Every Driftwood Estates home in Zinkwazi Beach is self-catering: you rent the whole house, flat or cottage, and you shop, cook and braai for yourselves. What changes from home to home is the detail, such as whether beach towels are in the cupboard, whether staff come in during your stay, and what is added to the nightly rate.
This guide sets out what is standard across the homes, what you need to pack, how staff and cleaning work, and how a booking goes from enquiry to keys.
Self-catering in Zinkwazi: at a glance
| What you rent | The whole home, privately owned and let through Driftwood Estates as the owner’s agent |
| Always provided | All linen, a kettle, a microwave and hangers |
| Usually provided | Bath and beach towels, crockery and cutlery, a charcoal braai and Wi-Fi |
| Bring with you | Toiletries including toilet paper, cleaning agents, a hairdryer and beach equipment |
| Staff and servicing | Listed for each home under Features and Facilities; any levy is on the Rates tab |
| Who can book | Families; bookings are subject to the owner’s approval |
| How to book | Check the calendar on the home’s page, then send the enquiry form |
Each property page lists the same details in the same order, so homes are easy to compare. The sections below explain what those details mean in practice.
What Self-Catering Means in Zinkwazi
A self-catering home is yours for the stay. You get the whole home, its kitchen and its braai, and you run your own days. Each home is privately owned and furnished by its owner, which is why no two are the same. Driftwood Estates lets them as the owners’ agent.
Every listing covers the numbers allowed, bedrooms and bed types, bathrooms, position in the village, views, beach and lagoon access, pool, braai, Wi-Fi, DStv, load-shedding backup, parking, stairs, driveway, staff and what to bring. If something matters to your family, check that line before you enquire.
What Is Provided
| Item | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Linen | All linen is provided at every home |
| Towels | Bath and beach towels at almost every home; three homes provide bath towels only, so you bring beach towels |
| Kitchen | A kettle and a microwave at every home; crockery, cutlery and a toaster at almost every home; a dishwasher at most |
| Braai | A charcoal braai at nearly every home, and a gas braai at some |
| Laundry | Most homes have a washing machine and a tumble dryer; a few have a washing machine only |
| Wi-Fi | Provided at most homes; a few have none, so check the listing if you need to work |
| Television | Either a DStv bouquet or a smart TV for streaming off your own account |
The exact list for each home is under Features and Facilities on its page. Extras such as an air fryer, a coffee machine, a chest freezer or a safe for valuables are listed there for the homes that have them.
Backup power differs from home to home. Our guide to load-shedding-ready holiday homes lists the homes with backup and what each one covers.
What to Bring
Every listing carries the same What to Bring list. Pack these and you will not be caught short on the first evening.
- Toiletries, including toilet paper. A few homes leave a small starter pack for arrival, but plan to bring your own.
- Cleaning agents. Brooms, buckets and mops are in the home; the cleaning products are yours to bring.
- A hairdryer.
- Beach equipment. A cooler box, beach chairs and umbrellas.
- Beach towels at the three homes that provide bath towels only.
- Your own streaming login where the listing says DStv is streamed off your own account.
- A fishing licence if you plan to fish. Get it from a Post Office before you arrive; our guide to fishing in Zinkwazi has the detail.
For groceries, Zinkwazi Cafe in the village is a store and restaurant, and every listing has an In the Area section with the village restaurants and services.
Staff, Servicing and Cleaning
Each listing has a line for service providers and staff. Most homes have a weekly garden service, and many have a weekly pool service. At some homes staff live on the property; at others they do not, and the listing says which.
Many homes are serviced during your stay. Where they are, the Rates tab shows the cost, usually as a daily staff levy and at some homes as a departure clean instead. A few homes are not serviced daily, and their listings say so.
Read the whole Rates tab, not only the nightly rate. The admin fee, any staff levy and the refundable breakage deposit are listed there for each home.
Arriving and Leaving
The house rules in our Terms and Conditions apply to every booking. These are the ones that affect your first and last day.
- Payment first. Access to the home is given once the booking is paid in full.
