Bloemfontein is not much of a tourist destination, it’s a handy stopping point on the Johannesburg-Cape Town drive, as well as being home to a well-regarded medical center. That’s not the ideal setup for a quality hotel experience, but the folks at Protea have come up with another winner in their Willow Creek hotel, between the university and downtown.

Done up in an Afromodern style, the hotel looks out over the Bloemfontein’s open-air zoo, and has a nicely landscaped outdoor patio attached to the restaurant and a small pool. Rooms are comfortably furnished – though some rooms have a glass shower adjoining the bedroom, so best to ask about that if you’re traveling with someone who you don’t want to be naked in front of. As usual with the Proteas, staff are friendly and helpful, and the overall experience is so pleasant that we were in no rush to get back on the road.

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