Karoo Pride - En Route 62 -

"Ravenna is a great retreat for anyone looking for an escape from the busy life we all become accustomed to. With nature on your doorstep, the rocky mountains and beautiful landscapes all collectively makes this place so magical. We made new friends with all the dogs and cats on the farm and a return visit is definitely due. Thank you for this wonderful experience Ravenna!"

(visited September 2012)

"We have really enjoyed our stay here I would definitely recommend this retreat to all; if you want to relax this is the place to be. Thank you for everything."

(visited September 2012)

"It was an awesome weekend will do it again! Tranquility at its best. Nature and relaxation combined. And the waterfall was an awesome surprise! Cabin in the woods is a must!"

(visited September 2012)

"I felt right at home. Staff were fantastic, surroundings blissful. I want to live there!"

(visited August 2012)

"Awesome place, everything we needed was provided. Thank you & see you again."

(visited August 2012)

"Wonderful staff!"

(visited August 2012)

"A beautiful and peaceful getaway, just what you need to shake off the busy city life!"

(visited July 2012)

"Fantastic stay,fantastic setting! Highly recommendable for a break from city life. Very relaxing and could not have asked for more. Thank you so much for having us!"

(visited July 2012)

"I didn't want to leave, could have quite happily just stayed and Ravenna and never left. Will definitely try and visit again soon. Highly recommended! The staff are super friendly and very helpful. Thank you for a wonderful stay. Til next time."

(visited April 2012)

"Ravenna Mountain Retreat was definitely one of the best and affordable holidays that I have been on! We had the most romantic log cabin with the most amazing views. Thanks to Elizabeth for making it extra special, we will definitely be back for more!"

(visited April 2012)

"A very nice Karoo getaway - pleasant lodgings and some beautiful walks, with dogs joining in the fun. Fantastic 25m pool available for avid swimmers!"

(visited April 2012)

"Ravenna - a pleasant, comfortable surprise in the little Karoo, after 2.5 hours on the road we were warmly welcomed by both Elizabeth and Larysa. After being shown our accomodation "Rosemary Cottage", we quickly unpacked and made ourselves at home. All this under the watchful eyes of Keysie and Chino, the two farm dogs who would become our ever present companions for the duration of the stay. As evening was fast approaching a braai was the order of the day - the braai place was great and even had lighting in the chimney. Saturday morning we were up bright and early to experience the sunrise and fresh country air of the Little Karoo. We then set off on one off the resort's five hiking trails which were well demarcated. We chose a 3 hour trail so that we would be back by lunch, after that we visited Eden - to be greeted by a most beautiful enormous swimming pool which had a view point of practically the whole valley. Saturday was rounded of by another braai and pleasant relaxation under the stars. Come Sunday morning and we enjoyed breakfast on the very solid deck which protrudes into the dam; from here we were able to enjoy a lot of the bird life for which Ravenna has become popular for. The cottages are all adorned with exquisite photographs that Larysa has taken - all are relevant to the area. (She is a professional photographer and her work is of a very high standard). The only drawback of the whole weekend was the lack of certain kitchen utensils that us city slickers are used to."

(visited April 2012)

"My family and I had the most wonderful stay at Ravenna. The setting is truly beautiful with the majestic Langeberg mountains as the backdrop. The accommodation was very comfortable and our hosts, Laresa and Elizabeth, were extremely welcoming and made us feel at home. The breakfast served on the veranda, with the sweeping vista before us, was delicious! My only regret was having to leave. I highly recommend Ravenna if you are looking for a relaxing place to get away from it all."

(visited February 2012)

"Ravenna Mountain Retreat is a wonderful getaway to unwind. The accommodation was clean, neat and contemporary. The hosts went out of their way to make our stay as comfortable as possible and made us feel very welcome. I haven't stopped raving about Ravenna! A little treasure in Montagu!"

(visited January 2012)

"Beautiful setting, quiet and relaxing. Stunning moonlit nights. Professional and friendly staff. Very friendly dogs :) Will hopefully be back soon."

(visited January 2012)

"A beautiful, relaxing setting within hours of Cape Town. We would love to return! A great escape for any weary city slicker."

