Quick Facts
E 20°06'27''
Budget Getaways Review
Oh boy, not another Budget gem! (Hey, somebody has to do this job!) This time it’s an historic 1600ha farm bordering De Mond Nature Reserve and more or less equidistant from Arniston, Struisbaai and Bredasdorp.
Apart from a homestead dating back over 200 years, Vogelgezang has three guest cottages, each miles from civilization and each unique.
Let’s begin with the Fishing Cabin. If you suffer from a recurring fantasy featuring an isolated cabin, fishing to your heart’s content and drinking beer with the mates, help is at hand!
We’ve seen a lot of places, but you don’t get a much better location than this: surrounded by a sea of coastal fynbos and just metres from the wild beach.
So what is the catch? The Cabin is rustic, bordering on raw, so expect bunk beds, communal sleeping, no electricity, an outside solar shower and nothing but corrugated iron between you and the summer heat or the winter chill.
Now that you know what to expect, you will have a ball at the Fishing Cabin.
Heading back towards the homestead, de Mond Cottage is also on its own but with a somewhat different persona – a comfortable thatched cottage surrounded by wheat and canola fields and a distant view of the ocean.
Terracotta tiles, country furniture and simple yet attractive decor, paraffin lamps, gas power (no electricity), an airy kitchen with generous table and Dover stove, a wood-burning 'donkey' for hot water, three uncluttered bedrooms that sleep six total, a loft for an extra four single beds, a comfortable lounge with fireplace and a shady stoep...
A short stroll from the cottage, the owners have fashioned a timber sundowner deck around an old farm dam – a very nice touch.
New to the pack is Vlei Cafe Cottage, a nifty little two-sleeper with big views over the vlei and wheat fields. Only available out of season (the cottage serves time as a farm shop over season), Vlei is open-plan, with a small kitchen, indoor braai, the romance of paraffin lamps and gas cooking, and a stoep you could get old on.
Nearby, you'll find farm's trail run and MTB route, and plenty in the way of casual walks and birdwatching.
We think you’ve got the picture, folks. Vogelgezang is uberlekker!
"This was a great getaway. The lack of electricity was what attracted us to totally detox from stress. The house was large and the abundance of firewood kept us warm and cosy. The "donkey" used for hot water kept us busy and made for an authentic "old world" break. The accommodation had everything we needed and the kerosene lights at night were lovely. Highly recommend this accommodation to anyone wanting to remove themselves from the modern world. P.S The hot water bottles provided were a nice touch!"
(visited Jun 2016)
"What a wonderful surprise. We arrived at night and awoke with a magnificent view of the coastline and fynbos. Loved the fact that there was no other people in sight. We will definitely visit again!"
(visited Feb 2016)
"This is the ideal getaway for anyone looking to completely escape modern society! Myself and four friends stayed at the fishing cabin for a guys weekend away and had an absolutely amazing time. The road there is a bit of a challenge, we had two cars, a bakkie and an Audi sedan. The bakkie handled it with ease, but the low Audi sailed on it's belly all the way. It's a sand road so no damage was done. The Cabin is very basic. Wives beware. For a bunch of guys it's great because there's nothing to break and get messy. No electricity, which was awesome because we had a great time every evening sitting by the braai or inside with our drinks and paraffin lamps with no cell phones or emails or anything to bother us. The shower is about 20 meters away from the cabin outside in the open behind a screen, but with a breathtaking view over unspoiled nature reserve. Only thing that might be a bit of a let down is that the beach is about a 10 minutes walk from the cabin, but since we spent the whole day there on the completely private beach fishing it was no issue at all. All in all it was a great trip and we will definitely be coming back in the future to relax and unwind at this remote little gem."
(visited May 2015)
"We stayed in the De Mond Cafe Cottage (converted to accommodation over Easter weekend) and it was fabulous! Can't recommend it highly enough. It was tastefully decorated, tranquil, great views, and a warm welcome by Minnie and Piet. There was an inside fireplace, a Weber for braais outside, an outside bathroom (you could leave the door open while showering and look at the stars), and an ample supply of firewood. Perfect if you like peace a quiet but like to be close enough to Arniston and Bredasdorp for shopping, eating out etc. It's also a convenient stone's throw from beautiful De Mond. The best part was no electricity, what a novelty."
