Cape Town - Never start your trip at 7:30pm in the heart of winter. That being said, I thought my night would end up with my partner and I stuck on a dirt road in the middle of the Stellenbosch winelands with nothing but our short tempers to keep us company. But for once “a mere 20 minutes from Cape Town International airport”, was actually just 20 minutes and we managed to find Klein Welmoed Luxury Guesthouse at about 8:15pm.
The family owned guest house is situated on a wine and olive farm surrounded by vineyards and home to a rather old sheepdog.
Upon our arrival we were greeted by Heloise who took us into our gorgeous guesthouse that boasts two large bedrooms with king-size beds and two bathrooms with an en suite in the main bedroom. The modern but small kitchen was sufficient to heat the pizza she so kindly left in the fridge along with beers, water, wine, juice and soup.
The lounge and dining room area is furnished with two generously-sized couches large enough to seat four people comfortably. Under-floor heating (a God-sent in the middle of winter) was all we needed to let our hair down, pour two glasses of wine and shout as loud as we could while egging on Chad le Clos who eventually won silver for SA at the London Olympics (another benefit of being alone).
The en-suite bathroom was my little piece of heaven - there is something magical about being able to lie in a comfy tub, pull open a shutter and catch up on your favourite TV programme.
The next morning I finally got to see the beauty that is Klein Welmoed. The Helderberg Mountains as your backdrop, the cry of the Fish Eagle circling above and sheep on the horizon; I would pay big money to be able to wake up to this view every morning.
Next on the agenda was a tour of the conference hall that is the perfect setting to host a wedding of 40-50 people or a corporate conference.
Then it was time for breakfast which was served in the main house. After being presented with a cold buffet and some much needed coffee, we were able to order from the menu, and there is nothing more homely than watching someone prepare your full English, and the smell of bacon will put the moodiest campers in a trance.
Klein Welmoed is just the place for relaxation, whether it be braaing on the patio, picnicking under a leafy tree (which they will gladly arrange) or a dip in the Indian Ocean, which is only 10 minutes away. You’ll leave feeling happy and all the worries of looking for a wine farm in middle of winter will only be a distant memory. - IOL
More info:
Klein Welmoed is set in the heart of the breath-taking Stellenbosch Winelands. Rates range from R900 to R1200 per person, including bed and breakfast.
www.kleinwelmoed.co.za