Looking for a romantic getaway in Limpopo province? Well, you’re in luck, as we want to tell you why lovely Magoebaskloof should be your next weekend (or longer) getaway. If a secluded cottage nestled in the forest on a working avocado farm sounds like your thing, then this post is just for you.
Under 400km from Joburg and about 330km from Pretoria, Magoebaskloof is the perfect spot to spend a secluded weekend away from Gauteng.
Beautiful Magoebaskloof, located on the very northeastern tip of the Drakensberg, is a magical area of mist-shrouded forests and is an oasis of green amid the Limpopo bushveld. Locals call their home the Land of the Silver Mist, and a few days spent in this land is usually just enough to have you return for more.
Limpopo’s garden of Eden is lush and cool. The mountains and valleys are swathed in mist and crisscrossed with cool mountain streams, waterfalls, forests, avocado farms, and commercial forestry plantations
Now, I can already hear Candice* with her high-pitched voice in the background.
“Dullstroom!
If it’s a romantic weekend getaway, it must be Dullstroom!“
Candice*, I know Dullstroom is a lovely place. But give Magoebaskloof a try.
We found Magoebaskloof much quieter and more affordable than Dullstroom. If you want a peaceful and romantic getaway in Limpopo, go to Magoebaskloof. If you want a busier weekend getaway in Mpumalanga with lots of things to do and other distractions, Dullstroom is your place.
*not her real name
So if you’re still undecided, here is our take on things to do in Magoebaskloof for the perfect romantic Limpopo getaway. It really is a fantastic and affordable weekend break from Gauteng.
This one’s for you, Candice*.
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A Secluded Hideaway for Your Romantic Getaway in Limpopo
You’ll have to search far and wide to find a secluded lovenest as spectacular as Trogan cottage on Dragonwyck Farm. The small farm is home to three stunning self-catering cottages hidden away in the forest.
The forest is one of the best birding spots in Limpopo, and so the three cottages go by the name of Magoebaskloof Birder’s Cottages.
The cottages, Narina, Trogon, and Robin, are spaced across the farm, and you won’t see any other guests, giving you complete privacy and seclusion. It truly is a clothing-optional kind of place if you want it to be.
You could easily spend your entire stay at Magoebaskloof Birder’s Cottages on the farm. The houses are fully equipped for self-catering, and there are ample walking trails following the streams in the escarpment forest on the farm. If you’re into birding, you won’t want to leave.
Or you could find a balance between chilling at your forest cottage and exploring the Magoebaskloof area by car as we did.
We spent three nights at Trogon Cottage last July as part of our Limpopo road trip. So let’s show you what we did on our romantic getaway in Magoebaskloof.
Staying at Trogon Cottage
Lovely Trogon Cottage is a world away from the real world. Surrounded by greenery and no one else in sight, this little cottage is just the place to shack up for a few days and truly unwind.
Inside, you’ll find a fully equipped kitchen (gas hob, electric oven, fridge/freezer, microwave and kitchen utensils) and an indoor fireplace/braai in the small lounge. The bedroom has a king-size bed with a double bathtub and shower in the bathroom. Jolly good. It gets even better outside.
Outside, set in a tiny garden surrounded by the forest, you’ll find a small splash pool and another double bath. If spotting sunbirds flutter from flower to flower or watching the moon rise from a bubble bath with your forever lover is not the pinnacle of a romantic weekend, then I give up, Candice*.
Trogon Cottage has a portable braai that you can use anywhere in the garden. One bag of firewood is provided daily for the fireplace and braai, but you can buy more on the farm if needed.
You’ll find bird seeds in the cottage that you can put out for the birds. Sitting in the lounge with a fire roaring in the fireplace while watching birds come to feed just a few steps away is surely not a bad way to spend a cold winter’s morning.
Do something special and give your partner goosebumps while whispering words like Cuckoo, Suikerbekkie, Bush-Shrike, Red-eyed Bulbul, Geelborswillie, Fire-finch Trogon, Bloukuifvlieevanger and the like in their ears.
When cabin fever sets in, take to the walking paths around the farm. Walking amidst the misty forests and streams, catching glimpses of colourful wings (could it have been a turaco?), smelling the woods and listening to the sounds of the forest is better than any therapy you can find in the city.
Or go on a little road trip exploring the quaint village of Haenertsburg and the other lekker attractions in the area.
This little slice of Limpopo paradise was recently featured in Getaway Magazine as one of the top ten weekend breaks near Johannesburg for those on a budget.
