HALKETT COUNTRY HOUSE
Bed & Breakfast Accommodation

Halkett Country House is an idyllic, romantic, colonial style bush home built in 1902. Set in 400 hectares of naturally beautiful indigenous Waterberg surroundings, located between Naboomspruit (Mookgophong) and Potgietersrus (Mokopane), in the malaria-free Limpopo Province of South Africa.

The original farmhouse is brightly white-washed, built of brick and with a tin roof. From here the verandas are the perfect place to settle with a nice cup of tea and a hefty slice of home-baked cake. With lawns dissolving into the indigenous bush beyond, here is a scene within which you shall forget your troubles.

Halkett Country House provides an opportunity to unwind in a privately booked, fully-catered, family and pet-friendly destination. With good food and good times, we are especially suited to small groups.

You may embrace the opportunity to relax and be yourselves. Under the shade of leafy trees, this is a tranquil venue in which to restore your soul and rejuvenate your interest in all things bushveld.

Each of our 4 bedrooms prove to be unique, with large comfortable beds and plump pillows to lay your head upon. The bathrooms retain an element of classic furnishings with nature-inspired luxury showers. Halkett Country House is all about feeling comfortable.

A library of books includes fiction and non-fiction, with modern literature and classics side by side. Suitable for all ages, we hope to see you sat happily with a book in hand.

Situated on a bushveld farm it is inevitable that wildlife is present, such as warthog, bush pig, porcupine, civet, genet, brown hyena, caracal, the shy but beautiful leopard amongst many smaller species.

Through the still night, the haunting call of jackal echoes and bushbabies cry. In summertime you will hear the resonance of toads and frogs chorusing, whilst the fiery-necked nightjar trills.

Star gazing under an unpolluted bushveld sky is a favourite past time here and a fantastic opportunity to reinstate a feeling of calm to heart and mind. Whether it's Scorpio or Orion foremost shining, the vast depths of the night sky fascinate visitors from near and far.

Bird-watching is simple, seeing bushveld birds from the veranda or if you fancy, head out into the bush seeking rarer species. Bird song is ever-present and we hope you enjoy the quarrelsome antics of our resident grey go-away birds, African hoopoe and the fork tailed drongo who likes to poke fun at the other birds!

Halkett Country House is pet-friendly, welcoming well-behaved pets. Your dog will certainly benefit from the opportunity to run freely and explore the bushveld!

To make the most of the experience, we recommend that families and friends take their long weekends here. Perfect for catching up with loved ones by the fireplace with mulled wine in winter, by summertime, outdoor living takes over.

A family owned and managed home, here is a place to rekindle old friendships and enlighten your spirit.

Our aim is to make your stay memorable. You'll soon be thinking, "it's like...... coming home".

Accommodation:

Halkett Country House offers 4 bedrooms, each with their own private bathroom, suiting up to 8 adults.

The main house comprises of the two main bedrooms - "King Suite" and "Queen Suite" - each with en-suite bathrooms featuring free-standing Victorian baths and modern showers. Handsome, mosquito nets drape romantically over the beds. Named in line with the size of bed they house, the King and Queen Suite are for a discerning guest, displaying unique qualities. King Suite has an additional shower in a private outside courtyard as well as a fireplace. Queen Suite has the view across the lawn and into the bush beyond. Up to 2 extra beds can be comfortably added to each of these main bedrooms for young children to accompany their parents.

The Front Room is the third household bedroom and can be made up as twin or double, suitable for couples or children. This is a smaller but comfortable room with antique dressing table and mirror. A small sitting room, full of books is adjacent to this room and can be a private sitting room for the occupant of this room. The bathroom with shower, basin and toilet is just across the hall.

All 3 household bedrooms are fitted with restored chandeliers, wall sconces and lanterns from old Cape-Dutch houses.

Our forth bedroom, adjacent to the main house, is a comfortable stone and thatch rondavel, which can also be made up as a twin or a double. As a double, this room comprises a king size bed complete with mosquito net. The rondavel features wrought-iron chandelier, mahogany wood dressing table and wardrobe. There is an adjacent bathroom with shower.

Smoking is not permitted inside any of our rooms, only outside.

On-site Activities:

Our salt water pool and summerhouse provide the perfect surroundings in which to unwind, complete with pool towels and a variety of seating and lounging facilities.

A full-sized bushveld tennis court is ready for you to play; we have also tenni-quoits, volleyball etc. We keep a selection of board games for your use.

Horse-rides enable you to casually venture through the farm. Beginners are welcome to enjoy an accompanied ride.

Bushveld birds are abundant and you needn't venture far beyond the veranda to quietly benefit from some of the sights and sounds of our birdlife. A little patience and a keen eye may reward you with sightings such as the Olive Bush Shrike.

We have nearly 400 hectares of largely untouched indigenous trees and plants for you to explore freely. You may enjoy easy walks through the flat of grasslands and amongst bush scrub or if you feel adventure may take a hike up the rocky kopjie whereupon you can see views of the whole farm.

DSTV television is available on request, with the television placed in a communal sitting area for viewing.

This is a bushveld area and we are currently without cell phone reception. We are not suited to commuters or business persons requiring consistent access to internet/cell phone reception.

Local Area:

The Arend Dieperink Museum, located in Potgietersrus (Mokopane) portrays the history of the town, from the ape-man at Makapansgat, bushman drawings and early activities in the area up to the Anglo Boer War and recent happenings and it is worthwhile spending 1-2 hours looking in here.

Nylsvley Nature Reserve is a RAMSAR recognised Birding Conservancy and is approx. 1 hour from us. We will gladly organize a day trip, complete with picnic for keen birders. Best viewed during the summer months, Nylsvley hosts a number of bird species, particularly of the wetland variety. The food will cost no extra but transportation and entry fees will be charged typically per person per trip.

A Big 5 Game Reserve is 20 minutes drive away and with notice we can organize drives for you and your party to seek white rhino, giraffe, elephant, lion and leopard. Drives are usually charged per person, prices may change.

Spa facilities, golfing, 4x4 trails and more are also available in the local area. Please advise us prior to arrival if you have specific interests and we will find out what is possible during your visit.