(visited November 2011)

"There�s really nothing more relaxing than getting away from the buzz and vibe of the city and spending a few days in the quiet hum of nature. Ravenna Mountain Retreat offers exactly this, a perfect getaway. For a city kid there is something wonderfully enchanting about farm life and we couldn�t help but get excited about the simple things; dirt roads, fresh produce and the friendly demeanour of the locals. But despite the rustic atmosphere of Ravenna there is nothing lacking in modern fittings and beautifully furnished accommodation. What can be better than the stunning views of being completely surrounded by mountains with all the luxuries of home. We had an amazing time at Ravenna and can�t wait to return. Thanks a mil guys."

(visited November 2011)

"It was a great weekend! See you again in December!"

(visited October 2011)

"We visited Ravenna the weekend past and we were pleasently surprised at the awesomeness of the establishment. The neatness of the cottage, the tranquility of waking in the morning to peace and quiet, the friendliness of the staff and the dogs! Ravenna is the place to be if you need to unplug from the madness of everyday life! The walks are fantastic - the dogs even accompanied us. What great companions! We will definitely be back!"

(visited October 2011)

"This place was a gem, with various walks, good hospitality, clean facilities, which I can highly recommend and visit again. Good value for money, too."

(visited September 2011)

"I loved every minute of it. Elizabeth was a total STAR and the fresh air, peace and tranquility did me the world of good. Thanks Ravenna for sharing your beautiful peace of earth with my family and I."

(visited September 2011)

"Ravenna Mountain Retreat was amazing! I loved every minute I was here. The cottage was lovely and the surrounding area had some stunning views. I enjoyed the walks around the farm and cannot wait to come back. I highly recommend anyone to come here just to get away! Thank you to those at Ravenna for a lovely stay."

(visited September 2011)

"Thanks a lot for all the hospitality at your peaceful place! We can recommend you to everyone who is looking for a quiet, clean place with an amazing view."

(visited September 2011)

"Ravenna Mountain Retreat is a very relaxing place to get away from the city. It is very quiet and exactly what one needs when you want to get away! The facilities are very nice and it's very private. The company of the dogs and animals make you experience the whole farm experience. Worth your time...any time!"

(visited August 2011)

"A great place to relax and absorb nature and beautiful surroundings. Great hikes with fantastic scenery, and you always have company from the farm's friendly dogs. We were left alone and not bothered by other guests/staff, which really added to the feeling of tranquility and peacefulness. We will be back!"

(visited August 2011)

"Ons het 'n baie wonderlike tyd gehad en die mense van die retreat is baie vriendelik. Ons het die uitsig geniet en die loop en rustigheid het ons goed gedoen.The cows is looking beautiful and healthy. En dis wonderlik om te sien dat hulle vry rond loop en van al die grassies eet. Ons sal weer terug kom verseker."

(visited August 2011)

"Die lekkerste van die plek is die feit dat dit weg is van alles!!! Die omgewing is stunning, die fasaliteite uitstekend, en ons sal beslis weer kom - net LANGER BLY!"

(visited July 2011)

"Ravenna was our last stop on my first road trip. We definitely kept the best for last. I felt the weight of the world fall off my shoulders as we took the farm road toward the main house. I felt like I could breathe again� fresh mountain air and wide open spaces� We were greeted by �the boss� � Laresa Perlman, who provided us with a warm welcome, a tour of her photographic studio, and supplied us with chocolate from her own stores when we had a chocolate craving. We stayed in Honeybush � a perfect romantic hideout. We spent the weekend soaking in the Victorian bath, taking invigorating outside showers (for the adventurous, said �the boss� � we were adventurous), picnicking at the dam with the ducks, taking walks, sitting at the fireplace and having breakfast under the trees. We�ll be back � in summer, when we can lounge at the sparkling pool overlooking the rolling Karoo valley�"

(visited June 2011)

"Scenery beautiful, hospitality very warm and friendly, cottage was warm and comfortable and had everything we needed. We enjoyed our stay very, very much."

(visited June 2011)

"Wow! What a setting, we really had fun. Elizabeth was the best host. We'll definitely come back! Thanks once more to the Ravenna team."

(visited June 2011)

"We had a wonderful time, very relaxing. Enjoyed the sound of the fireplace (and literally nothing else) in our room, 'Rosemary', whilst drifting away to a good night's sleep!"

