One gets an eerie sense of decades-long plunder and exploitation here… The accommodation aspect of Joywood Farm is obviously a small sideline in a list of enterprises on the enormous, untidy grounds. It looks like the owners are overwhelmed by the sheer size of the land and are struggling to juggle everything. There’s a beauty salon and massage room, an international lumber business and a water-bottling business. There is no reception area for visitors and I spent a while driving and walking around looking for someone to check-in with. Eventually a family member leaving the premises spotted me but he had no idea where I was supposed to go and sent me (wrongly) to Swallow’s Nest. It did not fit the ‘superior chalet’ description I had paid up for, but had a lovely view of the Mountain, a wonderful bird orchestra and a lovely bath so I ignored the anomalies and got comfortable. Joy later text me to say I was in the wrong cottage. I moved to Woody’s Cabin on Day 2 of my 3-day booking. The cabin is lovely. I love the layered flooring and the porch. It’s spacious and has a small fireplace and the firewood is supplied. The wifi, once it got running, worked like a charm.

But both cottages could do with a makeover. Swallow’s needs a new ceiling and a new blind in the kitchen. The rug on the porch is half rotten and ugly and quite unwelcoming as you walk in and out of the cottage. One of the wooden steps leading up to the cottage is broken and scary to use during the rain. Woody’s needs a new settee and a general interior makeover. The bathroom is a lovely size but has no bath! Quel dommage! And the small shower desperately needs an upgrade. The garden at Woody’s could do with some indigenous shrubbery – it’s curious why this couple has chosen to go completely foreign. The rose bushes are lovely, but the palm and pine trees just blot out the beauty of the Mountain. And the birds don’t seem to like them either.

Nice and Cosy

Nothing

No breakfast, it was self catering.

Load shedding.

Rustic cabin with a Fireplace in the lounge

no reception had to wait to be guided to our room

noise from farm machinery from early morning

The perfect location in Drakenbergs, near the road to Lesotho. Very clean water, nice cottage, everything is very cozy.

place was quiet and very relaxing

there was no shower in the bathroom

Great loaction

Shower is not on suite