(visited April 2015)
"We stayed at Vogelgezang Fishing Cabin. It is in a beautiful location in the middle of nowhere. One can really get away from it all, with no internet, electricity. The beach is stunning. We didn't see another person on the beach for 5 days. We saw dolphin, a puffadder, a turtle, rooikat and big buck. The road is really not good for a sedan vehicle. The manager, Pof was helpful in driving us down and settling us in. And he was great about fetching us at the end of our stay. Piet brought us drinking water when we needed on the tractor. The distance from the beach, however, is a lot further than it looks on the photos. With small children it is at least a half hour walk. It is advertised as rustic, but this is no excuse for the slovenly state of cleanliness, dust, grease and grime about the place. It was really grim. The windows are falling off their hinges and don't close, have moss growing on them. Steps are broken with 6 inch nails coming out. It is not suitable for children. The field mice, I suppose go with the territory. However, the owners should warn people, by way of signs, that they eat everything. Only one Tote Box was provided in which we were able to hide our food from the mice. However, our clothing was not so lucky and the field mice ate through my son's favorite T shirt. Also, the numbers for the manager up in the cabin were not correct, so when we phoned him we were unable to get hold of him on the numbers up in the cottage."
(visited April 2015)
Getaway Reply
"Dear Svea, Thank you for your email and feedback. We are very sorry to hear that you didn't have a good experience at Vogelgezang. Regarding the comment on the state of cleanliness, this is a new and surprising complaint to us and I can only take it up further with our staff. If possible, could you elaborate a bit more. We however, don�t believe that we mislead our guests as to the distance of the Cabin from the beach or the condition of the road (we warn our guests that they should come in a 4x4 or 2x4). We do have a number of returning families with young children who are happy to walk the 1km to the beach. With the Cabin being in the veld, we do get field mice �visiting�, thus the elevated racks above the beds and in the kitchen. But we will note the need for more storage space! It is obviously disappointing for us to have negative feedback and we have noted your comments and see to rectifying the areas highlighted."
(Colleen Doyle)
"I've been to the farm cottage twice now, and it really is idyllic. The cottage is truly a sophisticated, tasteful, and charming place, and it really is hard to fault. Frankly, no electricity can sometimes be a bonus, and the paraffin lamps work really well. There seem to be an extraordinary number of places that you can either sit in or cook at around the house, and we had a wonderful Sunday lunch under the tree in the courtyard. The surroundings are a peaceful combination of nature and farm, and there is something about the gently rolling hills around here that is incredibly peaceful. Having been here twice in March, I look forward to finally using the Welcome Dover in winter, hopefully soon."
(visited March 2015)
"We stayed in the Farm Cottage over the long weekend and it truly is a very special place in a lovely location - both close to nearby attractions, and far away enough to feel like there is no one else around. The farm cottage itself is beautiful, spacious and well equipped in terms of cutlery and crockery. We even had an amazing encounter with a Cape genet who walked right in front of us and drank water from the small reservoir outside the cottage, all the while we were watching! We will definitely be back. "
(visited March 2014)
"An idyllic location,with inspiring views, getting back to the simple important things in life. Excellent fishing grounds. It's rustic, the matresses are hard, and I embraced cold showers in the winter, a small price to pay for the cozy atmosphere of a timber cabin that has only gas and paraffin lights."
(visited July 2013)
"Thank you for a wonderful stay at the fishermans cabin last weekend. The venue is basic, but clean and very well equipped with everything we needed. The shower is an absolute treat and the surrounding views and sunsets were spectacular. A perfect, relaxing getaway destination that we all needed. We all look forward to visiting again in the near future."
(visited May 2013)
"What an absolute gem of a place! We loved the rustic isolation, being surrounded by nature and the amazing views! And thanks to Colleen who was so helpful with our last-minute booking. We will most definitely be back!"
(visited October 2012)
"I write this with a measure of reservation because it would be in my best interest not to say how fantastic this spot is - that way less people will be booking, and this is one of those places you'll need to go back to! Vogelgezang was, in a nutshell, a fabulous escape from reality. It's one of those places you wish you could stay longer. Twitching, walking, fishing, talking - and firewood to keep you warm all night long! We took a couple of friends, various kids, a camera or two and fed the soul on wide open spaces, windmills, Canola fields and moonlit walks."
