Utopia in Africa Guest Villa

Utopia in Africa Guest Villa is a bed-and-breakfast guest house with nine en-suite rooms in Sonheuwel, Mbombela, on the hills above the Nelspruit Nature Reserve. The reserve entrance is about 1 km away. The villa holds 9.2 out of 10 on Booking.com from 238 reviews, with cleanliness scored 9.7 and comfort, facilities and location 9.5 each.

Each room is individually designed and named after a local bird, such as Sunbird, Loerie and Owl. The king rooms each have a private balcony overlooking the forest canopy, and their beds can be set up as singles. Most of the queen rooms also have a balcony with forest views. Every room has air conditioning and a ceiling fan, a private bath and shower, a TV, a safe, a hair dryer and a bar fridge with tea and coffee.

The setting is a big part of the stay. The shaded garden patio looks out over the reserve and the mountains, there is a swimming pool on the hillside, and indigenous and migratory birds, genets, bushbabies and porcupines are seen in the grounds. Breakfast of fresh fruit, cereals and cooked dishes is included each morning. Dinner can be arranged, or you can use the shared braai area. Laundry and ironing are available, as are transfers from the airport or bus stop.