Here's a look at some brilliant boutique hotels, self-catering lodges, and tented camps suitable for all budgets and ideal for couples or families looking for a countryside break in Gauteng.
The Cradle of Humankind
With close to 400 attractions that include the NIROX Sculpture Park and Maropeng and the Sterkfontein Caves, the Cradle is within easy driving distance of Joburg (just under an hour) and offers attractions for the whole family. The world's oldest hominid fossils were discovered in this area – now a UNESCO World Heritage site – and remains of our ancient ancestors continue to be found in the Cradle of Humankind, which is an active digging site for palaeoanthropological research. There is also some good hiking in the area, and with so much of the Cradle being officially protected – essentially guaranteeing sustainable development – it's an excellent place to get away from it all and get back to nature.MAROPENG BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Perfect for: Couples, romantic breaks, and visits to nearby caves and digging sites
The Maropeng Boutique Hotel is perfectly located in the heart of the UNESCO-protected Cradle of Humankind, adjacent to the region's official Visitor's Centre and museum, Maropeng. Bookings at the hotel include a ticket to both the Maropeng Visitor's Centre and a tour of the nearby Sterkfontein Caves (where famous hominids such as Mrs Ples were discovered). The hotel has been designed to blend into the surrounding countryside, while also allowing for immense, uninterrupted views of the surrounds. Each guest room comes with full-length windows and terraces looking out across the expansive grasslands of the Cradle towards the Magaliesberg mountains in the distance. These are particularly beautiful at sunset.
RATES & BOOKING: Rooms from R2,000 per night. Find out more and book online here.
FORUM HOMINI BOUTIQUE HOTEL
Perfect for: Couples, romantic breaks, and great dining
Set within a private game estate just 20 minutes from the Maropeng Visitor's Centre, this unique five-star hotel's suites are cut into the earth like prehistoric caves, and endowed with environmentally friendly grass-covered roofs, stalactite-style lights, indoor and outdoor showers, and broad views of the grassy savannah below. The hotel's Roots restaurant – with its fantastic deck positioned perfectly to capture the sunset hour – has made it on to the Top Restaurants in SA list more than once.
RATES & BOOKING: Find out more and book online here.
KLOOFZICHT LODGE & SPA
Perfect for: Couples, romantic breaks, pampering and birdwatching on the dam
Woven among peaceful fly fishing dams and the lower reaches of the Blaauwbank Spruit is the dreamy five-star Kloofzicht Lodge and Spa. Local game and birds roam freely on the private nature reserve, making this boutique lodge in the greater Cradle region a peaceful escape into nature where you can melt into the stillness of the surrounds. The five-star lodge is well liked for its friendly and high standard of service.
RATES & BOOKING: Rooms from R3,400 per night. Find out more and book online here.
IBIS RIVER RETREAT
Perfect for: Self-catering for couples and families
Situated inside the Crocodile River Reserve, Ibis River Retreat has five spacious cottages to choose from, each endowed with their own wow feature, such as a private jacuzzi and an indoor fireplace for those chilly winter evenings. Four of the five cottages are designed specifically for couples, and they have decent kitchens and large outdoor braai areas. The rustic Fish Eagle cottage sits right on the bank of the river and has an attic bedroom reached via a steep ladder. There is one larger cottage, The Francolin, which has two bedrooms and bathrooms and its own firepit. Note that no children younger than seven are allowed on the property, which also features its own small spa. While manageable in an ordinary sedan car, it is worth noting that you'll need to travel for at least 20 minutes on a dusty road through the surrounding farmland to reach the property. Drive carefully and take your time.
RATES & BOOKING: Cottages R2,830 per night; Francolin cottage R2,500 per night. Find out more and book online here.
BUSH WILLOW TENTED CAMP
Perfect for: A rustic outdoors experience, groups, and families
This tented camp is part of Guvon Hotel's sprawling Glenburn Lodge and has an idyllic location on the banks of the Blaauwbank River. It offers a rustic experience with 10 comfortable tents to choose from, each sleeping up to six people on single beds, making it a fun destination for families and groups. Tents each come with their own indoor shower, toilet, and a small kitchenette, as well as an outdoor deck with a built-in braai. Note that bedding, crockery, and cutlery are not provided, so you will need to bring your own. The camp also has a communal boma area and a small pool, and you can make use of the facilities at Glenburn Lodge.
RATES & BOOKING: Find out more and book online here.
