Summerfields Rose Retreat and Spa is ideal for travelers who don’t want to leave the bush when they leave the game parks. Despite being only a few kilometers from the Perry’s Bridge mall intersection in Hazyview , the lodge is located on the banks of the rushing Sabi River. Visitors wind through the macadamia plantations of a working farm then through ornate but rusty gates to reach an area of dense, lush riverine bush.The sound of the rapids is the ideal soundtrack to a massage in the spa or a sundowner looking out for hippo on the lawns. A wooden walkway winds from the six secluded guest tents, via the pool deck and spa,to a riverbank bistro serving breakfast and lunch.
The tented suites are a timber and canvas construction on stilts,angled carefully to give enough privacy for a romantic and semi-open bathroom and a chill out spot with comfy day bed outside the large tented bedroom.The effect is elegant yet rustic, with carefully chosen materials allowed to weather naturally. Inside the tents are all the pampering amenities and necessities a guest might need, which is important as there is no room service and many visitors do quite like to hole up and enjoy the sylvan surroundings, venturing out only to drive up the hill to the excellent restaurant. Popular with locals and guests from other nearby lodges, this is a real foodie treat. It is best to book early to make the most of the small but exquisite menu,which is based on home-grown organic vegetables and local produce.
The only caveat about Summerfield is that it might not suit those who are not “tent people”, despite the luxuriousness, especially as the presence of water increases the likelyhood of encountering “bugs”.
