Hunter’s Country House

Of the 5 Terrace Rooms at Hunter’s Country House, 2 boast an authentic thatched roof. All 5 rooms comprise of king-size or twin beds and an ensuite, complete with a shower. Each room has french doors leading out to a private patio, where guests can enjoy a tea or coffee from the room facilities or a drink from the minibar. The rooms are individually decorated with a fusion of both antique and modern pieces, all in keeping with the Hunter Country House’s air of homely luxury. Each of the Terrace Rooms sleeps 2 guests.

Situated closer to the main pool area, the 4 Orchard Suites offer guests a tranquil space to unwind in, the suites are decorated in a neutral palette, allowing the gems that are the eclectic mix of handpicked antique furnishings to be the star of the show. Each suite is complete with an ensuite bathroom that hosts a separate bath and shower. The Orchard Suites sleep up to 2 guests.

These stunning thatched suites are nestled in the lush greenery of the sculpted gardens, each Suite has french doors which open onto a private stone patio which looks over these expansive gardens and offer guests fantastic opportunities for bird and butterfly watching. The Garden and Family Suites are decorated and furnished in keeping with the casual elegance of the rest of the guest house, each Suite having unique antique pieces that complement the neutral decor. Each Garden Suite sleeps 2 guests and has an ensuite with a separate bath and shower.

The Family Suite is comprised of 2 bedrooms, each with a private ensuite with a separate bath and shower. Both bedrooms have french doors which allow for direct access to the suite’s private patio. The Family Suite sleeps up to 4 guests.

The Pool and Family Pool Suites enable guests to live a perfect hybrid of indoor-outdoor living during their stay. The individually decorated rooms each have french doors leading to private stone patios and a stunning pool nestled in the lush gardens.

The Pool Suites have a spacious, elegant bedroom and separate dressing area and are complete with an ensuite bathroom with a separate bath and shower. There is also an additional outdoor shower, for guests to refresh themselves after luxuriating in the sparkling pool.

The Family Pool Suites comprise of two spacious bedrooms which each have their own ensuite bathrooms and all the creature comforts for a perfect family getaway, this Suite sleeps up to 4 guests.

A family-friendly Bistro style dining experience, The Conservatory Restaurant at Hunter’s affords guests a seasonal à la carte menu with a fusion of Anglo-Italian country fare. The restaurant also offers a comprehensive list of stunning local wines for guests to enjoy with their meal.

Sage offers guests an elegant dining experience, enjoy the delightful Anglo-French style cuisine by candlelight in the semi-al fresco colonial style dining area. The menu is prepared with sustainable, local ingredients, so meals are delightfully seasonal. With a strictly South African wine cellar, sample some of the best wines the country has to offer from the expansive 2000 bottle wine cellar.

Guests of Hunter Hotels are also invited to dine at the company’s other properties in the area, which offer a range of cuisines and experiences.

Zinzi’s offers guests a vibrant dining experience, with guests invited to relax in the dining room’s low ottomans and decadent upholstery whilst they enjoy the imaginative dining experience which offers a combination of a la carte dishes and mezze platters.

Tsala Restaurant offers guests a wholly unique dining experience, with the restaurant sitting up amidst the treetops in an ancient indigenous forest. The a la carte menu is a culinary journey through the African continent, and a celebration of the rich and diverse cultures who call this beautiful land home. Diners are invited to luxuriate in the restaurant’s elaborate afro-baroque decor and take in the magnificent views from the treetops.

Plettenberg Bay is home to a diverse population of marine life and on the migratory route of many whale pods, there are whales present in the bay from May to February. In early June, the southern right whales leave their Antarctic feeding grounds to frolic in the warmer waters of the Cape coast. The migratory humpback whales arrive with their calves in early November and stay around Plettenberg Bay until February. The bay offers visitors possible year-round sightings of Bryde’s whales, along with pods of bottlenose dolphins and the more elusive Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins.

Whilst there are many fantastic viewing points from the shore, including Plettenberg Park, Keurboomstrand beach and lookout points, the best way to experience these magnificent marine creatures is from the water. There are several options for boat tours with knowledgeable guides, or sea kayak rentals for the more adventurous.

This iconic peninsula offers visitors a truly unique coastal experience. With hiking trails suitable for every ability, there’s something for everyone. Take in the magnificent diverse plant and marine life, or explore the nearby caves which have evidence of Stone Age inhabitants. Some of the rocks here date back almost 120 million years to the split of Gondwanaland, the southern half of the Pangea supercontinent.

If you visit on a clear day you may even catch a glimpse of what locals call the ‘Robberg Express’, a giant great white shark, making its way around the bay. The Robberg Nature Reserve is one of the few places it is possible to see great whites from the land, in their natural habitat.

This 200km stretch of coastline that connects Mossel Bay and Storms River Mouth in the Eastern Cape has been rated one of the top road trip experiences in the world. The experience is tailorable depending on interests, but offers something for everyone. From picturesque towns and villages, stunning coastal vistas and dramatic mountain passes and indigenous forests, along with the variety of wildlife safaris and marine safaris, it is possible to take the Garden Route many times and always have a unique experience.

20km away via the N2, is the picturesque town of Knysna. Once central to the timber industry, the town’s surrounding indigenous forest now offers visitors the opportunity to experience the remnants of an ancient montane forest that once covered much of South Africa. Immersive guided walks to the forest take visitors over boardwalks and dirt tracks, make sure to look out for porcupines and the Knysna turaco, a vivid bird that can only be found in Knysna and Eswatini.

Cruises on the sparkling Knysna Lagoon allow visitors to visit the Featherbed Nature Reserve, which is only accessible with a guide, and follow the trails through the milkwood forest. Alternatively, the bustling town itself offers a variety of activities and experiences for visitors, including fabulous restaurants, a variety of art galleries, independent shops and traditional woodwork shops selling handcrafted furniture.

Hunter’s Country House is part of Hunter Hotels which, through the Hunter Hotels Foundation, supports a growing number of community projects with a focus on the education of pre-school and primary school children. Hunter’s Country House specifically focuses on supporting local schools, such as the Greenhill Education Centre in Kwanokuthula, which is a pre-school specialising in preparing children for the education system and local primary schools.

Gorah Elephant Camp has assisted Langbos Creche and Care Centre since 2006; with the hiring, and continued employment, of teachers and by purchasing both educational supplies and toys, which help these children to achieve their full potential.

Zinzi Restaurant assists the local community by providing food and care packages to Harkerville Primary School which ensures all students receive a nutritious and hearty meal, which is vital to their development and educational progression. The restaurant also simultaneously tackles food waste and local impoverished communities by donating fresh produce to the St. Patricks Church soup kitchen and the Masiqhame Group for the elderly and disabled in Kranshoek.

The Tsala Treetop Lodge contributes to a literacy program that benefits all Grade 3 students at Phakamisani and Kwanokuthula primary schools, staff from the lodge also assist with their time and help through reading, writing and conversations with the students. The program has empowered students to reach and maintain age-appropriate literacy skills and enhances their understanding of the English language in preparation for Grade 4, when classes are taught in English rather than in Xhosa, which is their primary language.