If you are planning a trip to Cape Town, you should include Dirk and Kathy’s place in your short list of where to stay. Conveniently located close to all the main attractions and good beaches, it is a real gem. My basic rule of thumb when judging hotel accommodation is how comfortable the bed is. Many’s the time I've been really impressed with the public areas of an establishment only to be desperately disappointed with an uncomfortable bed. Not so with this one; it is super comfortable, with white cotton bedding, in a cosy, well appointed room with adjoining ensuite; all immaculately clean. You enter the room via an outside/inside kitchen dining space; hard wood decked, bamboo walled, with all the facilities needed should you wish to self cater (including a fridge stocked with the basics for my arrival). However, this is not easily done since on the one hand Dirk and Kathy are marvellous and welcoming hosts, only too happy to sit over over a glass of excellent red wine in their home or on their terrace next door, sharing life stories with their guests, and on the other there are some excellent restaurants close by to tempt you. Kathy is a Yoga ‘guru’ and a session with her helped alleviate some of the aches and pains I suffer on and off most days. Dirk is an old Africa hand of the best sort: wildlife and landscape photographer (ask him about the time he flew in a microlight over the Makadikadi salt pans, photographing Wildebeest!), publisher, mentor to the King of Lesotho, knitwear manufacturer, 4x4 over lander – and he makes a decent bacon omelet too, which he treated me to on my first morning there. They were both very helpful with advice to me on my preparations for a trans Africa trip by 4x4 and I will definitely have just one place on my short list to stay when I next visit Cape Town.