At the foot of the Tsitsikamma mountains, in The Crags on South Africa's Garden Route, a new kind of country retreat has opened its doors. Tamodi Estate & Polo Reserve is a ten-suite property pitched at travellers who want privacy, space and a genuine sense of place rather than hotel-formality — and its interiors are the work of one of the UK's most talked-about designers.
Sophie Ashby, who grew up between South Africa and the UK and runs Studio Ashby from London with a newer office in Cape Town, led the interior scheme. Her approach leans on local craftsmanship: large handwoven rugs were made in Cape Town on looms built specifically for the project, and bespoke chairs, sofas, hand-carved tables, throws and ceramics were commissioned for the rooms and shared spaces, mixed with South African antiques for patina. The colour story comes straight from the valley — soft lavender, olive, golden yellow, terracotta, sky blue and deep brown.
The layout follows a private-club model rather than a conventional hotel. Around 811 square metres of shared interior — a library and reading room, terraces and a central pool — are arranged to encourage slow, communal living, with big openings and decks blurring the line between indoors and out. A previously neglected side area has become the Library Bar: a games table, shelves of books on South African travel, food and fashion, and an honesty bar with mountain views. It's the sort of room that makes you cancel dinner plans.
The ten suites each exceed 100 square metres and come with a fireplace, a soaking tub and open outlooks, with the estate's polo and equestrian heritage referenced quietly rather than loudly. The existing lodge layouts were kept, so the refurbishment focused on furniture, textiles and a fresh palette rather than structural change.
There's a sustainability story too: nearly 80% of furnishings are locally sourced, supplemented by South African and European vintage finds, with durable fabrics chosen for longevity. The estate is also working on rehabilitating endemic flora, including fynbos, across its grounds.
For travellers, Tamodi sits in an appealing pocket of the Western Cape — The Crags is a short drive from Plettenberg Bay's beaches, the Tsitsikamma forests and the garden-and-art strip along the N2. It suits couples on a luxury Garden Route itinerary, design-minded travellers who care about who made the furniture, and anyone after a low-key base for hiking, wine and coastline. It's less a flashy resort than a considered, lived-in hideaway — which is precisely the appeal.
Story via Hotel Designs.