Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
The Fernery Lodge and Spa is situated above a 30m waterfall with breathtaking views of the river gorge. Is the perfect romantic and peaceful getaway for natural lovers. The luxurious rooms in the lodge and the private chalets are each tastefully decorated with every effort made to ensure our guests' comfort. Start your day with a hearty breakfast and end off with a wander through the wine cellar where you can select a bottle of your choice before heading up to experience excellent cuisine in our plush dining room with a sea view over the Indian Ocean. Forest Fern Wellness Spa offers couples massage and a range of treatments. For those who enjoy exercise there are mountain bikes available. There is a Garden Tour available for those who want to learn about the local Fynbos and Mushrooms of the forest.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to TGCSA - Tourism Grading Council of South Africa.
HOTEL STYLE
Quiet
Family
Languages Spoken
English, Afrikaans, Xhosa
Location
Forest Ferns Estate Bluelilies Bush, Tsitsikamma, Storms River, Tsitsikamma National Park 6308 South Africa
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The Fernery Lodge & Spa delights guests with its professional and attentive staff, contributing to an unforgettable experience despite occasional minor service glitches. The hotel's cleanliness is frequently lauded, with well-kept chalets and pristine gardens. While the heated pool and spa are favorites among the amenities, some visitors miss air conditioning and poolside service.
The hotel's stunning ocean views and beautifully crafted log cabins are a highlight of its scenic location. Spacious and comfortable rooms with thoughtful touches receive high marks, though a few guests question the value for the price.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Idyllic
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Meticulous
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Top-notch
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The Fernery has been recommended by friends many times but we have never had the opportunity to spend time there. How we have missed out! We arrived in the pouring rain and the river in the gorge below was thundering down to the sea. Every room has a keyhole view of part of this surging water and even the sea further beyond. It is surrounded by forest , natural and Madame and smells sweet from trees and wild plants and pure clean fresh air. The dining room and bar area are suspended over the rushing river and you are standing safely in a spot you would never dare dream of standing on if you were just on the side of the mountain in your hiking boots. Our room was clean and cosy as they had lit a welcoming fire even before we arrived. The bathroom with its bath in the window overlooking the river made us think we were on a second honeymoon. There are lovely, different short walks through the forests and if that is not of interest, a relax in an outdoor jacuzzi with views of the Sand River below should help one unwind and relax. It is an exquisite and unique location.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: June 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Leanne Gammon, Innkeeper at The Fernery Lodge & Spa
Responded 02 Jan 2024
Dear Beverly - thanks for your description of the Fernery , we have now opened our wellness spa , do come back and see us again soon
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What a beautiful facility in the middle of the Tsitsikamma forest! A great world of plants. Very pretty chalets, in a wooden hut design. Very good restaurant with delicious breakfast and perfect steak for dinner.
And the only thing missing was air conditioning, it is very warm in the chalet in the African summer. There are chalets with AC, though.
There is complete privacy protection, but only partial blackouts, so it is as bright as day in the chalet before 6 a.m. Breakfast is only served from 8 a.m. So bring a sleeping mask if you need the dark to sleep.
Everyone is very child-friendly, although the concept is designed for adults/couples. (Two bathrobes, soap dispenser inaccessible to children, no stool in the bathroom, tables with a view in the restaurant, all tables for two, etc.). The staff is very friendly. The facility is beautifully designed with great plants.
Pool and playground with a cozy country house by the pool to relax in with a large TV.
A real highlight was the whirlpool with a fantastic view!
2 nights here are ideal for exploring Tsitsikamma.
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Date of stay: January 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Im afrikanischen Sommer Zimmer oder Chalet mit Klimaanlage buchen
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Unfortunately we only had two nights here, we would have loved to stay longer. We had "The owners Suite" a very spacious area with sitting room/mini kitchen area with balcony on a lower level, and a bedroom/bathroom again with a balcony on the ground level. The room was well equipped (the hairdryer was not working and on reporting this to the reception staff a replacement was brought to us within minutes). Complementary toiletries were available in the bathroom. Bed and pillows very comfortable and led to a great night's sleep. The walks around the ground were beautiful with stunning fauna around the place, but the main draw for us was the stunning view out to sea. The lodge has many chalets but they are well spaced out that the whole area is so tranquil. Food was really good, with breakfast being a buffet but with freshly prepared eggs to order. Good choice of food for the evening meal and excellent selection of wine available.
