Fynbos Guest Farm & Animal Sanctuary is set at the foot of the Witzenberg Mountains almost equidistant between Ceres and Tulbagh. It’s a short 130km drive from Cape Town, making this an ideal destination for those wanting to get away for a quick weekend break. But, believe me, once you’ve tasted the fruits that Fynbos has to offer, you’ll be prompted to extend your holiday for a few extra days or phone in sick. Flu is rife this time of year. We were met by the friendly Peter Nel and Maurice Lancaster, joint owners of Fynbos, who gave us a pictorial map of the farm and then sent us on our way to select the camping stand of our choice.
A sanctuary below the Stars
Zebras and donkeys get along happily at Fynbos.
Fynbos Guest Farm started out 12 years ago as a blue gum encrusted rocky piece of land with not much going for it and, today, the transformation is quite incredible. Maurice mentioned to me that the alien Bluegums and black wattle were removed over the years and replaced with over 500 indigenous plants and trees, turning a dry and dusty farm into an oasis of water-wise greenery teeming with animal life. A meander around the numerous foliage-lined garden pathways is enough to rid one of any residual stress that might linger. It doesn’t take long for the beautiful surrounds at Fynbos to soften and loosen up the strains and burdens of everyday life, and get the relaxing endorphins flowing.At this sanctuary it’s all about unwinding, lazing and tranquilizing oneself in paradise. It’s the perfect place to reset your clock completely, a place to ground yourself in self-reflection. It’s a place to give less thought to the mundane and let the mind unwind life’s grind. Fynbos suits families, couples and solitary visitors looking for a quiet retreat. The animal sanctuary is every child’s (and parents) dream with friendly goats, llamas, sheep, emus, alpacas, buck, ostriches, pigs, donkeys, zebra, horses, tortoises and birds, among numerous other furry and feathered critters. Guests can bring along apples, carrots, bread and lettuce to feed the menagerie. Fynbos successfully rehabilitates numerous species of bird such as Eagle owls, Barn owls and raptors and returns them to the wild. All the animal life is treated with care and respect (90% of the animals at Fynbos are rescues) and children are expected to treat animals in such a manner.
The Meditation room
The meditation room is set in a tranquil part of the garden.
The only place that is out of bounds for the children is the meditation room set in a quiet corner of the garden, beautifully adorned with stained glass, so that adults can retreat to this space for complete solitude and self-reflection. It’s the perfect place to light incense and let the scents of sandalwood, jasmine and rose permeate your every fibre and transport you to places that resonate with your deepest desires. It’s the ideal place to begin a new canvas, to transmute your vision with clear intent and focus and bring it into your existence.
Bird life
A peacock displaying full courting plumage.
Fynbos also houses large aviaries with numerous birds and the free-roaming peacocks are simply exquisite. The males were in full courting mode when we were there, shimmying and shaking their colourful fanned feathers in the hope of attracting a female. The peahens on the other hand showed their interest by pecking at nothing in particular in the dirt, painting their nails, texting on their cell phones and generally playing hard to get.
Campsites
Our private campsite with undercover area, built-in braai and power made the perfect base.
Fynbos Guest Farm is an intimate affair with only 10 campsites and three neatly decorated self-catering cottages. Each camping stand is very private, offering complete seclusion when camping, caravanning or motorhoming. Each has a great built-in braai area with grid and a power point to plug in an extension lead for that all-important camping fridge. We stayed at campsite number 5, within easy walking distance of the ablutions which were beautifully appointed and decorated with a homely feel. There are dish washing facilities in the undercover area between the male and female ablutions.
Bully and Koos Family Restaurant
Breakfast at the Bully & Koos Family Restaurant is a delicious affair.
Also situated on the farm is the Bully and Koos Family Restaurant, a licensed affair that offers excellent fare. We had dinner there on our first evening, the Wednesday evening, and it was steak and burger night. The food was simply delicious and portions were generous. Francois the owner came out to the stoep where we decided to eat, the weather was wonderful and warm, and offered us a G & T on the house. So, as the sun dipped behind the mountains, we relaxed and enjoyed what Bully & Koos had to offer. The restaurant’s name is derived from the present owner’s Pug named Bully and a tame crow Francois owned as a teenager, called Koos. Nathalie and I decided to do the short walk to the restaurant which takes about 15 minutes. After dinner we walked back to the campsite, feeling completely safe I might add, using our cell phone torches to guide the way. The meander home involved red wine infused chatter and laughter under a bright canopy of twinkling stars. For some reason the trip was a little longer than the walk there.
Other facilities
Family and friends of Fynbos enjoy the pool durning the hot weather.
There is a rustic jungle gym for children and two swimming pools for the family to enjoy. There are communal built-in braai facilities at the pool for guests to enjoy during the hot summer months. We swam many times during our stay. The labyrinth is situated in a forest about 200 metres from the campsite. If you feel like resetting yourself, take the circular walk and follow the easy instructions set out on plaques during your journey. You’ll be purged, illuminated and unified during your walk. The plaque at the centre of the labyrinth says “May all know peace, peace and only peace.”
Stop off for some wonderful honey on the road between Fynbos and Ceres.
If you do visit Fynbos Guest Farm, be sure to ask Peter or Maurice for their ‘Best for the Guest’ voucher pack which offers great discounts on purchases at various eateries, wine farms, ziplining, bistros, horse riding, cafés and coffee houses in the Ceres, Wolseley and Tulbagh areas. We enjoyed two free coffees when we had breakfast at the Home Grown Coffee Shop in Ceres using these vouchers. Fynbos Guest Farm has a feather in their cap, as they are the winners of the 2019 Mayoral Tourism Award honouring the best tourism in the Cape Winelands for sustainable development. What a fantastic achievement! Fynbos Guest Farm & Animal Sanctuary is an intimate escape haven. It offers the whole family the opportunity to shake off the stresses and strains of everyday life and do a full reset and recharge. We’ll certainly be back soon to visit this wonderful oasis … it has that mystical magnetism that urges you to return.
