You are now on a working farm surrounded by mountains. It is not uncommon to encounter snakes or monkeys.

In case of emergency, view our list of emergency contacts.

Monkey precautions

Please familiarise yourself with the below precautions to prevent monkeys from accessing the tents.

1. Do not feed the monkeys. Feeding the monkeys encourages them to return to the camp and the tents.
2. Do not leave any food, packaging, or bags outside as this will attract the monkeys.
3. Please place food in the cupboards before leaving your tent.
4. Close sliding doors and bathroom windows when leaving your tent.

Be vigilant at all times. The monkeys will make use of every opportunity to snatch food from your tent or deck.

If you have any questions or concerns, or if monkeys managed to access your tent, please contact your host.

Snake precautions

Immediately seek medical advice if you are bitten by a snake. Not all snake bites are venomous, but a venomous bite can be fatal.

DO NOT provoke a snake. Snakes are shy and will not approach you unless provoked, but they can harm you if they feel threatened.

If you encounter a snake inside the tent, make sure all guests leave the tent immediately. If possible, close the tent panels and contact your host immediately. A snake handler will be contacted to safely remove the snake.

Bee stings

Each tent has a first aid kit that includes Anthisan cream which can help ease bee stings.

If you are allergic to bees or experience any of the following symptoms, visit the nearest hospital immediately.

• Feeling of uneasiness, tingling sensations, and dizziness
• Generalised itching
• Swelling of the lips and tongue
• Wheezing and difficulty breathing
• Collapse and loss of consciousness

Monkeys

Please note that monkeys do occasionally visit our camp. Please make sure you store all food inside the cupboards and out of sight.

Balgowan on the Midlands Meander is a malaria-free area. However, if you are travelling via Mpumalanga and Swaziland or to the Northern coastal areas of KwaZulu-Natal, before or after your visit to AfriCamps at Gowan Valley, you may pass through higher risk areas. We advise you to consult your doctor for the latest high-risk areas and medication advice.

In order to mitigate the effects of load shedding/power outages on our guests, we’ve installed battery power backups in each tent at AfriCamps at Gowan Valley for your convenience. These backups ensure uninterrupted lighting and warm water during load shedding/power outages periods. Please note that wall plugs won’t be operational during power outages. The gas stove can be lit with a match or lighter.

We advise using the EskomSePush App for the latest load shedding schedule. This can be downloaded from the App Store.

AfriCamps at Gowan Valley is located in the Lidgetton A district. Search for Lidgetton_A (5), Eskom Direct, uMngeni, KwaZulu-Natal to stay up to date with scheduled outages.

There are two gas cylinders behind your tent. Should your gas run out, turn the little green switch from the current (empty) cylinder across to the other gas cylinder. Open the top “tap” of the gas cylinder for flow.

If you need any further assistance, please contact your host.

Please make use of our recycling bin outside for recyclable items. Other trash will be collected daily. We ask that you do not litter or leave items on the farm.

Kindly note that all AfriCamps' toilets work with a septic tank system and therefore, cannot handle anything other than natural waste. Please dispose of sanitary products, nappies, wet wipes and earbuds in the bins provided in each bathroom. Thank you for your cooperation in this regard.

If you notice any strong odours coming from the septic system, please call the manager.

Tap water is purified for your safe drinking pleasure.

In the unlikely event that there is no water supply in your tent it is possible that a pipe has burst, or a pipe/water filter is blocked. Please let us know immediately if this is the case, so we can rectify the problem in the shortest time possible. The same applies to power failures.

Kindly drive slowly through the camp. The speed limit is 20 km/h. Watch out for grazing cows, horses, hikers, and children.

According to South African regulations, drones may not be flown within 50 metres of people or private property without permission from the property owner. Prior arrangement needs to be made with the camp owners, subject to approval.

No music or excessive noise is allowed at any of our camps unless you have booked the entire property to host a function. Please consider your fellow guests and quiet down completely at 22h00. The enjoyment of nature and tranquility is our first priority. Please notify us if fellow guests are not adhering to our no-noise policy.

Only make fires in the designated areas and practice extreme caution. Please ensure that braai fires are put out before leaving the area. Please do not throw cigarettes and matches on the ground – apart from littering, this can start a raging fire in the heat of summer. No fireworks or flares are allowed. Management/Owners of Gowan Valley reserve the right to inform you if conditions are not suitable for lighting hot tubs and braais.

Children must be supervised by adults on our property. The farm has a river running through it which can flow strongly during summer. River crossings can be dangerous. Gowan Valley is a working farm. Please stay clear of farm equipment.

The farm has a river running through it where guests can swim at their own risk. Please take care when near the river, especially with small children. The volume of water fluctuates, as the river is controlled by pumps and cannot be predicted.

If you would like to request an additional daily cleaning service during your stay, please visit the Extra Services Offered page.

Please remember that all AfriCamps units and locations are self-catering. That means we expect a few things from guests before check-out.

Before you leave:

• Kindly make sure you have washed all the dishes that you used.
• Please place your rubbish in the bin provided.
• If you had to move our furniture around, please make sure all furniture is back where you found it.
• If you used more than one tent, kindly make sure your cutlery and crockery are recovered from other tents.
• No need to make beds upon departure,
• Please make sure that you did not accidentally pack any of the tent's contents like towels or kitchenware.
• Please report any accidents or damages to our team.