A Perfect Family Paradise – Unforgettable Weekend at the Eco Lodge!

We had the most amazing family weekend away at the eco lodge – truly a little slice of paradise! With our big family in tow, it can be tricky to find places that are both spacious and welcoming, but this place had it all. The lodge was incredibly comfortable, beautifully designed, and fully equipped with everything we needed.

The kids had an absolute blast – from exploring the natural surroundings to enjoying the fantastic facilities, it was a haven for them and a stress-free escape for us adults. Everything was thoughtfully arranged, and the attention to detail made it feel extra special.

A huge thank you to Ziggy and Den for being such wonderful hosts. Your warm hospitality and care made our stay even more memorable. We’re already looking forward to our next visit!

We stayed over New Year (29 Dec to 3 Jan).We had a glorious time, especially the jacuzzi. We took our dogs for walks everyday. Ziggy is an awesome host and Eco Retreat has everything you need. The restaurant at Mokoya Lodge makes delicious food.

Owner response : (2025-01-08)
Thank you Krishna Melody & Felix for your review & your repeated stay. Loved having you all.

Peaceful location. Very clean and spacious. well equipped.

Owner response : (2024-09-25)
Hi Jadine Thank you for taking the time to write a review. See you soon.

A gem with a lovely scenic and quiet atmosphere.
The Reed forest walks and river were enjoyed so much by us and our furkids.
The huge well maintained enclosed garden with a little pebble path was a delight.
The Eco retreat home is so stunningly decorated and we lacked nothing. It is beautifully laid out with personal artistic touches everywhere.
We loved the airy open plan with windows letting lovely natural light in.
Abby our GS loved sitting on the stoep listening to all the nightime creatures chattering.
This was such a special place to spend my husband's 60th.....thanks to Ziggy for her well structured management of this beautiful space and her warm hospitality.
It is ideal for both bikers and walkers with a good distance and variety of paths. The entrance to Eco was easy to find and Harties and

Owner response : (2024-05-13)
Hi Noreen & Martin very happy to hear that all the family had a great time. Thank you. Woof woof

Our stay at this pet-friendly accommodation was absolutely fantastic! From spacious rooms with comfy beds, early sunrise walks to bamboo caves, sundowners sitting around the bushveld boma, with the Magalies berge right at your door step. Big enclosed garden making this a top-notch choice for pet owners. Our furry friends felt right at home, and so did we, so much that we have returned several times throughout the year. Ziggy is a great host and one of the nicest people you will ever meet, she is a very talented artist, her artwork is displayed throughout the space and leaves you feeling inspired. Lots of games to entertain the whole family WITH a reading nook. Highly recommended!

Owner response : (2023-10-23)
Dear Almerene Thank you for reviewing us so kindly. It is always a pleasure to accommodate you and your pets again.Great that you exploring the property and making use of all the facilities. We aim to please and your input is so appreciated.See you soon again.

What an amazing Eco -retreat for the whole family. Even though just a stone throw away from JHB, submerged in nature felt like a complete getaway which energized us and was incredibly relaxing. The house has its own special energy and thee most well equipped catered for venue I have ever booked. A perfect balance of rustic and comfort all in one. The whole experience from booking , our stay and leaving was flawless. Cannot wait to visit again. Thank you Ziggy!!

Owner response : (2023-10-11)
Thank you Ashleigh for enjoying the facilities.and do come again. You left the house in good order and I do appreciate that. Wonderful to have such appreciative guests.

We had a Fantastic time at Eco Retreat. Such a Lovely tranquil and quiet place. Very spacious and neat. Best place for a weekend away with our 4 legged BIG babies. Thank you Ziggy for organizing!!

Owner response : (2023-09-21)
Thank you Chanelle for your review. Happiness is being on holiday with your pets. See you soon.

With every visit to Ziggy's places being Cottage River and or the Eco Retreat (Pet friendly) we were more then satisfied. Everything we need is always there, including Hotwater bottles, Blankets. Convenient Clean and Most Relaxing place to find that inner-peace and quietness in Nature. We absolutely love your places Ziggy! Oh and might I add her paintings is beyond beautiful and now also for sale. Highly recommend Ziggys Cottage River and Eco Retreat.

