High above the forest floor in the picturesque town of Plettenberg Bay in South Africa’s ever-popular Garden Route, Tsala Treetop Lodge feels like coming home.
We arrive at Tsala Treetop Lodge late in the afternoon. The road to get to Tsala is beautifully scenic and it’s no wonder that the Garden Route is the favorite all-year-round destination of holidaymakers and residents. Combine powdery white beaches and indigenous forests and you have a winning recipe. The weather is incredible, even in winter, making it the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of modern everyday life.
The arrival point at Tsala is an architectural delight, with its stone masonry entrance, fringed by water features and the triangular shape with its glass windows, supported by Blackwood columns presents an eye-catching appearance. Our welcome is warm; we are offered the most delicious cappuccinos, hot chocolate and home-made biscuits.
We are shown to our Villa, Villa no 15 and the wooden walkway leads us to our impressive suite. The two-bedroom Villa with lounge and plunge pool is the perfect antidote for any fatigued traveler.
My husband and I are accommodated in the master bedroom, with the most jaw-dropping views over the indigenous forest. Our daughter has her own room, with equally exquisite views. Both bedrooms have a full en-suite bathroom, tiled in black marble with the most inviting deep tub in the middle of the bathroom
It is time to unwind and my attempt to carefully light a fire in the ceramic pot fireplace is a great success. Sipping on our sparkling wine while enjoying the complimentary snacks, we watch the sun sinking behind the treetops.
Tonight, we are dining at the highly acclaimed Zinzi restaurant. A short walk from our Villa, the atmosphere is warm and inviting. The food is incredibly delicious and perfectly prepared – my husband and I dine on chateaubriand and our daughter feasts on her mouth-watering beef burger.
Back at our Villa, we decide to call it a night, but not before a cleansing shower with the Charlotte Rhys products. After a warm shower, I put my fluffy bathrobe and slippers on. Soon, sleep beckons and I climb into the oversized bed with its soft white bedding and accents of purple.
Today, we are heading home and preceding our journey, we enjoy a tasty breakfast at Tsala’s in-house restaurant. The service is friendly, the food is superb – the choices are endless – a lavish buffet or your pick from the menu. My husband and I opt for the English breakfast and our daughter thoroughly enjoys her croissants and pancakes, washed down with the most delicious cappuccino and hot chocolate. Tsala really starts to feel like your home away from home.
https://tsala.hunterhotels.com/home/
| Photography courtesy of Hunter Hotels
** Views expressed are the author’s own.
TRAVEL TIPS:
Enjoy the best of Hunter Hotels by combining a stay at Tsala Treetop Lodge with Gorah Elephant Camp in Addo Elephant National Park. Visit www.hunterhotels.com for more information.
