Accommodation at Steenbokkie

Not all farm stays are equal. Some farms are really positioned more as spa's and resorts than still being farms. Then again, we have been to a few farms over the past few years, that do not warrant a second visit.

At Steenbokkie, this is a little different. More than a little.

Steenbokkie Courtyard

Set in the harsh Karoo desert, just a few kilometres outside of Beaufort West, we were surprised at what we had woken up to, after having arrived after dark the previous evening. Owner Dries Potgieter collected us from Beaufort West Railway Station.

Already, our very nicely furnished and well appointed two-bedroom chalet did impress. Lovely imbuia furnitire complemented something more contemporary and there even was a satellite TV.  (I did switch it on before we left four days later, just to confirm, for blogging purposes, that it was working.)  But we did not enjoy a ten hour train journey to watch television.

Air-Conditioned Living Room (Open Plan with Breakfast Counter & High Chairs)

 
Air-conditioning, a large bathroom with family shower, wash basin and toilet en suite.

A kitchen with four-plate electric stove, microwave oven, toaster and electric kettle plus all cutlery and crockery required, as well as complementary tea and coffee.  We were very much impressed with the neat and tidy presentation, albeit no interior design work of art. Rather, there is a homely atmosphere with the tell-tale signs of a feminine touch. Little detail we men would typically overlook.

 Front doors open to a lush garden with farm animals and peacocks welcomed us. It did not take my wife long to befriend some of them.

Main Bedroom

Second Bedroom

There are three different braai areas around our chalet plus the caravan park's!

Our private braai area

One of our new friends!

We were especially impressed because we did not find flies or other bugs in the house, there is mosquito repellent in each room and we also did not find animal hairs or dust in our chalet, nor did we find any in other chalets that we inspected from time to time.

Want to know where Steenbokkie is?  Here is the link to Google Maps location.

Queen Mary & 2

Some say that Dorper sheep are not exactly intelligent.  Let us investigate a little by observing Mary and her two BBq-ready lambs at www.steenbokkie.co.za

Mary came at night and opened our secured kitchen door. We are not sure whether she wanted to assist with the next morning's Merino salad or perhaps she needed a place to sleep. A rough doss apparently is below her level of sophistication, or is it?  We shall see......

Here she is with her lambs on the lush greenery of the campsite at Steenbokkie.




Forsaking creature comforts, this is where they decided to rest instead of lying down on green pastures.  Maybe they did not want to sleep on their food?  Want to risk a wild guess here?

Notice the lovely lawns and shady trees in an otherwise almost barren desert.






Mary and her two lambs were just very polite and hospitable. As farm staff, they are not supposed to camp out where visitors do, so they politely stepped aside to make room for a school group that showed up later.  Or let us believe this instead of suspecting them for being a bit dim-witted in not seeing a great opportunity?

Whatever the case may be, let me suggest that you come on over and bring your tent or camper along.  Or, if you are like Mary, why not settle into one of the comfy chalets that we found on this working farm?  A most enjoyable stay in nature, where nothing works with batteries and your young ones can learn to be unplugged humans for a while. There are many more animals, some very clever. 

A farm stay in Africa with no malaria mosquito's and no big cats that will hunt you down. Even Mary and her lambs are at peace here.

(Don't mention that BBQ or braai as we locals call it.)