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South Villa Guesthouse & Garden

Property class: 4

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Photo gallery for South Villa Guesthouse & Garden

A rocky coastal landscape with large boulders and cliffs. - South Villa Guesthouse & Garden (Knysna)
A living room with a zebra rug, leather sofas, a wooden coffee table, and a painting of giraffes. - South Villa Guesthouse & Garden (Knysna)
A balcony with a table and chairs, overlooking a scenic view of a lake and hills. - South Villa Guesthouse & Garden (Knysna)
A landscaped garden with palm trees, a gravel path, and a view of the sea and hills in the background. - South Villa Guesthouse & Garden (Knysna)
A modern building with a stone wall entrance, a visible staircase, and a sign reading "SOU VILLA." - South Villa Guesthouse & Garden (Knysna)
Consider a stay at South Villa Guesthouse & Garden and take advantage of free full breakfast, a terrace, and a garden. Active travelers can enjoy surfing/body boarding at this guesthouse. In addition to laundry facilities and a restaurant, guests can connect to free in-room WiFi.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Restaurant
  • Air conditioning
  • Laundry

Off-peak, on budget: 30% or more off select hotels in our fall sale

Skip the crowds, keep the savings. AARP members save more after Labor Day. Book by Oct 7, 2026.

Room options

View all photos for Deluxe Room, 1 Bedroom (Deluxe Double Room)

A hotel room with a bed, a chair, a table, and a balcony with a view of trees.

Deluxe Room, 1 Bedroom (Deluxe Double Room)

  • Lagoon view
  • 36 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Luxury Room, 1 Bedroom (Luxury Double Room)

A hotel room with a bed, a TV, a kitchenette, and a balcony with a view.

Luxury Room, 1 Bedroom (Luxury Double Room)

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(2 reviews)
  • Lagoon view
  • 20 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Classic Room, 1 Bedroom, Lagoon View (Standard Double Room)

A hotel room with a bed, bedside table, lamp, and a painting on the wall.

Classic Room, 1 Bedroom, Lagoon View (Standard Double Room)

  • Lagoon view
  • 18 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Comfort Room, 1 Bedroom (Standard Double (Ground Floor))

A hotel room with a bed, a TV mounted on the wall, a small heater, and a view of the outdoor balcony.

Comfort Room, 1 Bedroom (Standard Double (Ground Floor))

  • Lagoon view
  • 28 sq m
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Standard Room

A bedroom with a large bed, a wardrobe, a television, and a bathroom visible through an open door.

Standard Room

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

About the neighborhood

Paradise, a neighborhood in Knysna, is home to South Villa Guesthouse & Garden. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Cape Floral Region Protected Areas and Garden Route National Park, while The Motorcycle Room and Outeniqua Transport Museum are cultural highlights. Discover the area's water adventures with snorkeling, windsurfing, and boat tours nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with horse riding. Visit our Knysna travel guide
View more Guest Houses in Knysna
Map
22 Circular Drive Paradise, Knysna, Western Cape, 6571

What's nearby

  • A geothermal area with steam rising from the ground, surrounded by a river with wet sand and a town in the background.
    Knysna Lagoon
    2 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • A coastal landscape with a beach, a river, and a densely forested area with scattered houses.
    Garden Route National Park
    2 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • A marina with several sailboats docked at sunset.
    Knysna Waterfront
    18 min walk - 1.0 mile
  • A marina with boats docked, a building with 'Springtime Sailing Charters' signage, and a hill in the background.
    Knysna Quays
    18 min walk - 1.0 mile
  • Featherbed Boat Cruises
    13 min walk - 0.7 miles

Getting around

  • George (GRJ)
    56 min drive

Restaurants

  • Bootlegger Coffee Company
    15 min walk
  • Uptown Resto-Bar
    18 min walk
  • The Drydock Food Co
    19 min walk
  • Seattle Coffee Company
    14 min walk
  • Lunar Cafe
    14 min walk

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  • Free WiFi
  • Breakfast available
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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free self parking on site

Food and drink

  • Free full breakfast
  • A restaurant

Things to do

  • Surfing/bodyboarding

Conveniences

  • Laundry facilities
  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk
  • Water dispenser

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)

Outdoors

  • Garden
  • Terrace

Accessibility

  • No elevator

More

  • 1 building
  • 2 floors
  • Built in 1949
  • Smoking not allowed
  • Vegan dining options
  • Vegetarian dining options

