Tag

houtbosdorp

Browsing

Nowhere on a map or tourist attraction website will you find this quaint little white house with thatched & green roof that sits against a mountain just off the Houtbosdorp road. Yet, somehow a big corporation like ZZ2 (the people that grow tomatoes, avos, mangoes and more) decided it was worth restoring.

Now I don’t know if you can just drive up and get access – I know people, I grew up there. If in doubt, just contact ZZ2 head office and ask.

So it is somewhere off a gravel road that tests the limit of your little town car, just past University of Limpopo, up and down a few hills – on the right… Driving up the road that had clearly seen heavy rain my little Chev Spark had to cross over “dongas” that could’ve swallowed her whole – and there was a misty rain blowing down against the mountain.

…and there it sat, a little white house with a thatched & green roof surrounded by mist that swept around it like a blanket.

My cameras struggled with rain on the lenses, but I pushed through and I captured a little of this home where a couple raised their children in a house with few too many bedrooms and way too little space – and not so standard doors.

Pioniershuis Houtbosdorp Limpopo
Hubby at 1.72m; Door at 1.74m

The story goes that the couple had a bunch of kids and when they passed on and the kids had moved away the house fell into ruin. Since it has been restored one or 2 old pieces of furniture from the original owners was obtained and an old coal stove is on lend from my bro-in-law. The house has a rondavel attached which brings the grand total of rooms to 3 and a stoep – I didn’t see the outhouse (which I assume they would’ve used). It isn’t really big, but it would’ve been warm if the coal stove was fed.

I love historical buildings – even if it is a plain old building with no special architectural features. It is the fact that somebody decided to move up a mountain and carve out a live that tickles my interest – and trigger happy camera fingers.

I really don’t know how this has happenend. Just the other day I wrote this amazing article and planned this amazing calender with posts I wanted to do and then I somehow didn’t quite get to it and now it is almost mid-August! How, seriously – how?

This weekend we went to Houtbosdorp to stay with my parents (and celebrate my dear old mom’s 70th birthday). It was the perfect weekend in the mountains. It had snowed everywhere else so the arctic winds necessatated snow jackets and a heater for my cat in the room.

As always, the views from my parents’home is amazing. How could you not have an amazing view if you lived on a mountain that had views over other mountain tops?

Don’t even get me started on the sunsets… I promise, I didn’t even apply a filter to this photo 🙂

Just to top of the weekend, we also visited Haenertsburg as I’ve always loved the vibe of this little town – and well it was just 30km down a gravel road, over a mountain and to the right of that bush (you know how it goes).

This little town is rich in history, quaint shops and friendly people (and vervet monkeys).

My absolute favourite part of the day was lunch. I ate the most delicious Lavender scone… and licked off my fingers.

It was quite weitd to see the cherry blossoms out early, but I guess after the rains they thought it was almost spring.

You are still wondering where these places (Houtbosdorp and Haenertburg) are – right? Well, Haenertsburg is somewhere between Polokwane and Tzaneen. It is just after the ZCC church area.

Houtbosdorp is a little more complicated to direct you to, because it is no longer a town but rather just a road with farms – but it used to be a Swiss logger settlement. The original farm that the “town” was built on is still there and the ruins are still there, but you can’t just rock up and say you are there to explore – private property. If however you want to see the spectacular views you drive from Polokwane side to the University of Limpopo road and keep on driving until it becomes a gravel road. As soon as you hit gravel, you are on the right track. Places on this road to book – Kurisa Moya or Graceland (they have 3 giraffes).

That is it. Safe travels.

I have really struggled to adjust to working life after the most amazing beach holiday in the Maldives. One thing that makes it bearable is the much warmer weather here in Joburg.

Palmer's Gentle Exfoliating Facial ScrubThis week I will be trying out Palmer’s Cocoa Body Scrub and Palmer’s Gentle Exfoliating Facial Scrub. I have the products and it smells wonderful! Smells like holiday and sweets if you ask me. I know it is not a “high-end” product, but I have been surprised by cheaper products before and I’m definitely into trying new things this Spring.

ZANA has published their next Cape Town screen printing workshop. I’m not in Cape Town, but patiently waiting for ZANA to have a Joburg workshop (hint, hint, nudge, nude and stuff). Book now or you might not get a seat.

I have finally started doing something about the way the house looks. We have lived in the same house for 6 years and nothing has changed. I will be picking colours in the next few weeks and painting the walls, decor, bedding and anything that might have fallen out of my taste. Expect some pictures and tips as I go along. I might even ask for your input!

This weekend I am off to Houtbosdorp in the mountains near Haenertsburg – and close to where Coach House nougat is made… No, Houtbosdorp isn’t a real town anymore either. Just check back for a post about it and you will get to know this beautiful part of South Africa from a local.

I am trying to convince one of my besties to do a tutorial on how to get her rainbow make-up – just because I think it is pretty.