Dunkeld Country & Equestrian Estate

I really cannot rate this place enough!! I have never written a review before and we have stayed all around the world. It really is the MOST magical place! The grounds are absolutely beautiful! On my evening runs I was 2 metres away from zebras! SO much wildlife! The horses are so beautiful and treated amazingly- tehey are let out every evening to roam the grounds freely and come back themselves every morning. I saw some horrible reviews so was nervous which is why I had to write. I cannot fault the place! The staff were amazing, the food was amazing. Make sure when you check in you ask for a map and ask for everything they have on offer as they don't really advertise. I would recommend on day 1 going for a long walk around the grounds and getting a feel for the place. The two restaurants are on opposite ends of the property so you have to drive and one is closer to games area and other side closer to reception where you book everything. So many amazing places for fly fishing (the kids and I had a lesson which we loved) and also the horse rides are an absolute must! We were walking at sunset through a huge zeal of zebras! It really was so amazing! We went from here to Camps bay in Cape Town and I preferred here. The rooms aren't fancy here more lot cabin like but very comfortable and well built two stories w kitchen/ bathroom/ large bedrooms and comfy beds. But the place is so beautiful you won't be in your rooms much! Dunks the town was quaint and gorgeous too with lovely shops and restaurants. Can you tell I loved the place haha . We will be back!!!

Dunkeld Country Estate was the perfect getaway for our group of friends! We had an amazing time horse riding and quad biking—such fun and well-organised activities. The tea garden braai was a fantastic experience, and the jazz bar had such a great vibe, making for the perfect evening. The estate itself is absolutely beautiful, with stunning surroundings and a peaceful atmosphere. The farmyard was a lovely touch, adding to the charm of the place. Highly recommend for a fun and relaxing escape!

This is a lovely estate with a sense of calm and peacefulness. The fall colors of the trees along with the rustic vibe of the buildings, horses, cats, ducks and zebra (the first day) were so picturesque. The multiple ponds with various foliage and flora, and water features added to the serene feeling. There were four friend in my party - we each had a "Hotel" room. The rooms are right next to each other with doors exiting to an outside seating area for each room. Our rooms varied some but had the same basic setup to include a separate room with doors for the shower and for the toilet. There was a large tub in larger room outside the shower and toilet. Each room had either a gas or wood burning oven; the gas preferred. With regards to our tour, this establishment has the BEST, most comfortable bed and softest towels. A+ in that regard. Yes, there are some minor cosmetic improvements that could go a long way but, overall, the rooms felt comfortable and safe. Dining at the restaurant was typically good although there were instances of not having certain items, and some inconsistency in what we expected (a la carte versus a specific menu). In one instance, we were told they were out of caesar salad so one of the ladies asked what the vegetables were - and was told 'mixed'. Instead of getting what we thought of as mixed vegetables, we got salad. :-) I guess that a salad is mixed vegetables but not what was expected. Staff was a mixture of personalities. Some very helpful and pleasant with a couple more stoic non-personable type personalities. The spa folks did a great job on the services but were definitely ready to head out at 4. Note that the nearby town of Dullstrom seems enjoyable to explore - shop and visit the restaurants. All this said, I would go there again with specific expectations; if looking to relax and unwind with a book, to go for walks, and just disconnect from everyday life.

We booked a luxury 4 bedroom unit to spend the week. When we got here the unit was dirty, with broken items, TV's hanging off the wall, missing items. It's clear that no one here cares about maintenance or wanting guests to come back. We will stick it out for the week, but definitely not coming back to Dunkeld. Not worth even a tenth of what we paid. There are much nicer places around.

The property as a whole is beautiful with lots of amenities, the accommodation is tired and in serious need of an upgrade, we paid extra for a lake view room, our unit was next to a busy road, which had little privacy and constant noise disturbances. Rather disappointing considering the units next to us were all empty for the duration of our stay. Check-in time is 16:00 which is extremely late and not in line with industry standards. We booked two different units as family joined us for the later part of our stay, on the booking platform the second unit was listed as a villa, which turned out to be an upstairs apartment. Management did change us from an upstairs apartment to a downstairs apartment, which was appreciated but we felt mislead as the price point was in line with a villa and our reservation made no indication we had booked an apartment. The animals overturned multiple dustbins throughout the property, making it look like a giant trash dump every morning. Something that could easily be addressed with animal proof dustbins, overall we were disappointed with the property and its lack of much needed maintenance.

Lovely Estate as you drive in with a warm and inviting reception and restaurant area. BUT the accommodation is dated, not maintained at all (that includes the furniture). I actually went back to the website to check because I cannot recall that the website looked like the Holiday Club chalet that we stayed in. There were a few basics missing in the house as well. I was extremely disappointed. I also booked a facial at the spa. The therapist hardly communicated to me after I told her my skin concerns and she did not listen to my requests. Another disappointment - certainly not the professionalism that I expect from a spa. The whole stay not value for money.