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Egyptian cotton sheets
  • Hypo-allergenic bedding

Bathroom

  • Bathrobes
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower
  • Slippers

Entertainment

  • 28-inch TV with premium digital channels
  • DVD player

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Electric kettle
  • Free bottled water
  • Limited room service
  • Refrigerator

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan
  • Safe

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2 PM; Check-in end time: 4:00 PM

Late check-in subject to availability

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 8 AM - 8 PM

Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions; front desk staffed during limited hours

To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 24 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation

If you are planning to arrive after 4:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation

Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

No pets or service animals allowed

Children and extra beds

Children 12 and younger are not allowed at this property; All guests older than 12 are welcome

Rollaway/extra beds are not available

Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Property payment types

American ExpressMastercardVisa

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards, and cash
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
This property's policy is to refuse certain bookings for the purpose of group events or parties, including pre-wedding stag/bachelor and hen/bachelorette parties
Children 12 years old and younger are not permitted at this property
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms
No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property
This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly)

Property class

Quality Graded by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) – South Africa's official quality assurance organization.

Frequently asked questions

Is South Villa Guesthouse & Garden pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking?

Self parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at South Villa Guesthouse & Garden?

Check-in start time: 2 PM; Check-in end time: 4:00 PM. Late check-in is available during limited hours.

What time is check-out at South Villa Guesthouse & Garden?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is South Villa Guesthouse & Garden located?

Located in Paradise, this guesthouse is within a 15-minute walk of Cape Floral Region Protected Areas, Featherbed Boat Cruises, and Knysna Lagoon. Pledge Nature Reserve and Knysna Waterfront are also within 1 mi (2 km).

Can I cancel my reservation for free and receive a full refund?

Yes, this property offers free cancellation on select room rates, because flexibility matters! Please refer to the property cancellation policy on our site for more details about any exclusions or requirements.

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Reviews

South Villa Guesthouse & Garden Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

10

Cleanliness

8.8

Location

10

Staff & service

9.8

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 61 out of 70 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 6 out of 70 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 3 out of 70 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 70 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 70 reviews

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jonah

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Absolutely beautiful little guesthouse overlooking Knysna's harbor. Very spacious and comfortable room with free coffee, water, and a very nice bed. Opportunity to have breakfast on our balcony overlooking the water, which was amazing. Overall, could not recommend more!
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Nicholas

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Fabulous large room overlooking Knysna bay. A short drive or uber into the waterfront. Great friendly welcome with local knowledge- Great tips for restaurants etc. Five star breakfast brought up to our balcony- a real treat👌
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Roy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wow...what a wonderfull homely welcome we had. Christa showed us round and what a place with so many extra little touches. Great location not far off the main road but far enough away to have very little traffic noise. Short walk into Knysna but we chose to use Uber which was very quick and not expensive. Breakfast was delicious and a work of art. Christa arranged for a service wash of our clothes which we really appreciated for the remainder of our trip. She also advised us on things to do around the area. Overall the whole stay was very comfortable and we would highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Kathy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We had an amazing visit to South Villa Guesthouse. Christa and Hentie went above and beyond to make our stay special. So many special little touches. They truly love the area and gave us a great recommendation for dinner as well. So pleasant speaking with them. We felt like we were staying in their home. Be sure to visit the waterfront market nearby. Thank you for the fantastic visit!
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Shuna

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Fabulously friendly and helpful hosts. The room was comfortable and clean and the bed was very comfy too. A lovely balcony to sit at in the evening afforded us a great view out to the sea. Breakfast was well executed and staff were all friendly. The property is well located - just a short drive into town. I would definitely stay here again if I wax to return to Knysna.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Celine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great stay!

