Nestled in the picturesque Grabouw / Elgin valley surrounded by mountains, sit our 4 self-contained cottages with stunning views of either the mountain, the river or the pond and in some cases, on all three. Children will love it and so will you. The cottages are semi-self-catering fitted with TV, microwave ovens, fridge, kettle, cutlery, electric frying pan, etc. Each with BBQ facilities on veranda.
Stayed at A'Volonte while my husband did the Wines 2 Whales. Perfect location - close the the race village. Felicia made us feel very welcome and the house was clean and had everything we needed.
We will be back.
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Date of stay: November 2016
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
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 visited the Elgin open gardens and Avolonte was the perfect place to stay amid all the beauty. Lovely self catering cottages in a lovely garden with such a welcoming host. Stayed in Gecko cottage, perfect for a family of 4. Wood available for the fireplace as well as the braai. Thank you Felicia!
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Date of stay: November 2019Trip type: Travelled with friends
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 spent a night in one of the cottages at Avolonte Lodge. What I liked most, was the setting in a beautiful spacious garden. The cottage was a bit tight fitted for the 5 of us(one sleeping on the couch) but we had great family time on the stoep. Thank you Felicia !
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Date of stay: May 2019Trip type: Travelled with family
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.
I went to Grabouw for a wedding and was supposed to stay at A'Valonte Lodge with a married couple. When we got to the lodge we were shocked to find that there was no privacy whatsoever. Not only were all three beds in the same big room, but so was the toilet and shower....there were no walls whatsoever! The only thing between you and other people while you were sitting on the loo or having a shower was a flimsy screen. This absolute lack of privacy is never hinted at on their website and I find this misrepresentation of the accommodation shocking. I felt so uncomfortable staying in the lodge that I decided to just drive home after the wedding instead of staying.
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Date of stay: December 2015
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 BookingsTeam, Owner at A'Volonte Lodge
Responded 10 Dec 2015
Friend made booking and was happy to share , the third party arrived at 2pm but made no request to be moved,which we would gladly have done. We have replied to her email to us requesting compensation saying we would be happy to credit her with a deduction on another nights stay. No reply. Our Website plus SafariNow's (through which they booked) clearly shows pictures of cottages with bath in bedroom which is curtained off Plus has a screen for extra privacy. The toilet has brick walls NOT just a screen as stated. We have been accused of misrepresentation ,although we state that cottages are open-plan. We often have single people sharing the cottages,and when anyone books direct with us,we always remind them of the sleeping arrangements. These cottages are extremely romantic ,which the previous owner strove to create ., but also great if you dont mind sharing with friends. Sharing is much cheaper of course....
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My riding partner & I booked at Avolonte for the 2015 Wines2Whales Mountain Bike race. We felt that sleep quality and rest were the most important requirements during our stay, so we decided to book a cottage each for three nights. We paid R3000 in full about 6 weeks before check-in (R500 per night each). Just 2 weeks before the race, the owner got in touch and said there had been a booking mix-up, and the cottages were no longer available on a single-occupancy basis! (read: more lucrative bookings came up between our booking and the check-in date)
So we were moved to another cottage on the property, one which is not listed on their website, as it is ordinarily permanently occupied by a relative of the owner. We communicated our dissatisfaction with the booking change to the owner before check-in, and were offered R50 per day compensation for the inconvenience! (for any foreign readers, this equates to about GBP 2.20 / EURO 3.30 discount per night!!).
The cottage was tiny with two single beds, one of which was in the minuscule lounge area, & usually served the purpose of a sofa. The other bed was on a mezzanine level above the kitchen. Words do not do justice to how small the upstairs 'room' was, it was only just big enough for a single bed and a wardrobe. When lying in the bed you face would be about 30cm from the thatch roof. The place was absolutely crammed full of someone else's old stuff, cupboards & wardrobes cable-tied shut etc. The toilet did not have a door, with just a shower curtain separating it from the kitchen!!! The cottage had a very bad smell of stagnant drains and damp, and there was rooster secured in an enclosure right on the side of the cottage! We were given one thin old towel to use, that's for 2 adult men to share for 3 days!
