The Sleeping Bao B&B

The Sleeping Bao occupies a face brick building on Howick Road in Wembley that is over 90 years old, its "rich wood interior" giving the guest house the strongest heritage-building character of any stay in this part of Pietermaritzburg. Despite sitting just three minutes from the city centre and under five minutes from the N3 highway, the property keeps what its owners describe as a "country-like setting," with a garden, sun terrace, outdoor pool and braai area screening it from the busy road outside.

Rooms are split across three categories — the Single Room with Bathroom, the Deluxe Double and the Budget Double — with air-conditioning and heating, a TV and fridge, and tea/coffee facilities in every room, and capacity for up to 20 guests across the property. Its location on the Comrades Marathon and Duzi Canoe Marathon routes makes it a regular choice for both events, and staff can arrange Midlands Meander tours and airport transfers to and from both Pietermaritzburg's Oribi Airport and Durban's King Shaka International.

On Booking.com, The Sleeping Bao holds an 8.3 out of 10 "Very Good" rating from 190 reviews, with staff scored 8.9 and free WiFi 9.2. Guests consistently praise the breakfast and the welcome: one reviewer wrote that "the staff were friendly and helpful, the breakfast was wonderful," while another called the pool "clean" and the stay "perfect if you want a quiet getaway."