Riverdene Farm Lodge
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Riverdene Farm Lodge
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15000+
Trusting Customers
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3-Bedroom Holiday Home
Max 6 Guests
1 Queen, 1 Queen, 2 Twin
from R1,200
/ for 2 guests
WiFI
Braai / Barbeque
Shower only
Patio
Fully-equipped kitchen
Firewood VIEW AVAILABILITY & RATES FOR ALL UNITS
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Reviews for Riverdene Farm Lodge
Steve
Stayed at: Riverdene Farm Lodge
Breathtaking stars
Very spacious and comfortable cottage, with a fantastic braai area, and the amount of stars at night is just incredible!
Francois
Stayed at: Riverdene Farm Lodge
Friendly host
Kelly goes out of her way to accommodate her guests… Some beautiful hiking trails and a lot to explore.
Steve
Stayed at: Riverdene Farm Lodge
Breathtaking stars
Very spacious and comfortable cottage, with a fantastic braai area, and the amount of stars at night is just incredible!
Francois
Stayed at: Riverdene Farm Lodge
Friendly host
Kelly goes out of her way to accommodate her guests… Some beautiful hiking trails and a lot to explore.
Conservio Trusted Property
Conservio is dedicated to promoting travel that celebrates nature.
Accommodation Description
Riverdene Farm Lodge is a beautifully restored self‑catering shearing‑shed cottage for six. It offers three bedrooms (two queen, one twin) and two bathrooms—one en‑suite with a walk‑in shower. The cottage includes an open‑plan kitchen, dining and living area with a cosy fireplace, and a fully equipped kitchen featuring stove, oven, microwave, fridge‑freezer, kettle, toaster and all the essentials. Spacious, uncluttered interiors in Karoo tones offer a relaxed environment with a seamless indoor–outdoor flow. Outside, a generous shaded patio and dedicated braai area with built‑in firepit overlook the working farm and kloof, letting guests unwind under the stars by a crackling fire.
Setting Description
Set on a working Karoo farm 12 km from the artistic village of Nieu‑Bethesda, Riverdene sits in a tranquil kloof carved by the Gats River. Guests can explore farm trails on foot or bicycle, meander to the river’s rock pools for seasonal dips, or simply absorb the mountain vista from the stoep. The evenings offer spectacular stargazing free from light pollution. Nearby, the Owl House and a handful of local cafés and galleries invite cultural exploration. Graaff‑Reinet, with its historic charm, is just 55 km away. With the natural soundtrack of farm life, occasional livestock lowing and birdsong, Riverdene promises a restorative Karoo escape.
What We Love
-Private cottage with dedicated braai area and firepit under open skies
-Spacious living with fireplace and seamless indoor‑outdoor flow
-Hiking, cycling and river dips along the Gats River on your doorstep
-Expert hosts (Kelly & Dale) known for warm hospitality and local insight
Activities
Hiking
Farm Walks
Mountain biking trails
Stargazing
Nieu-Bethesda is a village in the Eastern Cape at the foot of the Sneeuberge, approximately 50 kilometres north of Graaff Reinet.
In times gone by, agriculture was the driving force of Nieu Bethesda’s economy; the region’s Angora goats and Karoo lamb are famous. Nowadays much of the industry is based around art. There are craft shops and galleries, potteries and sculpture gardens – most famously, the late Helen Martins’ extraordinary “Owl House”.
All around stretches the arid expanse of the Great Karoo, “where the land meets the sky”. This is a nature-lovers paradise, a high-altitude semi-desert that is home to the largest variety of succulents in the world – as well as eagles, hadedas, sacred ibises, secretary birds, blue cranes, flamingoes, otters, lizards, snakes, tortoises, bat-eared foxes, kudu, springbok, reedbuck, wildebeest, wild cats, ground squirrels and aardvarks.
* Riverdale Game Reserve
* Camdeboo National Park
* The Owl House
Secured parking
Free parking
BBQ / picnic area
Wi-Fi
Wifi Yes, on entire property
Location
Riverdene Farm Lodge, Nieu Bethesda, 6286
How to get there
From Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport:
1. Head north on Airport W Rd for 49 m.
2. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Allister Miller Dr. Go through 1 roundabout, covering 1.4 km.
3. Turn left onto Forest Hill N/B Rd, continuing for 850 m.
4. Use any lane to turn right onto Walmer Blvd/M9, traveling 600 m.
5. Use the left 2 lanes to turn left onto M4 (signs for R75/Grahamstown/Uitenhage), journeying 6.8 km.
6. Use the right 2 lanes to take exit 751B to merge onto N2 toward Grahamstown, covering 3.3 km.
7. Take exit 754 for M3/John Tallant Road toward R102/M19/Swartkops/Uitenhage/Port Elizabeth, driving 400 m.
8. Slight left toward John Tallant Rd/M3, then continue onto John Tallant Rd/M3 for 550 m.
9. Continue straight to stay on John Tallant Rd/M3 for 110 m.
10. Turn right onto Grahamstown Rd/R102, covering 850 m.
11. Turn left onto Trunk Rd/R367, and continue to follow R367 for 13.6 km.
12. Merge onto R75 and continue for 7.6 km, then stay straight for another 3.2 km.
13. Keep right to stay on R75 for 140 km.
14. Continue straight onto Bridge St/R75, following it for 58.8 km.
15. Finally, continue onto R63 for 23.1 km, then turn right onto N9/R61/R63, covering 2.7 km.
16. Take the Murraysburg road out of town and carry on that road which will take you up the Ouberg Pass. When you reach the top, take the right turn off onto the Dassiesfontein dirt road.
17. Follow that road for approx 20 min until you get to two green farm signs on your right (one says Rietpoort, other Riverdene), turn right and go over a cattle grid.
18. Follow that road for a few min until you see Rietpoort farm in front of you but don’t go straight, turn left where you cross over a bridge.
19. You’ll eventually pass through a farm Bloukrans and then you’ll eventually come to our boundary grid which has a green Riverdene sign on the gate. Carry on until you see the homestead ahead of you.
20. You’ll turn right into the farm yard and the lodge will be on your left before the white entrance wall saying Riverdene. Don’t go through that gate you can park in front of the white picket fence or in the garage on your left.
21. Destination will be be at Riverdene Farm Lodge, Nieu Bethesda
Frequently asked questions
*The cardholder & ID/Passport must be present at check-in.
*The credit card used for the online payment must be present at check-in.
"We reserve the right to not refund card fees (transaction costs) in the case of any cancellation or situation where funds need to be reversed back to a credit card."
No
No pets allowed
14:00 - 10:00
Approximately 12 km (10‑15 min drive).
Yes, dogs are welcome.
Yes, complimentary Wi‑Fi is provided.
Yes, complimentary Wi‑Fi is provided.
