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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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Reviews

Kokiville Homestead

4.9

Based on 30 reviews

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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! 🥂

  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
  We had an absolute beautiful time in Patsy. She is PINK 🥹, I was obsessed. The hosts are lovely, the space is private! Absolutely private and so serene. I really... read more

Bontle
April 20, 2025
  If you are looking for something intimate, peaceful and away from the busy life then this is for you

Refiloe
April 9, 2025
  It was a good stay overall

Mendy
March 30, 2025
  This was an amazing experience outside of city life. The accommodation is well equipped with insect repellents to make your stay even that more comfortable. The scenery is beautiful and... read more

Herr Thapelo
February 15, 2025
  Argh man🥹everything was just amazing , out of the ordinary experience i had🤭

Funeka Amanda
February 13, 2025
  The place is amazing if you just want to recoup, it’s in the bushes. The experience was very amazing. Patsy is amazing. My partner and I had an amazing stay.... read more

Nhlanhla
February 7, 2025
  Очень интересное и атмосферное жилье! Даже захотелось сделать себе что-то подобное!
Все было идеально: удобная кровать, кухня со всем необходимым, душ и туалет, приятное место для отдыха в саду. Везде было очень чисто.

Очень приятные и гостеприимные хозяева Janine и Gavin! Всё рассказали, показали и проводили ранним утром!

Очень классная территория, на которой можно погулять, всякие интерактивы и огромный приятный бонус - это сад, в котором можно насладиться вкусностями!

У нас была всего 1 ночь в Kokiville, но душа отдохнула и насладилась! Сильно советуем!
Janine and Gavin, thank you so much!♥️

Люся
January 30, 2025
  We hebben genoten van een fijn en sfeervol verblijf! De service was goed. Het is een fijne plek om even tot rust te komen na een safari of een lange... read more

Hanneke
January 29, 2025
  J'anime et Gavin sont des hôtes très accueillants disponibles, à notre écoute. Ils ont tout fait pour que cela aille bien et répondre à mon besoin lié à mon handicap.

Karinn
January 8, 2025

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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.