Fully-catered Country House close to Kruger National Park

5 bedrooms, sleeps 10 max.

• Bedroom Three: 1 King size double bed (En-suite bathroom. This room can also be made up as a twin room)
• Bedroom Two: 1 King size double bed (En-suite bathroom. This room can also be made up as a twin room)
• Master Bedroom Suite: 1 King size double bed (En-suite bathroom and dressing room)

For larger groups requiring additional accommodation (up to 10 people), there are two further bedrooms available in the cottage. Please contact us directly for rates for larger groups. There is also a travel cot available upon request.

4 bathrooms.

• Bathroom Three (Full): Toilet, Bath (no shower), Shower enclosure
• Bathroom Two (Full): Toilet, Bath (no shower), Shower enclosure
• Master Bathroom (Full): Toilet, Bath (no shower), Shower enclosure

Luxuriously appointed bathrooms all with large showers, deep baths and wonderful views of the surrounding mountains. The cottage shares a bathroom with double shower and toilet.

At umSisi House we plan all meals in advance (dependent on your rental basis) to ensure that the dinign experience is one of the highlights of your stay. Our bespoke menu list is sent out in advance for you to choose from so we can ensure that all meals are to everyone’s liking. Our delicious home-cooked food is prepared with care and dedication to the availability of local seasonal produce, much of which is grown in our kitchen garden. We know that your dining experience will be one of the highlights of your time spent at umSisi House.

Meals are served at the chef’s table in the open-plan kitchen or outside on the veranda depending on the weather. Paddy, the chef, either cooks on the range or a charcoal-fire oven / barbecue.

umSisi House has access to the best local ingredients and boasts a large cellar of South African wine. Wines are paired to each meal to ensure the ultimate dining experience.

Depending on whether you are ‘at home’ for the day or off on safari will determine breakfast and lunch. If you’re leaving early we will send you off with tea and coffee and home-made rusks to see you through to lunchtime which will be a sumptuous picnic hamper loaded with delicious goodies.

If you’re ‘at home’, breakfast will be that of your choice from a selection of cereals, fruit and Greek yoghurt with the occasional English or American fry-up. Lunches will be a buffet of cold meats, salad, cheeses, quiches and fresh bread.

While we host you at dinner, we let you enjoy the company of friends and family during the day. But we are always around should you need us!

We also operate a ‘help yourself’ policy throughout the day for tea and coffee, any drinks, a fresh supply of fruit and a snack cupboard in case you get hungry between meals.

There is also the wonderful option of having ‘dinner under the stars’ where we bring our experience of running safaris to prepare dinner in your own private, open-air dining room. An old Land Rover will double-up as the kitchen and bar, lanterns will be twinkling around you and the fire will be roaring as you enjoy a dinner cooked in traditional African cast iron pots on the open fire. These pots are known locally as potjie pots (pronounced poy-key). The meal will feature freshly-baked pot bread, a hearty stew, fresh salads and something sticky and sweet, with freshly ground Ethiopian coffee to finish. The menu can be tailored to your requirements and vegetarians are easily catered for.

We can also arrange ‘mountain view sundowners' at a private spot looking across the valley towards the Kruger National Park if you feel up to a bit of a hike and the reward of perching on top of a mountain with gin and tonic in hand and something delicious to nibble on. You will be returned to the farmhouse in one of the umSisi House Land Rovers in time for dinner.

Bed & breakfast

Our rates are based on a Bed and Breakfast rental to include breakfast, complimentary fruit, fruit cordials, internet access, activity booking service and laundry.

However, we have DBB and full board rates available as well. These are particularly suitable for our overseas guests. Please see below for an overview:

Dinner, Bed and Breakfast rate includes dinner, breakfast, all local drinks (alcoholic and non from 5pm onwards), complimentary fruit, fruit cordials, internet access, activity booking service and laundry.

