Wagon Wheel Country Lodge

The sunset views are breathtaking, and the pool area is beautiful. We stopped for a quick break, had delicious pizza and found an impressive choice of drinks. The staff, especially the bartender and waiters, were friendly and attentive. The cutest cats wandering around made it even better.

For a three-star establishment, this was perfect. Our rooms were immaculate and the service exceptionally friendly. Sitting in the courtyard with the kittens and looking up at the starry sky made it feel like our holiday had already started.

I ended up sleeping in my car on the property because the rooms were far too hot and crowded for five people. The passage lights stayed on all night, and so did the light in the rooms. The manager didn't seem to care and said we'd chosen an economy-class room, even though we'd booked what was shown on the website. The photos are deceiving. What a dump. If we'd known, we'd have booked somewhere else. If you don't want a good night's sleep on the way to Cape Town, this is the place. It doesn't deserve even one star.

There was no water in the morning, so we couldn't shower before getting back on the road. We also skipped the pool because it didn't look like the pictures online. The room itself was nice and clean, but the mattress was extremely uncomfortable. We chose this room for the king-size bed, hoping for a proper rest after a full day of travel, and at R1650 the mattress quality didn't match the price. Having a restaurant on site was convenient, but the food was underwhelming. Bottled basting on Karoo lamb chops and lamb shank didn't feel right for the expected standard, and the dishes didn't justify their price. The stay fell short of expectations and didn't feel like good value. Several things need improvement for the rate charged to feel worthwhile.