Eensgevonden

Hot winds and dusty roads blew us to the door of Eensgevonden (built 1756 after a fire in 1740). one hot February morning: meeting us at the door was Martin, an affable and gregarious retired aeronautical engineer from the UK.
The accommodation is in three comfortable detached cottages, each with large covered stoeps and additionally shaded braai areas just outside.

Every cottage comes with a Weber braai so you can cook where you choose to outside, but also a full kitchen, lounge and one or two bedrooms. The standad is two almost three star. The furthest cottage from the main house has views of the Brandvlei Dam from the stoep and a backyard too, which is useful for pets. All in, Eensgevonden can accommodate ten guests in total. Cottage 2 is just for couples (one bedroom), Cottages 1 and 3 have two bedrooms each, one with twin beds in each. The whole farm is dog friendly.

The farm is a working one, 6ha of growing grapes you drive through the chardonnay (which is used to create Bruce Jack’s reserve wines), chenin blanc, merlot and cinsault vineyard that leads off Martin’s beautiful stoep which is shaded by an ancient oak tree. Martin makes his own wine on the side from the vineyards too. There’s a citrus and olive orchard (lovely for picnics) and also over 50 beehives making honey from the fynbos, another branch of the enterprise.

The management of water here is truly exemplary as is the overall standard of maintenance of the entire farm: water is taken from the mountain stream and pumped into a small dam which then irrigates the vineyards and supplies water to the house.

Behind picturesque 18th century thatched farmhouse, you’ll find two nature reserves which Martin took over from a neighbouring farmer. It has a lot of breedesand fynbos which hosts some very rare endemic species which as guests you’re welcome to walk through. There are no marked trails though. On another section of the farm, there’s 400ha of mountain where you can walk the paths and jeep tracks take you through the kloof onto koppies with views across the whole Breedekloof. On the way there, though, you’ll find the swimming pool, which is no fibreglass or concrete creation but a seraphic waterfall-made, sand-bottomed rock pool. Martin encouraged me to take a dip and I absolutely couldn’t resist!

There are three permanent staff living on site working on the vines and farm, Philemon, Alina and Joel who are all Sothos: their cottages were restored by Martin. All the vineyard work is done by hand without machinery in a traditional, deliberate and painstaking manner. Once a year at harvest time Martin pulls in help from neighbouring farms and then hosts a huge braai and football match, replete with fake World Cup trophy!

Sustainability: Eensgevonden is going totally solar PV with 80 panels this year. Water comes from the river into a dam and irrigates the whole farm and vineyards.

Mobility: There are six steps into the cottages (no handrail) but otherwise whilst there is gravel and bumpy tracks, the whole farm is accessible. The cottage is step-free inside.

Ethicality: The farm workers pay no rent or bills at all and receive an annual bonus too. Martin has even provided smart TVs and free broadband as their families stay far away.

Children: all ages welcome and well-behaved dogs too!