The Fernery Lodge and Chalets

At the base of the lovely Tsitsikamma Mountains, located alongside ancient rivers that make their way towards the Indian Ocean, lies the beautiful Forest Ferns Estate. Occupying a magnificent position that borders onto the Tsitsikamma National Park, it has enchanting views of the rugged coastline, river gorge, and surrounding plantations… the perfect spot to reacquaint yourself with nature and renew the harmony of your soul.

The Fernery Lodge
The magnificent Fernery Lodge is perched above a 30-meter waterfall in the Sanddrift River gorge, with stunning views of the river mouth, Indian Ocean and Tsitsikamma mountains. It offers guests breathtaking views, beautifully appointed living areas, and 7 superbly furnished luxury rooms that are tastefully and individually decorated. Every effort has been made to ensure our guests' comfort, from crisp percale linen and large luxurious bathrooms to underfloor heating and satellite television. Other features include heated towel rails, tea and coffee-making facilities, a bar fridge stocked on request, digital safes, hairdryers and cosy bathrobes. Open fireplaces in the lounge and dining room, a Jacuzzi, sauna and swimming pool, are but some of the features that make the Lodge a really special destination.

The Fernery Chalets
Nestled among the fynbos overlooking the river, the charming Fernery chalets are beautifully furnished and equipped, offering guests the perfect country retreat. Spacious and secluded, each chalet has an en suite bathroom with both bath and shower, and we have aspired to provide everything for your comfort from crisp percale linen and mohair blankets, to a bar fridge stocked on request, tea and coffee facilities and a barbeque with wood and charcoal. Enjoy the tranquillity and beauty of river pools, birdlife, mountains and plantations from the privacy of the sheltered deck, or curl up in front of a cosy log fire indoors. Chalet facilities include a recreation room with satellite television and a sauna, a swimming pool and an eight-man jacuzzi that overhangs the river gorge.

Activities at the Fernery Lodge and Surrounds
Whether you're an energetic morning jogger, bird watcher, mountain biker or simply want to lounge around the pool there is something for everyone at the Fernery.

The Spa
For those who want to fully relax and need a little pampering, you can choose from a selection of treatments at our spa situated in the Lodge. (Please book in advance via reception)

About The Tsitsikamma Mountains

The Tsitsikamma Range stretches just over 80 km from the Keurbooms River in the west just north of Plettenberg Bay, to Kareedouw Pass and the Eerste River in the east near the town of Kareedouw, and forms a continuous range with the Outeniqua Mountains to the west.[2] The range consists almost exclusively of Table Mountain sandstone which is extremely erosion-resistant. Peak Formosa is the highest point in the range at 1675 m. The climate of the range is extremely mild, with temperature variations only between 10 °C and 25 °C generally and rainfall exceeding 1000 mm per annum, thus the region supports verdant fynbos and Afromontane temperate gallery forest habitats. Snow sometimes occurs on the highest peaks in winter.

The topography of the mountains is interesting, in that the range rises abruptly from the south at a very defined line that runs almost due east-west at the 34° south latitude. This is due to the very regular nature of the rise of the Table Mountain Sandstone in an anticline fold structure above the grade of the surrounding Tsitsikamma coastal plateau.