Once again I find myself at 37 Kantoor Street in Lydenburg at my favourite stop-over guesthouse in that town…De Ark.
Gently lit by the fading afternoon sunlight, this Grand Dame of Lydenburg is highly recommended for those who have the time, and the inclination, to break a trip to the more Northern towns and game reserves.
I use it so that I can get a good night’s rest and then I have only a short journey to my final destination which is often close to Hoedspruit, which is only 2.5 hours away.
This means that I do not have to leave my home in Johannesburg in the early hours of the morning, but can leave mid-morning and be at De Ark by early afternoon. (3.5-hour drive from Johannesburg)
A far more genteel and respectable way to travel…for me anyway.
My last visit here was in July and the gardens were not as green and the roses were not in bloom.
This time around, as I walked through the front gate, I was assailed by the almost overpowering scent of the multitude of flowering roses.
An addition that I immediately noticed was the large generator that is now capable of running the entire property given the ongoing load-shedding issues.
Plans are afoot to convert this noisy and eco-unfriendly generator to solar power in the not-too-distant future.
Well done to the owners for having the foresight to make certain that De Ark will be at the forefront of an off-grid facility in Lydenburg.
The front garden is from a different angle. The almost English layout of the garden is in stark contrast to the dusty, pothole-filled streets of the town on the other side of the pristine white fence.
De Ark is a veritable oasis in this small town that seems to be destined to go the way of many others of similar size in South Africa. However, what the town does have going in its favour is the fact that it is one of the most direct, if pothole-filled, routes to the various reserves and lodges that lie to the North.
The dining room in preparation for a meal service.
On my July visit, the front office desk took up a large portion of this space as the reception area was being renovated. With that now complete, the large and imposing desk has been returned to its rightful place in an adjoining room and this room reverts to being able to accommodate all the visitors.
Breakfast time! Guests are offered a choice of either a continental or a hot breakfast. Both of which are delicious, which makes choices difficult.
I start with freshly cut fruit and yoghurt and THEN decide if a plate of bacon and eggs is required…which they usually are.
Every room in De Ark has a different theme.
On this visit, my room was done in Baroque style, which prompted my friend Yannis to pen me a text message that became the title of this post…”If it ain’t Baroque, don’t fix it”.
The overriding theme though all the rooms that I have stayed in to date has been one of comfort and attention to detail.
Be it the coffee and tea and biscuits in the rooms or the fridge that was an absolute necessity to keep my water cold given the 30C+ heat that the town was experiencing.
The bed and the linen were both comfortable and inviting and even the pillows scored highly on my ‘pillow meter’…I travel with my own pillow as very few hotels meet my standard of firmness and comfort when it comes to pillow choices on offer.
In this case, De Ark did.
The owner told me that she had painted this ceiling while standing on a ladder and that chiro appointments were required once she had completed this task.
She did say that if she ever tackled a ceiling again she would follow in the footsteps of Michelangelo and set up a scaffold that she could lie on.
Just a few steps away from my room is the ‘heart’ of any small town guesthouse…the bar.
There was a group of guests braaiing in the back garden and they were making good use of this space as well.
It was their laughter that I fell asleep to, and given that it got quiet relatively early, it was not intrusive at all.
Wine anyone? I have a suspicion that the drink of choice in this neck of the woods is far more serious than a chardonnay or a dry white.
But even, if like me you don’t drink, the walls and surfaces here a filled with a plethora of memorabilia that merits a look.
Good night from the lekker De Ark in Lydenburg. I look forward to visiting again in the not-too-distant future, and next time I hope to try out your Goth-themed room.
To find out more about the guest house and what it offers, visit their website by clicking on the logo above.
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