Quick Facts
E 19°13'41''
Budget Getaways Review
Here’s a fuel-friendly escape from the Mother City - a laid-back farm 5km from Botrivier that ticks most boxes for a family or group of friends.
Besides easy proximity to Cape Town, what we have here is 149ha of prime real estate tucked into the gentle slopes of the Botrivier Valley - naturally with a river winding through it.
The farm is home to the friendly Simmonds family and their menagerie of Nguni cattle, eland, springbok, zebra and an ostrich or two.
Examining the feedback, it’s all smiles: “Thanks to the lovely hosts, you have a great spot here!” “Wow, my family and I had a wonderful time!”
Accommodation at Swaynekloof comes in the form of four basic, yet comfortable cottages and a family friendly farmstyle house with loads of style. Top Cottage and Green Cottage are set about 30m apart, therefore suitable for two families or couples on a joint visit, while Riverside Cabin would be your first call of port for total privacy. Recently joining the team is Little Heritage Cottage, overlooking the farm dam.
Top Cottage comes pre-packed with soothing views over the valley. It has two bedrooms with Queen and King beds and sleeps a total four. The bathroom is shared and the open-plan kitchen fully equipped with stove, fridge and microwave. There’s also a fireplace in the living room. Outside you'll find a covered braai area under a big pine tree.
Moving down the slope to Green Cottage, this is a restored century-old farm building, with two double bedrooms (one with a double bunk bed), and shared bathroom. The living room and kitchen are again open-plan, and lead out to a small stoep with built-in braai and yummy valley views.
Heading on down to the river brings us to Riverside Cabin, a rustic timber abode gazing upon the river and small bridge. Features in this open-plan cottage made for two include a double bed, small dining table, kitchen area with micro and stove, and bathroom with shower. To the front of the cottage you have a shaded deck, that in turn leads down to a lawned area and braai.
Little Heritage Cottage takes you back to basics. This historic abode has a spacious double bedroom and living room, with an additional double sleeper couch in the lounge. Kiddies over the age of six will love the sense of adventure that comes with spending the night sleeping up in the attic room, where four futons are provided. Simply furnished, with a relaxed, artsy vibe, the cottage sits below the main house and offers views over the farm dam.
Swaynehuis is a swanky four bedroom house that packs a family of twelve. Besides the luxurious touches and farmhouse feel, Swaynehuis has a private swimming pool as well as a lapa and braai area for your enjoyment - great for a Sunday afternoon braai, not so much your best mates bachelors.
While Swaynekloof has uberchill written all over it, there’s oodles to keep you busy. Head down to the river for a picnic or a spot of fishing; join your hosts for a game drive with awesome views; hike, bike, walk or run some of the nearby trails; do a spot of horse riding (on offer nearby); hit the pub at Botrivier; head down to Hermanus…
Easy-to-get-to; relaxed and simple accommodation, pooch-friendly, lots to do… What more could you hope for?
Additional Info
- Swimming/paddling in the river is recommended (the plunge pool next to Top Cottage is out of action, and the pool at Swaynehuis is for the private use of guests who have booked Swaynehuis)
"To experience for what we got. The staff was fabulous"
(visited February 2024)
"Full house 5-star stay! I loved being here. The facilities were absolutely fantastic. We felt at home straight away and anything we had forgotten had been thought of by the owners. We loved it, our dogs loved it, and we were very sad we hadn't planned to stay longer. An absolutely beautiful setting. You get to watch the sun set behind the mountains while listening to the flowing river and the lions growling in the distance at night."
(visited Apr 2022)
"Beautiful setting. We had the nature break we needed."
(visited Sep 2021)
"The description on the website is nowhere close how much it actually has to offer and so much thanks to the amazing hosts. Even going in the heart of winter was fantastic!"
(visited Aug 2021)
"The scenery was beautiful with the clean good air. For my friends that are abled bodies they enjoy the animals and walking around on the farm. As a person living with a disability I had to minimise my movements as the place was not wheelchair friendly (which I knew before hand). In the evening the fireplace in the bedroom was a big plus. We enjoy our stay there."
