Along the short dirt road, south of the little village of Pennington, there is a rise. At the top of this rise the road turns to the left towards the sea, and no matter how many times you get to this bend in the road the view is always spellbinding. The sea stretches out along a beautiful coastline and in the little valley below is a stone building and the remains of a windmill. On the right are the rolling fairways of the Umdoni Park Golf Course, and beyond that, indigenous coastal forest. On the left are the gates to Botha House.

There are some buildings that by their very nature exude softness - places where there is gentleness and an appreciation of a world less hurried. Botha House is such a building. From its position high above the rocks of Umdoni Point it offers a view that hasn’t really changed in the ninety years since it was built.

Sir Frank Reynolds undertook to build a cottage for the then Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa, General Louis Botha, on land that had been purchased from the Pennington family. Sadly the Prime Minister died before the house was completed, but his wife, Annie, stayed there for a number of years after his death. In the ninety years of its existence it has been host to presidents and cabinet ministers. It was also a convalescent home for officers of the Allied Forces during the Second World War. A few hundred metres inland from Botha House is Lynton Hall, the family residence of the Reynolds family. During the 1950s it was chosen as the appropriate location for the recuperation of King George VI, but sadly he never got to use it.

Botha House forms part of the larger Umdoni Park, which is controlled by the Trust set up by Sir Frank Reynolds. From its position high above the Umdoni Point rocks, the views reach out along the beautiful stretch of beach and in the early morning the rocks provide a sunny area for the local population of Rock Hyrax to gather and warm themselves. The surrounding forest is one of the largest privately owned sections of coastal forest in KwaZulu-Natal.

Also on the estate was a small cottage set in the bush close to the beach, and it was here that Edward Roworth, the artist, lived. The poet Roy Campbell was his guest for a time in 1926 and along with Laurens van der Post and William Plomer, the trio launched the rather controversial publication, ‘Voorslag’. It was a publication that sought to hold a mirror to the white society of the Union of South Africa but the financial backers quickly applied pressure to tone down the editorial content and Campbell refused and resigned, an action closely followed by the resignations of van der Post and Plomer.

During the winter months one can sit on the beautiful verandahs and admire the spectacle of the sardine run with all the hectic activity that accompanies this phenomenon; from the soaring and diving of the Gannets and the almost frivolous antics of the schools of dolphins, to the slow and ponderous breaching of the whales with their huge sprays and wakes. Breakfast may just be an all morning affair.

There is a timelessness about the Luxury Suites with their heavy teak furniture and their sense of space. The rooms are large and the views, framed by the original sash windows (with glass panes of an era when flat glass was not quite perfect), are so wonderful. The bathrooms have been modernised and yet they maintain their sense of history with the highly polished wooden floors and moulded skirting boards.

The lounges and dining rooms exude a refinement. The fireplaces and the book cases acknowledge the passing of time and revel in the history that rests so easily within these walls. So many of South Africa’s prominent statesmen have enjoyed the quietness and seclusion of this house.

There are two Luxury Suites with private balconies overlooking this beautifully preserved stretch of coastline. The two Standard Suites offer both sea and garden views while the two Courtyard Suites have garden views. All the suites have en-suite bathrooms with Victorian baths and modern showers.

Sheltered in the grounds among beautiful indigenous vegetation and enormous fig trees, the swimming pool is a wonderful place to spend a sunny afternoon and watch the hornbills swoop and soar, or the sunbirds flit from branch to branch. Vervet monkeys move through the trees and sometimes sit close by on the lawn and groom each other. One can almost sense their appreciation of having this indigenous playground in which to move around. The gentle sound of the surf close by, and the lack of traffic and city noise, make the quiet almost tangible.

In this world of chain stores and franchises it’s so refreshing to have a guest house where the hosts play a pivotal role in entertaining their guests. Lynne and Tony Hallett, together with their son James and his fiancée, Susanna, have a wealth of information about the area and its history and an enthusiasm to share their experience in the myriad of activities that are on offer. Tony can arrange a game of golf on the truly spectacular Umdoni Park Golf Course, or on one the many other courses that are in close proximity, and James will be only too happy to show the wonders of the rock pools and tidal zones along the beach or take you on a gentle walk through the forest past giant Forest Mahogany trees to the Otter View Site where one can sit and look down on the gorge far below.

A sumptuous breakfast is served on the verandah overlooking the sea and dinners can be arranged by request. It’s a time to slow down and relax and embrace the feeling that nothing is too important to discard into the pile of what can be done tomorrow, or perhaps someday. So relax and enjoy the leisurely pace of the south coast with an elegant touch of the ambience of Botha House.

For bookings and rates please visit: www.bothahouse.co.za or email susanne@bothahouse.co.za