TANKWA KAROO – Skoorsteenberg (2)

SKOORSTEENBERG FARM & COTTAGES (2)

August 2021

One thing is for sure – three days at Skoorsteenberg Farm & Cottages are not nearly enough. So, you might wonder:

1. What can you do there?
2. What can you see?

And the answers to those questions – not much! So why then go there? Because you totally unwind, an unreal calmness fills your mind and you get into touch with nature in a spectacular way!

Like I’ve mentioned in our previous post (you can read about it here), there are only 2 cottages available for guests. Each cottage got 3 bedrooms, on-suite bathroom and extra bathroom, fully equipped kitchens and are powered by solar and wind power.

After we’ve arrived late here the previous evening, we were ready to explore the farm a little bit more the next morning. We are now moving towards spring in South Africa and even here in the dry Tankwa Karoo, it was evident that this season is upon us.

Nana, the owner of Skoorsteenberg Farm, made a real effort to design the gardens on the farm in close harmony with the environment.

There is also a vegetable garden under shading (to protect the veggies against the fierce sun during summer months). This is a great initiative, since the closest town is about 100km (62 miles) from the farm.

When you stand on the little hill behind our cottage and look out over the vast plains of the Tankwa Karoo, you realise the uniqueness of this area … and the perseverance of someone to stay here on a permanent basis.

We’ve also paid a visit to some of the farm animals. We’ve spotted a few ducks, emu’s and goats (the horses and donkeys were grazing somewhere in the fields). In one of the camps were a goat with her one-week old babies – they were so adorable!

The rest of the afternoon, we’ve done something that both of us enjoy tremendously (and don’t always get the time for) … reading! There was a chilly wind outside and we’ve made coffee (and got hold of some chocolates) and enjoyed our time on the soft couches with our favourite books.

We were very excited to see the sun set and as we’ve got hold of our cameras (and a bottle of wine), we’ve strolled outside. Just to see that Nana was on her way to feed the animals. We’ve headed back to the farm animals’ camps to watch them eating some fresh fruit and veggies.

It was now time for us to find a hill to catch the last sunrays of the day. I can honestly say that I’ve never seen such an amazing sunset ever! It was an awe-inspiring moment to watch the sun set in the west … I will let you see it for yourself.

We brought a bottle of wine from Spain with us on this trip …specifically to enjoy here in the Tankwa Karoo. When we walked the Camino in Spain in 2017, we enjoyed several glasses (or was it bottles?) of their famous Rioja wine. And since we also walked the South African Tankwa Camino two years ago, we thought it would be appropriate to enjoy a (Spanish) Camino wine here on (South African) Camino territory!

Berto made a 360-degree video clip from the hill where we’ve watched the sunset earlier that day … have a look to see this unusual landscape live!

360-Degree view at Skoorsteenberg

There is something else I would like to share with you … and I’m not sure how well-known this is (though I remember it from my earlier years at our hostel while in high school).

What is a donkey boiler?

Do you know “donkey boilers”? A “donkey boiler” is a water-heating system that is installed outdoors and are an economical way to warm water for use indoors or outdoors. The simplest systems involve a metal drum filled with water and heated by a wood fire.

And here at Skoorsteenberg, we had such a “donkey boiler”. If there is not enough sun for the solar to heat the water, you can start the donkey … and that’s what we’ve done every morning to enjoy a hot shower!

Our last day at Skoorsteenberg Farm involved more walking around on the farm, reading and sitting next to the fire while preparing our lunch in the form of the traditional South African chicken “potjie” (food prepared in a cast iron pot on the fire).

During the late afternoon, the donkeys and horses walked pass our cottage on their way back to their camps. They were in no particular hurry as they’ve spent some time looking peculiarly at us while we were preparing our food.

We’ve taken one last walk up a hill to watch the sunset … again, there are no words to describe this amazing spectacle!

I’m sure you will understand when we say we’ve visited a really amazing place … where there is so little to do, but so much to experience!

We hope to visit Skoorsteenberg Farm & Cottages again in the future … and many thanks to Nana who allow people like us in this beautiful place!

Next, we’re leaving for the Cederberg Mountains for a wonderful hike (and another extraordinary accommodation)!

But first, we must show you the road that took us there … see you somewhere on the road!