Le Must River Residence: Our full report

Le Must River Residence is a two-storey boutique guest house on the banks of the Orange River, conveniently close to the centre of the town of Upington. Reminiscent of a great Italian villa, it is situated in a lush garden of trees and plants, which in turn attract numerous birds.

Le Must River Residence consists of 11 bedrooms of three different types: five 'superior' rooms, five 'standard' rooms and one 'deluxe' room. Some have balconies; some have private entrances; and all differ in size.

• The 'deluxe' room is upstairs in the main house. It has a balcony with river views, a king-size bed, and an en-suite bathroom with bath and separate shower.
  
  
• The 'superior' rooms also have bathrooms with a bath and separate shower. Three of the rooms have ¾ twin beds, and the other two has a queen or triple beds. Most have private entrances with garden views and one has its own private terrace.
  
  
• The 'standard' rooms, boast private entrances with garden views. Inside, each has a queen or double bed and private entrances with garden views. Three of these rooms come with a bath and separate shower, while the other two have just showers

Each of the rooms has been individually furnished with both antique and more modern furniture. All are fitted with electronic safes, air conditioning and satellite television. Complimentary toiletries, hairdryers and in-room phones are added extras. Although the rooms do not have tea/coffee facilities, guests are encouraged to help themselves from the kitchen.

The main house at Le Must River Residence incorporates a downstairs lounge and a second upstairs. Each is furnished with comfortable sofas and leads onto a balcony or terrace with garden views. There's also a breakfast room leading off to a separate dining room.

In the garden, an oval-shaped pool is surrounded by vegetation. Le Must River Residence also provides secure parking both on and off street.

The town of Upington is well placed for trips to Augrabies National Park and is also a convenient stop-over for itineraries that include the Kgalagadi National Park and Tswalu Private Reserve, as well as trips over the border into Namibia.

Our View

On our last visit, in May 2011, we thought Le Must River Residence a lovely guesthouse with a relaxed character which makes a good stop-over for a night when passing through town.

Geographics

Location: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa

Ideal length of stay: 1 or 2 nights

Directions: Turn from Schroder Street (which is the road parallel to the river) into Budler Street (which used to be called River Road).

Key personnel

Owner: Dirkje Brookes

Food & drink

Usual board basis: B&B

Food quality: b>Breakfast in the summer months is usually served between 7.00am and 9.30am, but in winter from 8.00am. An early breakfast can be requested. On our visit in May 2011 a selection of cereals, fruit, yoghurt, bread, spreads, juice, coffee and tea were laid out. To follow we chose scrambled eggs with bacon and toast, which was nicely presented.

Dining style: Individual Tables

Dining locations: Indoor Dining

Drinks included: Drinks are not included at Le Must River Residence

Children

Attitude towards children: Families with children are welcome.

Generally recommended for children: Yes – children will love exploring the garden towards the back of the property.

Notes: Younger children should be supervised as the garden is facing the Orange River and there is no gate at the end of the steps that leads directly down to the river.

Central communications

Power supply: Mains Electricity

Communications: There is cell-phone reception at Le Must River Residence. Internet, email and fax facilities are available to guests.

TV & radio: 7-channel satellite television is provided in all rooms.

Health & safety

Malarial area: No

Medical care: There is a doctor in Upington.

Security measures: A security service is employed and a guard is on duty during the evening. The property also has an electric fence at the front, as is typical in South Africa.

Fire safety: Fire extinguishers are strategically placed around the guesthouse.

Extras

Disabled access: Not Possible

Laundry facilities: Laundry service is available at an extra charge.

Money: There are electronic safes in the rooms. No currency exchange is possible at the guesthouse.