EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW AND MORE
Frequently Asked Questions – All Lodges
Please note that the lodges are situated in different areas of the farm and reserve.
Please kindly note the following:
- Access to Rockwood Mountain Lodge and Rockwood Forest Lodge is recommended by 4×4 and high clearance vehicles only. The roads are rocky and slippery when wet.
- There is no direct access to the Karkloof Canopy Tour from the Eastern side of the reserve or when travelling from Rockwood Mountain Lodge.
- Please can all guests sign-in at the Rockwood Office on arrival. There is signage to the office after you enter the property.
- If possible, please kindly send a message or call our Duty Phone on 0734654335 as you leave Howick.
Please can we respectfully request that guests do not deviate from the directions emailed to you. Please DO NOT use any other routes, definitely NOT google maps, temporary and/or Mountain-Biking and/or Hiking trails routes sometimes marked “Easier”. We are not always available to rescue guests on their adventures!
Please request directions to your lodge at the time of booking to limit any possible deviations.
A set of linen and towels, including swimming towels, are provided in each unit for each occupant.
All bed linen is white and bathroom towels are white or charcoal. White linen may appear occasionally discoloured from the moutain water.
Unfortunately, no pets are allowed. The Lodges are located on a working farm and within an unfenced nature reserve. Dogs especially may chase the game, otters in the nearby dams and rivers, and monkeys. Smaller dogs could be attaked by monkeys or eaten by crowned eagles or caracal.
You can book online immediately through any of our bookings agents or by using our online booking portal just click here.
Alternatively, complete an equiry form on our Contact page or call us on +27 31 502 4043.
Farm House and Farm Cottage – There is permanent cellphone reception and wifi at the Farm Cottage and Farm House.
Forest Lodge and Mountain Cabin – Intermittent cell phone reception is available at Forest Lodge and Mountain Cabin. For the best reception, we recommend connecting to your car kit on the edge of the forest. Neither of these lodges have wifi.
There is no malaria risk in the area.
Check-In: 15.00pm – Check Out: 10.00am
Check-in:
- ALL GUESTS TO PLEASE REPORT TO OFFICE / RECEPTION ON ARRIVAL
- A gate code to enter the private property of Spitzkop Farm and the Karkloof Nature Reserve will be sent to you via Whatsapp and emailed to the address used on your booking before your check-in time of 15.00 on your day of arrival.
- Please follow the signs from the gate to the Rockwood Office Reception. Please park on the grass. You will receive the keys to your lodge and be asked to sign the register.
- After check-in, please follow the signs and proceed to your lodge. For Rockwood Farm House or Cottage, please park undercover at the back of the lodge and use the closest entrance for access.
For Rockwood Forest or Mountain Lodge, please park at your own discretion.
Check Out:
- Check out anytime before 10:00 am.
- Please ensure you have taken all your belongings with you.
- Please return the keys to Rockwood Office reception on departure.
- Have a safe trip home 🙂
2021 STANDARD RATES (Monday to Sunday)
Spitzkop Farm:
Rockwood Farm House: R7,600 per night for up to 8 people
Rockwood Farm Cottage: R3,200.00 per night for up to 4 people
Karkloof Nature Reserve:
Rockwood Forest Lodge: R3,975.00 per night for up to 6 people
Rockwood Mountain Cabin: R3,070.00 per night for up to 6 people
Minimum Stay: 2 nights over a weekend with 3 nights over a long weekend
Toddlers, 2 years and under, stay free.
Only one additional guests may be accommodated in a unit and will be charged at the equivalent, additional per person rate.
All rates include VAT.
Rockwood Leisure reserves the right to amend the published rates without notice. Rates are quoted per unit.
We welcome families. Please assist your children to enjoy a safe and fun visit. Our dams and rivers are unfenced and not safe for people who cannot swim. Children need to be supervised when enjoying the views or are close to the water.
Toddlers, 2 years and under, stay free. Additional guests, will be charged for at standard rates.
Late check in and check out is possible if the unit being occupied is not booked or due for maintenance and by prior arrangement with the lodge manager only.
The lodges are all self-catering with fully equipped kitchens. On reservation, we do offer the option to order frozen meals for delivery or the services of a private chef. There are several restaurants in the area. The closest Pick n Pay is at the St Johns Lifestyle Centre which is approximately 20 minute drive from the Rockwood Office. Our website offers some restaurant suggetions and the Midlands Meander brochure provides additional information.
The water in all units is safe for drinking. The water comes directly from the nearby rivers and is filtered before entering the units.
Occasionally, especially after very heavy rains, the water may appear murky at Forest Lodge or Mountain Cabin. However, the water poses no health threat.
Farm House – has an Ilve stove with gas hob and electric oven. Farm House also has a dishwasher.
Forest Lodge and Farm Cottage – have 4 plate electric stoves.
Mountain Cabin – has an eco-friendly gas oven and hob.
All lodges are equipped with fridge, freezer, kettle, toaster, and microwave ovens.
Each lodge is equipped with cutlery and crockery for the number of guests that can be accommodated in the lodge.
