Jackal River Farm

Shocking experience at Jackal River Farm.

Jackal River Farm – A Deeply Disappointing and Disrespectful Experience During the weekend of 6–8 June 2025 we (my immediate family, our dear friends and business partners) celebrated the 60th birthday of my wife. This event was especially meaningful given that my wife - a cancer survivor who was and still is undergoing chemotherapy, rendered us with a very uncertain future. This milestone celebrated her journey to date and marked her recovery and our family’s gratitude. We booked the entire venue, paid for additional services e.g. project & risk mitigation management fee, and were assured by the manager, Dwayne, that everything would be handled professionally. Unfortunately, what we received was a "horror show" weekend filled with mismanagement, mistreatment, and outright disrespect. As a businessman, professional, father, husband and paying client, register this review to ensure that nobody ever gets subjected to the kind of treatment we - as a family, had to endure. All of the below pointers were completely avoidable and should have been handled with the due respect and empathy required... 1. No electricity or backup plan Load-shedding is a known reality in South Africa. Shockingly, this venue had no generator or contingency plan, leaving us without power for large portions of the weekend. Our planned pre and post dinner activities on the Friday, and actual formal dinner had to be cancelled. Nobody from the farm management were onsite or responded to our calls for assistance. In raising this with Dwayne the Saturday morning, he blatantly **** to my face by stating that he mentioned that farm was not equipped with generators. This level of unpreparedness is inexcusable and unsafe. 2. Foul-smelling accommodation ignored On arrival, one of the cottages had a strong, unbearable odour, likely due to a drainage problem or worse. Dwayne admitted he believed something had died in the walls but refused to call a plumber. We were left to endure the entire weekend in a room that was physically extremely difficult to be in. 3. Unacceptable and disrespectful behaviour from management. Dwayne’s attitude was condescending and dismissive, particularly toward me - his client - and spoken to with disdain and total disrespect. It was unprofessional, unnecessary, and deeply offensive - especially as these conversations occurred in full view of my family, friends and business partners. 4. Catered food disappeared—no accountability We spent tens of thousands of rands on catering for the formal dinner on the Saturday as catered by Dre Johnson - and arranged via Dwayne. The plan was to serve leftover food and desserts to guests the next morning. Instead, the food was packed up and removed without our knowledge and/or consent. When we asked for answers, Dre and Dwayne blamed one another, and no resolution was offered. We had to make our own plans to arrange breakfast for our guests - at which point Dwayne already locked the dining hall and most of the cottages. 5. “Waitstaff” lacked uniforms, training, or professionalism We paid extra for waiters and a barman—services promised and arranged by Dwayne. The staff arrived in casual street clothes, looked completely untrained, and had to be fed and paid directly by us. The entire arrangement felt like a last-minute scramble, not a professional service - which we paid for! 6. Canapés went missing—most guests received none Canapés we paid for were briefly served and then quickly removed. The majority of our guests didn’t receive any - even-though over-catered, and again, no one took responsibility. 7. Guests locked out of venue and rooms on final day On our last morning, the venue where we were meant to have breakfast was locked by Dwayne, and one of the cottages ("The Hatchery") was closed off before checkout, as he claimed he was “expecting new guests.” This meant some of our guests were denied access to their accommodation and food, despite full payment. Notwithstanding that my family and I was booked until the Monday; we decided to vacate the premises on the Sunday. Imagine receiving a bill for vacating the premises early? 8. Racial bias was undeniable As a family of colour, the difference in treatment was glaring. There was a clear undercurrent of racial bias in how our concerns were handled—or more accurately, ignored. We were not treated with the dignity or respect we deserved. What should have been a joyous, once-in-a-lifetime celebration turned into a stressful, costly, and humiliating experience. We were let down, disrespected, and essentially ****** of what we paid for. I am sharing this to warn others—especially those planning important events. Do not trust Jackal River Farm with your money, your time, or your memories.