More Than Just a New Look

Between the ocean and the Karoo lies a beautiful barn that has been transformed with love and respect.

- By Marian van Wyk

A group of hens scurry off into the wild garlic while a cheeky rooster – whose path we’ll cross again in the early hours of the morning – watches us suspiciously from behind the purple blooms. But other than this, there are no signs of life here on Illze and Wouter Muller’s dairy farm outside Herbertsdale, 42km inland from Mossel Bay. The climate, landscape and two sleek cypresses standing guard over a historic white barn all hint strongly at the Karoo, which lies just a half-hour’s drive away over the Langeberg mountains.

Wouter is the sixth generation Muller to farm here. The 172-year old barn right next to his milking shed stood empty before opening its doors last year as Langskuur, a stylish self-catering overnight stay for tourists keen to take a detour off the N2 on their way to or from the Garden Route. But the ramshackle building had to take a backseat when it came to being fixed up, as Illze first waved her magic wand over the farm garden (Home, November 2015) and then the homestead (Home, April 2015).