We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The Tripadvisor website may not display properly.We support the following browsers:
Windows: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome. Mac: Safari.

Van Zijl Guesthouse

avatar-imageavatar-imageavatar-image
Traveller (11)
Room & Suite (3)
Dining (1)

View prices for your travel dates

Contact accommodation for availability.
There are similar hotels available.
View all

About

#5 of 5 guest houses in Nieuwoudtville
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value

See why so many travellers make Van Zijl Guesthouse their guest house of choice when visiting Nieuwoudtville. Providing an ideal mix of value, comfort and convenience, it offers a budget friendly setting with an array of amenities designed for travellers like you.

You’ll enjoy relaxing rooms that offer a kitchenette, bringing comfort and convenience to your visit.

Plus, Van Zijl Guesthouse offers an on-site restaurant, providing a pleasant respite from your busy day.

Should time allow, NG Kerk Nieuwoudtville is a popular attraction that is within walking distance.

At Van Zijl Guesthouse, your comfort and satisfaction come first, and they look forward to welcoming you to Nieuwoudtville.

Read more
Suggest edits to improve what we show.Improve this listing
Property amenities
Restaurant
Room features
Kitchenette
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Family
20Reviews1Q+A4Room tips
Traveller rating
  • 1
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 4
Time of year
Traveller type
Language
Selected filters
  • Filter
  • English
Sort by:
Most Recent
avatar-image
MeganWyer wrote a review Sept 2019
Point Reyes Station, California5 contributions
I felt lucky to find van Zijls guesthouse. It is unpretentious yet richly interesting. Beautiful dining space where guest gather and lots of information in books and maps about the area. Amazing food!
Read more
Date of stay: September 2019Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
avatar-image
233eliizabethk wrote a review Nov 2018
7 contributions2 helpful votes
Booked Hendrikshof and Moreson in May 2018 for 7 to 9 people for the last weekend in October. Paid in full when I made the booking and re-confirmed booking telephonically on 19 October 2018. What a disappointment our accommodation was. Upon our arrival we stopped immediately to collect keys, and although the lady in the restaurant was quite friendly, the same could not be said of the man (presumably the owner – he didn’t introduce himself) It felt as if I was doing him a favour to leave. He also appeared a bit irritated to give us directions to guesthouses. We did not have any meals in their restaurant. In Moreson we found numerous dead flies in windowsills – to me a clear indication that no-one checked the house before our arrival. The toilet was also running continuously – fortunately it could be temporarily repaired by someone in our group: once again an indication that the house wasn’t checked before our arrival. The toilet still needs to be fixed: one would think that in a water scarce area like Nieuwoudtville, such a task would be a priority. The complimentary jars of teabags and sugar were also closer to empty than what we expected (4 teabags and about a quarter of sugar in about a 175g jar) Another complaint about Moreson is that there are, in the room to the right of the bathroom, no space in the cupboard to hang clothes on a hanger. As we were attending a wedding we really wanted to hang out clothes to prevent unnecessary creasing as we didn’t see an iron and ironing board in the house. The cupboard in said room had ample shelves, and a nail in the wall with one coat hanger. When we phoned about the air conditioning not working, we were told that it doesn’t work. It is strange, seeing that locals know how hot it can become in summer months (incidentally it was an extremely hot weekend: temperatures of 38 to 42 degrees were measured by us). If you know the air con is on the blink, why not provide the house(s) with fans? Surely the comfort of your guest should be important? Hendrikshof was, although it is a beautiful old house with lots of character, a disappointment too. The AA advertising board in front of the house boasts “air-conditioned accommodation”. That, sadly, is not the whole truth. As you stand on the stoep at the front door, the gap between wall and aircon unit to the right has been invaded by birds and years’ worth of nests, thereby surely restricting airflow and optimum working of said unit. There are 3 units installed. We later worked out that one of these units cause the electricity to trip on the distribution board. When we phoned about it, we were told that we never specified that we request air-conditioned accommodation. Fortunately one capable person in our group was able to bypass this problem for the duration of our stay. There were dirty marks on walls (looked like bird poo), also numerous old, dusty spider webs were to be seen. Also a clear indication that the pre-occupation inspection was not thorough. The small tin of insect spray was about a fifth full, but the battle against flies, spiders, mosquitoes and other flying pests were continuous. We went out and bought another tin of Doom for both Moreson and Hendrikshof. I also find it strange that houses are not equipped with plug in mosquito repellent units in every room. Alternatively, but not as safe, would be citronella candles to repel insects. The bedside lamp switch in the room with the double bed needed some wiggling before staying on and when I wanted to open the drawer, I ended up with the knob in my hand and the drawer still shut. Really didn't like all the personal photographs on the walls: it felt like we were watched constantly. I am of the opinion that you should keep family matters, like photos, private, not decorate a guesthouse