General Info

McBains is situated at the summit of the Bainskloof Pass, offering venue hire and accommodation for up to 40 people in an eclectic variety of rooms, cabins, and spaces. Fronting the Klein Sneeuberg Mountain and Witte River, McBains is blessed with stunning views and easy access to an abundance of river pools and mountain walks. We are at the top of a mountain and you need to drive up a scary (for some), winding mountain pass to get here. We have no cellphone reception, but you can get intermittent access from the road. We are a little bit rough around the edges – just how we like it.

General Info
McBains is situated at the summit of the historic Bainskloof Pass, forming part of the village known as Eerste Tol. We offer venue hire and accommodation for up to 40 people in an eclectic variety of rooms, cabins, and spaces. We also provide meals by prior arrangement when confirming your booking.
Fronting Deviation Buttress and the Witte River, McBains is surrounded on three sides by the Limietberg Nature Reserve. As such we are blessed with stunning views and easy access to an abundance of river pools and mountain walks.
We are a family-run business that places an emphasis on healthy outdoor fun and then enjoying a good night's rest. We are a little bit rough around the edges – just how we like it.
We have limited cellphone reception from across the road. We have WiFi capability in the main house but strongly encourage our guests to take a break from their phones during their stay with us.

Our priority is providing a space for you to unwind - without us tending to your every need. We have a wide range of books available for you to read while you are here. We encourage you to take some time off from your phone.

The real catharsis in coming to McBains is to be found in surviving the drive up the windy pass, jumping into the healing waters of the Witte River, grabbing a book and having a read and a snooze in bed, and catching the sunset.
McBains is best enjoyed with a few mates: round up a crew of friends or family and book out a few rooms.



If you come with good vibes, you’ll have a good time. We make no apologies for the weather. Bring your own head torch - the paths are dark at night so that we can see the stars! We supply a towel on request, a duvet, pillow and a blanket as bedding. If you’re staying with us you’ll have your own clean bed in an awesome room. There’s a shared kitchen, outdoor lounge and deck area with fabulous views of the mountain and easy access to the river below.

If you come with good vibes, you’ll have a good time. We make no apologies for the weather. Bring your own head torch - the paths are dark at night so that we can see the stars! We supply a towel, a duvet, pillow and blanket as bedding. If you’re staying with us you’ll have your own clean bed in an awesome room. There’s a shared kitchen, outdoor lounge and deck area with fabulous views of the mountain and easy access to the river below.

When it’s time to pack, think: I’m going camping but I’m going to get to sleep in a comfy bed and there is a kitchen there with the basics and modest facilities to keep me clean. Please pack lightly and please assist us with waste management by taking home with you whatever recycling and refuse you are capable of.





We usually light the hot tub at around 4pm and this is a great way to rinse off the day and soak away your worries. Wood for the hot tub as well as wood for braais can be bought from us for R50 per crate if you don't manage to bring your own wood up the pass with you. We offer a variety of board and card games which you are welcome to play in the upstairs studio - or in other communal spaces. Please note that in these difficult times, where maintaining mental and emotional health is paramount, the use of portable speakers to play music and drunken behaviour in any form and at any time of the day is strictly prohibited. Anything more than a quiet drink in the evening is strictly forbidden. We furthermore insist that you take away all bottles with you in order to get your deposit back.

The nearest shops are in Wellington at the bottom of the pass, 15 minutes away. The SPAR on Main Road is probably the best spot to get any last minute supplies. We have a full-time manager (Blessed) on site 24/7 to assist you during your stay.



We are fully self-catering have two communal self-catering kitchens with plenty of fridge space. Please consider when packing at home to remove all unnecessary packaging and bring your food up in a well considered cooler box. We have plenty of braai options as well.

Drinks. Please feel welcome to bring your own and consider taking some of your recycling home with you as well. We can upcycle your glass beer bottles for our kombucha, which is our house blend of buchu and ginger, tastes divine, and is for sale for R25 a bottle. It's great on its own and as a mixer.



