We enjoyed a 4 day stay at the Phantom Forest Eco-Reserve for our Honeymoon. This is a great place to stay, if you want peace and tranquility. We thoroughly enjoyed it. The whole lodge is a collection of wooden buildings under the forest canopy, linked by wooden board walks.

We stayed in the Upper Tree Suites (Watsonia), but also looked at the Moroccan Suites - they were both spectacular! The rooms are in the forest, on stilts - not technically tree houses - but we knew this in advance. You have very nice privacy - rooms are far apart. The rooms are stunning - the upper tree suites have a outside bath (with jacuzzi jets) on the deck. The shower and bath inside also are surrounded by glass, so you really feel like you are outside. The rooms were perfectly clean and beautifully decorated - and blended in with the natural surroundings.

The staff were great - very friendly and helpful. From the barmen, to the cleaning staff - all extremely polite and helpful. They made as feel relaxed and at ease as soon as we arrived.

The food is really unique and of a very high standard. The chef is extremely creative - even the breakfasts were very good, and never boring. The restaurant only offers a 6-course dinner in the evenings, but each evening, a new menu is printed, from which you can make your selection. They made a separate menu for my wife as she is vegetarian, and she too was very impressed.

The views from the Chutzpah (pool area) and Lounge/Bar area are fantastic - a view over the Knysna Lagoon and estuary.

A few things to note:
* As the rooms are amongst the trees/vegetation, you don;t always have a view of the surroundings - you are under the canopy of trees. You loved the atmosphere, but some might prefer more expansive views - those are only from the Lounge/Bar/Pool areas.
* As the rooms are spaced for privacy, you have to walk a short distance to the restaurant - but the walk is along beautiful board walks.

Four of us stayed there end of Jan 2012 and so looking forward to our stay. We have been to S. A. three times, our friends twelve. We always choose one place to stay as a 'treat ourselves'. I have read the previous review and in the main have to agree. There are no views from the rooms. If the trees were to be cut sympathetically then the magnificent views of the Estuary could be enjoyed. There are no gardeners employed so it is wild. The rooms are on stilts. There are board walks between the huts and restaurants (one was closed due to not being busy), reception etc which are lit up at night, but it is the ony place we have stayed at where there is a curfew at 11.30 as they cut the electric off. The evening meals are superb, with good wines a bit dearer than we normally pay in S.A, and breakfasts were excellent too. You have to sign a DISCLAIMNER IN ORDER TO STAY HERE, in case you get bitten. We had a green snake in our room. Saw monkeys at breakfast which the staff keep away with what looks like a paint ball gun and some large ants.

I planned this as a treat for my wife and myself as this was out of our budget in every normal sense. However, the "Special" of 3300 Rand per night was really worth it (check their website for deals).

We received bed and (a vast) breakfast each day plus a complimentary 6 course meal on the first night. The meal on the second evening was the same quality and complexity, 6 courses, for 300 Rand a head (excellent value for the quality of food - the chef is great and she spoke with us before the second night and on both nights during the service); all we had to pay for was the drinks but the wine list was not extortionate at all (we expected a hefty mark-up but it wasn't bad at all).

In addition to this, a delicious packed lunch was included in the deal for the second day. We were so full from breakfast that we forgot all about it and sunbathed at the Chutzpah at the top of the camp - we were totally on our own. Bliss! We asked the management if we could have the packed lunch on the day we left and there was no problem - we dined like kings later, half way up a mountain pass on the R62!

The tree house we had in the camp was "Watsonia". We couldn't have asked for much more. The bed was good, linen excellent and the glass surrounding the shower and bath gave ample opportunity to look out at the bird AND occasional monkey-life! Privacy was complete however from other houses and if we had wanted to parade naked on the veranda and jacuzzi, I think only the wildlife would have complained. I had expected a little more of a view from our veranda but as it's an eco-forest, maybe they have restrictions on what they can and can't cut down. Perhaps some small "sculpting" of branches would enhance the views but this really didn't bother me as the view from the Chutzpah was spectacular.

The vervet monkeys were playing around breakfast time when we ate outside, looking for food, but one of the staff is on hand to shoo them away - it was all part of the fun on a sun-baked morning. My wife went back to our room on the second morning, only to have two of the monkeys play with her like kids do (literally!).

Yes, you could occasionally hear the main road from down the valley (sound carries) but it really didn't cause me any angst. When the lights were turned out on the first night, we just listened to the forest to send us to sleep and on the the second morning we were woken up by the monkeys tumbling on to our roof! We went on one of the forest trails on the second afternoon and all I would do differently is perhaps go earlier in the day as quite a few midges were out to get us. It's a forest so this is going to happen!

Overall, the staff were just SO friendly and, when we spoke with them, so genuinely happy to be working in such a magical place. It was a wonderful two days.

There is no denying that this is a great concept, and the resort has good qualities such as friendly staff, good food etc. We called and got a room the next day. It was busy, but not full. We were also aware it was expensive, but you get what you pay for - don't you?....The rooms are not strictly tree houses, and have a dated design about them with rattan walls, but are very clean and have a comfortable bed. The forest is a nature reserve, but is not particularly interesting in terms of wildlife activity or stunning trees.There is no proper swimming pool at the resort, just a z shape moat around a north african bazar type rest area at the top of the hill. we stayed 2 nights, thinking to relax at the resort all day given its hefty price tag - we assumed total eco luxury in a place of beauty with simple elegant design ( as one finds at the better Game Reserves), but the room was too small to stay in for a day, the balcony was uncomfortable with no furniture to relax on outside, no views either through the foliage - odd given its sold as living up a tree. and the north african bazar had a strange atmosphere we thought. so other than lying on the comfortable bed in the room ( with first rate linens it has to be said) - where else to relax for the day? certainly not the hippy rooted sauna/hot tub/gym area - a very tired spot, or the bar area with its lurid 80s decor and furnishings . also odd we thought was mid summer having underfloor heating in the rooms 24/7 given its eco status, and the sound of traffic from the main road i did not expect in our quest to be at one with nature.
we met some travellers who just came for dinner, and that struck us as a smart move. the food is well priced at 300R for 5 courses, and was delicious. but the rooms and rest of the resort is just not worth the money at 4,000R per night!!! Thats the crunch - its way too expensive for what is on offer. There are gorgeous places to stay in SA for less than this! We are totally up for paying top rand, but expect top in return, not just a comfy bed and good breakfast.