Magaliesberg mountains and the Magalies Meander
Bordering on 'Harties' (as the large Hartbeespoort Dam and surrounds is known), this area is about an hour and a half by car from Joburg and offers a beautiful mountain backdrop, with the ancient Magaliesberg mountain range forming a natural border between the Gauteng and North West provinces. There are lots of farm shops and quaint countryside restaurants to explore. Nicknamedthe Magalies Meander, it has long been a popular spot with weekend holidaymakers from Johannesburg and Pretoria.The most popular activity for daytrippers is enjoying one of the many private hiking trails or taking a ride up the Magaliesberg mountains on the Hartbeespoort Aerial Cableway to admire the views. Other popular activities in the area include visits to some of the nearby farms, such as the Van Gaalen Cheese Farm, lunch at a countryside restaurant, a trip up in one of Bill Harrop's hot-air balloons, or a round of golf at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Pecanwood Golf & Country Club. Although the Magalies area straddles Gauteng and North West provinces, the following accommodation options all lie within Gauteng Province.
DE HOEK COUNTRY HOTEL
Perfect for: A romantic break for couples with the best High Tea
This five-star countryside boutique hotel is a study in elegance and romance, and it is just as popular with couples as it is with city executives in search of quiet time and space to recharge. The spacious and tastefully furnished rooms in the main manor house-style hotel building, and the more contemporary sandstone suites, are all set amid extensive gardens near the Magalies River, with a view of the surrounding mountains. The hotel is a short drive away from a wide range of attractions, including horse riding trails, hiking trails, golf courses and the caves at the Cradle of Humankind. For a special weekend treat, book a decadent High Tea.
RATES & BOOKING: Rooms from R4,000 per night. Find out more and book online here.
RUSTIG
Perfect for: Weekend hikers and backpackers
This historic family farm sits right below the craggy foothills of the Magaliesberg mountains. It is popular with day visitors who come to hike the Rustig Trails, which climb their way up the crags to offer some spectacular views across northern Gauteng.
With a broad range of accommodation options, it's popular with larger groups and families. You can choose from bed-and-breakfast inside the Cape Dutch-style heritage house to renting one of the self-catering properties that include a large old farmhouse with its own stoep (sleeps up to 10 in five bedrooms), or the considerably more 'rustic' Stone House, which has a bedroom with a double bed and a second bedroom packed with four bunk beds. There are also two self-catering tents (sleeping four and six) and basic backpacker dormitory accommodation. Serious hikers can also book the overnight hut on the mountain and sleep over while tackling the 18km hiking trail that starts on the property. Amenities include a tea room and a large swimming pool that's perfect for doing laps on a hot day.
RATES & BOOKING: Heritage House R2,500 per night; The Farmhouse R2,600 per night; Stone House from R850 per night; and backpackers pay R300 p.p. per night. Find out more and book online here.
STEYNSHOOP MOUNTAIN LODGE AND STEYNSHOOP VALLEY LODGE
Perfect for: Weekend hikers, self-catering, and families looking for lots of on-site activities
This secluded country hotel is nestled in a game farm that sits on the slopes of the Magaliesburg mountains. Choose from one of five cottages in the self-catering Steynshoop Valley Lodge or book a room at the upmarket Steynshoop Mountain Lodge just up the hill, where four-poster beds and sweeping views make for a grand setting. Set across a spacious Cape Dutch-style farmstead linked by pretty, wide open courtyards (or 'quads'), there are plenty of amenities, including tennis courts, volleyball, billiards, a large swimming pool, and croquet.
Self-catering accommodation ranges from quaint thatched roof cottages to the epic five-bedroom Homestead building. There are pretty of nature trails through the game farm and it is also possible to hire a guide to take you through longer trails that link up through neighbouring farms.
RATES & BOOKING: Valley Lodge self-catering from R1,100 per night; Mountain Lodge rooms from R850 per night for two people sharing; and R1,200 for a single room. Find out more and book here.
SAAMRUS GUEST FARM
Perfect for: A pet-friendly, self-catering break in splendid isolation
If you are looking for isolated self-catering accommodation, you can't do much better than this guest farm scattered over 500ha of Magaliesburg mountainside. There are 10 cottages altogether, four at the foot of the hill and six others scattered high up on the mountainside. Be warned: if you don't have a 4x4 vehicle, you will need to walk up to the cottages on the hill, which are 200m to 400m away. Fortunately, there are staff on hand who will carry your food, braai wood, and luggage for you (tip them well – it is a steep walk!).
Mountain cottages sleep between two and four people, and are all well isolated from each other, each with their own fenced gardens, firepits, and braais. Bigger families can also book the large old farmhouse, The Plaashuis, at the foot of the hill, which has four double bedrooms.
RATES & BOOKING: Cottages from R900 per night p.p. sharing. Find out more and book here.
