Hand-picked South African Places to Stay

Welcome to the Greenwood Guides website! Our chief (but not sole) purpose in life is to recommend great places to stay in South Africa. To this end we spend 5 months each year researching and visiting guest-houses, lodges, B&Bs, farm stays and self-catering accommodation across South Africa. We select only those places that excel in character, friendliness and the hostly arts and all the descriptions are written by us not the owners.

White Elephant Safari Lodge and Bush Camp

B&Bs, game lodges, farms, guesthouses, self-catering cottages and uncategorisable others

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 we don't 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!

PLACE OF THE DAY

Plumbago Guest House

Through wrought-iron gates at the end of a bougainvillaea-lined drive I found Plumbago, as pretty as the flower that shares its name. Set on an avocado and banana farm, it sits above the plantation watching over it and out to Kruger Park in the distance. When I arrived, 1940s jazz was swinging out from the radio, just the right aural accompaniment to the nostalgic, colonial-inspired setting.…

province search

map search

Western Cape

Swaziland

Lesotho

Tuli, Botswana

monthly accommodation specials

Every month we also publish accommodation special offers unique to Greenwood Guides. These offers are only from places in our accommodation 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.

restaurants and events

Beyond our accommodation guide, we have introduced a growing online collection of South African restaurants, as well as a blog of upcoming events that we think will interest you: An Ear to The Rail. Look top right on this page for the latest post.

buy the book

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