Dogs are welcome, but guests need to be aware that wildlife like buck, zebra, monkeys, bush pigs and porcupines frequently come onto the property, sometimes very close to the cottages, so we ask that dogs be kept under control at all times, for their safety and for that of the wildlife.

We also ask that guests clean up after their dogs to prevent other guests from stepping in anything unpleasant.

There is an electric gate with a keypad as you enter the conservancy.

The code changes from time to time and will be supplied to guests before their arrival.

All other farm gates open manually and need to be closed again once you have passed through.

All bedding is supplied.

Bath towels are also supplied, but guests need to bring their own beach towels.

The tap water comes from a borehole, has been professionally tested, and certified perfectly safe to drink.

Some guests may still prefer to bring their own drinking water.

No, this fee is not optional.

We have a daily per-cottage cleaning fee which covers not only the preparation and cleaning of our cottages, but daily chores such as making beds, sweeping and washing floors, washing dishes and cleaning bathrooms.

These fees are charged as part of the booking total.

We do ask that guests give cleaning ladies a meal during the day while they are working.

Laundry services are covered by the daily cleaning fee, but guests need to supply their own automatic washing powder.

As washing is hung outside to dry, laundry services may not be available during inclement weather.

Once you go down the last hill to Umtendwe cottages, all cell signal disappears.

Most people are happy with this, as they come to Umtendwe to disconnect from the world for a while.

If, however, guests need to make a call or check messages, it's only a short walk up the hill to regain one or two bars of signal, depending on your cell provider.

One bag of thorn wood per cottage is provided free as part of your booking.

Additional wood is available at R30* per bag and needs to be ordered in advance.

*This price is subject to change. Updated pricing is available on each cottage's page.

Dishwashing liquid, sponges, dishwasher tablets and various other cleaning products are supplied.

Guests will however need to supply their own washing powder should they need the cleaning ladies to do any laundry for them during their stay.

Bathrooms are kept stocked with toilet rolls at all times.

Toiletries such as soap, shampoo, shaving cream, toothpaste etc are not supplied - guests to bring their own.

As both cottages are thatched, it is imperative that guests completely extinguish their fires with water before retiring for the night or leaving to go fishing or hiking for the day.

Unattended coals could be swept up by strong winds, causing embers to land on the thatch with catastrophic consequences.

Umtendwe cottages are supplied by Eskom power, so are subject to loadshedding schedules.

As the hob and oven both run on gas, cooking and boiling water is still possible during loadshedding.

Please be aware though that the gas hob and oven will need to be lit using matches during loadshedding, as the self-lighting option relies on electricity.

Each cottage also has two powerful LED torches which can be recharged either by leaving them in the sun using their built-in solar panels, or by plugging them into an Android-compatible phone charger.