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Gorge Cottage, Augrabies: best view in South Africa

12/4/2017

30 Comments

 
Gorge Cottage, Augrabies Falls National Park, South Africa
​By Roxanne Reid
If you want to stay in a cottage with one of the best views in South Africa, head for Oranjekom viewpoint in the Augrabies Falls National Park in the Northern Cape. This is where you’ll find Gorge Cottage where the view will get your pulse thumping.

​If you’ve been to the Augrabies Falls National Park before you may remember standing on the viewing platform at Oranjekom staring down at the Orange River gorge below in awe. You may even have muttered – as I did – that this would make a stunning spot for a house.

Well, it seems someone at SANParks had the same idea because Gorge Cottage was built under the viewing platform and opened to the public in April 2016. 
View from Gorge Cottage, Augrabies Falls National Park, South Africa
The view from the side of the cottage
View from Gorge Cottage, Augrabies Falls National Park, South Africa
The view from the front of the cottage
​Its greatest asset is its position on the cliff more than 200m above the river, seeming to break the laws of gravity. A wall of glass windows and sliding doors brings the outside in so you get to enjoy the view from almost every angle even while you’re inside the cottage. Outside, a sturdy fence means you feel safe and don’t have to worry about tumbling over the rocks into the gorge even if heights make your legs go wobbly.
Gorge Cottage, Augrabies Falls National Park, South Africa
​The cottage’s other most appealing feature is that come late afternoon other visitors have to leave the viewpoint to drive 10km back to the main camp by sunset. This means you have the whole place to yourself in romantic solitude. Your only neighbours from then until the following morning will be the odd dassie or klipspringer, a bat or an owl flitting by or an early morning Verreaux eagle flying overhead. It’s the kind of place that feeds the soul.
Gorge Cottage, Augrabies Falls National Park, South Africa
​The cottage is spacious and beautifully designed. Inside there’s a queen-sized bed, a wall of kitchen cupboards with gas hob, fridge and dining extension, a squashy sofa and coffee table. Outside are two braais, one in front and one to the side, so you can choose where you cook, depending on the season and your need for shade or shelter from the wind. The toilet and shower are about 25m away in a separate building.
Gorge Cottage, Augrabies Falls National Park, South Africa
​When we visited in March it was 44ºC outside at 16:00 and still 34ºC inside at 4:00 the next morning. This is because the cottage absorbs and holds heat from the surrounding granite rocks. We slept with all the doors and windows open to catch the slightest breeze (there’s insect netting on all of them). Although the cottage has no electricity – so no fan or air conditioning –management is already hatching a plan to install solar panels and a cooling system, after which summer conditions at Gorge Cottage should greatly improve.

The other niggle for those who need to pee in the middle of the night is that the toilet is a short walk away from the cottage. Luckily, management has listened to feedback from visitors and is planning to install an eco-loo in the main unit to solve this concern too.

[Update: The eco-loo was installed by the end of April 2017 and the cooling system at the end of June 2017.] 
Gorge Cottage, Augrabies Falls National Park, South Africa
​Hot as our visit was, it was wonderful to watch the softening of the light as the sun set, to fall asleep listening to the sound of water rushing over the rapids below, to know that not a soul was going to disturb our peace. We woke early enough to watch the dawn glow creep over the horizon, to hear the call of birds and watch the rocks turn from black to pale pink and then glorious red.
Gorge Cottage, Augrabies Falls National Park, South Africa
If being immersed in nature, having 220-degree views and no human neighbours appeals to you as much as it does to me, you’ll love the Gorge Cottage at Augrabies Falls National Park.

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Copyright © Roxanne Reid - No words or photographs on this site may be used without permission from roxannereid.co.za
Gorge Cottage in Augrabies Falls National Park, South Africa, has wonderful views of the Orange river gorge
Gorge Cottage in Augrabies Falls National Park, South Africa, has wonderful views of the Orange river gorge
30 Comments
Carol
12/4/2017 09:04:49 am

Stunning. Does not look like the normal SanParks accommodation!

Reply
Roxanne
12/4/2017 01:39:44 pm

No it doesn't, Carol. Although there are some other gorgeous SANParks chalets, I think this one takes the biscuit.

Reply
Wayne
13/4/2017 04:26:56 pm

Awesome view and accommodation!

Reply
Roxanne
13/4/2017 04:35:22 pm

No kidding, Wayne. Very special.

Reply
SavingWild.com link
13/4/2017 08:06:37 pm

Amazing. Wonderful. I want to be there right now.

Reply
Roxanne
13/4/2017 08:13:09 pm

You'd love it, Lori, being surrounded by all that nature and fierce beauty.

