Greenwood Guides

South Africa Accommodation Guide

Hand-picked Accommodation

Welcome to the Greenwood Guides website. Our chief (but not sole) purpose in life is to recommend great places to stay. Our main focus is on places to stay in South Africa and we publish in both web and print formats in late spring each year. To this end we spend 5 months each year researching and visiting guest-houses, lodges, B&Bs, farm stays and self-catering accommodation across the whole of South Africa. We select only those places that excel in character, friendliness and the hostly arts. The guide also includes a section on accommodation in Namibia. Our 2008 New Zealand accommodation guide is still available both online and in book format.

Greenwood Guides accommodation recommendations are visited by us and described by us, NOT by the owners.

Things we like...

...unstuffy, humorous hosts who treat their guests like friends, cherished gardens, good food, untouristy places, dirt roads, the lived-in look, the unusual, the artistic, the eco-friendly, creative interior design, historic buildings, modern architecture, big baths, powerful showers, imaginative breakfasts, open fires, real coffee, freshly-squeezed orange juice...

Things don't we like...

...conference centres, identikit bedrooms, chain hotels; hosts who disappear irretrievably after your arrival... or never leave you alone; swirly, frilly, lacy décor; the smelly, the over-priced, the sickeningly cutesy; fake smiles, hatchet faces and steely eyes!

Greenwood Guides

Many people still prefer to have a book in their hands when they travel, something tangible to leaf through, to turn down corners, to prop up café tables with etc.
Buy a book

Buy a copy of the Greenwood Guide to South Africa with Namibia - Hand-picked Accommodation
Buy a copy of the Greenwood Guide to New Zealand - Hand-picked Accommodation

Monthly South African Accommodation Specials

Every month we also publish accommodation special offers unique to Greenwood Guides. These offers are only from places in our South Africa guide and can be viewed on our website or received via email by registered users. Each month has a different theme so look out for something that might take your fancy.

South African Restaurants, Activities and Events

Beyond our South Africa accommodation guide, we have introduced a growing online collection of restaurants and activities, as well as a blog of upcoming events that we think will interest you: An Ear to The Rail (see top right).

A blog of upcoming
events in South Africa

Super Rugby

Super Rugby
If you are visiting the country between February and July be sure to go visit one of the Super 15 spectacles. More

More South African events...

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Featured Restaurant

Peri Peri De Mocambique

Savour all the sights, sounds, food and flavours of Mozambique without having to go any further ... More

View all our South African
restaurants and activities...

Greenwood Guides Special Offers