Izwe Stone Cottages

About the Accommodation

The Wilge River Valley is very peaceful and serene, featuring pristine bush and beautiful rocky kloofs, along with streams and waterfalls. It is unfenced on three sides, allowing small game to roam freely. Enjoy exclusive access to over 66 hectares. Take in the views, nature, and tranquility, as well as the great diversity of birds. The stream flows when the summer rains arrive, but it reduces to a trickle in winter. You can hike and walk on the property with options for more challenging treks to the tops of the hills or short, easier walks.

Otherwise just enjoy relaxing on the large under cover patio, watching and listening to the birds, or sitting round the fire under the stars, and just being out of the city. It’s in the beautiful Wilge River valley. Walk, cycle or drive down to the Wilge River which can be visited at two public bridge points and at Qodesh Cheesery and Tea Garden or as a day visitor at nearby Berg and Rivier.

Accomodation

The main cottage features 2 bedrooms (1 twin, 1 double) and offers a very comfortable queen sleeper couch in the lounge, along with a small double sleeper couch suitable for children or one adult in an annex adjacent to the twin room. It includes one full bathroom equipped with a shower and bath, plus an outdoor guest toilet. Additionally, there are two en-suite bedrooms, each with a queen bed, located in an annex 15 meters away from the main cottage. The cottage accommodates between 2 to 10. You can rent just the cottage or include one or two additional bedrooms. guests in total

Utilities

Off-grid features include solar power, gas water heaters, and a gas stove and oven, along with a microwave. The kitchen is fully equipped. A caretaker resides at a discreet distance from the cottage.

Birding

The Wilge River Valley is well known and popular due to its wide variety of habitats and the large number of localized specials hidden in the valley. GoBirding lists 225 species.

The area offers a mixture of farm dams, highveld grassland, broad-leaved woodland with scattered Vachellia and Senegalia-dominated bush, and a river that follows the length of the valley which can every so often be birded from the roadside. Within the valley the rocky gorge and open cliff faces offer a scenic experience and are excellent for scanning for raptors that either nest on or use the cliffs for hunting.

Some more notable species are Southern Bald Ibis, Verreaux’s Eagle, African Hawk-Eagle, Ovambo Sparrowhawk, African Finfoot, Freckled Nightjar, Alpine Swift, Half-collared Kingfisher, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Short-toed Rock Thrush, Dark-capped Yellow Warbler, Green-capped Eremomela, Ashy Flycatcher, Spectacled Weaver, Olive Woodpecker, Swee Waxbill, and African Firefinch.

Contact details:

Izwe Stone Cottages on Exclusive Bush Camp
Wilge River Valley, Gauteng
Cell: +27 083 258 5325

E-mail: gillians@gsaunders.co.za