Guesthouse Botha House

Beachfront

1 Don Knight Ave (Off Minerva Road) Pennington, 4184 Pennington, South Africa – Excellent location – show map

Excellent location – rated 9.6/10! (score from 211 reviews)

Real guests • Real stays • Real opinions

9.1
Wonderful
211 reviews

Breakfast was excellent and filling. However don't think childrens yoghurt should be used 🙂 Beds are very comfortable.

Pamela South Africa

Absolutely beautiful historical Guest House! Lovely sitting on the veranda with beautiful sea views. Garden well maintained! The staff were excellent! Charles the Night Manager went out of his way to make our stay special. Really can’t thank him enough for going the extra mile!

Richard South Africa

Exceptional panoramic ocean views from the house. Loved the history, mostly in its original state, very impressive. Gardens are well maintained, and tranquil. Good breakfast, it's a set menu. Charles, Nancy and Sheri were incredible hosts! We enjoyed a short stroll through the Umdoni Park Forest, got to see some buck. Dinner at the Club House was really good although only served some nights. Overall, our experience was peaceful, we felt rested. If you have extra time, you can explore the surrounding areas...

Chantel South Africa

We had almost the whole place for ourselves as there were not that many other visitors. So it felt very private. We changed between 2 rooms and liked the superior room very much as it has a fantastic ocean view, straight from your bed :) Very friendly and helpful staff. Fantastic healthy breakfast. Nice pool. We were very happy there!

Yabadaba Germany

Great location, friendly and helpful staff, lovely breakfast and peaceful nights. Stunning views from garden and pool. Very near golf course with a lovely restaurant.

Edit South Africa

The character and history of the house kept safe. The pool and beautiful ocean views. Breakfast was great. Really enjoyed our time there

Werner South Africa

The breakfast is a highlight of the day! Always friendly staff which became almost like family :-) Thank you so much for always making our stay exceptional!

Ilse South Africa

We upgraded to the deluxe room which is sea facing. This place is way better than the photos. Nancy and Charles were considerate and very helpful

Mamo South Africa

staff was so friendly, loved the two night we spent there, they truly went out of their way to make us feel welcome !!!

Yolanda South Africa

The staff are amazing! Special mention to Charles who was always willing to help with anything and always with a smile! Then also special mention to Princess and Bongisile (hope I got her name right). The breakfast is super delicious too. The historical house is gorgeous. I would definitely stay again if ever in the area again.

Chantal South Africa
9.1
Wonderful
211 reviews
  • What guests loved the most:
  • “Breakfast was excellent and filling. However don't think childrens yoghurt should be used 🙂 Beds are very comfortable.”
    Pamela Pamela South Africa South Africa
  • “Absolutely beautiful historical Guest House! Lovely sitting on the veranda with beautiful sea views. Garden well maintained! The staff were excellent!”
    Richard Richard South Africa South Africa
  • “Exceptional panoramic ocean views from the house. Loved the history, mostly in its original state, very impressive. Gardens are well maintained, and tranquil. Good breakfast, it's a set menu.”
    Chantel Chantel South Africa South Africa
  • “We had almost the whole place for ourselves as there were not that many other visitors. So it felt very private.”
    Yabadaba Yabadaba Germany Germany
  • “Great location, friendly and helpful staff, lovely breakfast and peaceful nights. Stunning views from garden and pool. Very near golf course with a lovely restaurant.”
    Edit Edit South Africa South Africa
  • “The character and history of the house kept safe. The pool and beautiful ocean views. Breakfast was great. Really enjoyed our time there”
    Werner Werner South Africa South Africa
  • “The breakfast is a highlight of the day! Always friendly staff which became almost like family :-) Thank you so much for always making our stay exceptional!”
    Ilse Ilse South Africa South Africa
  • “We upgraded to the deluxe room which is sea facing. This place is way better than the photos. Nancy and Charles were considerate and very helpful”
    Mamo Mamo South Africa South Africa
  • “staff was so friendly, loved the two night we spent there, they truly went out of their way to make us feel welcome !!!”
    Yolanda Yolanda South Africa South Africa
  • “The staff are amazing! Special mention to Charles who was always willing to help with anything and always with a smile! Then also special mention to Princess and Bongisile (hope I got her name right)....”
    Chantal Chantal South Africa South Africa

Categories:

  • Staff 9.7
  • Facilities9.0
  • Cleanliness9.3
  • Comfort9.3
  • Value for money9.1
  • Location 9.6
  • Free WiFi 7.4
High score for Pennington Low score for Pennington

Located in Pennington, 18 miles from Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve, Botha House has accommodations with an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a bar and a shared lounge. 18 miles from Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve and 6 miles from Sezela country club, the property provides a garden and a terrace. The guesthouse has family rooms.

