Port St Johns River Lodge

Port St Johns River Lodge is a lodge-style base for travellers who want room to slow down between outings. You have a restaurant, swimming pools, a garden and several ways to spend an idle hour without turning the place into an entertainment resort. The useful sort of luxury, in other words: somewhere to eat, sleep and decide whether the next move is the river, the road or absolutely nothing.

Families are catered for with family rooms, a children's play area and a games room. Adults can disappear into the library, try table tennis or head for the fitness facilities. The lodge also has an outdoor setting with garden areas and outdoor furniture, giving you somewhere beyond the room when the day is still warm.

The lodge sits in Port St. Johns, South Africa, just beyond the Pondoland Bridge on the Mthatha tar road. Port St Johns is close enough for practical errands and local exploring, while the lodge's river-side setting puts you outside the centre rather than in the middle of it.

Coming from the south, you follow the N2 to Mthatha and then the R61 towards Port St Johns. From the north, the R61 runs through Kokstad, Flagstaff and Lusikisiki before you cross the Pondoland Bridge. At the stop sign, turn left; the lodge is on the Mthatha tar road. It is the sort of arrival where the final stretch matters, so daylight is a sensible friend.

The room choice is broad enough to match different kinds of dive trip. A standard double suits a couple who want a straightforward base, while a standard triple or family room gives you a more workable arrangement when several people are travelling together. The two-bedroom chalet is the obvious pick when privacy matters more than keeping everyone in one room. There are also cottages and suites for a different style of stay.

Air conditioning, a private bathroom and a television feature in the standard rooms and chalets. That covers the basics after a long day out: cool the room, shower properly and put something mindless on while your kit bag waits for tomorrow. Some room categories add a fridge, kitchen, microwave, dining area, patio and tea-making facilities, with a view attached to that particular category.

The double suite adds a safe, telephone, towels and toiletries, while selected rooms include heating as well as a fan. Facilities vary by category, so the room card is worth reading before you choose rather than assuming that every cottage, chalet and standard room is set up the same way.

The A la Carte Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, so the day does not need to revolve around finding the next meal in town. Breakfast comes as a buffet or à la carte, which is useful when you either want to get moving or prefer to take the morning at a more civilised pace.

A snack bar is also available for something less formal between proper meals. The lodge lists a restaurant and bar among its facilities, giving you a place to sit with a drink rather than treating every evening as a logistical exercise.

For days spent out exploring, picnic lunches are available. The restaurant offers three meals a day, breakfast with two service styles, and a lighter option.

There are two swimming pools, including an outdoor pool, with beach and pool equipment and towels available. The garden and outdoor furniture give you somewhere to sit between swims, while the N’TABA RIVER LODGE SPA offers a quieter change of pace when your muscles have had enough of organised activity.

For a little movement, the lodge has fitness facilities, table tennis, darts, cycling and hiking. Fishing is also available. These are useful options when you want to keep the day going without signing up for another major excursion; table tennis, in particular, requires less commitment than a second full day on the road.

The wider area opens the door to golf, wildlife observation and cultural excursions, with outings to Magwa Falls, Angel Falls, the airstrip, beaches and golf. Children have a play area and games room, so a family group can split up for an hour without everyone being expected to enjoy the same thing.

Check-in runs from 14:00 to 20:00 and check-out is by 10:00. The lodge asks you to share your expected arrival time, which is particularly sensible if your drive to Port St Johns runs later than planned. Private check-in and check-out are available.

Parking is free, and an airport transfer service is available to arrange with the lodge. Internet access is available. Laundry and ironing services, a safe, a wake-up service and room service cover the practical jobs that tend to appear once the bags are unpacked.

Guests under 18 can check in only with a parent or official guardian. A refundable damage deposit is collected on arrival and returned after the property has been checked. Smoking areas are provided, while the accommodation itself is non-smoking.