(visited May 2011)

"Fantastic getaway, very cosy. Loved it!"

(visited May 2011)

"Spent a superb weekend in the Karoo - staying at Ravenna. It's that little bit further from a town to give you the feeling that you are really away from it all. Wonderful setting - beautiful gum trees towering over the 'Thorntree' cottage we stayed in. We had our own private pool - a circular 4m diameter by 1.6m deep. I attended the Advanced photographic course which was very well presented by Laresa and learnt a lot from it. She really knows her game and being able to do the 'practical' on the Karoo scenery was wonderful. Highly recommended. Would suggest staying out there for the whole time, as our drive into Montagu for dinner was a bit too far - and frankly, we didn't need to! Casey is a spectacular specimen of huge dog, along with the other three little guys. Thanks Colleen & Laresa."

(visited April 2011)

"Ravenna is a completely wonderful place in an amazing setting. The perfect place to escape from city life. Wonderfully relaxing with a great host. Highly recommended!"

(visited February 2011)

"Ravenna Mountain Retreat is a real treat! Views are breathtaking and you feel right at home."

(visited January 2011)

"My girlfriend and I went for our first getaway together to Ravenna, and let me tell you it was the most memorable moment ever!! Our stay there also fell on our 6-year anniversary and with the wonderful hospitality of the people at Ravenna made our special day even so much more special. Ravenna is a wonderful place to enjoy the wonders of nature and have those memorable moments with that loved one! Thank you Ravenna for making one of our anniversaries one that we would never forget!"

(visited October 2010)

"I meant to leave this comment for a long time, but after having spent last weekend at another farm, we really noticed how Ravenna overcharges. We felt that the price and the promise on the website isn't delivered - the honeymoon cottage is not at all private and everything extra costs on top of the cottage - with the price of the cottage being way too high. Really disappointing for what it promises."

(visited September 2010)

"Ravenna is really the place to go if you love the outdoors and want to revive yourself spiritually. It reflects serenity which I don't often find at other places. I enjoy the feeling of being 'out there' and being surrounded by all the animals. Ravenna is my first choice of getting connected with myself again and of course with friends. And there are a lot of activities to do!"

(visited July 2010)

"This is the perfect place to take a time-out and just absorb the still, peacefulness of the tranquil surroundings and amazing views. The cottages are clean, comfortable and well equipped with great attention to detail. A real treat during our stay at Ravenna was not only the hiking trails with panoramic views starting almost from your doorstep, but joining owner and professional photographer Laresa Perlman on a photographic course and learning how to take better pictures for many holidays to come. This is a great venue for a well deserved, educational, inspirational and recharging breakaway at a great price."

(visited June 2010)

"Ravenna was a wonderful getaway. My boyfriend I thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The Honeybush cottage was very quaint, very warm and very much what I was looking for in terms of a retreat from the city. The warm welcome was also much appreciated. The surroundings are breathtaking and the sunset was even more spectacular. I really do recommend Ravenna!"

(visited June 2010)

"We've just returned from a glorious four night stay at Ravenna Mountain Retreat. Took the whole family including a three year old and a seven week old baby! What a wonderful escape, our toddler loved it and we managed to finally get some true rest. The place is amazingly quiet, perfectly situated halfway between Montagu and Barrydale, with lots of activities for kids. Our little boy LOVED riding on the tractors and playing with the dogs. Also, fantastic host who bent over backwards to make our stay comfortable. Well worth a visit."

(visited May 2010)

"What a beautiful place to escape to. We stayed in a beautifully equipped cottage with the most amazing views, perfect when having a sundowner and a BBQ. We did some lovely hikes on the farm and also did a one day photo course - what an amazing experience. If you need to breakaway from the rush, I truly recommend Ravenna."

(visited November 2009)

"Ravenna is a piece of heaven situated in a secluded valley! We spent the Easter weekend there and it was absolutely fantastic. The owners are warm and so helpful, the chalets are perfect and have everything you need with stunning views and privacy. There are great hikes leaving from the actual farm, where you experience unbelievable views. This is real value for money and a real treat! I highly recommend this as your next place to visit!"

(visited April 2009)