Dinokeng Game Reserve
For those who love a safari experience and are invigorated by a call of the wild, Joburg has long been a stopover en route to one of South Africa's most well-known attractions: the Kruger National Park (a 450km drive from the city). Less well known is that the province of Gauteng, of which Joburg is part, is also home to a free-roaming reserve called Dinokeng Game Reserve that is situated 100km north-east of Joburg. Apart from the Big 5, Dinokeng also boasts cheetah, brown hyena, zebra, and giraffe. It is also a malaria-free zone, so it's brilliantly suited to young families.As the area is made up of a number of different private farms that have taken down their fences, there is no shortage of places to stay within the reserve – although quality varies quite a bit. A lot of venues cater especially for the conference and wedding crowd, while others are focused on camping. While you won't find the ultraluxury that you can get in South Africa's bigger private reserves, Dinokeng appeals to rustic self-catering and camping family breaks with a taste for the wild, and in easy reach of the city.
CHAMELEON BUSH LODGE
Perfect for: Self-catered family breaks
This self-catering lodge offers 10 chalets, each with their own modern, fully equipped kitchen, a patio, a braai with view of the waterhole, and some with outdoor showers for that classic 'bush break' feel. For families, there are also larger two-bedroom chalets that have their own boma firepits for fireside evenings under the stars. Compared to some of the more dated looking properties in the area, the decor is modern, with a fresh pop of bright neon colours (albeit set against the same face brick interiors that are so ubiquitous across South African safari chalets).
RATES & BOOKING: Chalets from R1,350 p.p. sharing. Find out more and book here.
IKHAYA LAMADUBE GAME LODGE
Perfect for: Self-catered accommodation with the option of guided game drives
Meaning 'home of the Zebra', this small lodge offers eight fully equipped, thatched self-catering cottages with the option of enjoying a guided game drive. The cottages vary widely, with the prime spot being the two new luxury villas that sleep two. There are also two fun, stilted log cabins with attic bedrooms that give a feeling of being up in the trees, or smaller and rustic studio-style rondavels, a safari tent, and a log cottage.
RATES & BOOKING: Cottages and cabins from R1,890 per night; safari tents R2,090 per night; and luxury villas R3,790. Find out more and book online here.
THORN TREE BUSH CAMP
Perfect for: Glamping experiences for all budgets
Thron Tree Bush Camp offers a rustic camping experience without the need to set up your own tent (also known as 'glamping'). This expansive tented camp has all kinds of tented accommodations, ranging from a large, luxury tent with indoor and outdoor dining areas and a bath, to a classic canvas tent with a braai area on the doorstep. Every tent has its own kitchenette and braai area with seating and a camp basin, and some have their own en-suite bathrooms. There is also a swimming pool, but you will need to bring your own pool towels.
RATES & BOOKING: Tents from R750 per night; campsite from R420 per night' and tented cabins from R1,005 per night. Find out more and book here.
OUKLIP GAME LODGE
Perfect for: Good value glamping in the bush
OuKlip is a privately owned eco-lodge with spacious and well-appointed self-catered safari house tents, each of which can sleep up to four (ideally two adults and two kids, as you will need to share one room). The spotless canvas house tents each come with their own en-suite bathrooms, as a well as an open kitchen and a private boma area where you can sit by the fire at night and gaze up at the incredible display of stars. They also have a four-bedroom that can accommodate up to eight guests. Guided game drives can be booked through the lodge and they can also assist with booking other activities in the area, including microlight flights and hot air balloon safaris (weather dependent).
RATES & BOOKING: Tent houses from R950 per adult sharing, R400 per child between the ages of two and 12, and free for children under two. Find out more and book here.
WILLEM'S RUS CAMPSITE
Perfect for: Camping addicts
Avid campers regularly rate this campsite as the best in the area with high-quality ablution facilities and extremely well-cared-for public areas, including a swimming pool and large lawns shaded by thorn trees. The site offers 25 stands with two ablution blocks. Stands 1, 2 and 3 share their own shower, toilet, and scullery, and can be booked separately for a group, so it is ideal for families who like to camp together.
RATES & BOOKING: Campsite from R195 p.p. per night Mon – Thu, and R220 on weekends. Find out more here.
THE BLADES HOTEL
Perfect for: Hotel luxury within easy reach of wildlife
While not located inside the Dinokeng Game Reserve, this is a great base for exploring the wider area. Built on the banks of the Roodeplaat Dam, an estimated 20-minute drive from Pretoria, this 46-room hotel is situated on 10ha of land, which is packed with indigenous bushveld and features great views of the dam. Rooms are luxuriously fitted, making this a great alternative to the rustic bushveld feel of other properties in the Dinokeng area – and there's even a restaurant and a spa! You also have the option of booking a picnic basket and finding a secluded spot on the grounds to enjoy a lazy lunch.
RATES & BOOKING: Rooms from R2,827 per night. Find out more and book here.
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