Koningsfontein lies on the banks of the beautiful GouKou river 7km upstream from the mouth and beaches of the seaside town of Stilbaai, 4 hours from Cape Town. The Cape thatched homestead overlooks the river as well as the surrounding countryside, small farms, fynbos and pastures where the sheep graze.

Make use of the private 300m of riverfront and spend long leisurely days swimming, kayaking, waterskiing, paddle boarding or taking your boat up the river for a sunset cruise or for lunch at a country kitchen further upstream. Happily if you don’t own a boat you can hire their Linder Sportman 400, a family boat perfect for rivers with a 15hp engine meaning you do not require a skippers licence.

A little downstream is a boutique gin distillery where you can taste and buy gin made from the local fynbos- some of the rarest fynbos due to the unusual lime bedrock in the area. Take your boat to the mouth of the river to Stilbaai for the white sandy beaches or for some of the best fishing on South Africa’s coast. There is also the dam for some catch and release bass fishing- best for kids.

In summer spend the day reading in the sun or take a walk down to the river and spend the whole day enjoying the water. In Winter, lounge in front of the fireplace in one of the deep leather sofas with a book or playing board games.

“We love the place because it gives you that feeling of an old fashioned holiday with the simple pleasures of swimming in a river and time standing still for a bit. A place you feel you are enjoying childhood pleasure.”