Sand River Getaway
Quick Facts
E 25°06'19''
Budget Getaways Review
Even for most Port Elizabethans, the Groendal Nature Reserve is unchartered territory. Lying to the east of the Baviaanskloof, the area is home to gorgeous mountain vistas, waterfalls, rugged hikes, and a distinct absence of Homo sapiens.
Right in the heart of the Elands River Valley lies Sand River Getaway, a rustic collection of tented accommodation and dorm rooms centred around a communal bar, kitchen and lounge area - all facing out over the valley, with views of the yawing mountains beyond… Baie nice!
Your choice of sleeping quarters comes in three different wrappers...
The Tented Rooms are comfortable canvas tents on enclosed timber decks, with double or twin beds.
The Family Decks come with two canvas tents apiece, one with double bed, the other with twin beds. These are also pitched on decks and have a shaded area with picnic table and more of those valley views.
The Dorm accommodation sleeps eight in bunk beds, and can either be booked exclusively or as individual beds, backpacker-style. Loo’s and ablutions are communal (listen, you can't have everything) and located near the tents and dorm.
Grub-wise, all the accommodation comes with a dinner, bed and breakfast, or breakfast-only option.
If you’re up for self-catering, the communal kitchen is well equipped, while the bar and lounge area (with fireplace) is a fine chill spot, as is the plunge pool and encircling deck.
The area is littered with adventurous hiking trails and walks along the river and Groendal Reserve, as well as mountain bike trails in the nearby Longmore Forest. (Don't forget the bike.)
Rustic comfort way off the beaten track, Sand River Getaways is the stuff of nature lover dreams.
"Loved our getaway, food was excellent."
(visited Feb 2016)
"I am from Port Elizabeth and never even knew that this beautiful valley existed so close to PE. The place looks over a stunning valley of fynbos and onto mountains in the background. It is beautiful."
(visited Dec 2015)
Where You'll Also Find Us
Arniston (Waenhuiskrans) • Barrydale • Beaufort West • Betty's Bay • Bonnievale • Bot River • Bredasdorp • Caledon • Calitzdorp • Cape Agulhas and Struisbaai • Cape Town area • Ceres • Citrusdal • Clanwilliam & Cederberg • Darling • De Rust • Franschhoek • Gansbaai • George • Grabouw & Elgin Valley • Greyton • Heidelberg • Hermanus • Knysna • Ladismith • Laingsburg • Lamberts Bay • Langebaan • Malgas • Matjiesfontein • McGregor • Montagu • Mossel Bay • Napier • Oudtshoorn • Paarl • Paternoster • Plettenberg Bay • Prince Albert • Pringle Bay, Betty's Bay and Kleinmond • Riebeek West and Riebeek-Kasteel • Riversdale • Riviersonderend • Robertson • St Helena Bay • Stanford • Stilbaai • Strand, Gordon's Bay and Somerset West • Swellendam • Tulbagh • Velddrif • Vermaaklikheid • Wilderness • Witsand • Worcester & Hex Valley • Yzerfontein • Baviaanskloof • Cape St Francis & St Francis Bay • East London • Graaff-Reinet • Hogsback • Jeffreys Bay • Makhanda (Grahamstown) • Middelburg • Nieu-Bethesda • Rhodes • Sutherland