Owner response : (2023-08-10)
Hi Ilsé always nice to get positive feedback. So happy you had a good time. Even your drone was found in one piece .Happiness is …

We enjoyed the stay at eco retreat place is clean, very spacious,has everything that you need in a home away from home we felt at home, we will definitely visit soon

Owner response : (2022-12-15)
Thank you Nontyatyambo for staying with us. Always great to have satisfied guests. Pitty I didn’t get to meet you. There is always a next time. Thank you for leaving it so clean.

We had a great stay at Eco Retreat, the house is spacious and has everything you need. Perfect place to relax, pet friendly, and only an hour away from Jhb. We will definitely be back!

Owner response : (2022-11-24)
Thank you for posting a review. So pleased you had a relaxing time and little baba slept well. See you soon.

What a lovely place. Such a spacious self-catering place. We loved taking our dogs for walks twice a day. My 4 year ild enjoyed the splash pool. Perfectly fenced off area for our dogs to be relaxed and enjoy the environment. Will definitely gi back. Thank you Ziggy for being so accommodating.

Owner response : (2022-10-24)
Hi Krishna thank you for your visit. Glad your dogs enjoyed there walk twice a day. See you soon.

Wow, what a perfect getaway destination for a family. The place is perfect for switching off, rewind and reconnect as well as enjoying what nature has to offer. Beautiful mountain views, rivers, birds watching etc. The place has got lots of space for everyone to enjoy. Our kids had a great time as well. See you again soon Ziggy

Owner response : (2022-10-11)
Hello Careen it was so nice to be able to accommodate you. Only met your hubby- what a nice man. Definitely a keeper. Glad you all had a nice break from town in nature. Till your next visit.

This is the perfect place to switch off! Great setup and lots of space. The bike trail through the bamboo is awesome, like a supertube ! We could fully unwind and enjoy the quiet. Thank you.

Owner response : (2022-09-26)
Hi Elsa thank you for reviewing us. Great that you did some exploring on our trails. Kommt bald mal wieder. Danke für euren Besuch.

Absolutely perfect for a get away with family, friends and pets.
Enough space with separate bathrooms and all amenities handy. Go for a walk with the dogs, try the on-site trail or sit under the stars next to fire. Only thing that can make it better is a splash pool ????.
We really enjoyed it and will be back!

Owner response : (2022-08-24)
Thank you Vicky. Fun was had by all. We done an outside shower for the hot days & a bath to cool off for the pets. Splash pool is on the cards within the near future. See you soon.

A superb, well equipped spacious house ideal for a group of people (and dogs) looking for a weekend getaway close to the city but feels a million miles away.

Owner response : (2022-03-15)
Thank you Janke for your visit.

Wonderful to return to the welcoming Eco Retreat. Very green and beautiful at this time of the year. The house is always very comfortable and well equipped and the trails with their view of the mountains and the river are particularly fine on the safe and secluded property. Will certainly be back again. Our dogs were super excited when they realised that they had come back for another holiday here.

Owner response : (2022-01-04)
Hi Chris & Warren great to have you again and you could see the explosion of nature at this time of year.Your dogs certainly know what’s good for them.????Thank you.

We had a wonderful stay. The house is equipped with everything you might need and it is nice and spacious. Our fur babies had a great time exploring every inch of this place. Thank you so much!!

Owner response : (2022-01-11)
Hi Desire it was grate having host you even though I never got to meet you in person. But I chatted to your mom twice. Happy you got the rest you desperately need. Till soon.

How lovely to finally find accommodation in which reality outshines the accommodation photos.
If you are looking for spacious, spotless, well equipped comfort, find it here.
All set on the most beautiful property enticing you to go for long cycles and walks.
Or just relax and be inspired by all the colourful art around the house
With the friendliest and very helpful staff .
Your pets are made very welcome and just love the large,securely fenced and tree laden garden in which to safely explore .
Thank you so much to all of you for making our stay so special

Owner response : (2021-10-01)
Dear Christine & Warren we are so glad you enjoyed your stay & the hounds felt at home.

