Mosaic Farm & the Ghost House

• Review
• Monday, May 12, 2008

In the eccentric town of Stanford in the Overberg Region of the Western Cape is where you will find "Mosaic Farm"nestled along the banks of the Hermanus Lagoon. After driving on some of the worst road I have ever been on with potholes as big as dinning room tables and puddles I could stand knee deep in we arrived at this little treasure in the Overberg.

The Mosaic Farm dates back to 1857 and stretches over 933 hectors of land rich in flora and fauna with some of the most legendary spots in this lovely area which kept me fascinated and also wide awake throughout one very stormy night.

In 1892 Henrietta and Jack Poole built a huge but spectacular stone Manor on the farm. Where the ancient milkwood trees meet the lagoon is where the legendary Manor house (called Spookhuise- meaning Ghost House) is situated. It had recently undergone a fabulous restoration with an intention of using it as a conference & function facility.

Well Henrietta was a socialite and after the passing of her mother it became a lonely and unhappy place for her with her husband being away for long periods of time. So one stormy night with the baby in one arm and her favourite Persian carpet in the other she made her way across the lagoon to Hermanus but was never to be seen again. To this day people have said they have seen an elderly women sitting along the banks of the lagoon with an umbrella taking shade from the sun. But on approaching to investigate - she vanishes into thin air.....!

Now it was just my luck that on one of the stormiest night in years we stayed over at Mosaic Farm in one of their homely self-catering cottages right next to the very same Spookhuis.... aside from the cottages they have a luxury tented lodge. Between the ancient milkwoods you will find a high quality set-up with tents that are fitted with bathrooms, comfortable beds and everything thing you would need to feel like royalty in the African bush.

The activities include hiking, kayaking, whale watching and bird watching or you could just kick back and enjoy the breathtaking views and the excellent service provided by the Mosaic Farm staff.

This is one of the many secrets of the Western Cape just waiting to be explored!!