"Room lovely; food delicious; staff very friendly; surroundings stunning; lovely walks; peacefullness ay its best."

"Grant,Marie and Casey were all so welcoming and provided for my wife's gluten free requirements . A first stay away for our dog Jo Jo just added to the wonderful experience . We had the sweet which made it that much more special . The walks are splendid the dam is swimable so much so that we made no..."

"Grant,Marie and Casey were all so welcoming and provided for my wife's gluten free requirements . A first stay away for our dog Jo Jo just added to the wonderful experience . We had the sweet which made it that much more special . The walks are splendid the dam is swimable so much so that we made no use of the pool .The evening dinners with all the guests were delightful we had Germans, Belgians and Brits and all just exchanged stories . Waking up at dawn with a deluge of birds in the trees made you so appreciate this unique spot .Thank you all for the wonderful 4 days . Also took in the Red Hills near by which are a must!
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"Beautiful area bordering the Swartberg. Mt trails, rock pools and wonderful hosts. A big plus in that everyone eats together (like a large family). Good food and great fun."

"Quiet guest house in beautiful surroundings with numerous hiking trails. Grant and Marie are wonderful and attentive hosts and could not have made us feel more welcome and special. The superbly cooked dinner was a lovely experience as was the breakfast on the verandah the following morning. We will ..."

"Quiet guest house in beautiful surroundings with numerous hiking trails. Grant and Marie are wonderful and attentive hosts and could not have made us feel more welcome and special. The superbly cooked dinner was a lovely experience as was the breakfast on the verandah the following morning. We will definitely be back!"

"The Retreat exceeded our expectations. The valley is outstanding and well worth the trip along the scenic road. Our room was very comfortable and we slept like babies. The food and hospitality was second to none. The walks are clearly marked. Our two nights stay there was the highlight of our trip t..."

"The Retreat exceeded our expectations. The valley is outstanding and well worth the trip along the scenic road. Our room was very comfortable and we slept like babies. The food and hospitality was second to none. The walks are clearly marked. Our two nights stay there was the highlight of our trip to Cape. Do not miss the drive over the Swartberg pass - truly spectacular!"

"Although the 1.5kl to the retreat was narrow and windy the road was in good repair. We thoroughly enjoyed the lovely clean home style guest lodge. Well run and most hospitable together with excellent meals. Despite the recent fires, we enjoyed our ambles round and admire the way they have cleaned ..."

"Although the 1.5kl to the retreat was narrow and windy the road was in good repair. We thoroughly enjoyed the lovely clean home style guest lodge. Well run and most hospitable together with excellent meals. Despite the recent fires, we enjoyed our ambles round and admire the way they have cleaned up all the fire damaged areas."

"Retreat describes it perfectly: from the escape along the winding dirt road, to the fabulous room with the surrounding view and only the sound of birdsong and wind on the air, and the lure of paths disappearing into the hills.

We were well spoiled and felt as though we made friends over the d..."

"Retreat describes it perfectly: from the escape along the winding dirt road, to the fabulous room with the surrounding view and only the sound of birdsong and wind on the air, and the lure of paths disappearing into the hills.

We were well spoiled and felt as though we made friends over the dining table."

" A magnificent home in wonderful surroundings, well off the beaten track. It ranks as the best guest house we have ever stayed in. The hiking trails/walks accommodate every level of fitness. Guests are treated like one of the family, with everyone eating together, and the food is 10-star. Grant a..."

" A magnificent home in wonderful surroundings, well off the beaten track. It ranks as the best guest house we have ever stayed in. The hiking trails/walks accommodate every level of fitness. Guests are treated like one of the family, with everyone eating together, and the food is 10-star. Grant and Marie and their staff are attentive to every possible need, and nothing is too much trouble. We took advice from another comment and stayed two nights in order to enjoy an entire day of walking and relaxing. It would not be advisable to drive 20 km from the R62 just for dinner and breakfast. The friendly local birds are also part of the experience, adding colour and sound. This was a truly delightful break."

"The 19km drive on the gravel road was well worth it when we arrived at our destination. The house is wonderful and the views spectacular. The food was outstanding, the breakfast and dinner wonderful. Great base for driving around the Karoo and the Swartsberg pass. You must stay 2 nights, 1 simply is..."

"The 19km drive on the gravel road was well worth it when we arrived at our destination. The house is wonderful and the views spectacular. The food was outstanding, the breakfast and dinner wonderful. Great base for driving around the Karoo and the Swartsberg pass. You must stay 2 nights, 1 simply isn't long enough to relax and enjoy the view and the walks in the mountains!"