On arrival, we moved our bikes and luggage into the cottage and then promptly set about finding somewhere else to stay for the 3 nights. We rang on various door bells and were put in touch with a number of other establishments, ALL with availability, ALL offering far superior accommodation, and ALL significantly cheaper than Avolonte. We found a lovely place on the other side of the valley, about 10 times the accommodation quality, and about 60% of the price!!
We returned to Avolonte later that day to collect our stuff, and informed the owner that we would not be staying on the basis that it was nothing like we had expected. We requested a refund, which was begrudgingly agreed to, but only 50% of the upfront payment would be refunded!!! I was beyond caring about costs by that stage, and would've happily left without refund, as long as I didn't have to spend any more time in that awful cottage. Spending the extra to move to alternate accommodation was the easiest decision I have ever taken. Fair play to my riding partner, he kept pestering the owner by email & we finally received the refund yesterday (10 days after request), but less R300 for cleaning!! We spent all of 1 hour actually in the cottage, so we really don't understand this one. Sad, greedy & desperate?
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Date of stay: October 2015
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
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 BookingsTeam, Owner at A'Volonte Lodge
Responded 10 Dec 2015
The booking mix up ( a double booking) was our fault,an overseas payment had been made into our account and our manager had not picked it up, the moment we realized this we: Phoned the guest to let them know and apologize, a month before the race. Tried to find them alternative accommodation in the area, however due to the race nothing was available that weekend. Offered a full refund as we could not find him alternative accommodation. We offered him a cottage that my manager lives in, plus a reduction in price. Provided photographs of the cottage as requested. They unpacked bike gear into the cottage and left 2 hours later. The single bed downstairs was brought in for their use and the sofa was put out on patio. Thatched roof 30cm from bed ? maybe at lowest point but roof has high pitch so has plenty of room. The" bad smell of damp or drains" is nothing but the smell of thatch after a downpour. He complained of 'a rooster in an enclose' yes we have 3 hens and a rooster in a very large run, we do live in the country. However this cottage is not normally available for booking, our manager only offered her own house and stayed with a friend in order to make up for her mix up, our cottages are of a much higher standard. Less R300 for cleaning - bikes were brought into cottage, biking paraphernalia spread out on bed which left grease marks,duvet was taken off bed and jammed between cupboard and geyser box necessitating professional cleaning,the kitchen was used and dirt tramped in. I am pleased that they found other accommodation ,obviously there was a late cancellation or no-show somewhere but at R200 ? Never heard of anyone in the Valley with those prices. They were unhappy and able to find alternative accommodation and suggested themselves that paying 50% would be fair. It was taken on board completely that they were unhappy with the cottage and that we shall never offer it again as an accommodation solution. We now only have one person in charge of bookings so that double bookings do not happen.
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Nice stay. Only stayed one night. No DSTV though. Real quiet surrounding. Feels really farm like. Owner is very helpful! Nice patio with braai and self-catering facilities. Views are also beautiful. We went to watch a show at Paul Cluver Ampitheatre and it is only 6km from the venue. Will visit again.
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Date of stay: February 2016Trip 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.
On our way from Cape Town to Knysna to stay with relatives our car overheated. We limped into Grabouw and at the garage were told that as it was a Saturday they would not be able to repair the radiator hose until Monday. We were directed t Avolonte Lodge where all accommodation was taken. One of the owners, Denise, offered us her own chalet which we gratefully accepted. It was small but clean and comfortable and the following day one of the other chalets became available and we moved in. This was much more spacious and comfortable. Large bed with clean linen, clean room. Very comfortable. We were given advice on where to go but not trusting the car we stayed put, merely walking around the grounds. Denise was going into the town and we hitched a ride, buying food in the village. Returning we found that we had forgotten to buy wine. Denise very kindly gave us a bottle from her own supply as they do not have a liquor licence. Offers to pay for it were refused. All in all and unplanned stop but a surprisingly pleasant one.