with it. There was a thick-ish blanket as well as a duvet on the beds. Clearly the house linen was still in place for winter conditions – once again an indication that house was not properly inspected/prepared before we arrived. Although Hendrikshof can accommodate up to six people, there were only 2 sharp knives to be found. The one with the black handle (the plastic part of handle was broken on one side) would break completely if something tough would have to be cut and the blade was bent to one side, making cutting straight impossible. The other knife was a steak knife with a brown handle. The lack of sharp knives made me wonder how meals would proceed – maybe one is expected to eat “braaivleis” with your hands, or that the available one should be sent around, each person getting his five minutes with the knife to cut food? I would also like to suggest that a small kitchen cloth (nat lappie) be provided. There were ample dish cloths for drying dishes but nothing to wipe, for example, the kitchen table, with. All in all I don’t think I will be staying in any of the van Zijl guesthouses if I can help it. I will not recommend anyone to stay there either. Elizabeth K
Read more
Date of stay: October 2018
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
avatar-image
Sam B wrote a review Sept 2018
Pretoria, South Africa43 contributions8 helpful votes
In Nieuwoudtville to see wild flowers, for which the area is renowned, we enquired about the best locations at the Information Centre in the Van Zijl Guesthouse reception. It also serves as a coffee shop / restaurant. Not only was the person at the desk not overly friendly, but we also had a nasty surprise. When given the menu for a light meal, we walked straight out! This was on account of the exorbitant prices. A chicken pie was listed at R130 and a tuna sandwich at R90. (Compare these prices with R30 - R40 in similar establishments throughout South Africa). That anybody could fleece guests in this manner, even considering the captive market during two months in early spring when the wild flowers bloom in those parts, is criminal. Our family, for one, would not consider eating or staying at this establishment, ever. At least, until such time as the owners come to their senses.
Read more
Date of stay: August 2018
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: We have no experience of the rooms, as we only wanted a light lunch at the restaurant
See more room tips
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
avatar-image
Zylie J wrote a review Sept 2018
1 contribution
We visited Olive Caravan Park very recently and found it dilapidated and unmaintained. Unfortunately I had to pay the full fee in advance. If that was not the case we surely wouldn't have stayed over. The braai facility, filled with sand and stone to prevent fires falling through the holes in it, did not have a grid. When I asked for it I was very rudely asked how it was possible that I can camp without a braai. I only replied that in forty years of caravanning and camping I never found a braai facility without a grid on top. However, although the ablution facilities were dilapidated it was clean and useable. I will not recommend the park at all.
Read more
Date of stay: June 2018Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
avatar-image
wena100 wrote a review May 2018
Wellington, South Africa30 contributions2 helpful votes
We stayed in Frikkie-se-huis. There was everything we needed for a one night stay. We enjoyed the stoep and the garden. We planned to have dinner at the restaurant. Unfortunately due to the unfriendly and unaccommodating attitude of the owner everything needed was to be bought in town before 17H00.
Read more
Date of stay: March 2018
Rooms
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
avatar-image
neilstemmet wrote a review Apr 2018
De Kelders, South Africa12 contributions12 helpful votes
The owner was extremely rude with us. I have been in the hospitality industry for more than 30 years and never, ever all over the world, have I been treated with such fowl language and disrespect, only because we did not arrive between 14:00 and 15:00 as we stated upon reservation. We phoned 14:30 to say that we will be late. We pre-booked for dinner. I asked if we could come for dinner upon arrival at 19:30 and was told in offensive language that restaurant will already be closed by then - yes at 19:30. I then asked if we could have lamb chops for the four of us and again I was told, who do I think I am to order chops, as the owner said he refuses to prepare chops on a Sunday night. We asked what he can prepare for us, no answer. I asked if they serve leg of lamb and ordered 4 plates of traditional leg of lamb. Upon arrival 4 plates of inferior quality and definitely not traditional fare and no value for money awaited us on the kitchen table with a salad. We used the microwave to heat the food, for which we prepaid. Avoid at all Moreson at all cost. P.S. The house in a shrine for the owner. Loads and loads of photos of his life achievements.
Read more
Date of stay: April 2018
Value
Rooms
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
avatar-image
Ineke K wrote a review Mar 2018
Kimberley, South Africa14 contributions2 helpful votes
