Call 01306 744 656 or
Call 01306 744 656 or
I was working overseas, in London, and I sat here looking at the forest and the river gorge and thought, ‘What am I doing in Peckham?’…
I had great childhood memories of visiting Plettenberg Bay on holiday but I never thought I’d end up building a hotel here. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I bought the land that Hog Hollow Country Lodge sits on in an afternoon. At the time I was working overseas, in London, and I sat here looking at the forest and the river gorge and thought, ‘What am I doing in Peckham?’
We’re part of a private nature reserve and look out over indigenous, protected forest to the Tsitsikamma mountains. There are yellowwood trees and Cape plums and guests can spot birds like the Knysna Loerie, southern double-collared sunbirds and fork-tailed drongos. It feels like a little piece of heaven.
I believe the difference between a great stay and an unforgettable one, is people. All our staff are local, and trained in house. One of our longest-serving team members is our general manager Carmen, who started here in housekeeping, 25 years ago. Our executive chef, ‘Big Joe,’ has been with us for 14 years. Joe cooks with seasonal ingredients and we’ve started growing our own veggies and herbs and we now keep around 50 chickens.
The bedspreads in our 16 suites come from a local mill, called Mungo, which is open to visitors who want to see the weaving process in action. Our soaps, hand cream and bath salts are all made locally.
We like to keep our guests surprised and interested. We wash their cars for them each morning, top up a jar of popcorn in the rooms and leave a chocolate and a Hog Hollow short story on their beds at night.
There’s a fine line between service and intrusion, and I believe we get this just right. We encourage our guests to just switch off and enjoy Plett’s beautiful surroundings, which is why there are no TVs in the rooms. The Robberg Nature Reserve is on the doorstep and you could fill days with family activities and hikes – but not before enjoying one of Joe’s fabulous breakfasts on our Boma Deck.
Your journey will start with one of our UK team – someone like Laura, who's travelled extensively in South Africa. They’ll shape your ideas into the trip of a lifetime. But they won't do it alone. They'll draw on the expertise of our contacts on the ground, connecting you to the people who'll make your holiday one you'll always remember - ex banker who can show you the hottest foodie spots in Cape Town, the award-winning young sommelier who can introduce you to Stellenbosch's finest wines and the walking safari ranger who can guide you to the best game.
Freephone an expert 01306 744 656