We had a super weekend with children and dogs enjoying the quiet and space. Well located for activities in the area as well as walks and short rides on the property. Communication from our host was excellent throughout.

Owner response : (2021-09-08)
Thank you Ross & family. Love having guests like you that enjoy the country. Many thanks .

My Mom. myself, 3 daughter's and 2 fur babies had the most amazing long weekend stay at the Eco Retreat...
Wonderful location....
The accommodation is extensive, clean, safe, homely and fully equipped...
Huge enclosed garden for the dogs to roam freely... which was a huge plus....
Fantastic diverse walking and cycling trails...
Just a magical stay...
Thank you Ziggy... was awesome meeting you on our walking adventure..
We will be back for sure....

Owner response : (2021-09-06)
Thank you Charmaine for coming out with just the girls & enjoying the walks we offer & meeting your little girl who was so brave not to cry when she picked up a thorn. Cute.

If you want peace go this place! Everything you need is there. Nice for larger families and your dogs. A lot of walking trails for you and your four legged friends.

Thank you for a really great time!! Hope to see you again in future.

Kind regards from the Schnölzer's.

Owner response : (2021-07-05)
Hi Family Schnölzer. Thank you for enjoying the eco retreat & the walks. You also left the place spotless. Unbelievable, big thank you. Ziggy

Lovely place and well equipped. Dishwasher was a bonus. Spacious and comfortable. Pity about the flies on arrival

Owner response : (2021-06-22)
Hi Monique & family thank you for staying with us & enjoying the space. Unfortunately in the country areas we sometimes have an excess of flies.

Unit was very clean, everything were available that we needed towards cooking, braaing, etc. What a relaxing, peace weekend can highly recommend.

Owner response : (2021-05-06)
Hi Leon so glad you had a great time. See you soon.

We had an amazing time at the Eco Retreat and would recommend this property to anyone wanting a break away from city life. The accommodation sleeps at least 12 people, so it really does cater to a large crowd. The pit fireplace came in very handy for braaing and just having a beer around the fire. The walks were lovely and just long enough to enjoy without overtaxing the feet. We loved the open concept kitchen, dining room, and lounge which really is the heart of this home. Thank you to Ziggy and her staff.

Owner response : (2021-04-06)
Thank you so much Sharon.Great that you enjoyed the property. All the best,Ziggy

- Spacious
- Lovely for pets. Very pet friendly and well equipped for doggies inside and outside, they didn’t want to get into the car to leave!
- Lovely kitchen area with dishwasher, convenient when you’re a bunch of people. Enough seating around the whole house
- The space allows everyone to do their own thing
- Nice and private
- Staff and owner are lovely!
- Small details made a big difference
- Loved the fact that it’s well equipped for rainy days, we sat and played the board games provided

Owner response : (2021-01-11)
Hi Kristen & family, so happy that you enjoyed your stay. It was really great having you. Stay well.

Eco Retreat was a pleasant surprise for us. Who would have known that such a quiet and serene place is just a stone's throw away from the hustle and bustle of Gauteng. The house has a large and well-equipped kitchen/dining area. We especially liked the bedrooms with lofts - it gives you that rustic vibe. Bring your mountain bike or hiking boots and enjoy their in-house trail. The trail is technical, but not demanding - even my son who has beginner-level MTB skills was able to complete the 12-km course without any difficulty. There are other MTB routes nearby. Finally, the owners are very friendly. I hope they keep the place very affordable as it is. We are already planning our return. Thanks for having us, Ziggy! We really enjoyed the place and our stay!

Owner response : (2021-01-05)
Hi Jennings thank you for your stay. Your male family was certainly full of action. Cycling, photography ect. Nice to see people enjoying & exploring their stay. Love to have you back.

The eco retreat is such an amazing place, so peaceful and just what I needed. The rooms are so clean and neat, I loved the big kitchen and the bathrooms are clean. Had a great time sitting around the pit fire, we took a walk around the area and it was fun.
Johannes is so helpful and he enjoys his job. It was just what I needed to get away from the busy city life. Ziggy and the team are the best.
I wish I had more people to share this experience with but it was just the two of us.
Im definitely bringing my gals along next time.
Keep up the good work!

