Going away on holiday can be a challenge for those with physical disabilities, which is why we’ve rounded up 3 of the top wheelchair-friendly accommodations by province.
- Gauteng, Pretoria – On-The-Wheel
The aptly named On-The-Wheel, is a self-catering accommodation situated in the suburb of Villieria, just outside of Pretoria CBD, and provides guests with easy access to local hospitals, Pierneef Theatre, shopping centres, and more.
The tranquil garden is wonderful to relax in, and the wooden water wheel lends to the country atmosphere they’ve cultivated. As the owner is also a wheelchair user, they understood the need for a fully-supported wheelchair property, and that’s just what you get when you book! Able bodied guests are just as welcome!
Bedrooms are quite spacious with fine white linens used, complimentary tea and coffee facilities, hairdryers, and televisions with exclusive DStv. The two wheelchair-friendly rooms are Cosmos and Forget Me Not, with Cosmos offering a king-sized remote controlled bed (for raising and lowering the bed), and Forget Me Not offering a double bed. The other two rooms, Daisy and Iris, are suited for able bodied guests only and offer twin beds, as well as two shared bathrooms. Bathrooms offer shower seats and shower chairs, along with grab-rails.
Shared facilities include a Jacuzzi and a wheelchair-friendly heated pool (which includes a water-safe wheelchair provided for guests to use), a shared open-plan kitchen with counters situated at the perfect wheelchair height, and a lounge that is easy to manoeuvre through. A gym table and weights are also available for exercising. Find out more.
- Western Cape, Prince Albert – Karoo View Cottages
Just 350m outside of the town of Prince Albert, you will find the beautiful Karoo View Cottages, with (as their name suggests) outstanding views of the area. Their high thatched ceilings, wooden and hard-surfaced floors, and expansive patios add to the country feeling and make it easy for those who aren’t able bodied to get around. The kitchens are spacious and have ample room to move around.
Striata and Ferox are the two open-plan wheelchair friendly units on offer, both of which have décor that echoes the natural Karoo colours outside the window. Electric blankets are laid out on the hip-supported beds, with percale linens, fluffy duvets and cotton throws. The large en-suite bathrooms have grab rails, over-sized showers, and cosy towels.
Kanon and Krans are the two open-plan cottages for those who have no physical limitation. They come with en-suite bathrooms that have either a shower or bath, along with duel vanities stocked with soft bathrobes, towels, and complimentary amenities. Find out more.
- Eastern Cape, Graaff Reinet – Queen Manor Boutique Guest House
The Cape-Dutch styled Queen Manor Boutique Guest House offers visitors air-conditioned comfort away from the heat of the Karoo, and can be used to ward off the chilly Karoo evenings in winter. They have eight modern rooms with en-suite bathrooms, with six rooms providing two double beds, air-conditioning, lounge chairs, hand basins, and a television with DStv that is viewable from the en-suite spa bath.
The two wheelchair friendly rooms each have leather lounge chairs, a television with DStv, a double bed, complimentary tea and coffee facilities, and an en-suite bathroom with a large wheelchair friendly shower. All rooms have access to the free Wi-Fi internet. Other facilities on-site include a braai area near their indigenous garden, a swimming pool, off-street parking, and rates are inclusive of bed and breakfast. The rooms on the first floor have beautiful views over the surrounding area.
Let us know of any other wheelchair-friendly guesthouses you know about in Gauteng, Western Cape, and the Eastern Cape.
Main image credited to subwel (Flickr)