I can actually not rate my stay, because it was a nightmare!!!! Was booked in Bokveld flat for 2 nights by company I work for. Two male colleagues was booked into main house. Slept in the most uncomfortable bed ever. Think the mattress is about 5cm thick (if it was that thick). When we returned from work, rooms were not cleaned, beds were not made - nothing. Breakfast was packed in takeaway packs - exactly the same for both mornings. Seems like 08:00 is too early for owner to serve guests with breakfast. Colleague wanted an iron in the morning, but was told the owner is still sleeping at 07:00 in the morning and not to bother him. On 2nd night power was out in Nieuwoudtville, we were told it would be restored at 18:00 which was not the case. When I phoned the owner to request torch or candels I was told that I can share the house and bathroom with my male colleagues. I said it is not acceptable and owner suggested that I go to my dark room and go to sleep. Wanted to know how he expected me to operate in the room and he said if he can do it in the dark so can I. I requested once again for some form of light since I am a paying guest. Mr. Hendrick van Zijl refused to assist. I said that I can then not guarantee that the room will look the same since I would not be able to see where I am going. I was then told that I am threatening him and he will contact the police. He actually phoned back to say he is awaiting an investigating officer to contact him. I was told almost 7 times that he used to practice as a lawyer and he knows his rights. I did not receive any form of light or any assistance from the owner. I could not take my medication - I suffer from an auto-immune disease. Never, ever will this place see me again. Please spare yourself from being treated in this way and rather book at a guesthouse where the guests are treated with dignity and care!!!
Read more
Date of stay: March 2018Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
avatar-image
ALouw wrote a review Sept 2016
Cape Town, South Africa5 contributions2 helpful votes
If you are visiting Namakwaland to see the flowers, it is a trick to find acoommodation. During week-ends the popular places are booked long in advance. If you live in CT you wait for perfect weather and start driving whenever it fits in with the rest of your life. Surprise to find this lovely guesthouse, we stayed in Hendrikshof, plus the bonus of a restaurant that served the best lamb shank i had in my entire life. Flowers, more or less, is an extra and you never know what you are getting. Like opening a lucky packet , you drive around on the sandy roads, but at least you can come back to the warm and cozy sandstone cottage that is Hendrikshof and look forward to another hearty meal in front of a fire at Smitswinkel Restaurant.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2016Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
avatar-image
Rose K wrote a review Sept 2016
Durban, South Africa674 contributions55 helpful votes
+1
Our campsite at Olive Caravan Park in Nieuwoudtville was rustic - set amongst the flowers and ruins of early settlers buildings, made of sandstone dating back to 1750.The ruins and guesthouses ( restored stone buildings) on site , led to the charm of the campsite - along with flowers growing throughout, and the peacocks wandering around. The birdlife was wonderful. A farm gate gave access to the property - not great security - and adjacent were open fields - or a vlei - so we posted an angel to watch over our tent. The downside to our camping was the heavy dew that fell making for very cold nights and a very soggy campsite. Thank goodness for my gumboots. You can see how misty it was first thing.No early morning rush, as the flowers only open once it is 18 deg and are best viewed from 11am to 3 pm. The locality is great to view the surrounds and flowers, great for a short stay. The scullery only has cold water - a geyser would help. The Smidswinkel restaurant is a treasure trove - but it isn't on site and too far to walk. Serving good food, wine or coffee with wonderful books to research the area or flowers.
Read more
Date of stay: August 2016
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: There are stone cottages- we camped and loved the flower views
See more room tips
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
avatar-image
Wildpeacock1 wrote a review Sept 2016
Stellenbosch, South Africa55 contributions19 helpful votes
Firstly if you go in flower season and want self catering Accomodation book at least 4 to 6 months in advance. The cottages are fairly basic but have most of the things you need for your catering equipment. Beds are reasonable but blankets and throws are tired! The gardens and surrounds are overgrown and unkempt and much of the furniture is in need of an upgrade. It may help management to inspect after the cleaners have been in specially when they are busy in the flower season then they would notice the little fixable touches. They basically clean but don't look to see it from the visitors point of view. After obliging the management to change the Accomodation so that they could accommodate more guests we checked in and out without even seeing anyone on duty ! Merely fetched and delivered the keys and given general directions to our Accomodation around the village whether we found our cottage or not was our problem. Luckily we had been here before. We had lots of fun good laughs etc but don't expect too much.
Read more
Date of stay: September 2016Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Share
Previous
12
Not the right property for you?
There are more places to choose from in the Nieuwoudtville area.
LOCATION
South AfricaNorthern CapeNieuwoudtville
NUMBER OF ROOMS
21
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?

Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.

Claim Your Listing

VAN ZIJL GUESTHOUSE - Reviews (Nieuwoudtville, South Africa) - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about Van Zijl Guesthouse
Which popular attractions are close to Van Zijl Guesthouse?
Nearby attractions include Hantam National Botanical Garden (5.8 km), Nieuwoudtville Waterfall (6.2 km), and NG Kerk Nieuwoudtville (0.01 km).
What food & drink options are available at Van Zijl Guesthouse?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant during their stay.
Is Van Zijl Guesthouse located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.8 km away from the centre of Nieuwoudtville.