PlanetEye

In the eccentric town of Stanford in the Overberg Region of the Western Cape you will find Mosaic Farm situated along the banks of the Hermanus Lagoon. After driving on the worst road I have ever been on with potholes and puddles as big as dinning room tables we arrived at a little treasure in the Overberg.

The Farm dates back to 1857 and stretches over 933 hectors of land rich in flora and fauna and some of the most legendary spots in this small town that kept me very awake one stormy night.

In 1892 Henrietta and Jack Poole built a huge but spectacular stone Manor on the farm. This legendary manor house called a Spookhuise (meaning Ghost House) is situated where the ancient milkwood trees meet the Hermanus lagoon . Henrietta was a socialite and after the passing of her mother it became a lonely and unhappy place for her because her husband was 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 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 a parasol. But on approaching her she vanishes!!!

The Spookhuise and adjoining properties have recently been restored to be a conference & function facility.

Now it was just my luck that on the stormiest night in years we stayed over at Mosaic Farm in one of their very homely self-catering cottages right next to the Spookhuise during a very enjoyable but nervy night .... aside from the cottages they have a luxurious tented lodge. Between the ancient milkwoods you will find tents that are fitted with a en suite bathroom, comfortable beds and everything thing you would need to feel like royalty in the African bush.

The farms 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!!