Lily Pond Country Lodge

Lily Pond Country Lodge borders on Nature's Valley, with its beautiful, unspoiled beaches, and the Tsitsikamma National Park. The ponds of the title are carpeted with blue, white, yellow and magenta lilies and the island in the middle is a haven on which to sit marooned, watching frogs hop from one pad to another. I had always thought they only did that in Beatrix Potter. All the rooms have private sun decks, which lead out to the largest lily pond, beyond which you can stroll off along trails, which meander mazily past more ponds and into indigenous forest. You will spot many birds on the way. The building itself is modern with mustard-yellow and terracotta-coloured walls. Inside, the modernity continues, spiced up with an African theme. The carpeted bedrooms are neat and comfortable with semi-open-plan bathrooms. One of the lounge areas has a Pygmy bed, now used as a coffee-table, and framed tribal masks on the walls; while the nautical motif in the other reflects Niels and Margret's sailing days. They are a Dutch couple who fell in love with South Africa on holiday and decided they could not leave. They are new to the hospitality business and their attention to their guests is a breath of fresh air. Margret cooks with flair and presents her dishes delicately. And Niel delivers them with equal delicatesse! Hiking, golfing, horse-riding, whale-watching, bunjy-jumping, mountain-biking, boating and fishing all available in the area.