There is something irresistible about spending time with family or friends at a hidden getaway in the middle of nowhere. Country living feeds the soul and slows us all down to sanity.

When the current owners of 22 Degrees East stumbled upon a farm (somewhere between De Rust, Klaarstroom and Meiringspoort in the Klein Karoo), the land was temptingly raw and beautiful, with a rather derelict farmhouse resting on it.

Fortunately, these were not any owners. The farm ‘lucked in’ to a couple both passionate about giving the farmstead, built in 1825, a refurbishment. Courtesy of the discerning eye of Marielise van der Merwe, an architect and owner of the property. They included a glass and aluminium wing, but retained its authentic framework that spoke of a time when buildings and their foundations were made to last a century. ‘We were determined to keep its soul,’ Marielise says. So they retained the yellowwood flooring, ceilings and an Aga stove, which in homestead terms is the core of the house that remains warm day and night.

This is where bread is baked to crustiness and lamb with rosemary, drizzled with olive oil, slow-bakes to perfection. There is also a modern kitchen designed to open to a generous living space.

An inspiring heritage home

Miraculously, the owners have modernised the one area where South African homes often miss the mark. They have double-glazed the windows, shielding the home from the fierce Karoo summers and icy winter evenings. In any season, one’s experience is nurtured by the interiors, inspired by the views of snow-capped Swartberg mountains in winter. Or pacified by the shade of the verandahs in summer, with the farmlands sprawling around you. Merinos, springbok and oryx grazing on the sweet Karoo fynbos, drinking at the dam.

Deepening the connection to this remarkable environment, the farm managers are both Field Guide Association of Southern Africa accredited guides. Guests wishing to experience the beauty of the Western Cape’s fynbos may on arrival, book a guided botanical drive or walk, exploring the unique flora, fauna, birdlife and landscapes. It is a rare opportunity to learn directly from passionate custodians of the land, and an especially rewarding way to spark curiosity and wonder in children, who quickly become absorbed in tracking, spotting and understanding the natural world around them.

One of South Africa’s most famous poets, the late C. J Langenhoven, author of the former national anthem, was a regular guest in his youth and if you should sit quietly in the depth of the stoep, you might sense some of the inspiration for his verse.

You can completely disconnect at this self-catering farm accommodation. Should you feel the need, there is the world to embrace on your terms with access to Wi-Fi.

It’s a fabulous stopover for travellers on their way from Gauteng to Plettenberg Bay via Oudtshoorn, only an hour’s drive away. En route, or during your stay, pick up fresh, farm-made cheeses and yoghurt from Gay’s Guernsey Dairy, a much-loved local stop just outside Prince Albert, or linger a little longer over a leisurely lunch at a nearby olive farm such O for Olive, where the flavours of the Karoo are celebrated in simple, seasonal dishes. Once ensconced at the farm you’ll find walks aplenty leading to spectacular outlook points, and at night, nothing beats a Karoo indigo night sprayed with the Milky Way that seems to hang light years closer than anywhere else in the clear Karoo night.

Written by Les Aupiais
Edited by Dawn Kennedy