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Date of stay: September 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Diane Sampson, Guest Services / Front Office at The Fernery Lodge & Spa
Responded 14 Oct 2022
A warm good morning to you! We also wish you had stayed for longer. You were super guests and we greatly appreciate your review. THANK YOU. Wishing you a super holiday. Kind regards, Diane
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The fernery is a beautiful destination with an incomparable view and setting, the rooms are very tastefully furnished and you are provided with spa like robes upon check-in which adds to the luxury experience. We had dinner in the restaurant, food was really well priced and absolutely delicious- both of us having ordered the steak. Unfortunately the end of our stay was rather tainted by our treatment over an extremely expensive laundry bill. We were not aware that laundry was billed and none of the three staff members we spoke to regarding the laundry informed us of this or provided us with the laundry slip which outlined the pricing. Mistakes and miscommunications are naturally bound to happen when you’re dealing with different cultures and customs but the manner in which we were treated by the receptionist, we found to be very condescending and patronising which really did ruin the end of our stay with an unpleasant atmosphere as we negotiated how to settle the bill. In a hotel of this standing, when you’re paying the price you are per night, we made an incorrect assumption that laundry service would be included having not being advised otherwise or previously being charged at other hotels, which was our mistake but we are still customers paying more than 5000 rand for one nights accomodation and expect to be treated with much more grace than we were. Having stayed at a number of other beautiful destinations on the garden route, we feel that the pricing for the stay at the Fernery was ultimately disproportionate to the experience.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: February 2022
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Diane Sampson, Guest Services / Front Office at The Fernery Lodge & Spa
Responded 10 Feb 2022
Dear Sophie Thank you so much for your stay at the Fernery. You were super guests and we loved being able to welcome you warmly. My sincerest apologies for your experience. You dealt with me at check-out. As you expressed you were anxious about the bill, I expressed my understanding and as graciously as I could, without any further ado, I offered to discount the laundry charges. It was with absolute sincerity. I am sorry it translated as being condescending. My advice to you on departure was to be aware of the possibility of added charges for laundry at other establishments as it is the norm, and it was in no way intended to be patronising ... as you have stated. I do apologise from my end. Your comments and your feedback is most appreciated. We address every review with the intention of continuing with improvements. Wishing you a wonderful time along the Garden Route and we hope you'll visit again. Kind regards, Diane
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Location is unique, in a pine tree forest, on waterfalls and next to the sea. The view from the room and the dining area is amazing. Food was also great. The “house” has also a play/TV room, a bar and a Spa. Two improvements could be made: 1. The spa has no indoor shower or changing room so you can only use it the day you check in 2. Everything closes super early so you are not able to use neither the bar nor the TV/play room after 9pm, which is a real pity as honestly those are the nicest spaces to use if dining in the hotel restaurant. Wi-Fi was not always working well. Also to note that the road to get to the hotel is not paved (we managed to get there without a 4x4)
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: December 2022
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Leanne Gammon, Innkeeper at The Fernery Lodge & Spa
Responded 26 Jan 2023
Dear Roberta, thank you for your great review and sharing your thoughts on how we could improve our services. Due to our location, we do not have staff who live on the farm, and they have to be transported home in the evening. Our Chalets and rooms all offer Televison and have great locations. We also have a jacuzzi and two hot tubs which can be enjoyed in the evenings along the river all with amazing views. With the power cuts affecting South Africa we have ensured we do have Generator back at our Lodge and this does affect the internet sometimes and we do apologize for this.
