We don’t often get the opportunity to steal away for a family weekend, as Saturday school sport tends to get in the way. When an invitation to stay at Lakeside Lodge & Spa, coincided with a long weekend {and no sport}, I could not have been happier! We packed our bags and set off on a fun-filled, family road trip.
Lakeside Lodge & Spa
Lakeside Lodge & Spa is located on the edge of the breathtaking Swartvlei Lagoon, on the Garden Route. It is just over 5 hours drive from Cape Town, making it a fairly long trip. I do advise that you pack snacks, as well as entertainment for the littlies. There are lots of interesting places to stop at along the way. So take your time and grab a quick bite or a cup of coffee along the way. Better yet stay somewhere overnight, to break up the trip.
For me, the perfect recipe for a successful luxury hotel or guest house is mostly about the location and finishes. That said, I think staff also play an integral part in perfecting this recipe. They can equally make or break your overall experience. I find it astounding that many luxury establishments still get this balance wrong. That is not the case with Lakeside Lodge and Spa!
Stay
Lakeside Lodge offers what I like to call understated elegance. Where luxury meets comfort, all the while maintaining a warm and inviting feel. Lodge guests have a choice of 9 luxurious bedroom suites. All the suites have picturesque views of the Swartvlei Lagoon and unspoilt surrounds. The hotel’s interior is light and modern, with elegant furnishings and beautiful contemporary art pieces.
Our 9 bedroom suites are luxuriously appointed and have views of the Swartvlei Lagoon with its small game and rich bird life. Fresh flowers are put in all the rooms daily, as are gifts from the chef. ~ Lakeside Lodge
Suites available include a Honeymoon Suite, four Luxury Suites and four Superior Suites. Beautifully decorated and well appointed, suites include the following amenities: a flat-screen TV, Nespresso coffee maker, minibar, air-conditioning, fans, WiFi, Digital radio and iPod dock, and a laptop safe.
We stayed in one of the Superior Suites. These suites are perfect for families and friends travelling together, as they are inter-leading. I instantly fell in love with the gorgeous decor. Soft muted colours and beautiful fabrics, combine to create the perfect oasis of calm. The king-size extra length bed was super comfy. The room also included a lovely sitting area – the ideal spot to put your feet up and relax.
Two of the superior suites have jacuzzi baths and showers, and two have free-standing baths and showers. The girl’s room also had an ensuite bathroom, with a bath and shower, which meant we had exclusive use of the jacuzzi bath!
For in-room dining there is a room service menu, as well as an extensive tea menu. An added extra which I loved, was the extremely delicious selection of treats, delivered to our room, compliments of the chef!
Eat
Benguela Brasserie & Restaurant
One of the things I was really looking forward to, was dining at Benguela Brasserie & Restaurant. The restaurant offers guests delicious food, an excellent range of fine wines, all combined in a beautiful lakeside setting. It also has a growing reputation as one of the Garden Route’s leading restaurants. Benguela Brasserie & Restaurant is popular for its imaginative and varied menu.
Benguela Brasserie & Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Depending on the weather you can enjoy a relaxed breakfast and lunch outside, with stunning views of the lagoon. Evening dining is a more sophisticated affair, with an haute cuisine signature menu, created by executive chef Kelly-Anne Pietersen. Their range of wines includes a selection from the owners’ award-winning, Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate.
Dining at the Lodge is a “main event” and something to be enjoyed at leisure and not hurried in any way. Chef Kelly-Anne has a distinct flair for creating delicious food, which tastes every bit as good as it looks!
Room Service
On our last night, we decided to order from the room service menu, as we had had a rather substantial lunch, as well as dessert! We opted for their delicious sounding toasted sandwiches. I can honestly say that their Toasted Chicken Mayo is the best I have ever eaten! The fries which accompanied our sandwiches were equally delicious. Our tasty toasties were washed down with one of my favourite Benguela Cove Wines, the 2014 Pinot Noir.
