Bartholomeus Klip (BK) is a wonderfully restored Victorian homestead on an operational wheat and sheep farm amid the 10,000 acres Elandsberg Nature Reserve in the Cape Winelands, just outside Riebeek Kasteel and a mere 15 minutes’ drive from Wellington.
In just under 20 years of operation, the guesthouse has built a solid reputation for its impeccable farm-style hospitality, idyllic location in a peaceful country atmosphere and deliciously fresh food. Ten thousand acres of nature reserve with over 500 head of game, a working farm, wheatlands, flocks of sheep and a buffalo and tortoise breeding project invite no more than ten guests at a time to enjoy walking, hiking, mountain biking, canoeing and birdwatching, or just to switch off and relax. Bartholomeus Klip is located in the scenic Riebeek Valley near Cape Town, and is an excellent base for exploring the Cape Winelands.
THE GUESTHOUSE
You are welcome to make the house your own, perhaps in one of the reception rooms where an open fire crackles in the winter months, or on the broad verandah that winds around the house and catches the late afternoon sun. There are four double rooms with bathrooms in the beautifully furnished farmhouse and one separate suite outside, with its own secluded verandah looking over the veld and up to the mountains. Finishes everywhere are luxurious and stylish, with crisp cotton bedding and elegant fabrics.
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
Responsible tourism has been a central concept to everything we do at BK since we started in 1997. Our values, ethos and mission statement all speak to the triple bottom line of responsible tourism: economic growth, environmental integrity and social justice. In fact, BK was started as a way of providing meaningful employment to the wives and family members of our farm workers. The guesthouse provides an environment, along with training and mentorship, for the ladies (and the occasional gent) to explore their different talents, help contribute financially to the household and use as a platform to launch their careers.
COMMITMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT
At the heart of our business is our commitment to the environment. The Elandsberg Nature Reserve was formally declared a provincial nature reserve in 2008 in recognition of its importance to conservation. Its botanical value is incalculable since it preserves the largest remaining portions of two highly threatened Renosterveld and fynbos plant communities. Bartholomeus Klip has signed up with Cape Nature’s Stewardship programme to safeguard the reserve in perpetuity, and has played a central role in the Quagga revival project. Besides doing educational nature drives for our guests, our rangers are also involved in the reserves Geometric Tortoise head-start project – a means of providing protection and ensuring the survival of this critically endangered tortoise after the devastating fires of 2012. For fun they also get to help with the feeding and care of our disease free buffalo herd.
RESTAURANT
The restaurant at BK deserves special mention. Resident Chef Louise Gillett’s imaginative fusion of traditional South African and classic recipes, made mostly from a variety of local ingredients, produce an ongoing feast of delicacies, all day long, from breakfast over brunch and lunch to high tea and dinner. Chef Gillett has honed her skills in some of the top restaurants in South Africa and the United Kingdom, and has published the award-winning “Life on a Cape Farm – Country Cooking at Its Best” (Struik) with twin sister Lesley in 2013.
COMMUNITY CARE
But BK wouldn’t work without the support of the surrounding community. Besides employing local staff and using local suppliers wherever possible, BK is also actively involved in the local primary school, with our “Coins for Kids” initiative bringing in welcome funds, and our assistance over the years with the Eco Schools programme having seen them achieve their Green Flag along with a greater understanding of the importance of the environment. Our reserve days are always well-received by the kids and I think the time they spend in the kitchen with Louise & Mina making milkshakes and bread are by far the best.
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The warm welcome, friendly service and highly-praised food are part of the Bartholomeus Klip experience, with a team of chefs producing the gourmet meals. However, self-catering is an option at the recently opened Wild Olive House, sited away from the main house, which has accommodation for groups of friends or families of up to eight. The house has a leafy outdoor living area, private swimming pool and adjoining cottage, and is bright, charming and elegantly comfortable.
Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse is famous for its food, which is generous, imaginative and mostly made from a variety of local produce. The conservatory is full of morning sunshine at breakfast time, and at night soft candlelight makes a romantic atmosphere for diners enjoying the gourmet evening meal.
A perfect day in the country is rounded off with dinner in the conservatory, where the gourmet meals are matched with the offerings on our carefully-chosen wine list.
Guests at Bartholomeus Klip Farmhouse are taken on game drives twice daily through the reserve to see many different sorts of buck, including eland, springbok and black wildebeest, as well as zebras from the world-famous Quagga Project, and a great variety of wildflowers in the springtime. The working farm has extensive wheatlands and large flocks of sheep, as well as an impressive 45-strong breeding herd of disease-free Cape buffalo.
Apart from exploring the farm and the reserve, activities at Bartholomeus Klip include guided walks, mountain-biking, bird-watching, windsurfing on the dam, swimming in the salt-water pool with its marvellous views, and peacefully relaxing in the extensive gardens.
Contact us for our Senior Citizen packages.
15% discount on Accommodation for YEI members
Rate includes all meals and activities.
Excludes transport and bar purchases and any other extras not stipulated.
We do offer Sunday Lunches but on certain days – please check the website for dates.
Due to current circumstances we are unable to offer any discount off this rate but can offer 10% off a nature drive should you book this in combination with the Sunday Lunch offer.
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