Pet-friendly family accommodation in the Waterberg

With travel time of only a little over three hours from Johannesburg and 30 minutes from Vaalwater, guests will find Waterberg Cottages in Limpopo. Guests can plan a family-friendly holiday or weekend with plenty of activities to keep everyone occupied on this peaceful 2 500ha private game reserve.

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The farm owners have a rich family history in the area dating back to 1886. Today, one of the descendants, Juliet Calcott, lives on the section of the farm where the cottages are on, and she manages it with her husband, Dr Philip Calcott.

The original family home was built by Ted Davidson, Juliet's great-grandfather, in 1910, and is still preserved on the nearby farm Vier-en-Twintig Riviere. Juliet, a teacher by profession, is a walking encyclopedia with a rich knowledge of the farm's and the area's history. Philip, who has a doctorate in physics, is a research scientist by profession and has developed a love for astronomy to such a degree that he now presents professional talks. What originally started as hiking trails to allow city dwellers to reset over the weekends, soon evolved into the Windsong Cottages. It was later rebranded as the Waterberg Cottages. All the cottages, except for one, were originally houses used by Juliet's family on the farm. The Calcotts have been managing the cottages since 2004.

THE COTTAGES

All cottages are pet-friendly to well-behaved pets, and two cottages, Bushwillow and Windsong, have fenced-off enclosures to accommodate them. Guests will find private braai facilities, outdoor seating, and a hot tub at each cottage. All guests have access to a shared 15m-long solar-heated swimming pool, a jungle gym and trampoline for kids, a volleyball court, and a small shop at reception where one can stock up on ice, firewood, and cold drinks. Juliet booked Farmer's Weekly into the Bushwillow Cottage, their latest edition, and the only purpose-built cottage that did not previously serve as a farmhouse. It is equipped for seven guests, with a large living area and a stoep. Upstairs is the main bedroom, which features an en-suite bathroom.