River Edge Accommodation

Budget Getaways Review

You’ve been living life on the edge lately - late boozy nights, work deadlines, domestic chaos, the general humdrum of life in the fast lane.

Maybe what you need is a change of edge to hang out on? In this case it's River Edge, a tranquil escape with a swanky touch on the upper reaches of the Breede River. It's exactly what Dr Getaway would usually prescribe for a serious case of Urban Horriblis.

Made up of five decked-out stone cottages, backdropped by mountains, vineyards and of course the sluggish flow of the Breede River - which literally laps up against your deck - you couldn’t ask for much more. As one guest sums it up: “Time out”.

All lie about 300m apart, which means happy solitude is the order of the day.

Joubert House, Willem Hendrik House and Benjamin House all sleep six. A main bedroom with Queen bed and ensuite bathroom, plus an additional room with two singles, ensure high levels of comfort. A pair of stack beds in the living room scoops up the overflow.

There’s a second bathroom, spacious lounge and equipped kitchen in both Joubert and Willem Hendrik. Adding the cherry to the cake is a fireplace for those chilly river winters and your own private deck with outside braai area and… wait for it… hot-tub Jacuzzi, high-pressure bubbles and all. Man, the lengths we go for our users…

Jan Albert House, perfect for two families with kids, has a main ensuite room with queen-size bed, plus another Queen two singles in the second bedroom. Again, there are two single stack beds in the lounge - if you really want to fill this one to the brim. Like its siblings the outside deck and braai area also sport a jacuzzi for those who like their sundowners with extra bubble.

As if that's not enough, the super-spacious Coetzer House, sleeps up to 10, with two queen-size rooms, one with a double sleeper couch and a further four single beds in the loft area. Coetzer's outside deck goes on forever and as is the order of the day at Rivers Edge, it too sports a jacuzzi.

Towels and linen are provided, as are a kayak and rowing boat, which means you can always escape upriver for some selfish ME time.

It doesn't end there, if camping is your cuppa tea, then the new campsite along the river edge is the spot to head for. Here you've got four individual sites centred around a kitchen area, ablution with hot showers. There's electricity and a small swimming pool as well.

With loads of hiking, birdwatching and good, clean river fun (swimming, fishing, rowing etc) this ain't going to be an easy one to leave.

But, with only an hour separating River Edge from Cape Town, odds are you'll be back in no time for a repeat dose.