Entire Eco Home, Magaliesburg

The location was great and truly immersive. You’re surrounded by the sounds and sights of nature. Sitting outside under the starry night sky was incredibly relaxing and almost therapeutic. Although you can see the neighbours, it's still very private. It was the perfect escape from the noise of the city.

The space felt a bit cramped, particularly the bathroom, where showering was somewhat awkward. The staircase leading upstairs was very steep, which could be challenging if you’re not particularly agile. More advance warning about the baboons would have been appreciated. they stole some of our food when we arrived, which wasn’t cool although they didn’t bother us afterward (perhaps they target new visitors). The window corners could use a bit of dusting.

It was just as expected, peaceful and very intimate. Being surrounded by nature is therapeutic and very calming.

Everything was amazing.

Everthing was so relaxing

The estate in itself was beautiful, we enjoyed the amenities (the pool area, the play area). The property is in the middle of the bush so it was refreshing being surrounded by nature. The river was beautiful and tranquil we got to take a dip. Jogging and taking walks in the estate was also an amazing experience because of the views.

We collected the keys and returned them to security as the lock box was not working. Upon arriving at the property around 15:30, the unit was not clean—the cleaner was still upstairs preparing the bedroom and left without sweeping, so my wife had to do it. We also found wet towels that smelled as though they hadn’t dried properly. The property runs on solar power, gas heating, and a backup battery, which requires very careful power usage. We were fortunate to have sunny weather, but this could be challenging on overcast days. The stairs to the upper level are extremely steep, narrow, and awkward—more like a ladder than stairs. The unit had a strong musty, moldy smell, especially on the couch and in the downstairs bedroom, which made evenings indoors uncomfortable. There is no TV, so guests need to bring their own entertainment. The bathroom was particularly disappointing: the toilet seat was broken (previously reported in February last year and still unfixed in December), the shower is a hand shower mounted to the roof, and the low thatched ceiling makes it impossible for an average-height person to shower comfortably. There were also no bathroom mats, so we used spare towels. The upstairs wooden floor is old, very loud, and creaks with every step—even under the weight of a child. We also experienced an overwhelming number of flies, likely due to the season, so future guests should be prepared, especially if braaing. Lastly, despite being an eco-estate, we saw very little wildlife—only two baboons and some squirrels.

The location, safe and peaceful. The roads were also not bad, I was worried about that because I have a small car. There is a restaurant which sells great food, everyone is so friendly. And I forgot a few things so was so glad there was a little conveniencw store by the restaurant. The swimming area and entertainment/play area was also good. The river was beautiful. This place is beautiful. Our unit had its own private braai area, with a Boma also. The host was amazing and made us feel so comfortable. The instructions to operate everything were easy to follow, and the host reassured us that if we had any issue, he would be available to assist. We felt safe, security was important for us. Our stay was great. We were very happy. A big thank you to our host.