This is a collection of those questions we hear our guests ask the most frequently. If you have any others that are not answered elsewhere on the site, feel free to contact us, and we’ll help.
Before you book
Unfortunately not. Due to the presence of wild animals and challenging terrain. Feel free to contact us if you have a special request.
No, you don’t, but the road up the mountain is rough, and we recommend driving up with a 4×4 or high-clearance SUV. If you drive slowly and carefully, you can reach the house with a Tiguan, Audi Q3 or BMW X1, or similar vehicle. Do not attempt to drive up in a sedan vehicle. We would, however, recommend you use the shuttle service instead.
After you’ve booked
No, there’s plenty of wood for the braai, hot tub, and fireplaces. We recommend you bring a bag of charcoal to support your braai since some batches of wood yield weak coals.
There are a few hiking options ranging from an informal meander on the jeep tracks around the estate, to longer hikes in the Cape Nature Reserves around Mount Bain.
The shuttle is managed by Suzanne, my co-host and the owner of Calabash Bush Pub. Let her know a few days before that you’ll need a shuttle amd WhatsApp her at +27 (0)84 508 4829 with your ETA on the day.
You can leave your car at calabash ehre eit will be safe.
No, The Unbound is 100% off-grid, and an oven is a high-consumption appliance that can quickly drain the battery system. There’s a gas stove, air fryer, and microwave.
Yes, the kitchen is fully equipped with olive oil, vinegar, and a collection of more than 15 spices.
No. There are three ways to make coffee at The Unbound: plunger, Moka pot (Bialetti) and a Nespresso machine. We provide coffee for all of these. The first 10 Nespresso pods are on us. Bring more if you drink coffee like we do!
While you’re there
Yes, there’s an information panel on the side of the kitchen cupboard. Press the button, wait for it to refresh and you’ll be able to see the state of charge and other useful datapoints to help you manage your power consumption.
The Unbound has a rather beefy solar system, but you still need to be smart with power consumption, as with any off-grid house. If the solar batteries drop below 40%, switch off all high-consumption appliances. The air conditioners use by far the most power and should only be used on very hot days between 10 am and 3 pm when there is direct sunlight on the solar panels. Refrain from using anything that “heats” – dishwasher, hairdryer, etc.
The batteries will recharge once the panels are exposed to sunlight again.
The most dangerous animals on the reserve are snakes; please be mindful when walking around in the mountains to avoid stepping on any. There is an emergency number specifically for snake-bite on the information panel on the side of the kitchen cupboard.
The baboons in the mountains may come down and pass the house. They are not inherently aggressive but we do ask that you not approach them. IMPORTANT: Please lock up properly when you leave the house to hike or explore, and close all windows and doors, as they can cause damage.