Important information for Saamrus guests

Welcome to Saamrus! We are delighted that you’ve chosen our farm for your upcoming break.

Please read this guide carefully before your arrival to ensure a pleasant stay.

💳 PAYMENT & SECURITY

• Confirmation: A 50% deposit (or 100% if booking within 7 days of arrival) is required within 12 hours of booking to secure your dates.
• Final Balance: Payable at least 3 days before arrival via EFT or credit card.
• No Cash Policy: For security reasons, we do not accept cash payments for accommodation at Reception. If you have an outstanding balance upon arrival, please settle it via EFT or card immediately at check-in.

🛑 CANCELLATION POLICY

• No Refunds: No refunds will be given after a firm booking has been made and a deposit has been paid.
• Moving Your Dates: If you cancel more than 5 days before arrival, you may move your booking to alternative dates (excluding high season) within 2 months of the original date. A 10% admin fee applies.
• Late Cancellations: For cancellations made less than 5 days before arrival, the full amount paid is forfeited. You may, however, send a friend or family member in your place for the booked dates.
• Premature Departures: No refunds are given for early departures due to personal decisions or circumstances beyond our control.
• Weather Exception: In the event of flooding where the access bridge is impassable, we will move your booking to a new date at no extra admin cost.

🔑 ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE

• Check-in: 14:00 – 20:00.
• Check-out: By 10:00 unless otherwise arranged.
• 🛑 Staff Lunch Hour: There is strictly no check-in between 13:00 and 14:00. Our staff are on lunch and unavailable to assist. If you arrive early, please park at Reception and enjoy a walk.
• At Reception: As we do not have somebody on duty full-time at reception, please ring the brass bell at the door for assistance. There is also a staff phone number at the door in case they are too far to hear the bell.

🚗 THE ROAD & COTTAGE ACCESS

• The Farm Road: The final 1.5km is a narrow farm road. It is drivable by all cars, but if your vehicle is low, please go slowly to avoid scraping the bottom.
• Hilltop Cottages: (Piet-my-vrou, Kiepersol, Suikerbos, Akasia, Karee, and Olienhout) These are located on a steep hill and are only reachable 4×4 or on foot.
• Standard Cars: If you are staying in a hilltop cottage with a standard car, please park in the shaded net parking area at the foot of the hill. It is a 60m–400m walk uphill. We have staff available to help carry luggage for a suggested tip of R20 per person.
• Valley Cottages: (Tarentaal, Kiewiet, and Hoephoep) These are at the foot of the hill and easily accessible by car.

🐾 PET POLICY

• Saamrus is a paradise for dogs, but for the safety of all guests and our resident animals, we strictly enforce these rules:
  1. The Ridgeback Safety Rule: Our resident Ridgebacks are taken on twice-daily walks on the grass paths downhill, before 06:15 (Summer) / 07:15 (Winter) and after dark. They are territorial. For your safety, do not walk your pets during these times.
  2. Leashes: Dogs must be on a leash at Reception, the parking areas, and near the farmhouse. They may run free on the mountain and river trails once you are away from the main buildings.
  3. No Unattended Pets: Dogs may never be left alone in the cottages. If you leave the property for an excursion, your pets must go with you.
  4. Cottage Etiquette: Keep your dogs inside your fenced cottage yard with the gate closed. Please bring covers/sheets for furniture and beds.
  5. Health: Ensure rabies shots and tick/flea treatments are up to date. During the rainy season, the veld has many ticks; please brush your dogs after walks.

🏡 COTTAGE ETIQUETTE & FACILITIES

• Peace & Quiet: No loud music or excessive noise is permitted. Please respect the tranquillity of the valley.
• Power & Load-shedding: We do not have a generator. All cottages have gas stoves, and we provide rechargeable lights. Magaliesburg experiences frequent power failures; we appreciate your patience as we work toward alternative power solutions.
• Smoking: Strictly no smoking inside the cottages. Please use the ashtrays provided outdoors.
• Servicing: Cottages are not automatically serviced. Cleaning can be requested for an extra charge payable directly in cash to the staff (prices displayed in each cottage).

🎒 WHAT TO BRING

• Essentials: All food and drinks, swimming towels, walking shoes, sun hats, and mosquito repellent.
• Pet Gear: Leads, beds, bowls, furniture covers, and tick spray.
• The Braai: Charcoal and firelighters. (We sell wood at Reception for R30 per bag).
• Cash: Please bring some cash for firewood, porter tips, and extra servicing – this goes directly to our hard-working staff.

A few essentials are available for sale at our Reception Shop in case you forgot to pack something.

📜 INDEMNITY & WAIVER OF LIABILITY

By confirming this booking and/or entering the premises of Saamrus Guest Farm, the Guest(s) acknowledge and agree to the following:

1. General Risk: Guests and their visitors enter Saamrus Guest Farm and participate in all activities (including hiking, swimming, and mountain trails) entirely at their own risk.
2. Assumption of Liability: The Guest hereby indemnifies and holds Saamrus Guest Farm, its owners, employees, and agents (“the Indemnified Parties”) harmless against any claim, loss, injury, death, or damage to person or property (including pets and vehicles), arising from any cause whatsoever, including but not limited to:
   • The use of the narrow farm access road and steep hilltop terrain.
   • Incidents involving resident animals (Ridgebacks), local wildlife, or interactions between guests’ own pets and other guest pets.
   • The use of gas appliances, fireplaces, or the lack of electrical power.
   • Any loss or damage to vehicles parked at the Reception or Hilltop parking areas.
3. Third Parties: This indemnity extends to any minors, pets, or visitors accompanying the Guest.
4. Force Majeure: Saamrus Guest Farm shall not be held liable for interruptions in services (power, water, or road access) caused by weather, municipal failures, or “Acts of God” beyond our reasonable control.

The payment of a deposit constitutes a binding acceptance of these Terms and the Indemnity above.