Barberton Museum

If you are looking for a unique place close to Kruger then look no further! What makes Highgrove House truly magical is probably a well kept recipe. If I had to describe it, I’d say that you’d need to mix the hospitality and welcome of staying with family with a well polished high end establishment. Combine it all with the fact that you’re dining in a period mansion house. Top it up with a good measure of peaceful countryside atmosphere and you have the rough recipe for this unique place. I’ve stayed at quite a few high end hotels but these sometimes feel a bit impersonal as they have so many guests. Highgrove is a much more intimate setting and the owners get to know you and they truly care about making sure you have a wonderful and stress-free experience. The room I stayed in was an executive suite which had a balcony and an outdoor shower. It was so beautiful Of course my favourite part of the stay was the food (I love eating), I dine at Michelin star restaurants and this place really is comparable to that. Everything I ate was fresh and combined incredible flavours. The thing that I thought was remarkable and which even high end hotels or restaurants don’t always get right is that here they take into account your dietary restrictions and don’t just pretend to adjust the menu, they come up with dishes that don’t make you feel that your dietary restrictions are an issue and they ensure that whatever you’re eating is equal to what other guests are eating.

This must be one of the most special properties in South Africa, if not on the entire African continent! Every detail of our stay was made to feel extraordinarily special, from the staff stocking the game drives with our favourite beverages, to the intimate surprise fireside dinner for two. We truly left feeling that if we were to return, our favourite staff members would remember us. Thoughtful menus and wine list, superb and unique decor that embraces the local surroundings, and pleasantly long and educational game drives.