I Spent a Weekend in a School Bus in the Karoo: A Review of Barrydale's Karoo Stone Rustic Farm

If you've ever looked at a bright yellow American school bus and thought, "I'd happily spend the weekend in that," then welcome. We clearly think alike.

Karoo Stone Rustic Farm is a remote farm near Barrydale that is home to some of the quirkiest accommodation in the Western Cape. It is located around 3 hours and 45 minutes from Cape Town (and about 50 km from Barrydale), and is a farm stay with a difference. 

Apart from the yellow school bus, the other options include a luxury tent, a retro caravan or a farmhouse, all spread out so you still feel like you’re alone in nature in the middle of the Karoo. There are also wood-fired hot tubs, an animal sanctuary, wildlife, star-filled skies and enough peace and quiet to hear yourself overthink. 

Unusual Accommodation in the Western Cape: Karoo Stone Rustic Farm’s Yellow School Bus

While my faithful adventure buddy, Bron and I never made it to school, we learnt all about unconventional Karoo stays that weekend. 

The converted yellow school bus we stayed in features a double bed (under a skylight so you can see the stars) and two seating areas that double as single beds. There is also a breakfast nook and a small kitchenette with a fridge and a gas stove where you can cook or just make copious amounts of tea. There is a bathroom inside the bus with a toilet, shower and sink. There is also loads of storage space if you’re bad at packing light (#guilty).  

The private entertainment area outside features two deck chairs, a swinging chair and a table with chairs. It is also home to a wood-fired hot tub, a cold tub, an outdoor shower and braai facilities. What more could you ask for?

How Did a Big Yellow American School Bus End Up in the Middle of the Karoo?

It turns out the owner of the farm found it in a scrapyard in Cape Town and spent three months trying to convince the owner to sell it to him. How they transported it to Barrydale and over 7km of dirt roads on the farm to its current location is a mystery! (Probably aliens like the pyramids!)

I guessed that the bus was part of the set for one of the many international productions that are shot here in Cape Town, and after asking the owner, it turns out I was right. I would love to know which series or movies it has been featured in and which celebrities may have been inside it.   

Barrydale Accommodation: Other Unique Places to Stay at Karoo Stone Rustic Farm

There are a number of accommodation options on the farm, and they are all different. There’s a farmhouse that can accommodate up to eight people. There’s a rustic caravan near the river; it’s more simplistic but still retro (and therefore cool), and it sleeps up to 4 people. And finally, there’s a luxury river tent for up to 2 people. 

They all have Wi-Fi and smart TVs, but seriously, who wants to watch TV in a place like this?

The Karoo Stone Sanctuary 

The farm is home to an animal sanctuary, and guests are welcome to go see the animals. In the few short minutes that we spent with them, we really got a sense of their personalities. 

Some of the animals that stick in my mind include Cinderella, the gender fluid Alpaca. He was named before they realised he was a boy. Now they call him 'Brownie' instead, but I think he still looks like a Cinderella. 

The cows were also very cute. They seemed to be trying to pose for the camera.

We also met Dennis, who’s less a GOAT and more a WOAT (worst of all time). Okay, technically, he is a ram. They have to keep him away from some of the smaller animals because he’s a bit of a bully, but what a personality! 

They also have camels, wild donkeys, chickens, and sheep with weird butts. (Please don’t cancel me for body shaming the sheep.)

Why We Loved Staying at Karoo Stone Rustic Farm

• It’s dog-friendly. Not that I have a dog but it’s nice to know that you can bring your dog if you do have one. 

• There’s Wi-Fi. Yes, there’s nothing like escaping into the Karoo and completely unplugging, but with WiFi, so you can tell people not to contact you but still do fun stuff on your phone like trying to find the right Spotify playlist for a stay in a school bus in the Karoo. 

• Breakfast is somewhat included. If you ask nicely, the staff will bring you eggs for breakfast on a quadbike - like Karoo Uber Eats! (“Karoober Eats”?) Yes, fresh from the on-site farmyard. I ate two of the biggest eggs I have ever seen. They don’t make cartons this big! The staff said it took the chicken an hour to lay it. Judging from the size, I reckon that hen needed a nap when she was done. Wow!

