The Camdeboo region, part of the Greater Karoo, is known for its rugged beauty, starry skies and the hospitality of the people living there. We had the priviledge to experience all of this - in abundance.. At Langfontein there is much more than a breathtakingly beautiful landscape. We stayed at Dot's Cottage, an utterly charming, authentic Karoo cottage. Thick walls, cool interior, huge stoep, fireplace, braai, romantic room and bathroom, lovely linen. There are many charming places in South Africa, but surely Langfontein is the ultimate experience of hospitality, elegance and beauty. Marliza is a perfectionist, not only regarding the administration, but more so as hostess. Intimate detail in the cottage, like the fresh roses and herbs (even in the drought!), home baked rusks, milk, books ... it all showed us that this is not a mere place to stay, but the perfect place to be. We were humbled - and thrilled - by our experience at Langfontein.…
12 of us got together at this beautiful place to celebrate a wedding - some of us stayed at Westbrook, others at Langfontein - intense memories - beautiful scenery - heartbreaking drought conditions though. Felt terrible to leave it all behind us. The rooms are beautifully decorated, comfortable with great attention to details. On the drive through from George I told my wife that I had been wanting to read "The plains of Cambdeboo" for some time - and there it was on my bedside table when I arrived! The wedding event on the lawns of Langfontein will forever remain etched in our memories....the catering was excellent and the whole thing built around our special requests. A huge thanks to the owners for making this such a memorable stay.
We made a last minute reservation, and got an immediate reply from the lovely Marliza, our host. We arrived to our luxurious cottage with the fireplace already burning and waiting for us. Hardwood floors. Excellent quality linen. Filter coffee and homemade rusks were much appreciated after a long drive. Our only regret is that we didn’t stay longer. The place surpassed our expectations. It was absolutely worth taking the detour to stay in such beautiful surroundings. It’s perfect for overnight stays or longer breakaways, especially for city dwellers.
Our stay at Langfontein was the perfect introduction to the Karoo. Only wish we could have stayed longer. Marliza was truly a wonderful host, and welcomed us on arrival with freshly baked homemade bread and jam. The farm's location surrounded by mountains is relatively far from Cape Town, where we started our road trip, but if you are already visiting the pretty town of Graaff Reinet (where you should stock up on supplies) then it is only 45-60 minutes away depending on how well your vehicle handles the dirt roads after you turn off R61/N9. Regardless of how long it takes to reach Langfontein, the effort is worth it. We stayed in the 1830s cottage which has a breezy stoep (verandah) for sitting outside and thick walls that keep the home cool inside in the summer (and presumably retains heat in the winter). The original building itself is nearly 200 years old but has been restored to make it more comfortable for guests without stripping away its character. The beds were very comfy with crisp sheets and the bathrooms were very spacious. The kitchen is functional and fully stocked with cooking utensils and cutlery for a home-cooked meal (plus coffee, tea, rusks, etc.) or you can choose to braai outside. The cottage was serviced each day we were there, so there's really not much else to do but relax during the day and stargaze at night. Marliza also invited us to use the swimming pool by the main house but our kids were just as happy running around the area around the cottage. Langfontein is a working farm, so we encountered some animals during our visit. We were pleasantly greeted by workers herding a large flock of young goats at one of the nearby farms during our drive in. We also took two walks (the longer one taking about 90 minutes return) as recommended by Marliza, and after sitting inside a vehicle while observing wildlife at Addo and Mountain Zebra, it was really a treat to come across a herd of antelopes and sables less than 50m away while on foot. Lastly, child or adult, you will love playing with Marliza's friendly dogs who are eager to welcome all guests on arrival. We still have found memories of welcoming one inside the cottage during breakfast after it literally knocked on the door. A practical note: The immediate area where the farm is located only receives mobile reception from Vodacom (and maybe Cell C). However, there is also an MTN signal about 10-15 minutes away from the farm (as you drive back towards N9) if you must check messages, etc.…
We were lucky enough to have stayed in Dot's Cottage for seven nights over Christmas. Never before have we experienced such serenity and feeling at one with the vast Karoo openness that abound. The cottage is extremely well-equipped without being at all fussy. This is basic farm-style relaxation with an effortlessly classy touch. Welcomed in the most hospitable manner, spoiled with Johanna's delectably fresh farm bread awaiting us all wrapped up in real linen napkins, we immediately felt like we owned the entire breathtaking farm. Vases filled to the brim with full-blown roses in the bathroom and bedroom, as well as a huge bunch of freshly picked herbs in the delightful kitchen added an unforgettable welcoming touch. The bed is one of the most comfortable we have ever slept on, bedecked in superb quality linen. Our morning alarm clock was a disarmingly charming but clumsy flock of Persian sheep passing our bedroom windows every morning. We were surprised at how cool the cottage remained for a large part of the day despite the sweltering heat outside. This is due to an ingenious clay covered packed roof and reed ceiling that keep temperatures stable. A free-standing fan in the bedroom added comfort on two rather hot nights. Several comfortably accessible hiking trails offer a chance for endless gulps of fresh air and a chance to take in sweeping views of this magnificent landscape. A superb bonus is the fact that the bathroom boasts both a wonderfully comfortable shower and a soothing bath. Fresh towels were supplied in abundance and unmistakably fragrant Karoo Lavender amenities added to our ongoing joy. Sitting on the verandah waiting for the immense full moon to swell out from behind Toorberg was an experience that will remain with us for life. Taking to the outside braai night after night we were provided with enough wood to never be in need. When the moonlight became less bright we stood in awe outside Dot's, a velvety sky heavy with stars all about. It was then that we decided that nothing, nowhere can ever beat time away from it all, learning to breathe again at Langfontein Guest Farm.…
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