When you visit Rondekuil Estates during harvest season you’ll notice one of the most compelling, natural transformations in the Cape countryside. Whether you’re staying in one of our comfortable farm-style Cottages on the farm, visiting friends in the area, or simply exploring the northern outskirts of Cape Town, this is one of the most beautiful times to experience the Durbanville countryside around Rondekuil.
The rolling farmlands backdropped by the Majestic Table Mountain slowly shift in colour – the bright green and yellow of the canola fields in winter give way to deep gold as the wheat ripens and readies for harvest. It’s a visual highlight of the year and one of the reasons why the area is so loved by Rondekuil guests, photographers and nature enthusiasts. Green fields are transformed into vast khaki-coloured stretches dotted with neatly piled hay bales and haystacks.
The area around Rondekuil becomes a hive of activity. The busy hum of tractors and harvesters moving steadily across the fields, with dust rising gently in the breeze become part of daily life. Opportunistic birds hover, searching enthusiastically for morsels in the trail of the harvesting machines.
This is not without some drama however, for example, while out photographing some of the activity I was privileged to witness the breathtaking deftness of the machine operators proudly displaying their skills. One little mishap was hilariously caught on camera but quickly rectified by a slick operator who scooped up the fallen hay bales after a rather gung-ho driver turned the corner a bit too sharply and dropped some of his load on the road!
Jock of the Bushveld
Earlier in the week we had a Western themed year-end party at our Conference Venue- the perfect excuse to gather some hay bales from the neighbouring farmland to add some creative flare and a fitting backdrop to the festivities, complimenting the already gorgeous decor. In true Jock of the Bushveld style, our fiercely loyal little resident farm dog, Zoe (or shall we call her Zoe of the Farmveld?), was spotted diligently overseeing the transfer of the bales, following her beloved owner, one of the Venue staff members as he meticulously prepared.
Naturally, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to turn her into the star of the show! Her good-tempered nature and fearless pursuit of her favourite person is reminiscent of Jock, who was vividly described and made famous in the book written by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick. Jock was loved by all who met him, and so is Zoe. The hastily arranged photo-shoot had a few bumps along the way, but the overall result was reasonably successful. Now we’re optimistic that our little Rondekuil rescue pup is almost as famous as Jock of the Bushveld!
Something that guests notice immediately is the genuine, truly heartwarming love that our amazing Rondekuil Staff have for animals, whether a visiting pet or one of our own farm animals. This dedication creates safe, pet friendly, accommodation and a welcoming environment that gives our guests peace of mind.
Visit www.rondekuil.co.za to explore our accommodation and conference venue options, view more photos, and book your peaceful countryside retreat.
