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Creative self sufficient living

We are an aspiring self-sufficient family that aim to inspire other people to live creatively.

MEET PATSY

Self-contained accommodation for two in the bushveld with magnificent views and the sounds of nature.

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Eco-friendly pet friendly stay at Kokiville Homestead in Mpumalanga

THE BOXES

Our Boxes offer a luxury stay in a tranquil garden setting with beautiful views and are elegantly appointed.

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glamping tipi stay at Kokiville in Nelspruit

THE TIPI

Escape the ordinary and immerse yourself in the rustic charm of our beautifully hand crafted tipi.

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self-sufficient self catering unit at Kokiville Homestead

BOHO BUSH CABIN

Escape to The Boho Bush Cabin, a private and tranquil one-bedroom.

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30% off Boho Bush Cabin when you book 5+ nights!

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Reviews

Kokiville Homestead

4.9

Based on 39 reviews

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De Wet van Tonder

17:34 04 Nov 25

Maresa Naidoo

11:07 09 Oct 25

Amazing 👏 if I could give this place higher ratings I would. From directions, to personal check-in, the place was as immaculate. Love the privacy and the peaceful surroundings. Perfect accommodation to get away from the busy city life.
Nature is just what the doc ordered.

Tebogo Mohapi

16:01 02 Sep 25

Anita Kroon

17:39 20 Jul 25

Very beautiful and very cute! The people are super friendly and helpful!

DL H

09:37 08 Jul 25

A beautiful escape to the bushveld, stay uniquely designed accommodation set in a natural environment. It has a homegrown veg garden, private spaces and a lovely little bush trail.

Marie TARDAN

06:27 23 May 25

A Magical Two-Night Stay in the Tippi Tent!

I had the most wonderful two-night stay in the private and exclusive tippi tent experience. From start to finish, everything was perfect. The tent itself was beautifully set up, clean, and incredibly comfortable — a perfect blend of rustic charm and thoughtful touches. Fully equipped kitchen, tea, coffee.

A huge thank you to Jannine and Gavin, our lovely hosts. They were so kind, welcoming, and helpful throughout our stay, making us feel right at home. You can really tell they put a lot of care into creating a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. They also have an amazing veggies garden !

If you’re looking for a unique getaway that’s both serene and beautifully maintained, I can’t recommend this place enough. I’ll definitely be coming back!

Annalien Van Rooyen

11:39 10 Jan 25

Excellent attention to detail, perfect natural ambience, friendly staff and a feeling of total relaxation. Patsy is a winner! 😀

Candice Brand

18:02 05 Jan 25

My mom and I stayed at Kokiville Homestead for one night to celebrate her birthday, and it was an unforgettable experience! We stayed in "Patsy," the stunningly converted old school bus, which was cozy and comfortable with a touch of luxury. It is equipped with a double bed, en-suite bathroom, and kitchenette.

Some of the highlights of our stay were the food garden, where we picked and ate some juicy figs, exploring the property’s charming footpaths, known as the Snail Trail, the sensory garden at night with all it's cute solar garden lights & wind chimes and the enchanting Fairy Garden!

We had SO much fun searching for all the hidden fairies scattered throughout the garden. The creativity and detail put into the experience were truly magical! Despite our best efforts, there was one fairy we couldn’t find—even after going back the next morning to look again. But it gives us a reason to return, as we are determined to complete our fairy hunt!

The hosts, Gavin and Janine's
passion for nature and self-sufficient living was evident throughout the property, and their hospitality and our interesting conversations made our stay even more memorable.

The peaceful bushveld setting, complete with stunning views and the sounds of nature, made it a perfect retreat. Despite its serene setting, it is situated just 10 minutes away from Nelspruit and easily accessible with any vehicle.

I HIGHLY recommend Kokiville Homestead for anyone looking for a unique and rejuvenating getaway, it was honestly my best 'sleepover' ever! I can't wait to come back for another visit—both to relax and to solve the mystery of the missing fairy!

Heather Mason

14:47 05 Jan 25

We loved staying in the tipi — a real camping experience but with more creature comforts (including great WiFi) and no need to pitch a tent! We loved the incredible views, the amazing birds, the vegetation, the outdoor bath, and the lovely walks. Janine and Gavin are wonderful hosts and have created something truly special with Kokiville. Do be prepared for extreme heat in summer — the tent includes a big fan but I recommend bringing a handheld fan, lots of cold drinks, and a cooler box with plenty of ice 😅

Christo Kleinhans

15:44 27 Dec 24

Enjoyed every moment of staying there. Make sure to spend time on the snail trail!