The guesthouse will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms offering a closet, an electric tea pot, a fridge, a minibar, a safety deposit box, a TV and a private bathroom with a shower. Free WiFi is accessible to all guests, while certain rooms also offer a patio. At Botha House the rooms are equipped with bed linen and towels.

The accommodation offers a buffet or à la carte breakfast.

Activities such as hiking, windsurfing, cycling can be enjoyed in the surrounding areas, and guests can relax along the beachfront.

Couples in particular like the location – they rated it 9.6 for a two-person trip.

Botha House has been welcoming Booking.com guests since Apr 26, 2019

Distance in property description is calculated using © OpenStreetMap

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Most popular amenities

1 swimming pool
Tea/Coffee Maker in All Rooms
Bar
Beachfront

Property Highlights

Top Location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.6)

Breakfast Info

Full English/Irish, Buffet

Free Private Parking Available On Site

Saved to 233 lists

Availability

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Sleeps Accommodation Type Price
Max adults: 2
Twin/Double Room
  • 2 twin beds
or
  • 1 king bed
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Max adults: 2
Twin/Double Room
  • 1 king bed
or
  • 2 twin beds
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Max adults: 2
Twin/Double Room
  • 1 king bed
or
  • 2 twin beds
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Max adults: 2
Twin/Double Room
  • 2 twin beds
or
  • 1 king bed
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Max adults: 4
Family Room
  • 4 twin beds
or
  • 2 king beds
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4 reasons to choose Botha House

  • Prices you can't beat!
  • Booking is safe
  • Manage your bookings online
  • The staff speaks English
Closest beaches
  • Pennington Beach

    Pennington Beach

    8.3 Very good beach
    800 feet from property
  • Nkomba Beach

    Nkomba Beach

    8.5 Very good beach
    1.4 miles from property

Guest reviews

9.1
Wonderful · 211 reviews
Read all reviews
Categories:
  • Staff 9.7
  • Facilities9.0
  • Cleanliness9.3
  • Comfort9.3
  • Value for money9.1
  • Location 9.6
  • Free WiFi 7.4
High score for Pennington Low score for Pennington

Select topics to read reviews:

See what guests loved the most:

  • Pamela South Africa

    “Breakfast was excellent and filling. However don't think childrens yoghurt should be used 🙂 Beds are very comfortable.”

  • Richard South Africa

    “Absolutely beautiful historical Guest House! Lovely sitting on the veranda with beautiful sea views. Garden well maintained! The staff were excellent! Charles the Night Manager went out of his way to make our stay special. Really can’t thank him enough for going the extra mile!”

  • Chantel South Africa

    “Exceptional panoramic ocean views from the house. Loved the history, mostly in its original state, very impressive. Gardens are well maintained, and tranquil. Good breakfast, it's a set menu. Charles, Nancy and Sheri were incredible hosts! We enjoyed a short stroll through the Umdoni Park Forest, got to see some buck. Dinner at the Club House was really good although only served some nights. Overall, our experience was peaceful, we felt rested. If you have extra time, you can explore the surrounding areas...”

  • Yabadaba Germany

    “We had almost the whole place for ourselves as there were not that many other visitors. So it felt very private. We changed between 2 rooms and liked the superior room very much as it has a fantastic ocean view, straight from your bed :) Very friendly and helpful staff. Fantastic healthy breakfast. Nice pool. We were very happy there!”

  • Edit South Africa

    “Great location, friendly and helpful staff, lovely breakfast and peaceful nights. Stunning views from garden and pool. Very near golf course with a lovely restaurant.”

  • Werner South Africa

    “The character and history of the house kept safe. The pool and beautiful ocean views. Breakfast was great. Really enjoyed our time there”

  • Ilse South Africa

    “The breakfast is a highlight of the day! Always friendly staff which became almost like family :-) Thank you so much for always making our stay exceptional!”

  • Mamo South Africa

    “We upgraded to the deluxe room which is sea facing. This place is way better than the photos. Nancy and Charles were considerate and very helpful”

  • Yolanda South Africa

    “staff was so friendly, loved the two night we spent there, they truly went out of their way to make us feel welcome !!!”

  • Chantal South Africa

    “The staff are amazing! Special mention to Charles who was always willing to help with anything and always with a smile! Then also special mention to Princess and Bongisile (hope I got her name right). The breakfast is super delicious too. The historical house is gorgeous. I would definitely stay again if ever in the area again.”

