GaloreSA was fortunate to be invited to Granny Mouse Country House & Spa to experience the magic and elegance that only The Granny Mouse can offer.
This was an enchanting experience, filled with surprises, forest walks, great food, friendly people, clean premises and just so much more.
Watch the full video here :
On 7 February 2022, we spend the afternoon and evening at Granny Mouse. A mere 123 km drive from Durban beach, just past Pietermaritzburg, about 16km from Midmar Dam entrance, you will find this jewel, nestled away right next to the Lions River with views that stretch far and wide of open fields, trees and fairy-tale scenery.
On our arrival, all COVID regulations was adhered to. We were welcomed by a friendly smile, Thando, and we were handed two complimentary small bottles of sanitiser. The General Manager, Sean Granger, also came out to greet us whilst bubbly and a fruit juice was offered as our welcoming drink. Thando gave us a tour of Granny Mouse, and we were awe-struck with the beauty. We immediately realised that there are just so many photo opportunities, and this review was going to be a tough one, as there are so many things to cover. After a 20-minute tour, we were shown to our unit number 33, which forms part of the Deluxe Suites at Granny Mouse. These units are built with stunning views over a little waterfall and a river, with Dassies baking in the morning sun and a buck or two wandering around. This is a must for nature lovers or anyone wanting to break away from the busy city life and experience tranquillity and quietness with the sound of the river flowing in the background.
Upon entering our unit, we didn’t have words to explain the beauty, luxury, and elegance we saw right in front of our eyes. The real spoils came in the form of Granny Mouse taking everything one step further. The bar fridge was stocked with some drinks and chocolates, which was complimentary. The coffee station was not just the boring sachets of coffee you always get…There was a plunger with filter coffee. The bed was a king-sized bed. There were not just two pillows per side, but an extra King pillow as well. A soft blanket rounded the bed off. There was no need to switch on the electric blanket, but yes, that was there as well.
As you entered the room, a tealight candle was burning in an oil burner holder, filling the room with lovely soft fragrances. Thyme was placed next to the beds, adding to the amazing smell in the room.
On the left side of the room as you entered, massive windows overlooked on the flowing river and the stunning nature scenes, with an L-shaped cushioned seat and lovely scatters to top it all off.
The television was neatly mounted on the wall, with DSTV available.
There was a glass concertina door opening to a small deck, overlooking the amazing scenery. Two chairs are also placed on this deck for your comfortable seating requirements to just sit and relax. To the smokers…There is an ashtray provided on this deck area. No smoking allowed in the units.
Upon opening the one cupboard in the bedroom, two lovely soft gowns were awaiting us, with two pairs of slippers, and Granny Mouse taking it one step further…even an umbrella.
One step further yet again…You can enjoy a fireplace in the winter months as this is provided for you in your room…Wowsers !
The bathroom….Breathtaking !
Fully kitted, with a massive bath overlooking the river and waterfall in the distance. Shower with toilet. The shower is huge with string water pressure !
Bath salts, shampoo and conditioner, lotion and shower gel are provided by Charlotte Rhys. What makes this bathroom go a step further, is the fitted soap and lotion dispensers at the double basin area, as well as a Shower Gel Dispenser in the shower, filled with the most amazing, scented liquid.
Two steps further you can be treated with heated floors in the bathroom and a heated towel rail with massive mirrors reflecting your amazing surrounds.
Three steps further….The hand towels are all strategically placed, and a couple of “spekboom” leaves top this off perfectly.
The car was parked about 100 meters from our unit, under roof, which makes this safe for possible hail and bad weather conditions. Security at the main entrance also checks if your name is on the reservation list or what your visit is about, before allowing you to enter the premises. The friendliness from the security guard, is always my first opinion about an establishment, and if he greets you with a smile, then you know you are at “home”.
Let’s talk about the property itself.
The receptionist area is based in the main Granny Mouse House. There are so many little rooms and corners where you can just sit and relax. The property also has a chapel for weddings, which can easily host around 120 guests. This chapel is so amazing, with a red-carpet walking into the chapel to massive glass panels overlooking a valley filled with trees and green grass. This will add to that special day for anyone planning a wedding at this venue. Did we mention they specialize in weddings as well ? Oh yes ! For more information or quotations, you can contact Granny Mouse directly. All details below this article.
Inside the house a dark stepway entering a “secret” room below… This, ladies and gentlemen, is the wine cellar. Wines dating back many decades ago, and catering for the wine connoisseur, they also offer wine tastings.
There is a dedicated smoking lounge with a full bar with comfortable seating, even for the most discerning guest.
They also have a fully kitted Day Spa, with a Jacuzzi ! Massages galore, nails galore ! The staff are super friendly and makes you feel at home. Super hygienic with lemon and mint infused water, different teas and smells to enlighten all your senses.
The Bistro area is just breath-taking. With a full glass roof, natural light fills this area. There is also outdoor seating should you wish to sit outside.
The menu at the Bistro has a variety of amazing dishes. You can have a look at the dishes we had on the photos provided on this article. Your cutlery is sealed safely in a brown paper bag, taking it one step further when it comes to your health and safety pertaining to COVID. Compliments to the chef for preparing such magnificent dishes, filled with color and the presentation of the dishes scores 100% from GaloreSA.
There are two swimming pools available….that we saw. So, if the Midlands heat becomes too much, cool off in the pool, and order a cocktail to go with it. #JustSaying
Full wi-fi is available for your convenience throughout the property.
When we do reviews on restaurants, hotels, theatre shows, etc….The unfortunate part of our duty, is to look for mistakes and ensure we score accordingly. With Granny Mouse, this was an exceptional difficult task, as we just could not fault them on anything. Except for most of the doors to stay closed due to the monkeys roaming in the area, there is really nothing to fault.
Granny Mouse scores an incredible 96.36% and forms part of the GaloreSA Highly Recommendable Establishments with a GaloreSA 5-Diamond Rating.
Website : www.grannymouse.co.za
Telephone : 033-234 4071
Email : reservations@grannymouse.co.za
More about #GaloreSATravels Reviews :
Pertaining to Hotels, B&B’s, Guesthouses, and the like, we work on a scoring and diamonds earning module. There are numerous factors we take into consideration when scoring and doing a review. Our Diamond ratings scale is as follow :
Below 50% will not be reviewed but focus points will be discussed with the manager.
1 Diamond – Average Experience. Needs some attention on some issues we’ve experienced. – 50% – 60%
2 Diamonds – Good experience. Always room for improvement. – 61% – 70%
3 Diamonds – Very Good experience. – 71% – 80%
4 Diamonds – Fantastic Experience with good scores across the board. – 81% – 95%
5 Diamonds – Exceptional Experience and forms part of the Highly Recommendable List. – 96% – 100%
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