(visited Jun 2019)
"This was our second weekend at Swaynekloof and again it delivered. Beautiful views, especially from my favourite chair next to the window. They have added a stunning outside area to relax, chill, play games and braai. The moment we got to the farm the kids were off to explore the swing by the river. And the best part was that we could take the furries along as well. Most of the weekend we even had the resident Jack Russell join our pack. We will definitely be back."
(visited Feb 2019)
"Stunning, stunning, stunning! Never been so rested."
(visited Oct 2018)
"We had a wonderful weekend away at the River Cottage. Lovely scenery, peaceful and lots of walks with our dogs. Thank you Colleen & Peter! Would highly recommend your accommodation."
(visited Sep 2018)
"Speechless.... absolute bliss in nature with all that you need. Quality bedding, good quality beds to ensure a good night�s rest, amazing scenery, walks, sounds...fantastic host. Absolute value for money. Will be back!!"
(visited Jul 2018)
"Great place to escape and relax, views are awesome, bird life is beautiful. With sounds of nature all around you birds chirping, Hyena laughing, to the roar and groan of lions, just the medicine to unwind the mind. The hosts and hospitality was warm and friendly and extremely accommodating. A place we will definitely visit again."
(visited Jul 2018)
"Very quiet and peaceful and the sunsets were amazing. Our hosts Colleen and Peter welcomed us and were very helpful. Kids loved the dam and so did our dog Tessie who joined us in the canoe. The food and atmosphere at the Shutin Shed restaurant down the road was fantastic as well as pet friendly."
(visited Apr 2018)
"Was so peaceful and kid friendly. My husband, kids and I enjoyed ourselves fully. Definitely want to book again."
(visited Apr 2018)
"Beautiful views."
(visited Apr 2018)
"We cant' wait to go again!"
(visited Jan 2017)
"It was a fantastic weekend in a fantastic location, perfect for kids (and adults). Top and Green Cottage are perfect when booked together. The great hosts are ready to attend to your every need."
(visited Dec 2016)
"We spent a wonderful long family weekend at Swaynekloof Farm. Our kids spent hours exploring the river and our two dogs had a ball. Colleen and Peter are great, helpful, friendly hosts, and made us feel very much at home. The setting is beautiful and the distant sightings of lions and the hyena were very exciting for our kids! I can highly recommend this getaway, particularly since it is such a short drive from Cape Town."
(visited Sep 2016)
"We stayed in Riverside Cabin and had a fantastically relaxing weekend. Being so close to Cape Town is a bonus when time is limited. Riverside Cabin is simple and rustic, but perfectly clean and comfortable. It provides a great base for exploring the surrounds and/or recharging the senses on the veranda. Would stay again and recommend. Thanks Colleen and Peter!"
(visited Aug 2016)
"A very idyllic setting where you can totally wind down and relax with lots of bird life, sheep and some game and the wonderful roars of two magnificent lions in the background. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay, exploring the farm and the river, taking a little canoe ride on the "pond" with the weaver birds darting around, chasing sheep and going to see the Eland, Springbok, Ostrich and Zebra and visiting the tame cheetahs next door!"
(visited Jul 2016)
"We thoroughly enjoyed our weekend at Swaynekloof. Top Cottage was basic but comfortable with all that you need for a break away. We loved that there was no cell phone reception - being able to switch off completely is such a luxury. We went on a wonderful walk to the top of the hill among the zebra and springbok which we really enjoyed. Our favourite part of it all was the visits from the resident farm dogs. Thanks very much for the lovely stay and for your warm hospitality!"
(visited Jul 2016)
"We stayed in the Heritage Cottage at Swaynekloof which is a renovated settler cottage with all the character in the world. A fireplace in the kitchen issues a lovely warm glow which is pleasantly relaxing. I have not issued too many stars on the setting, simply as it has no lawn or outdoor area dedicated to it. The views are beautiful over the valley and pond with lillies and wild duck. All in all, a great place to escape the city and take some time out."
