On the road again: June 2018

Summary of Reviews

SOUTH COAST

Southport:

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2015/11/thandulula-southport-south-coast-kzn.html

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2016/03/cooks-cove-southport-south-coast.html

https://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2017/08/the-beach-house-sea-park-south-coast.html

Umzumbe:

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2017/10/blue-waters-beach-house-umzumbe-south.html

Umtentweni:

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2015/11/riverbend-chalets-and-campsite.html

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2017/02/birdhaven-umtentweni-south-coast.html

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2015/11/stephans-guest-house-umtentweni-south.html

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2015/11/peace-cottage-umtentweni-south-coast.html

Sea Park:

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2015/11/oxford-road-sea-park-south-coast.html

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2015/11/galene-sea-park-south-coast-kwazulu.html

Melville:

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2015/11/the-sand-dollar-melville-south-coast.html

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2015/11/paw-paw-place-melville-south-coast.html

Illovo:

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2015/11/illovo-river-lodge-illovo-beach-south.html

Bazley:

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2015/11/grand-vue-bazley-south-coast-kwazulu.html

Southbroom:

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2015/11/flamboyant-self-catering-southbroom.html

Pennington:

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2017/04/minerva-cottage-pennington-south-coast.html

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2016/05/gumpost-cottage-pennington-south-coast.html

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2016/06/music-of-sea-pennington-south-coast.html

Scottburgh:

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2016/04/four-palms-scottburgh-south-coast.html

Umkomaas:

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2016/05/aliwal-cottages-umkomaas-south-coast.html

Clansthal:

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2016/09/the-beach-house-and-beach-cabin.html

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2017/05/clansthal-beach-house-clansthal-south.html

NORTH COAST / ELEPHANT COAST

Tugela Mouth:

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2016/10/agape-tugela-river-mouth-north-coast.html

Mtunzini:

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2017/03/mtunzini-forest-lodge-mtunzini-north.html

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2016/01/toad-tree-cottage-mtunzini-north-coast.html

Mandini

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.com/2018/06/chantilly-resort-chantilly-farm-mandini.html

Hluhluwe:

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2015/11/bushlands-game-lodge-hluhluwe-elephant.html

Eshowe

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2016/11/mpushini-falls-resort-eshowe-north.html

MIDLANDS / DRAKENSBERG / INLAND FROM DURBAN

Dargle:

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2016/03/lemonwood-dargle-midlands-kwazulu-natal.html

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2015/11/rose-cottage-barlands-farm-dargle.html

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2015/11/everwood-cottages-dargle-kwazulu-natal.html

https://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2017/09/beverley-country-cottages-dargle.html

https://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2017/10/crab-apple-cottages-dargle-midlands.html

Waterfall

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2017/01/rooms-with-view-waterfall-durban.html

Drummond:

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2015/11/mulberry-guest-house-drummond-kwazulu.html

Hillcrest:

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2017/03/lindisfarne-b-hillcrest-kwazulu-natal.html

Everton:

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2018/01/eagles-nest-everton-durban-kwazulu.html

Albert Falls:

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2015/11/fish-eagles-lair-albert-falls-dam.html

Underberg:

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2015/11/esigodini-underberg-kwazulu-natal-south.html

Camperdown:

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2016/01/leopards-and-louries-camperdown-kwazulu.html

Oribi Flats / Lake Eland:

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2015/11/lake-eland-game-reserve-kzn-south-africa.html

Curry's Post

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2016/06/gumtree-glen-currys-post-natal-midlands.html

Impendle:

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.co.za/2016/09/tillietudlem-game-and-trout-farm.html

Central Drakensberg:
http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.com/2018/06/emafweni-cathkin-park-central.html

EASTERN CAPE

http://ontheroadagainwithsandyfeet.blogspot.com/2018/09/on-rocks-beach-house-glen-gariff-east.html

Chantilly Resort, Chantilly Farm, Mandini, North Coast, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa

Chantilly Resort had long been on our bucket list but it was always out of the price range we normally travel in. It was an absolute delight when they had a Valentine's Day special and were able to finally visit.

Our hostess made us feel welcome long before we arrived with friendly, informative emails and even a telephone call to confirm our booking. She put us into the best and most private unit (unit 1) for our special weekend and really went the extra mile, with rose petals, candles and chilled champagne all waiting for us on arrival.

Champagne, candles and rose petals

View of the bedroom looking in from the patio

There is an on-site restaurant where you can order all your meals from but a small kitchenette is available for those who wish to do their own catering.

Kitchenette - equipped for basic meals

Although there is a lovely bath provided, due to the drought at the time, we used the outdoor shower which was completely private.

Outdoor shower

Bath

View from outdoor shower

When we were not at the communal pool area or sitting by the lake, we spent most of our time outside around our private boma. Having the peacock and peahens brings their babies to visit us every day was the highlight of the trip!

Lake just next to unit 1

Boma

Wooden deck and our daily visitors

Communal pool area

Chantilly Resort is quiet and peaceful, a great place to restore your soul.

Traveller hints and tips:

* Make sure you inform the hostess of your intention to cook your own meals so that the necessary pots can be provided for you

* Unit 1 is definitely the most private as it is further from the communal pool area and restaurant

* The only thing we were slightly disappointed with was the lack of loungers that are advertised on the website.

Price:

More than R500 per person unless you get a good special

Recommended for:

Couples, although the resort is family friendly

The host/s:

The hostess was fantastic and made us feel very welcome.

Emafweni, Cathkin Park, Central Drakensberg, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

If you are fortunate enough to arrive on a sunny afternoon, make sure you enter the property slowly so you can take in the beautiful scene that greets you - sunlight filtering through the trees that line the driveway. We were so in awe we did not even think to look for our phones to take a picture. This was taken the day after from the other end, not quite as spectacular as the late afternoon sun when we arrived but beautiful nevertheless:

Property driveway

After a warm and informative welcome from Rita we made our way to the Lakeside Cottage. Colourful flowers greeted us at the door to this one bedroom, two bathroom cottage.

Flowers outside the door

Bedroom

Bathroom 1 - shower, toilet, basin

Bathroom 1 - bath, basin, bidet, toilet

The kitchen is amazing for a two-sleeper unit - very modern and large - probably one of the best we've experienced. Everything was spotlessly clean and all you needed for self catering was on hand.

The lounge with a fireplace opens onto the covered patio that overlooks the lake. We spent most of our weekend on the comfortable chairs taking in the peace and beautiful scenery.

Lounge with fireplace

view of the lake

Covered patio

We loved our visit to Lakeside Cottage in January so much we returned with family in March to stay in the bigger unit, Ema-fweni cottage.

This two bedroom, two bathroom unit is great for a small family or two couples. Although there is only one standing shower, the second bathroom has a massive bath with a hand-held shower.

While the view is even more spectacular view, the couches in the lounge and the stove are a little worse for wear. The kitchen is smaller than at Lakeside but there was nothing that would stop us returning for another visit.