Whether you are looking for a convenient pit stop or want to kick back and absorb extraordinary views, we’ve got you covered.
Protea Hotel O.R. Tambo
Gauteng
Most airport hotels are functional, at best. But this place is delightful. At which other airport hotels can you “fly” a plane to the destination of your choice as a pilot in a virtual flight simulator? A strong aviation theme dominates this recent refurb – and we approve!
Order a refreshing drink at the long steel aircraft-wing bar, sink into a couch, and have front-row seats as airplanes come in to land. The on-site restaurant with its wooden cargo boxes echoes the industrial aircraft theme, while there are quirky elements in the rooms, such as propeller-inspired mirrors and wing-designed work desks. Extra perk? Free shuttle service to and from O.R. Tambo International Airport.
Inzalo Safari Lodge
Limpopo
If it is solitude you are after, with excellent Big Five game viewing and vast landscapes, this new addition to the Waterberg should be on your bucket list. Here, five tented safari suites (complete with private deck, splash pool and Wi-Fi) are perched above the Sterkstroom River, offering spectacular views and the opportunity to immerse yourself in nature.
Safari experiences include daily game drives, on-site birding, track and sign identification, bush walks, visiting San paintings, and enjoying bush picnics. And when you are feeling sociable, the main lodge offers all the creature comforts you would expect from a top-drawer game destination.
Arambrook Boutique Hotel
Western Cape
This elegant boutique hotel in the leafy avenues of Bishopscourt was once a family home – and still retains the feel of a glamorous private residence. You can lose yourself in thought in the expertly manicured garden with rose-covered archways and stone-pebble paths, while the elegant rooms, kitted out in muted hues with jewel-coloured designer chairs, have all the necessary modern conveniences.
This new addition to the green belt of Cape Town is sure to be a win with both business and leisure travellers. And to share the love, non-staying guests can now enjoy afternoon tea in the terraced garden or enclosed glass patio.
Words by Biddi Rorke
