Hunter’s Country House is a family homestead and small lodge set on a private 220,000 acre estate in South Africa’s Western Cape, a short distance from Knysna. This is one of the most beautiful sections of the famous Garden Route, overlooking the Tsitsikamma Forest and the stunning Outeniqua Mountains, and within driving distance of the beaches of Plettenberg Bay.
Hunter’s Country House started out modestly, as the Pear Tree Farm, a low-key B&B. It was only in the late 80s that it was converted into an upmarket country hotel, one of the first of its kind to open in South Africa. Today it is still managed by the same couple, Jill and Craig Hunter, and has retained the personalised service and homely feel of a country guesthouse, but with the standard of service and facilities expected of an upmarket hotel.
Located between Knysna and Plettenberg bay, Hunter’s Country House is a convenient base from which to explore the Garden Route.
Accommodation
Hunter’s Country House offers 19 private cottages set amid the original homestead's pretty gardens. Each cottage has a cosy lounge with fireplace and a private patio. All of the rooms have been individually decorated and have their own unique character, emphasised by the antique furnishings. Amenities in all rooms include satellite TV, AC, Wi-Fi, mini-bar and tea/coffee facilities. En-suite bathrooms have separate showers and baths.
Four of the rooms at Hunter’s are family suites, with two bedrooms each. There’s a single master suite, which comes with its own kitchen and dining room, private butler service, and swimming pool. The other 14 rooms are a mix of the standard Garden Suites and the larger Pool Suites.
Dining
The food at Hunter’s is first class. Breakfasts and light lunches are usually served in the glass conservatory or outside on the lawn. Dinner is a 3-course meal, with a selection of fixed menus to choose from, accompanied by wine produced on the estate. The staff are very flexible with regard to dietary requirements.
Facilities
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Beautiful gardens
- Children’s recreational area
- Library
- Dining room
- Lounge
Activities
Available locally (mostly at an additional cost):
- A wide variety of water sports: Canoeing, sea kayaking, diving, snorkelling
- Featherbed Nature Reserve
- Visit Coney Glen, Leisure Isle or Bollard and Buffalo Bays.
- Noetzie Castles
- Many local golf courses
- Fishing
- A variety of local art galleries and museums
- Horse riding
- Explore the Knysna Forest
- Lagoon cruises to the Knysna heads
- Adrenalin activities: Abseiling, paragliding, rap jumping, quad biking, diving, paintball
- Children’s activities: Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe, Elephant park, Monkeyland, Tea Garden
Child Policy
Hunter's Country House accommodates children of all ages. There is a children’s play area with a shallow pool, games room, jungle gym and thatch-covered sandpit. Child supervisors available on request