Very kind owners, good location and very comfortable beds!!! Thank you!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Elna

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Room as well as the bathroom were spotless and smelled fresh. Small details made us feel welcome. Staff were well trained and very friendly. Breakfast on our balcony was priceless!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Keneilwe

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

South Villa stay

The accommodation is modern, clean and lovely. The stuff are friendly and welcoming. I enjoyed my stay with South Villa guest house. I had a lovely ocen view room with a spacious balcony. I enjoyed my stay
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2023
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Ido

Liked: Staff & service
You get what you pay for
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Deborah

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Outstanding

A lovely 4 star guest house with beautiful views from our balcony of Knysna Heads/the sea. Crista is the most amazing hostess. Our Land Rover Defender with roof rack was too tall for the garage so she arranged for secure parking just down the road at a friend's place. As we then did not have a car, she offered to drive us to a restaurant and pick us up later. I was not feeling brilliant so she recommended a restaurant that would deliver, 34 degrees South. The food was great and she arrived with plates, cutlery etc as it arrived and we ate out on our balcony looking out at the lovely view. She could not have been more helpful and we really appreciated it. A lovely place to stay and a great location but it is the hospitality and service which we will remember.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Martin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Gute Lage für einen Besuch von Knysna
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

andrea

Liked: Staff & service, amenities
B&B fuori mano con una bella vista. La struttura non è nuovissima e si vede specie in bagno. La signora che ci ha accolto gentilissima, sembrava ci ospitasse a casa sua!! Stanza un po’ freddina. Colazione buona. Posto auto di fronte alla casa. Nel complesso per una notte un buon rapporto qualità prezzo.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Rik

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

In onze top 5 ever!!!

Uitzonderlijk hotel met de beste voorzieningen. Bijzonder gastvrije gastvrouw en gastheer!!! Uitzonderlijk goed verzorgd ontbijt op het balkon van onze kamer met uitzicht op de lagoon!! In de top 5 van onze hotelverblijven ever!! Op 4 minuten van The Waterfront!!
Uitzicht van het balkon tijdens het ontbijt
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Frederic

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Leuk verblijf

Zeer aangename gastvrouw; prima kamers met alle comfort en een goed ontbijt!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2022
Verified review

8/10 Good

Arnaud

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The hosts were very welcoming and friendly. View from the balcony is also amazing.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2021
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Vikki

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Our favourite guesthouse

South villa guest house is a delightful guest house within walking distance of many restaurants. Ronnie and Thelma the hosts could not be more helpful. Our room had a lovely balcony overlooking the lagoon. Breakfast was delicious. We stayed two nights at the South Villa guest house, and wish we could have stayed longer. Ronnie and Thelma, the hosts were very engaging, affable and informative. Ronnie gave us some excellent recommendations for local restaurants and great places to go for a sundowner. Thelma and Ronnie were also available every morning for advice and ideas of where to go and what to see around the beautiful Knysna area. Our room was lovely, the bed comfortable and the location excellent - the Waterfront and the town are within easy walking distance, approx 15 mins I cannot recommend this place highly enough. A very memorable and beautiful place to stay with wonderfully caring hosts.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful location, amazing views from the room, very personal touch from the hosts and a very very comfortable stay. Choice of breakfast on the communal balcony or your own private balcony. Decor is clean and bright and the hosts are very welcoming and helpful
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2020
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Charlie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Amazing B&B

We arrived here early and although we couldn't check in we were made fresh coffee and sherry while we waited by the lovely staff. The room was lovely and had a lovely view looking out across the ocean. Breakfast was amazing! Highly recommend!
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I own and rent 2 properties in the United States and, because of the volume of my 5-star ratings, am considered a "super-host". I pride myself in my properties and in my management of them. I understand what it takes to provide quality accommodations. What I experienced at South Villa Guesthouse put me in awe...both in the amenities and in the hospitality! The hosting could not have been more gracious and welcoming, and the facility was pristine and beautifully decorated. The breakfast we were served overlooking the town was, in itself, memorable. I can not give the entire experience a higher commendation and recommendation.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jasvinder Kaur

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Lovely stay in Knysna

Lovely clean guesthouse with comfortable well-furnished rooms. We received a very warm welcome from Ronnie and Thelma. Thank you to you all for a wonderful stay in Knysna. We will definitely return again and recommend to all!
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2019
Verified review

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The hosts at this property are fabulous, kind friendly and make you wam Not to visit again . Ronnie and Thelma make the visit memorable.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
All good. Easy to find. Hosts could not have been more friendly. Warm welcome and great stay.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jens

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Faultless

Excellent place, comfortable room, very helpful hosts and a great breakfast.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Paul

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The room and the property were absolutely clean and beautiful. Breakfast on the dining balcony was superb and the view overlooking the Knysna Heads was fantastic. Ronnie and Marina provided five star service throughout. Very highly recommended.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2019
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Annika

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Best South Villa Guesthouse!

En otroligt pittoresk och underbar pärla! Vilka människor och bästa frukosten!
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2019