From the moment you arrive at Yamu Lifestyle Resort you know this is a place of luxury, something special and truly exquisite. Every detail has been crafted to perfection by people who have lived and breathed excellence in hospitality for a very long time. Yamu is brought to you by Stefan and Maggie Schunke who define luxury on another level while still allowing nature to triumph over all. As this property is by all accounts breath-taking, you are sure to find a piece of yourself while being here.
A PLACE TO ARRIVE TO
Our family arrived on Friday afternoon and as we made our way through the elaborate gates we couldn’t wait to see how this bountiful landscape and resort unfolded before us. We made our way to reception where we were warmly greeted, we were handed some much needed refreshments which went down very well. We were quickly given an orientation of what we needed to know before we were taken to our tent.
COLLABORATION PARTNER: Yamu Lifestyle Resort, Clanwilliam – South Africa
DATE OF TRAVEL:
September 2026
OFFERING:
2 nights stay in a family signature tent, welcome drinks, x2 breakfasts and dinners including 1 x 3 course dinner. Access to hotel amenities (spa, hot tub, sauna, pool, hiking trails, cave paintings).
E-carts are used on the resort – guests are collected and dropped off wherever they need to be which is such a function feature as well as environmentally friendly.
OUR TENT
We all could not stop ourselves from being so excited about our glamping unit – every luxury was catered for, every moment already pre-empted for full immersion in nature, relaxation and appreciation for this unique and one of a kind place. Clanwilliam is known globally as the rooibos capital of the world – a real accolade for South Africa.
Yamu tent interiors are beautifully created to give guests everything they need to enjoy the environment and create moments of meaning with loved ones. Each tent has it’s own little pool, bath tub with a view, hammock – which is an amazing moment of connection to have under the magnificent stars. The boulders all around us are a constant reminder of something deep and powerful from a long time ago.
This is honoured in everything on the resort. But my most favourite feature has to be the fireplace and how it was prepared for us each night when we arrived back from dinner. Also these same little fairies lit the fire in our room early in the morning and prepared our team before we woke up which was an absolutely treat – it made us feel so totally dotted on and looked after.
Each tent offers a unique experience, with some featuring their own waterfall, others perched high on a peak, and others nestled among truly remarkable rock formations. Each tent has been thoughtfully positioned to make the most of its natural surroundings and the spectacular views beyond. There is a wonderful sense of privacy and seclusion, allowing guests to feel completely immersed in the landscape while enjoying all the comforts of an intimate luxury retreat.
The architecture is carefully considered to come alongside this truly special natural ecosystem and does not at all encroach on it. In the welcome pack, Maggie and Stefan describe the unique rock formation as “natures cathedral” and I honestly cannot find a better way to describe it.
DINING
Meals at Yama restaurant, Riverstone, are absolutely glorious – each meal crafted with precision and flair not to mention the portion sizes were well over generous. We indulged all of our tastebuds and it was worth every calorie.
Perhaps what I appreciated most was how genuinely helpful the staff were. I have to mention Rachel, who happily took my baby for a walk around the restaurant so that I could actually enjoy my meals rather than simply swallow them between bites! We also have to mention Abu, who so naturally engaged with us and our children, making the e-cart rides feel fun, relaxed and familiar. The e-carts are battery-operated, providing a more environmentally conscious and economical way of getting around the property.
There is a wonderful private dining hall at the restaurant, which makes for an ideal function venue, and Yamu has hosted weddings here before. There are also open-air bar areas around the restaurant, creating a wonderfully inviting setting for a summer celebration, sundowners or a long, leisurely afternoon.
There is a second on-site restaurant at Yamu, called Lagoona Beach Canteen, which is open during the seasonal months and offers another relaxed dining option.
The restaurants overlook the vast dam, with the mountain range rising beyond it and providing a striking backdrop to the entire setting. It is this combination of water, mountains and open space that gives Yamu its unmistakable holiday character. You can spend the day moving between the restaurant, your tent and the surrounding landscape, without ever feeling rushed or far removed from nature.
PS. There is game on the property, we were very lucky to spot Wildebeest and springbuck in the evenings on our return to our tent which was really amazing.
WHAT TO DO
I had a a specific plan of what I wanted out of this trip: go on an adventure walk, see something historical and then soak in the hot tub. It is rare when things exceed your expectations and I am happy to report that this did. My family and I enjoyed a really nice walk from the spa into the bush as it were set off on a mission to find some rock formations Khoisan paintings in the nearby cave.
There is something incredibly special about being able to physically walk through a landscape and discover traces of the people who were here long before us.After this, we happily soaked in the hot tub overlooking the glorious mountains and Clanwilliam dam – which offers another array of water based activities, season permitting. There is also the spa and various pools to enjoy as well as the saunas.
OF THE EARTH
Yamu means “of the earth”, and this is something you truly feel and see throughout your time here. It is in the rocks surrounding you. It is in the way the architecture has been designed. It is in the quietness. It is in the food. It is in the stars.
And it is in the way Yamu allows you to experience nature without taking away from it. For me, that is what makes this place so special. We have visited many beautiful properties through Explore2Find, but we are not interested in simply telling our readers that somewhere is a hidden gem because it looks good in photographs. We want to find the places that genuinely make you feel something.
Yamu did that for us.
It gave us adventure, history, luxury, incredible food and time together as a family — but most importantly, it gave us the opportunity to slow down and appreciate where we were. And sometimes, that is exactly what a getaway should be.
Yamu isn’t just somewhere you stay. It is somewhere you experience and something to be apart of.