(visited May 2016)
"I have to thank you Colleen for the most unforgettable stay at Swaynekloof farm. Swaynehuis was just absolutely exquisite. Each room was so beautifully laid, immaculate and spacious. It felt like staying is a large villa! The hospitality and kindness shown to us was more than we could ever have asked for. Thank you going the extra mile for us and for all the help and advice with the fishing. We were absolutely blown away with the tranquil view and atmosphere of the entire farm. The beautiful picnic spot under the trees and thrilling swing over the river, what more can a child ask for. The sounds of horses playing, cows mooing and LIONS roaring - "yikes". Watching the Eland imitating the bulls... Together with your neighboring farm, Luke was amazing. The experience with the animals was mind blowing. I mean where in South Africa can you walk with lions? All we can say is wow. Words cannot explain the unbelievable experience and adventure my cousins have taken back with them to Greece. The only fault being... our stay was too short."
(visited Mar 2016)
"A most relaxing weekend away from the city's hustle and bustle."
(visited June 2015)
"We rented Top & Green Cottage and the Riverside cabin for 10-days in March for a family gathering. The cottages and cabin are comfortable and clean and offer very good value for money. The setting and location suited us perfectly, we could either stay put and relax in the peace and quiet, go to the beach less than half an hour's drive away or enjoy the many sigh-seeing opportunities in the area. Last but certainly not least, Colleen and Peter and everyone at Swaynekloof are very friendly and helpful. We enjoyed it so much that we're planning to repeat the experience next year."
(visited March 2015)
"We stayed in the river cabin. Very rustic accommodation. River very low due to drought so swimming and river should not be a draw card. Lovely setting. Peacefully and quiet except in the mornings when bakkies and cars pass by as cabin is at entrance to the farm. Felt it should be cleaner although is advertised as rustic accommodation."
(visited January 2015)
Getaway Reply
Thank you for your comments, Liz. The river was silted up during the floods last year, hopefully the sand will move down to the sea and with good rains, the river should get deep again. I agree, accommodation is rustic and can get dusty in the dry season, but very popular with those who enjoy something different. Think it was hot everywhere during the heat wave, now its very cool. Have spoken to the neighbouring farm and asked them to drive slower across the bridge.
(Colleen Simmonds)
"Swaynekloof was the perfect getaway! 12 of us stayed in the Swaynehuis. The house was spacious and comfortable. We felt right at home for the weekend. We were very impressed at the facilities that made catering for 12 people easy. Despite the weather not being so great while we were there, there were fun board games provided to keep us entertained all afternoon and evening. We will definitely need to go back soon to make use of the beautiful big pool and spend some time down at the river."
(visited January 2015)
"We enjoyed our stay. The farm had a lot to offer, as we did not expect the experience of seeing wild life so close. The farm boast Eland, Zebras, Ostriches and Springbok and your normal farm animals, cows and sheep. The owner and his workers were very friendly."
(visited January 2015)
"Great place for a get away from the city. Beautiful place."
(visited January 2015)
"The stay was very relaxed and the scenery is beautiful. Also went to have a few drinks in town and the people are wonderful."
(visited November 2014)
"So lovely and comfortable and the spot down at the river made so nicely with swings and hammocks. Gorgeous spot! Beautiful views."
(visited November 2014)
"An amazing setting, wonderful river and so close to other attractions."
(visited October 2014)
"The location was remarkably easy to get to, and our host was friendly and helpful from the first response to our enquiry through Budget Getaways. The scenery and tranquility of the farm were a welcome escape, especially when all you need to do is exhale and shake city life off your shoulders. Loads to do in and around the area, and the wild flowers are a must-see during this time of the year. I highly recommend this getaway and will visit the farm again in the not-too-distant future."
(visited September 2014)
"Great getaway place. The road is not that bad if driven slowly, don't be put off by this. Drive from Cape Town was just over an hour with traffic. Directions spot-on. Cottages on the side of a hill overlooking the valley, awesome sunset. We stayed in the Top Cottage, highly recommend it. Well equipped with everything you need. Bring lots of wood for the Jetmaster fiire which keeps the cottage warm. My daughters really enjoyed the drive to see the game on the farm. Rommel the Eland was really big and took an interest in the Fortuna. A visit to the Bot River hotel is a must, expected to see John Wayne walk through the front door and Antonio Banderas come in the back door. Even though my daughters had no cell reception, they really had an awesome time."
(visited July 2014)
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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