Nature Therapy Thursdays
Ma'ayan is a qualified TRE facilitator and Justin a qualified addiction counselor. And we both love sharing the providence of this beautiful area. Which make us the perfect couple for you and your friends to connect with and show you around for a full day of fun. BY PRIOR ARRANGEMENT ONLY.

Healthy meal
Included in your stay when you book for Nature Therapy Thursday is a healthy dinner, usually vegetarian and always delicious.
Awesome adventure
Our Nature Therapy Thursdays involve hikes where a basic level of fitness is required – we usually assess the group’s combined fitness and see how the day is looking, and decide where to go from there… you’re welcome to let us know in advance as to any specific requests you may have (i.e. trail versus rockhopping).
Cabins

Franklin Cabin
Upcycled Toolshed / Sleeps a family of 4. Double and 2 singles / Own deck / Near to braai area / rad family vibes

Jonathan Cabin
Sleeps 5. Double, Bunk Bed, 1 single / Nearby access to trance party loo and basin / epic vibes all round

Sylvia Cabin
Sleeps 2 (Double Bed) / Remote access to loo and basin / romantic vibes

Jack Cabin
Upcycled Pigeon Shed / Sleeps 2 (single beds) / Writer’s escape vibes
Rooms

Wilbur
Sleeps 2 (Double Bed) / Self-Catering Kitchen and en-suite shower and loo / Couple hibernating and/or on-a-mission vibes

Enid
Kids Bunk Room / Sleeps 13 / Shower and loo next door / kids and team vibes

Hunter Room
Sleeps 2 (Double Bed) / adjacent to Enid (kids) and next door to kitchen / Sunny & simple vibes opening to outdoor courtyard

K Sello Room
Sleeps 1 (3/4 Bed) / next door to Herman / Close to parking with one private door to the infinite mountains / Explorer vibes

Herman Room
Sleeps 2 (small double bed) / Ensuite bath and loo / Opens to pizza courtyard / History vibes

JK Room
Sleeps 6 (double bed, 2 singles, bunk bed, 2 futons) / next to downstairs kitchen and toilets / Super fun for kids or group bookings / Cool in summer
Accommodation
Cabins

Franklin
Upcycled Toolshed / Sleeps a family of 4. Double and 2 singles / Own deck / Near to braai area / rad family vibes












Jonathan
Sleeps 5. Double, Bunk Bed, 1 single / Nearby access to outdoor bath, toilet and basin / epic vibes all round




















Sylvia
Sleeps 2 (Double Bed) / nearby access to 2 single outdoor baths and basin / romantic vibes / killer views





















Jack
Upcycled Pigeon Shed / Sleeps 2 (single beds) / Writer’s escape vibes

















Rooms

Enid
Sleeps up to 11 in Bunk Beds /
Shower and loo next door / Shares a sunny garden with Hunter / Backs onto the pizza courtyard it shares with Herman and K Sello / Great for kids with parents sleeping within earshot and for groups and families / Named after Enid Blyton /





Hunter
Sleeps up to 2 / Double Bed / Shares a sunny courtyard with Enid / Next door to shared kitchen / Named after Hunter S Thompson









Bob
Sleeps up to 2 / 1 big double bed / Close to amenities / Opens onto kitchen/ Views from your bed of Klein Wellington Sneeukop / Named after Bob Dylan




Herman
Sleeps up to 2 / Small double bed / En-suite bath and loo / Opens onto pizza courtyard / Next door to K Sello / Named after Herman Charles Bosman and Hermann Hesse








K Sello
Sleeps 1, or 2 snugglers / Three-quarter bed /
En-suite shower and loo / Opens onto pizza
courtyard / Next door to Herman /
Easy access to car / Named after K Sello Duiker







Wilbur Room
Sleeps 2 / Queen-sized bed /
En-suite shower and loo / Opens onto lawn
courtyard / Next door to Hunter and close to Enid /
Reclusive vibes / Named after Wilbur Smith





McBains Instagram
Follow us: @mcbains3000
Contact
Contact Us
All our booking enquiries are handled via e-mail if you don’t manage to use our booking platform successfully or have some additional queries you’d like to make prior to booking.
If you know someone who has been to McBains before, please mention their name and/or how you heard about us.
E-mail us on: info@mcbains.co.za