Aliwal North Accommodation | Umtali Country Inn in Autumn

Umtali Country Inn. Your home in Aliwal North.

Stay in one of our 33 en-suite bedrooms

Hold a conference for up to 80 delegates

Expect the best in hospitality & service

Experience the beauty of the Eastern Cape

Umtali Country Inn | Superior Room
Umtali Country Inn | Main Entrance
Umtali Country Inn | Superior Room
Umtali Country Inn | Superior Room

Accommodation

The Umtali Country Inn offers 33 luxury rooms all with en-suite bathrooms, air-conditioning, tea/coffee making facilities, M-Net and satellite television (DSTV). Sumptuous meals are served in front of the crackling log fires or outside at the swimming pool. Afternoon tea in the garden adds to the service that awaits you at the Umtali Country Inn. Rates start from R590 per room per night.

Umtali Country Inn at a Glance

  • 33 Rooms
  • 2 Conference venues
  • Wi-Fi Internet available (public areas and a few selected rooms)
  • Tea/Coffee-making facilities
  • Air-conditioning (all rooms)
  • Television (SABC, eTV, DSTV Satellite Television)
  • Restaurant (breakfast & dinner)
  • Small ladies bar
  • Swimming pool
  • Beautiful garden
  • Laundry services
  • Child-friendly
  • Wheelchair-friendly
  • Secure parking
  • Malaria-free
  • Rooms from R590 per per night

Room Types

The Umtali Country Inn offers different types of rooms: Budget Rooms, Standard Rooms and Superior Rooms.

We always do our utmost to match our guests with the rooms that best meet their specific requirements.

Nearby Attractions

On the south bank of the Orange River lies the quiet village of Aliwal North. Museums, war sites, Buffelsbron Nature Reserve, Gariep Dam, hiking, fishing and boating all add to the excitement found in this attractive area. Situated on the “Friendly N6” running from Bloemfontein to East London, the Umtali Country Inn is the ideal stop over, linking up with both the Wild Coast route via Maclear and hence on to the Sunshine Coast Route and the famous Garden Route.

Aliwal North and its surrounding areas have attractions ranging from the ski slopes of Ben McDhui to trout-filled streams, caves adorned with ancient rock art and canoeing on the Orange and Kraai Rivers. Come and experience the openness of the Karoo. From its bustling cities, historical diversity, major art festivals and scenic beauty, the Eastern Cape offers special something for everyone.

Activities in the Area:

  • Private nature reserves
  • 4×4 off-road adventures
  • Fossil sites
  • Fishing / canoeing on the Orange River
  • Historic Museums
  • Anglo Boer War Sites and Monuments
  • Hiking in nearby mountain ranges
  • Birdwatching
  • Rock art
  • 50km from the Lady Grey Passion Play
  • 200km from Tiffendell Ski Resort

About the Umtali Country Inn

Aliwal North, Eastern Cape

The Umtali Country Inn has been welcoming friends, business professionals, families, travelers and adventurers for more than 60 years. Situated half-way between Bloemfontein and East-London, it is the perfect base to take a break, explore the surrounding area and participate in a variety of outdoor activities. Our guests can be assured of a warm welcome and attentive service.

The Umtali Country Inn offers well apportioned rooms, conference venues, a swimming pool and secure parking in relaxed, quite surroundings that exude old-world charm. We take pride in the friendliness of our staff, the comfort and cleanliness of our rooms and our hearty meals.

So whether you merely passing through, hosting a conference or planning a wedding, consider making a reservation at the Umtali Country Inn. Whoever you are, wherever you’re from and whatever your final destination, we look forward welcoming you and making your stay enjoyable and memorable.

“Our journey was to be from Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth with a halfway stopover en route, usually Colesburg, but the whole area was fully booked. Forced to look elsewhere, we found the Umtali Country Inn in Aliwal North. What a surprise awaited us! From the moment we checked in at reception we felt comfortably at home. The room was all we could have wanted and the food (dinner and breakfast) left us well satisfied. The staff went out of their way to attend to our needs.The relaxed atmosphere of the swimming pool area was a welcome relief after the long journey. We would have gladly stayed another night, but time did not permit. In future we will be happy to give Colesburg a miss, and take the road less travelled. The short additional distance was not even noticed.”

“For the last 8 years we have stopped for the night’s stopover at Umtali Inn – 4 caravans travel together and their security is first class. We have found the service and staff excellent and very welcoming. Rooms are spotlessly clean as are linen etc. This last December we ate in the restaurant and the food was excellent and very well presented. We are already looking forward to our 9th year’s stopover again this December, 2014. Rooms leading out to the swimming pool are our favourite as we have little ones with us but people with no children might find that to be unsuitable but all their rooms are excellent.”

