This is what guests say about Lily Pond:

Everything was sublime

We had a wonderful stay in Lily Pond Country Lodge. The staff was very helpful and friendly. Bronwan was the most dedicated manager we‘ve ever came across. She did a great job in giving us advices on daily trips. We had the opportunity to eat twice at the restaurant and the chef has created great menus for us! The waiters were excellent. We had a wonderful time! Thank you

A hidden gem in the tranquil Nature's Valley, definitely worth discovering

Lovely location in the middle of farmland off a minor road, so very quiet apart from the frogs at night. There's along fire to welcome guests before dinner. The service is excellent and the room well equipped and large with a private patio overlooking the extensive garden. Breakfast was good. We were not keen on the almost minimalist design in places and the extensive use of bare concrete, which made our room feel colder than it should have been. close to Birds of Eden and Monkeyland, about 20 minutes drive from Plettenburg Bay

Unfortunately we stayed here only for 2 days; everything was just perfect.The daily dinner was something very special and is definitely recommended. A special compliment also to the entire staff for the excellent service.

We stayed at this beautiful lodge and gardens for 2 nights, weather was not very good which was a shame as the gardens and pool area looked perfect for glorious weather, our rooms had a fantastic view of the gardens and pond area with a private seating area, could not fault the facilities in our lodge.
We ate at the restaurant both nights of our stay and the food and service were excellent with a good selection of wines and cocktails.
We would recommend the Lily Pond lodge for anyone wanting a beautiful personal stay.

After being hospîtalised in Port Elisabet for a few days, we continued our holiday in Lily Pond. That was an excellent choice: very good food (the cook was flexible to follow my post-hospital soft diet), nice rooms and tasteful decoration! And excellent hiking advice. We really enjoyed it!

Gorgeous lodge with generously sized rooms overlooking pretty lily ponds. Lovely walks, exceptional five course dinner, and close enough to Plett for a day's shopping, but far enough to escape the bustle.

Really lovely Country Lodge with the friendliest team imaginable! Food was amazing, prepared by the super talented Chef Randall, served by the absolutely charming Joseph. Carol and Bronwan looked after us like family and were so helpful with advice re places to visit etc. It was so lovely to meet you all. Many happy memories, thank you.

Janice & Steve

PS Bronwan - we brought some Six Dogs gin back with us - love it!

We went on a baby moon, it’s just the most magical and peaceful stay. Breakfast is amazing too!

We stayed 2 nights at Lily Pond and it was just beautiful. The staff was so lovely, the room was super nice and the food was next level! Since it was not high season, we had the honor that the chef cooked only for us and it was just indescribably good!! Thank you to all the staff for an amazing stay, we will be back!

A unique place in Tsitsikama Park, a gem in nature. A magnificent view of the room, large, clean and very well decorated. A moment of happiness!

We loved the rooms, finished to a very high standard. We overlooked the Lily Pond and it was a very peaceful setting in well maintained and planted grounds. Bronwyn, the Manager, was so helpful and friendly. Randall the Chef cooked us a delicious meal while Elsabe couldn’t have been kinder, making sure we had everything we needed. There is a lovely infinity pool area which we didn’t use this time as the weather was cold and our trip was short. Fires were lit and our room was heated for our arrival, great attention to detail. We will definitely go back as this is a real find.

Rooms: Very comfortable and spacious. Lovely interiors and choice of furnishings. Doors opening onto seating /deck area overlooking the pond.

Food & drinks: We had a beautiful meal, great chef.

If you want a truly relaxing and restful place to stay with exquisite food, then this is the place to come! This tranquil location is also perfect for nearby attractions such as nature’s valley beach, tsitsikamma national park, monkey land, birds of Eden etc. The lily ponds and surrounding gardens are stunning - the perfect antidote! The rooms are large with individual patios from where you can look over the lily ponds enjoying a nice sundowner. The staff are super friendly and helpful with information on what to do and where to go. The food is delightful, with 4 course meat and veggie option every evening. The chef comes out at the end of the evening to chat to all the guests and ensure everything is ok. The only slight negative we found was the strange open plan bedrooms with integrated bathrooms - it made using the toilet interesting!

