Pabala Private Nature Reserve

We arrived late as walk-ins for the campsite (of season) We were the only ones staying there ( march 26) it was a hot day (38gr) there are trees but small but location is nice and very quiet Small swimming pool and clean toilets and showers So very nice overall

Pabala Nature Reserve is a great place for a relaxing getaway! There are lots of animals to see — from graceful giraffes and wildebeest to playful springboks and many more. The family tents are very comfortable and come with a balcony overlooking the campsite and the beautiful bush valley. There are also cozy two-sleeper tents available for couples or smaller groups. On hot days, guests can cool off in the swimming pool, and for a bit of adventure, game drives are available (bookings must be made in advance). The Padstal Restaurant serves delicious food at very reasonable prices, and the nearby distillery offers a fantastic gin-making tour. Visitors can see the entire process and enjoy a gin tasting at the end. Another highlight is the honey tour, where you can learn how honey is made — from flower to bottle — a fun and educational experience for the whole family.

We booked this place mid-year after falling in love with the beautiful photos online. The setting looked peaceful, and while we didn’t initially check distances to nearby towns, we were happy with the idea of being remote and quiet. The reviews were also very positive, although we only later realised that many of them referred mainly to the tented units. Before check-in, we received a message stating that check-in was between 2pm and 5pm. As we were travelling from another town and stopping along the way, we called around 3pm to say we would only arrive closer to 6pm. We were told staff finish at 4pm but that the keys would be left for us, which was absolutely fine and appreciated. Shortly after, we were called again and informed that our units were about a kilometre apart. At the time, I didn’t fully realise what this would mean. On arrival, the restaurant smelled amazing and gave us a great first impression. The owner handed us the keys and asked if we knew where to go. As it was our first visit, we said no. One unit was nearby, but the second required exiting the premises and driving about a kilometre (or more) away. Unfortunately, there was no map, signage, or clear guidance, and with very limited reception, it made coordination between our group quite difficult. We later realised our units were on completely opposite sides of the farm. Communication between family members was challenging, and even arranging a simple coffee meet-up the next morning became difficult. There was also no clarity linking the photos online to the actual locations of the units. The cottages themselves were not terrible, and we understand that being in nature comes with its realities (we live on a farm ourselves). However, the presence of very large cockroaches was concerning—especially as they were still there after the cleaning team had supposedly refreshed the units. This did raise questions about the level of cleaning. We were also informed that the pool and wildlife (shown prominently in the listing photos) were located at the tented area, which required another drive. This was disappointing, as we had booked multiple units expecting to be closer together—especially since the booking platform asked for the number of adults and children’s ages. On a positive note, the restaurant staff truly went out of their way to assist us with dinner one evening, even though we were not informed that they close early on weekends. We were very grateful for this. Management also tried to accommodate us by offering tented units after we raised concerns about the distance between cottages, but unfortunately, the tents could only sleep four people and we were a group of nine. We were also asked if the cottages could be refreshed, which we appreciated, although it was disappointing to find a cockroach still present near the plates we had washed and that were packed away. Overall, this place has potential and the restaurant staff were kind and helpful. However, clearer communication, accurate representation of unit locations, better cleaning standards, and transparency around amenities would significantly improve the experience—especially for larger groups.

Wow, yhe views are amazing and the food was out of thus world. Kudos to the chef for making such delicious food. I am definitely coming back for hiking trail & the good food.

We initially tried to book a couple of rooms for the weekend, but unfortunately the response took too long, and the opportunity was missed. Despite that, we decided to take a chance and go for a day trip—and we're glad we did. The location is truly stunning! Just a heads-up: you’ll need a 4x4 vehicle and an experienced driver, or it’s best to book one of their guided tours in advance. We found an incredible viewpoint that made for a perfect picnic spot.