Farmstay fun at Kwetu

There are rare occasions when you strike it lucky and sample a piece of paradise on earth. We’ve just enjoyed a family farmstay weekend at Kwetu Guest Farm in Swellendam which is without a smidgen of doubt, one of those magical places that leaves an indelible mark.

Farmstay getaways are the ultimate “regmaker” for stressed out urban dwelling families caught up in that relentless routine of work, school and household chores on repeat. When enough is enough, you pull the kids (who are excitedly awaiting a special name call on the school intercom) an hour early from lessons on a Friday arvie and you road trip your way up to Swellendam to reconnect with yourself, nature and each other.

You also make a weak attempt to not comment too much on your husband’s driving, but that’s another story for another day. Once you’ve hit the Huguenot Tunnel, your weekend away becomes reality! Keep your eyes peeled for some roadside baboon entertainment.

Where is Kwetu Guest Farm

Kwetu Guest Farm is located 12km beyond Swellendam in a little area called Buffeljagsrivier. It’s about a 2 and a half hour drive from Cape Town. We stopped en route at Rooiberg Winery in Robertson for coffee on the go and some weekend vino supplies.

About Kwetu Guest Farm

Kwetu offers a game farm feel and is an outdoor lover’s delight. It’s spread across 83 hectares of pristine land overlooking the Langeberg Mountains. Immerse yourself in peaceful nature, swim in the dam, animal watch and more. Children get to roam around free-range revelling in freedom guaranteed to fill their hearts with blissful joy!  

Kwetu Accommodation

All accommodation is self-catering. The units are well-appointed and equipped to make your stay comfortable. To truly soak up the Kwetu family farmstay vibe, book 1 of 3 cottages dotted around the main dam.

They’re each a good 200m spread apart affording plenty of space and privacy. Each cottage sleeps 2 privately in the main bedroom. Depending on the cottage, either 2 or 3 single beds are part of the open plan living area (just out of sight to the left on the picture below).

Located next to the farm entrance are 2 lovely apartments and the large Finley Long room is also available to book.

What to do at Kwetu

A huge drawcard for us was to seek out the animals. On arrival you’ll receive a list of what to look out for. This includes fluffy waterbuck, the ever awkward looking wildebeest, regal sable, bontebok, kudu, eland, springbok and rhebok.

There are ostriches, two very pushy horses if they catch a whiff of apple and two uber special residents, Sophie and Melvin, the giraffes.

Besides the animals, there is a dam which offered a mighty welcome respite to cool off in on the exceptionally hot weekend we stayed at Kwetu. Even I was found swimming around the dam. It was quite the sight and tickled the kids no end to watch mom doggie paddle her way around trying to avoid wet dam hair! Seasonal fishing is available.

The farmland is fairly “cleared out” so there are very safe, easy walking and bike trails to make use of. You don’t need a 4×4 to drive around Kwetu, just take it easy in a low car in certain areas. Kwetu is home to fantastic birdlife to satisfy the avid twitchers out there. Keep an eye out for picnic spots dotted around.

Our Kwetu Highlights

We fell head over heels for Sophie and Melvin, spending much time giraffe watching. Food gets put out between 4pm and 5pm every day and you can watch them munch away. Love has been in the air as Sophie is expecting a baby in a few months.

The sunsets at Kwetu are a soulful experience. Watch rich colours blend as the sun dips giving way to an inky sky speckled with bright shiny stars that aren’t diffused by city lights. We lay on our backs on the patio for ages watching the clouds move across the full moon.

Another treat was the family of swallows residing under the bench adjacent to our patio braai. You’ve never seen parents work so tirelessly to feed their chirping young. Mom and dad were in and out the entire day feeding their babies succulent bugs!

If you could really do with getting in on the fun and want to enjoy a much-needed breather with a family farmstay, visit the Kwetu website. Feel free to ask me any questions in the comments below.

Disclosure: sponsored post, all opinions expressed are my own.

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