Nestled high in the Cederberg, is Piekenierskloof Mountain Resort. It’s one of those places where you instantly feel relaxed. It has an air of serenity that wraps around you, like a blanket on a cold winter’s night. I had to constantly remind myself that I was there to take photos, but if I wasn’t doing a review I’d more than likely have forgotten about my phone.
The resort is situated a few kilometres before Citrusdal, and only two hours from Cape Town. It overlooks the beautiful Olifants River Valley, so wherever you look you’re blessed with breathtaking views. As they say, ‘Location! Location! Location!’ – this place definitely has it all.
We stayed in one of the hotel rooms, with views overlooking the mountain. The 4-star accommodation offers three different room types: honeymoon suites, deluxe double (sleeps 2), and family suites (sleeps 4). The rooms are spacious, with everything you need for a short stay. By far the best thing about the room was the bed. I don’t often sleep well when I’m not at home, but I had one of the best night’s sleep at the hotel. It also didn’t harm that we woke to the sound of much-needed rain.
If you’re in a bigger group or you’re looking for a longer stay, then I recommend booking into one of the chalets instead. We were lucky enough to visit one of the empty ones, and I am already making plans with friends to come back. The chalets sleep six and include a fully-fitted kitchen, a wood burning fireplace, and an undercover, built-in braai. The rates are fantastic, and the views are even better! This is a place that’s all about the details, and I was pleased to discover that two of the chalets are wheel-chair friendly.
For the food lovers, like me, there is a great restaurant to visit on site. Kloof restaurant has a beautiful mountain view, and a great selection of food and beverages. They’re open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and I can highly recommend their pizzas. We had the chilli, bacon and feta, and the biltong, avo, feta and olive pizza. Want to relax even more? There is both an outdoor and indoor pool. The indoor pool is heated and has recently been revamped, and a trip to the Wellness Centre is great if you’re looking for some extra ‘me’ time.
Piekenierskloof Mountain Resort is not only a place to unwind and relax, and if you’re looking for something more, there are a lot of activities on offer. There is a children’s playground, a games room, outdoor chess, mini-golf, and bird watching. For the more adventurous, they offer zip lining, archery, hiking, and mountain bike trails. Due to the rain, we were unable to do the zip lining, but that just means we’ll have to come back (and I’m certainly okay with that!). It sounds fantastic. If you’re interested in trying it, but you’re still a little bit scared, then you can try the three-course zip line instead of the seven. Although something tells me you’ll want to do more as soon as you give it a try. Luckily, we had good weather on the day we arrived so we were able to do a bit of hiking. They have two trails to choose from, and it’s a great place to get some good views over the mountain range. An afternoon of hiking followed by an evening of pizza? Yeah, I could get used to that.
There are some places I enjoy but forget easily, and there are some that I go to and immediately begin making plans to return. I have no doubt in my mind that I will be back at Piekenierskloof Mountain Resort.
Make a trip out of it.
Piekenierskloof Mountain Resort is located on the West Coast Way Berg and Wild Route. Combine your Piekenierskloof experience with a trip to the Carmién Tea to taste this delicious proudly South African product. After that take a short drive to Kardoesie and try out their famous pie and chips for lunch. Visit www.westcoastway.co.za for more information on the best #westcoastway experiences. Here you’ll find five route ideas, each offering their own unique attractions!
Find Piekenierskloof Mountain Resort on the West Coast Way Berg Route and Wild Route.
Facilities available at Piekenierskloof Mountain Resort
- Accommodation • Child Friendly • Zipline and Archery • Un-Guided Nature Walks • Guest Barbecue/Braai Areas • Mini Golf • Bar • Restaurant (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner) • Outdoor Pool • Indoor Heated Pool • Wheelchair Accessibility (Chalets 9 & 16, Hotel Room 217) • 4 Star Tourism Grading • Trip Advisor • Conference Facilities • Wedding and Function Venue • Tuck Shop • Online Booking Facilities
Distance from Cape Town: 170 km, 88 minutes
Where: On the N7
Open 7 days a week | Free entry
Contact: Reservations +27 (0)22 921 3574 | [email protected]
Written by Christine Bernard Photography by Warren Bernard
Photos by Warren Bernard (www.flatwhiteimages.com)
West Coast Way is South Africa’s road trip with the most twists. South Africans and visitors can explore a unique collection of themed routes to do adventure-filled Cape West Coast self-drive trips or a West Coast Holiday. The new West Coast Way “basket” of free routes on offer include the West Coast Way Tractor Route, the West Coast Way Berg Route, the West Coast Way Foodie Route, the West Coast Way Cultural Route – as well as the newly launched West Coast Way Wild Route, all of which are designed to showcase the many attractions and activities that are already on offer on the Cape West Coast and inland areas – but may be unknown to many. For more information on West Coast Way’s #WestCoastTwist and the list of 101 Things to Do on the West Coast visit www.westcoastway.co.za or call West Coast Way on 0861 321 777. Connect with West Coast Way on Facebook and Twitter at WestCoastWaySA.