Tlotliso Mofokeng

05:55 08 Nov 24

Jorika Cronje

04:55 28 Sep 24

Tranquil area to visit if you want to get out and see something else around Mbombela. You will need a vehicle with a bigger ground clearance to get there though

Ildiko Hegyi

19:01 18 Sep 24

Such a cute gem.
You'll love this comfortable off the grid homestead.

Nosipho Msomi

11:57 05 Sep 24

Bev Missing

14:41 02 Sep 24

Immense love and attention to detail has gone into Kokiville. It is quirky and unique. We have stayed in the bus Patsy and in the Boxes and have enjoyed the tasteful decor and all the little extras that Janine and Gavin so generously provide . The units even have olive oil and sweeties on the bed and a games box . I love the house plants in the rooms and all the special touches. Fabulous value for money . The snail trail is special as is the food garden with all the interesting unusual fruit. It is peaceful and private with a lovely bushveld feel . Definitely worth spending more than one night here

Hein Cooke

09:50 18 Aug 24

Perfect location for a break-away. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in the TeePee tent

Carina Walters

14:04 11 Aug 24

MASEGO PHATSIMA

13:01 07 Jul 24

We saw this place on facebook and managed to make a booking online from Kasane - Botswana. What attracted us to this place was the unique accomo types they have specifically the bus and boxes. Also the owners are so friendly and are the ones whoa assisted us with information about shuttle services as there is no Uber in Nelspruit. We really enjoyed our stay and will definitely go back and explore the tent and the tree house (currently under construction). The place is accessible, with wifi and hot water always.

Mike S

06:43 03 Apr 24

First stay - Box 1:
Kokiville Homestead is a very special place. The hosts, Gavin and Jeanine have built, and offer a truly unique experience to those looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of life and experience the homestead lifestyle in comfort and style.

We recently spent a weekend in the "boxes" - remarkably well appointed container units with absolutely everything you need and more. The decor is beautiful and the surrounds even more so.

Highly recommended as a tranquil weekend away in the natural beauty of the Nelspruit bush with plenty to learn and experience should you wish to explore.
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Fourth Stay: The Tipi

Yes, were back again!
How could we not be after the three glorious trips to Kokiville.

This weekend we moved from our standing favorite, the pet friendly - "Box 1" and ventured deeper into the bush landing up at the perfect little Oasis that is the Tipi!

Our stay in this very unique, comfortable and exciting space over the Easter weekend was very special.

We loved the views and wide open spaces. The intrigue and excitement of staying in a Tipi carried through the entire 5 night stay and kept us absolutely enthralled. As is their (Gavin and Janine) signature, the unit is well through out, stylish, comfortable and filled with all you need to have a comfortable stay.

The weekend was filled with bon fires, naps, reading books again (when alst did you have time for that!?) Quality time with both, our family, but also with our hosts who, over our many visits to Kokiville (4) have become very close friends!

We can't wait to be back again soon.

Patsy, we have our eye on you! 🚐

Joy Tupholme

17:49 12 Mar 24

Kokiville is an absolute gem and we would highly recommend choosing any of the beautiful rooms here for your next stay!

We were so lucky and grateful to find this accommodation when we ran the Elands Valley Marathon in March 2024. We booked the boxes, Patsy and the Tipi.

We'd rate 5 Stars for everything:
- The location is absolutely beautiful and super convenient very close to nearby shops and amenities and easy to access;
- The accommodation itself is exquisitely designed and luxuriously furnished, staying there really is a treat;
- The hosts are totally divine, very kind and caring, they really went the extra mile;
- Your money goes a long way in terms of the value you get back (off the grid, fresh milk the fridge, biscuits & coffee pods too!);
- & By staying here you're supporting a really cool couple's retirement dream, people who care about the environment and who are staying to make SA work.

We look forward to visiting again hopefully in the near future!

Kamogelo Lesabe

08:25 02 Oct 23

We thought that the scenic location is the prize, little did we know that the hosts Janine and Gavin would become a family away from home for us! We hosted an event here in the first week in September with the pinnacle of it being conversing on changing the trajectory of our country’s future, the warmth received and amazing thought-through accommodation setting much of the tone we needed for this experience. We stayed in the Patsy bus, an absolute treat and luxury-on-wheels.

