I spent the day driving past numerous wineries during harvest with the odor inviting me to pull over, but being a real lightweight I don’t drink and drive. Plus alcohol wouldn’t have mixed well with the curvy roads over three mountain passes, Du Toitskloof, Bain’s Kloof and Michell’s. Instead I was rocky mountain high and decided I wanted to stay at a vineyard or winery with a view of the mountains.
I stopped at the Ceres Info Center and told them what I was looking for. After several phone calls and no luck at a winery they found me a cottage at Rhodene Farm. By far one of the nicest places I stayed.
Heron House
This house, and its matching neighbor, sits in a clearing surrounded by pear trees. Because I visited in March harvest was on and a bowl of sweet freshly picked pears sat waiting for me.
It was hard to believe all this space was for me alone and at a very moderate price.
I had picked up a pizza in town which I enjoyed on the back patio looking up at the mountains.
Going for a walk
Upon checking in I asked Liesel where I could watch sunset and she suggested the top of the dam, a small reservoir with high earthen walls.
Not being sure how far away it was I drove through orchards to the dam but could have easily walked.
It was like being up high yet in the bottom of a bowl surrounded by mountain ranges.
And as the sun dipped behind the peaks the last light painted slightly different hues on the towering walls that reflected back onto the dam.
I had the place to myself except for all the birds coming in to roost for the night including the noisy Hadedas.
History
Captain Dean laid out the original farm in the 1920s and named it after his daughter Rhoda. Then in 1951 the farm changed hands when it was given to Ray von Buddenbrock as a wedding present from her father. Her son, Ean is the present owner.
Rhodene Farm covers 370 acres (150 hectares) with about a fourth planted to mainly various varieties of pears as well as apples and peaches. Fruit picking goes on from the middle of December to the beginning of April so time your stay with fresh fruit in mind.
Getting There
Ceres lies nestled in the Witzenberg Valley so access will be over some spectacular mountain pass no matter which direction you come from.
I could have lapped up this luxury for days or weeks but had more miles to drive as I headed to the west coast. So after breakfast with sunrise from the back patio I first took the recommended drive to the north up Gydo Pass which offered great views of the valley, then turned around and came back down just for the fun of it.
My mouth is watering from a nice fresh ripe pear.
I’ll have to go back for more fresh fruit.
What a darling cabin. I can see why you could have stayed and stayed. Fruit harvest for 5 months. Wow that sounds terrific and your pictures show it to be beautiful as well.
Makes me wish to be there for the first harvest which could be peaches.
Oh gosh! I assume this is on your list when you go back. Wonderful place, beautiful big cabin and ; imagine a bowl of fresh pears in your room…makes my mouth water.
I hope to return and spend more time in the area. There’s a zipline nearby.
You find the neatest places to stay! What awesome scenery not to mention nice lodging.
Almost every place I stayed was nice and I could have moved right in.
What a wonderful place to stay! It must have been very hard to leave. Beautiful photos! You gave them some great PR.
Hope they like the PR as much as I did staying there. I’d like to go back and stay longer.
A beatiful place, post and pictures Gaelyn. These are the kind of places I like to stay at and discover. SA sure has a lot going for it.
We will stay at some places like this, and if in the area I’d happily stay here again.
These kind of accommodation establishments are becoming very popular, specially with city slickers.
I really like the idea and will seek them out.
You have given me an entirely different view of Africa! Your beautiful photographs tell me a story that lets me know how ignorant I am about Africa! I don’t blame you for going back as often as possible!
Most people, including myself the first visit, don’t know anything about South Africa. It is a beautiful country and the people are great. Glad I could help you see that.
What a welcoming and lovely place so well situated between mountain ranges, no wonder you want to go back to South Africa. Ah what it is to still be young and fit enough to do these things . . . go girl, go.
I would return to almost every place I visited before, and may to a few. But there’s so much else to see also. Don’t know about the young part but I’m going to go, go, go until I can’t.
Look at those beautiful views of the mountains and orchards! And how nice to stumble upon such a sweet little cottage…
I stayed at many special places in South Africa. The guesthouses are very reasonably priced.