3 Best Hotels in Storms River, The Garden Route and the Little Karoo

Built with care and attention to detail, this lovely guesthouse is a winner. The understated decor makes the most of natural materials: reed ceilings in the rooms, stone tiles in the bathrooms, and lots of woodwork everywhere, including some charming old wooden doors. All rooms have king-size beds, large showers, and either direct access to the lovely gardens or spacious balconies with mountain views. It's right in the village, so it's close to all the adventure activities on offer. Hostess Bev Coetzee is a treasure trove of information about the local area.

Built around a hunting lodging dating back to 1888, this beloved lodging has whitewashed cottages neatly arranged around a village green. The inn is well known for its restaurant—De Oude Martha—which was named after the hotel's first cook. Though she has long since retired, her influence lingers. The food is mostly dependable standbys like grilled line fish, chicken, steaks, and pastas plus traditional Malay lamb curry with dried apricots. There's also a microbrewery next door.

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.