Do you want to have the best nights rest you’ve ever had in your life?
We arrived at Cederkloof Botanical Retreat in Citrusdal, to be greeted by... well... no one, thanks to Covid Regulations our cottage was ready and waiting on our arrival with the keys in the door. Instructions were emailed and WhatsApped by Anja before arrival, so no surprises there!
Our cottage was clean, neat and welcoming. You enter from the veranda which has tasteful decor, a dining table, fat sacks, lounger and a natural spring water jacuzzi. There is an outdoor kuru (braai) on the grass with our first bag of wood supplied (complimentary).
Entering our 2 Bedroom Cottage (there are 4 of these and 6 x 1 Bedroom Cottages) we take no notice of how gorgeous it is, as parents we immediately take note of potential danger traps for toddlers - very few thankfully!
The units have all you need: fridge, microwave, gas hot plate, cooking utensils etc. Maximising on the space, it’s an open plan kitchen, lounge/tv room and indoor fireplace for those chilly winter months. This lends itself well to the whole family being together when cooking, playing games, reading, watching TV (with DSTV) etc.
Leading off the living area to each side are the bedrooms which each have their own en-suite. The last time we stayed here we had baths with beautiful full room windows overlooking the mountain. This time we had showers with no view, a pity but it didn’t detract from our stay.
The bedrooms are tastefully decorated, with open storage for clothes and side tables. Then... comes the highlight of this underrated 2* property... the beds! Future visitors... these beds are so comfy, I never wanted to leave!!! King size, cotton percale linen, crisp & clean! I tried to fit it out the door to swap with ours when we left, but we couldn’t fit (smart move on their part). To top it off, if that’s possible, an aircon right above the bed, but high enough not to be like... ON YOU! Now the importance of these two mentions, when you’re inland in the Western Cape during the peak of summer is invaluable! If it hadn’t been for our kids waking us up all night because they could hear wind and nature in all its glory, we would have slept like Kings and Queens. (I actually slept like a Queen, my husband Brendan was the one who silently suffered because he REALLY loves me, thanks babes!).
Due to the fact that the property doesn’t really have a lot of activities, I was a bit concerned that the kids would get bored. Boy was I wrong! The solitude is appreciated, which is why we didn’t want to leave the property to visit Citrusdal itself, which has lots on offer from Khoi and San rock paintings, waterfalls, deep fresh-water swimming pools and horseback riding. So we enjoyed our surroundings by hiking their Feetjie Route (20 min) which was easy enough for our kids who are 2 and 6, and our dog Scarlett (did I mention they are Pet Friendly too!). We made use of their swimming pool (which is surrounded by fat sacks to relax on), hunted for scorpions, snakes and any bugs. We walked around the gardens enjoying their abundance of Fynbos. My favourite time was spent stargazing in the evenings with a glass of wine.
Overall we were well-rested, tuned out of technology thanks to the fact that there is no reception (for those desperate to have contact with the outside world, or who need to help clients like I did), there is WiFi at the Opstal/Wedding Venue by the pool.
If you’re looking to disconnect, sleep deeply and be surrounded by nature, you cannot go wrong with Cederkloof Botanical Retreat, which is only 2 hours from Cape Town! It’s also perfect for a small wedding group and to top it off they even have a NEW Tented Camp with 4 Bell Tents set in a Forrest.
Estimated Weekend Rates are as follows: (2 Nights Minimum stay) Tents @ R750 per night Single Units @ R1800 per night Double Units @ R2550 per night
Get in touch with me if you want to be immersed in nature, sleep soundly and wake up rejuvenated! nicci.hayden@travelcounsellors.co.za 0827113913