House Rules
The Insect Hotel is a shared space built on mutual respect between all inhabitants — insect, arachnid, and otherwise. To keep things running smoothly, we ask all guests to observe the following.
1. Self-Catering Only
There is no room service. The surrounding fynbos, wildflowers, and garden plantings offer extraordinary foraging, but you'll need to find your own meals. We provide the habitat; you provide the hustle.
Foraging tip
Seasonal menus change. Spring offers the widest variety. Winter is lean but manageable for overwintering species. Adapt, explore, and diversify your diet.
2. Share the Space
You are not the only guest. The hotel accommodates a wide range of species, including some that aren't insects at all. Spiders, woodlice, centipedes, and the occasional gecko may be your neighbours.
Coexistence is the policy. Territorial disputes should be settled by avoidance, not aggression.
3. Housekeeping Happens
The hotel undergoes periodic maintenance and cleaning. Old nesting material may be cleared, damaged sections repaired, and rooms refreshed. This is essential to prevent disease, mould, and parasitic build-up.
- Cleaning typically occurs in late winter, before spring arrivals.
- Advance notice is not provided (we haven't figured out how to send you a memo).
- Please do not take it personally.
4. Weather Is Not Our Responsibility
The Insect Hotel is an outdoor establishment. Conditions include:
- Rain in winter — sometimes heavy, sometimes persistent
- Wind year-round — occasionally fierce, especially the south-easter
- Heat in summer — dry conditions with strong sun
- Cool nights in spring and autumn
We provide shelter, not climate control. Choose your room wisely based on your tolerances.
5. Guests Must Be Able to Fly
Access to the hotel is by air. While ground-dwelling species are valued members of the ecosystem, the hotel's design favours flying insects. If you can't fly, you're welcome to investigate the Leaf Litter Lounge at ground level, but upper floors require wings.
6. Solitary Guests Preferred
This isn't a hive, a colony, or a swarm destination. We cater to the individual traveller — the lone bee, the solo wasp, the independent lacewing. If you're looking for a party, you're at the wrong hotel.
Social species are welcome in small numbers, provided they respect the quiet atmosphere.
7. Accept the Ecosystem
The hotel exists within a living, breathing ecosystem. That means:
- Predators exist (birds, spiders, lizards). We don't provide security.
- Plants flower and fade according to their own schedule.
- Other organisms will share your space — mites, fungi, and bacteria are part of the deal.
Nature is the landlord here. We're just the property managers.
8. Length of Stay
You're welcome to stay for:
- A single night — passing through on migration or a foraging expedition
- A season — nesting, overwintering, or simply enjoying the locale
- Permanently — some of our most loyal guests never leave, and that's perfectly fine
There is no checkout time. There is also no check-in time. Arrive when you're ready.
9. Respect the Neighbours
The broader community — birds, mammals, reptiles, and humans — shares this landscape. Most are friendly or indifferent. A few are opportunistic. Navigate accordingly, and don't provoke anything larger than yourself.
10. No Guarantees
We offer shelter, not certainty. The natural world is unpredictable, and that's what makes it extraordinary. By choosing The Insect Hotel, you accept:
- Variable food supply
- Changing weather
- Occasional disturbance
- The magnificent uncertainty of being alive and very small
The Insect Hotel Philosophy
"We don't promise luxury. We promise nature — wild, seasonal, and unapologetically real."