As I looked into her eyes, I sensed a deep compassion and knew I had found a new friendship, which had started with an exchange of emails booking accommodation for a friend’s wedding. I was due to fly out of London to Cape Town and had been feeling the excitement for months since I’d received the wedding invite.
I was in contact with Karien, the co-owner of the family run Winterberg Mountain Inn in Wolseley. We had a few phone calls a number of months prior to my planned visit, and I sensed a genuine warmth in her voice over the crackly Wi-Fi mobile signal.
Having spent a week in my old home of Cape Town catching up with old friends, I had a feeling of excitement as I drove the romantic Cape Route 62 to Wolesley. A self-drive route through farming towns, vineyards, orchards, and the hairpin bends through the majestic mountains. There are plenty of opportunities to visit local farm stalls, wineries, or eat a sticky koeksister on the way.
Driving in the heat of a 37C day it was a sense of relief to arrive at the inn tucked under the start of the Michell’s Pass/R46, 10km away from Ceres. Welcomed by the duty manager Laquita I settled into my room at the end of the terrace with old wooden floorboards, high ceilings and a huge bathroom. I felt a sense of home wash over me.
Keen to find a drink I sat in the shade of the covered porch overlooking the lush green garden by the swimming pool. The flowers were in full bloom and I welcomed the serenity with the mountains staring back at me.
Scanning the menu of old South African favourites; Cape Malay curries, malva pudding, homemade bread and corn fritters I was starting to feel hungry.
I asked the waiter chuckling ‘What’s the best drink?’ and Tiri responded smiling with a sparkle in his eyes, ‘The lavender lemonade. I make it myself.’
Served in a glass jar, a paper straw, sprigs of mint, lavender, and slices of lemon I felt fulfilled taking that thirst-quenching sip. Drinking in the oasis of blooming roses and purple flowers with the sparkling blue pool in view, I was so happy I had followed my gut instinct to find this gem.
The Harvest Table Bistro Restaurant at the inn is well known on this route and is popular for drinks, breakfast, lunch or dinner. Food is sourced locally and the menu has something for everyone. I enjoyed the simple, fresh home cooked flavours at every meal I had during my stay. The vetkoek with breakfast was mouthwatering!
When I met the owner Karien and looked into her eyes I felt like I had known her before. We had daily conversations during my stay, and the small decorative touches she weaved through the inn, home cooked food, and gentle ways her staff interacted with me, I knew this was a special close knit family.
Nothing was too much trouble from offering to do my laundry even with drought water restrictions still in place, and on the day of the wedding Karien messaged me ‘do you need your dress ironing?’. It was these thoughtful gestures that counted.
Sharing wedding stories with the manager Laquita and Karien the following morning, it was time to say goodbye to this lovely family.
Karien looked me in the eyes after we hugged saying ‘I feel like we always have known each other, and I hope you will be back soon.’ I felt that and left with a warm fuzzy feeling onwards to the game reserve for my safari adventure.
Back in London we exchanged a few emails and she responded with ‘You will always be remembered dearly by us all, Love Karien’.
Likewise Karien, your family inn, and the staff are forever in my heart for the excellent, welcoming and friendly service from the initial enquiries making my booking through to checking out and saying ‘totsiens vir nou’.
