Swartkops River Retreat

This location has some of the best sunrises and sunsets we've ever seen. The apartment is right on the river and is a lovely, well thought out, lovingly decorated apartment with upgraded appliances. The owner, Basie, went out of his way to ensure our comfort.

The area could be better. The beautiful river has broken sidewalks, and just across from this area is factory industry that emits dreadful smells. We loved everything about our accommodation. Just the area itself could use some love and attention. We highly recommend this accommodation.

We had an absolutely wonderful 3-night stay at Swartkops River Retreat with our family of 6 (4 adults and our two kids aged 9 and 4). Petro and Basie were exceptional hosts who went out of their way to make us feel welcome from the moment we arrived. The location right next to the Swartkops River was perfect for our family. The kids loved exploring the waterfront area, and the beautiful river views from the property were simply stunning. The unit was very spacious and easily accommodated all six of us without feeling cramped. The fully-equipped kitchen was a lifesaver for preparing meals for our large group, and the kids enjoyed the fast WiFi when they had downtime. The garden and BBQ facilities were fantastic - we had a lovely family braai while the kids played safely in the area. The apartment had everything we needed, and the peaceful riverside setting was exactly what we needed for a relaxing family getaway. The kids (especially our 4-year-old) loved watching the water and spotting birds. Petro and Basie's hospitality truly made this stay special - they were friendly, accommodating, and clearly care about their guests having a great experience. We would definitely recommend this place to other families and hope to return soon!

Honestly, we don't have any major complaints. The area is modest as mentioned in other reviews, but that didn't bother us at all - we were there for the river views and peaceful atmosphere, which we got in spades. If anything, we just wished we could have stayed longer! Perhaps some additional child-proofing for the 4-year-old would be helpful, but this is a minor suggestion. Overall, it was a fantastic stay.

Across the road from the river. Always activities going on on a weekend with people fishing etc. Lively on a weekend. During the week it's very quiet. Catholic church 2 minutes walk away. Summerstrand beach and Cape Recife is only 25 minutes away.

Nothing to dislike.

The property itself is very good, neat and spacious. But the location is ok on the riverside but the back roads are dirty. We did not feel safe. The owner is very friendly and accommodating.

PE overall is dirty like many other cities is South Africa. It is sad to see so many littering. People really don't respect their own environment. We left PE and went to Port Alfred. The contrast is big. Even in the townships they clean up after themselves in Port Alfred. PE and the rest of RSA can learn from them.