Property questions and answers
Browse questions from guests for anything extra you want to know about the property

The property usually replies within a few days

  • Hi there. The room description says "Standard Double or Twin Room with Garden View", but then underneath there is no option to choose a room with 2 twin beds. How can I make sure if I book the room that I get two twin beds? Thank you!
    Hi! Once you have booked you can send a message requesting two twin beds :) then we will arrange the rest!
    Answered on August 11, 2021
  • Hi. Do you offer dinner menus or do you do just breakfast?
    We currently do not offer dinner - There is however an amazing restaurant 2min drive from Botha House that would love to host you:)
    Answered on December 28, 2021
  • Im interested in the entire house for 9 people , I would like to know if there is a kitchen and which pictures are off the actual apartment with pic of the kitchen and lounge
    Thank you for your enquiry. Please view our rates online . Botha House is not a self catering facility but we do have the Forest Cottage that is self catering. Please advise on dates and we can check availability for you. Kind regards, Jacolette
    Answered on April 17, 2021
  • Are you pet friendly
    We cannot allow pets at Botha House as we have mongoose and a variety of small buck on the property.
    Asked about: Twin/Double Room • Answered on March 25, 2021
  • Good evening, do you allow small dogs? We are travelling down from Gauteng with two small dogs and would like to stay over in Pennington on Saturday evening. Thank you for your time, Flakie Potgieter
    Hi Flakie, Unfortunately not. We have mongoose and small buck on our property so we have a strict no dog policy. We hope that you will find another establishment that will be able to accommodate you! Safe Travels! Kind Regards The Botha House Team
    Answered on February 19, 2021

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Hosted by Jacolette Crous

9.7
Host Review Score
Jacolette Crous
Comprising 9 double or twin en-suite bedrooms and a self-catering cottage, all with king-sized beds, this historical house can comfortably host up to 22 visitors. 7 of our suites and the cottage offer panoramic sea views with the remaining 2 smaller suites off our lovely and picturesque courtyard garden. Botha House provides an unforgettable experience. Your home away from home where authenticity and style meets tranquil splendour. Less than an hour's drive from Durban, situated in the heart of one of KwaZulu-Natal's coastal forests, Botha House is an ideal location to enjoy the full South Coast experience. For the discerning golfer, pack your golf clubs and tee-off on the picturesque Umdoni Park Golf Club. Or enjoy a stroll along Pennington’s beach, or the Umdoni Park forest trails with exciting birding opportunities. For the more adventurous at heart, go scuba diving off the world renowned Aliwal Shoal or bungee jumping at Oribi Gorge. Or simply relax with a glass of wine or tipple of your choice and enjoy the breathtaking ocean vistas from our terrace or pool.
Umdoni Park owes its existence to the foresight and generosity of Sir Frank Reynolds (1852 – 1930), Member of Parliament and successful sugar farmer. The Umdoni Park Trust was set up in 1920, following which the Park was presented as a ‘gift to the nation’. The Trust was required to ‘hold’ Botha House for the use of Annie Botha and at her death to the use of the Prime Minister. and his successors in office’, and to hold ‘the remainder of Umdoni Park Estate” for the use of the public. Although the Trust then took on the responsibility for the administration of the Estate, Sir Frank continued to put enormous effort into the development of the property. The first 9 holes of the golf course were completed in 1921, with the second 9 holes being completed 9 years later. The club house was built in 1926/27. By September 1918 he had selected a site for the proposed ‘cottage’ for his friend General Botha and Botha House was 'born'....
Pennington is a beautiful, relatively small village on Kwa-Zulu Natal's South Coast in South Africa. It has 2 very different golf courses: Umdoni Park and Selborne. Pennington is home to some lovely restaurants, a craft brewery, small shopping mall, but what makes it unique is that it enjoys the best of both worlds - Indigenous coastal forest (one of the few remaining) and the Indian Ocean. The former enjoys some lovely wildlife (Buskbuck, Red Duiker, Blue Duiker, Leguaan, Bushpig and much more...), grasslands, trees, a gorge with the Nkumbane River & a waterfall and an array of forest birds, whilst the latter provides swimming, rock pools and the seasonal sightings of whales, dolphins and sea birds. The forest also has some lovely trails for walking, running and cycling and hosts a Parkrun every Saturday morning and a MyRun every Sunday morning. The birding and photographic opportunities are endless.
Languages spoken: Afrikaans,English
Area Info *
Guests loved walking around the neighborhood!
Excellent location – show map
What's nearby
  • Umdoni Golf Club
    0.3 miles
  • Scottburgh Golf Club
    8 miles
  • Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve
    10 miles
  • Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve
    10.1 miles
  • Crocworld Ezembeni
    10.8 miles
Restaurants & cafes
  • Restaurant Umdoni Park
    0.3 miles
  • Cafe/Bar Umdoni Park
    0.3 miles
Natural Beauty
  • River Nkumbane
    1.9 miles
Beaches in the Neighborhood
  • Pennington Beach
    800 feet
  • Nkomba Beach
    1.4 miles
  • Bazley Beach
    2.5 miles
  • Preston Beach
    4.9 miles
  • Park Rynie Beach
    6 miles
Closest Airports
  • Pietermaritzburg Airport
    54.4 miles
  • King Shaka International Airport
    59.7 miles
* All distances are measured in straight lines. Actual travel distances may vary.
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Amenities of Botha House

