Blue Waters Beach House, Umzumbe, South Coast, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

If you want to see whales in abundance from the privacy and comfort of your deck - this is definitely the place to go! We literally spotted one every few minutes during our three day stay. 

An almost private beach is just a 5 minute walk away but for those who prefer not to get their feet sandy, the fantastic outdoor area is ideal for endless relaxation with the amazing view, splash pool, large braai, dining table/bench set, super comfortable chairs and loungers. 

Outdoor furniture - comfy!

View

Braai

If the three bedrooms and two bathrooms (and separate toilet) is not enough space for your group, or you just need a bit of extra privacy, an open-plan flatlet with a double bed and two bunks, bathroom with a large shower and tea/coffee making facilities is available for your use. There is also an additional braai and bench set on the patio which has the same amazing view as the house. 

Flatlet braai and bench set

Bed in flatlet

Bunks, bathroom, fridge and tea/coffee station

If you are a keen cook you will love the huge, modern kitchen, with a separate scullery that leads off it. We were very impressed to find cappuccino sachets, coffee, tea, sugar, salt, pepper, milk and fruit juice supplied, as well as five full ice trays in the freezer and a bag of ice!

Kitchen - huge and well equipped

Scullery

Couch potatoes can enjoy full DSTV in the lounge or main bedroom while occasionally glancing out at the ocean since all rooms have sea views. The house is child friendly with a beautiful garden and swings to keep them occupied while you sip your cocktail and count the whales. 

Swings

Garden

Blue Waters Beach House is quite possibly the best we have stayed at in a very long time - definitely one to go back to again.

Traveller hints and tips:

* The window for the separate toilet in the house does not open and there is no extractor fan. We noted that the windows were being replaced so this should be sorted out soon. 

Price:

A steal for less than R500 per person

Recommended for:

Families / groups

The host/s:

Very friendly and kind, met us at the house on arrival, refunded our deposit within 2 days. 

For more information and bookings:

www.bluewatersbeachhouse.co.za 

Crab Apple Cottages, Dargle, Midlands, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

We arrived in the cold and rain but were quickly warmed by the owner's friendly welcome - despite having rushed him from his hot shower. 

Our excitement grew as we were led through a little gate (which we were asked to keep latched to prevent porcupines from eating the flowers in the garden) and down the stairs into the forest to the Crowned Eagle cottage. 

Stairs leading down to the unit

This magical little unit is surrounded by natural vegetation and has an amazing view from the large wooden deck. 

View from the deck on the day we arrived

Wooden deck

The underfloor heating was already on and took the chill right out of the air, even though it was only 10 degrees outside! We lit the fire in the lounge for extra warmth and soon forgot the grey skies outside. 

Everything in the unit is unassumingly luxurious and thoughtfully planned to make your stay as comfortable as possible - right from the free cosmetics supplied to the vanilla scented potpourri holder and hair-dryer in the wardrobe, tea, coffee, sugar, sweetener and rusks in the kitchen, excellent quality bedding and a mosquito net over the bed, a heated towel rail and an additional heater in the bathroom as well as a torch, umbrella and walking sticks. 

Bathroom with bath, shower, basin

Very comfortable bed and delicious smelling wardrobe!

We awoke to a spectacular sunrise the next morning and were visited by one of the Samango monkeys while enjoying our coffee on the deck. 

Sunrise 

Visiting Samango 

Heritage Day was celebrated with a braai with a view of note with the large outdoor umbrella providing shade for the men hard at work.

Braai and 'Nambia's' finest :-)

The owner's garden is an absolute delight with a variety of flowers and canaries singing throughout the the day and has direct access to the Kilgobbin Forest Walk - a must for visitors. 

In the forest

Our guests stayed in the Starred Robin cottage - the layout is similar except there is a loft bedroom with two single beds so this unit is ideal for a small family. The deck looks onto the entrance of the forest. 

The quaintness of the cottages and the enchanting surroundings truly makes a stay at Crab Apple Cottages feel like you are stepping into a fairy-tale. 

Traveller hints and tips:

* Although we did not see many other people during our stay, both the Starred Robin and Wood Owl cottage are within view of the owner's house. Wood Owl also looks onto the communal swimming pool. Crowned Eagle is definitely the most private unit. 

