Swartberg Backpackers

Louis and his family took such good care of us, and we'd love to visit again. We spent a week at Swartberg Backpackers for nearby rock climbing, and it made a great base for climbing or cycling, especially with kids. My daughter loved feeding the cute pigs each morning. There were cows, sheep, geese, chickens and vegetables around the farm, too. The place is comfortable, though it's not fancy. The dorms are in a big, practical barn. We stayed in the two sleeper apartment, a low-ceilinged “afdak” that was a bit dark, and lighter curtains might help. It has a hot tub, which we mostly used cold, looking over the dam towards the Swartberg mountains. My wife wasn't sure about it when we arrived at night, but she warmed to it and eventually said we should come back next year. There's a pretty walk to the waterfall and a few places to swim when it's hot.

We stayed for one night while travelling through. It's a family-run self-sustainability farm with two trails: one short walk to a swimming pool tucked among bushes, and another to a natural waterfall. It's not a place for glitz and glamour, but could be worth a visit if you'd like to see an off-grid, self-sustaining farm lifestyle. I suspect it could be a good place to experience snow in winter.

The setting is beautiful and the people were very helpful. The accommodation itself is basic, but there was a hot tub ready when we arrived. Definitely a hidden gem.

This is a quiet farm stay tucked away from the usual routes, with sheep and geese adding to the peaceful feel. Louis was attentive and welcoming, and made sure we were comfortable. There was plenty of wood for the wood-fired hot tub, where you can take in the mountain views while soaking. A lovely place to relax and reconnect with nature.