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16 October 2019
www.thevillagenews.co.za
Sizzling summer venues for special occasions The natural beauty and laid-back country hospitality of the Overberg make it a sought-after destination not only for holidaymakers but also for those looking for a unique setting to celebrate special occasions such as birthdays, reunions, anniversaries, weddings or corporate functions. There is no shortage of attractive destinations in our area, where the owners are passionate about catering for your needs and ensuring that your special celebration is a unique and unforgettable experience. STANFORD VALLEY GUEST FARM Stanford Valley Guest Farm and Conference Centre nestles in the picturesque Kleinrivier Valley, 10 km from Stanford. The property is covered in a wide variety of fynbos, and 250 ha of the 440 ha farm is part of a Nature Conservancy. In this safe and peaceful haven you can experience a real working farm, while enjoying luxury accommodation in one of the self-catering cottages (of which two are family cottages). All the accommodation is built around a central werf, giving it the feeling of a small village whilst allowing each guest unit the privacy of its own stoep and garden. Up to 44 people sharing can be accommodated in the well-appointed units, which were designed and decorated with your utmost comfort in mind.
Beloftebos group-gathering venue for this year. From the Manor House you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the Akkedisberg Mountains while tucking in to contemporary country cuisine prepared by the talented Manor House kitchen team. The food can best be described as wholesome and ample – and the team strives to cook only what is close to their hearts and close to their doorstep! Visit stanfordvalley.co.za BELOFTEBOS Beloftebos Wedding Venue is situated on a working farm, Paardenberg, where the sixth generation De Villiers family lives and farms with sheep, beef cattle and flowers. A perfect getaway, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Beloftebos is considered one of the best forest and garden wedding venues that hosts both ceremonies and receptions.
This enchanting venue is perfect for family holidays, birthday celebrations, year-end functions, conferences, weddings, retreats, workshops and team-building groups requiring a tranquil and secluded setting. The conference rooms can accommodate groups of up to about 80 delegates and are equipped with a data projector, TV, DVD, screen and flip charts. Catering is also available – in fact, the highly-acclaimed Manor House Restaurant on Stanford Valley Guest Farm is one of its main attractions.
Everything at Beloftebos has been crafted with love and inspired by nature, providing an idyllic backdrop for your dream wedding. The grove of oak trees just beyond the farmhouse, on the banks of the Paardenberg River, creates the most romantic setting for a unique and memorable ceremony, with the leaves of the huge trees creating a natural green roof, dense enough for the legal signing of the marriage register.
Not only is the Manor House Restaurant voted as one of the top 75 SA restaurants for 2019 by the Gourmet Guide, but the guest farm itself was also voted as Getaway’s top
The newly-renovated tented reception area offers unexpected luxury, with a huge fireplace and glass windows with sliding doors. Here guests can celebrate in cosy comfort while
being enveloped by the magical forest. Beloftebos’s talented chef, Corneli de Villiers, is available to organise your catering requirements and much of the produce she uses comes from the large organic vegetable garden on the farm. Between 40 and 50 wedding guests can be accommodated in the delightful self-catering cottages. Beloftebos is also a great choice for conferences in the country, and up to 100 delegates can be accommodated at the venue. Apart from catering and accommodation, a projector, screen and flip charts are also available. With the peace and tranquillity of the beautiful surroundings, you will leave feeling refreshed and revitalised, ready to tackle that new project! For the adventurous at heart, there are more than 30 km of mountain bike trails on the farm and the surrounding area offers many other attractions, including shark-cage diving in nearby Gansbaai and the Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary, which is only 10 minutes away. For more gentle souls, there is birdwatching, a tractor and trailer trip through the fynbos or a river cruise down the Klein River in Stanford. Visit beloftebos.co.za DE UIJLENES This unique family-run Overberg venue specialises in forest and barn weddings and is just the place for those looking for a fun, creative, rustic and magical experience.
Nestling in a scenic valley near the seaside village of Gansbaai, De Uijlenes is a working dairy and vegetable farm, and has been home to the same family for nearly 200 years. The owners and their team will ensure that your wedding reflects your individual personality and knocks the socks off your guests. Whether you want a magical fairytale, boho festival chic, rustic affair or just downright quirky wedding, there are a range of packages and catering options to suit your individual tastes and requirements.
boogie the night away before retiring to your accommodation in the simple farmstead and stable rooms, which sleep up to 50 people. Visit deuijlenes.co.za
De Uijlenes has two equally unique wedding venues on the farm to choose from, both surrounded by glorious countryside. The Forest & Old Barn wedding venue offers a true woodland experience, with an enchanting spot for your ceremony under giant oak trees in the depths of an indigenous forest, surrounded by a sea of white arum lilies. The reception is then held in the Old Barn, a rustic 19th century former dairy that has been lovingly converted into a cosy and romantic haven. Guests can stay within staggering distance of the bar in one of 20 rustic, but comfortable rooms at the Old Barn which can accommodate up to 75 people.
A mere 15-minute drive from the quaint village of Stanford, Felicita is a self-sustaining and eco-friendly destination, with all its facilities powered by solar and gas, and the water supply sourced from a natural spring that cascades into a stream running through the farmland. The sound of the ocean in the distance, the chirping birdlife and early morning roaring of the big cats at the Panthera Sanctuary nearby add to the peaceful and tranquil atmosphere of Felicita.
For smaller, more intimate weddings, the Nightjar venue offers an open-air koffieklip chapel next to a waterfall for your romantic ceremony, followed by the reception in a log cabin that was built by hand from materials largely sourced from the farm or valley. Here you and your guests can
FELICITA The Italian word Felicita (pronounced as Fè-litch-ita) means happiness, satisfaction and bliss – an apt name for this beautiful and secluded 100-hectare property surrounded by pristine fynbos, an enchanting milkwood forest and uninterrupted views of the Kleinrivier Mountains.
The facilities include the manor house, Dimora, and the self-catering Villa Felicita, a contemporary three-bedroom home that can comfortably accommodate up to eight guests. Situated in a remote corner of the reserve, Villa Felicita offers the ultimate in privacy so that guests can relax, unwind and enjoy the natural landscape. The Tuscan-style Felicita Dimora offers a unique setting for your fairy-
