Matjiesvlei Calitzdorp Die Wa Huis Farm
MATJIESVLEI CALITZDORP DIE WA HUIS Farm Weekend with my beloved family September 2013
Have you ever heard of Matjiesvlei near Calitzdorp? Well, I have just returned from a short escapade into the Eastern Cape for a friend's birthday and obviously a surf session at the amazing break, Seal Point off Cape St Francis. My Mom owns a home there, how convenient, so a stopover along the way is mandatory.
On the way there we stopped over at Matjiesvlei Guest Farm on the R62, which is the road that travels along the famous Langkloof. It offers amazing scenery, farm after farm, decorated with fruit trees and hemmed in by mountains on either side. Little farm stores beckon you to enjoy sweet treats along with traditional "moer" coffee, a very strong 'Afrikaans coffee'. Just before Calitzdorp, probably about 5 km, you will see the sign "Matjiesvlei" on the left if you are travelling from Cape Town. A dust road meanders and winds around steep hairpin bends up and down with amazing views of the Swartberg Mountains and the Gamka river valley as you come down towards the farm.
Selma and Bennie, with their warm South African hospitality, settled us into the 'wagon house'. This was an old farm shed converted into a two bedroomed open plan cottage. The cosy warm north facing veranda has views of the river and mountains that could only be likened to listening to Pachabel's Canon performed live in highest crescendo. You tingle with stimulation, yet are calmed. How refreshing. We watched the stars come out. Man oh man......really amazing! The Milky Way is so clear in the Karoo night sky. Our daughters kept us entertained with seemingly hundreds of questions about 'how it all began'.
Original exquisite wood furniture, cupboards and doors, a proper double bed with clean linen. Yes clean is important. Actually everything felt clean and dust free. There is no electricity, paraffin lamps and an old cement fire place outside called a 'donkey' heats the water. Funny, I really liked the inconvenience of no instant hot water or light. Slowed things down for me.
We went for a hike the one morning, swam in the river, viewed the ostrich chicks, had a ride on the four-wheeler bike around the farm, went for a night drive and saw a kudu and a hare or rabbit that was the size of kangaroo. I am serious. Okay, I am exaggerating, but really it was big. We totally enjoyed ourselves. All this for the price of R520 per night for two adults and two kids. Totally worth it.
I recommend this place to stop over if you are doing the Garden Route or are going to Addo National Park.
You can phone Selma on +27 (0) 73 174 1028 or Matjiesvlei@telkomsa.net or go on to their website www.meitjiesvlie.co.za.