Owner response : (2020-12-09)
Hi Thulile thank you for your feedback. Yes next time bring the girls out for a nature experience. You are a great guest. Thank you.regards ziggy

We have just spent a wonderful weekend away at Eco Retreat hosted by Ziggy and her professional team - we met Johannes and Nomsa. It was our second visit and we enjoyed our time as much as the first. We prefer to take our dog with us when we go away, and our dog was very comfortable at Eco Retreat. The different walks around the property are great for the family and they are clearly marked and well maintained. The well-equipped kitchen, clean bathrooms and comfortable bedrooms meant that we could relax and return home rested and recharged.
The only concern that we have is that there were so many flies. Whilst this is not the fault of Ziggy and her team, it does take a little of the shine off an otherwise marvellous experience.
Thank you very much Ziggy and team.

Owner response : (2020-11-07)
Hi Warren & Nicole thank you for staying with us again & bringing your friends, kids & dogs to experience the facilities. Sorry about the flies ( certain time of year we experience an outbreak) due to the chicken farmer in the area. Hope to see you next year again. ( Ziggy & team).

The pics definitely don't do justice! The Eco Retreat was amazing. So clean! And very well equipped and comfortable for all of us including our fur baby. Ziggy and her staff are welcoming and friendly and made us feel quite at home. Just an hour from home and we got a much needed absolutely stunning break away to just relax and wind down with beautiful walking/hiking/biking trails and a very comfortable space to just let go. We will definitely be back!

Owner response : (2020-11-07)
Hi Melissa glad you enjoyed our walking trails & all the facilities we offer. Come back soon.

So peaceful and quiet. Close to Roodepoort. House much bigger than expected. Very clean and we we short of nothing. Just the house for family gathering. Ziggy is amazing host and always available for assistance. Fabulous place to take your pets with. Number of walking trials and open space for dogs to go for run.

We went for a weekend break with friends, dogs, and two kids. The house was well kitted out for all, comfortable and cool. The boma makes for a great social spot around the fire to watch the sun go down. We loved the trails - particularly the fishing spot and reed pathways. The area has plenty of activities, we made trips out to van Galens cheese farm, Paddle Power river rafting, and the boys did some clay pigeon shooting just 5km down the road.
Sanitiser was also provided and the house was very clean.

Lovely spacious home with everything you could need. Great walks. Kids and dogs loved the river and open grass fields

The Eco Retreat is perfect for groups wishing to travel together for hiking, biking or just a weekend getaway. The rooms are all spacious and comfortable. The boma area was our favourite, with late nights spent around the fire pit, sipping wine and gazing at stars. The Eco Lodge is the perfect location for those looking for some peace and quite to escape the hustle & bustle of city life! Fabulous weekend away! Thanks Ziggy!

We needed a break from the city and chose eco treat. We were thrilled when we arrived. The house has everything you could want. It was clean and spacious and a pleasure to stay in. We enjoyed walking in the area and loved our evening braais in our awesome braai area.

The house is very spacious and fully kitted out. 2 point plugs, matches, candles + everything you would need in the kitchen. There is even a cupboard full of blankets which was a nice touch for cold nights. The view is beautiful and the dogs loved it. The owner was also super friendly and responsive. Deposit was returned within a day.

Very happy visitors :)

The lodge is a perfect getaway, close enough to the city. It was spacious enough and had everything we needed.

The place is very spacious. The outside is so nice. Its a place to have peace and quiet. Place to rest. Well done. Owner did a great job.

This is a great getaway for big groups and for dog lovers. Not far from JHB city. Lovely, clean spacious cottage that caters for all your needs. The nature walks where nice and flat would also be good for cycling. We really enjoyed relaxing by the outside braai area and our chats at the big kitchen table. Thank you Ziggy.

The house is lovely, very conducive to big groups.
All the little extras were lovely and thoughtful
We had a very productive strategy session with collegues and a lot of fun too
Thank you Ziggy, we will definately be back

This unique house is most spacious and welcoming to big groups and small. We had a lovely time and enjoyed the boma, nature walks and other facilities. One of Magalies true gems. Thanks Ziggy.