Old Joe's Kaia

I've been vegan for 10 years and I can say that our 3 course meal for dinner was the best I've ever had! Presentation perfect, taste combination sublime... fulfilling and soul satisfying meal. Breakfast no different to the dinner served... absolutely delicious! The venue itself is tucked away off the main road and has a romantic feel to it. Some lovely antiquey items dotted around the communal area and always something gorgeous or unusual to keep the eyes busy... A library stocked with some gems and thought provoking books. A wonderful night or 2 escape from the hustle bustle...

I booked a room for a night with dinner and breakfast included as a first stop on route to the Kruger Park after hearing from friends how amazing this place was back in the early 2000's. Being a former Vegan for 5 years I was honestly interested in the caliber of food on offer and arrived with an open mind. To be honest the place is in a terribly "run down state" where their much advertised Labyrinth is unmaintained. Gardens are in an overgrown unmaintained state. Rooms are clean but our bedroom veranda door could not lock due to the wooden door frame being swollen from years of neglect. Some verandas and balustrades have totally collapsed outside some rooms. Fire fighting equipment has not been serviced since 2021 which is a concern. Not going to lie but spent most of the night awake worrying about security as a result of our veranda door not locking and considering there is no security onsite with little to no perimeter fence, being positioned next to a national highway in South Africa this was a definite concern. OK fine 2020 was tough on us all and obviously business was not that great but the food would be awesome right? Wrong and what we were served for dinner was average at best and I can honestly say I have tasted better from my Wife's kitchen on a slow Tuesday when we were still Vegan. Thanks to the fireplace, a small library and a bottle of fairly priced red wine not all was lost. The owners truly need to "get outside" a little more and take a look around. To me it looks like they are totally focused on the catering side of the business and have given up on what they were meant to build on when they took over. Thanks for the hospitality and decent conversation but we will not be returning.

Wij verbleven er voor onze laatste 3 nachten en wat werden we verwend! Ongelofelijk lekker uitgebreid ontbijt en avondeten (vegan) door de eigenares klaargemaakt.Niet de alledaagse spek met ei of cornflakes, maar overheerlijke smaken en combinaties ! En dat op een gezellig terras in een jungle van een tuin. Je kan op ontdekking gaan in de tuin (zwembad, labyrint, serre,verborgen zitplaatsen, ...)of in de buurt. Wij kregen van hen een leuke tip om naar Kaapsehoop te gaan om te wandelen. Ook deden we van daaruit de Panorama Route. Zeer vriendelijke eigenaars die klaarstaan voor hun gasten met tips, hulp, en in ons geval rekening houden met voedselallergieën. Privé parking, gezellige rustige slaapeenheden met de nodige comfort. Zeker een aanrader dus! Annemie en Silvie

Another awesome night at Old Joe,s Kaia ! Fantastic hosts and wonderful vegan food ! The breakfast was absolutely fantastic ! 👍😃 Highly recommend a stop over .. this from a big carnivore that love a hearty meal 😃

My younger brother Dashen is an adventurous type of person who is always looking for an elevating experience in his explorations of the natural beauties of our South African country side.Being a Vegan he was absolutely thrilled to be introduced to “Old Joe’s Kaia”nestled in the Schoemanskloof area near Nelspruit.He wanted to give me a special treat for my 60th Birthday and booked a 4 day getaway for the 6 of us,Himself,my eldest brother Raam,my two sons Kemeshan and Dhiveshan and my best friend Dhiraj.We arrived late in the evening and were warmly welcomed by our hosts Marian and Paul.Despite the ravings of my brothers Dashen and Raam who had been guests at Old Joe’s Kaia previously,my initial impression of the place far exceeded my expectations.The place has a rare rustic charm with a cheerful fire in the common area of the open plan lounge dining area.Ones immediate impression is one of being embraced in a bubble of love which is evidenced by the loving and welcoming nature of both the hosts and the 4 cats and an aging dog.We were treated to a delicious,sumptuos and exquisitely prepared 5 course dinner.For the entire duration of our stay not one of the breakfast or dinner menu items were repeated and it was an unforgettable Vegan gastranomic delight.Our bedroom was charming and welcoming and brought back fond memories of my stays at Grandma’s house.It was so lovely to wake up to the sounds of birds chirping and the thrilling of insects.There is a beautiful walking trail which includes a Labyrinth which is a must have experience.It is a truly magical environment which invokes an impression of falling into an alternate reality which is a mixture of all the wonders of Peter Pans Neverland,Alices adventures in wonderland and a sojourn at Hogwarts.On the walking trail there is a breathless expectation of stumbling across a Dryad draped across the greenery or a water nymph gamboling in the pool or some michievious pixies peeking at you from the boughs of the overarching trees.Being an avid bookworm I had great difficulty tearing myself away from the cosy reading nook which has an eclectic collection of interesting,entertaining and inspiring books.This getaway is only for the discerning traveler who can appreciate an experience out of the ordinary.It is a place to get in touch with ones inner self ,to recuperate from the wounds of wordly life and to rekindle ones inner chi.A fantastic place of spiritual healing perfect for family bonding and even for an intimate getaway with that special person in your life.Marian has a comforting nurturing motherly presence and is an embodiment of Love whilst Paul is a dependable unassuming character who keeps everything running smoothly with the minimum of fuss.A Big thank you to Marion and Paul for making my 60th Birthday such a special and memorable event (Marions specially prepared Vegan Strawberry cake was the icing on the top).I can’t wait for my next visit to Old Joe’s Kaia! Amaran Naicker – Scottburgh KZN

"An absolute must have experience. This is a unique experience in all the right ways. The atmosphere is serene and beautiful. I highly recommend giving Old Joe's a visit, be it a family trip or a simple get away for couples or yourself! The hospitality of Paul and Marian far exceeds what one would expect. The food experience is a taste of heaven, despite myself not being vegan... I never once wondered where the meat was! Marian is a magician in the kitchen with a deep understanding of flavours and their amalgamation to create perfection. Please do yourself and your family a favour and embark on this journey of the palate and soul!"