I have to say that the Blue Cottages web site does not do the place justice: I was expecting a quaint little inn--and it is that--but it is also situated in some of the most stunning country I have ever seen.

Minutes after leaving Eastgate Airport in Hoedspruit, I knew there was magic in the air. Owners Maria and her husband (who's name I unfortunately forget) came to pick me up and we weren't driving for 10 minutes before we saw a herd of buffalo staring out from behind a fence. Without me even having to ask, they stopped the car for me, reversed it, and I had a chance to get out and snap a picture. The owners are very enthusiastic about where they live, and about their Afrikaneer heritage, and are full of information about the sights, history, and people of the region. They made me realize that I was coming into a special place.

The guesthouse itself is also beautiful, full of flowering gardens and a farmhouse that was built in the 1800s. Down a dirt road is a huge citrus farm; at the end of that road you can see the Klein Drakensberg Mountains. Spectacular.

I believe there is a self-catering option, but I stayed in a rondavel, which was charming and great value for money (about $35 including breakfast). The three-course dinner that night, which included grilled trout, was delicious. Eating by candlelight on the farmhouse's front porch made it memorable. There was a choice of breakfast the next day and the one I had, "health," was fresh fruit, yogurt, mueseli, and toast. Very nice.

I was only at Blue Cottages one night, but throughout my time there the owners did everything they could to make my stay comfortable. There was a brief problem with the hot water but it was fixed right away. I went on to work on a game reserve in the area and when I would see Maria and her husband in town, they would always stop and greet me. They are just great people who care about what they do, and it shows: they run a great inn.

One caveat: as the location is rather remote, I would say people staying at Blue Cottages should have a car. There is no public transportation to the nearby sights, Blyde River Canyon, Kruger, etc.