- Early arrivals and late departures must be arranged in advance and depend on the owner.
- Report breakages or shortages when you arrive. An inventory can be requested electronically, and the departure inventory is checked after you leave.
- Use the security provided. Guests are responsible for activating the alarm and security measures at the home.
- Look after the keys. Lost or misplaced keys are charged for.
The same page sets out the cancellation terms. Read them before you pay, and ask us for the comprehensive version if you want it.
House Rules at Every Home
- Family holidays only. Groups of adults and school or student groups are not accepted.
- No more guests than the number advertised, children of all ages included.
- No functions or parties.
- No smoking inside, and no fireworks.
- Keep the noise down. These are family homes in a residential village.
- Pets only where the listing allows them, by prior arrangement and with the owner’s approval in writing. See our guide to pet-friendly homes in Zinkwazi Beach.
How Booking Works
- Choose by group size. Homes are grouped into 2, 4 and 6 sleepers, 8 sleepers, 10 sleepers, 12 sleepers and homes for more than 12 guests.
- Open the home’s page. The Rates tab shows the season rates, minimum stays and additional charges, and the calendar shows which dates are open.
- Send the enquiry. Select your dates on the calendar and complete the four-step form: dates, your details, guest numbers with children’s ages, and any special requests.
- Wait for approval. Bookings are subject to the owner’s approval.
- Plan ahead for December and January. Peak-season minimum stays apply, and at most homes a booking that includes Christmas and New Year needs a minimum of 10 to 14 nights. Our booking guide and December guide cover the dates.
Zinkwazi Beach · Self-catering homes
Tell us your dates and group size
Send an enquiry from any home’s page, or contact Engela Wium at Driftwood Estates, and we will tell you what is open.
Self-Catering Homes to Start With, by Group Size
These are starting points for each group size. Each page lists what is provided, the rates and a live availability calendar.
- Sleeps 2 to 6: The Boat House (lagoon front)
- Sleeps 8: No 49 on Glen Drive (one road back from the beach), Unit 1 @ Springvale Place (across the road from the beach)
- Sleeps 10: Ramblinn (beachfront), The Thomas’s Beach Cottage (beachfront)
- Sleeps 12: Isibankwa (one road back from the beach)
- Sleeps 13 or more: Kwa Langa (beachfront), The Green Gate (beachfront)
Three Things to Check Before You Book
Backup power
Not every home has backup for load shedding. The listing says what each home has, from rechargeable lights to an inverter.
The pool
Listings say whether a pool has a net, a cover, or a fence and gate, or is open. Check this first if you are travelling with small children.
Stairs and driveway
Each listing describes the stairs and the driveway, from flat to very steep. It matters for grandparents, trailers and boats.
Plan Your Stay with Driftwood Estates
For over two decades, Driftwood Estates has placed families in self-catering homes across Zinkwazi Beach. Browse our full range of Zinkwazi Beach accommodation, or go straight to a sleeper size below.
Explore available accommodation
Frequently Asked Questions
What does self-catering mean at Driftwood Estates?
You rent the whole home and cater for yourselves. Every home has a kitchen, all linen is provided, and each listing sets out exactly what else is included.
Are linen and towels provided?
All linen is provided at every home. Bath and beach towels are provided at almost every home; three homes provide bath towels only, and their listings ask you to bring beach towels.
What do I need to bring to a self-catering home in Zinkwazi?
Your own toiletries including toilet paper, cleaning agents, a hairdryer and beach equipment such as a cooler box, chairs and umbrellas. Brooms, buckets and mops are in the home.
Are the holiday homes serviced?
Many are. Each listing shows the service providers and staff for that home, and the Rates tab shows any daily staff levy or departure clean. A few homes are not serviced daily.
How do I book a holiday home?
Check the availability calendar on the home’s page, select your dates and send the four-step enquiry form. Bookings are subject to the owner’s approval.
Can a group of friends book a home?
No. The homes are let for family holidays only. Groups of adults, school and student groups, and functions are not accepted.