Solitude Retreat Centre

As the name suggests, this is truly a retreat within the Petrusstroom valley, with a gentle sloping backdrop and spectacular views over the valley. The property is 22 hectares, zoned agricultural and within the Dargle conservancy, so its also home to abundant wildlife with virgin veld suitable for grazing of some livestock

The main house has four bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 ensuite with shower and bath, second bathroom with shower, the Main bathroom has plumbing for a second basin. The flooring is Oregon pine, there is a pure wool carpet upstairs. The lounge is a large room with a very effective fireplace and large doors opening onto the patio and leading out to the swimming pool and a lawn going down the valley. The patio is a expansive space which has space to braai, relax and have those lazy afternoons and tranquil evenings watching the sun go down.
The kitchen has oak cupboards, quickhot under kitchen sink, electric stove and oven and a very cozy dining room nook.

There is a double garage and trailer port and an extra small bathroom with shower and toilet behind garage as well as a separate laundry. There are 2 workshops (one at main house, one next to Mulberry cottage), as well as a caravan port with view and water tank, on the side of the main house, overlooking the dam and grassland when you need to escape and have some quiet time to work.

The main house is separate and some distance from 3 self catering cottages – which each have their own privacy, and are self check in. 2 of the cottages each have 3 bedrooms (Liquid Amber cottage has 2 bathrooms, bath and shower, Mulberry cottage has 1 bathroom with a big bath). The other cottage has 2 bedrooms - Mahogany cottage with 2 bathrooms (shower and bath).

There are 12 bedrooms in total on the property, 8 bathrooms, the cottages approved as staff housing, not a registered accommodation business. Currently run as a tax benefit to offset other earnings. The property is 20 minutes from Howick and Hilton, a safe, small community with friendly neighbours, no land claims, no tenants, no staff living on the property. Access is via a gravel road which is graded regularly.

There is also an opportunity to restore the cottage that burnt down due to a chimney fire. It is similar to the little double storey, one meter bigger in the back room to allow for two single beds. The plans are still approved with the municipality. The downstairs bathroom is still more or less intact, the plumbing and electrics go to that cottage underground.

There are numerous rain water tanks, used in conjunction with the grey water system. Water is pumped from the stream via a petrol pump in winter (which has never run dry and is very clean, as recently tested).
There are Solar and electric geysers at main house, Eskom is 3 phase, own line, new transformer with surge protection for lightening.

The property has built up a regular clientele due to the access to Midlands Meander, appealing to extended families who hire the whole place, retreat facilitators who hire the whole place, NGOs, guests with retired parents in Howick, guests who stop over from Gauteng to the coast, people in caring professions looking for rest (pastors, doctors, teachers, psychologists etc.). Busiest times: Midmar Mile, school holidays, weekends with public holidays.

When viewing the property, it is quite evident that the big attraction is the stunning, peaceful view of the dam from the cottages, the silence and just being in tune with nature.