Full Board rate includes all meals, local drinks (alcoholic and non), WiFi internet access, activity booking service and laundry.

umSisi House offers two dining options either inside the house or on the veranda dependent on weather. A highchair is available upon request.

Dining room

In addition to the living room, umSisi House also offers a large covered veranda, TV Room / Library and a seperate Media Room.

DVD, CD player, Fireplace, TV, Stereo system

umSisi House boasts 10 kilometres of hiking trails in the mountains behind the house. Our guests are welcome to explore this unspoilt bush with one of our staff members.

We can recommend the services of a wonderful massuese who vists our guests 'at home' upon prior arrangement.

Badminton, Balcony, BBQ, Bicycles available, Car parking, Garden, Jacuzzi, Outdoor furniture, Outdoor pool, Sun bed, Treatments available

2 car parking spaces

As opposed to air conditioning all of our rooms have colonial paddle fans with whisper-quiet settings so as not to disturb any sleep.

Bottled water is provided and all rooms have a hairdryer, robes and complimentary bath and shower goodies.

We have adopted solar power, boast our own fresh-water springs, collect rainwater, are planting an indigenous forest, recycle all of our waste and fill our pantry with herbs and vegetables from our organic garden which is fertilised by compost from our worm farm.

We provide an information manual, local maps and reference books for our guests in the Library plus a complimentary booking service for all activities.

Computer available, Daily maid services, Fax, Safe, Linen and towels provided, Satellite/cable, Wired internet access, Smoking allowed

We have parking for two to three vehicles depending on size.

Rural

Required

South Africa is often described as ‘a world in one country’ as it offers the visitor a breathtaking variety of scenery, from desert and lush forest, to soaring mountains and vast empty plains.

Culturally as diverse as the landscape, many visitors are drawn to experience for themselves the miracle of the peaceful overthrow of Apartheid. Others are attracted by endless golden beaches, big game, diving, snorkelling or bird watching. Whatever their reasons, visitors will find South Africa positively inviting with world-class infrastructure, transport and accommodation.

umSisi House is situated in Mpumalanga (‘the place where the sun rises’) which is South Africa’s most easterly province bordered by Mozambique to the east and the Kingdom of Swaziland to the south.

Mpumalanga is a lush, land-locked province, filled with deep ravines, verdant valleys, crystal-clear streams, magnificent waterfalls and plenty of wildlife. It is considered to be the heartland of South Africa’s classic safari territory. Mpumalanga enjoys a subtropical climate and is very fertile. There are many huge plantations growing produce ranging from avocado pears to bananas to pecan nuts to citrus as well as hundreds of thousands of hectares of timber plantations.

umSisi House is a mere 15 minutes away from the Kruger National Park and 20 minutes away from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA), which is the main destination for visitors flying into the Kruger Lowveld area. The airport offers numerous car rental options.

White River, the nearest town to umSisi House (15 minutes away), is the pretty floral gateway to the Kruger Lowveld region and can be found just north of Nelspruit (the provincial capital of Mpumalanga).

Nelspruit offers all the modern amenities of a first world city from shopping malls, family entertainment, medical facilities and banking to tourism services.

Looking slightly further afield Maputo, the buzzing capital of Mozambique, is only two hours drive from Nelspruit and is en route to the many pristine beach destinations that the country has to offer. The beautiful kingdom of Swaziland is approximately three hours drive from Nelspruit and offers a world of bygone African traditions and culture.

It is recommended that you hire a car when staying with us for longer than three nights. On shorter stays, we are happy to arrange your transfers and Kruger Park activities as we know you won’t have time to experience the region’s many other highlights.

The Kruger Lowveld region is as well known for its spectacular beauty and adventure activities as it is for its game viewing potential. The area abounds with things to do and you can spend days exploring this magical part of the world. Historical sites and villages, old wagon routes and monuments mark the lives of the characters that came to Mpumalanga seeking their fortune. Jock of the Bushveld, the mining towns of Pilgrim’s Rest and Barberton - with Africa’s first stock exchange – are just some of the picturesque and colourful chunks of history to learn about and experience. In Mpumalanga, you will find something to appeal to everyone in your party - regardless of age and fitness levels.

