Plumbago Guest House

Thank you Ilara and Robbie for a wonderful stay, we enjoyed every moment of our visit at Plumbago Guest House. We have never experienced the kind of hospitality you showed us. The accommodation was excellent, everything was so beautiful and stylish. Ilari is an amazing cook and we got to enjoy wonderful delicacies. Everything related to our trip was taken care of first class, thanks also to Dirk who drove and guided us to safaris and attractions. We already miss you, we hope to meet again. Jari ja Satu from Finland

We had a short but lovely stay at Ilara’s guesthouse. Great view, magnificent rooms and a very fine dinner. Ilara and Robbie have good tips on what to do and really give you the idea you are staying with friends. Good start for visit at Kruger Park

Beautiful place with beautiful garden,amazing view.The very welcoming making you feel like you are at home.Nice and tidy rooms.Food was very delicious cooked with love.plumbago is the place I would really recommend to friends and family

I spent 2 nights here with a friend in early August 2023. It was, in a word, outstanding. I had last stayed here in 2011, and was very impressed then. 12 years later, nothing had changed: if anything, it was even better. Very rare indeed to find this. The hospitality of Ilara and Robbie and their team cannot be overstated. The rooms are beautiful and spacious, all details are carefully thought of and everything works properly, the gardens are beautiful (with a huge pool and a view to the east), and the food is truly of international standard. Breakfasts are lavish, with everything from fresh fruit salad (gooseberries, pomegranates), home baked pasties, cheeses, meats, nuts and muesli - as well as a cooked breakfast to follow. We had two dinners at Plumbago. Generous portions and most interesting flavours all round. On the first night we had a roasted tomato soup followed by a fillet steak (at least 300g, tender, and superbly done MR to a turn) and a vegetable pasta, and a poached pear and chocolate meringue dessert; and on the second night, a grilled mushroom and aubergine stack with pesto and balsamic reduction, followed by a scrumptious kingklip and a vegetarian curry with millet; dessert was a delicious malva pudding with a citrus cream. At around R1 700 per person per night DB&B, (although one can do only B&B at around R1 300 pp pn) this is exceptional value. Highly recommended! No more than a mostly pleasant 4.5 hours from Jo'burg.

From the excellent TripAdvisor reviews, we had very high expectations of Plumbago and it definitely met our expectations. Ilara was wonderful to deal with even before we arrived. She handled our cancellation, rebooking and then change of dates with her lovely “pleasure” attitude. Since we did not have a car, it was important that dinner was available at the bnb. Well it was not only available but it was a delicious 4 course meal and the presentation was better than most restaurants (plus we ate by candlelight). We commented on the attention to detail with flowers/greenery beautifully placed on the table and in the suite. Ilara said her staff like to do that - this was just one example of how special the staff were. Thank you Ilara and staff for making our stay so special. Thank you Robbie for sharing Elephant Whispers with us and for the interesting conversations. 2023 was our first stay at Plumbago, but we hope it will not be our last. We highly recommend Plumbago!

We have been coming to Plumbago from the UK for over 10 years and it never fails to delight. It is the perfect spot to relax, from which to access many beautiful parts of the northern parts of South Africa and, of course, it's very close to the Kruger Park. Ilara, Robbie and all the staff are highly skilled in entertaining stylishly but without any great formality. This is truly the "art than conceals art". Being a small guesthouse with just three cottages it is very quiet and peaceful. The swimming pool is excellent and has lovely views towards Hazyview and the Kruger. Ilara is an exceptional chef who produces highly imaginative cuisine. The wine racks are full of very interesting SA wines. We are currently half way through our first 4 days' stop here and we shall be returning for another relaxing 4 days after 2 weeks in the Kruger and before returning to the UK. We are already planning our next two visits to the exceptional Plumbago. Don't miss it - it is an absolute gem.

We drove from Durban, and after a long journey, were welcomed by Ilara, the dogs and with a glass of Sherry! The property is marvellous, with an incredible view, and the hosts most helpful in all aspects, even recommending where to enter Kruger, what route to take and supplying us with books of Kruger, animals and birds , and even a pair of binoculars....a packed breakfast and lunch to take to the park, and a great bed to rest! I highly recommend this personalised stay!

Ilara and Robbie went surpassed our expectations for a 'light' Sunday supper on our arrival. The careful attention to detail both in the delicious dinner and every aspect of our too short stay was perfect. The pool and accessories are clean, well maintained and most refreshing after a hot drive. Ilara served us cool drink and nibbles poolside to complete a blissful experience. The suite is clean, comfortable and good in every last detail. Warm shower, organic bathroom amenities and fluffy towels. Restful sleep in a comfortable clean bed. Ilara served a healthy plentiful breakfast on the patio. We made friends with lovely resident dogs, Milly, and company and the cat. We left refreshed and look forward to returning for more spoiling.