December family holiday on the South Cape Coast

[marco79]

It is that time of year when we start planning our December family vacation. We intend staying 2 to 3 nights in Oudtshoorn & 5 to 7 nights in anywhere along the Garden Route.

The plan is to drive out daily to Hartenbos, Knysna, Plett, Wilderness, etc and spend each day doing a different activity. Knysna boat trip, Hartenbos Waterpark, Plett Waterpark, Wilderness beaches, etc

Any decent family accommodation or resorts that are not too pricey for a family of 5? Let's say our budget is R1000 per night.

 

[BobsLawnService]

Pine Lake Marina is our spot of choice. Nice and central for what you are looking to do. It is right on the lake and they have Kayaks and boats you can use for free. You really can just spend most of your time being doing awesome outdoor activities without setting foot outside of the resort. It's very, very kid friendly too.

The chalets aren't 5 star but they are nice enough if self catering is your thing.

 

[marco79]

It is a bit pricey. About R13k for 6 nights. Thats the minimum time allowed to book during the peak season.

I wanted to get away with about R10k for 7 to 10 nights.

 

[Bighit]

Instead of driving out to Hartenbos, why not stay in one of their ATKV chalets? They pretty cheap

 

[marco79]

Hartenbos is already booked out a year in advance for December.

 

[Sm00thSm0k3]

Hartenbos is already booked out a year in advance for December.

Very much this.

They also give preference to existing ATKV members on their waiting list so for an "outsider" to get in there during peak periods is pretty difficult. Hartenbos would be first on my list each time but I've just about given up trying to get in there unless one books waaaaay in advance and knows someone who's a member.

 

[marco79]

My parents still goes on their year-end vacation without booking any accommodation. They usually just phone around for accommodation once they get to their destination or stop over's along the route.

Maybe I should do something like this.

 

[BobsLawnService]

It is a bit pricey. About R13k for 6 nights. Thats the minimum time allowed to book during the peak season.

I wanted to get away with about R10k for 7 to 10 nights.

That is a bit heavy. We're used to going out of peak season and you can get away with paying half of that.

 

[MandM]

Why don't you try to book one of the privately owned houses in Hartenbos in the so-called Karoo-dorp? They are not governed by the ATKV rules.

 

[Cius]

We are going on a holiday to the cape over Sep/Dec and we have been finding self catering accomodation for between R600 and R850 per night for our family of 4 and most of the places are 5 sleepers. Look at the Safari now website and book via them perhaps. Some of the places:

Graaf Reinette, Schoemans Cottage: R520 per night (might be out of date)
Knysna Lavendar Rose: R640 pn
Knysna Phantom Acres: R600 pn
Strand Corner Cottage: R700 pn
Strand Life at Sea: R650 pn
Gordons Bay Crystal creek: R700 pn

And these where just a few of the places we quoted recently. If you hunt around a bit online you can get a good price. If you like the place try get direct contact details as Safari now adds their commision. Next time you go contact the place directly and you can easily get R50 pn off.