JoyWood Cottages

The garden was beautiful and well maintained.

The fridge was not cold, only the freezer was working, our food got spoilt. The water was cold on the first day. Utensils were not washed properly. There was a leak on the ceiling, the bed got wet from the rain as it was raining heavily on the 31st and 1st. There is no privacy when using the toilet as there is no door that leads to the bathroom, they used a curtain.

Joy was helpful in assisting us to find a printer for our border documents.

We booked a 3-night stay at Swallows Nest, Joywood Cottages (managed by Debs from Underberg Accommodation) at R1,367 per night (in season) but left after 2 nights due to the unacceptable condition of the property. We spent our days away from the property and returned only to sleep at Swallows Nest. The photos on Booking.com are misleading and appear to be several years old. The cottage is attached to the main farmhouse which is run-down and poorly maintained. Overgrown bushes disguise the deterioration of the building. There is a strong unpleasant odour, no ventilation, and nowhere clean or comfortable to sit. The unit felt unclean with used soap bars and a loofah left behind from previous guests. The kitchen has virtually no usable counter space due to old appliances on display. The TV was not programmed, making it unusable. Outdoor furniture is uncomfortable and bug-infested. One of the wooden steps to the deck is unstable, and the mattress is too large for the base, overhanging into an already narrow walkway. The furniture is old with dirty cushions and multiple old throws covering them. We later noticed reviews from January 2024 and August 2025 raising similar concerns. Despite the responses suggesting issues would be resolved, they clearly have not — in fact, the condition appears to be worse. When we raised our concerns and requested a refund, Joy offered to refund one night on condition that we not leave a bad review. We chose instead to inform future guests so they are not misled. The agents should not be listing and charging premium rates for accommodation in this condition.

The location is beautiful and clean

Rainy weather

The place is nice and comfortable. The view is very pretty and one can take a walk around the property down to the river and back. There are heaters that keep the place warm when it's cold outside. Overall a nice small place just for two for a quick weekend getaway

There was a few spiders lurking around. The basin didn't have a hot water tap, cold water only. There was no coffee mugs or bowls for breakfast or teaspoons, so bit disappointed there. The place needs to have a bit of maintenance or renovations done

Nothing good about it is no longer maintained the gates aren’t locked,the pictures that they put on internet are way too beautiful than real

Everything about it the place is ugly

It is a nice farmstyle place, quiet and very close to Sani pass road

The furniture feels sometimes a bit to outdated