If you have small children and a busy life, you probably long to find the time and money to create meaningful experiences for your family. While our children are little, we have the opportunity to fill their childhoods with stand out memories. Recollections of positive feelings and moments of connection that we hope will remain with them into adulthood.
Think back to your own childhood, you will probably find that many of your memories as a child are related to a holiday. It’s probably because being in a different place differentiates a memory, prompting it to stand out in our minds. Often, it’s not only the place that is different, but also the pace. Our parents switched off, slowed down. Those of us who are blessed with happy childhoods fondly recall special moments with our parents and siblings during family holidays.
So, how do we find the time and money to create these memories during the very years that we are working hard on our careers and investing in the demands of raising children? We need to be intentional of course, we need to value experience over things and set the necessary time aside to take our families away.
It really helps, of course, if we can find affordable family holiday options. That’s why I want to share one of our secret family getaway spots with you. At R250 per adult per night, and R125 for children under 12, Grootnek Guest Farm is as good as it gets in terms of value for money.
The catch? Well there’s none, unless you think that having no electricity for a weekend away with the family is a downside. I think it’s one of Grootnek’s best selling points. No electricity means no constant buzz, no children in front of the TV or on devices, braais every evening, a slower pace and more quality time.
Fortunately, it doesn’t mean giving up on your comforts completely as the cottages come equipped with hot running water, a gas stove and fridge and even solar powered banks to charge your phones. When the sun begins to sink behind the distant mountains of the Baviaans, it’s time to light oil lamps and candles so that they can cast their warm light on a fading day. This slow ease into a still and starlit night is a treat.
Grootnek Guest Farm is situated in the Langkloof along the popular Cape Route 62. It’s about a two and a half hours drive from Port Elizabeth, about 20 minutes beyond Joubertina. The owner, Gawie Le Roux, goes out of his way to accommodate guests and answer questions, and his brother, Gerhard is the farm manager.
The cottages are simple yet tasteful, and each includes a large under-cover patio overlooking the orchards. Grootnek is a working fruit farm, and depending on the season that you visit, you and your family can enjoy walks between the fruit trees and help yourself to peaches, pears or apples.
During warmer months, you can cool down in the ‘farm jacuzzis’, converted water tanks connected to the cottages. All year round activities include walks, feeding farm animals, bass fishing and day drives to nearby towns and villages.
We always make a booking for the chef’s tasting experience at The Belfry Kitchen in nearby Twee Rivier, a completely immersive eating experience that you are unlikely to find anywhere else in the country.
For more information on visiting Grootnek Guest Farm, visit: www.grootnekguestfarm.co.za
We want to live a slow life. A life of connection and simplicity. A life that allows us the space to assess what we really want to be spending our time and resources on. And so here we are, the Slow Down Family, working on slowing down more. We are figuring out how to apply this to all areas of our life, and how to do it while raising small children and pursing our dreams.
Follow our journey here as we share our experiences and tips on how to minimise and create space in our lives for the things that we really want to keep.