Who wouldn't want to spend the night in a traditional South African country mansion! We did, at Conville, just east of Aliwal North, on the Orange River about 80 miles above the Gariep (Verwoerd) Dam.

Our spacious room was appointed as you might expect a guest room in a chateau, with a bed raised high off the floor, and a fireplace. Next morning, we had coffee on the patio outside the room, and later Madame hosted breakfast in her fancy dining room.

The large pond on which the hotel fronts is home to many southern African aquatic birds. You can watch from the lawn, because they don't seem shy of people.

To get here, you have to drive about a mile away from the town center along a dirt road. I was not displeased, however, because outside the built-up area I could do some Southern Hemisphere star gazing under dark skies!

At under US$50, I consider this the outstanding hotel bargain of our trip!
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