A Little Background
We will give you a little bit of a disclaimer: when travelling to this beautiful spot in Hekpoort,
PLEASE make sure you take a bakkie or a car that's not low suspension or low on ground clearance, as the dirt road to the property is exceptionally rocky, bumpy and treacherous (trust us, this is from our own personal experience!) But once you get there, it's all worth it.
Rustig is a beautiful, well-established family farm that's run by the Oosthuizen family. This plot was a tobacco farm way back in the 1930s and now specialises in cattle and game, and of course, providing us city slickers with an idyllic country escape from the city. This location offers accommodation, amazing hiking trails, an upmarket wedding venue overlooking the lush gardens, and just a serene place to getaway from everyday life and just unwind.
Want To Stay A Weekend?
Now, if you're looking to stay the weekend to chill out and reconnect with Mother Nature, there are many accommodation options available - the Heritage House, the Farmhouse, the Stone House, the four-sleeper tent, the six-sleeper tent or the Backpackers. Each one has it's own unique charm, feel and budget. We stayed in the lovely
Farmhouse which can
sleep 10 people in its five spacious rooms. Another thing we really loved about this Farmhouse was its LARGE kitchen with heated floors (the weekend we chose to getaway on was FREEZING!) and the big veranda complete with comfy couches and braai area. But as for the other options, here's a few details:
Heritage House
The
Heritage House features a Victorian-style bathroom, a rustic farm-style kitchen ( equipped with a fridge, microwave, kettle, and limited cutlery and crockery, however no stove or oven). There's a beautiful formal lounge that opens onto a veranda which overlooks the formal rose garden.
- Three bedrooms and can accommodate six people
- Two bedrooms feature double beds while the one features two single beds
- Includes breakfast
- Between R291 and R750 per room per night depending on when you book your stay.
- Entire House – from R875 to R2 250 per night depending on whether you book weekday or weekend.
The Stone House
The
Stone House is rustic and is one of the oldest buildings on the farm. It sleeps 4 in its 2 bedrooms. The main bedroom features a double bed while the second room a bunk bed. There is a small kitchenette and access to the ablution block is only a 5-7 meters away
- Two bedrooms and can accommodate four people
- One room with a double bed
- One room with 1 bunk bed
- No towels included
- R220 per person per night
- R100 per child (under 10 years old) per night. Children under 2 years stay for free.
[caption id="attachment_87601" align="aligncenter" width="660"]
The Farmhouse. Source: Rusting[/caption]
Backpackers
The name of this one says it all - it's a
backpacker spot. It's literally just a place to sleep for the night. There is a communal kitchenette and easy access to the nearby ablution block. This venue also features a big braai area, a pack of braai wood, camping chairs and three bunk beds per room.
- Six rooms, that each sleeps six people
- R170 per person per night (bedding excluded).
- R200 per person per night (bedding included).
- R120 per child (under 10 years old) per night. (Children under 2 years stay for free.)
- R250 per person per night in rooms with 4 or less people
The Tents
As for the tents, you can take your pick from the
four- and
six-sleeper on the property. They're both charming and are completely self-contained and self-catering, each with it’s own en-suite bathroom.
- Four-sleeper – R1 080 per unit per night
- Six-sleeper – R1 350 per unit per night
- Full Kitchen
- Cutlery and Crockery included
- En Suite Bathroom with shower
- 1 Pack of Braai Wood
- Braai and camping chairs supplied for each unit
- Bunk Beds
- Towels and bedding included
- Four-sleeper - Two single beds (request to be pushed together if desired)
- Six-sleeper - One double bed
There's Activities To Get You Active!
There best part about being at Rustig is exploring the property, and what better way to do this than by doing a hiking, going on a game drive or testing out the
off road biking trails (just remember to BYOB - bring your own bike!).
Since we didn't have bikes, we decided to try out
one of the hiking trails on the farm. There are three trails varying in difficulty available for farm guests and day visitors:
Olivenhout Hiking Trail – 3km - The Yellow Trail
- R65 per person and R30 per child under 10 years old
- Average hiking time for this trail is one hour
- More of a flat terrain, easy route
- Hiking must commence by 12:00.
Witstinkhout Hiking Trail – 5km - The Red Trail
- R65 per person and R30 per child under 10 years old
- Average Hiking Time for this trail is three hours
- Medium difficulty, climbing over ladders, sloping trail
- Hiking must commence by 11:00
Karee Hiking Trail – 13km - The Green Trail
- R75 per person
- NO Children under the age of 12
- Average Hiking Time for this trail is 5-6 hours
- High difficulty, steep trail, climbing
- Hiking must commence by 09:00
The Witstinkhout Hiking Trail was lovely, offering amazing views of the property and the Magaliesberg Mountains. Once we got to the "top" of the trail, there was a massive and oh-so beautiful "cave" (for a lack of a better word). We took a long rest there before descending back down to the Farmhouse. Just don't forget to take a cap, sunscreen, comfortable hiking shoes and a couple of litres of water with you.
[caption id="attachment_87599" align="aligncenter" width="660"]
Source: Kim Brown[/caption]
There's a
13km overnight hiking trail for those brave and adventurous at heart. It's perfect if you're interested in an off-the-grid experience. There's no hot water and no electricity. Only what you've packed in your rucksack and the equipment you bring.
Click here for more information about this.
They also offers a
Book-a-Braai package for all of their all staying guests, hikers and day visitors. If you completed the 13km hike and want to enjoy a scenic braai afterwards, there may not be enough time for this before Rustig's closing time. But, the Book-a-Braai offering ensures that your braai is ready and waiting when you complete your hike at about 15:00. It’s also the perfect for outdoor relaxation without worrying about the task of preparing and braaing, as it’s all done for you.
The Venue Is Perfect For Weddings And Functions
Rustig is Gauteng’s best kept secret when it comes to the
perfect countryside wedding venue. They have everything you need to pull off the wedding of your dreams without a hitch. The location offers magnificent views, a five-star wedding hall with an expansive veranda overlooking a beautiful terrace garden as well as fine dining catering on offer. Rustig provides couples with affordable sophistication in the countryside. The idyllic grounds are perfect for beautiful photos. There are wonderful packages available to make your experience as easy and enjoyable as possible.
Weddings at Rustig offers:
- Garden wedding ceremonies in the formal garden
- Capacity for 150 guests
- Accommodation for 74 people
- Elegant wedding hall
- Children’s play room in the wedding hall venue
- Custom menus
- Magnificent views
- Beautiful gardens
- Ample, secure parking
- Tailor-made wedding packages
Rustig is also ideal for
conferences, corporate functions and team builds. The hall transforms into an ideal work environment including cinema style seating and conference equipment. You can arrange any function imaginable, including:
Corporate:
- Year-end functions
- Launches
- Conferences
- Family Days
- Team Building
Private Functions:
- Bridal Showers
- Bachelors
- Stork Teas
- Birthday parties
- Christenings
- Anniversaries
- Celebrations
For More Information
For more information about this stunning countryside escape, visit their website at
www.rustig.co.za.
You can contact them on
079 490 2690 or
[email protected].
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