Fodor's Expert Review African Vineyard

Set in labyrinthine gardens amid expansive vineyards on Kanoneiland (Cannon Island) in the Orange River just outside Upington, this handsome guesthouse has a mix of large rooms filled with imaginative, handcrafted and/or up-cycled furniture and fittings and more modest, but equally homey, doubles. During a stay here, you can enjoy access to the fabulous grounds, wonderful food, and a luxurious spa with a tucked-away garden treatment area if you want to be in nature during your massage. The lovely setting encourages you to walk around the island and discover its history and people—this is slow country, and interactions with the local farming community are enlightening. An excellent breakfast is included, and delicious dinners are also served.