Idwala Guest House
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| Rooms: | 11: 3 rooms in the main house, 6 garden rooms, 2 self-catering cottages. All king/twin with full en-suite or shower bathrooms. |
| Price: | Olive Tree Cottage: R1180 pps, R1680 single. All other rooms R880 pp sharing. Singles R1,280.
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| Meals: | Full breakfast included. Lunch and dinner on request. (3 courses from R220 pp). |
| Directions: | Turn right off Republic Road into Blanche Road and Idwala is on the intersection with Garrick Road. |
| GPS: | Latitude: -26.1274, Longitude: 27.9853 |
13 Garrick Road, Darrenwood, Johannesburg, Gauteng
Tel: (0)11-888-1437
Cell: (0)82-443-9419
Fax: (0)11-888-1402
Johannesburg has one of the highest concentrations of trees of any city in the world. Certainly the fabulous purple blossom of the jacaranda blessed the drive to this miniature village in the heart of the city.....
.... The main house was built a hundred years ago when Jo’burg looked very different, but I was still astonished by views of green hills as I climbed through layers of garden, up to a tranquil lawn fringed by exuberant beds of roses, daisies, chives (for the eggs) and rosemary (for the pillows). Stepping into the first circle of the central lodge, I could see how breakfast and meals are served, drenched in sunlight when the windows disappear and serenaded by water trickling into the plunge-pool. The inner sanctum is a lounge big enough for family gatherings and backed by a fireplace inlaid with myriad cut stones. During the day the scent of fresh flowers wafts through, while at night the candles smoke and flicker in their glass bulbs. A circular passage connects all the rondavel rooms, whose proportions, beds and leather couches are universally large and luxurious. Bonus features include an elephant-framed mirror, under-floor heating, tall African lampshades, flat-screen TVs and bathrooms chiselled from the native Idwala rock itself. Judith knows what travellers want. “It’s easy to make people happy if you just listen to them,” she says as she shows me around the two neatly self-contained cottages, Protea and Olive, ideal for longer stays. Twenty-five percent return guests is her favourite compliment.
