Thabaphaswa Accommodation
Three bush camps and two cottages
Thabaphaswa conceals, in its magnificent natural setting, one of South Africa’s best-kept architectural and leisure secrets – an evocative mountain retreat.
Designed by the inimitable Heinrich Kammeyer, the retreat’s camps fit into their specific sites as though custom-made – which they were, of course.[ARCHI-technology, June 2007]
The owners’ wish to blend nature and the use of natural materials were perfectly executed. Kammeyer understood that the very special quality of the setting demanded a unique architectural vision.
Thabaphaswa provides a wide range of accommodation. (Rates apply for reservations of 2 nights or more. Reservations one night only (e.g Saturday night) @ 1.5 of accommodation rate applicable)
Good bushveld firewood and ice are available at the farmhouse.
Please note that we do not have electricity in any of our accommodations. The farmhouse has solar power for emergency use such as charging mobile devices.
Accommodation
Rates are on the booking form
DOME ROCK CAMP
Different units in Dome Rock camp. Each unit is named after the tree next to which it was built:
Huilboerboon at Dome Rock
- Sleeps 6 persons
- Double room and bed
- One room with two bunk beds
Rooi Ivoor at Dome Rock
- Sleeps seven persons
- One double room with double bed
- One room with one bunk bed
- One room sleeping three in bunk beds
Maroela at Dome Rock
- Sleeps six persons
- Double room and bed
- One room with two bunk beds
Kiepersol at Dome Rock
- Sleeps six people
- Double room with double bed
- 1 x Double Bed
- One room with two bunk beds
General
- The four units are hidden amongst large rocks at the foot of the Mahlare mountain.
- There are several dams in the mountain stream that flows by. They are lovely to swim in and there are also two foefieslides/zip lines to glide into the water.
- Sleeping is only allowed inside the units
- All accommodation units have a separate braai and washing up area and are equipped with braai grids, pots, pans, kettles, two-plate gas stoves and solar lanterns.
- There are no fridge or freezer facilities but we provide cooler boxes to guests, and ice are on sale at the office. A freezer and small fridge are available at the Thabaphaswa homestead.
- In keeping with the rest of the camp, the ablutions are unique (3 toilets and 3 showers). The separate showers are heated by an old-fashioned wood fired “donkey” and are surrounded by reeds, but open to the sky. The flush toilets are affectionately referred to as “loos with views”. The entire camp is linked by winding concrete walkways.
Kanniedood
- A second unusual camp caters for the more agile and adventurous nature lover. The Kanniedood Camp is a triple storey, reed-enclosed stilt shelter built amongst Commiphora (Kanniedood) trees high up on a steep rock face. The cantilevering upper deck offers incredible views over the hills and valley below. The first deck contains bunk beds and mattresses with sleeping place for 14 people. The space between the stilts forms an open air kitchen next to a communal braai area. Once again ablution facilities (one shower and one toilet) are open air with reed fencing.
- Access to the camp can only be achieved by 4×4 followed by a short, steep climb carrying food and luggage. There are no fridge or freezer facilities but we provide cooler boxes to guests, and ice are on sale at the office. A freezer and small fridge are available at the Thabaphaswa homestead. A braai grid, pots, pans, a kettle, two-plate gas stove and solar lamps are provided.
- Parking for normal vehicles is approximately 15 min walk/climb from the camp.
Fig Tree camp
- Fig Tree Camp accommodation caters for groups of up to 16 people on 8 bunk beds with thick mattresses.
- It consists of a lockable reed shelter with a corrugated iron roof adjacent to a communal braai area.
- Basic kitchen equipment (A braai grid, pots, pans, kettle, 2-plate gas stove and solar lanterns) are provided but there are no fridge or freezer facilities. We provide cooler boxes to guests, and ice are on sale at the office. A freezer and small fridge are available at the Thabaphaswa homestead.
- Ablution facilities (two reed-enclosed showers and 3 toilets) are situated approximately 50m away at the Thabaphaswa campsite.
The Cot-House
A fully self-contained cottage that sleeps, 6 guests. Four guests can sleep in the main Cot-House and two in an outside room with rustic river reed walls. The Cot-House is served by an outside toilet and a shower which also serves visitors camping next to the Cot-House.
What The Cot-house offers:
- Wheelchair accessible. (See Worth Mentioning below)
- Sleeps six guests.
- A double bed in the main room.
- An outside room.
- A bathroom and outside showers.
- Two couches/beds in the lounge. The lounge contains a hearth for the off-chance chilly night.
- A 2-plate gas stove.
- Kitchen equipment and cutlery in the kitchen area at the back of the lounge.
- A cooler box. Solar lanterns and candles to provide light.
- A specially designed lapa with built-in seats around the fire.
- At the back of the house near the lapa, there are tables for preparing and serving food.
- A washing trough for doing washing.
- Hot water for showering and washing up is supplied by an industrial sculpture geyser.
- A double bed has been built as part of the lapa for star-gazing and sleeping under the open sky, and to experience the bushveld night atmosphere. Mattresses are provided for this purpose.
- Sleeping areas for a baby and children are also to be found around the lapa and the fire. The Cot-house is surrounded by walking paths and all trails and activities are easily accessible.
- Adjacent to the Cot-house is a camp site that shares ablutions and a lapa with the cottage. It enables guests from the same group to camp on the camping site, and sleep in the cottage should there be different preferences.
- A fridge and freezer is available at the homestead.
- Linen supplied by Thabaphaswa
The Cot-House provides for visitors in wheelchairs to be comfortable. The bathroom and outside shower has been designed for this purpose. There are paths around the Cot-House and the Lapa/braai area that provide for wheelchairs. Assistants who accompany visitors in wheelchairs stay at 50% of the standard rates. Please see the photos of the facilities for people in wheelchairs.
Worth mentioning:
- The Cot-House is wheelchair friendly.
- We made a serious effort to accommodate the disabled in order to expand their limited opportunities to enjoy nature.
- The bathroom inside (flush toilet, shower and basin) is fully adapted to cater for the needs of any wheelchair user. There are lovely paths around the cot-house, leading to the “braai”/lapa area and the star-gaze outside shower.
- An adjoining room could be used if the wheelchair user has an assistant who requires privacy.
- Assistants stay at 50% of the standard rate.
- See the pictures specifically taken to show the wheelchair adaptations in and around the Cot-House.
- The Cot-House has been renovated to reflect the building style and motives of the Ndebele people who live in this part of the world. This includes cow dung floors on the outside with typical Ndebele decorations.
What they say
“Interesting aspects about all these camps are the Lapas/braai areas built from stone, and thoughtfully-designed kitchen and ablution facilities, which afford a degree of comfort not usually associated with camping. “The furniture in these spaces – the kitchen sinks, showers, and basins – are so well made that it not only functions efficiently but seems to have a life of its own; sensuous and full of good humour.” [ARCHI-tecnology, June 2007]