Guest House in Prince AlbertKom Sit. Stay a While.

Four quiet rooms in a restored Karoo cottage at the foot of the Swartberg Pass, where the loudest thing at night is the stars.

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The restored yellowwood front door of the cottage standing open, a hand holding the old iron key

Welkom

A Cottage That Learned to Be Quiet

A 1904 cottage on Pastorie Street that Marietjie van der Merwe spent three winters bringing back to life: yellowwood floors, half-metre walls and a stoep deep enough for a whole afternoon.

Four rooms, a garden of fig and pomegranate trees, a small plunge pool and a long breakfast table. Nothing loud, nothing rushed. Just stilte.

Marietjie van der Merwe, Owner

  • 1904Built by hand
  • 4Quiet rooms
  • 3 000Stars on a clear night
Read Our StoryBook Your Stay

Awards and Press

Quietly Recognised

  • Guest House of the YearKaroo Heartland Awards 2025
  • Top HideawayRoute 62 Wanderers’ Guide 2025
  • Stargazing StayDark Sky Hosts Circle 2024
  • Five StarsCountry Cottage Trail 2025
  • Editor’s PickSlow Travel SA 2025
  • Best BreakfastKlein Karoo Table Awards 2024
  • Guest House of the YearKaroo Heartland Awards 2025
  • Top HideawayRoute 62 Wanderers’ Guide 2025
  • Stargazing StayDark Sky Hosts Circle 2024
  • Five StarsCountry Cottage Trail 2025
  • Editor’s PickSlow Travel SA 2025
  • Best BreakfastKlein Karoo Table Awards 2024

Slow Days, Starry Nights

Long breakfasts, lazy afternoons by the pool and a sky full of stars.

Explore Where You Stay

Life at Karoo Stille

Four Rooms

Choose Your Room

Every room is en suite, with breakfast included. Winter rates from May to September.

Guest Book

What Our Guests Say

  • “We came for two nights and stayed four. The Sterrekamer ruined every other hotel for us; we lay awake counting shooting stars.”

    Thandeka and Sipho M.Johannesburg, stayed March 2025

  • “Marietjie’s breakfast is worth the drive on its own. Apricot jam from the tree outside, olives from down the road, coffee on the stoep. Pure rust.”

    Annelize du ToitStellenbosch, stayed June 2025

  • “The massage on the stoep with the Swartberg going pink behind it is the most relaxed I have been in years. Book the Stoep Suite.”

    James and Priya WalkerCape Town, stayed October 2025

  • “Quiet in the best way. Thick walls, cool rooms in a January heatwave and a plunge pool we had to ourselves every afternoon.”

    Riaan BothaPretoria, stayed January 2026

  • “We drove the Swartberg Pass with Marietjie’s picnic basket and came home to a fire and a glass of wine. We are already booked for next winter.”

    Lindiwe and Mark OkaforDurban, stayed July 2025

Make It Yours

Add a Little Extra

Add any of these when you book, and we arrange the rest.

  • In-House Massage

    Sixty minutes on the shaded stoep with a therapist from the village.

    R650 per person

  • Karoo Lamb Supper

    Three courses at the long table, one evening of your stay.

    R395 per person

  • Guided Stargazing

    Ninety minutes with a telescope and a local astronomer in the garden.

    R280 per person

  • Swartberg Pass Picnic

    A packed basket for two for the drive over the pass.

    R450 per basket

Book With Extras

Stay Connected

Letters From the Karoo

A short note each season: what is flowering, winter specials and full moon dates. Never more than four a year.

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