6 Sleeper Cottage
the Studio
The Studio – 6 guests
Midweek Rates: Charged per person per night
Weekend Rates: Minimum 4-person rate & minimum 2-night stay
Public Holiday/Long Weekend Rates: 6-person rate per day
This charming free-standing cottage has an open plan kitchen, dining room, and lounge that spills onto a large west-facing patio that basks in the afternoon sun. The Studio is situated within a large, private garden surrounded by beautiful trees, abundant birdlife, and breath-taking sunset views. There are three bedrooms, two with a queen-sized bed in each and one with two single beds.
The kitchen and dining room are amply equipped for cooking and dining, and the lounge has comfortable couches and chairs surrounding a fireplace that is abundantly supplied with free firewood so you can cuddle cosily if it is a chilly Hilton night.
The spacious main bedroom has an ensuite bathroom with a generous-sized corner bath and separate shower, while the other two bedrooms share a bathroom with a shower. All the beds are of a very high quality and are made up with pure 100% crisp cotton linen, and each bedroom is equipped with a wall panel heater and desk fan to ensure a comfortable night’s sleep.
The spacious views from the patio and garden extend across farmlands to the Drakensberg – the perfect place for relaxing sundowners or outdoor cooking. The large patio table is the perfect spot to enjoy peaceful moments with family and friends in the landscaped indigenous garden, where there is abundant space for children to play.
The Studio was originally built by the previous owner in the 1980’s, probably as staff quarters. At some point an uncharacteristically violent storm tore off the roof and the cottage was abandoned and left derelict for many years. When we bought the property in 2018, the cottage was being used as a shed for a brood of chickens and their day-old chicks! It was a difficult decision whether to completely remove the derelict cottage or to rebuild it, but thankfully we decided to rebuild.
After extensive renovations – including a new roof, complete interior gutting, and a landscaped garden – The Studio became habitable and was rented out to a newly married couple for two years, until we decided to convert it into self-catering accommodation in 2020. The use of space and all the décor reflect the artistic creativity of Shelagh, who is an amateur artist.
The Studio is a well-appointed six-sleeper cottage with facilities to comfortably accommodate six adults. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of the various amenities available for guests:
KITCHEN:
Lounge:
BEDROOMS:
BATHROOMS:
PATIO & GARDEN:
PARKING:
CHILDREN:
CHECK IN & CHECK OUT
Check-in is from 14h00 and Check-out is at 10h00. Please note: Early check-in’s or check- out’s are subject to availability. Please contact us directly to find out if it is a possibility.
CLEANING & SERVICING
The Studio is cleaned thoroughly before each booking. The cottage is NOT serviced daily, but should you desire servicing during your stay, please contact us, and we will arrangement it for you (except on Sundays). The costs of servicing will be additional to your accommodation costs.
PETS
We are a pet-friendly establishment. A once-off pet cleaning fee is charged per stay. We ask that pets don’t sit or sleep on any of the furniture.
NON-SMOKING POLICY
The Studio has a strict non-smoking policy for inside the cottage. Please do not smoke inside the cottage, but feel free to smoke outside in the garden.
NOISE RESTRICTIONS, PARTIES & EVENTS
The Aloes Farm cottages are strictly NOT a venue for parties and events. Fireworks are forbidden as we are part of the Umgenyane Conservancy. Our area is renowned for its peaceful surrounds, so we kindly ask that you be considerate after 22h00 with group gatherings, music, and general noise.
TRANSPORT
Please note that we do not offer guest transport. Uber & Bolt e-hailing services are available in our area but can be unpredictable. However, we can recommend a couple of reliable local taxi company should guests require transport.
WORKING FARM
The Aloes Farm is a working farm and there are activities during the day that may make an occasional noise (tractors, staff loading things from the sheds, maintenance teams improving our facilities, etc.). There are also other families living on the farm and surrounds who also have ‘normal’ lives that involve children, dogs, and friendships. If you are finding a noise is disrupting your stay, please contact your host.
LOST & FOUND ITEMS
We kindly ask that you do a thorough room-check before departing. However, if our housekeeping team find you have left a personal item behind, they will take it to the office for safekeeping. You will then be contacted by your host and you can make arrangements to collect it at your convenience, or by courier (at your cost).
BOOKING AND CANCELLATION POLICY
A 50% deposit is required upon booking to secure your booking. The balance is due before check-in. If your arrival date is less than two weeks away, then the full amount is payable upon booking.
