High Season Farm in the Western Cape’s Hemel-en-Aarde Valley extends over 40ha, 22ha of which are occupied by grazing for Nguni cattle and cottages. The balance of the farm is covered in fynbos and borders the Fernkloof Nature Reserve.
“My husband, Richard, grew up on a dairy farm in Ireland, and I come from the Kalahari in the Northern Cape, so farming is in our DNA,” says Jani Slattery. The couple lived in Mozambique where they worked in hospitality before coming to manage High Season Farm, owned by the Gordon Frew Trust, seven years ago.
“We want to show city people how a farm works and create a place that is safe for children and pets, but that is also close to beaches, wine estates and restaurants of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. We’re the only farmers in the valley who farm Nguni cattle and not wine grapes. We also offer the most accommodation: 40 beds spread over eight self-catering, four-star-graded cottages,” she says.
FARMHOUSE CHIC
Farmer’s Weekly stayed in The Lodge, a three-bedroom home that sleeps up to six people.
“The Lodge is the oldest house on the farm,” says Slattery, “and we wanted to keep its old-farmhouse vibe when it came to the interiors. The other cottages once served as horse stables and working buildings, which we developed into more modern-looking accommodation.”
According to Slattery, High Season is frequently fully booked on weekends by wedding parties of couples who are celebrating their nuptials on the nearby wine farms.
“There are also many guests who return each year for a long stay,” she adds. “We’re perfect for active guests who want to hike or go mountain biking.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