Reply
Pippa link
14/4/2017 05:22:30 pm

EXTRA-ORDINARY - Looks amazing. thanks Roxanne

Reply
Roxanne
14/4/2017 05:26:47 pm

It's really special, Pippa. Every nature lover gotta stay there at least once!

Reply
Kevin
16/4/2017 10:40:24 pm

"A room with a view." Pure magic.

Reply
Roxanne
17/4/2017 10:32:48 am

Exactly, Kevin, and what a view it is too. I know I want to go back to experience it in colder weather.

Reply
Irma
26/4/2017 05:24:17 pm

Nice info. We are booked here for 2 nights in November this year. Really looking forward to it.

Reply
Roxanne
26/4/2017 08:00:58 pm

Ah, you will love it, Irma. I just hope it's not too hot - or that you're less of a wimp about the heat than I am!

Reply
Irma
27/4/2017 11:22:04 am

I hope I will not suffer too much but the view will make it worth. Do you know if they will start soon with the cooling system and toilet?

Thelma Mills
30/6/2021 03:16:00 pm

Watercooler has been installed

Roxanne
30/6/2021 03:24:47 pm

Yes, Thelma, as I said in the post, it was installed in mid 2017. I'm sure it makes a huge difference to anyone who has visited since then.

Roxanne
27/4/2017 12:56:15 pm

Irma, the view will make it 100% worthwhile! I'm not sure when the cooling system and eco loo will be installed, but I've asked someone at the park who might be able to give me an approximate date and then I'll let you know.

Reply
Irma
27/4/2017 01:09:37 pm

Thanks!

We will continue to KTP after Augrabies, so will have to get used to the heat anyway.

Reply
Roxanne
27/4/2017 08:06:36 pm

Apparently the eco-loo has already been installed and the cooling system is expected to be finalised by the end of June, so you'll get the benefit this coming summer.

Irma
27/4/2017 08:19:06 pm

Thanks for letting me know! Good to hear about the loo. I am one of those people who has to go out at night. And the cooling system will help for sure in November.
Can't wait to go, only 204 days to go.

Reply
MANDI
16/4/2018 09:41:30 am

what are the cost per night per person ??

Reply
Roxanne
19/4/2018 10:39:47 am

If you follow the link to the Augrabies Falls National Park, in the second paragraph above, Mandi, you should be able to navigate to accommodation and find the prices. Alternatively, copy and paste this link into your browser: https://www.sanparks.org/parks/augrabies/tourism/availability_dates.php?id=2317&resort=27

Reply
Heather
24/4/2018 12:45:58 pm

It says on their website R1731 for 2 people

https://www.sanparks.org/parks/augrabies/tourism/availability_dates.php?id=2317&resort=27

Reply
Roxanne
27/4/2018 10:27:52 am

That is the current rate, Heather, yes.

iona wendelspiess
19/8/2020 05:01:09 pm

Hi Roxanne . How cold will it be staying in this cottage in June . It looks amazing & would love to try it ! Guess there are paraffin lamps for evening .
Regards Iona. 082 880 5933

Reply
iona wendelspiess
20/8/2020 12:16:12 pm

Hi Rozanne
Just booked this for 1 night June 2021 & so excited . tell me would you know how cold June is in that area ?? I know most of the year is hot hot but what about Winter ?

Reply
Roxanne
21/8/2020 07:40:45 pm

I haven't actually been there in winter, Iona. But according the SANParks Augrabies NP website: "During winter months the average daytime temperature often hovers around 20°C but lower temperatures are a possibility. Winter nights average around 0°C although the temperature drops to -5° occasionally."

Reply
Stephanie Taale link
26/10/2021 05:46:23 pm

Looks like they made some much needed changes. We stayed here in 2016 and left after 1 night. It was too hot and there was no netting at that time. So when we had all the windows and doors open and started to cook we had over a dozen small lizards crawling towards to doors. I noticed just in time and closed all doos and windows.

We would have loved to stay both nights, because as you said the view is amazing but it was just to much

Reply
Roxanne Reid link
26/10/2021 05:52:13 pm

Yes, Stephanie, luckily they took feedback from early visitors and made the changes that resulted in a much better experience. It really does have a stunning view.

Reply
Karina link
6/2/2022 01:29:02 pm

Hi,
Thanks for the article. Great info!
We immediately booked for three nights in early November.

Reply
Roxanne Reid link
15/2/2022 08:31:13 am

Glad you found it helpful, Karina. Enjoy this special place. Just be prepared for the heat in November.

Reply

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    I'm an independent travel writer and book editor with a passion for Africa - anything from African travel, people, safari and wildlife to adventure, heritage, road-tripping and slow travel.
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