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.

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

Nooks Pied-à-terre

Sitting on a quiet side street in central Franschhoek, from the outside 'Nooks Pied-a-terre' is a picture of Victorian 'white picket fence' charm. But this is a house with a secret, revealed only as I passed through the shutters into the double-height living room. On the inside 'Nooks' is super-contemporary. On the ground floor the living/dining area is huge, with appropriately titanic sofas.…

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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.

Der Greenwood Guide auf Deutsch

Jetzt ganz neu: die deutsche Version unserer Webseite. Endlos lange zusammengesetzte Substantive - nur einen Klick entfernt!

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