Maria's home cooking and Tony's skill at the fire (barbeque) makes for great breakfasts and dinner (with lots of homemade and homebaked treats - like ice-cream and croissants). Dinner-time conversations around the fire and the dining room table are very relaxing and a good way to end the day.

Game drives and morning walks were very interesting - thanks Kurt for sharing all your knowledge and experience with us (yes, even the snakes!).

Tented accommodation close to the Mampoer distillery has seen its heyday a few years ago and even though it is time for some TLC and maintenance, our tent still provided a comfortable room and bathroom with fantastic view. Afternoons can get very hot in and around the tents, with nowhere to hide or sit in the shade!

Overall an enjoyable experience in a relaxed setting.

Location was nice as they have a lodge in an area with some "wildlife" like zebra's, giraffes, wildebeasts and antilopes.

We booked this as a 4 star accomodation like pointed out on the website but actually it was terrible. The certificate of the council for the 4 stars is valid untill july 2007 and the place has been dusted around that period for the last time also... It is old and we also got a terrible meal the evening we arrived.. We decided to do the morning game drive wich was nice due to the efforts of Curt (he knows a lot about the animals). Had dinner in Plettenberg Bay and got out the next morning as early as we could.

If you are allergic to Dust or are astmatic in any way than stay out of this accomodation.

Must say the owners are very kind put that doesnot make up for lack of comfort especially when your travelling with small kids like us. This was the 5th accomodation we stayed in in South Africa and we stayed only in 4 stars accomodations and this had nothing to do with that, 2 stars at the most...

We booked the accomodation including BBQ, the game drive and guided walk

accommodation:
- the cottage was really nice and spacious, a bit rustic but thats basically the intention (this was a complimentary upgrade thx again)
- tony, maria and carmen were really nice, helpful and friendly
- food was very good and extremly nicely decorated; exceeded expectation
- BBQ: excellent food, very nice atmosphere, good to learn a bit about the country and the situation of the people

Game drive / guided walk:
- not worth to do it, if you know Addo or other bigger reserves
- good information about the animals like zebras, gnus and wildebeest (tour deducted by Curt)
- interesting demonstration of different snakes (thx Curt)

priceing policy:
- a bit confusing is if you book via the website becausw it was for us not so clear that we purchased basically 2 packages on top of the accomodation
- the flyer in the lodge is much clearer: accomodation is seperated form the game drive and the guided walk in the morning
- Recommendation: Phone them up an make clear what you want and intend to do

Buffalo Hills sits at the end of a gravel road, about 20 minutes outside Plett. You enter through a steel gate, heeding the signs that wild animals are on the loose. But the greeting is warming and we found the hosts Tony and Maria and all their staff to be unfailingly charming, helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. And of course giraffes, gnus and assorted antelopes and zebras roaming, plus who knows what you might find with one of the rangers!
Most people seem to stay for only 1 to 3 nights but we spent a week here, making us long term residents. There are game, river or forest walk every day at 07.30, and a game drive at 16.00, ending up in the lodge's distillery. The Mampoer Chili, hot as hell and 60 proof, is a hooch for real men! As for the food, breakfast is fab, and dinner is a treat. Extra kilos guaranteed. It is a great place from which to explore the many attractions along this stretch of the Garden coast, whilst not unpacking and repacking every other night, if you stay as long as we did.
One important word of warning - dinner is only at 8 so children need a bit of staying power until then (they all seem to manage it, and our 2 and 6 year olds did!); but if they then need putting to bed, you are strongly advised to book accommodation in or near the main lodge so that you can then get back to join the other adults. Make sure you don't book a tent on the other side of the river, some ten minutes' walk away, or you'll end up on babysitting duty ealier than you want! Enjoy!