Looking forward to our next stay here and future events we will collaborate on with Kokiville! 🥂

  Lovely homestead. Even more than the wonderfully converted bus, the whole plot is a delight. Loved the veg garden and can’t wait to see how the mushrooms come on!

Toby
October 24, 2025
  My stay at Janine’s place was excellent! The space was clean, stylish, and exactly as described. Jenine was a fantastic host, welcoming, responsive and very accommodating. The location was convenient... read more

Nathi
October 22, 2025
  Patsy was an absolute delight! The idea of sharing this space was genius, and the execution was flawless. The host was warm and welcoming, and the location was lovely. We... read more

Clemence
September 28, 2025
  Get on this bus. It was a beautiful ride.

Jacques
September 24, 2025
  Really had a romantic and peaceful getaway. Living in a bus was very novel and unique. Felt like when we used to travel by Train with the Trans Karoo but... read more

Desmond
August 31, 2025
  I really enjoyed my time in the quirky bus. Janine and Having were both friendly and helpful. What a beautiful property.

Matthew
July 27, 2025
  De plek van Janine en Gavin ademt liefde. We hebben ontzettend genoten van de wandeling op het terrein. Dankjewel voor zoveel gastvrijheid.

Annemie
July 18, 2025
  Man, I enjoyed my stay in Patsy! Mr Gavin is very friendly and I made a friend with Jasper. Look, pictures don’t make Patsy justice. Patsy was beyond my expectations!I... read more

Lisakhanya
July 16, 2025
  Beautiful place surrounded by nature. Fresh air and good place to reset your mind.

Ezra
July 4, 2025
  The space is beautifully decorated, with a mix of vintage charm and modern comfort. The bed was super comfy, and the little patio outside was perfect for morning coffee. Everything... read more

Tshidi
May 2, 2025
  Unbeschreiblich, wunderschön, sagt Armin. Man sollte da gewesen sein.
Liebe voll und perfekt durchdacht im Einklang mit der Natur.
Wer die Natur liebt und eine Tolle Einrichtung ist hier... read more

Andrea
May 1, 2025
  I loved everything, the host are so kind and accomodating... everything was on point

Lulu
April 28, 2025

If you are from the Lowveld and would like to know more about what events are coming up at Kokiville, JOIN our WhatsApp Group.

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Our Story

Six years ago, Gavin and I decided that we wanted to live a very different life to what we were living, (not that there was anything wrong with our life), we just knew that we could create an adventure and be a little unconventional in our twilight years.

At this stage we were living in an apartment in the city of Johannesburg and we knew that our hearts yearned for a life in the bush and not in a city. With that in mind we purchased a plot of untouched land in Nelspruit and embarked on an exciting adventure. At the time I needed to stay in Joburg and Gav moved down to Nelspruit to set up and begin the build.

The second thing to happen to begin our new life, was we purchased a 1973 School Bus that was in terrible condition, but we saw the potential in Patsy as she is affectionately known and she became our home for five years. Patsy seems to be a very popular destination that we now rent out as a quirky self-catering space at Kokiville.

Late in 2020 after Covid had started to ease up, I made the move to Nelspruit and Patsy was no longer able to offer the space for a home for two grumpy adults, two dogs and two businesses. Previously we had built a cottage for our workers John and Elias but after John passed away, Elias left to go home and the cottage became a storeroom until I claimed it as home, our little cottage.

When we left JHB we took all our possessions to Nelspruit in a 12m container knowing that we would one day create a living space from the container, in 2022 we launched what we are calling The Boxes of Kokiville.

Throughout our journey, one thing has stood out and that is living creatively. We did not have huge heaps of cash, everything we have done has been on a shoestring and we have found inventive ways of creating a beautiful space that we love to share with our guests.

Self-sufficient living is so important to us. We use the beautiful sun to provide us with electricity, we have grey water ponds that also collect rainwater and add a special ecosystem that houses interesting species of frogs and provide bathing opportunities for the wild birds. We have a borehole and are beginning to grow much of our own food.

We are relieved to have a great team to work with to maintain all the special-ness that we create at Kokiville

I would be remiss if I did not add our beloved animal to ‘about us’, they are so much a part of Kokiville. From our chickens (all named) that lay interesting, coloured eggs, to our goose that we thought was a gander that is now raising ducklings we bought, to our bees that produce delicious sweetness for us, to our Khaki Cambell ducks that lay lots of duck eggs and of course our four doggies, that greet our guests with so much enthusiasm and love.

This is us; this is team Kokiville.