Play
Lakeside Lodge Spa
The Lakeside Lodge Day Spa has two single treatment rooms, as well as a dual treatment room, which can cater for couples. The treatment rooms are decorated in black and white and have a lovely light, and airy feel to them. The spa offers a range of treatments including a Kalahari Signature Massage, where you can choose from an Escape (Khoi-san aromatic blend), Relax (Aromatic dune blend), Refresh (Tsamma blend) or Enhance (Wild Honey). The girls and I decided to treat ourselves to a bit of pampering. Jess and I enjoyed a fantastic Lakeside Kalahari Manicure, while Ally opted for a Back, Neck and Shoulder Massage, as well as a French Manicure. After our afternoon of pampering, we all left the spa feeling suitably relaxed and ready to take on the world! Thank you, Deedee.
Activities
If you would like to explore the area, why not hop on one of the complimentary mountain bikes available from the lodge. We decided to take the bikes and venture out to the old abandoned railway tracks, which we spotted on our morning run. You can also enjoy Croquet on the lawn, or relax around the swimming pool with a good book.
Wine Tasting
Benguela Brasserie & Restaurant offers a variety of wine tasting experiences, each expertly paired with award-winning wines from Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate. Pairings currently on offer include a chocolate & wine pairing, and a cheese & wine pairing. You can also enjoy a scenic boat cruise on the Lady Giselle pontoon boat, which includes a free tasting of five Benguela Cove wines. These cruises are available every Saturday and Sunday, between 12 pm and 5 pm, at R150 per person including wine tasting.
Swartvlei Lagoon
The Swartvlei lagoon stretches over 10.73 kilometres, which makes it the perfect setting for water sports enthusiasts. The lodge offers complimentary kayaks, canoes and sups. Grant and the girls had great fun on the lagoon, using the sup and canoes. The water was extremely calm when they went out.
The Lady Giselle Pontoon Boat is also available to take guests out on the lagoon to enjoy a spot of fishing or for romantic sundowners. The Lodge has a private jetty, as well as shallow water launch facilities. Deepwater launch facilities are available 5 minutes away. You can also make use of free boat moorings, secure car and boat parking, as well as bike storage.
The Swartvlei Estuary immediately east of Rondevlei, is the perfect spot for bird enthusiasts. Birds you may see include the Red-knobbed Coot, Little Grebe, Cape Shoveler, Yellow-billed Duck, as well as the Reed Cormorant.
Exploring the Garden Route
The hotel is situated in the unspoiled Wilderness National Park, overlooking the Swartvlei Lagoon, which is a wetland of international acclaim.
Personally, I could spend hours just sitting and soaking up the stunning surroundings at Lakeside Lodge. If you are feeling more adventurous and would like to explore more of the Garden Route, then why not start with a trip to one of the golden beaches in the area.
The quaint town of Sedgefield is a mere 8 kilometres from Lakeside Lodge. It is a town which prides itself on its gentle pace of life – something which I as a Capetonian often crave. Sedgefield has art galleries, coffee shops and a wonderful Saturday farmers’ market.
Sedgies call it the ‘tortoise pace’ and say it’s good for one’s blood pressure.
Other Garden Route towns to explore include Great Brak, Little Brak, Oudtshoorn, Plettenberg Bay, Buffels Bay and Knysna, to name just a few.
Lakeside Luxury
We enjoyed our long weekend at Lakeside Lodge, although I must admit next time I would stay a bit longer. The setting is gorgeous, as well as being peaceful and relaxing – the perfect recipe for a holiday! Attention to detail is something the staff at the Lodge pride themselves on, and nothing is too much effort. I must make special mention of Deedee and Karl, who went out of their way to make our stay a memorable experience!
Contact & Location
To make a booking or for more information regarding rates and events at the Lodge, please contact via telephone +27 44 343 1844 or email.
Location – Lakeside drive, Swartvlei, Sedgefield
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Disclosure
Disclosure Ranking 1: We enjoyed our stay, as well as certain meals as guests of Lakeside Lodge and Spa, however, no remuneration was received for writing this post. We have no material connection to the brands, products, or services mentioned in this post. All information provided, including prices, are deemed correct at time of publishing. These are, however, subject to change at the establishment’s discretion. Please note that all opinions, content, and images are the property of Inspired Living or Fiona Rossiter unless otherwise stated. To see more, read the full PR & Disclosure Policy below.
Looks amazing. That lamb shank!!!!!!
Hey Robynne it was AMAZING!!! The place as well as the lamb shank 🙂