Kaaimans River Cottage

Up to 8 guests	Kitchen
Pet Friendly **	3 Bedrooms
Child Friendly	Sleeper Couch
Solar Power	2 Bathrooms
Self Catering	Dining Room
Beach Access	Fireplace
River Access	Covered Patio
Waterfall trips	Open Deck
Swimming	Braai
Kayaking	Boats / Canoes

Perfect for families & outdoorsy folk.

** Please enquire.

Only accessible by rowing boat or canoe (provided by us), our holiday cottage offers direct access via boat or canoe to the beautiful secluded Kaaimans beach, to the Kaaimans waterfall and to unique river kloofing.

The cottage has three bedrooms sleeping 6 guests and a loft area with a sleeper couch accommodating another 2 guests.

The main bedroom has a king size bed, and two remaining bedrooms have two single beds each.
There is a bathroom downstairs with a bath and shower above the bath and a small upstairs bathroom with a bath.
The cottage also has a lounge, a kitchen with the basics, a covered stoep and an open deck with a braai/barbecue.

We also supply a rowing boat and 2 canoes.

We are not on the electricity grid – a simple solar power system provides light during the evening. Our stove and fridge are run off gas, as is the hot water system.

Pet Friendly

The cottage is pet friendly by prior arrangement. Well behaved pets are most welcome. Note that the property is not fenced, however the river provides a barrier so that dogs cannot reach the road unless they swim. The holiday cottage backs onto the mountain.

Kitchen

The cottage kitchen has a gas stove/oven, a large (single) sink, cookware, cutlery and crockery, and a gas fridge.
During the past 11 years we have had a variety of guests and a variety of questions/requests and in a few instances guests who were surprised by certain things. So in order to be completely clear, we’ve summarized a few of the common questions/confusions here:

1) We do not provide ice in the freezer on your arrival.

2) The gas fridge / freezer will be started just before or on your arrival and will take time to get cold.

3) The fridge cools things down but doesn’t get as cold as a normal electricity operate fridge.

4) The freezer will freeze items but do not open/close the door constantly. Gas fridges are not like electricity operated fridges.

5) There is a coffee plunger.

6) If you struggle to start the oven please phone me. (Occasionally guests have struggled to start the gas oven and need to be talked through the process. It isn’t difficult, it is just different to starting an electric oven).

Solar Power

Our solar power system is simple and will support a few lights running at night. Please turn of ALL other lights when not in use (ie bathrooms, bedrooms, any room with no one in it). Don’t leave lights on during the daylight hours at all. There is sufficient power to charge phones but if possible charge them during the day time whilst the solar panels are providing power. Please don’t run hairdryers and or other appliances on the system. The system has has an overload protection and will cut out if the maximum power rating is exceeded, and also risks using up the available power.

We have run the solar power more than once with all lights on through the night (except 2 bedrooms), and charged phones and laptops, after a cloudy day, in an attempt to use up the battery power. The system ran without issues. The solar panels even charge the batteries on cloudy days. But please just be aware that this isn’t unlimited Eskom power. If you run the batteries flat, there is a generator that can charge them (takes about an hour). Petrol for the generator can be purchased in the Wilderness – it uses about 1 to 2 litres of petrol an hour. We have someone who lives at the river who is familiar with the operation of the generator (as we used to use it pre-solar power days), in the event that this happens, and you need assistance. So far I’ve had guests stay for multiple weeks with back to back bookings with other guests, and even guests who brought their own freezer and the solar power was fine.

Gas Appliances

Our geyser, stove and fridge all operate on gas.

Hot water – Gas Geyser

We are off grid so we use a gas geyser for hot water. The water pressure can sometime vary which can be challenging for a gas geyser, and when this happens the hot water can cycle up and down. The best way to use the hot water when showering is to only use the hot water tap – turn it on hard. The temperature is set on the geyser itself. If you alter it to suit, please return it to the marked position when finished. Some patience may be necessary – most guests understand about gas geyser limitations, but nevertheless I just like to mention it to manage expectations especially in case guests are not familiar with how gas geysers work.

Internet/3G

We get Vodacom 3G / LTE. Speed tests have achieved an 8 Mbps download speed and 3 Mbps upload speed (tested: November 2019) upstairs and downstairs in the sun room.

Braai

There is a braai on the outside deck. We have a grid and tongs for guests use.

Parking

The parking is on the dirt road diagonally opposite the cottage just off the N2 (link to parking) . It gets very busy in peak season so sometimes if you arrive wanting parking in the middle of the day, you may have to wait for a spot to become free. Otherwise it is not normally an issue.

Guests frequently ask whether the parking is secure. So far my family has been going there for over 50 years and we have not experienced a break in of our cars. We do not leave anything inside the cars whatsoever and have had no issues.

Self-Servicing / Linen / Cleaning

The cottage is located in a relatively inaccessible rural setting, which gives you the opportunity to enjoy the self-serviced accommodation. We provide you with all the necessary amenities and equipment, but we do not offer any additional services such as linen changes or cleaning.

However, if you need to do your laundry, there is a convenient laundromat in Wilderness, which can handle your laundry needs (linen/clothes/towels) in a day if you contact them in advance and drop off your laundry early as they open.

If you prefer to have a cleaner, we can try to find one for you, depending on their availability and schedule. We have a list of reliable cleaners in the area who work on a part-time basis. This is an optional service and the fees would be paid by the guests directly to the cleaner. Rates will vary by cleaner.

Local Shops

There is a local Spar in Wilderness which stocks most things. They are fine but not brilliant and they load their prices. I can recommend the Checkers at Eden Meander Lifestyle Centre which is adjacent to the Garden Route Mall for far better quality food and goods. Checkers is about 5 to 7 mins drive away.

Speed Traps

George/Wilderness have multiple speed trap cameras from the N2 Freeway through to Wilderness. They also vary the speed limit every few hundred meters. It is crazy. Just be very alert and don’t get tricked into accidentally speeding due to the ever changing speed limit.

Will you Enjoy this Holiday?

The cottage is rural and for those who enjoy being in the outdoors. If your prefer luxurious hotel settings, then this is definitely not for you. People who like camping and hiking will love it here.

If leaves fallen from trees onto the outdoor stoep will bother you, or some mud on your feet now and then, then you are probably not suited to the holiday. The cottage is basic and its attraction is its rural, “away from the world” location. This simplicity and natural beauty, and lack of Eskom electricity make for its charm, but also mean that visitors must understand the associated limitations.

Note: Traffic Noise

The N2 highway cuts through the Kaaimans river valley (since 1950) which is on the mountain opposite to this cottage meaning that the highway is visible and traffic can be heard, although to date the majority of guests have not found this a problem.