Plus

+ This is one of the original "Feather Palaces" which were built during the Ostrich Feather Craze of the early 20th Century. With their new wealth the barons created lavish mansion like Foster's Manor
+ Historic Setting
+ Great hospitality
+ Run by local college as a training site for students, nice mission

Minus

- Do you like the smell of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)? With KFC across the street, you get the overwhelming odor over and over and over again
-Located on a main street in the middle of an town that is not very scenic
-I am not a fan of Oudshoorn and would skip this town. Stop at Kango Caves and keep going

We booked a night at Fosters Manor through the tourist office in Outsdhoorn. We had stayed at 4* B&Bs/Guesthouses for the previous week along the garden route, which were outstanding value and quality, so we presumed a 3* would be fairly good too.

We were wrong. This is not a 3* property, or else the grading system in South Africa is odd. The gap between this B&B and 4* B&Bs is enormous, both in service, quality of rooms and value for money.

Fosters Manor is grand, but a bit old and eerie. We had a massive room, too big. Like the other reviewer, the furniture looked too small. It was clean etc but not conducive to sitting in your room for long. The bathroom was more modern but very small.

Breakfast was fine, but again the staff do seem to stand and stare as you eat breakfast. Not as warming/welcoming as other B&Bs.

We only stayed one night but Im sure there are nicer places to stay in this town.

Whilst expecting an older property we were somewhat diappointed with Fosters Manor when compared to all the other places we stayed. Although having a 3 star rating I would say it's more 2 star.

The building is imposing for sure and a fanastic old building filled with period furnishings which is good but we were the only people staying there and rattled around somewhat.

Our room was huge, in fact almost too big as the bed and settee, chairs etc. looked lost! Having said that it was clean and the bathroom likewise was big with slipper bath. Facilities in the room were OK but a bit sparse in the coffee/milk department. If you wanted more than one cup you had to ask for extras.

our son's room was the other side of the building even though noone else was staying which was a bit odd and very dark. the windows were covered with a blind that couldn't be opened. OK for one night but if had booked longer woudl have asked for a room change.

Breakfast was a good choice but the staff basically just stood and watched as we helped ourselves to coffee etc. rather than serve it like all the other places.

Generally the staff were the most unhelpful of all our stays, maybe because if it wasnt for us they may have had a day off!

Would we go back - afriad not as there are better places in town to stay.

Check out Jemima's for dinner, a great restaurant.

Impressive palace with a huge hall, an aristocratic wellcome and the bigest bedroom I have ever had (about 50 m2!!).
The outside of the building is a little old but my room was totaly freshly decorate and the bathroom had a tub on a very beautiful yellow wood floor.
A very strange stay in the middle of "klein karoo", an unique experience!