"A real get-away from it all place. Comfortable accommodation and enjoyable communal meals. Great walks from the door. Would like to have spent longer than our overnight stay."

" Wonderful hosts, great location. We will return "

"Although we didn't spend much time there - it was an overnight stay only, we really enjoyed the beautiful setting and the warm hospitality. All amenities were clean and well-kept.

Can recommend strongly"

"Wonderful place and great hosts. Probably one of the best places I've seen in SA to relax and enjoy some time away from city life. "

"I would recommend this lodge to everyone - especially visitors from other parts of the world. The setting is in a beautiful, tranquil mountain area which ordinary tourists tend to overlook.
Our rooms were warm and cosy and the food and company wonderful.
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"We spent two nights at "The Retreat at Groenfontein", for the second time, and found it as peaceful and welcoming as during our first visit. We greatly appreciated the warm hospitality of our hosts and their helpfulness. We highly recommend this place for people who love nature, birds and contact wi..."

"We spent two nights at "The Retreat at Groenfontein", for the second time, and found it as peaceful and welcoming as during our first visit. We greatly appreciated the warm hospitality of our hosts and their helpfulness. We highly recommend this place for people who love nature, birds and contact with other guests. "

"I have just come back from my second visit to The Retreat. Perhaps even more delightful as I knew the delights that were in store for us. Nothing had changed and the welcome was as warm as before. The ambiance is perfect, food a delight, and Marie and Grant are perfect hosts helped by a backup of a ..."

"I have just come back from my second visit to The Retreat. Perhaps even more delightful as I knew the delights that were in store for us. Nothing had changed and the welcome was as warm as before. The ambiance is perfect, food a delight, and Marie and Grant are perfect hosts helped by a backup of a great Team.
People from all over the world manage to find this oasis and are a great source of information. The groups change every few days, so no time for boredom.
I am so looking forward to a third visit sometime next year.
Thank you Marie and Grant, a too good to miss "Retreat".
Jacky.
"

"When you visit Groenfontein you realise beyond doubt that we live in a beautiful country with such varied landscape. The Retreat is a home from home with first class accommodation. Grant and Marie were helpful in offering information which would enhance our stay and recommended places to visit and w..."

"When you visit Groenfontein you realise beyond doubt that we live in a beautiful country with such varied landscape. The Retreat is a home from home with first class accommodation. Grant and Marie were helpful in offering information which would enhance our stay and recommended places to visit and walks to do.
The rooms are equipped with a log fire which works well and gives a warm cosy atmosphere. I will definitely go back and try a few more hiking trails. I would recommend this to any one fit or unfit.
Guests ate at one table with the host and hostess which was so enjoyable. Conversation flowed with good food and wine and I know we made new friends. What more could we ask for?
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"The Retreat at Groenfontein is several miles down a gravel road which winds through what has to be one of South Africa's most lovely valleys in the Little Karoo. It may seem, at times, like you will never get there and you may wonder why you booked such an out of the way destination but it is very d..."

"The Retreat at Groenfontein is several miles down a gravel road which winds through what has to be one of South Africa's most lovely valleys in the Little Karoo. It may seem, at times, like you will never get there and you may wonder why you booked such an out of the way destination but it is very definitely worth it. The hotel is run by a people who, in most situations, would have taken the road towards retirement some time ago but, instead, they pour huge amounts of love and energy into making a stay at The Retreat, an idiosyncratic, highly individual but completely unforgettable experience, for all the right reasons. Their stamp is on the place from the moment of arrival to the last goodbye. Extraordinary attention to detail is paid, from the carefully selected flowers from the beautiful garden in your room to the selection of seeds, freshly made yogurts and fruits available for breakfast. It is a convivial place where dinner is a shared experience for all who happen to be guests of an evening, sitting together at a long table on the covered veranda with your hosts, who have prepared the absolutely delicious food themselves. The hotel, an old Edwardian farmhouse, is surrounded by wonderful walks in the unspoiled countryside. These have all been mapped and carefully signposted and a huge variety of flora and fauna can be seen if you take any one of them. The birds are a particular feature of the garden itself, which is a tranquil and absorbing place to spend a hot afternoon in the shade. The hotel has its own special atmosphere which comes from the quirky and charming building itself, the great care given to guests by the owners and their staff and the very beautiful surroundings. I will hold my experience there in my heart forever."

"Beautiful location. So remote and peaceful. Many excellent day walks start right from the door. Nice dinner and breakfast. You feel like you are in the different century. Very nice room where you have a nice sleep and can enjoy voices of the nature. Recommended."