All units have bodums. A limited selection of baking utensils is available in each of the lodges.
Knives are sharp!
Granulated coffee, five roses tea, sugar, starter 1 liter of milk, salt, pepper and olive oil are provided in all units on arrival.
Farm House and Forest Lodge – Both Farm House and Forest Lodge have large, cosy fireplaces. Farm House has two, one in the living area and one in the TV room! Both units are stocked with firewood for the duration of your stay.
Fires pose a serious threat – Please close all fireplace doors or pull all logs away from each other and replace fire grate when leaving the house or retiring for the night. Hot coals can escape if left unchecked.
Farm House Underfloor Heating – Farm House main bedroom and bathrooms have underfloor heating.
All units have heaters in all bedrooms and living areas. Please turn off all heaters when not in use.
Magma Security patrols the farm regularly. The farm entrance gate is closed at night and a code is required for entry.
Each unit is fitted with an alarm and a safe to add to your peace of mind.
The Lodges, Cottage or Cabin are cleaned between 9am to 12am every day. Should you require them to be serviced again between 2pm and 4pm, please speak to housekeeping staff and let them know during the morning service.
Cleaning staff duties include general lodge, cottage and cabin cleaning, washing of dishes and making of beds. Staff do not cook, clean bikes or car, wash clothes or run errands.
We do provide a limited laundry service at an additional charge.
General
In these terms and conditions, Rockwood Leisure (Pty) Ltd incorporates the Rockwood Karkloof Lodge Collection, Karkloof Nature Reserve, Leopards Bush Nature Reserve and the Karkloof Forest Lodge.
Payment
All reservations are made on a pre-payment basis as outlined when bookings are reserved. Should payment not be timeously received, Rockwood Leisure reserves the right to automatically cancel such reserved accommodation.
Cancellations
Rockwood Lesiure reserves the right to charge the following cancellation fees should a confirmed reservation be cancelled within the following period-
5% cancellation fee if cancelled more than 30 days prior to arrival
50% cancellation fee if cancelled less than 14 days prior to arrival
100% cancellation fee if cancelled less than 7 days prior to arrival or no show.
Should cancelled accommodation be resold, cancellation fees shall be refunded less a 10% handling charge
GETTING TO ROCKWOOD RECEPTION / OFFICE
Directions to Rockwood Office
DIRECTIONS: Please PRINT DIRECTIONS and KEEP WITH YOU.
Please be careful when using Google Maps and ensure that your destination is entered as ROCKWOOD KARKLOOF LODGES as we cannot be held responsible for their accuracy and we are not always available to rescue guests on their adventures. The Karkloof Nature Reserve is well signposted from the N3 (brown signs). All lodges are accessed via the farm entrance at the KARKLOOF RESERVE WEST of the reserve.
Please can all guests proceed to ROCKWOOD OFFICE / RECEPTION for check-in.
If possible, please kindly send a message or call our Duty Phone on 073 465 4335 as you leave Howick. The entrance gate is closed at night and a gate code is required to enter. This will be sent to you on the day of your arrival.
Driving time is approximately 4h 45min from GAUTENG.
- Take the N3 from GAUTENG to Howick (Durban direction)
- From GAUTENG take Exit 107, Howick/Tweedie offramp and keep LEFT.
- After 2.5kms is the first traffic light – just after Greendale Spar,
- The second traffic light is at Lenmed Hospital – 1km from Spar.
- Travel straight down the main road to the 3rd traffic light at the White House Centre which is on your left. It is 1km from Lenmed.
- Approx. 800m down the road, turn LEFT onto the Karkloof Road/Rietvlei (Karkkloof Reserve West)
- After 14kms on the tar road, turn LEFT on to the gravel road.
- Follow the Karkloof Reserve West sign.
- After 3.5kms turn RIGHT onto D815 to Karkloof Reserve West PRIVATE.
- Continue past Triandra Farm School on your right.
- Pass through the entrance marked PRIVATE PROPERTY and follow the signs to ROCKWOOD OFFICE.
Driving time from DURBAN is approximately 1 hour 40 minutes.
-
- Take N3 to Howick from DURBAN
- Take HOWICK/MIDMAR Exit towards R103 / Prospect Road
- At the top of the off-ramp TURN RIGHT onto R103 / Prospect Road (cross over the N3 towards Howick)
- After 2km, turn LEFT onto Main Road, follow the signs to Central HOWICK.
- After another 2km, in Howick central, at SupaQuick Tyres, continue RIGHT onto KARKLOOF / RIETVLEI ROAD (Karkloof Reserve).
- After 13.8kms, turn LEFT to CURRY’S POST onto a gravel road (Karkloof Reserve West).
- After 3.5kms turn RIGHT onto D815 to Karkloof Reserve West.
- Continue straight for about 4.5km.
- You will drive through a gate marked with a big green PRIVATE PROPERTY sign and over a wooden bridge.
- Turn RIGHT at the sign “ROCKWOOD OFFICE” and head down towards the white sheds at the end of the road to CHECK-IN.