Needless to say, it is very popular, so book well in advance or look at these alternative accommodations in Magoebaskloof.
Things to Do in Magoebaskloof on Your Limpopo Weekend Getaway
Here is what we did during our weekend getaway in Magoebaskloof when we were not doing romantic things at the cottage.
Stroll Around Haenertsburg
Quaint Haenertsburg, about 15 km from Trogon Cottage, dates from the Gold Rush era and is full of little restaurants, cafes, art galleries, antique shops, second-hand bookshops, and friendly people. It’s one of the greatest small towns in South Africa to visit.
Whether you’re looking for a strong cup of coffee, a bite to eat or some Afrikana for your mantlepiece at home, you’ll find it in little Haenertsburg. There is also an ATM, a small grocery shop and a bottle store if you need something to take to the cottage with you.
For the best tipple in town, head over to Zwalaka Brewery. Besides great craft beer like the Upside Down Baobab, Moringa Ale and Limpopo Lager, they serve yummy burgers and other bites. They even have blueberry gin and tonic on tap.
If you’re in Magoebaskloof between December and February, you shouldn’t miss a visit to Blueberry Heights, where you can pick your own organic blueberries right off the bush.
Be Cheesy at Wegraakbosch Organic Farm
A lovely drive on a dirt road through pine plantations and fruit farms brings you to Wegraakbosch Organic Farm and Dairy. This eco-friendly farm is genuinely organic and off-the-grid, and makes some splendid cheese.
The Swiss cows and Saanen goats are milked by hand, no machinery is used in the cheesemaking process, and the entire farm runs on solar power.
Come to Wegraakbosch Cheese Farm to see a working organic farm, enjoy the farm atmosphere, learn about cheesemaking, or for a nice ploughman’s lunch with a glass of wine.
You are free to look around and taste some cheese before buying, or you could join a daily tour (starting at 10:00) to learn more about the cheesemaking process.
Of course, you should buy some organic cheese to take back with you. In the cheese room, you can choose from wheels of goat’s and cow’s cheese, including Mutchli, Emmenthaler, Harvati, Tilsiter, Feta, and several cream cheese, among others.
You buy the cheese by weight, so they cut and weigh it for you if you don’t want to buy a whole wheel.
Have a Picnic at Debengeni Falls
Another nice drive in the Tzaneen direction takes you to Debengeni Falls, where the Ramadipha River tumbles down 80 metres of smooth rock, almost like a natural waterslide. When we visited in July, the waterfall was a mere trickle, but perhaps it gets more powerful in the rainy season.
Deep, cool pools at the bottom of the falls must be the perfect spot for a refreshing dip in summer too.
The area surrounding the waterfall is well-maintained, with picnic tables scattered around under the trees. It is just the spot to have a little picnic and nibble on the cheese you bought at the cheese farm earlier while listening to the gurgling sound of water.
A nice hike follows the river downstream into the forest, which is also good for spotting some birds.
Go on a Mini-Road Trip
This part of Limpopo is excellent for going on little day drives or longer road trips (you can easily start or end your Panorama Route itinerary here) . So, put on your favourite playlist, pack some snacks and plot a route – or see where the road takes you.
We loved driving the Forestry Department’s roads between the plantations. Some sections have signs with the names of the trees and when they were planted. One stretch of dirt road near Debengeni Falls goes through a beautiful grove of East Indian Mahogany planted in 1980.
Tzaneen is less than 20 km from Magoebaskloof, and along the way, you can get avos and oranges by the bucketful from roadside vendors.
In Tzaneen, we went somewhere we hadn’t been to in ages – Wimpy. A classic Wimpy burger and cream soda float make for a nice break from all the braaivleis and cheese.
How I Shot This Guide
Every photograph in this article was taken with the exact same gear I carry on every journey. It is a setup refined over years on the road to keep travel light without compromising the final image.
- Camera: Sony A7 V
- Lens: Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art.
- Storage: SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD
- Software: Adobe Lightroom Classic
- My travel essential (trust me): Ray-Ban Wayfarer
Affordable Weekend Getaway in Limpopo
After spending three wonderful nights in Magoebaskloof, we are glad we decided on this part of the country for our weekend getaway. It was perfectly balanced between total seclusion and things to keep us entertained.
Trogon Cottage is just the spot for a romantic getaway in Limpopo that won’t break the bank. So if you’re a Candice*, do yourself a favour and forget about Dullstroom. Go to Magoebaskloof instead for an unforgettable (and affordable) weekend getaway.
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