72 Best Hotels in South Africa

You'll benefit from abundant peace and quiet at these six appealing guest rooms and three independent self-catering cottages—a pleasant, good-value alternative to the local hotels. All the rooms and cottages are clean and comfortably furnished with large beds, spacious en suite bathrooms, TV, Wi-Fi, and private entrances. A wonderful homemade breakfast is served on the terrace or in the bright dining area overlooking the garden and pool.

You can find this delightful little restaurant and hotel, the creation of sculptor Charles Gotthard, amid trees next to a river. It's made up like a fantasy fairy world, with three stories of little rooms, winding passageways, and stairs leading to colorful private alcoves and balconies. The restaurant has tasty, creative cuisine, such as South African sushi (made with springbok carpaccio), Thai chicken salad, and lime-marinated chicken breasts. A set menu ($$$) is offered on Sunday and holidays; menus change with the seasons. The restaurant is open from Wednesday to Sunday, and bookings are essential. A small shop sells dream catchers, small fairy statues, and the like, and the Gobble D'Gook coffee shop serves homemade cakes on weekends and holidays. There are three B&B units in a restored vintage train car.

Located in a restored 1870 Cape Victorian mansion in lovely, quiet Tamboerskloof, this B&B is within walking distance of trendy Kloof Street and a five-minute drive from Table Mountain. All six rooms have en-suite bathrooms, and some have wood-burning fireplaces. Public spaces are warm and comfortable, with a communal TV in the lounge. Views from the wooden sash windows either look out to the pretty garden, where there's a table under the bougainvillea, or over the pepper and orange trees. Rooms are basic but clean, and apart from Room 5, spacious.

On the west side of the Magersfontein Battlefield, Langberg is far removed from the buzz of city life. Rooms here are all part of restored thick-walled, whitewashed farm buildings that date back to the days of the diamond rush. It's an operating game and cattle farm—raising buffalo and sable, roan, and 21 other antelope species—and hunting for kudu, gemsbok, and other antelope can be arranged. The atmosphere is relaxed, and the food is excellent. A three-course meal is served every night except Sunday and typically includes such hearty dishes as homemade chicken pie and venison fillets stuffed with dried fruits. Meals aren't included in the lodging price—breakfast costs R35 and dinner another R65 per person—but Langberg is inexpensive considering the luxurious service.

This secluded and charming resort on the peninsula is great for families, as well as popular for small conferences and events. Thatched-roof log cottages sit in an indigenous milkwood forest overlooking a nature reserve and the white sands of Noordhoek Beach. Options include suites or self-catering cottages with either two or three bedrooms, and fully equipped kitchens. Most cottages also have large balconies, many with sea views. All accommodations share a rustic log-cabin aesthetic and are attractive and tidy with cottage-style furniture. Some have fireplaces and pretty Victorian bathrooms. An on-site restaurant serves three meals a day and is popular with locals for Sunday lunch. Children's programs for all ages can be arranged on request.

This always-buzzing, warm, friendly hostel with some private rooms is light and bright and conveniently located near the middle of town. It's easy to find a sunny or shady spot in the garden to just relax with a book, and the lively bar is a great place to share adventures come evening. All in all, it's an excellent value and the private rooms offer a touch of affordable luxury. There's an information desk, and staff is happy to make recommendations and reservations, as well as drop you off at adventure activities like bungee jumping or attractions such as Monkeyland.

People come here as much for the living museum that owner extraordinaire Jopie Kotze has created as for the rest of the establishment, which originated as private homes, but it's a serviceable place to stay if you need to sleep over in Springbok. It's a family business, operated since 1947, when it was known as the Springbok Café and Private Hotel. Former tour guide Kotze's displays include a mineral collection, a photography exhibit on the Richtersveld and historic Namaqualand, and floral and landscape paintings by local artists. The mammoth operation sleeps 200 people in a variety of accommodations: rooms that sleep 2 or 3; family units that sleep 4 to 6; self-catering suites; and houses that sleep up to 13 people (note: avoid the rooms right behind the restaurant). Breakfast and dinner are available at the restaurant, and a gift, postcard, and curio shop carries a wide range of books. The restaurant (open until 10 pm nightly) has an eclectic menu that includes pizza, fish, burgers, and famous fries and milk shakes, as well as Jopie's "holy water."

This old Victorian house has been elegantly transformed into a stylish and comfortable guest lodge; white linen and subtle furnishings create a restful atmosphere. Some bathrooms have Victorian claw-foot tubs. Regularly voted one of South Africa's top-100 dining establishments, the restaurant (which charges around R120 per main course) will likely have you coming back for more, especially for dishes such as roast beef fillet with a verjuice-hollandaise sauce. The menu changes daily, and there are also interesting food-and-wine-pairing dinners that are worth inquiring about. For the lodge, arrangements must be made in advance for children.

This small, tidy hostel is quieter than most, so it's a good place to stay if you're on a budget and the lovely garden has great mountain views where you can even sleep in a safari tent. If you don't feel like making use of the communal kitchens, you can book meals (continental breakfast and dinner only) in advance. You can rent bicycles, shoot pool, and use the barbecue facilities.

Decorated in restful shades of blue and white, this is a great base from which to take long whale-watching walks. Ask for a room with a view and put your feet up while you watch the Southern Right whales splashing in the bay below. Alternatively, take a stroll along the nearby whale-watching cliffs. An honor bar and tea and coffee are available throughout the day.

Horses and cows in the field, a huge vegetable garden, and endless views over the ocean create a sense of space and abundance at this friendly hostel set high on a farm above Wilderness. Brothers Riaan and Theo Barnard, both qualified tour guides, offer excursions all over the Garden Route, as well as surfboard rentals and regular shuttles to and from Wilderness. You're welcome to use the well-equipped kitchen or barbecue, though you might want to start the day off with a big farm breakfast for R35. The hostel also offers three dormitories.

If you come to Hermanus anytime from July to November, consider staying at this hotel in the heart of town. It's a family-run hostelry that offers comfort but little pretense. Rooms are outdated, so the real reason to stay here is its position atop the cliffs, making it a great place to view the annual whale migration. Request one of the second-floor, sea-facing rooms, with sliding-glass doors and unbeatable views. During holidays, a games room with a pool table and table tennis is set up for older children. Breakfasts are ample.