Quick Facts
E 19°47'25''
Budget Getaways Review
You will find Draaihoek Guesthouse on a newish winery called Zoetendal, just outside Elim - the latter a picturesque village established in 1824 by German Moravian missionaries.
With this proximity to a colourful slice of local history, and panoramic views over the Nuwejaars River, Geelkop Nature Reserve, the Grootberg mountains and Zoetendal's vineyards, you're set for a pleasant weekend.
Your base for the weekend comes in the form of a newly-built and cavernous four-bedroom home, two of these rooms ensuite. While the approach to the house is still a little vacant, once through the back door, you enter a different world, as the entire house is oriented to maximise the river and vlei.
Draaihoek can accommodate eight to 12 guests. As such, it's best suited to a group getaway, whether family or friends.
The features and fittings verge on luxury and little expense has been spared to make your stay a comfortable one. Among these features are a huge open-plan lounge (actually there are two lounges), kitchen and dining area, a separate scullery to hide your dishes, an indoor braai in the modern kitchen, a convivial fireplace, brilliant views from all the bedrooms, and a sheltered open grassed garden in front, with an unobstructed view across the river and vlei.
Towels and linen, coffee and tea, piles of wood, all come standard with the house.
When you're done with lounging around the fireplace, there's enough to get your teeth into: swimming in the river, spotting the resident porcupine and small game, winetasting, walking and birdwatching, as well as fishing and canoeing if you have your own gear.
Plus, of course, Elim is just up the road, with its own modest cultural attractions.
"Thank you Elizan, Johan and family. You really have a wonderful little gem. I don't really want too many people to find out about Draaihoek otherwise we might never get a future booking. When you are at Draaihoek, it is so very comfy that you do not really feel like you are away from home. The comfort, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, the cozy fireplace, the indoor braai and beautiful singing birds are just a few of the awesome memories that I take away from Draaihoek."
(visited April 2014)
"Spent a long weekend at Draaihoek, and thoroughly enjoyed it. The house is amazingly big - much bigger than our own home - and is well-equipped. The views over the vlei are lovely, and the garden teems with birdlife. We especially enjoyed the jewel-toned sunbirds and the sugar birds with their showy tails. Nearby attractions include wine farms, the quaint town of Elim and the enchanting indigenous forest of Platbos (www.platbos.co.za)."
(visited December 2010)
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Where You'll Also Find Us
Arniston (Waenhuiskrans) • Barrydale • Beaufort West • Betty's Bay • Bonnievale • Bot River • Bredasdorp • Caledon • Calitzdorp • Cape Agulhas and Struisbaai • Cape Town area • Ceres • Citrusdal • Clanwilliam & Cederberg • Darling • De Rust • Franschhoek • Gansbaai • George • Grabouw & Elgin Valley • Greyton • Heidelberg • Hermanus • Knysna • Ladismith • Laingsburg • Lamberts Bay • Langebaan • Malgas • Matjiesfontein • McGregor • Montagu • Mossel Bay • Napier • Oudtshoorn • Paarl • Paternoster • Plettenberg Bay • Porterville • Prince Albert • Pringle Bay • Pringle Bay, Betty's Bay and Kleinmond • Riebeek West and Riebeek-Kasteel • Riversdale • Riviersonderend • Robertson • St Helena Bay • Stanford • Stilbaai • Strand, Gordon's Bay and Somerset West • Swellendam • Tulbagh • Uniondale • Velddrif • Vermaaklikheid • Wellington • Wilderness • Witsand • Worcester & Hex Valley • Yzerfontein • Baviaanskloof • Cape St Francis • Cape St Francis & St Francis Bay • East London • Graaff-Reinet • Hogsback • Jeffreys Bay • Makhanda (Grahamstown) • Middelburg • Nieu-Bethesda • Rhodes • Sutherland