Knysna is a spectacular town just 30 minutes drive due West of Plettenberg Bay in South Africa, and lies along the Garden Route as well. I had originally booked my room via an OTA, but somehow the agent went bust (no names mentioned), and I had been receiving notices in my junk mail regarding this situation. Unfortunately, by the time I figured it out, it was too late for me to file a claim through the credit card I used to perform the booking. Actually, consumers are protected to some degree in the event of such a circumstance, but claims must be filed within a stipulated period in order to obtain a refund.
In any case, the hotel was almost fully booked for the period of my stay, and I was desperate to secure the room. I had to contact the hotel directly and I was fortunate enough to make a reservation with the establishment directly, albeit at a higher price than when I first made the booking via the OTA. But it was more important for me to have a roof over my head during my trip than anything else.
I enjoyed the drive from Oubaai along the Garden Route with magnificent views of the ocean to the South. Upon arriving, I pulled up to the main entrance to check in. Sure, the property didn’t have the typical luxurious vibe to it, but the warm reception at the point of check in sealed the deal. The staff were ever so friendly and accommodating, and very forthcoming with providing information on the attractions nearby.
The rooms are housed in buildings quite sparsely located on the hotel grounds, but interconnected via paved walkways.
My room was situated in a new annex, so I was really looking forward to something special. True enough, the room literally took my breath away.
Despite its size, I would have expected the room to take awhile to cool down in the late afternoon, but it was very breezy, thanks to the large doors facing the vegetation nearby. Of course, I had the option to use the air conditioner, which was very effective as well.
There were a couple of comfortable chairs facing the exterior, but I rotated them towards the television screen soon after I settled into the room.
This room also had an interesting layout. Situated behind the bed was a large bathroom, with no doors. The open concept meant that the room did away with walls and doors to provide more space in general.
There were two sinks on the long bathroom tabletop, so couples won’t have to fight over them.
Located just behind the mirror was a large shower area, adorned in beautiful green tiles and concrete, nicely complementing the soft colours in the rest of the room.
Just a stroll from my room was an outdoor pool of a decent size. On most afternoons, guests make full use of the poolside area to work on their tan.
The hotel has a restaurant on site, that serves up great food at affordable prices. Just look at the portions! Plus, it was very convenient to dine in since I found driving into town a little bit of a hassle.
Guests get to enjoy breakfast at the main restaurant area too. The selection was typical of a Western buffet, but I was more enchanted by the interior decor that closely resembles a beautiful lodge up in the mountains.
I was very impressed by my stay at Knysna Hollow Country Estate. The town itself has much to offer, and serves as a great location from which you can organise some day trips around the area. Don’t forget to catch the beautiful sunset by the sea as well!
