Mountains unfolding behind nguni cattle, honey-dipped horses grazing on green hills as the day’s last light catches them and the sound of pebbles being tossed into a lily-covered dam by a three-year old; just a few ingredients for a perfect family-friendly farm stay.
When I think farm, I definitely don’t imagine designer furniture, custom-made cushions, rugs and chic living spaces with modern floor lamps, a fire place and plunger coffee. But here at White Water Farm in Stanford, the owners Alex and Rob have ensured that on their farm with horses, nguni cattle and dogs, a juxtaposition of the finest decor and design will surprise you and add sprinkles of luxury to your farm stay.
With keen eyes for detail, a clear love for the finer things in life coupled with a desire to live simply; Alex and Rob have created a space where couples and families alike can escape city life and find solace in the countryside of Stanford. Plus they didn’t forget about the food or the coffee. When a place includes a plunger and quality coffee in your suite; this is a place I can get on board with.
Dining in the conservatory beneath hanging kokedama plants; is a relaxed affair ( if you don’t have young kids of course) but the gourmet cuisine presented is anything but relaxed. Think butternut ravioli with burnt butter and sage sauce, roast pork belly with corn custard and rocket salad and braised nguni beef with thai herbs in a wrap.
And that’s before you hit the cardamom creme brûlée for dessert and the banana bread french toast for breakfast. Meals of this flavor and quality and presented with love by Beverly will not be found in most places.
Together with our baby Joshua and toddler Caleb, we spent our days swimming in the pool, lounging on the day bed (for the few brief moments kids will be still), trailing up the dusty path to the dam at the top of the farm and collecting acorns on the grass. Caleb embarked on his very first horse ride here and proudly strode around the farm led by one of the staff members and also managed to locate the one tractor parking by the shed where he occupied himself for ages.
Travel Tip for families:
If you’re staying at White Water farm and looking for a child-friendly lunch spot close by; we recommend Klein Rivier Cheese Farm just down the road with a perfect playground for the kids to run around, tables and blankets for you to picnic on and animal feed for sale to feed the pigs, goats and sheep. Menu is very limited with only cheeseboards for sale with a single roll included so you will have to fork out more cash for more bread, meats etc to make this meal go further.
On the evenings then the restaurant wasn’t open, the town of Stanford was a short drive away where a rather pricey Italian restaurant could be found.
Sunset walks on the farm with Joshua on my back, making our way along dusty roads past the horses, nguni cattle and undulating mountains…this is how I will best remember White Water Farm. That and the fact that I’m yet to visit a more stylish farm in South Africa.
To book your stay, visit White Water Farm.
A special thanks to Ford South Africa for getting us to and from White Water Farm in Stanford. While the luggage space for a family of four is pretty tight, we love the power and speed of this little model and how well it does on the long road.
