Tides River Lodge

The location is perfect, but check-in wasn’t great. Having salty water for brushing our teeth and showering is disappointing when most accommodation places store or buy water.

You’ll get 5l of cooking water, great wifi and TV, though you probably won’t need the connection. The property is lovely, clean and spacious, though note that the boathouse has stairs. At night the sky is amazing, with the milky way visible because it’s one of the darkest places around. There’s the river, birds, frogs and a whole lot of quiet. The gravel road and perhaps taking a ferry are worth it for a few peaceful days.

The cottages are well equipped, and the place is beautiful. The host and the support staff on the property were friendly. The only issue for me was the huge spiders in the thatched rooms.

The setting beside the Breede River is superb, though the accommodation feels tired and needs an upgrade. Getting in on the road can be difficult, especially in wet weather. Bring all your supplies, including dry firewood and firefighters, since the local shop doesn’t stock much.