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The old trading post

Wilderness - South Africa

Email The old trading post Reservations: booksa@madbookings.com

The Old Trading Post Accommodation

The Old Trading Post, near Wilderness offers guests both bed and breakfast and self-catering accommodation options.We have four rooms / units accommodating a maximum of ten guests. Children and pets are welcome.

Accommodation consists of:

Strelitzia Cottage
Strelitzia Cottage is a one bedroom cottage with double bed in the bedroom, en-suite bathroom with bath and shower. The open plan living area of the cottage has bunk beds for children, a lounge and dining area and fully equipped kitchen for self-catering. The cottage can accommodate a family two adults and two children.

The Tin Room
Adjoining the cottage can be used as a second bedroom to accommodate groups of up to 6 persons self-catering or B&B. The kitchen has a 4 plate electric stove, fridge - freezer, kettle, toaster, crockery and cutlery. The cottage also has an air-conditioner, heaters, fan, washing machine and television.

The Garden Room
The Garden Room was originally the milk-room where the original owners separated the cream from their milk. It is a free standing bedroom with double bed and en-suite bathroom with a shower.
There is a kitchenette for self-catering with bar fridge, kettle, microwave oven, toaster, gas stove, cutlery and crockery. The room is in the garden in the shade of an ancient Milkwood tree with a view of the fish pond. Outside is a cosy courtyard with outdoor furniture and portable braai.

Lara’s Room
The only guest bedroom located within the main house. It has a double bed and a romantic bathroom with a Victorian cast iron bath. Facilities include, bar fridge, kettle, tea and coffee, ceiling fan and heater.
There is easy access to the TV lounge and breakfast room, with a cosy patio next to the waterfall and fish pond. Here the bird’s bath and feed all day.

The Tin Room
The façade of this bedroom is clad with corrugated iron capturing the atmosphere of a bygone era. The room has two single beds. The en-suite bathroom has a shower. The room adjoins Strelitzia Cottage. Facilities include, bar fridge, kettle, tea and coffee, air-conditioning and heater.

The Tin Room is a good option when a family books the cottage and they have teenage children or grand parents who need a private separate bedroom and bathroom.

FACILITIES
All the accommodation has en-suite bathrooms, kettles, complimentary tea and coffee, bar fridges, television, hair driers, heaters and fans or air-conditioning. Rooms have comfortable beds with fine percale linen and duvets, electric under-blankets (in winter,) towels, and personal amenities.

We also supply many extras such as emergency lighting, mosquito repellent, playing cards, magazines, books and tourist brochures for activities in Wilderness and the Garden Route.

Guests can make use of facilities in the main house which includes the dining room for breakfasts (and the odd bit of office work.) Relax in the lounge (which was the original general dealer store (Trading Post) from about 1910 – 1970.

There is a television lounge with wide screen television, DVD and VCR. Outside there is a long sunny veranda and various patios with outdoor furniture and braai facilities. Here guests can relax, read, socialize or soak in the peace whilst not out exploring the surroundings and The Garden Route.

Guests visiting The Old Trading Post can expect:
· A unique and tranquil experience in the heart of the Wilderness Lakes district.
· Cosy and tastefully decorated accommodation
· Spotlessly clean rooms, well equipped with all a guest may need
· A warm welcome and friendly farewell from their hosts
· Personal care and attention during their stay
· Delicious country breakfasts
· A garden in which to relax and enjoy the atmosphere, birds and plants
· Beautiful scenic surroundings, beaches, lakes, rivers, forests on their doorstep
· A wonderful base to explore Wilderness and other attractions of The Garden Route

ACTIVITIES
Enjoy Wilderness and the surroundings by:
· walking the trails of Wilderness National Park
· birding and visiting one of the bird hides
· cycling the back roads
· spending time on the endless sandy beaches
· visiting the craft markets
· hiring a canoe and paddling the Touw River and Serpentine
· dining in one of the many restaurants
· going paragliding
· whale and dolphin watching

Attractions
Explore the Garden Route by visiting the towns of:
· George for shopping, museums, cinemas
· Knysna for oysters, waterfront, forests and boat trips
· Sedgefield for the Saturday Wild Oats and Scarab markets, Timberlake Organic Farmstall and Swartvlei
· Oudtshoorn for the Cango Caves, ostriches, crocodiles and other wildlife

Or by taking day trips:
· Over the Swartberg Pass to Prince Albert and back via Meiringspoort
· To the Tsitsikamma, for Elephant parks, Plettenberg Bay, Monkeyland, Bird Sanctuary, bungi jumping, canopy tours and Storms River
· Mossel Bay and beyond for, seafood, wildlife farms and bungi jumping
· Travelling the back-roads – Seven Passes Road, Montagu Pass and the Klein Karoo

There is abundant birdlife in the garden and wetlands with continuous flocks of cormorants, ducks and egrets flying overhead. Listen to the calls of the Fish Eagles, Nightjars, the song of the Southern Boubou and the songs of all the other birds. (Over 200 bird species can be seen in the area.) The forested hills, fynbos, reeds, lakes and rivers all blend into a beautiful natural environment in the heart of the Garden Route.

History
The Old Trading Post dates back about 100yrs, to when there were no roads in the area and access to the lakes district was limited. It was here that Frans Roelofse built his house and opened a general dealer store to serve the local community of poor woodcutters, farmers and fishermen.

Most lived in humble cottages made of mud bricks, timber and corrugated iron. A few remnants of these buildings can still be seen in the valley. In 1929 the railway line was built and later the present N2 national road was built. The Roelofse’s shop ran until the 1970’s when his wife closed it due to old age.

Today the shop serves as a cosy lounge for guests, whilst the house and outbuildings provide the accommodation.
The nearby seaside village of Wilderness is nestled between the sea, the Touw river and the coastal hills, and offers a variety of restaurants and a few shops. In the area there are endless sandy beaches, walks in the forest and rivers and numerous adventure activities.

booksa@madbookings.com Email The old trading post Reservations: booksa@madbookings.com