Unwind in the tranquil Free State
Travelling to the Free State is like stepping into the beginning of time. Where there’s nothing but you and its vast terrain. A land far, far away, that’s magnificently raw and tranquil, remote and beautiful. The farmlands rise and fall over the rich sandstone hilltops, undulating as far as the eye can see. The air is crisp and pacifying, the light embracive and titillating. It’s a place where you can go and tune out of the noise entirely. To gather with your favourite people, completely immersed in a different kind of wilderness. A mellow, tame escape in a unique part of the country.
Less than an hour’s drive from the little town of Senekal, settled on the outskirts of the old hamlet of Rosendal, The Herenberg is a perfect hideaway that harnesses its contemporary farmhouse heels into the soil it occupies, and opens its gregarious yet graceful soul out into the landscape. Spread across one level of living, dining, cooking and reclining spaces, this unique holiday home has been stylishly stitched together by its owner’s discernment for design.
Vintage family heirlooms meet bespoke cabinetry and steel works. European collectables, avant-garde pieces of art and lighting, Persian and Nguni rugs, a Gregor Jenkins steel dining table and accompanying Ghost chairs all make this home an elegant, flamboyant take on farm stay accommodation in the Free State. Its double ensuite bedrooms flank the hub of the home with their own views – the main ensuite with an outdoor shower and the guest room with their own lounge chairs on the patio – allowing for that extra elevation of space.
Expansive views and golden light
And then there are the views. They somehow denounce themselves as being the mark of a land far, far away, without commanding your attention. The Maloti Mountains draw your eye through the floor to ceiling glass, over the long deck, across the working farmlands, around the willow trees, the dam and the river, towards the horizon and beyond. You’ll appreciate slow living at this secluded romantic getaway, watching the colours of the landscape transform throughout the day, the rainbows appearing after the odd afternoon drizzle, the cattle grazing the fields as the farmer ploughs his land.
The bokmakierie will be tuning his flute and perfecting his plethora of tweets as he admires his reflection in the windows. This self-catering luxury accommodation has a fully equipped, state-of-the-art kitchen, with an adjacent scullery and pantry stocked with herbs and spices ensuring that Ottolenghi inspired dishes will be cooked-up and feasted-over from just after dawn and well past dusk.
When the fire has been lit and the stars come out, you’ll plant yourselves on the blankets across the lawn listening to the resident owl lull your own chats into a distant hum. It’s nature’s turn once again, to remind you why you and your beloved companions have ventured to this hidden getaway. To enjoy country living. To explore the land and to sit still. To nibble, sip and indulge, and to tune out and reflect. To bond, to reconnect and to take a bath for as long as you wish. As if it’s the beginning of time, again.
What we love!
- Feeling safe, secure and nestled in nature. Living at a leisurely pace, enveloped in velvety silence.
- Strolling through the unspoiled hamlet of Rosendal, admiring artworks from emerging artists at Rosendal Gallery and walking the labyrinth in Hobhouse Park, Botha Street.
- Preparing special meals for loved ones in The Herenberg’s well-equipped kitchen and feasting outdoors with family and friends.
- Marvelling at the incredible views from the swimming pool.
- Sitting on the stoep, lazing on the lawn, or reclining in a comfy lounger, appreciating the golden light that has drawn so many artists to this area.
- Observing the truly spectacular sunsets.
- Lighting up the ‘stoempie’ (a traditional combustion fireplace) and huddling around it in the evenings.
- Making a wish on a shooting star as it blazes across the night sky.
What you need to know…
- Senekal, located 50km from The Herenberg, is the nearest town where you can stock up on supplies.
- Take the final 30km stretch of road to the house slowly and enjoy the magnificent views.
- There is no television at The Herenberg, so bring books to read, and games to play.
- The magnificent eight-kilometre-long Mosamane Hiking Trail starts on Beatrix Farm, 10km from Rosendal, and is suitable for adults and children over 12 years old.
- Rosendal is a popular mountain biking destination with over 300km of gravel roads through beautiful scenery.
- The Rosendal Tennis Club invites all visitors to come and play relaxed, non-competitive tennis with farmers, artists and other locals on Saturday afternoons from 2pm.
- It’s just over an hour’s drive through the platteland dorpies’ Ficksburg and Fouriesburg to reach Clarens, worth visiting for the exceptional mountain hikes through the Clarens Village Conservancy.
- Spring, when the cherry trees are blooming, is a charming time to visit The Herenberg, especially in September.
- It’s a 40-minute drive to Ionia Cherry Farm where you can pick cherries and sample cherry liqueur in October and November.
- Winter at The Herenberg is beautiful because the Maloti mountains are often snow-capped. However, make sure you bring warm jackets, woolly caps and mittens as temperatures are chilly.
Reviewed by Colleen Ogilvie
Edited by Dawn Kennedy