De Ark Mountain Lodge

Silas was great, and the house was clean, with a beautiful view and a great location. The accommodation had a lot of potential, but it didn't meet our expectations because it was very basic and short on necessities. There was barely enough crockery or towels for two people. We skipped breakfast after the first day because it was also basic, with no options and not even proper coffee.

The chalet was comfortable, the mountain scenery was gorgeous, and we enjoyed the breakfasts and friendly staff. We did wish we could explore the farm on our own, including the ancient rock art, as the website suggested. It turns out those walks need a guide and are best booked ahead, so there’s no map to use. Still, with the cherry festival on, we thought the place should have been fully booked.

We could see zebra and buck on the lawn outside our rooms at night, which was lovely. The valley and mountains look amazing from here, and breakfast was really good. The kitchenette is pretty basic if you’re planning to cook for yourself, though there’s a restaurant on site.

The rain didn’t stop us enjoying a few quiet days in the beautiful countryside. My husband, two friends and I had everything we needed in the accommodation, and the hosts were happy to bring us little things like ice whenever we asked. Breakfast was good quality and kept us going for hours. Thanks to Kelly, Silas, Maggie and the rest of the team at De Ark. We’d love to come back next year, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a peaceful nature break.