The Ibis Lounge  Verified Listing

Some people are drawn to Nieu Bethesda after reading Athol Fugard’s The Road to Mecca. Others have heard of Helen Martin’s Owl House. It could also simply be the fact that the Karoo allows weary travelers the opportunity to slip back into the ease of a simpler, less hectic life where they can find their soul connection.

Community spirit is strong here, and so alive and vibrant – it’s like being part of a large, tight-knit family, and Nieu Bethesda itself has become a small tourism mecca in its own right – with a big heart.

*The Karoo Room has large doors that open onto a stoep, a double bed, and reed ceilings. It has a separate room just for the bath – completely indulgent – with all sorts of nice bubbles, oils, and more provided. Other facilities include a shower, toilet, electric blankets, a heater, fan, toiletries, and a bathroom heater.

*Our Amore Room is our room of love, decorated all in white, with its double bed featuring a love headboard. The en-suite bathroom has a double shower and freestanding bath. A fan, electric blanket, and more are available.

*The Happy Room has two three-quarter beds and is decorated in bright colors and themes from our travels all over the world. The en suite bathroom has a shower, a fan, an electric blanket, and more.

*Wander the furrow-lined dirt roads; appreciate that particular Karoo light, the mountains, the air, and the rural atmosphere. Even the cold winters (minus 10°C) offer something special, especially when it snows.
*During summer, grow pleasantly drowsy in the heat, drink in those sunsets then behold that night sky with billions of stars. Stay over during high season, when the Nieu Bethesda is buzzing, or plan your visit for those times when it’s quiet, almost deserted.

*The Karoo is known for its open-hearted, welcoming, and generous hospitality. You might arrive as a guest but leave as a friend, and this is something Barbara & Johan has strived for when creating The Ibis Lounge.

*Imagine an evening lit up with candles, lamps, Dean Martin playing softly, Hadeda ibises nesting across the road, and water running in the furrow. Envision the sun sinking and the world suffused with a soft evening light…

Sit in the courtyard and enjoy one of our many unique dishes, incorporating medicinal plants and herbs. If it’s cold and raining, get cozy indoors at the fireplace. Come soak in the Karoo hospitality.

Our guests can cool off in our private swimming pool. A large stoep boasts a fire pit and our walled garden offers privacy.

Stirlings@TheIbis, our onsite restaurant, is open from Fridays to Mondays, from 12:00 pm to 8 pm. Famous for the Karoo Food Experience, please be sure to book in advance. We also incorporate indigenous medicinal herbs and plants that we harvest from the veld into our dishes to enhance your Karoo stay just that little bit more. Our menu changes regularly. We have a fully licensed bar & friendly staff that will make you feel right at home.