Very friendly and attending staff. Ww rented the Suite which was very nice decorated and with comfortable beds. We specifically enjoyed the outdoor shower.

I have to eat gluten-free, it's the one and only place where the chef had plenty of intentions so that I could fully enjoy my stay. Small gluten-free muffin for breakfast, same for evening meals, gluten-free starter main course dessert. I thank him very much for that. Heartwarming welcome. Nothing to complain about, place in exceptional calm, discreet and kind staff. Congratulations to all

We returned to Lily Pond after an enforced absence of three years and we were not disappointed (apart from the inclement weather).
The owners, Margret & Neils Hendriks were on hand to offer us a very personal welcome. They have assembled a superb team including Bronwan, Joseph & Carol.
We stayed in one of their Luxury Suites which sits right on the lily pond that gives the property its name.
Highly recommended.

A beautiful and restful haven of a place to stay, full of little touches around the place. The owner is clearly completely involved in the running of the guest house and has exquisite taste. We found Lilly Ponds so photogenic and have many photos as memories of a delightful stay.
A bonus was seeing baboons foraging around the grounds.

A very tastefully furnished, huge room with a heavenly comfortable bed, very warm hosts and a good breakfast. The whole lodge with its lily ponds was a beautiful and quiet oasis. We felt very comfortable and would have liked to stay longer.

Very nice facility. Many excursion possibilities! High quality dinner!

Nice, big room with high quality materials. Extremely good cuisine, nice pool area.

Lily Pond Lodge certainly has the wow factor, set within the stunning Natures Valley - a visit to the lagoon and beach is a must. Our room and hotel facilities all to an excellent standard. The view from our room was stunning, overlooking the pond. Such a joy to sit on our patio watching the baboons playing in the mornings. If you are a foody you will absolutely love it here. The five course evening meal was superb, as were the breakfasts. Worth bearing in mind that the lodge is in an isolated location but this is part of its charm. We enjoyed eating at The Lookout in Plettenberg Bay (20 minute drive) on the day we didn’t eat in the restaurant.

Lulled by the song of birds alone, a stay full of charm. We had a dream experience.
Culinarily, the chef works wonders. Tasty and sober cuisine delighted us. We definitely recommend the brand.

The owners are incredibly friendly and caring, the food is very delicious and you can choose from a variety of different meals, the rooms are comfortable and clean.

Excellent location, service and food. Thank you, Bronwyn,

We spent 4 nights at this beautiful lodge. The gardens and lily ponds are a tranquil oasis, and the room we had overlooking the ponds was spacious, private and very comfortable. Dinner in the evening provided the option of choosing between 2 main courses but the rest was set. Food was of the highest quality and we thoroughly enjoyed each one. Wine list is limited but good quality and excellent value. Location is ideal to explore the trails in the national park or the spectacular beaches. Owners are always on site and very involved in the running of the place. The staff are an excellent and attentive team. We plan to return!

We had a perfect stay at Lily Pond Country Lodge. Very helpful and and polite staff. Good meals an wines. Good service. Nice and clean rooms. Loundry was done quick, tidy and for good price. Margret, Nils and their staff are wonderful people.

A hidden gem on Garden Route near Plettenberg. Margret and Niels created a wonderful, peaceful place. Everybody was so friendly and helpful, the rooms nice and cosy and the food excellent. The Lodge is surrounded by a wonderful, cultivated garden. The staff was very attentive and pleased to give tips concerning trips and restaurants in the neighbourhood. From Lily Pond you can easily reach Knysna, Plettenberg, Knysna Elefant Park (Walking with Elefants was a great experience), Tsitsikama, and the nicest beaches

Luxurious rooms that open onto beautiful gardens. Very friendly and helpful staff. Excellent restaurant serving high class food at reasonable price. Well situated for wonderful walks around Tsitsikamma. Highly recommend

The Lily Pond Country Lodge is beautifully located in the middle of nature. The welcome upon our arrival was very warm, the staff and the owners have introduced themselves by name and we had the feeling to be welcome from the beginning. The hotel as well as the rooms are very lovingly designed. In the hotel's own restaurant, a 4-course menu is offered in the evening, for which one can make a reservation in the morning. We used this once during our stay - the dinner and the service were excellent and the price, which was a bit high for South African standards, was reasonable. On the other days we ate outside, twice at a wine estate and once in Plettenberg Bay. With a car you are very flexible and the lodge is a central and well located starting point for national parks or hikes. Breakfast at the lodge is very good, egg dishes are prepared on order. We would like to point out the great service. Regarding our planned excursions and activities, we were advised very kindly. A great place to feel good and relax by the pool and at the same time centrally located for all activities in the area. We would definitely come back again.

We had a lovely stay at Lily Pond for a week with ample advice from the staff on local areas to explore - within easy reach of Nature’s valley, Plettenberg bay and Stormsrivier. Local areas offer numerous walks and sites to visit - don’t miss out on Stormsrivier village, Nature’s valley or the local bird park - Lily Pond itself is gorgeous with the owners exceptionally kind and friendly.

It was lovely to return to Lily Pond after a four year break, and the warm welcome we received was quite special.
There have been some changes but the core quality remains unchanged; spacious well appointed accommodation, good imaginative food and friendly efficient service.
Thanks to Niels, Margaret and all the team.

It was more than perfect, the staff including chef and the cook did everything to make our stay unforgettable
Joseph let our wishes off our lips! our emails were even written in Luxembourgish by Bronwan ;-)))
our menu for New Year's evening will remain in our memory for a very long time!
Thank you for EVERYTHING

The place is very beautifl. Run by a very friendly and professional couple, this one is a higher class escape. I deducted one point for the reasons listed below, however, they are only my personal traveler view. On the absolute positive side: the stuff is extremely friendly and helpful, the rooms are spacious and the facilities are modern. The furniture is not old (it is African style, a lot of wood and rather dark, but not old). The beds are comfortable (pillows may be too big/high for certain people, but it is a taste thing). The pool area, the pond and the overall facilities are beautiful and accomplish the higher class / luxury approach. As the hotel is far away from other restaurants / dining possibilities, you will have to dine at the hotel. The kitchen is light, healthy and very tasty. Those, who have more hunger than the "foodie culture" can sattisfy, can easily ask for double portions, without being looked at like weirdos. Very professional.

On the critical side (as having the approach to be a luxury place also means to be critized a little bit more than other places): the place could have been cleaner. There was a lot of dust under the bed and we found rest of glas on the floor from the previous guest. As we were staying 4 nights, we did not have the impression that the place was vacuumed every day (which I am used from other places like this). The paper tissues have not been refilled after they went empty and there was no renewal of shampoo in the shower. These are smaller things, that make an overall great impression less excellent.

Arguably the best lodge we have ever stayed at considering all things that matter on a holiday. Very spacious rooms with quality finishes and a view over the ponds. Close to activities and the beach. Dinner is premier 5-start quality in terms of presentation and taste. Friendly and competent staff with a GM and owners who are personally involved.

A very beautiful accommodation with spacious rooms that have their own private terrace. The staff and the owners are incredibly friendly and make sure that you have an amazing stay. The chef prepares excellent meals. Lots of great walks/hikes nearby. Would definitely stay here again.

• Garden Room

We loved it here.
Super rooms, fantastic grounds, excellent food and wine, great staff and owners.
The location is also wonderful, just 5 minutes drive from Natures Valley and close to Plett.
Josef, Bromwan, Margret and the lady who did the breakfasts were all superb hosts.
Given the quality of the Lodge the price is very good value, certainly by European standards.
If we return to the Cape, we will be back!

We had a really good experience by choosing this location.The huge garden is well kept as the entire installations.The mainhouse with the bar,restaurant... was decorated with care and fancy.A cosy and distinguished place to stay.

I am late submitting this review, but better late than never! You would go a long way to find hosts as friendly & welcoming as Margret & Niels. Their staff are also wonderful and, when we arrived earlier than expected, showed us to our room with great efficiency as the owners were still out. We spent 3 nights here and dined in every evening. The food, cooked by the owner herself with loving care, was delicious. We were a party of four, one of whom has dietary intolerances, and Margret went out of her way to ensure that she had as good a dining experience as the rest of us. Definitely to be recommended as a base for exploring this beautiful area.

(Excellent) - Owners were lovely and made sure they introduced themselves to all the guests. Gorgeous garden and beautiful inside interior. The food was absolutely outstanding and a set 7 course menu was served every night. I really liked that most of the staff were employed for 15-18 years and loved working there. They were very knowledgeable about the hotel and surrounding area.

A 4-star lodge with 5-star service, we slept in a beautiful suite (no7). Very tastefully decorated with everything you need. The lodge itself is similarly tastefully decorated. The owners are very nice and important authentic and themselves. The food, breakfast and dinner, was excellent and very tasty, the staff was very friendly and helpful in a sympathetic and individual way, a descriptive word is real! Pleasure and fun in what they do, hospitality! Everyone does everything they can to give you a pleasant stay, it is a fact that there is a power outage on a recurring basis in South Africa, but we work hard to ensure that the guest is inconvenienced as little as possible.

Good luck team Lily Pond ️

• Luxury Garden Suite

The most comfortable beds ever!
Wonderful service from the whole staff team, exceptional food and beautifully decorated throughout. The location is very tranquil and quite a distance from Plettenberg so you do need a car. 

• Garden Room

Lily Pond- from the moment of our arrival we were never greeted with anything less than a smile. We were allocated room 5 which overlooked a large Lily pond - it was lovely to sit and relax in this beautiful setting. The room had everything you could wish for, including a well stocked honesty bar. We had booked in for dinner and that was a delight - although there was a limited menu it was perfectly executed.
Breakfast was served on the lovely patio and again it was an absolute treat. This is not only somewhere we would recommend but somewhere we will return to.

• Luxury Garden Suite

When we drove through the gate we were already touched by the beautiful place. What a beauty. A very large pond, full of water lilies where the lodges are partly located. A beautifully landscaped garden. The reception room, the restaurant and the lodge were decorated with so much love and care, beautiful! We were warmly welcomed and then the great Enjoyment could begin.
In the evening, a delicious four-course menu was served in the restaurant, a culinary delight that we enjoyed.

• Luxury Suite

My 11 yr old and myself stayed here at the beginning of our South Africa trip. We stayed 3 nights whilst enjoying the Plettenberg bay attractions.
The hotel is surrounded by Lily ponds and gardens. The local baboons visited daily and the gardens offer bird and reptile life.
We had a lovely room with a private deck area by the ponds.
The large bathroom had a shower and bath. There was a coffee machine/drinks and stocked honesty bar.
The Wi-Fi worked well.
The service was top notch from the staff.
The best thing was the food offering. There was a 4 course menu which was changed daily. We were catered for as vegetarians and my daughter was able to have a kids Menu.
The bar offered a selection of drinks.
The breakfast was plentiful with fresh specials, cereal, fruit and cooked options.
The small splash pool was cold but situated in a lovely sitting area.
Overall a great stay and we would definitely recommend!

• Garden Room

It is a beautiful Lodge in a very nice location. The people there were so friendli and helpfull.
Everything is so nice arranged as they have a good eye for details. It is very quiet so you realy can listen to the nature. I loved it.

• Luxury Suite

Lilypond is a truly breath taking location. Both the grounds and the rooms were absolutely delightful but the grounds are definitely the star of the show. I spent a number of hours just sitting overlooking the lily pond and soaking it in. Set 10 minutes drive away from the bustle of Plettenberg Bay in December/January, it was the perfect jump off point for our many excursions into this spectacular part of the Garden route. Niels and Margret were wonderful hosts with Niels personally taking responsibility for my caffeine addition.....
The food was was beautifully prepared and presented in their intimate dining area with both indoor and outdoor options. Breakfast was served every morning on the front terrace by the very friendly and efficient staff with a wide array of options.
All round, I couldn't recommend it strongly enough and we will definitely be back for another visit soon.

Surrounded by nature only, you can recreate in a wonderful lodge with the highlight of three lilyponds and a huge, well-kept garden.
Thanks to Margret, Niels and their staff for a (too) short, but very pleasant stay near Tsitsikamma and Storm‘s River.
For a daytrip to Storm‘s River you will be sure our first choice again!

Wonderful stay in a beautiful location!
Friendly and attentive staff.
The owners Niels and Margret went out of their way to make us feel at home.
They were recommended to us by family members and we can understand why.
Thank you!

