The Explorers Club Collection

It took us a little while to understand what on earth Jo Sinfield has created here. If we say ‘self-catering houses’ that would be like describing the Sistine Chapel as a ‘nice ceiling’. In fact, Jo (whose business card simply says ‘Pioneer’ on it) has created, in the most artistic of senses, a series of amazing spaces which function like houses. Marlize, Jo’s 2IC, greeted us with excellent coffee and pains au chocolat before we went for a stroll to each house.

There are three signature properties: The Explorer’s Club, The Map Room and The Library, dotted around the tranquil backstreets of Franschhoek. In each one, our eyes were constantly being caught by new textures, objets trouves and artworks but also functional furniture created by Jo which in themselves are works of art. At no stage did any house, despite its fascinating range of contents and decoration, feel cluttered – this is the antithesis of minimalism, but taken to just the right level.

Each house is really a villa, offering massive open plan public living spaces, all giving way either to gardens and pools and/or expansive balconies. We felt the privacy of the bedrooms, all clustered together off the main public area, was delightful. The Library is less quirky than the Map Room and Explorer’s Club and is overall a much more modern building so has a lot more feeling of space.

There’s a sophisticated layering of well-priced rates (you pay per person, not per house), particularly considering how much private outside space each is able to offer but with all the convenience of the location. On top of this, Jo and the team also manage several other, similarly upmarket but non-conformist properties across the town – all serious contenders to staying in a guesthouse.

Sustainability: They are using Solar and Inverters in most of their accommodation. Rainwater and borehole are also used at some of the properties.

Mobility: Tockies has two steps while Explorers are all on the same level. Kumbuk can be accessed from the rear with no steps, while Tugela has two steps. Library and Willow are not suitable for mobility impaired persons.

Children: They accept children of all ages.