Witklipfontein Eco Lodge: A Weekend of Luxury
Witklipfontein Eco Lodge is a luxury getaway two hours from Joburg, near Parys. With stunning spaces, a natural pool, and hiking around the property, Witklipfontein will transport you to tranquility.
A magnificent sunset at Witklipfonein
The Basics
- 2 hours outside Joburg
- Suits 6 adults and 4 children
- Self-catering house with a natural pool and fireplace
- Veggie garden
- Giraffes and several antelope species on site
- Live-in Help
- No wifi or cell connection
Witklipfontein Eco Lodge
The Lodge
The lodge is just stunning. From the giant door entry to the open lounge space and dome to the patio, every element of the house is thoughtfully designed. The architects have won awards for the design of the house, which was completed in 2018. Read more about it here.
The patio space is large and has a huge dining table to accommodate everyone.
There is a braai area outside on the patio. There are no shops around so you should either bring your groceries from Joburg or stop in Parys on your way here. The kitchen has all the gadgets you will need during your stay, in addition to oil and some spices.
You can also play pool but don’t take the game too seriously. The pool table is totally uneven and the cues are old…
The lodge is totally off the grid. Live-in help is provided at Witklipfontein for washing dishes and keeping the house tidy. Because the house is built into the natural environment, any little crumb of food (or even my face lotion) attracts tiny (harmless) ants.
Look how the lodge is hidden by the surrounding vegetation.
Rooms
The house includes 1 master bedroom for 2 people.
There are also two smaller rooms which can fit 2 adults and 2 children each. Each has a bathroom. There is a little ladder to take kids up to the 2 small beds.
An accidental digital detox
In a funny twist, Wilhelm and I left Joburg at noon and planned to work from Witklipfontein for the rest of Friday’s workday. However, when we arrived (with laptops at the ready), we were told there was no internet! We hadn’t told any friends or family we were going to be incommunicado! Ha! During one of our walks around the property, we managed to get a message out to Wilhelm’s mom that we were indeed alive but had a poor internet connection. My phone never connected to the network but Wilhelm’s did. We both have MTN.
Don’t plan to work from Witklipfontein, even though it has a lovely space to do so. Writers and artists will love it. Anyone who needs an internet connection, plan to take a break.
Check out the beautiful toothpick art!
Booking Witklipfontein Eco Lodge
The house typically books up to a month in advance. Check even further in advance for long holidays. You can check availability online and also view any specials.
There is a minimum two-night stay at the house.
Rates
- Summer (November – April) R 11,200/ night / 6 persons; extra guest R1100/night
- Winter (May – October) R 8,200/ night / 6 persons; extra guest R820
- Free for under 2 years old
Given the cost of the house, Witklipfontein is a perfect getaway for families and friends.
However, we enjoyed having the entire space to ourselves. We originally booked the house as a getaway when Wilhelm’s parents were visiting us but then later changed our dates. The managers were easy to communicate with and able to accommodate our requests.
What to do at Witklipfontein
The Natural Pool
The natural pool is one of the most exquisite I’ve ever experienced. Using a natural filtration system, the pool is crystal clear and has a lovely view of the property. I went in and out several times.
At night, you can see frogs along the edges. I went out several times with my trusty headlamp.
We had two sable antelopes within view of the pool during our stay. It was so special. It’s hard to capture in pictures, but they were there!
Hiking
There are several hiking trails at Witklipfontein. We did a lovely evening walk on Friday.
Some hiking trails are easier than others and this makes a difference because of the prolific spiders that take over the paths. We attempted one hike up and around a mountaintop but gave up after endlessly trying to rid the path of spiderwebs. Instead, we took the main 4X4 trail, which was very pleasant.
Here we decided to give up because it was just spider after spider…
We saw giraffes, ostriches, blesbok, and sable while hiking.
You can also organize a sunset drive, treasure hunt, and guided hiking trails with Witklipfontein. Read more about their activities here.
Books and games
Board games and books are available in the hallway library. We played several rounds of chess and one game of Scrabble.
The Farm at Witklipfontein
Witklipfontein has a huge veggie garden that you can harvest from during your stay. Twenty-four farm-fresh eggs were also waiting for us on the kitchen counter when we arrived, along with local honey and garlic.
The veggie garden includes collard greens, squash, pumpkins, different kinds of lettuce, and so much I couldn’t identify. We picked some arugula, mint, rosemary, and chives from the garden. There was even a horned melon!
There is also a greenhouse with raspberries, chilies, and tons of basil! I also noticed Witklipfontein had a couple of little coffee bushes, unusual for South Africa.
The farm is also home to goats, springbok, ducks, and chickens (not for harvesting, haha). The Springboks are surprisingly friendly and will likely let you give them a little pet. We also made friends with two friendly cats on our first evening.
(In case you were wondering we did manage all 24 eggs between the two of us. We knew this was included so we had eggs for breakfast and I also brought an empty egg carton with us to take the rest back home).
Visit the lodge’s website here.