Fabulous stay, beautiful rooms & landscaping. Very relaxing and you don't want to leave.....

• Garden Room

Fantastic location, delicious dinner the friendliest and helpful hosts we ever had.

Thank you so much!!

• Luxury Suite

Avery special place and a great welcome from Niels & Margret. Friendly, peaceful & attention to detail is exceptional. We will hopefully be back and for longer this time. We didn't wanted to leave... Wonderful food & service, nothing to fault....  

• Garden Room

Wonderful stay in a beautiful location!
Friendly and attentive staff.
The owners Niels and Margret went out of their way to make us feel at home.
They were recommended to us by family members and we can understand why.
Thank you!

• Honeymoon Suite/Superior Suite

Super fijn verblijf gehad bij de Lily Pond! Fantastisch eten en hosts en staff waren erg gastvrij. Hebben hier heerlijk kunnen ontspannen in een luxe lodge en kunnen genieten van de mooie omgeving. Dank ook voor alle aanbevelingen met betrekking tot wat te doen in de omgeving.

• Luxury Garden Suite

Geschmackvoll eingerichtetes, sehr großes Zimmer mit Blick auf schöne Gartenanlage mit Pool und riesigem Teich. Super-nettes Personal und sehr freundliche Besitzer, großartiges Essen. Hervorragende Betten.

• Luxury Suite

The design of the hotel is great. View is exceptional. Quiet and relaxing place, with high quality staff and very friendly owners. Nice food and music at the restaurant .
Definitely place to stay and highly recommended.

• Luxury Garden Suite

Lily Pond is a truly breath taking location. Both the grounds and the rooms were absolutely delightful but the grounds are definitely the star of the show. I spent a number of hours just sitting overlooking the lily pond and soaking it in.
Set 10 minutes drive away from the bustle of Plettenberg Bay in December/January, it was the perfect jump off point for our many excursions into this spectacular part of the Garden route.
Niels and Margret were wonderful hosts with Neils personally taking responsibility for my caffeine addition.
The food was was beautifully prepared and presented in their intimate dining area with both indoor and outdoor options. Breakfast was served every morning on the front terrace by the very friendly and efficient staff with a wide array of options.
All round, I couldn't recommend it strongly enough and we will definitely be back for another visit soon.

• Luxury Garden Suite

Our stay was absolutely amazing. The owners, Niels and Margaret supported by their super friendly and hospitable staff made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived. The food at the restaurant was really excellent. The well designed lodge near Natures Valley has a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere with a well kept large garden with the highlight of three lilyponds. We will certainly stay there again when we are in that area.

• Luxury Suite

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Lily Pond Lodge. The hosts are extremely friendly and very helpful. Absolutely loved their property. So very tranquil and peaceful, you can’t help but relax. The food was exceptional as well as the staff. The surrounding area is also incredibly beautiful and we loved the hikes and the mountain biking. We would highly recommend stopping in at Lily Pond Lodge.

• Garden Room

Nach mehr als 15 Jahren sind wir zurückgekehrt zur Lily Pond. Wir waren so froh, Margret und Niels, die Inhaber und Manager wieder zu treffen. Die Lodge ist noch schöner geworden. Nach unserer Zeit im Buschcamper haben wir den Luxus der großzügigen Unterkunft und der schmackhaften Dinnermenüs von Margret genossen. Die schnelle und ordentliche Reinigung hat uns wieder fit gemacht für die Zivilisation. Der Trail von Natures Valley, einem verträumten Feriendorf, zur Salt River Mündung hat uns wirklich ins Paradies geführt. Dafür sollte man sich Zeit nehmen.

• Honeymoon Suite/Superior Suite

The property is gorgeous and has stunning views, the restaurant food is of very high quality. The staff incl. the owners are present and are very welcoming and keen to offer local suggestions. I would for sure stay again, we loved everything!

• Garden Room

We really enjoyed our stay at Lily Pond. The facilities and rooms are beautiful. We also had dinner there one night, which was delicious. 100% would stay again.

• Garden Room

Absolutely loved our time there. Margret & Niels are fantastic hosts and the staff are all very helpful and friendly. Well maintained, peaceful, restful and absolutely beautiful.

• Garden Room