After the wine (and brandy) tasting in Paarl I went on to Montagu. The reason I went there was because I found a hostel in the Lonely Planet that I couldn’t miss.

The road from Paarl to Montagu takes you through beautiful landscapes including a narrow pass.

De Bos Guest Farm

The hostel I didn’t want to miss was the De Bos Guest Farm. The name implies it but you wouldn’t believe it until you see it. They have mixed-dorm accommodation in an old stable!

You basically get your own horse stable!

I believe they also have bedrooms in the main house and they have some tents and bungalows scattered around the estate, but sleeping inside a stable is in my view a must-do thing.

When you go to the toilet in the morning, you can see the horses grazing with the mountains as backdrop. Gorgeous!

Montagu Mineral Hot Springs

In addition to an awesome guest house, Montagu is also home to Mineral Hot Springs. I didn’t take any photos here because it’s a hassle to take a camera that’s not water proof and then to leave it somewhere unattended.

The springs are not as natural as you would think initially. They have been built into a resort. The hot springs I visited in La Fortuna, Costa Rica (Baldi Hot Springs) and the ones in Saturnia, Italy were much better in my view. This one had too many little children running around. It felt more like a resort pool than anything else.

Nevertheless it was a nice way to relax after a full day of driving and wine tasting.

Conclusion

If you’re in the area you really have to stay in De Bos Guest House, if only for the once in a lifetime experience of spending the night in a horse stable. If this is not for you, then there is no need to stop in Montagu. The Hot Springs do not deserve a special visit, unless it’s something you’ve never seen before and will never see again.

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