Tegwaan Country Getaway – The Tipi

Climb – Hike – Bike – Fish – Relax… Tegwaan is the perfect place to stay to have access to a lot of fun outdoor activities while staying in a comfortable place! Immersed in nature, Tegwaan is a little ecosystem of its own: with fresh water springs, several fish ponds and a creek, the grass is always green, the trees are tall and the birds are happy! :-) The Tipi is our more rustic option, providing you with a comfortable bed sheltered from the rain, a fire pit and a beautiful view over the pond! The space TEGWAAN: We are a family-run business and are passionate about creating a space where our guests get to reconnect with nature, have fun with their friends and spend quality time with their family. We are a kid-friendly, dog-friendly, and eco-friendly micro-farm where we try to tread lightly on the earth and work with nature to care for ourselves and our animals, and grow our own food. We create uniquely designed and built cottages, tiny houses and more - each one has their own feel and experience so come check out which one is your perfect getaway in nature. Set just outside of the country town of Emgwenya (formerly Waterval Boven) it is one of the most popular weekend destinations among climbers and mountain bikers form Joburg and Pretoria. Tegwaan is a destination in itself: it is the closest place to the Restaurant(-At-The-End-Of-The-Universe) and Triple Tier rock climbing crags, and closely connected to some of the hiking and biking trails. We also have our own ponds and fish, so bring your rope, your hiking shoes, your bike, your fishing rod or your hammock! Your dogs will also love it – with so much space to run around and water to splash in, they will be happy and exhausted by the end of the weekend! Tegwaan is also an ideal stopover for travellers: being just a few kms off the N4 on a good road, just halfway between Jo’burg and Kruger National Park, it’s an easily accessible place to break up the drive and enjoy a properly relaxing day by the pool, followed by a braai under the stars and an evening by the fire. TIPI: Our Tipi will give you a unique and unforgettable overnighting experience! While it is our more rustic option, it still provides you with the essential comfort of a good bed and shelter from the rain so that you can appreciate the closeness to nature worry-free. On the other hand, to help you enjoy a more basic and authentic experience, there is no power point inside the tent (lighting is provided through vintage paraffin lamps and battery-powered LEDs), there is limited storage space (so don't bring too much "stuff"), and limited indoor space (inviting you to live more outdoors). Be warned: Tipis are actually not entirely weatherproof! While the bed is sheltered from the rain (thanks to the "ozan"), some rain can get in through the smoke hole and part of the entrance does get wet. When the wind howls, you might feel a draft inside the tipi. And just like any tent, it does get hot when the sun is high, and cold when the temperature drops, but the smoke flaps allow you to regulate the ventilation quite well. There is a fire pit and a sitting area in front of the tipi, but you're also welcome to use the communal kitchen in the barn if you want to make use of the stove, the fridge and/or the other amenities. The bathroom is a communal toilet and shower unit just a short (100m, 1-2min) walk away. The toilet is a dry / compost toilet, very similar to a flush toilet but you use sawdust instead of water. Guest access The Tipi is all yours, but obviously you’re welcome to enjoy the rest of the property as well. Have a walk around and you’ll be amazed at how diverse this little paradise is! Or take a chair and just chill in the garden and see how many different bird species you can spot (we're not good birdwatchers but we're at about 50 and counting! – from the tiny Sunbird to the mighty Fish Eagle). The natural panoramic outdoor swimming pool is open to everyone, though it should be noted that it is a "natural" pool, meaning spring-fed and not chlorinated (so it's not crystal-clear, but it feels amazing!). Since the water is just passing through the pool on its way to the pond, it is just like swimming in a river. Fishing is free for guests. We’re no experts but apparently the bass in our ponds are big (up to 4kg), and we have an agreement with our partner across the road (Troutways) so that you can also test your fly-fishing skills for free. Bass-fishing at Tegwaan is catch-and-release, while the policy for trout-fishing at Troutways varies by season. Other things to note Don't hesitate to inquire about the possibility of early check-in and/or late check-out. If we don't have back-to-back bookings we're happy to be flexible. Dogs are welcome but please note that we do like to let our chickens roam free when there are no dogs around, so please make sure to let us know if you have dogs so that we can keep the chickens safe and you can maybe take your dog off the leash. Furry Friends - Dog Policy - Extra charge of R60 per dog per night (R30/n for the campsite) - Dogs are allowed at the discretion of management. - Dogs must be kept under control at all times and must be leashed if other guests are around. - Please pick up after your dog around the houses. - Dogs are not allowed in the bedrooms or on the couches. - We reserve the right to add an extra fee in case of damages caused by pets. - Owners take full responsibility for any damage or injury caused. Vodacom network is generally okay, but you’ll have to walk around the property a bit to find MTN. No hi-speed Wi-Fi in the guest units for now, but we can give you access to our 3G wireless at our house if you need it. Laundry washing available upon request. Additional mattresses available on request. Let us know if you need a portable crib, a high chair or toys for your kids. We have a 6-year old and a 8 year-old, so we have a bunch of kid stuff.