Die Skoolhuis
Quick Facts
E 24°34'08''
Budget Getaways Review
Tucked out of sight and gazing over the surrounding mountains is Die Skoolhuis - one of the nicest spots we stumbled across on our recent jaunt through the Baviaans. (Would we lie to you? Never!)
This 150-year-old whitewashed building was once the destination for the local barefoot farm kids, who scuttled along, dodging cow pats, en route to the day's lesson.
Today the building remains largely unchanged and offers a most relaxed and care-free stay, suited to families or small groups.
Situated on the far Eastern reaches of the Baviaanskloof (30km from Patensie and a short drive from the gate of the Wilderness Area proper), you're unlikely to find a better base to explore this side of the kloof and the wider Gamtoos River Valley.
The house, with its thick whitewashed walls, original timber floors and sash windows, accommodates a maximum eight guests in three airy bedrooms.
The School Room comes with a double and two single beds, and is the perfect bunkdown for kids. The remaining two bedrooms each have a double and single bed. There’s an additional single bed in the entrance hall for hubbie.
In keeping with tradition, the bathroom is shared.
The kitchen is neat and fully equipped, with a wood-burning stove and a traditional bread-baking oven. The kitchen opens to a braai area.
The dining room and living area are open-plan and spill onto a lawned area in front of the house - kept trim by the local bovine gardening service.
The rooms are kitted out with oil heaters to ease the bite of the winter months, and towels and linen are included.
“Peace and tranquility abound," is how one guest describes their stay. We would agree.
So, pack your lunchbox, kids, and head for Die Skoolhuis for a chilled night or two in the Eastern 'Kloof.
"Die Skoolhuis was ideal for our mixed group of friends as there were lots of bedrooms and all with so much character and simplicity. The braai area is sheltered from the wind and we had a lovely walk through the orchards. This is our second visit and we will go again."
(visited March 2013)
"I went to school in the Skoolhuis, some 50 years ago and I am so grateful to Thinus and Maidie for keeping the building in such a beautiful condition. It really was an experience I will never forget and am sure to visit them again. I am so proud to be associated with the school, the community and with Thinus and Maidie."
(visited March 2013)
"This was our 3rd stay at Skoolhuisie. We traveled through the kloof from Willowmore and after 6 hours on a dirt road in 35C heat, we were tired, dirty, thirsty and hungry. The first thing I did, was turn on the oven and put the warm drinks in the fridge, but there was no electricity! Our hosts were very apologetic and brought us a gas cylinder for cooking and boiling water for washing. They explained that it was not their fault and there was nothing they could do. Thinus immediately phoned the repair team in Humansdorp. I understand that the problem was beyond their control, but I specifically booked to stay at a self-catering facility and not at a camping site, because I knew that we would need a hot shower and a proper meal after an exhausting day. Instead I had to struggle in a dark kitchen by candle light cooking on a gas stove in sweltering heat. Nothing came of our plans to just sit back and relax and to go for a relaxing walk, because we were too busy fussing around trying to find things by candle light. It was a nightmare. I feel strongly that the owners should have made some sort of goodwill gesture, i.e. a reduced rate or even offered that we could check out an hour or two later. Even though they tried their best to solve the problem, we still ended up paying for services that we did not get. On a positive note, the cottage was spotless and well-equipped."
(visited February 2013)
"Peace and tranquility abound. The house is spacious and well equipped, catering for your every need. The beautiful open-air shower is a bonus."
(visited January 2013)
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 • Prince Albert • 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 • Velddrif • Vermaaklikheid • Wilderness • Witsand • Worcester & Hex Valley • Yzerfontein • Baviaanskloof • Cape St Francis & St Francis Bay • East London • Graaff-Reinet • Hogsback • Jeffreys Bay • Makhanda (Grahamstown) • Middelburg • Nieu-Bethesda • Rhodes • Sutherland