Boplaas Cottages

Effort to reach, but worth every minute.

Boplaas Cottages is a real little gem in the middle of nowhere. It takes time and effort to get there - yes, the road is really bad. But once there, the cottage has everything you might possibly need. We stayed for two nights, but really wished we had another night or two. The cottage was exceptionally clean and everything worked. The lights are 12V on solar, so it is advisable to take a torch or two. Leave the hairdryers and electronics at home; you really don't need them anyway. There is an abundance of birds, and on our way to the cottage we also saw a number of klipspringers and some kudu. We saw some baboons in the valley as well as around the cottage, but they were no hassle. I would, however, not take any chances with them. The road down the valley is very rocky, and the road is quite damaged by earlier floods in some areas. Any vehicle with higher ground clearance will be able to do the road, especially if you are willing to go slow. We made the decision to enjoy the beautiful scenery, and that made all the difference. Somehow we never got a code for the entrance gate, but after some hooting, we managed to get the attention of one of the workers. There is absolutely no cellular reception in the valley, so make sure you have the code and gate instructions before you turn off from the Swartberg pass.

Except for the booking fiasco, Boplaas is heaven on earth! One of our favourites.

To our greatest disappointment, the cottage we booked was not available and we had to stay in another house which changed the whole ambiance. That is the only reason why we gave only 1 star to the location and only 4 stars for "value for money". It is a beautiful world and always will be. The house where we had to stay in was not clean and there was dust, especially at the windows and a lot of cobwebs everywhere in the house. I think the house was not prepared for guests, although the beds were made and towels were ready. Except for the above, we had a wonderful time at Boplaas, as usual. The host [caretaker] was helpful and friendly. Please ensure that bookings are in order as it was a 4-hour drive from the nearest town, which we were prepared for, but the disappointment of our occupied booked cottage was really bad. Scary! In other circumstances, the house would have been fine. Nothing wrong with its location, but if you have small children the specific splash pool on the stoop [which was nice for us] and "vleidammetjie" beneath the stoop, could be a problem for their safety.

Spectacular scenery. No water in the pool.

Horrendous road! Not able to access the gate! The key holder mechanism would not release the key. Had to use a screwdriver to open it! Could have been a serious problem.

"Oom Hannes" het ons werklikwaar verras en met 'n oop hart ontvang.

Saligheid, vredigheid, sielligheid. Oase in Die Hel 5 uit 5.

'n Moet 1x in jou lewe.

Pad is baie sleg! My 3de besoek, maar neem ten minste 1 uur 15 minute langer as vorige besoeke. Afgesien van baie reën gaan die pad agteruit soos meeste paaie in ons land.

Pragtige huisie in 'n pragtige groen klofie, naby 'n rustige stroompie.

Knus en veilig, met groot groen grasperk speelplek vir gesin. Veilige staproetes. Heerlike kuier en braaiplek onder die perperbome. Koel, knus grasdakhuisie en plasbadjie om in af te koel. Vriendelike Abraham wat alles pragtig versorg, en die ekstra myl loop. Wat 'n juweeltjie in die Gamkaskloof!

Anyone driving 104 km, rock climbing in first gear, must have his head examined.

Will ruin any car or 4x4. No petrol or diesel in valley. Should at least warn booking people.

Asemrowende rustigheid.

Eerstens die ligging in Gamkaskloof is onge-ewenaard. Die saligheid, rustigheid en skoonheid is onbeskryflik. Boplaas Cottages is baie goed toegerus met alles wat mens nodig het. Groot grasperke om op te ontspan op warm dae en 'n heerlike splash pool om af te koel ook. Die geskiedenis van die huisie, plaas en hele kloof gee mens 'n besonderse gevoel van 'plek' en waardering! Boplaas Cottages en Gamkaskloof (Die Hel) sal my beslis weer sien.

Rowwe pad op pad na oase.

Pad was regtig rof, wens ons het dit geweet voor die tyd. Kort 'n motor met bo-gemiddelde grondvryhoogte. Ons het in Vaal Johannes gebly en dit was fantasties. Abraham is fantasties en het seker gemaak niks is verkeerd nie. Beoog om weer terug te gaan vir die staproetes en ontspanning.

Beautiful surroundings.

Don't believe the travelling time. At least 3 hours from the Swartberg turn-off. Very rough road but worth it.

Perfectly peaceful but the road was rough.

A unique experience! The cottage is beautiful and historic and real piece of history. If you want to see it you have to prepare yourself for a tough drive. The road is rough and took about 2-3 hours. My children did not enjoy the road.

Absolutely fantastic.

So much history in this beautiful valley. Accommodation perfect. Cape nature was a disappointment. Closed down in the valley so the museum with history is unobtainable.

Hemel in die Hel.

Die pad is lank en jy moet stadig ry met 'n voertuig wat genoeg vryhoogte het. Blaas bande ook bietjie af. As jy eers aangekom het by Boplaas, wag 'n onvergeetlike ervaring op jou met die rustigheid wat oor jou spoel. Abraham is baie behulpsaam en maak seker niks skiet kort nie. Ons het heerlik gebly in hierdie juweel van 'n plekkie.

