Dr Chris Whitehouse is a renowned expert on the fynbos of the Cape flora. He studied for his PhD at the University of Cape Town and has worked at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and for the Royal Horticultural Society. He moved back out to South Africa in 2014 to set up Phillipskop with his wife Anna. Dr Anna Whitehouse is an expert on the Addo elephants, which she studied for 8 years before becoming a full time mother. Both have a love of nature and enjoy sharing it with their guests. Guided walks on the reserve with Chris can be booked in advance for a fee.

Perched on the slopes of the Klein River Mountains, with sweeping views across the Overberg, Phillipskop Mountain Reserve is a place to unwind and explore. The reserve, 246ha in size, is dominated by the summit of Phillipskop and covered with pristine fynbos. Within the reserve is the important heritage site Phillipskop Cave, which its Khoe-San rock art. The spacious chalet-style cottages each have 3 bedrooms. The main living area is open plan with plenty of room. It comprises a dining area with large 8-seater table; a kitchen with fridge-freezer, gas stove, microwave and other essential items; and a comfy sitting area with views up to Phillipskop. The sitting area has a log-burning stove for the cooler months, and the cottage is supplied with solar hot water with electric backup so that you never run out. There is the essential braai area on the mountain side of the cottage and a large deck on the valley side, to take in the views. A natural swimming pool is available for overnight guests. The reserve is available to explore, whether it is just a gentle walk around the slopes to the waterfall, or a more adventurous hike to the cave, rock stack or the summit of Phillipskop itself.

There is a lot to do in the neighbouring area. Various vineyards, distilleries, breweries and restaurants provide plenty of other opportunities to engage your taste buds. The old town of Stanford is lovely for a historic wander or to enjoy the various local markets that are put on through the year. Boat trips, especially good for birdwatching, can be organised from there along the Klein River. Further afield, there is Hermanus, with its whale-watching, or Gansbaai, for shark-cage diving and boat trips to Dyer Island.