodations.

The chalet is organized very efficiently. It is not big but everything we needed was there. The styling was all zebra because we had the zebra lodge, liked that. The owners are kind and we’re very flexible around our children - adapted dinner time for example. When power was out due to thunder storms they cooked the oats for our kids on their own gas stove. Enjoyed the good dinner at the main lodge. Loved watching the animals that live on the property.

Booking said breakfast was included while the owner said it was not. So check.

It was such an incredible experience, the hosts were incredibly sweet, dinner food very tasty and the animals walking around was just on another level!

The mountain lodge is a very unique accommodation off the beaten track high in the mountains between Oudtshoorn and DeRust. Accommodation is in beautifully furnished chalets with quality decor and linen. No light pollution in the area results in the most spectacular star viewing. Meals are in the large dining room of the main lodge and are prepared lovingly by one of the oiwners who not only serves excellent food, beautifully presented but managed to dress the table thematically. As well as providing wonderful accommodation and food the owners were very helpful in offering guidance related to our future journeys

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Wonderful place. Evening drinks looking over the animals was a great experience. Owners were great hosts and very helpful. Lots of small thoughtful details in the cottage. Also a good base for other activities in the area.

Nothing negative really. It is maybe pricier than some other places, but they also provide more.

We really enjoyed our stay. In addition to the great experience of observing various animals in the garden, we felt very comfortable in the family atmosphere and would come here again. Best regards Isabel & Jan

Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge is more expensive than the average guesthouse in the Western Cape, is a complaint I have read. This is true, but, obviously, ZWML is not an average guesthouse. Its location is unique: it is located in the mountains 25 km outside of Oudtshoorn. There are 4 separate apartments with their own decks that give stunning views over the mountains. The garden is populated with many animals, so you can see a giraffe or zebras or antilopes when sipping your morning coffee. It is very quiet and very good for birdwatching. The owners are very friendly and take a great effort to ensure you have an enjoyable stay, whether with sightseeing tips, providing you with nice wine, or preparing a good steak on the fire. They are well-organized: e.g. they send you a good route description before you travel to them. The apartments are not terribly big, but have comfortable beds and well-functioning airco. Wifi works well, but only in the restaurant. You can park your car next to your apartment. The area is locked with an automatic gate to keep the animals in. We found the price-quality quite good, as we appreciated the beautiful location in nature and the very personal treatment. If you want a luxurious urban holiday resort, this is not for you.

Perfect! Super location - very beautiful - wonderful nice staff - Perfect!

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Quiet small family run business, everything you need for a holiday. Nice animals to enjoy on the deck or during a walk

A mountain retreat which feels like 5 star treatment. The owners looked after us personally and made sure we did not want for anything.we viewed the wild animal feeding from the terrace with drinks whilst warmed by the log fire. Dinner and breakfast was delicious again with great service . The rooms were a short stroll away under a clear starlit sky which was awesome The room was like your personal safari lodge with a super mountain view and sightings of the wildlife including a giraffe.

The bed was a bit firm for us if l am being critical.

The location in the mountains was stupendous with walks wild flowers and antelopes. Food well prepared, plentiful and served well

Nothing

Varley and Hannelise are amazing hosts. Full on knowledge and very willing to share stories and experiences from the area. Was lovely watching the game in the evenings come down to feed. The food was brilliant. Best steak I've had in years, and we eat out alot. Extremely accommodating hosts.

There was nothing we didn't like. The people from this area are down to earth, kind and caring. Franco who studied game ranging is a wealth of knowledge too. Thoroughly enjoyed interacting with him

Excellent hosts in a relaxed, beautiful & peaceful setting. Stayed only 2 nights nights, but it felt like more due to the peace & tranquility.

We liked the farm and the animals out there, also the food was great!

We felt it was one of the more expensive places to stay at, during our road-trip.

Everything! It's a distance from the main road making it a lovely, quiet place to stay surrounded by stunning mountains. It's clear to see that the animals are well looked after. Their beautiful coats shine thanks to the extra nutritious food they're fed every day at 4.30pn when all of them come out of nowhere to eat below the house's verandah. The food is wonderful and hospitality is excellent. What Varley and Franco don't know about the animals is not worth knowing. We absolutely loved it here, it's so relaxed and Varley is always happy to help with recommendations for the local area and was happy to make bookings on our behalf Melman the giraffe was a firm favourite and even put in an appearance to see us off.

It is quite a distance on a gravel track but we had a normal saloon and found bigger potholes in town - the road was well maintained so we just took our time and had no trouble.

Amazing Chalet. The staff were all so friendly and welcoming and the food was superb. we wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again.

nothing. the standard was really high

The meals were delicious and very well presented. There was plenty of choice for breakfast from fresh fruit through to cooked bacon and eggs and the menu for the evening meal was equally good. The accommodation was stylish, thoughtfully equipped and very clean. Varley, Hannalize and their team looked after us so well we were sorry that we only stayed for one night.

Eine Unterkunft im Nirgendwo. Der Eigentümer gibt sich viel Mühe dem Gast einen schönen Aufenthalt zu ermöglichen. Das Essen war gut zubereitet, die Tischdeko mit viel Liebe jeden Tag anders gestaltet. Wir kommen wieder

The animals

Stop looking further and book the Zwartberg Mountain View Lodge, it is magnificent! We stayed for two nights with our four children (9-14 yrs) and absolutely loved the lodge, the view, the animals on the grounds, the pool, the braai dinners and the walking trail. Varley and Hannalize are fantastic and helpful hosts and we very much enjoyed talking to them about life in SA as well as the many great sites in the area. We could easily have stayed another night or two. A highlight on our trip. Easy accessible with any car. Hope that we will visit again one day!

Everything was great!

just loved this place , beautiful quiet spot with fantastic views of the mountains. we were lucky to be the only guests staying so felt very spoilt ! amazing to see the animals up close when they came in to feed in the evening . accommodation was very clean and comfortable , very well designed . staff very friendly & helpful, food was excellent , highly recommend this place !

Dinner was excellent, location was unbelievable. Watching the game from the patio with a cool drink in hand was so what the doctor ordered. Cant wait to go back.

Everything was as expected.

Very lovely, welcoming and helpful hosts. Amazing food for breakfast, lunch and diner. Beautiful, quiet location with great views. Chalet was perfect. Having dinner with a view on the zebras, kudus and the ‘naughty’ giraffe.

Nothing, everything was perfect. If you’re reading this review: Don’t hesitate, just book!

Hospitality was wonderful, the host and hostes went out of their way to make our stay perfect. The accomodation and food were wonderful. The get togethers non the veranda watching the wildlife and hearing everything about the animals were very nice. We got great tips and help in planning many fun activities, that were booked and arranged for us by our host.

Location, facilities, cleanliness

Our accommodation was beautiful and spacious, with wonderful mountain views. We enjoyed the lodge's nature setting and the Varley's warm hospitality.

The whole experience was mind blowing! From arriving to departure it was an experience we will definitely have again when we go back. The whole family running the lodge is friendly, helpful and knowledgeable about every question you might have. The food is UNBELIEVABLY YUMMMMMYYYYYYYYY!! Thank you for a wonderful time

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What a excellent place. Host absolutely wonderful everything was above standard for us. loved the wild animals

everything great