• You can order dinner.  Yes, there are braai facilities and a gas-powered stove but why cook if you have the option of ordering dinner from Naz, a lady who works on the farm? And you do. We had butter chicken wraps. They were very affordable (I won’t tell you how much they cost because I told her to up her prices). The portions were big and they were so delicious. 

• There are hiking trails and wildlife (and no, I’m not talking about Dennis). We saw some of the buck on our way out. There are also oryx, gemsbok, birds of prey, tortoises, baboons and foxes. I think I actually heard a fox on the first night. Despite listening to the Ylvis song many times, I actually didn’t know what sound they made before this trip.

• Everything is off-grid and the electricity is powered by solar. This means if you want a warm shower, you have to shower between 8am and 3pm but it’s worth it for the eco-karma points. Make Captain Planet proud!  

• This place is fire. Your stay comes with firewood and you can buy more if you run out. You can use this to fire the hot tub or the braai or, if you're smart like us (and you don't trust your braai skills to cook meat without giving yourself food poisoning), you can braai marshmallows on the same fire that fires your hot tub. Talk about win-win! We did it properly and brought chocolate, skewers and tennis biscuits in addition to the marshmallows - stroke of genius - follow me for more tips!

• The stargazing! The remoteness of the farm and the arid nature of the Karoo make it a prime place for stargazing.  We turned out the lights and saw the Milky Way …from the hot tub. Gosh, I do the most accidentally romantic things with my friends!

• The quiet. We didn’t listen to the “School bus B&B in the Karoo" Spotify playlist the whole time (mostly because it doesn’t exist), sometimes we just enjoyed the peace and quiet. 

Know Before You Go:

Follow the directions they give you. The address on Google Maps is wrong. They will send you this link to the actual location of Karoo Stone Rustic Farm and directions. I had been using Google Maps on our road trip, just adding the next location whenever we left the last. I completely forgot that they sent me a very specific pin. 

Also, if you're coming from Cape Town, there is no signal at all after Ronnie's Sex Shop or even at Ronnie’s sex shop. The last place you will find a signal is between Barrydale and Ronnie’s Sex Shop. But hey, getting lost and potentially trespassing on private property (who me? Never!) is all part of the adventure. 

 

I wish I had brought board games. I think that’s what people do when they unplug and relax, and that probably would have made it even more fun. 

The farm is quite far away (7km) from the entrance on the R62, on hilly, rocky dirt roads. The remoteness is all part of the experience but my little Suzuki Swift had to channel her inner Jimny - If you have options, take a 4x4. 

I felt like a frikkin genius for bringing marshmallows and sosatie sticks. Be smart, be like me. 

Find out more or book your Karoo school bus stay here

Suggested Road Trip Itinerary: Cape Town to Karoo Stone Rustic Farm

• Leave Cape Town.
• Stop at Dassiesfontein for lunch/snacks or to browse an extensive collection of antiques, gifts, and enamel-coated kitchenware under all the light fittings. All of them. 
• Go to Swellendam to see the fairies.
• Drive through the Tradouw Pass, stare at it in wonder, and try to keep your eyes on the road. 
• Drive through Barrydale.  
• Stop at Ronnie’s Sex Shop: It’s an iconic roadside attraction. 
• Spend at least two nights at the Karoo Stone Rustic Farm.
• Stop for tea in Barrydale and explore its quirky shops, restaurants and the Karoo Art Hotel.
• Have lunch in Montagu - Most things are closed on a Sunday but the Montagu Country Hotel (part of Cape Country Routes along with the Karoo Art Hotel) was open.
• Have a late afternoon stroll in Bosjes near Worcester (I know people get excited about the beautiful wedding venues on the property, but did you know that there’s an adult-sized play area?)
• Have dinner in Stellenbosch - Choose one of the restaurants in town. By dinner time, most of the wine farm restaurants are closed. 

Cape Town to Barrydale Road Trip Map: