The Travelling Tortoise Retreat
Based on 12 verified guest reviews
About the Host
Member since: 24 Aug. 2017
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We are a new off - the - grid eco retreat situated only 10km from the pretty town of De Rust in the
Western Cape. The resort is set in natural Klein Karoo veldt with stunning views from the decks of our mountain chalets.
The pastoral, green Middelplaas valley is in front, the Red Stone Hills to the right and the inspiring Swartberg behind.
So weary traveller, visit us and wind down. Do as the tortoise does – wind down slowly.
The latest additions to our facilities are eco wood-fired hot tubs. They are in the bush and private to The Angulate and Hinge-back chalets. Perfect for a cold winters night while star gazing with a glass of wine, or as a cool splash pool in the summer.
Kindly note that the Jacuzzi is private only to the 2 bedroom Hinge back and Angulate chalets. There is a fee of R50 for the use of the Jacuzzi
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE WATER RESTRICTIONS - Guaranteed no outages
Please also note that we do not allow 1 night bookings over weekends.
Map
Extra Info
| Property Type | Camp, Chalet, Self Catering |
| Check-in after | 02:00 PM |
| Check-out before | 10:00 AM |
| Cancellation Policy | Flexible |
| Can Be Used For | Film Location, Still Shoots |
| For more info |
Reviews
I had a thoroughly enjoyable time at The Travelling Tortoise which is reachable with a basic sudan. The facilities were well kept and clean. The host, Jeff, was lovely. He was friendly and made sure that our time there was as best as it could have been. It is a quiet and restful space and the perfect getaway for escaping the hustle and bustle of the everyday. My husband and I were caught by the serious flooding towards the end of September 2023 and were unable to leave but Jeff was most accommodating and allowed us to stay another evening. The Torthouse had everything that you would need such as a comfortable bed, a sink, a fridge, a private seating area and braai. Although it was a bit chilly there was a lovely pool to swim in and places to rest and a wonderful play area for children. You could also take a little walk up the hill and get a lovely view of the Swartberg Mountains. It was also not too far from De Rust which has a few coffee shops and a second hand book shop as well as a small superette. It was also possible to reach the Meiringspoort waterful which was stunning. Overall a very positive experience and will definitely go back.
It was absolutely incredible. We totally loved our stay and will most definitely be back soon.
Our only disappointment was that we booked for one night only - trust me, it's waaay too magical a place for only a night. It's a little piece of heaven and, like us, you'll wish you'd booked for the weekend. There is so much to do in the area, so much to see and not enough hours in the day to enjoy the total serenity you get from staying at The Travelling Tortoise - take it easy, take it slow and enjoy the time.
The Travelling Tortoise is a marvelous place to chill out. Calm, peaceful and quiet - the only sounds you will hear are the birds and occasional sheep bleating. The accommodation is very comfortable, well provisioned kitchen and it felt like home after a few minutes. 4 days was not long enough for us! Beautiful scenery, fantastic walks and an abundance of flora to keep you busy.
Beautiful and serene and just a great breakaway with adequate amenities.
Lovely place to stay. So peaceful and beautiful view over the mountains. My wife and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary and I had some special requests. I asked the owner for some roses and a box of chocolates as well as rose petals in the shape of a heart to be placed on our bed. This was all taken care of and my wife was pleasantly surprised when we got there and to add to the occasion, there was also a ice cold bottle of wine in the fridge for us. Then there is the jacuzzi which was a real bonus. Enjoyed it thoroughly and watched the stars and counted 3 satellites in just a few minutes. Will definitely recommend this place to others.
A wonderful retreat from city life and device addiction. Jeff's (owner, manager and author) passion for this establishment is tangible: attention to detail with even a touch of whimsy. Would certainly go again and then for much longer. We absolutely recommend the Traveling Tortoise Retreat.
Our stay at Traveling Tortoise was an amazing experience!
We loved sitting in the Kol Kol hot tub while gazing at the beautiful cosmic landscape and breathtaking stars at night.
Jeff is a fantastic host & contributed to our delightful stay.
The unit was neat and clean & equiped with all we needed for the weekend.
The fact that there is no tv, helped you to relax and rather enjoy the panoramic views of the Klein Karoo.
We would God Willing definitely be returning to Traveling Tortoise soon! Thanks Jeff!
Lovely and quiet. Beautiful view from "The Padloper. " Will go here again when I get the opportunity and hope it is real soon.
Thank you too all!
Great views of the sunset and sunrise. Inspirational use of the land and scenic on all sides. Perfect secure getaway for the Dog and cozy accommodation meant for relaxation. The working farm life not far off in the distance, blends in with the rugged beauty of the Swartberg area.
We had a really lovely two night stay at The Travelling Tortoise.
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About the Host
Member since: 24 Aug. 2017
Response time: 1 hour
Response rate: 85.7%
Based on 12 verified guest reviews
About the Host
Member since: 24 Aug. 2017
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De Rust Reviews
Small town full of gems and beautiful places to visit
Pluim restaurant, wonderful food.
So peaceful, the house is very well equipped.
Loved the braai pit and lovely view from the patio
Definitely worth every cent
The Karoo is a beautiful place. We visited THE TRAVELING TORTOISE for a weekend. We were welcomed by the owner, Jeff, who took us to our chalet. The chalet is very neat. Jeff showed us around and light our wood-fired hot tub.
I will recommend this trip for young and old. Our kids enjoyed the freedom of roaming around and the 'older' enjoyed the nature and quite.
Here with a friend.
It was only an overnight stay but we love the place anyway.