Panorama Chalets & Rest Camp

The pitches were a good size for a camper and vehicle, fairly level, shaded by big trees, and each had power, lighting and a movable braai. We arrived in sunshine to a stunning view I'd briefly seen at the start of October. There are chalets too, but I can't say what they're like. The facilities were good and we felt safe, though camping felt a bit overpriced. I suppose the view, when you can see it, is part of what you're paying for, and they have a monopoly on that. I tried to use the reasonably priced laundry after a few weeks on the road, but wish I'd waited. Rain started that night and continued until the next evening, with thick fog, so there was no chance of seeing God's Window. The following day was dry but still overcast with patches of fog. In the morning we briefly saw the magnificent view from the pool area, which I imagine looks like God's Window on the other side of Graskop. By the time we reached God's Window, it was buried in thick cloud. Bourke's Luck Potholes and Lisbon Falls were lower down and clear enough to visit, and worth seeing, although the Potholes were quite crowded. The shop at reception has a few essentials. The restaurant gets busy and is a little overpriced, so book a table, though takeaways are available. The ablutions were clean and spacious, with plenty of hot water. There's also a covered braai area with an electric hob and washing-up space, which came in handy during the nonstop rain. Would we stay again? Maybe.

Max, the owners' dog who stays on the premises, stole our hearts. He's gentle and came to visit every day, so please be kind to him! We spent eight days at Panorama Chalets, where the view was absolutely breathtaking and the staff were friendly. There's lots to do nearby.

We booked through bookings.com for five days, but were told on arrival that there would be no cleaning until checkout. We went the whole stay without clean towels or toilet paper, too. For the price, that was disappointing and left us feeling cheated. I've never stayed in a self-catering holiday home without these basic services. The rooms need investment, and the beds were horrible. We felt like we were at a high school camp. The Wi-Fi didn't work for our entire visit, and I regret booking here. It was the worst holiday home ever. The view and pool are beautiful, but my own home is more relaxing than this place. People go on holiday to relax and have different experiences.

The views are breathtaking and the place has a lovely little pool. The shower was the one challenge: its old-fashioned taps make it hard to get the temperature right, and the current setup wastes water instead of saving it. They should consider replacing them.