Guest House Association of South Africa

13/08/2026

What makes a guesthouse truly welcoming?

It’s more than just a pretty door. It’s the feeling you get when every detail is cared for and someone’s waiting to greet you by name.

Choose a stay where standards matter. Explore trusted, owner-run guesthouses at ghasa.co.za.

13/08/2026

Destination: Darling and the West Coast flower season

The West Coast wildflower season runs from late July into October, and Darling has been celebrating it longer than almost anywhere on earth.

The town's first wildflower show was held on the third weekend of September in 1917, and it began life as a flower arranging competition. It is widely described as the second oldest wildflower show in the world, and it still runs on that same third weekend in September.

Mid-August is a good time to go. The daisies are opening, the crowds have not arrived yet, and the veld around Darling turns orange and white for a few short weeks.

One tip from experience: the flowers open toward the sun and close under cloud, so plan your drive for late morning to mid-afternoon, and keep the sun behind you for the best of it.

Staying nearby? Darling Lodge Guest House is a GHASA member in the village. Find our members at ghasa.co.za

13/08/2026

A new South African Tourism Board has been appointed

The new 11-member Board took office on 11 August 2026, replacing the interim Board, and will serve a three-year term.

The Board brings experience in tourism, destination marketing, governance, finance, risk, technology and digital transformation — areas that will be increasingly important as South Africa works to grow its tourism sector.

For tourism operators, the key issue is what this means in practice.

The stated priorities include growing visitor numbers, strengthening South Africa’s international and domestic marketing, encouraging investment, embracing digital innovation and improving the country’s competitiveness as a destination.

The Board will also play a role in implementing the Tourism Growth Partnership Plan, with the broader objective of creating jobs and increasing tourism’s contribution to the economy.

After a period of transition, the industry will be looking for stability, clear direction and, importantly, meaningful engagement with the businesses that make up South Africa’s tourism sector.

The appointment is an important step. The real test will be how effectively these priorities are turned into results for tourism businesses and the destinations they serve.

13/08/2026

Member Spotlight: Medindi Manor, Rosebank, Cape Town

A Victorian manor house in Cape Town's leafy southern suburbs, run with the design sense of a boutique hotel and the personal service of a guest house.

Breakfast is served in the original dining room, complete with a Victorian fireplace that earns its keep on a cold Cape morning. With 15 rooms, the house also takes group bookings comfortably, which is rarer than it sounds at this size.

Well placed for a Cape Town stay:

- 10 minutes from Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
- 3 km from the University of Cape Town
- Down the road from the Newlands cricket and rugby grounds
- A short scenic drive from the Constantia wine valley

Book direct: https://www.medindimanor.com

Medindi Manor is a GHASA member. Browse our members at ghasa.co.za

13/08/2026

August in South Africa: the case for low season travel

The peak summer season runs from December to January. August is part of the winter lull, and for certain trips it is the better time to go.

What is actually happening in August:

The southern right whale season runs from June through November along the Overberg and Garden Route coast. August is the heart of it, with cows and calves resting in sheltered bays from Hermanus to Plettenberg Bay before the long swim south.

The West Coast and Namaqualand wildflower season opens in mid-August and peaks in September. The display is weather-dependent and varies by year, but a good winter rain behind it means north-facing slopes covered in Namaqualand daisies and Clanwilliam daisies in colours that do not photograph well enough.

The Cape interior is cool and green. Drives through the Overberg or over the Swartberg Pass in August look different from the same road in February — different enough to warrant going twice.

On accommodation: small owner-run guesthouses typically carry lower winter rates. The same rooms that fill at a premium in December are often available mid-week in August, with more of the owner's time and attention available to guests rather than a full house to manage.

GHASA members are spread across the country. Find one where you are going. ghasa.co.za

12/08/2026

Small, owner-run guesthouses are the heart of South African hospitality.

You are the one who greets guests at the door, remembers how they take their coffee, and tells them which back road is worth the detour. That personal touch is something no big chain can copy.

GHASA exists to make sure that kind of hosting keeps thriving. We support our members with three things:

Technology that helps your guesthouse get found, including visibility in AI search and classic Google results
Trust through recognised accreditation and quality standards travellers look for
Community, so you are never running your place alone

Roughly half our members are in the Western Cape, and we are growing across every province.

If you own or run a guesthouse, B&B or small lodge, we would love to have you with us. Learn more at ghasa.co.za

24/06/2026

One of the biggest challenges in hospitality is not knowing where to focus.
Do you upgrade rooms? Improve service? Fix visibility?

GHASA removes that uncertainty by giving you a clearer picture of how your property is actually performing. ✅

What you get is simple:
✔ Clear insights into performance
✔ Real guest-driven feedback
✔ Direction on what will make the biggest difference

Instead of guessing, you’re making informed decisions.
And that changes everything over time. 🚀

17/06/2026

If your property isn’t being found online, it’s rarely about quality; it’s about structure.

Modern platforms rely on strong fundamentals behind the scenes. GHASA helps put those in place so your property can actually be found and trusted. ✅

At its core, that means:
✔ Accurate, consistent information
✔ Strong digital presence
✔ Well-managed reviews

You don’t need to understand the systems or the tech.


You just need the right structure working for you. 💡

10/06/2026

Today’s guests don’t just book; they compare, validate, and decide online first.
Before confirming a stay, most travellers:

✔ Check reviews
✔ Compare multiple properties
✔ Look carefully at photos
✔ Assess credibility
✔ Search across multiple platforms

This means:
✔ Visibility matters
✔ Trust matters
✔ First impressions matter

Independent properties that understand this consistently perform better.
GHASA helps owners align their business with how guests actually choose, not how we think they choose. ✅

GHASA – Guesthouse Association of South Africa offers trusted accommodation listings nationwide. Book direct & stay with accredited guesthouses

10/06/2026

Visit Calizdorp! Awesome little town

We still have space for this weekend’s festival. Please contact us directly, if interested. +27820737709 or [email protected]