Most popular amenities

1 swimming pool
Tea/Coffee Maker in All Rooms
Bar
Beachfront
Bathroom
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels
  • Private Bathroom
  • Toilet
  • Shower
Bedroom
  • Linens
  • Wardrobe or closet
Outdoors
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Sun deck
  • BBQ facilities Additional charge
  • Terrace
  • Garden
Kitchen
  • Electric kettle
  • Refrigerator
Room Amenities
  • Socket near the bed
Activities
  • Tour or class about local culture Additional charge
  • Themed dinners Additional charge
  • Walking tours
  • Beach
  • Beachfront
  • Snorkeling Off-site Additional charge
  • Horseback riding Additional charge
  • Diving Off-site Additional charge
  • Cycling
  • Hiking
  • Windsurfing Off-site
  • Fishing Off-site
  • Golf course (within 2 miles) Additional charge
Media & Technology
  • Satellite channels
  • TV
Food & Drink
  • Wine/Champagne Additional charge
  • Special diet meals (on request)
  • Snack bar
  • Bar
  • Minibar
  • Tea/Coffee maker
Internet
WiFi is available in some hotel rooms and is free of charge.
Parking
Free private parking is available on site (reservation is not needed).
  • Accessible parking
  • Secure parking
Services
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Shared lounge/TV area
  • Private check-in/out
  • Concierge
Front Desk Services
  • Invoice provided
Safety & security
  • Fire extinguishers
  • CCTV outside property
  • Security alarm
  • 24-hour security
General
  • Air conditioning
  • Smoke-free property
  • Heating
  • Family rooms
  • Ironing facilities
  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Iron
  • Safe
Outdoor swimming pool
Free! All pools are free of charge
  • Open all year
  • All ages welcome
  • Pool/Beach towels
  • Beach chairs/Loungers
  • Pool with view
  • Shallow end
Spa
  • Beach chairs/Loungers
  • Pool/Beach towels
Languages Spoken
  • Afrikaans
  • English
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Great! Thanks for your response.
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Sustainability initiatives
This property has taken steps to provide more sustainable and eco-friendly travel

House rules Botha House takes special requests – add in the next step!

Check-in

2:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Check-out

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Cancellation/
prepayment

Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodations type. Please enter the dates of your stay and check what conditions apply to your preferred room.

Children & Beds

Child policies

Children of all ages are welcome.

To see correct prices and occupancy info, add the number and ages of children in your group to your search.

Crib and extra bed policies

0 - 12 years
Extra bed by request
ZAR 350 per child, per night
13+ years
Extra bed by request
ZAR 450 per person, per night

Additional fees are not calculated automatically in the total cost and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

There's no capacity for cribs at this property.

The maximum number of extra beds allowed depends on the room you choose. Double-check the maximum capacity for the room you selected.

All cribs and extra beds are subject to availability.

No age restriction

There's no age requirement for check-in

Mastercard Visa Botha House accepts these cards and reserves the right to temporarily hold an amount prior to arrival.

Smoking

Smoking is not allowed.

Pets

Pets are not allowed.

The fine print

FAQs about Botha House

  • Room options at Botha House include:

    • Twin/Double
    • Family

  • The prices at Botha House may vary depending on your stay (e.g. dates, hotel's policy etc.). To see prices, enter your dates.

  • Botha House offers the following activities/services (charges may apply):

    • Cycling
    • Hiking
    • Snorkeling
    • Diving
    • Fishing
    • Windsurfing
    • Golf course (within 2 miles)
    • Beachfront
    • Horseback riding
    • Themed dinners
    • Walking tours
    • Tour or class about local culture
    • Beach

  • Check-in at Botha House is from 2:00 PM, and check-out is until 11:00 AM.

  • The following parking options are available to guests staying at Botha House (subject to availability):

    • Parking on site
    • Private Parking
    • Parking
    • Secure parking
    • Accessible parking
    • Free parking

  • Guests staying at Botha House can enjoy a highly-rated breakfast during their stay (guest review score: 9.1).

    Breakfast option(s) include:

    • Full English/Irish
    • Buffet
    • À la carte

  • Botha House is 1.9 miles from the center of Pennington.

  • From the nearest airport, you can get to Botha House by:

    • Car 1h 50min

  • Yes, this hotel has a pool. See details about the pool and other facilities on this page.