About Us
A painted rock, a deep love for this valley, and seventy years of welcoming strangers.
The Story of Old Joe
In 1927, a road crew cutting through the Schoemanskloof excavated a peculiar rock — round, with a natural protrusion that made it look like a man with a belly. The workers named it after their supervisor, Joe Barbas, and left it standing by the road.
Over the decades, Old Joe became a local landmark. Visitors and locals painted him to celebrate milestones — birthdays, anniversaries, proposals, farewells. He's been painted more times than anyone can count, and each coat tells someone's story. He remains the property's mascot, greeter, and most patient host.
The name "Kaia" comes from various African languages, meaning haven and home. Together, Old Joe's Kaia is exactly that — a haven named after a painted rock, which is about as honest as a name gets.
From soup to sanctuary
The property was established in 1954 by Marian's grandparents, Johannes and Johanna Boers, as the Schoemanskloof Rest Camp. The original idea was simple: shelter and homemade soup for travellers passing through the valley. No frills, just warmth.
The name "Old Joe's Kaia" was registered in 1984, but the spirit never changed. When Paul Drews and Marian Cottle took over in 2005, they brought a new energy and a gradually growing conviction: that the food they served could reflect the values they lived by.
In 2017, they made the leap to fully plant-based. Not as a trend, not as a restriction, but as a commitment — to the animals, to the land, and to proving that plant-based food can be the most delicious thing on the table.
“There is only one law — do no harm.”
The guiding principle at Old Joe's Kaia
Paul Drews & Marian Cottle
Current owners, since 2005
Johannes & Johanna Boers
Founders, established 1954
The people behind the place
Marian Cottle
Co-owner & Chef
Marian runs The Seedling Kitchen and designs every workshop, meal, and recipe that comes out of it. She's the one who convinced the sceptics, converted the curious, and proved that plant-based food in South Africa can be bold, generous, and deeply satisfying. If you've visited, the dish you're still thinking about was probably hers.
Paul Drews
Co-owner & Operations
Paul keeps the property running — the buildings maintained, the garden growing, and the 65 indigenous trees healthy and marked. If the grounds look this good, it's because Paul walks them every morning. He's the quiet half of the partnership, but Old Joe's wouldn't stand without him.
What we stand for
Plant-based living
Every meal, every amenity, every product on the property is cruelty-free and plant-based. Not because we have to, but because we believe in it.
Sustainability
Organic toiletries, minimal waste, water-wise gardening, and a commitment to treading lightly on the land.
Back to basics
No TVs in rooms — just books, magazines, and the quiet of the valley. Wi-Fi is available, but so is the freedom not to use it.
Inclusivity
All backgrounds, all beliefs, all diets welcome. We serve plant-based food and hold space without judgement. The only thing we ask is the same thing we practise: do no harm.
Come and see for yourself
Whether you stay a night or a week, you'll leave with a story to tell. And probably a recipe.
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