Locally-Owned and Family-Run, This Hotel Is The Only Place To Stay In Swellendam.

Schoon Oordte Country House, in Swellendam,  is a great place to pause for those who are travelling to Mossel Bay/Plettenberg Bay from Cape Town.  We decided to stop over at Schoon Oordte Country House on our way to Gondwana Game Lodge.

Travelling from Cape Town, this will take two and a half hours by car on the N2, we sort of felt like time travelers when arriving. Although there are modern features, this property has endured the test of time, dating back to 1853. Time itself is the property of this hotel.

A stay at Schoone Oordt Country House is the opposite of mainstream luxury. Their focus is not on excess or opulence, but rather on elegance and attention to the finest of details.

Here's what we experienced spending a night at Schoon Oordte Country House!

Luxury Rooms

We think the title of this room should be changed to Suite, the suite is Victorian-styled which has a comfortable, elegant ambiance. Schoon Oordt Country Hotel has eight luxury “suites”, each with a view overlooking the rose gardens, fountains and shrubbery.

Each suite has been exquisitely decorated, with a stunning king size bed to match. Setting a further benchmark for luxury, each room offers a bright and airy bathroom that has all the functionality you need to relax, with dual sinks, an oversized walk-in shower, and a clawfoot Victorian tub.

The suites exude luxurious style with its wool carpets, custom-made cotton percale linen, fireplaces and day bed looking out to the gardens. Each suite is spacious, cozy and private.

The Country Hotel

Breakfast is served in the Conservatory, the room is spacious with high ceilings and natural light, with seating overlooking the extensive manicured gardens. We arrived at a preset table, made up of granola with seasonal fruit, artisanal meat and cheeses and freshly baked bread and scones. A la carte options are served thereafter. 

The hotel provides complimentary afternoon tea and scones if you're looking for a place to take a break. There were fresh home-made scones available, accompanied by jam and cream. Visitors can be seated in the lounge or in front of a fire when it's cold or in the garden when it's summer.

There are plenty of pool loungers, where you can spend some time in the sun, wearing your Polarised Escape Society Sunglasses, or read a book while enjoying the sound of water flowing down the surrounding garden fountains and the lovely scents from the rose bushes.

Final Thoughts

Being a family run hotel, you can expect personalised service. We could tell that Richard and Alison really care about their guests:

• When immediately after arrival, your luggage is packed into your suite.
• When we arrived for dinner at a local restaurant, it turned out that Alison had called ahead to confirm our reservation.
• When climbing into bed at the end of a long day and feeling a hot water bottle warming your feet.
• When after a cold day, you can return to a warm fire and turn down service.
• When after checking out, you get back to your vehicle and see that it's been washed.

The Schoon Oordte has a luxurious character and heritage, that's built with personal touches. The owners are invested in your experience.

If you want to feel as if you were really there, head to our Youtube channel.