The Shire Eco Lodge
Lower Kologha Forest, Stutterheim South Africa
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#1 of 4 Specialty lodging in Stutterheim
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HOTEL STYLE
Romantic
Property amenities
Free parking
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Non-smoking hotel
Room features
Kitchenette
Microwave
Refrigerator
Location
Full view
Contact
Lower Kologha Forest, Stutterheim South Africa
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Car HireSee all Stutterheim car hire
33Reviews0Q+A21Room tips
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+1
We stayed for a weekend in one of the delightfully unique bulb shaped chalets and fell in love with the place. The Kologha Forest is spectacular and the hiking trails can be accessed from right in front of the chalets. Staying in the hand built wooden pods is an experience all by itself - every curved detail has been so well thought out. We enjoyed fly fishing in nearby Gubu Dam and also went on a tour of the wild bulb nursery run by owner Rob. I highly recommend The Shire for a relaxing and rejuvenating weekend away.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Stayed 1 and then 2 nights traveling with a puppy. The cabins are so comfortable and quite spacious. Rob and his family have created wonderful Accomodation surrounded by nature. While I did. It do any of the trails this time, I think I would love to next time. I loved my stay. The on,y problem is that cell phone connectivity is poor
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Date of stay: July 2019Trip type: Travelled with friends
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Room Tip: Any of the 4 cabins are wonderful.
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First stop on our holiday after a long flight. As I am interested in South African bulbs I wanted to see Rob’s nursery so it was a real bonus to find we could stay in one of his Eco Lodges. His directions for finding the lodge were excellent. We found it so cosy with every home comfort yet within a stones throw of the beautiful forest. We were very fortunate to have a walk in the mountains with Rob & his partner looking for plants growing in their habitat. This was thoroughly enjoyable. Thank you Rob for making the start of our holiday so memorable.
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Date of stay: January 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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Stayed two nights in Jan, travelling with dog between Cape town and KZN. The Shire is perfect if you are looking for beautiful comfy accom in a peaceful setting. We love the direct access to the variety of marked trails varying from 5 to 19 km in the Kologha Forest, the view from the deck, room and bed make you feel like you are in the indigenous forest and finally the outside shower that is actuallyin the forest! Signal is patchy but OK. Bed very comfortable. Everything you need in the kitchen for self-catering and of course braaiing. Very peaceful and we will be back again
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Date of stay: January 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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Room Tip: Two end units have more privacy than two middle units
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We stayed for 2 nights in one of the cabins with our 2-year old daughter and absolutely loved our stay. The beds are unbelievably comfortable and the cabin is spacious and elegant. It is the perfect spot to relax and unwind - make sure you take gumboots if you want to explore the trails around the lodge as it was pretty wet and muddy when we were there. I would also recommend packing a deck of cards, lots of dry wood for the outdoor braai (you can also buy there if you run out) and a good book to really make the most of it. If you are a keen birder, you will love it here as you can bird from your deck - we saw Cape parrots flying past and heard many more unusual species in the forest as well as daily visits by the super chilled Samango monkeys.
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Date of stay: April 2018Trip type: Travelled with family
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We didn't plan every stop of our honeymoon and stumbled upon the Shire while searching the internet, what a happy find! Rob and his family built the most amazing cottages, all by hand; the bent wooden frames, the custom tiled bathrooms, custom lamp shades, bespoke coffee tables, custom bent windows and the sliding doors he built with his 90+-year-old grandfather... everything ties together for an unforgettable experience. The forest is epic and the hike up to the dam was so relaxing... an Absolute must
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Date of stay: March 2017Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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Room Tip: I'd choose a cottage closer to the edge of the forest
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+1
The Shire is simply magical. Tucked away in a clearing, surrounded by forest, at the foot of the mountain range, the little, wooden cottages are beautiful! I love the fact that everything was handcrafted by the owners, it just gives them this extra magical feeling. You can feel passion and love that went into creating these marvelous cottages, which are very spacious as well. There are hiking trails available for those who love nature and walks, and it is situated close to Forest Way where there is a picnic area and more hiking trails up to the waterfalls. The Shire, even though it is quite out of town, it is still not too far should you need to get anything from the shops there (taking approximately 15 min to get to any one shop). The nights are particularly magical, in the sense that the night sky is breathtakingly beautiful. I have never seen so many stars in the sky before. We spent the evenings gazing up at the sky, looking out for shooting stars. With the rolling mountains, forests, and quaint little houses, it is aptly named the Shire. I will definitely be making a return visit to this magical place. I loved every moment of it.…
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Date of stay: December 2016Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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Room Tip: I personally love the ones that are in the two far corners of the clearing, tucked into the...
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The sound of the forest at night , the bubbling brook , the magnificent Milky Way up above - if I did not have to wake up for work and could have spent more than one night , would have slept for hours more and spend time exploring the beauty of the forests and wild flowers and more !!
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Date of stay: January 2017Trip type: Travelled on business
Value
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Room Tip: All the chalets are unique in their own respect - locally hand crafted to match a 5 star hotel !
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The Shire remains our go-to place for quiet weekends to restore body and soul. Chalets are well appointed and fully equipped. In winter, electric blankets are supplied as well as an oil heater. It would be great if, during the summer months, fans were provided in the chalets to counter the effects of the afternoon sun. Granted, New Year was exceptionally hot this year. The outside showers (Sullivan and Canisp chalets) are the best experience ever. Hikes in the pristine indigenous forest and enjoying a rest sitting on a bed of leaves at the base of towering eucalyptus trees is a spiritual experience. For outdoor enthusiasts, there is nowhere better to visit.
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Date of stay: December 2016Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Rooms
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Room Tip: The two chalets on the edges of the clearing are the nicest as they have outside showers.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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The Shire is a hidden treasure built next to a vibrant forest of amazing birds. There is a little stream meandering through the forest and many calming walks amongst plants, butterflies and birds. The chalets are uniquely built on stilts with wood. The builders used a special method to bend long strips of wood to create the feeling of sleeping in a big wooden boat! There are bunk beds in each chalet but I wouldn't sleep in them as there is no barrier between your mattress and a 2 meter drop! My 4 year old son had an absolute blast looking for fresh water crabs under rocks in the stream while I looked for birds. We saw a Spotted Eagle Owl as we came home on two of the evenings and I got very close to a Narina Trogan which is a rarely seen, colourful bird in the forest. The weather was wonderful and the expanse of grass outside the chalets was space for my son to run, play sport and look for bugs. With or without children, this venue is peaceful and provides value for money if you're a nature lover.…
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Date of stay: December 2016Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Location
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Room Tip: Choose one of the chalets next to the forest to be near the trees and the birds - there are 2 to...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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LOCATION
South AfricaEastern CapeStutterheim
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Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about The Shire Eco Lodge
Which popular attractions are close to The Shire Eco Lodge?
Nearby attractions include Stationary Engine Museum (5.0 km).
What are some restaurants close to The Shire Eco Lodge?
Conveniently located restaurants include Vinkel en Koljander Coffee Shop, Vino & Cuppuccino, and Eagles Ridge Restaurant.