What a place to re-charge your batteries. Very charming and friendly staff. From arrival with the welcome canepes and drinks under the gazebo, relaxing at the pool or just soaking up the amazing view of the gardens, a real Oasis in Oudtshoorn. This is definitely the perferct location in Oudtshoorn for young or old. Will return in a heartbeat.

The Rosenhof is a delightful treat and we stayed for Christmas 2010. The hotel was quite quiet but it didn't loose atmospere as a result. My husband and I are real foodies and quite often hard to please but we could find no fault with the food at all. In fact my hubby felt that it was the best fillet ever which is quite a complement. The rooms were a lovely size with everything you could want except an iron and board but that seemed a common theme in all the hotels in SA we stayed in.

I stayed here during a trip a trip this past August through South Africa. Overall I found the Rosenhof Country House to be a delightful property with wonderful public spaces, good food, friendly service, and comfortable accommodations.

What I Liked

The room was spacious, comfortable, and tastefully decorated. Most of the rooms appeared to surround a central courtyard, which has a bubbling fountain in the middle. Because it was low season, the property was also very tranquil. I believe there were only two other parties staying at the hotel. The beds were extremely comfortable with very high quality linens.

Both the food and service during dinner in the main dining room were very good. I found the set menu to be creative and appetizing, utilizing the best produce from the region, and this being Oudtshoorn, ostrich filet was an option. Service was prompt and courteous.

Public spaces were extremely comfortable and well decorated. The main reception house had a great deal of space on offer. There were also gardens surrounding the property as well as a pool, although during my visit it was far too cold to partake in any swimming.

What Could Use Improvement

Breakfast offerings, while decent, were probably some of the less impressive during my stay. It could use more diverse options of both hot and cold options. However, this could be because I was staying there during off season when less visitors meant less need to lay out a breakfast spread.

Although the actual room was very well heated during the cold time of year, unfortunately there was no heating in the bathroom. This made the bathroom incredibly cold, and the floor tiles felt like ice. Perhaps they could install under floor heating elements.

What Else to Do

The hotel provides a wonderful point from which to explore the areas many attractions. Although I missed out visiting one of the many ostrich farms, I would recommend a visit to the Cango Caves or the Cango Wildlife Ranch, both worthwhile attractions just a few kilometers north of the hotel.

The hotel consists of several separate small chalet style bungalows. The rooms are spacious, nicely decorated and well appointed. The beds are enormous and very comfortable. Although the rooms face each other across a small lawn with a fountain, it still felt private.

Lavish breakfast is served on a patio in the garden, great selection of cold buffet plus a la carte eggs, English fry-up or pancakes etc. We didn't try the hotel restaurant as it seemed slightly too posh for our liking.

The gym was small but equipped with good quality machines and large enough for three of us to have a work out at the same time. The free wi-fi worked well and was available throughout the grounds. Service was very good and friendly.

All in all it is a great place to unwind on your journey along the Garden route. The peaceful and quiet environment might however remind you of a very posh retirement village.