* The kitchen is really not designed for much cooking or cleaning so it is best to plan easy-to-prepare meals (no oven so think pan fried) or take something that only requires re-heating. If you can afford it - rather eat out!

Price: 

Slightly more than R500 per person per night but worth it for a special occasion!

Recommended for:

Starred Robin and Wood Owl for small families, Crowned Eagle for couples.

The host/s:

Wonderful, friendly, accommodating. A hand-made, hand written card was left in our room welcoming us to Crab Apple - definitely a first for us!

For more information and bookings:

www.crabapple.co.za

Beverley Country Cottages, Dargle, KwaZulu Natal

On arrival we were warmly greeted by the owner, what a pleasure after our last trip! (https://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2017/08/the-beach-house-sea-park-south-coast.html)

There were no bars on the windows, no electric fences surrounding the unit, no alarms that needed to be set - immediately the tension started to leave our shoulders. We were even more relieved when our request to wash our own dishes was accepted without question.

Entrance to the unit - no security gates, no burglar bars

We stayed in Hayloft - basic but comfortable with lots of thoughtful extras - vases of fresh flowers, candles and matches next to the bed, in the lounge and in the bathroom, liquid hand wash, a face-cloth and little bars of soap, cotton buds, a hairdryer in the cupboard, magazines, a small jug of fresh farm milk in the fridge and even a jar with some home-made biscuits on the tea table! Oh and last but certainly not least - several rolls of two-ply toilet paper! 

The tea table 

Bath

Basin and hand wash

Flowers left next to the bed

Flowers in the lounge

Hayloft is very cosy with good quality linen on the bed, a fire-place in the lounge, a heater in the bedroom and even one in the bathroom - which has not only a bath but a huge double shower! The fire-place is cleaned out daily and re-stacked by one of the friendly staff members and ample wood is supplied free of charge. You definitely will not feel the chill even on the coldest winter night as the fire warms the entire open-plan unit. 

Lounge with fireplace

Double shower

Bedroom 

Open plan

A small covered patio offers partial mountain views, a wooden table and bench set for enjoying your meals, as well as two very comfortable wicker chairs. When we were not lying in the sun at the back of the unit, we sat here and enjoyed watching hundreds of birds coming to feed in the garden. 

Patio

Back of the unit - The Stables unit in the back-ground

View from the patio

The owners also allowed us access to the other units for the purpose of this blog and we were very impressed with what we saw. The unit in front of Hayloft (you can see the back of it pictured above to the left) - The Dairy Cottage has a lovely uninterrupted view of the mountain as well as two en-suite bedrooms and a lovely lounge with a massive fireplace.

Dairy Cottage Lounge

Dairy cottage patio

View from Dairy Cottage patio

Dairy Cottage bedroom 1

The Stables looks onto the back of Hayloft and boasts 3 en-suite bedrooms, ideal for a get-together with family or friends. 

The Stables main en-suite

The Stables patio

The most luxurious and private unit of all is The Thatched Cottage - set far apart from the other units with a stunning view of the mountains this 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom unit is definitely the one to book if you really want to spoil yourself!

View from The Thatched Cottage

Thatched Cottage patio

Thatched cottage kitchen

Thatched Cottage lounge

Downstairs edroom - Thatched Cottage

Upstairs bedroom - Thatched Cottage

Upstairs bedroom - Thatched Cottage

Traveller hints and tips:

* Although cosy and charming, Hayloft has only a curtain separating the bathroom from the bedroom (which is right next door). Best suited to singles or those who have already taken their relationship to the next level. The other units all have doors on the bathrooms. 

* Fortunately for us not all the units were booked when we stayed, if there had been other people in the Dairy Cottage and The Stables, we would not have felt that we had that much privacy in Hayloft (not inside the unit but lying at the back in the sun since the other unit looks onto that area). 

Price:

Less than R500 per person although after seeing the other units, we felt that Hayloft should be offered at a cheaper rate. 

Recommended for:

* Families, couples and groups

The host/s:

Fantastic, very friendly, helpful and accommodating.

For more information and bookings:

www.beverleycountrycottages.co.za