(visited August 2012)
"A beautiful place to relax, unwind and enjoy nature. Yes, it is not a typical holiday getaway, but once you have been there, you are sure to return. Good for kids to learn and appreciate how to get by without electronic equipment and gadgets."
(visited January 2012)
"What a fabulous place for all, my husband became an avid birdwatcher again after this weekend (due to the amazing amount of birds we saw, including 2 baby owls in the tree), a real African experience with a brilliant night starlit sky by the fire on the verandah, easy kitchen to work from, novel to have gas lamps and the donkey lit for hot water, all part of the fun experience, away from city and technology - the kids had the time of their lives with their own loft area to hang out in, safe farm to go and explore on bikes, fishing 2kms away in De Mond nature reserve, walks and swims in the nature reserve and 15 mins away from a swim at Arniston's Roman beach and fish and chips at the hotel afterwards if you start craving company. Love the farm resevoir pool with deck on a hot summer days, perfect setting for a PIMS or cold glass of wine! LOVED it!"
(visited December 2011)
"Just got back from Vogelgezang cottage which is on the De Mond farm. Sadly this has been one of the worst places I have ever stayed at. The accomodation is quite expensive considering there is no electricity or any other conveniences.. but that was not the problem. There were issues from the time we arrived and included: The fridge which was hooked up to gas was broken when we arrived and was only replaced after repeated calls to the owners and then only on the 2nd day. Incredible lack of communication The 2nd fridge was powered by a very loud generator which belched smoke and made an incredible noise. the generator broke after 2 hours and again there was no fridge. This was not replaced before we left. The gas connections were home made and you could smell gas leaking in the kitchen. The drinking & bath water was not switched on so the water we used was from an old water tank that was filthy and normally used as a swimming pool. We were not told this and used the water for 3 days for tea & showering and tooth brushing. Again no apology for this. Tried to communicate with the owner after getting back and after 2 weeks have still not received any response or apology or any type of partial refund."
(visited December 2011)
Getaway Reply
"Dear Roland - As we understand it, there were two unfortunate incidents during your stay at Vogelgezang. We do realise how inconvenient it was and once again apologise for this. Both were unforeseen and we responded as quickly as possible with the appropriate measures available to us. We again apologise for these two incidents. The cottage, being without electricity and in a fairly remote location does mean that when these incidents happen the solutions can be being more difficult to resolve than in an urban situation. The �ruralness� of the cottage is what normally appeals to our guests and is exactly what we market the cottage as. It is very much in our interests to avoid incidents of this nature and we believe that we did and will continue to make every effort to prevent these sort of incidents."
(Colleen Doyle - owner)
"I've stayed at both the Cabin and the Cottage on numerous occasions. They are both amazing. The Cabin is very rustic and charming. It is in the actual reserve on top of a hill looking out over the sea and fynbos. It's great for getting away from it all and chilling. You do need a 4x4 to get there as there are some dunes you will need to conquer. If you get stuck, Pof, the friendly host, will organise a tractor to get you out. The cabin is basic but has everything you need, but bear in mind there is no electricity. The Cottage is large, comfortable and picture perfect. There are two outside braais and a fire pit... what more could you ask for? Well, if you were my girlfriend you would be asking me about the other facilities like bathrooms, bedrooms, comfort etc. The Cottage has everything and more. Again, bear in mind there is no electricity but there is a donkey to keep the water hot (and no it is not a real one). De Mond is a special place and the Vogelgezang Cabin and Cottage are always awesome to visit. For guys i'd recommend the Cabin or Cottage. If there are girls in the party I would recommend the Cottage. Can't wait for my next visit."
(visited October 2011)
"Colleen and Alistair were incredibly helpful and accommodating. We find it a very restful place to be with no-one else as far as the eye can see. The beach is superb and always empty. Very child friendly."
