Stonehouse Lodge, near Stilbaai at the western start of the Garden Route, is a family farm with three self-catering houses, two of them with their own pool, a river jetty for swimming and paddling, farm animals to feed and safe beaches 10 to 20 minutes away. Houses sleep from six to eight and more, and can be booked together.
On the farm
Children collect eggs from the hens, feed the calves and lambs, meet the horses and the farm dogs, bounce on the trampoline and play table tennis. The river has a floating jetty for swimming and canoeing, and the dam has a foofy slide for the brave. Stonehouse Lodge and White House Cottage each have a pool.
One guest family wrote that the children loved watching the cows, peacocks and horses, collecting eggs and being able to canoe on the river. Another said the kids explored the river by boat with their host.
Beaches and days out
Lappiesbaai, Stilbaai’s main swimming beach with lifeguards in season, is about 10 minutes away. Jongensfontein, about 20 minutes west, has a natural tidal pool that is safe for swimming and good for snorkelling. In town, the tame eels at Palinggat are hand-fed at 11:00 from Monday to Saturday, and from June to November southern right whales come close inshore.
Keeping it safe and easy
This is a working farm with water and livestock, so small children need an adult with them at the river, the dam and around the animals, and life jackets on the water. Every house is self-catering, so you keep your own routines, and the shops are 10 minutes away.
Bigger families can take two or all three houses together. Book direct on this site and you get 5% off the nightly rate, with no platform fees.
Photographs
See for yourself
The river lawn and a canoe 
The Stonehouse pool 
The kids room at White House Cottage 
Calves on the farm 
Rock pools on the Stilbaai coast 
The beach at Stilbaai
Good to know
Questions
Is Stonehouse Lodge good for families?
Yes. There are farm animals to feed, eggs to collect, a trampoline, table tennis, pools, and a river to swim and canoe in, with beaches 10 minutes away.
Which house suits a family best?
White House Cottage sleeps up to 7 with a family room and its own pool. Stonehouse Lodge suits bigger families from 8 guests. Grysbok Cottage sleeps 8 in three bedrooms over the dam.
Where can children swim safely near Stilbaai?
At Lappiesbaai, with lifeguards in season, and the natural tidal pool at Jongensfontein.
Ask about your dates
Tell Alison when you would like to come and how many of you there are. 5% off when you book direct.