A Sanctuary Below The Stars

Fynbos guest Farm & Animal Sanctuary, wolseley, western Cape

- Stuart Reichardt

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.

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.