Besonderse verblyf ver weg van die gewone.

Netjiese, skoon akkommodasie in 'n ouwêreldse huis wat opgeknap is. maar sy karakter behou het. Terrein netjies gehou deur Abraham, die inwonende bestuurder van die fasiliteit.

Die ligging is idillies. Pad daartoe 'n nagmerrie.

As daar in die toekoms niks verander nie aan die slegte pad, sal minder en minder mense kom.

Heaven in Die Hell, as always.

We absolutely love the superbly authentic and beautifully located "Vaal Johannes" Cottage in Boplaas. The perfect romantic getaway for two, which I have reviewed previously, given this was our second visit in the past year. Simply idyllic. Rustic. Rejuvenating. Relaxing.

Ware klein oase na 'n nagmerrie-rit.

Netjies, skoon en gerieflik. Vriendelike diens.

It was a brilliant trip. Boplaas Cottages best accommodation in Gamkaskloof will return soon.

Magical destination enjoy by all.

Restful.

We found the last 7 km from shop to cottages very rough and had to drive across a long and deep causeway.

Amazing amazing experience. Having Boplaas at the end was heavenly.

Once you decide to go the Gamkaskloof you can't do any better than having a place like Boplaas to finish your epic journey!

Asemrowend, outentiek, onvergeetlik, naghemel sterre.

Heerlike wegkom uit die besige dorp, naby genoeg, pragtige grasperk, koedoes gesien en luiperd spoor ook!

Baie rustig.

Onderhoud-span het tot laat aand gewerk om ons geiser reg te maak, baie toegewyd.

Unieke karakter. Ouwêreldse vreugde.

Vaal Johannes is 'n idilliese huisie met 'n prentjiemooi uitsig vanaf die braaiplek. Die pad na en in Gamkaskloof is egter regtig 'n uitdaging as jy nie 'n viertrekvoertuig het nie.

Verkwikkend vir jou siel.

Wat kan ek sê? Wow, wow en nogmaals wow! Het dit ongelooflik baie geniet. Het soveel vrede en skoonheid ervaar. Sou langer wou bly, maar Boplaas sien ons beslis weer. Dit is ’n stukkie goud.

Lieflike omgewing, stil en rustig.

Ideaal vir avontuurlustiges.

Wonderlike ervaring.

Die plonspoel het nie water gehad nie, perdebye maak nes in die badkamer en miere is bietjie van ’n probleem. Die vriesgedeelte van die yskas is opgevries. Mense behoort te weet van die 3 ure lange pad van 47 km wat na die eindbestemming lei, asook die toestand van die pad. Ons het die reisinligting op die oggend wat ons gery het ontvang, wat te laat is, veral omdat daar nie selfoonontvangs in die Kloof is nie. Die inligting behoort met die bespreking aan mense bekend gemaak te word. Afgesien van hierdie opmerkings, was dit ’n wonderlike ervaring.

Paradise in “Die Hel”.

There is nothing “vaal” about our “Vaal Johannes” Boplaas Cottage stay! Driving through the dry and desolate Gamkaskloof, recently ravaged by fire, was reminiscent of a post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie landscape until ... we reached the gates to heavenly Boplaas. There the green green grass, giant trees and shade everywhere, surrounded by majestic mountains and close-by “koppies” all canopied with surreal sunsets followed by dark, dark skies and fairy-tale-like shooting stars takes your breath away in awe of its complete magnificence. The cosy cottage for two is an authentic experience of a bygone past, while more than meeting modern-day needs and comforts. The little infinity pool provides complete respite to the weary traveller and makes the long descent into “Die Hel” more worthwhile than we could ever have imagined. This gem of a space, secluded and far, far away from everything and everyone, was undoubtedly our highlight of an extended sixteen day road trip through the Karoo. A special space to which we will definitely return for much, much longer!

Die plek is 'n oase na 'n rowwe pad.

Baie mooi en netjies!

Die stilte is hemels.

'n Absoluut fantastiese plekkie, pragtige natuur, perfekte omgewing, die huise is stylvol gerestoureer met slegs die noodsaaklikste verbeterings. Alles is silwerskoon en netjies, gehaltebeddegoed en -linne.

Asemrowend!

Na die vreeslike pas was dit so verkwikkend om te kon ontspan in die lieflike Boplaas. Ons kon nie genoeg kry van die uitsig op die berg! Dit was ‘n voorreg om daar te kon oornag. Baie dankie.

Stil en rustig.

Huisie is baie mooi oorgedoen. Die tuin is pragtig. Kan net dink hoe lekker dit is om onder die groot koeltebome te lê in die somer maande. Ons sal definitief weer teruggaan en langer bly.

Eenvoudig, rustig, lekker.

Word beslis aanbeveel ─ lekker om te ontspan na 'n lang pad.