Limpopo
Occupying a 1940s house and a purpose-built building, the family-run Rustic Rest has gorgeous, modern rooms that espouse luxury with soft furnishings and…
Must-see hotels in South Africa, Lesotho & eSwatini (Swaziland)
Stellenbosch
A comfortable country-style hotel with a variety of rooms, including some with self-catering facilities and others with four-poster beds. A section dating…
Mpumalanga
This late Victorian house on the hillside has three simple but appealingly large doubles offering homey comforts. Rooms open out onto a wrap-around…
Knysna
A tremendously peaceful place to stay, with luxury cottages around an immaculate lawn, some with lagoon views. There is a restaurant (mains R85 to R170)…
Eastern Cape
In this handsome mini-village, the majority of rooms are in old-fashioned low-slung cottages with private porches surrounding a manicured lawn. Right in…
KwaZulu-Natal
Just south of the city centre in a quiet suburb, Tancredi has seven rooms in a beautifully restored Victorian house. The top-notch breakfast and personal…
Port Elizabeth
This refurbished Victorian house a few doors from the Stanley St restaurants offers small but comfortable rooms and a garden with plunge pool. The…
Knysna
This lodge has changed address and had a complete overhaul, but the cheery owners and tasteful African decor remain. Accommodation is in self-catering…
Cape Town
There’s a sophisticated, colourful ‘African modern’ design theme at this appealing guesthouse, sheltering behind the facade of three 19th-century terrace…
Limpopo
Victoria Place is graced with elegance and plenty of smiles. It has spacious rooms with a white wood and linen look, albeit with basic bathrooms; eat…
Cape Town
A heritage-listed building dating from 1903 has been remodelled into this luxury guesthouse. Rooms are a very chic with contemporary art and African…
Wilderness Beach House Backpackers
Garden Route
Southwest of town, this breezy hostel provides awesome ocean views, simple rooms, and a lapa (circular area with a fire pit) bar and cafe serving…
Sea Point to Hout Bay
June and Trevor are the genial hosts of this convivial, upmarket B&B, which has six rooms decorated with period furniture or in breezy contemporary style…
Hermanus
This is a great place with upbeat decor, good facilities and clued-up staff who can help with activities. The simple, help-yourself breakfast is free, and…
Winelands
Rijk’s provides pleasant accommodation in thatched cottages on a beautiful wine estate with manicured lawns. There are tours and tastings at the winery…
Western Cape
This owner-run guesthouse has large, uncluttered rooms set around an enormous garden with plenty of shady spots. The restaurant (mains R95 to R150)…
KwaZulu-Natal
With eight luxurious rooms, and even a honeymoon suite, this place is a fabulously upmarket coastal spot. Each bedroom suite leads onto a charming central…
Cape Town
The lipstick-red marble walkway to the lobby gives an indication of the luxe nature of this hotel, which is built around a soaring atrium onto which some…
Cape Town
This spotless, characterful B&B in a very handy location is a fine alternative to the backpacker lodges along Long St. The simply furnished and spacious…
Cape Town
Four-poster beds, giant armoires and creaking floorboards lend terrific atmosphere to this six-room property crafted from a 1812 building. However,…
Cape Town
There are just six rooms at this red-wine-coloured lodge with a striking contemporary design, mixing arty photography, African crafts and Euro style…
Garden Route
This spectacularly located beach-side shack is reachable only by a two-hour hike, so you need to be fit to get here. There's no electricity and you'll…
Western Cape
Soundtracked by a trickling fountain and the roaring waves, Tranquility has seven clean rooms decked out with beach-house furniture, African art and surf…
Eastern Cape
One of East London's best sleeping options, this intimate hotel overlooking a small lake is an oasis of calm and security north of the centre. It offers…
Winelands
A suburban backpackers with spacious dorms and pleasant en-suite doubles in the garden. There’s a big grassy backyard and a shisha lounge, and wine and…
Winelands
An attractive campground with simple chalets (sleeping two) beside the Berg River, 5km from Paarl on Rte 45 towards Franschhoek. Facilities include canoes…
Northern Cape
Within the park and close enough to the falls to hear them after rains, the rest camp has self-catering chalets, two-bedroom cottages and a campsite with…
Western Cape
A friendly option in the town centre. The high-ceilinged rooms are comfy and well equipped. Karoo dinners (lots of meat) are served if you don't fancy…
Cape Town
Lydia Masoleng has been opening up her spacious, modern home to guests since 1998. Her three comfy rooms have en-suite bathrooms. Tours and traditional…
Nature’s Valley Guesthouse & Hikers Haven
Western Cape
This thatched brick building has a big lawn, a self-catering kitchen, a lounge, and small, tidy rooms with outdated bathrooms. Transport to the start of…
KwaZulu-Natal
A sprawling, smart guesthouse, Fairlight overlooks the beach and offers 10 rooms (not all with views). Rooms are spacious, furnishings are stylish and a…
Johannesburg
A coin's toss from the 7th St hoo-ha, this rambling home is a reliable choice if you want to be in the thick of things. Rooms vary widely – some are small…
Mpumalanga
Worth it for the sheer convenience of being in a retail centre, and pretty stylish to boot, Perry's Bridge Hollow offers 34 large rooms decorated in dark…
Lesotho
Lindy offers a large, modern stone duplex with two en-suite rooms and a century-old cottage with two more rooms, both ringed by the Makhoarane Mountains…
Cape Town
Apart from their stylish and cosy B&B, set in the eponymous purple-painted house, the personable Dutch owners Hank and Guido also offer a self-catering…
Lesotho
Hotel Mount Maluti offers dated rooms in cool blocks opening onto pleasant gardens. Its restaurant is a decent lunch stop (mains M70 to M110), serving…
Sunshine Coast
Clean, neat and close to shops and restaurants, this hostel is a great choice if you're counting the pennies. The dorms and rooms have been renovated and…
Lesotho
The classiest option in town, Mokhotlong Hotel is fairly basic but adequate for those passing through the region. Staff members are friendly and helpful,…
Western Cape
These simple but stylish guest rooms on the edge of town offer excellent value. Friendly hosts Jude and Bryan are passionate and knowledgeable about the…
Garden Route
As well as more than 300 campsites – many of which have ocean views – there are well-equipped thatched chalets here (the chalets were about to be…
