Old Joe's Kaia

Old Joe’s Kaia is an absolute gem—Marian and Paul set the tone from the moment you arrive with warm, attentive hospitality, making you feel immediately at home. The venue itself is beautifully appointed, blending cozy charm with uplifting energy, and each dish surpasses expectations with inventive flavors and impeccable presentation. It’s not just a meal or a stay—it’s a soul-reviving experience that leaves you refreshed, inspired, and already planning your next visit.

I booked a room for a night with dinner and breakfast included as a first stop on route to the Kruger Park after hearing from friends how amazing this place was back in the early 2000's. Being a former Vegan for 5 years I was honestly interested in the caliber of food on offer and arrived with an open mind. To be honest the place is in a terribly "run down state" where their much advertised Labyrinth is unmaintained. Gardens are in an overgrown unmaintained state. Rooms are clean but our bedroom veranda door could not lock due to the wooden door frame being swollen from years of neglect. Some verandas and balustrades have totally collapsed outside some rooms. Fire fighting equipment has not been serviced since 2021 which is a concern. Not going to lie but spent most of the night awake worrying about security as a result of our veranda door not locking and considering there is no security onsite with little to no perimeter fence, being positioned next to a national highway in South Africa this was a definite concern. OK fine 2020 was tough on us all and obviously business was not that great but the food would be awesome right? Wrong and what we were served for dinner was average at best and I can honestly say I have tasted better from my Wife's kitchen on a slow Tuesday when we were still Vegan. Thanks to the fireplace, a small library and a bottle of fairly priced red wine not all was lost. The owners truly need to "get outside" a little more and take a look around. To me it looks like they are totally focused on the catering side of the business and have given up on what they were meant to build on when they took over. Thanks for the hospitality and decent conversation but we will not be returning.