Pet-friendly seaside accommodation on the Garden Route %

Midway between George and Mossel Bay you’ll find Amelia’s-by-the-Sea, a luxury, four-star, self-catering bed-and-breakfast in the heart of the Garden Route. They welcome small pets to holiday with their humans, but by arrangement only.

This is the ideal destination for a family holiday, honeymooners or the business traveller who needs to be in George, Mossel Bay, or surrounding areas. For travellers flying in and out, a shuttle service is available to and from George Airport.

“Hosting is our passion,” Jeanne and Tony Burns tell Farmer’s Weekly. Jeanne, a hairdresser by profession, and Tony, with a background in corporate marketing, took in their first guests in 2017 and haven’t looked back since.

Though Amelia’s is a four-star tourism-graded facility, Farmer’s Weekly had a five-star experience. Everything we needed was available, and we felt at home from the moment we parked our vehicle until the moment we left.

Amelia’s-by-the-Sea is on solar power and 80% off-grid,” says Jeanne.
Various breakfast options are available at an extra charge, and Farmer’s Weekly recommends this to start off the morning.

THE SUITES

All suites have TVs, hairdryers, fans, minibars, toiletries and towels, and guests have free access to Wi-Fi. Laundry facilities are available and charged by the load.

A standard in all the suites is an executive workstation for travellers to catch up on work while on the road.

Farmer’s Weekly stayed in the Sailor’s Suite. This space is ideal for a family of four sharing one bedroom. It has a king-size bed with the choice of two single beds. All beds have electric blankets. Guests will find gowns and toiletries in the en-suite bathroom with shower.

This self-catering unit has a large kitchen equipped with a dishwasher, large fridge and deep freezer, four-plate gas hob, eye-level oven and convection microwave. All the cutlery and crockery that guests will need to prepare a meal fit for royalty are also available.

The lounge area has comfortable seating and a smart TV with Netflix and full DStv viewing for indoor entertainment. Large glass windows and doors ensure a 180° panoramic view of the Indian Ocean, with Mossel Bay visible in the distance. The private garden has a braai as well as seating to enjoy the views.

The Captain’s Suite offers accommodation for two guests. It has an extra-length queen-size bed with electric blankets. The spacious en-suite bathroom has a shower, gowns and toiletries. In the kitchenette, guests will find a kettle, a bar fridge, a two-plate gas stove, a microwave oven, and essential crockery and cutlery.

The kitchenette also offers a dining area and large glass folding doors leading into the garden with a breathtaking ocean view. Seating in the garden and the braai facilities make this a great spot for morning coffee and evening sundowners.

For indoor entertainment, there is a large-screen TV with full DStv viewing. Large sliding windows offer a view over the ocean.

The Admiral’s Suite makes provision for two guests. It has a queen-size bed with electric blankets, an en-suite bathroom with shower, and toiletries. There are no cooking facilities, but guests will find crockery and cutlery, a tea/coffee station, a microwave oven and a bar fridge.

Guests can enjoy their morning cup of coffee while seated under the shrubbery and enjoy the sweet songs of the abundant bird life.

A smart TV with Netflix and full DStv provides entertainment. This is the perfect suite for an overnight stay and business travellers.

The Sailor’s and Captain’s suites are pet-friendly, at an additional fee, with a maximum of two small dogs allowed. Veterinarian services are available in the area should a fur baby fall ill while on holiday.

These two suites are individually and securely fenced off to ensure pets stay inside, so guests can relax while sipping their sundowners and enjoying a braai with a view.

ACTIVITIES FOR GUESTS

There is plenty to discover in the surrounding areas. Farmer’s Weekly visited the Outeniqua Transport Museum in George where we found old cars and steam locomotives galore.
We also visited the Dias Museum Complex in Mossel Bay where we saw the 500-plus-year-old Post Office Tree and a life-size replica of the Dias Caravel.

Two favourites among visitors to the region are the Powervans operating from George and Mossel Bay. The George Powervan takes passengers into the Outeniqua Mountains where they can observe passes and falls, with a stop in the forest for a picnic before turning around.

The Mossel Bay Powervan travels between Hartenbos and Glentana with lunch or breakfast stops at restaurants on some days and picnic stops on others.

The zip line in Mossel Bay boasts that it’s the longest zip line over the ocean in the world and is the ideal activity for the more adventurous.

Numerous hiking trails, distilleries, deep-sea fishing charters, game farms, scuba diving boat trips for the family, and skydiving are some of the activities close by for adventurous guests to enjoy.

A bit further away, families will find the Cango Caves to be a great attraction, while enthusiasts can tick off several passes in the area; the most bucket-listed one is certainly the Swartberg Pass.

Farmer’s Weekly had meals at the Redberry Farm in George and Hennie’s in Mossel Bay. There are plenty of activities for children at the Redberry Farm, so add them to your itinerary when planning your family vacation. The Klipheuwel Farm Stall also offers a variety of meals and refreshments.

THE BEACHES

Jeanne tells us the following about the beaches in the area: “The blue-flag Glentana is the main beach where there are lifeguards, mostly in the busy season. The beach is a six-minute walk from our guesthouse. As the crow flies, we are only 300m from the sea.

“There are a lot of riptides along the 9km stretch from Glentana to Hersham. The beaches are fine to swim at where there are lifeguards, but we advise against deep swimming.

“Towards Mossel Bay, the Santos, Dias and Hartenbos beachfront is safe for swimming and are Blue Flag beaches. When heading towards George, Victoria Bay and Herolds Bay are Blue Flag beaches and are safe for swimming under lifeguard supervision. The latter two beaches are known for riptides.

“Our beaches are pristine, safe and beautiful. Guests will find a 9km coastline of unspoilt territory, with white sand and beautiful vegetation growing along the dunes.”

Daily tariffs start from R850/adult (no children under 12) and R60/dog. Visit ameliasbythesea.co.za, email [email protected], or phone 082 429 6204 to arrange a stay.