Dusk To Dawn B&B, Piet Retief | Quick Reference Fact Sheet

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DESCRIPTION:

Johann and Gudrun Engelbrecht have turned their family home into a friendly and welcoming half-way stop for tourists and visitors en route on the N2 from the Kruger National Park or Gauteng to the KwaZulu Natal North Coast or vice versa. Dusk to Dawn is situated on the N2, 35 km south of Piet Retief and 65 km north of Pongola.

Since 1993 Dusk to Dawn has offered "home from home" accommodation for tourists and travellers from more than 36 different countries.

ACCOMMODATION

There are 2 cosy family units known as "Barbets Corner" and "Egrets View" and 2 en-suite bedrooms "Sunbirds View" and "Hadedas Nest". All the rooms are decorated with original water-colour paintings.

Hadedas Nest:
A cosy en-suite twin room with shower, toilet and basin is named after the flocks of Hadeda Ibis roosting and nesting in the giant wild fig tree in the lush sub-tropical garden in front of the private entrance. The room is equipped with TV, bar fridge, coffee & tea-tray, heater and ceiling fan.

Barbets Corner:
Named after the pair of Blackcollared Barbets nesting in the African Flame tree next to the cottage. Barbets Corner is a fully serviced self-catering cottage joining the main farm house. The cottage has it's own lounge, with fire place for those cold winter evenings, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a little kitchen. DSTV, bar fridge, tea and coffee tray and heaters are available in the cottage.

Sunbirds View:
Named after the Black Sunbird frequenting the Weeping Boer Bean Tree when in full bloom in front of the private entrance of the en-suite bedroom. The spacious room has a queen-size bed with hand-embroidered quilt, a TV, microwave, bar fridge, coffee & tea-tray, heater and ceiling fan. A comfortable sleeper couch offers additional sleeping space for children. The bathroom has a bath and a shower.

Egrets View:
The family suite on the first floor of the family house, consists of a spacious en-suite bedroom with a massive lounge with sleeping facilities for children. From the balcony a magnificent view, shared with the cattle egrets on the roof, unfolds giving a bird's eye view of the evergreen garden and the peaceful movements of the farm animals in the distant fields. The unit has DSTV, bar fridge, tea and coffee tray, fans and heaters. Meals are offered downstairs on the veranda.

BREAKFAST

A full English and Continental breakfast is served in the beautiful dining room or on the veranda with a stunning view onto the large garden and the wide open spaces of this well managed 1800 ha farm.

ACTIVITIES

Dusk to Dawn is situated on an attractive farm, 1800 ha in extent, with a variety of farming activities. These include: a large modern piggery, dairy, beef farming, maize and timber. Viewing of these different activities is possible by arrangement.

For children the garden is an absolute amusement park featuring a solar heated swimming pool, tree house with adjoining jungle gym and hammock, pony rides in the garden and horse riding for the more experienced.

Walks on the farm and hikes to the unspoiled picnic spot will offer the keen birder an opportunity to see some of the more than 160 bird species frequenting this farm. Furthermore, Dusk to Dawn is within easy reach of some of the Northern Natal Battlefields, Itala or Mkuze Game Reserve or even for a day visit to the Kingdom of Swaziland.

Enjoy a leisurely walk through lush pastures and grazing cattle towards a bird hide overlooking a reedbed and a dam. Break away to the private picnic spot where indigenous trees and abundant birdlife and the sound of rolling water from the river will calm your soul. Facilities at the picnic spot include boma, braai-area, bush toilet and view point. Hammocks are available for an afternoon nap. The picnic spot can be reached on horseback or by car.

The "Crows Nest" craft shop offers for sale: Hand-embroidered items made by Zulu women on the farm, beadwork and other local crafts. It also offers watercolour paintings by Irma (Filter) Dednam, winner of the "Winsor & Newton" Award 2001 and other artists from the Dans le Jardin Art Studio.

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

Dusk to Dawn has been a Finalist in the AA Accommodation Awards for the several years and was the Winner in the Farm Accommodation Category for the year 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007.

Dusk To Dawn B&B, Piet Retief, Mpumalanga

ACCOMMODATION

BREAKFAST

ACTIVITIES

AWARDS & ACCOLADES