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Date of stay: November 2015
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â All seem pretty good but advisable to book in advance
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.
Over the past couple of years, I have visited Avolonte Lodge on a regular basis. This place is a little slice of heaven and has something for everyone.
The cottages are absolutely beautiful, reminiscent of something out of a Beatrix Potter book! One almost expects Peter Rabbit to appear in one of the doorways!
In the heat of summer, the cottages are beautifully cool due to the thatch roof. They are spacious and decorated in a charming eclectic mix of rustic meets ye olde-world. There is an amazing attention to detail and there is everything at hand that one would need when you are on holiday.
The cottages offer beautiful views of the garden and are very private and secluded.
The gardens are beautifully land-scaped and offer a haven for the prolific bird-life. It is fantastic to sit on the verandahs and watch the birds flit from flower to flower going about their daily business. There are also cute squirrels scampering about.
In the evenings you can hear the owls calling and see bats busily catching their dinner. You can hear the thousands of frogs croaking down by the river.
The hosts are friendly and accommodating and go out of their way to ensure that you have an enjoyable stay and nothing is too much trouble for them. They are happy to give advice on restaurants, wine routes, beaches, hikes etc.
The Country club is just 2kms away where there is a wonderful restaurant on the edge of the Lake where, you can swim, sail or fish. There are also tennis and squash courts and even a bowling green.
It is not often that you find an unspoilt gem like this.
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Date of stay: February 2015
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
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 is the 3rd year that my husband and I have stayed at this guest house with our baby/toddler and will not be our last. The owners are warm, friendly and very accommodating to our needs with a small child. No requests we have made have ever been a problem.
He loves the huge garden and wild and tame life that surrounds here, especially the varied bird life. Klipkop in Grabouw is a wonderful and safe set of small holdings overlooking the village and great for long evening pram walks. Definitely Grabouw's best kept secret.
The cottages are thatched and deliciously cool with large patios, excellent for enjoying a sun-downer or a BBQ. The cooking facilities have improved each year but I must admit we do not really use them as there are so many divine places to eat in the area. Hermanus and Somerset West are both a short hop away and the country club has a wonderful dam for swimming in.
Our room has a huge bath in it, perfect for romantic baths together although at the moment I am having them with the baby instead while Daddy enjoys the shower. I love the combination of antiques, rustic furniture and loads of soft white fabrics. The cottages have just a single room with the toilet separated by a wall, this gives them a very spacious feel and the bath and toilet can be separated from the rest of the room with white curtains. We find rates very reasonable for the amount of space, quality of rooms and the lovely setting.
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Date of stay: December 2015
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
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.
Was staying at this lodge in 2010-2013 while facilitate a course in Grabouw area. The peace and quietness was perfect for me to do my work. In wintertime the fireplace was already going by the time I got "home". Having my own "braai" (barbeque) facilities at my little cottage was perfect! The breakfast is to die for. You will never get through a breakfast like that on your own! The bath next to a big window contributed to my relaxation after lecturing all day! The host personal attention just put the cherry-on-top! The Lodge are close to so many other site-seeing areas, witch makes this the perfect stay for a long weekend out in the country! Just love this lodge and wish I could go back there again.
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Date of stay: December 2013
Rooms
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled on business
Room Tip:Â Any cottage will be perfect. Self catering. Breakfast included, when so wish meals can be...
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.
Gansbaai, South Africa32 contributions13 helpful votes
"Any cottage will be perfect. Self catering. Breakfast included, when so wish meals can be ordered. I remember a big, very friendly dog. Make sure to stroll down to the pond and have your camera ready!"
There are more places to choose from in the Grabouw area.
LOCATION
South AfricaWestern CapeOverberg DistrictGrabouw
NUMBER OF ROOMS
4
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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