“After an early start in Johannesburg and a long drive, what a pleasant surprise awaited us in Aliwal North. Having never seen the town before it was nerve wrecking to take pot luck and book what you believed looked like a good option but who would know until you arrived. Especially as I had taken on the responsibility of booking for 3 of us. What a pleasure to be greeted by clean white buildings with rolling green lawns and neat gardens and the nicest person on reception. An old hotel but so clean you could have eaten off the floor. Cleanliness is next to Godliness I was taught and how true it was in this case.”

“Not knowing Aliwal North at all and having to book via the internet is always a daunting task as I have had the experience of seeing a place that looked absolutely stunning on the internet but turned out to be a complete dump. However with, The Umtali Country Lodge, everything you see is exactly what you get. It was rewarding to come home after a long day at the golf course to find your room warm, spotless and sqeaky clean. The food is scrumptious. The hosts were also very friendly and accommodating. I won’t hesitate to recommend this establishment to anyone. If my son gets chosen for the golf tournament next year – we will be going back there without any hesitation.”

Umtali Country Inn’s History

The Umtali Country Inn had its origin in a dozen or so loosely arranged ‘rondavels’ (a westernised version of the African-style hut) that were acquired by the founding family in 1962. The rondavels were later converted into a motel, enabling guests the ‘then-luxury’ of parking you vehicle in front of your room door!

Since then, the Umtali has undergone a few upgrades and improvements, without losing its distinctive character and timeless appeal.

The Umtali is the namesake of a town located in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe. The town originated as Fort Umtali and was built by prospectors in 1890 near the junction of the Sambi and Umtara rivers. Its name was derived from a local word ‘mutare’ meaning “gold”, most likely referring to the nearby ancient gold workings. The town’s original name, ‘Mutare’ was restored in April 1982.

The Town of Aliwal North

Located on the banks of the Orange River, the border between the Free State and Eastern Cape, Aliwal North is named in tribute to Sir Harry Smith. Sir Harry Smith, then Governor of the Cape Colony, formally founded the small town of Aliwal North in the Cape Province of South Africa in 1850. He named the town “Aliwal” in memory of his victory over the Sikhs at the Battle of Aliwal during the First Sikh War in India in 1846. The postfix “North” was in opposition to Aliwal South (now Mossel Bay). Aliwal North was laid out in 1849 on ground acquired by the government. This was auctioned and 38 lots were sold for £972.

The settlement of the area and its development into a town are most likely attributable to the presence of good water, thermal springs and a good fording place (‘drift’) across the Orange River, just below its confluence with the Kraai River.

Map & Directions

Situated on the “Friendly N6” running from Bloemfontein to East London, the Umtali Country Inn is the ideal stop over, linking up with both the Wild Coast route via Maclear and hence on to the Sunshine Coast Route and the famous Garden Route.

The Umtali Country Inn is conveniently located on expansive grounds in a quiet suburb only 3 km (3 min.) drive from Aliwal North’s CBD.

Physical Address:

47 Dan Pienaar Avenue, Aliwal North, 9750, Eastern Cape Highlands, South Africa

Directions from the North (Bloemfontein)

Follow N6 to Dan Pienaar Ave in Aliwal North | 198 km / 2 h 30 min

  1. Continue straight onto N6 for 122 km
  2. Turn left onto Rascher St/N6
  3. Continue to follow N6 for 72.1 km
  4. Turn right onto Somerset St for 1.8 km
  5. Continue onto N6 for 1.7 km
  6. Turn left onto Dan Pienaar Ave
  7. Destination will be on the right after 120 m / 32 s

 Umtali Country Inn, 47 Dan Pienaar Street, Aliwal North, 9750

Directions from the South (East London)

Follow N6 to Dan Pienaar Ave in Aliwal North | 347 km / 4 h 21 min

  1. Get on the N2 toward Mthatha and drive 400 m
  2. Merge onto N2 and drive 6.7 km
  3. Take exit 1049 for N6/R72 toward North East Express Airport/East London and drive 400 m
  4. Turn right onto N6
  5. Go through 4 roundabouts
  6. After 340 km, turn right onto Dan Pienaar Ave
  7. Destination will be on the right after 120 m / 1 min

 Umtali Country Inn, 47 Dan Pienaar Street, Aliwal North, 9750

Questions? Contact us.

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    • Manager

      Thys Strydom

    • Tel. No.

      (+27) 51 633 2400

    • Mobile No.

      (+27) 76 509 6126

    • Fax No.

      (+27) 51 633 2400

    • Skype ID

      umtalicountryinn

    • Physical Address

      47 Dan Pienaar Avenue, Aliwal North, 9750, Eastern Cape Highlands, South Africa

    Accreditations

    AA Highly Recommended Establishment
    Tourism Grading Council of South Africa

    It will be our pleasure to welcome you to the Umtali Country Inn.