Quick Facts
E 21°10'00''
Budget Getaways Review
This gem (judging by the feedback below) of a Klein Karoo getaway ticks all the boxes when it comes to oodles of wide-open space, heavily-laden night skies and plenty of near-deafening silence - the Klein Karoo at its finest.
Tucked up against the lower slopes of the Swartberg Mountains, about 10km from Ladismith, the 57ha farm encompasses open vistas and classic, succulent Karoo koppies, all overlooking a private nature reserve with zebra, eland and gemsbok.
The three restored cottages, namely The Red, Green and Blue, are aptly titled given their brightly painted doors and shutters - offset by whitewashed walls.
The Red Cottage is the more secluded of the options. The Blue and Green lie closer together, which is convenient if you book both as a larger party of more than two.
While the cottages are small, they are simply, yet tastefully decorated, with thick walls, screed floors and the creative use of Karoo “litter”, such as rusty enamel bowls and old hurricane lanterns. All nice touches that add up to serious authentic appeal.
Each cottage has a double bed, an ensuite shower, a fully equipped kitchen with small stove and fridge, and your own private stoep and braai area.
The Green and Blue come with Eskom, whle The Red Cottage is solar-powered.
Now, if you’re not keen on being trapped in the kitchen, friendly hosts Murray and Ralph will happily whip up (by prior arrangement) a hearty Karoo breakfast or tasty dinner at the farmhouse. They can even supply you with a hamper of local produce… Service, or what?
With the entire farm to explore by foot or mountain bike, plenty of dramatic passes and poorts to discover in the area, along with wine and brandy-tasting, there’s no lack of action in the Ladismith area.
This said, we’re guessing the silence, views and general solitude will keep you stuck to the stoep most of the time.
So pack that half-read Tolstoy novel, 'forget' the Nokia at home, and get yourself down to Skilpadkloof.
"An amazing place for a super relaxing weekend getaway! We stayed for three nights in the green cottage, we love the detail and work that Ralph and Murray put into the cottage, by far the nicest cottages we'd stayed at in a long time. There are hills on the property to be explored and the place lived up to its name, and we got a visit from a giant tortoise gnawing on a woody shrub next to the cottage."
(visited June 2015)
"Very relaxing and quiet. The hosts were amazing. Best value for money. Charming, clean and well run."
(visited November 2013)
"Four of us went to Skilpadskloof for four nights at the beginning of a week long holiday to celebrate my 60th birthday. We stayed in the Blue and Green cottages, which were just perfect for our needs. I recommend these cottages to all who love the Karoo and want a private getaway. We took a day drive to Rooiberg Pass and were so surprised at the beauty of this area and the wonderful views from the top of the pass. I was blown away by the kindness of our host, who went to the trouble of buying me a birthday gift - this was beyond usual, and a great blessing to me! Thank you for a super holiday - we hope to be back to see the flowers we missed!"
(visited November 2012)
"My needs from a "Getaway" are simple. There must be no man-made noise, day or night. D�cor is not vital to me, but two of the three cottages that I have stayed in at Skillpadkloof have spoiled me and set high standards. Ralf and Murray's Cottages fit my needs perfectly. Although the Green Cottage has indoor facilities, I loved the long-drop outside for the stunning view, especially at night. The cottages are named by their colour scheme, from hot-water-bottles to crockery, the attention to detail is impossible to miss. It completes the visit. We went meandering during the day to Ladismith, a beautiful busy town with genuine country folk, and further afield to Seveweekspoort, a stunning World Heritage drive through magnificent rock formations. Played on dirt roads through productive farm lands. The scenery adjacent to the Laingsburg mountain range is spectacular and far greener than dryer places like Barrydale. I want to go there in summer now. If you get on with Ralf and Murray, expect a no obligation invite for sun-downers in their place. During both of my visits, Murray popped in with either home made bread, or other nibbles. I'm going back, have tested the Green and Blue Cottages, now I need to check out the Red Cottage. Why? Because I want to!"
(visited October 2012)
"For every one reading this, please do not hesitate to email Murray and Ralph to book your stay at Skilpadkloof. They welcomed us with open arms and Murray accompanied us to the Green cottage where we were booked for a two night stay. They renovated these three cottages with so much love and a lot of hard work. The cottage was very clean and equipped with everything you could want for a comfortable weekend away. A peaceful quiet place. The most special to me was the personal note on the table to welcome us and thank us for coming. Thank you for a wonderful time."
(visited September 2012)
"Murray and Ralph are the perfect hosts! Looking Forward to my next visit."
(visited September 2012)
"Skilpadkloof Farm is a little gem for anyone looking for a peaceful getaway! You can hear a pin drop it�s so quiet and the majestic mountain ranges that surround you stare back in the stillness. The night sky is lit up with stars like you�ve never seen them before. It really is a must if you�re wanting to get out of the city and chill for a bit!"
(visited February 2012)
"Skilpadkloof is a wonderful spot to stay at and definitely worth a visit. The owners have done an incredible job at restoring the old cottages which are small, but extremely quaint and cozy. The views are amazing especially if you walk up the hill. Ralph and Murray were extremely hospitable and made me feel very welcome. A great spot!"
(visited February 2012)
"Skilpadkloof Cottages were a delight. In a rural setting with views to die for, with hectares and hectares of land to explore. If you want peace, quiet and tranquility this is the place for you. The immaculately clean and well presented cottages at first appear simple and rustic, and although they are, they contain everything we needed for our self-catering break. The hosts were a pleasure to meet and they were fully focused on making sure we enjoyed our stay. A word of warning; if you want DSTV, internet access, shopping malls, fast food restaurants etc etc. then A) Get a life! and B) Stay somewhere else!"
(visited January 2012)
"Skilpadkloof is a wonderful place to get away from it all in an exquisitely beautiful setting."
(visited April 2011)
"We loved the simplicity of the cottages which are rustic yet comfortable, uncluttered and contemporary. The setting has a mixture of pastoral peacefulness and rugged wildness which we found so good for the soul. I would recommend it as both a handy overnight stop-over, with its proximity to the main roads, and also for a few days get-away to relax or explore the beauty of the Little Karoo countryside."
(visited March 2011)
The Place
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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