Düsternbrook Gastenplaas

We were booked in for 18 May 2016. When we arrived, there was no one at reception. After waiting a while, I called the phone number and someone had to come down to reception. We obtained the Hippo Chalet keys and I asked when Dinner would be served. The lady said that they don't have a restaurant but they would cook for us if we wanted that. We decided not to make use of this offer and set off to the chalet, looking forward to a romantic evening and a hot shower after having travelled for most of the day.

The chalet was a shocker. The floor boards on the veranda has holes in it and I was worried that we might fall through the boards. The one window doesn't close properly. No curtains in front of the windows and after a while (after dark) we tried to use the shower to find out that there was no hot water. I phoned reception and the lady apologised for not explaining to us as to how to use the burner system. Well, you insert 2 fire lights in the burner system and wait 10 minutes and you get one jug full of hot water where after you have to repeat the process. We were highly disappointed and had to be satisfied with cold showers on a cold night.

I bent down to check under the bed for any snakes or any inhabitants of any sorts and was disgusted with the dirt under the beds (layered with dust). We furthermore tried to use the braai outside to make a fire and it is so full of holes at the bottom that the burning wood kept falling through onto the deck and I was running with glasses of water in and out not to set the place alight. All in all, we did not enjoy our stay at all and would not recommend this venue to anyone else.

Upon booking out the next morning, I informed reception that we were unhappy and that the chalet should be properly cleaned prior to letting anyone book in again.