Tread lightly, breathe deeply and let nature take the lead – Farm 215

Posted by PopcornCandi on December 17, 2018 Leave a Comment

In collaboration with Farm 215

We’re no strangers to weekend getaways and are always keen on the more secluded and farm-like stays, which often include accommodation that is fairly basic, self-sufficient and partially off the grid at times. Our latest getaway, however, took this to a whole new level of comfort, style and eco-tourism – to a most beautiful, sustainable destination in a private fynbos nature reserve in the Uilkraal Valley, just outside Gansbaai: Farm 215.

We don’t often think of the impact of our travels – not only the environmental impact but also the socio-cultural and economic impact that tourism has on an area. Spending time at Farm 215 and seeing what they have done and continue to do there has made me think about travel in a new light.

That all being said, no level of comfort has been damaged in the creation of this eco-friendly and sustainable space.

We stayed in the ‘Fynbos Suites’ which are secluded and private modern suites that make you feel like you’re just hanging out luxuriously in the middle of a fynbos farm.

Their sunsets are to die for – either from the restaurant, the 25m infinity pool, the suite’s bath or deck.

And most especially, what makes this place so unique is the immense vastness of protected fynbos. A most beautiful hiking trail had us breathing in the fresh, fynbos air – magical!

It was a perfect way to start off the madness of the silly season with a bit of nature and R&R. Quiet, peaceful and rejuvenating.

Tread lightly, breathe deeply and let nature take the lead.

A weekend of doing NOTHING in Wolseley

Posted by PopcornCandi on September 11, 2017 Leave a Comment

It’s not often that we go away and do NOTHING, but this was The Husband’s lucky weekend because that’s exactly what we did. No spontaneous adventures, no things to do, no bra (😄) and a lot of sleeping!

Here’s the summary:
1. We headed off to a farm just outside Wolesley for a whole lot of nothing.

2. Pear trees have the most beautiful blossoms in Spring 🌺

3. This is what a butternut farm looks like.

4. We’ve been dying to try out a wood-fired hot tub and we had our own private one for the weekend 😍

And that’s a wrap!

As much as I’m all about the adventure and doing all of the things, sometimes a whole lot of nothing can do a whole lot of good.

A weekend getaway to Tulbagh

Posted by popcorncandi on June 28, 2017 Leave a Comment

I’m such a sucker for a small town and the Western Cape ones are my absolute favourite! Send me away for the weekend to somewhere with old houses, farmlands and wine and I’m happy as a pig in mud. My husband and I booked a last-minute getaway to Tulbagh and here are some of our highlights. It’s only 1,5 hours from Cape Town too, so perfect for a weekend.

The architecture here is beautiful. Cape Dutch style buildings are the trademark, including our guest house – Cape Dutch Quarters. Don’t mess around here – book an Executive Suite. Breakfasts are served on Spode china too 🙂

Yep – we will ALWAYS find a trail. This one is in Waterval Nature Reserve. Take this walk to a waterfall.

Wine tasting in the old courthouse jail! Drostdy Hof is an interesting visit, complete with a museum tour.

You must visit Krone for FREE bubbly tasting with this view. They’re also open the latest on a Saturday, until 4pm

Olive-a-twist at Rhebokskraal Olive Estate

Posted by popcorncandi on August 1, 2016 Leave a Comment

Oh, you KNOW how much I love my weekend getaways! This time, the lucky recipient of our company (LOL) was Rhebokskraal Olive Estate in McGregor. We decided on a last-minute getaway (the best way to decide these things) and looked up farm stays within 2 hours of Cape Town. Rhebokskraal grabbed our attention immediately as they have private cottages (with indoor fireplaces) on a working olive farm in one of the prettiest towns in the Western Cape. We love olives, so this one was a no-brainer.

This was our little home for the weekend – “Volkshuisie”.

The olive farm is active and family-run and comes with it’s own unique story that captures your free spirit immediately. This is the view from a short walking trail around the property, which we used as a slow jog route in the warm morning sunshine 🙂

What’s unique about this particular stay is that you have the option of a tour of the farm with the owner as she talks about the history of the farm, the curating processes, cultivars etc. (complete with her own songs too), ending off with an olive tasting and olive platter at the Village Farm Stall in the town.

If you’re brave enough, you can even try olive hot chocolate…

Rhebokskraal Olive Estate have a winter special on at the moment for R500 per night for a minimum stay of 2 nights and the olive tour is R250 per person (including the olive platter meal). Please contact them to confirm prices and specials.

There’s no reason to be bored and cold, just because it’s winter 😉

Little Greece in South Africa, or Paternoster

Posted by popcorncandi on November 30, 2015 Leave a Comment

Some images from my recent West Coast road trip adventure. Paternoster’s ‘Santorini in Africa’ style town stole a piece of my heart.

See Kat Paternoster — Felt like the Med, I swear

Paternoster Crayfishing — Careful of illegal crayfishing, though… don’t buy crayfish off the boats or the streets!

Weekend Getaway Pick: Studio in the vineyards at Muratie, Stellenbosch

Posted by popcorncandi on May 26, 2014 Leave a Comment

I LOVE old stuff, I really do. I love to take my imagination back to a time so long gone, that our current lifestyle, the way we live, what we do, the way we speak, seem bizarre.

It’s with this sentiment in mind that I introduce my latest Weekend Getaway Pick – GP Canitz Guest Cottage in Stellenbosch. It was originally used as an art studio by renowned Stellenbosch painter and late farm owner George Paul Canitznow and now boasts a truly authentic vineyard guest house. It is not often that you find a guest house that manages to maintain (what I imagine to be) it’s original personality and I really felt like I was still in that time. A gander through the old books on the bookshelf and the art on the walls solidifies the experience.

I wanted to lock myself up inside with the fireplace roaring, a good ol’ book and a bottle of Muratie’s iconic wines, after a long soak in this big ol’ beautiful bath. So I did.