Accommodation in Alicedale - Bushman Sands Hotel & Game Reserve, Alicedale, Eastern Cape

Bushman Sands Hotel and Game Reserve Hotel Accommodation   Paterson, Eastern Cape, South Africa

The 4-star Bushman Sands Hotel is a delightful blend of rich heritage and modern luxury. The Hotel comprises of 39 bedrooms around a pool area overlooking the Bushman Sands Golf Course. Original railway houses form the cornerstones of what are now three rows of ensuite accommodation - comprising of a choice of standard rooms, luxury rooms and junior suites - each tastefully decorated with locally produced furniture and original art and linked to the main hotel building by walkways lit by Victorian lampposts. The décor throughout references the legacy of the Khoi San and Alicedale’s railway history.

The 18-hole championship course has been designed by South African golfing legend, Gary Player. The course follows the banks of the Bushman’s and New Years Rivers, resembling the game’s earliest “links” courses in Scotland with undulating fairways and pot bunkers. A challenging, yet friendly course, to be enjoyed by all golfers.

Bushman Sands Hotel offers a Conference Centre, comprising of one large meeting room, two break away rooms and a Station Bar.

Set in the Bushman’s River Gorge in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, Bushman Sands has won wide acclaim as a forerunner of sustainable ecological and community tourism. Bushman Sands is at the heart of the restoration of the historic Victorian era railway town, Alicedale, and offers guests a diversity of African experiences.

Accommodation & Facilities
Picturesque lamp-lit pathways unite 5 junior suites, 8 luxury and 26 standard rooms. Each room opens onto private verandas overlooking breathtaking views of verdant fairways, vibrant gardens and rolling hills. The rooms are all equipped with air-conditioning, satellite television, tea and coffee making facilities, private bar, mini safe, hair-dyer and direct dialing telephones.

Cuisine is traditionally South African with influences of Xhosa, English and Cape Malay. Hearty breakfasts, light lunches and evening dinners are all served in the Bunkers Restaurant.

Outdoor Facilities 
The malaria-free Bushman Sands Game Reserve, situated on 3400 hectares of former farmlands, offer sightings of Big Game from open Land Rovers. There are serene 1 ½ hour afternoon cruises on the New Years Dam, in the Bushman Sands Game Reserve.

A Gary Player design, the first 10 holes of the soft spike Bushman Sands Golf Course is currently playable, with the additional 8 holes due to open late 2005. Facilities include a half-way house, pro-shop and locker rooms with showers and a steam room.

At the Bushman Sands Spa, guests are pampered with an array of revitalising massage therapies and beauty treatments. Hydro therapies include use of a steam room, Jacuzzi and chill pool.

Gifts and mementos may be purchased in the Leisure Centre.

Sporting & Leisure Activities  
The malaria-free Bushman Sands Game Reserve, situated on 3400 hectares of former farmlands, offer sightings of Big Game from open Land Rovers. There are serene 1 ½ hour afternoon cruises on the New Years Dam, in the Bushman Sands Game Reserve. A Gary Player design, the first 10 holes of the soft spike Bushman Sands Golf Course is currently playable, with the additional 8 holes due to open late 2005. Facilities include a half-way house, pro-shop and locker rooms with showers and a steam room.
At the Bushman Sands Spa, guests are pampered with an array of revitalising massage therapies and beauty treatments. Hydro therapies include use of a steam room, Jacuzzi and chill pool. Gifts and mementos may be purchased in the Leisure CentreCultural & Historical interest   

Cultural & Historical interest
Three years before the Ninth and Last Frontier War, on 21 October 1854, a British Settler by the name of John Richard Wilmot purchased land - Plot 1020. It was decided to build a railway line between Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown and to establish a railway station on the Bushmans River In 1873. The name of the fiancée of the engineer in charge of the project was Alice Slessor nee Dale. It is quite apparent that Alicedale was named after Mrs Alice Slessor for during the 1876 elections, two people presented their residence on the voter’s list as Alice Dale pre-empting the announcement of the establishment of a circuit court at “Alicedale, Bushman’s River Canyon”.