ON ARRIVAL AT ROCKWOOD OFFICES
Directions to Lodges, Cottages & Cabins
Please note that the lodges, cottage and cabin are situated in different areas of the farm and reserve. Please request directions to your lodge at the time of booking to limit any possible deviations.
To explore the reserve, you will need a four-wheel drive and a high clearance vehicle. Please note that as the lodges are situated in a nature reserve and on a farm, you will travel on dirt and gravel roads from the tarred main road.
There is no direct access to the Karkloof Canopy Tour from the Eastern side of the reserve or when travelling from Rockwood Mountain Lodge.
Please kindly note the following: Access to Rockwood Mountain Cabin and Rockwood Forest Lodge is recommended by 4×4 and high clearance vehicles only. The roads are rocky and slippery when wet.
Rockwood Farm House can be seen directly across the field from the Rockwood Office.
- Facing the lodge, TURN LEFT out the Office
- After 100m, turn RIGHT
- Drive 300m, turn RIGHT
- Drive 500m, use the gate remote to enter the garden of the FARM HOUSE
- Follow the driveway around the back, past FARM COTTAGE and into the garage
Rockwood Farm Cottage can be seen directly across the field from the Rockwood Office.
SHORT ROUTE
- Facing Farm Cottage, TURN LEFT out the Office
- After 20m, turn RIGHT
- Drive 300m, turn RIGHT
- Drive 300m, use the gate remote to enter the garden of the FARM HOUSE and FARM COTTAGE
- Follow the driveway around the back to FARM COTTAGE through the gates and into the car porch
LONGER ROUTE
- Facing Farm Cottage, TURN LEFT out the Office
- After 350m, turn RIGHT
- Drive 300m, turn RIGHT
- Drive 500m, use the gate remote to enter the garden of the FARM HOUSE and FARM COTTAGE
- Follow the driveway around the back to FARM COTTAGE through the gates and into the car porch
Access to Rockwood Forest Lodge is recommended by 4×4 and high clearance vehicles only. The roads are rocky and slippery when wet. Please request a transfer when booking if required.
- Once you’ve been checked in at RECEPTION, drive 100m back to the road you came in on (if you’ve gone over the bridge, you’ve gone too far).
- Turn LEFT and almost immediately RIGHT at the big signboard.
- Drive through the cement drift and head up to FOREST LODGE.
- When travelling up to this lodge, especially, DO NOT go off track or follow signs that indicate “EASIER ROUTE”!
- Be prepared for some shallow river crossings.
Access to Rockwood Mountain Lodge is recommended by 4×4 and high clearance vehicles only. The roads are rocky and slippery when wet. Please request a transfer when booking if required. For ROCKWOOD MOUNTAIN LODGE, one of our team will usually escort you to the lodge from reception. In the event that they are unavailable, someone will come up to the lodge in the afternoon to help you settle in.
- Once you’ve been checked in at RECEPTION, drive 100m back to the T-junction you turned to reception
- Turn RIGHT.
After approximately 50m, turn RIGHT again. - Continue past signs to Farm House and Farm Cottage, road bends left up the hill for 500m.
- Turn RIGHT at KARKLOOF RESERVE (EAST) – ROCKWOOD MOUNTAIN LODGE sign.
- After approximately 1.6km, turn RIGHT at the sign KARKLOOF RESERVE (EAST) – Unit 4.
- Drive through indigenous forest and out into a grassy clearing.
- Travel about 180m to ROCKWOOD MOUNTAIN LODGE at the top of the clearing on the RIGHT.
Do not follow Google Maps. There is no entry to the Reserve from the East.
FARM ACTIVITY AND TRAIL MAPS
The farm is ideal for mountain biking, trail running, walking and hiking. The fauna and flora are diverse. Enjoy anything from a 20 minute forest stroll to a 4-5 hour cliff hike or 40km exhilirating mountain bike ride with well maintained single track including the unique and exclusive, Rockwood Angel Trail. There is no better way to connect and experience the natural beauty and to encounter the wildlife of the Karkloof.
The terrain is a mixture of indigenous forests and streams, rolling grassland hills and steep cliffs with incredible views over Loskop Mountain and the surrounding Karkloof farmlands. Some points of interest include The Godwini Watefalls, Horsetail Falls, The Canopy Falls and Viewing Deck or the secret Hidden Falls, all offering a great destinations or place to stop for a drink and snack.
While the shorter walks are located close to accommodation with easy access, the longer trails and hikes are marked and can be joined from any point.
Guided Trails are organised on demand for those who want more informaiton on the fauna, flora and wildlife. The duration of the guided trails is around 3 hours and can be tailored to individual interests.
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Our Prices
Farm House
- Sleeps up to 8 adults
- 4 Bedrooms
- 3.5 Bathrooms
Farm Cottage
- Sleeps up to 4 adults
- 2 Bedrooms
- 2 Bathrooms
Forest Lodge
- Sleeps up to 6 adults
- 3 Bedrooms
- 3 Bathrooms
Mountain Cabin
- Sleeps up to 6 adults
- 3 Bedrooms
- 2 Bathrooms
