“We cannot speak highly enough of our time here. The home itself was well equipped, clean, and very attractive. Albertus and Emma went above and beyond to make us feel at home. The time, sitting on the porch, was healing in and of itself with an incredible view. We loved making homemade bread with the "fool proof" directions given by Albertus and Emma for their bread maker they have at the house. What we loved the most perhaps was the hiking and fishing the reserve had to offer, as well as the variety of birds and game to be seen there. We would love to return to the house and spend more time taking day trips to the surrounding areas. ”
Modern, mountain home on a private game reserve
Modern, mountain home on a private game reserve

Albertus
Joined
Aug 2015
Last login
Over a month
Response rate
Slower
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- 4 Bedrooms
- Sleeps 10
- 3 Bathrooms
About our home
We are the owners of a lovely, spacious holiday home in South Africa. The house is on a private game reserve with about 800 large antelope (no dangerous animals). It is located in the mountains of the Eastern Free State near a picturesque town called Memel, about 3 hours drive to the south-east of Johannesburg. It is advisable to have your own vehicle, preferably a SUV type or 4x4. The house has all the modern amenities like a washing machine, dishwasher, tumble dryer, heated towel rails, fireplace, fridge/freezer, and is in a secure and safe location. There is full time staff on the reserve and a cleaning service is available at a nominal extra cost. Activities include game drives, hiking, fishing, horse-riding, mountain-biking, birding and star-gazing. Internet access is limited due to the mountains, but we are planning install satellite connectivity in the near future. This is our vacation residence and we will assist guests to get there and back from Johannesburg. The charm of this house is that it feels as if you are the only people on earth, yet it is quite easy to get there and it is not far removed from civilisation ...
Features
- Vacation Home
- Garden
- Cleaner
- Equipped for kids
- Wheelchair friendly
- No pets
Albertus's reviews
As a host (4)“What a great experience it was to stay in Albertus home. It was our first house we stayed in during our trip in SA, and it was the perfect match for us to get to know Africa. We were welcomed by Albertus and his wife and they are such a fun couple. Communication was perfect. And what an amazing views!!! We were blown away. It was so nice to hike. At the beginning we were a little afraid of the wildebeest, but they were more afraid of us... So it was wonderfull walking around between the deers, wildebeest, zebras,... At sunset the porch is great to have a braai and to enjoy together. And then the stars... We think about this experience a lot and we are very thankful Albertus let us stay in his house.”
“This place is truly a gem! Wow! Its been one of my favorite swaps in 6 years of swapping! The hosts went well out of their way to make the experience memorable, and were so kind and accommodating. The house is perfect, with breathtaking views and a bathtub that I will dream about for years to come. The preserve is grand, untouched with loads of animals. We did a hike to a historic cave and had a fantastic horseback ride. I would love to go back. I recommend this swap to anyone looking for a unique and authentic SA trip!”
“What a wonderful house and location. The silence in the Eastern Free State is deafening with the beauty of the area and the sandstone cliffs surrounding is absolute heaven for the soul. The private game park is both safe and perfect for walks, rides or just enjoying the magnificent view from the veranda! Albertus and Emma are the friendliest hosts giving you free reign to their stunning home with everything you need to make your stay super comfortable and enjoyable! you lack for nothing! The perfect place to digitally detox and connect with nature!”
More about us
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We have three children aged 24, 21 and 20.
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Albertus is a banker (or violin maker), Emma is a poet.
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We love interesting destinations off the beaten track.
Swap availability
- White
- Open to offers
- Green
- Available
- Red
- Not Available
Where is it?
Neighbourhood
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