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Beautifully embedded in nature, The Fernery Lodge & Spa is perched on the slope of a waterfall in the Tsitsikamma National Park, surrounded by forest and overlooking the Indian Ocean. The spacious chalets are stylishly furnished with all modern comforts. The bathroom in particular, with floor-to-ceiling windows, conveys the feeling of being outdoors. An outdoor barbecue creates a romantic and adventurous atmosphere. The main house is also glazed so that you can enjoy the outdoors at all times. Breakfast is plentiful with a large selection of fresh fruit. There is a large selection of wines and menu suggestions. The staff are very service-orientated and courteous. We particularly enjoyed the deep tissue massages, which were carried out by professional therapists. There is a wide range of outdoor activities on offer. But lying by the pool, reading a book, refreshing yourself in the water and indulging in drinks from the pool bar is more than enough. We would stay again at any time
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: February 2025
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The accommodation is really superb. The views from the hotel restaurant and bar are truly stunning; waterfalls, gorge, sea views. The drive from the main road takes about 15 mins along rough forest roads The individual chalets are so well planned and private, you cannot even see the adjacent one. The saunas and hot tubs around the grounds are a great facility, and the food was excellent. The hotel is very remote, so you really have to eat in the restaurant or barbecue at your chalet as it’s too far to drive back to Stormsriver village along the 6k forest roads. The food is really excellent and very reasonably priced given the remote location and a therefore a captive audience. The activities around here are based at Stormsriver village, 15 mins drive, (can recommend the forest Segway tour) and hiking/kayaking in Tsisikama national park (charge to access) around 30 mins drive. We hiked to the suspension bridges for stunning views. Overall, a great place to stay along the garden route, and very different to the other locations.
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:You can’t check in before 2, so we’d have done an activity at Stormsriver village earlier in the...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The location of the lodge is spectacular. The lodge itself, particular the chalets, need some general maintanance. The service in the restaurant is excellent, but there was no service at the pool, not even after telling them that we are at the pool. The friendliness and work motivation of the admin person at the check-in has room for improvement. Overall, a nice lodge, but the price-performance ratio isn‘t balanced.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: November 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed in one of the comfortable chalets, which are generously spread out along the gorge and connected to each other and to the main house via walkways. Each chalet has a large terrace with its own grill, and there is also a fireplace inside. Firewood and firelighters are plentiful. You can enjoy absolute peace and privacy. There are several hot tubs and jacuzzis between the chalets, which are available to all guests. At the main house there is also a pool, as well as the restaurant and a bar, with a large terrace and a fantastic view of the gorge and the sea. The food in the restaurant is excellent, but you can also order a grill package or a picnic basket to your room. The lodge is ideally located for visiting the Tsitsikamma National Park. The gate can be reached by car in just over 30 minutes. The 6km gravel road to the lodge is very easy to drive on and is no problem even with a small car. We can highly recommend a stay at the Fernery Lodge.
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Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dream Location above a gauge with Ocean View, extremely nice and caring team, stunning view a wildlife with birds and velvet monkeys; great food with ocean view, both breakfast and dinner! We stayed three nights, which was too short for all the amenities. Don’t miss the waterfall hike with a guide, a fun lesson on animals and plants ! It was simply great, thank you!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: July 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Good day Karin H. We are able to do your laundry at your request, and the costs for this are itemised for each item. The list is available at reception when you check-in. We are always happy to assist with any guest request, where possible. Look forward to your visit. Kind regards, Diane
Good Day
The drive to Storms River village, where the canopy tour starts, is less than 30 minutes. The outdoor jacuzzi is open 24 hours. During periods of low occupancy, we do switch one of the two jacuzzi's off to save electricity. If the use of the outdoor jacuzzi is a highlight for your stay, please advise reception accordingly, before your arrival and they will ensure it is available for your use.
Regards
Johan Gerber
Hi TDRoux
In the Forest has a view of the river and you can braai on your chalet deck. The road is passable for all vehicles, smaller cars just need to drive slowly in places. We look forward to hosting you. Regards. The Fernery Team.
There are more places to choose from in the Storms River area.
PRICE RANGE
R 2,849 - R 4,591 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
the fernery lodge & chalets hotel tsitsikamma national park, the fernery lodge and chalets
LOCATION
South AfricaEastern CapeTsitsikamma National ParkStorms River
NUMBER OF ROOMS
17
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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