Lethabo Estate - Romantic Picnics, Weddings, Spa, Conference, Restaurant — Hotel in Gauteng

A Hidden Gem: The Willow Tree Hideaway at Lethabo Estate

Our stay at Lethabo Estate's Willow Tree Hideaway was absolutely incredible, far exceeding our expectations. From the moment we arrived, we were struck by the beauty of the surroundings—honestly, it's even more stunning than the photos on the website. This truly is a hidden gem, and we feel so lucky to have discovered it. While we would love to keep it our secret, we also want to see it succeed, so this is our review:

Hospitality: Lise and the team went above and beyond to make our stay unforgettable. Everyone was incredibly friendly, accommodating, and always willing to help. Their attention to detail and warmth made us feel at home for the entire week. It was wonderful to wake up every morning and receive such kind faces. They truly live up to their name - Lethabo - which means "Joy".

The Stay: Our thatched boudoir was serene, beautifully furnished, and offered the perfect escape. Surrounded by nature, we felt completely at peace. A tip for nature lovers: bring insect repellent if you plan to enjoy the gorgeous riverside sunsets, and some binoculars if you enjoy bird watching.

Food: The food was phenomenal! Every meal was fresh, flavourful, and satisfying, with such large portions. The breakfasts, included with our stay, were hearty and of outstanding quality. For vegans and vegetarians, the restaurant menu has plenty of options for you, too! Let's just say we left a little heavier than when we first arrived.

Activities & Surroundings:

The on-site spa treatments were heavenly—our massages left us feeling completely relaxed for the rest of the day.

Watching the Nguni cattle graze and seeing the horses frolic by the river was a magical touch.

The estate's commitment to a circular economy is admirable and added to our enjoyment of the experience as an ethical getaway that is kinder to the planet. We are quite passionate about the environment and appreciate their commitment to conserving the beauty of nature.

We loved spotting all the local wildlife, leaping fish, water fowl, frogs, small bucks, and an array of unique bird species.

For those planning a longer stay, we highly recommend exploring the nearby Cradle of Humankind Maropeng Visitor Centre and Maggie's Farm just up the road, both of which added to the richness of our trip.

Final Thoughts:

Our week at Lethabo Estate was unforgettable. This place is a true sanctuary, offering a perfect balance of luxury, nature, and thoughtful hospitality. We can't wait to return for more getaways. Thank you to the entire Lethabo team for creating such a beautiful and...

This is probably a nice place but our experience was rather clouded by the overpriced Father’s Day lunch. I personally felt SCAMMED the second we walked in to the restaurant and realising that it was just us who came for the lunch. The owner called me a day prior, pressuring me to make payment as though they were fully booked. I actually regretted choosing this Father’s Day lunch over the other options we had.

R250 kids meal that doesn’t include drinks R650 adults meal,no drinks and the meals were nice but honestly NOT WORTH the price. I wished I could ask for a REFUND!!! As soon as we sat down we were offered drinks menu and asked why? Because when I booked I was of the thought that there was beer included. The beer was not even testable and they didn’t care to offer us alternative drinks considering the price we paid. All they cared about was making more money out of us and shame they did because my partner ordered us a couple of drinks. Offering us alternative drinks would’ve been better because we would’ve still ordered more anyway. And for the kids meal to not include just a soda??? That was day light robbery!!!

If you’re going to price your meals that high atleast make it worth the price,we were of the thought that it would be a buffet. Your Father’s Day marketing video was also very MISLEADING. If you’re desperate for cash,don’t make your customers feel robbed rather give them what they’ve paid for.

The views were nice,so serene by the restaurant I’ve been trying to convince myself and my partner that maybe we could come back for a better experience,sleepover have some spa treats BUT I can’t get over the fact that the Father’s Day lunch was overpriced and NOT worth it.🚮🙂‍↕️ driving up there was also a hustle considering the vehicle we chose to use that day. It would’ve been nice to be notified of the gravel road so we could’ve used our off road vehicle...

Lethabo Estate Review

We booked 2 nights. Friday, 22 to Sunday 24 March 2024. The original place we booked off their website was small & claustrophobic. Also, it didn't have a shower. Only had a jacuzzi bath. So we upgraded to the Otters Hide. We booked into a bigger place, which was a good size. The room floor and obvious areas were clean. However, because the room is thatched and with stone walls, it wasn't cleaned adequately as there were lots of spiderwebs in nooks and crannies. I don't want to even contemplate what the top of the thatched roof is filled with. Incidentally, it cost R2620 per person (R5 250) per night x 2 nights. The small and claustrophobic accommodation cost R2100 per person. Huge difference in size. The accommodation was pedestrian but the spider webs, dusty and tilted lampshades, put a dampner on the stay. I can't talk of the rest, but our room requires a major clean-up. The worst is that dinner is at an additional cost. The rate is only bed and breakfast and dinner is not cheap. A 5* Hotel in the vicinity, where we've been to before, includes dinner & breakfast is cheaper. The difference is incomparable! We enquired whether we could check-out at 12pm, instead of 10.30am. This option is available at a cost of R200 per hour. Unbelievable and milking it. The Internet connection is pathetic. Slow and buffers all the time. I won't be back. It's dated, needs a good clean up and is hugely expensive for what you get. The Website is misleading. I would rate Lethabo Estate at 3* at a stretch, possibly 2*. However, the staff were extremely attentive, friendly and service was good. The owner needs to take responsibility. It is not the staffs problem. The website speaks of a luxury experience. This was not the case. Not even rustic luxury. Not advisable!...