Review of Fynbos Ridge Country House and Cottages

Fynbos Ridge is a veritable botanical paradise; the owners have embarked on an eco-conscious mission to remove all invasive alien vegetation. Little by little, the land has been cleared of intruders, and a wide variety of indigenous trees and shrubs have been replaced to create a little piece of heaven where the Cape flora (fynbos) and fauna flourish; here you will also find birds only seen in the Cape Fynbos.

The owners of this lovely lodge ensure that you are pampered with down comforters, pure cotton linens, luxurious accommodations, toiletries, and other little decadences that will guarantee that you have a truly memorable stay.

In the nearby distance, the views of the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountains are ever present on a clear day, which seems to be the norm. All of the acitivites and scenery that Plettenberg Bay has to offer are near by, and you can spend all day outdoors having a great time. However, this lodge also begs to be enjoyed, which can be done by lounging by the pool, just relaxing doing nothing at all, or reading a good book.

The Manor House

The main manor is a fine example of Cape Dutch style architecture, and while the home is not an antique, I believe many of the fine points found in this type of home have been faithfully reproduced. In the main house, there are four luxury double rooms, and one double superior room. All rooms have en-suite baths, and a delicious and plentiful breakfast is served in a lovely al fresco verandah. Each room has been given the name of an indigenous flower, such as: crassula, felicia, plumbago, polygala, and sparaxis.

The Cottages

In addition to the guestrooms in the Manor house, there are three, two-bedroom self-catering cottages, also named after an indigenous flower, such as: aristae, gazania, and the clivia, which is the one we stayed in. Each cottage is quite spacious, at 140 sq. meters, boasting two bathrooms, a fully-equipped kitchen, and a living room containing all sorts of entertainment gadgets, as well as a cozy fireplace. All cottages accommodate up to 5 people in luxury and comfort.

We stayed in a self-catering apartment, but we did not feel like cooking breakfast on our holiday, so, we arranged to take breakfast in the main house. If one doesn't feel like cooking at all, well, one can also arrange to have meals brought to the cottage, for a very reasonable fee. We had one such dinner brought to our cottage, and wow, what a banquet it was; we couldn't have possibly finished it all! All cottages have been beautifully refurbished in the minimalist style, to include stone baths. The cottages rack tariff is R1,200 per person, but we were given a price reduction for staying three nights, and paid R900 per person, or R1800 per night which was at the time of booking approximately $200 per night, including breakfast.

By the way, don't let the term "cottage" fool you, these are indeed small houses, with everything one could want, including a lovely patio with furniture, and a braii or grill. They even provide wood, charcoal and everything you need to BB-Q, as South Africans are so fond of doing!

The Pool

Surrounded by the beautiful Fynbos garden, the pool is quite Zen in style, and the eco-conscious guest will be pleased to learn that the lodge's swimming pool's water is ozone purified, and no chemicals are ever used! The owners are committed to keeping the guesthouse and their guests 100% carbon-neutral.

Of Herbs and Spices

In their garden, the owners grow vegetables, which are used in all of their in-house prepared meals. As a guest, one should at least have a meal prepared by the owner, Brian, and you will delight in his culinary skills. We were not disappointed, as it was a truly memorable meal.

Staff and Service

The lodge has a dedicated staff that will ensure you have a wonderful stay. From the owners, Brian and Liz, to Martin the manager, attention to detail is ever present. Martin asked what activities we wanted to participate in nearby Plett Bay, and he made sure that all bookings were in place, etc. Martin is a walking encyclopedia and he seems to have a phone number for nearly everything in the area, so all you have to do is express your wishes, and he materializes them, every time, with a smile on his face!

Location

Fynbos Ridge is located in the heart of the Garden Route, South Africa, an area known for its beaches, mountains, lakes, forests, lagoons, and rivers. The Garden Route has so much to offer to the naturalist, and Plettenberg Bay is known for its sparkling clean beaches and many other outdoor activities.

Conclusion

This is a truly lovely lodge where guests can experience the beauty of the Cape Fynbos and Plettenberg Bay. The setting is gorgeous, the accommodations are perfect, and from the moment of arrival, guests will be pampered and catered to. I would recommend a stay of at least four days as there is so much to do in the area. We stayed three days, which was hardly enough time... highly recommended!

Plettenberg Bay

Te: 044 532 7862

Email: info@fynbosridge.co.za

www.fynbosridge.co.za