Kruger National Park Safaris

umSisi House is located only 15 minutes drive from Numbi Gate – the first, and most appealing entrance into the Kruger National Park. Numbi Gate is located in the south-western section of the park and its higher altitude provides a sweeping vista over the Lowveld to the east and granite foothills to the north and south. This is a high rainfall area allowing for a particularly high diversity of plant and animal species.

Kruger is the best-known game reserve in Africa. The park draws over a million visitors a year and the area hosts tremendous bio-diversity including 147 species of mammals, 507 bird species, 114 reptile species, 34 amphibian species, 49 fish species and approximately 336 tree species within 4,5 million acres (2 million hectares) of natural bush - an area that could easily accommodate Wales. The Kruger National Park was proclaimed in 1926 with Numbi Gate as the official entrance charging an admittance fee of £1!

We are delighted to be able to offer a safari solution for the entire family (some age restrictions may apply) that allows you to enjoy the Kruger National Park on a series of day trips while still returning to the privacy and comfort of your exclusive African villa at the end of each day.

We have teamed up with local operators, and their experienced guides, to provide you with the option of exploring the Kruger in an open game viewer should you not wish to self-drive. These vehicles are hired on a daily basis and the guides are trained to identify everything from the smallest dung beetle to the great African Elephant. Due to our close proximity to Numbi Gate, you will be collected and returned to umSisi at the end of each day. Please contact us directly for rates.

Panorama Route

The magnificent Panorama Route is best known for its secret history, cultural heritage and dramatic landscapes as it passes through the rugged mountain range of the northern Drakensberg. The most spectacular stretch of the Panorama Route is the Blyde River Canyon (proclaimed as a nature reserve in 2004) with its dramatic mountain scenery and panoramic views over the escarpment. The 25,000 hectare Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve starts at ‘The Pinnacle’ and follows a winding path for 26 kilometers via ‘God’s Window’ and ‘Bourke’s Luck Potholes’ to the ‘Three Rondawels’. It is the third largest canyon in the world with a drop of 800m, the second largest canyon in Africa and the only green canyon in the world boasting a rich diversity of plants.

Golf

The Kruger Lowveld region in Mpumalanga province boasts some of the finest golf courses in the southern hemisphere. If you are a golfer visiting this region, you will have a choice of the follwing courses: White River Golf Course, Sabie River Golf Course, Nelspruit Golf Course, Skukuza Golf Course and Leopard Creek Golf Course.

The Lucky Bean Kids' Club

For guests with children, umSisi House has created the ‘Lucky Bean Kids’ Club’ which welcomes children of all ages. All children will be included in the daily itinerary from sunrise to sunset and will be delighted to find that a whole host of kid friendly ‘stuff’ is available to keep them occupied when ‘at home’.

Responsible Tourism

umSisi House is privy to an African village called Masoyi where guests will be invited to experience the true essence of Africa, and its people. This ability to interact with the local community, and support projects that benefit them directly, will satisfy the needs of those wishing to promote the principles of ‘responsible tourism’.

Please visit our website or contact us directly for more information on activities available in the area.

Fishing, Golf, Horse riding, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering, Extreme sports, Swimming pool, Tennis, Walking

• Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (Airport) - 20.0km
• Maputo (Ferry port) - 200.0km
• Train: Nelspruit (Public Transport) - 35.0km
• N4 Nelspruit (Motorway junction) - 35.0km
• Mozambique (Beach) - 950.0km
• Nearest Barpub: Casterbridge Farm (Other) - 15.0km
• Nearest Golf: White River Golf Course (Other) - 20.0km
• Nearest Restaurant: Magnolia (Other) - 15.0km