The Smuts House Museum

Dog Walks

Dog Walks

The walking trail we offer is highly sought after by dog walkers who visit us on a daily basis. Additionally, on weekends, we accommodate several Animal Shelters who organise fund-raising events aimed at supporting homeless and sickly animals.

Costs:

R10 per dog – payable at the Museum reception desk.

R10/vehicle parking fee (over weekends and public holidays only), payable at the entrance gate

Group Tours / Museum Tours

We consistently receive requests for official tours of our house museum.

To cater to the diverse interests of our visitors, we offer tailored tour categories including:

“Traditional & Lifestyle,”
“Historical & Political,”
“Nature and Geographical,” and
“The Family Smuts.”

To arrange a tour and make a payment, kindly contact our Liaison Officer at in**@sm********.za or call 079 393 3282.

Costs:

R350 – R500 / tour with a group of 15 -18. Tour Guides are selected according to the category desired and need to be booked in advance

R10.00 / vehicle parking fee over weekeds and Public Holidays, payable at the entrance gate.

School & Educational Tours

Institutions wishing to book these tours will have a holistic programme prepared and also tailor-made as requested.

Kindly contact our Liaison officer at in**@sm********.za or phone 079 393 3282 for booking arrangements and payment.

Costs:

R30.00 / student and R50.00 / mentor & teachers.

Large groups can negotiate a package deal.

R10.00 / vehicle parking fee over weekends and Public Holidays, payable at the entrance gate.

Place of Quiet

Indulge in tranquility and solitude at Doornkloof

Revel in the serenity of Doornkloof by spending time in the Place of Quiet, constructed in honour of Guy Braithwaite, an ex-serviceman who prevented the Big House from being converted into a sanatorium and established what is presently known as the General Smuts Foundation.

The Place of Quiet doubles up as a wedding chapel, and we welcome bookings. Kindly get in touch with us to make arrangements.

The Oubaas Trail

Introducing the Oubaas Trail – A picturesque 2.3km walk by the General Smuts Foundation

Take a stroll along the Oubaas Trail, a path that meanders through one of Gauteng’s last unspoiled dolomitic grasslands, designed and laid out by the Friends of the General Smuts Foundation. The trail culminates at the top of Smuts Koppie, where an obelisk commemorating the Smuts family can be found.

Families, nature enthusiasts, hikers, and botanists can marvel at the diverse array of plant life present on Smuts Koppie while catching glimpses of the numerous small animals, including hares and antelopes, that inhabit the area. The critically endangered fruit chafer beetle, Ichnestoma stobbiai, makes its home on Smuts Koppie, with the female being flightless and the males only active for a brief period following the spring rains.

Don’t miss the chance to observe the splendid coppery-colored exterior of this beetle, measuring around 1cm in length, during the mating season.

Picnics at Smuts House

The presence of serene, shaded spots and trees teeming with birds makes this venue a favourite amongst picnic enthusiasts.

Costs:

R15 per person – payable at the Museum reception desk. R10/vehicle parking fee (over weekends and public holidays only), payable at the entrance gate.

PRE-ORDERED PICNIC BASKETS.

Ouma Isies Tea Garden now offers pre-ordered and packaged picnic baskets, complete with a sturdy mat for hassle-free outdoor dining.

Basic ingredients include wine, finger snacks, fruit, cheeses, dips, and biscuits for R650.00 per couple. Vegetarian options are available upon request, and orders can be collected upon arrival. Contact Thinus to place your order.

Alternatively, visitors can pay R15.00 per person at the Museum reception to bring their own picnic basket. A fee of R10.00 per vehicle is required at the entrance gate on weekends and public holidays.

Open fires are prohibited, but gas braais are welcome, and alcohol beverages are discouraged.

Ouma Isies Tea Garden offers a full-service bar and facilities for refreshments.

Photo Shoots

Stunning wooded areas and the unqiue location makes this is the venue of choice for family, engagements and pre-wedding and Matric Farewells photo memories.

Kindly contact our Liaison officer at in**@sm********.za or phone 079 393 3282 for booking arrangements and payment.

Costs:

R350.00 per domestic shoot during open hours and additional R150.00 after hours.

R350.00 per commercial shoot per hour.

R10.00 / vehicle parking fee over weekends and Public Holidays, payable at the entrance gate.

Venue Bookings

Stunning wooded areas and the unqiue location makes this is the venue of choice for family, engagements and pre-wedding and Matric Farewells photo memories.

Kindly contact our Liaison officer at in**@sm********.za or phone 079 393 3282 for booking arrangements and payment.

Costs:

R350.00 per domestic shoot during open hours and additional R150.00 after hours.

R350.00 per commercial shoot per hour.

R10.00 / vehicle parking fee over weekends and Public Holidays, payable at the entrance gate.