Pest control in Kromdraai is shaped by country living: rats and mice in feed rooms and barns, flies around stables and animal pens, termites in outbuildings and lawns, wasps under eaves, and bird mites where birds nest in roofs. Combat Pest Control serves Kromdraai from Johannesburg and plans each treatment around animals, water and open land.
Life in the Kromdraai valley
Kromdraai lies north-west of Johannesburg, in Mogale City, within the Cradle of Humankind area known for its fossil sites and dolomite caves. It's a place of smallholdings, horse properties, small farms, guest houses and wedding and conference venues, set among rocky hills, grassland and river valleys. Properties are large, with houses, staff quarters, stables, barns, sheds and dams spread across them.
Pests here come from all directions. Grain, horse feed and chicken feed attract rodents. Manure and animal pens breed flies. Old outbuildings with timber trusses suit termites and wood borer. Birds nest in roofs and barns, and their mites follow. And because water may come from boreholes and animals graze nearby, the choice of treatment and where it goes matters.
The main pests on Kromdraai properties
Rats and mice
Feed rooms, tack rooms and grain stores are the usual centre of a rodent problem. Rats chew bags, contaminate feed, damage wiring in sheds and vehicles, and move into houses and staff quarters when the weather cools. We use tamper-resistant, lockable bait stations positioned where horses, dogs and poultry can't reach them, along with traps where bait isn't suitable. Our rodent control work covers the approach in more detail.
Flies
Stable flies and house flies breed in manure, wet bedding and rotting feed. They irritate horses and spoil outdoor events at venues. Good manure management does most of the work; we treat breeding sites and the walls and beams where flies rest. See our fly control service for how we do this.
Termites and wood borer
Subterranean termites reach timber in barns, sheds and older farmhouses, and harvester termites strip lawns and paddocks in dry spells. Old timber can also carry wood borer. We confirm which you have, because the treatments are completely different.
Wasps and bees
Paper wasps nest under eaves, in sheds and in stables, which is risky with horses close by. We remove wasp nests directly. Bee swarms are referred to or handled with a beekeeper where possible.
Bird mites
When pigeons, sparrows or mynahs nest in a roof and then leave, their mites go looking for a new host and come through ceilings into bedrooms. We remove the nest, treat the area and suggest bird proofing.
Venues and guest houses
Guest houses and venues can't afford a guest finding a cockroach or a mouse. A scheduled contract with regular visits, bait station checks and a service record keeps things under control and gives you something to show if anyone asks.
Water, boreholes and choosing products carefully
Many Kromdraai properties rely on boreholes, and dams and streams run through the valley. That changes how we work. We keep treatments away from wellheads, water troughs and dam edges, use bait inside stations rather than loose, and choose targeted gel and nest treatments over broad spraying wherever possible. Animals are moved off any area we're treating until it's dry. If you have bees, fish in a dam or a vegetable garden, tell us before we start and we'll plan around them.
It's also worth knowing that a property with lots of rodents tends to attract snakes, which follow them into feed rooms and sheds. Bringing rodent numbers down makes those areas less attractive to snakes too.
The usual mistake
Many smallholders bait heavily for a week, then stop. Rodents on a farm are constantly replaced from the surrounding veld and neighbouring properties, so a once-off treatment only buys a short break. A steady, monitored programme around feed stores costs less over a year and keeps numbers low.
A Kromdraai tip
Keep horse and poultry feed in metal bins with tight lids, and sweep up spilled feed every day. Then stack hay on pallets away from walls so you can see behind it. Rodents that can't find food or cover move on.
How we work
We walk the property with you: house, staff quarters, stables, barns and feed rooms. We take note of animals, boreholes and dams before choosing where products go. Normal insect treatments don't require anyone to move out; keep people and animals off treated surfaces until dry. If fumigation of stored products is ever needed, it's done with registered fumigants and the sealed area stays empty until cleared.
What it costs and why
On a smallholding, cost depends mostly on how many buildings are involved and how far apart they are, which pests we're treating and whether you want a once-off job or ongoing visits. A house-only general treatment is much simpler than a full property with stables and feed stores. This page shows a guide "from" price, and the price guide for our services lists the main treatments. We'll quote properly after walking the property.
We also cover Muldersdrift and Krugersdorp, and you'll find all our services on our main Johannesburg page.
Combat Pest Control is the business of Jason van Heerden, owner and operator, who brings 25 years of pest control experience. We're SAPCA registered and registered with the Department of Agriculture under Act 36 of 1947, offer service within 24 hours and guarantee general treatments for three months. Call 084 200 2700, or send us a photo on WhatsApp.
Questions we get asked
How much does pest control cost on a Kromdraai smallholding?
It depends on how many buildings need treating, which pests are involved and whether you want once-off or regular visits. The guide price on this page is for a basic job; we quote for the whole property after a walk-through.
Is rat bait safe around horses and dogs?
Yes, when it's in lockable, tamper-resistant stations placed out of reach. We position them with your animals in mind.
Can you help with flies in the stables?
Yes. We treat breeding and resting sites and give practical advice on manure and bedding, which makes the biggest difference.
Do you remove bee swarms?
We refer bee swarms to a beekeeper or work with one where possible, rather than killing them. Wasp nests we remove directly.
Why am I getting bitten in bed after birds left the roof?
Probably bird mites. When the birds leave, the mites look for a new host. We remove the nest, treat the area and suggest how to keep the birds out.
Do you do regular contracts for guest houses and venues?
Yes. We offer scheduled visits with bait station checks and a written service record.