(visited January 2011)
"What a fantastic spot! Just spent the weekend at the cottage and what a great experience for all. The facilities more than met our requirements and provided good value for money. In fact we found that the lack of electricity actually adds to the whole experience! The farm is well located to access de Mond, Napier, Bredasdorp, Struisbaai and Arniston. The region's reputation for quality fishing is well deserved, with us catching three grunter, eight stumpnose (de Mond) and three cob (Struisbaai)! Plenty to do, plenty to see and all in and around a unique and beautiful countryside. We will definitely be back!"
(visited April 2010)
"Thank you all at Vogelgezang for a really super weekend on the farm. We had such a lovely time and everything was absolutely perfect there, even to the matches and firelighters! Many thanks - we�ll definitely be back as it�s such a special place."
(visited March 2010)
"Two families went and stayed comfortably with an extra adult. Five children slept in the loft bedroom. We had a stunning weekend, we walked on the beach, fished, rode horses, cycled, swam in farm pool, relaxed and braaied on the patio and generally had a really good time."
(visited February 2010)
"This is a very special place. We loved the bed in the lounge, it felt snug and has the most amazing views of the sea and star gazing at night. The owners went out of their way to accommodate us and our three kids and couldn't have been more helpful. The cabin has everything you need and nothing that you don't, which makes it very relaxing."
(visited December 2009)
"It sure was rustic - but we knew that and loved the peace, it really is gorgeously alone up there. But the concept of shifting a coffee table against a locker to make a double bed was a pain in the butt and back. Take a sheet or three to cover the old matresses."
(visited August 2007)
De Melkportaal Cottage
Bredasdorp, Western Cape
Surrounded by gum trees and fronted by generous green irrigation fields, De Melkportaal Cottage is your go-to for a rustic-luxury weekend on a real macoy dairy ...
Rate Guide
R395pp per night (discount for kids); minimum cottage rate applies.
Bergen Dam Cottage
Bredasdorp, Western Cape
Bergen Dam is a very nicely renovated worker's cottage sitting stoksiel alone on the foothills of the Soetmuisberg mountains. The uninterrupted views spilling out from ...
Rate Guide
R430pp per night (discount for kids); minimum cottage rates apply
Rondeheuwel Guesthouse and Ouwerf Venue
Arniston (Waenhuiskrans), Western Cape
Having recently enjoyed a make-over, along with the addition of the new Ouwerf Venue, Rondeheuwel now makes the idyllic spot to head for for that big family function or b...
Rate Guide
R250pp - R350pp (discounts for children)
Kleine Morelig
Arniston (Waenhuiskrans), Western Cape
Situated alongside a grove of blue gums, surrounded by oodles of open space, Kleine Morelig is a renovated cottage, on a working Overberg farm, just a short drive from Ar...
Rate Guide
R1200 nightly for the cottage
Langrug Lodge
Cape Agulhas and Struisbaai, Western Cape
Nearly a decade on the block and we have finally discovered a perfect reason to spend an entire weekend on the southern tip of Africa: Langrug Lodge. The brochure calls...
Rate Guide
From R500 per adult nightly (children under 12 years, R300)
Klipfontein Keep
Cape Agulhas and Struisbaai, Western Cape
Meticulously restored and framed by typical Overberg countryside of rolling wheat and canola, this gorgeous thatched farmhouse is ready and waiting 10km inland of Struisb...
Rate Guide
R600pp nightly; children under 12 years, R350.
Riverbend Cottage
Napier, Western Cape
Sitting in a quiet rural setting just outside Napier, with an outlook from the voorstoep of pastures dotted with neighbouring farm animals, Riverbend ticks all the right ...
Rate Guide
R900 for two sharing nightly, plus R300pp thereafter. Pets charged at R100 (max two pets).
Staandakkie Guest Cottage
Bredasdorp, Western Cape
Be it a last-minute country wedding invite or an aversion to the hefty chalet rates at De Hoop Nature Reserve, Staandakkie Guest Cottage clears all the hoops when it come...
Rate Guide
R750 nightly for the cottage.
Casa Pescador Beach House
Cape Agulhas and Struisbaai, Western Cape
Casa Pescador offers self-catering accommodation in Struisbaai. The accommodation, situated only 1 minute walk away from one of South Africa’s most pristine beaches...
Rate Guide
From R3500 to R4000, depending on unit, guests and time of year
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