Matjiesvlei Cottages

Die Bokwagtershuis, “Goat keeper’s house”, was originally built during the 19th century as accommodation for the goat keeper of Matjiesvlei. His task was to tend to all the goats of the different farmers in the valley. The house has been authentically restored to maintain its atmosphere, with addition of modern amenities. Present research indicates that Die Stalle (The Stables) was originally built as the residence of the first formal famer in the valley. In all likelihood it is the oldest existing building in the valley. Generations of farmers continued to occupy it as residence, until later owners altered it into stables for horses. The building has now been restored into a comfortable 3 bedroomed cottage with a beautiful view of the valley and mountains. The history of the cottage on Middelplaas (Middle Farm) is unknown. It is the only house on Middelplaas and was probably many decades ago used as a residence for the people looking after the farm for the owners who lived elsewhere in the valley. Over the years it became very run down before it was renovated by the present owners into a cottage with the beautiful view over the olive orchard, veld and mountains. Guests of Die Stalle and Bokwagtershuis can swim in the nearby unchlorinated farm dam. The dam was built to irrigate the garden and the olive grove. All our guests can use our picnic site next to the river. There they can swim, braai and relax. This is walking distance from the Middelplaas house and about 2 km from Die Stalle and Bokwagtershuis.

Area Info

The typical little Karoo town of Calitzdorp lies on Route 62, about four hours drive from Cape Town and roughly half way to Port Elizabeth. Calitzdorp is renowned in its own right for a number of reasons, not least of which is its bona fide Klein Karoo character.

The Klein Karoo is a gorgeous part of the Cape Floral Kingdom that functions as something of a mini desert - sparse, dry and arid countryside interjected by surprisingly fertile valleys, through which mountain streams meander to provide a source of water for the surprising amount of fruit grown in the area.

Calitzdorp’s beauty is also largely attributable to the fact that it is bounded on three sides by mountain ranges - the Swartberg, the Rooiberge and the mountains of the Huisrivier Pass - that shelter the town and add to its character.

But Calitzdorp is probably most well recognized for its production of some of the country’s best port wines due largely to the hot, dry climate regarded as similar to the Duoiro valley in Portugal. Vines apparently struggle to ripen here, which, contrary to expectation, actually results in a grape with an aroma-intensity and depth that is key to port making.

Queen Street is one of the oldest streets in town and begs a stroll to properly absorb the number of Edwardian and Victorian, and Karoo style buildings heavily influenced by English architecture. There are walking trails in the Gamkaberg Nature Reserve, the Redstone Hills and at Retreat at Groenfontein, and birding in the hillsides and the areas fynbos is more than rewarding.