After our trip to Cape Town, where we enjoyed beautiful accommodation and excellent food, we started the big drive back on 2 May 2024, stopping at various little stalls and garages to take breaks. Roughly three hours into our trip, we stopped for something to drink at the Skeerhok Padstal just off the N2 close to Heidelberg.
Skeerhok Padstal Experience & Mouse Bite
The Skeerhok Padstal looked decent enough, and the iced coffee I had was adequate, and so was the drink my fiance had. We sat just outside in the designated area in the shade of a cool tree.
It was here that, as I was busy finishing my iced coffee on 2 May 2024, I felt a pinch and looked down. To my disgust, a field mouse bit me on my toe, and it started bleeding a bit. You can see the view from the table we were sitting at in the image below.
In a panic, I rushed in and told the staff what happened. The waiter said they’d never heard of something like this happening and just dismissed me. A young manager was then called, and after quite a while (he was just in the back), he came out to give me some old salve, saying that they have a rodent issue, contradicting the waitress.
I didn’t get any help at all, and my fiance had to run to get a first aid kit from our car to cover the bite. The manager finally wrote the owner’s number on a little card, took my details, and that was it. They did try to bribe me with not having to pay the bill, but I did anyway.
They didn’t assist me in finding the nearest medical professional or hospital. Despite not knowing the area, we drove over 100km further and made it to the emergency room of a hospital. I was given shots as I was informed I could have contracted a deadly Rat Bite Fever.
Thankfully, I was fine and didn’t get Rabies, RBF, or any other disease. Despite taking my details, the owner never phoned to apologize for the incident.
Skeerhok Padstal Review Verdict
Avoid this place at all costs unless you want to get bitten by a rodent and possibly die from Rabies, Rat Bite Fever, or a plethora of other deadly diseases. We have notified the health department about the incident, and an inspection will be done.
For this insanely terrible experience, we give Skeerhok Padstal our first, and hopefully last, 0/10 rating.
 due to a visit to the Skeerhok Padstal restourant in the Western Cape. Avoid at all costs!){kind=link}