Who would make a coffee shop in ruins?
Someone had left a bicycle leaning against the roadside post to go for a ‘quick stop’. Except – the coat of rust had started to claim the bike; wheelrims grow into the soil – it wasn’t a quick stop. Eco travel Africa springs up quite the myriad of surprises! The signpost indicates Die Murasie to my left. I look at the crumbled stonewall of what once was a farmhouse, and getting curious – who would make a coffee shop in ruins?
The section of the farmhouse (what is left from the building) did not have a sign ‘Enter at your own risk’, but daily specials written with chalk on the ‘blueboard’ next to a pot of blooming flowers in shades of purple and yellow. We weren’t quite sure if we should knock on the door – it really felt like entering someone’s home. But stepping inside, it looked like we had entered back in time – sunshine through the windows framed in thick stonewalls, cast light into the cosy room with mix and match of tables and chairs, rosy wall decors, tea sets, antiques and rag-dolls and console table with home bakes.
Lottie, the owner was busy in the kitchen preparing fresh lamb pies and bobotie, which Johan ordered for lunch. But I was eyeing the Lemon Meringue pie on the console table that looked too tempting and opted to swop my lunch for it. Glad I did, as I can not remember when I last had a Lemon Meringue like that – tangy, not too sweet and meringue layer generously equal size to the filling.
We could not leave without buying a few bottles of home-made preserves from the shop and a knitted cutest green toy-bunny that was yearning to come with us.
I thought that the coffee shop interior had surprised me enough until I visited ‘The Ladies’ – the visit was like an excursion and I just had to go back there with my camera (Don’t laugh, check it out yourself 🙂
Hmm … change of subject from eco travel Africa. We got to chat with the farm owners Jannie and Lottie Van Wyk whos actual farm home Wolwepoort is before Skilpad Wildflower Nature Reserve entrance. This old ‘Die Murasie’ farmhouse had been transformed into coffee shop five years ago by Lottie and her friend, but it is welcoming guests only during the flower season. I just love the idea – giving life back to the forgotten and warned; the initiative and welcoming friendliness in this cosy old farmhouse ruins.
On your next trip to Namaqualand for flowers, you will find ‘Die Murasie’ on the way to Skilpad Wildflower Nature Reserve, Kamieskroon, Northern Cape, South Africa. Eco travel Africa
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Agama tented accommodation Eco Safaris is ‘rooms with a view’
It was a flower season in Namaqualand. The day of our arrival, heavy clouds rolled over the sky and were there to stay. The cold front was coming. It was our misfortune not to see the sunset down in the valley and distant mountains that all the seven tented accommodations provide. I could imagine it to be stunning vista on a clear day – Agama tented accommodation eco safaris is ‘rooms with a view’.
With the chilly, rainy weather all the guests gathered into the main house, in front of a fireplace with a glass of Red wine to get comfy. It was a good opportunity to meet other guests and to chat with owners Victor and Linda Burke about their farm. The farm has been in the family for six generations. It used to be a sheep farm in the past. Victor and Linda have made it their home and are welcoming guests to their Agama Tented Camp where Springbok and Gemsbok are now roaming the shrubby terrain, and Buffalos will be introduced.
Not just an Eco establishment in Namaqualand
What made it so special, – was the personality to the place, with Linda being busy in the kitchen and Victor, if he was not engaged in conversations with guests, was pouring drinks at the Burke’s pub. You can see and feel that the owners, Victor and Linda are the heart and soul into the farm and their eco safaris lodge
Home-cooked dinner of South African Bobotie
The weather was getting rapidly miserable, and front of the fireplaces became the most popular place to be. The family cat, – the Kat, arranged himself sitting in front of it, staring motionlessly at the flames. He could have been a furry statue if it weren’t for an occasional yawn. Orphaned meerkat appeared and claimed his place in front of the fireplace. I thought the meerkat could have as well been named MenieerKat (from Afrikaans translation it would mean something like ‘the-real-mister-cat’). Victor confirmed that the MenieerKat believes himself to be the boss of the house.
Dinner was served in a cozy setting with paraffin lamps on the tables. Linda’s home-cooked dinner offered among many side dishes, a roasted leg of lamb, traditional South African Bobotie with cinnamon sweet potatoes and freshly baked bread. Second helpings assured! Linda’s baked warm apple pie was a definite cherry on top for a scrumptious meal.
Equipped with warm blankets and hot water bottles to warm the bed we retired into our eco safaris tents. And a gas heater fortified our good night sleep.
Johan says: "Beside overall warm hospitality' You can see and feel that the owners, Victor and Linda are the heart and soul into the farm and their eco safaris lodge."
Annica says: "I would rate it definitely as an Eco accommodation and thumbs up for using creativity to give ‘old’ utensils a new life".
