Nibbana: An Unforgettable Farm Stay in Tulbagh

Take a seat on the deep verandah and let the mesmerising mountain views do their thing.

Tulbagh was never on my list. Neither was Wolseley. I mean, I love a rural farming hamlet as much as the next person, but given the choice between a beach holiday/ game farm/ ski trip/ city escape, I’ll pick the beach every day of the week. The most exhilarating moments in my life, and the memories I cherish most, all revolve around the ocean.

That was until we visited Nibbana… More than just a farm, Nibbana is an experience… or rather a series of epic experiences you won’t soon forget.

The setting

Flanked by two towering mountain ranges in the Witzenberg Valley near Tulbagh, this 190-hectare working farm is the picture of bucolic paradise. Handwritten signs along a dusty farm road lead to a stylish manor house and a smattering of farm cottages, beyond which horse paddocks and grazing sheep complete the storybook scene.

A short walk further up the dirt road, you’ll stumble upon the farm’s pièce de résistance: an enchanting Secret Garden. Archways of ancient cypress, eucalyptus and oak trees create natural tunnelled pathways that lead to a sylvan paradise, where a trickling stream, natural rock pool, life-size wooden sculptures, hammocks and a 10-seater dining table with a pizza oven await.

We spent most of our days here, rock-hopping, swimming and lazing in hammocks on the sun-dappled deck to the sound of croaking frogs, chirping birds and oak leaves rustling in the breeze.

These are the moments I haven’t been able to stop thinking about:

• floating on our backs – and watching the clouds drift by – in the sparkling green, tree-lined farm dam
• sitting on a couch on the deep verandah in the early morning, sipping coffee and eating home-baked rusks, with blankets wrapped around our shoulders
• taking long walks along the dusty farm road at dusk, without seeing or hearing another soul
• red wine-fuelled stargazing sessions to the sound of a crackling fire

The lodgings

With the Tulbagh Winelands right on its doorstep, this sumptuous retreat offers various accommodation types and is ideal for those seeking a luxurious getaway in nature. Master-of-all-trades interior designer Don McCarthy has created an acutely unique artistic-farmhouse vibe matched by an exacting attention to luxurious detail.

(Think deep verandahs, a colour-coded antique bookcase, built-in fireplaces, oversized, sumptuous furniture, beautifully folded monogrammed towels, super-comfortable king-size beds, high-thread-count linen, Rain toiletries). A breezy lack of stuffiness ties everything together beautifully, creating stylish yet cosy lodgings.

The Manor House

• four bedrooms (namely the Master, Green, Grey and Twin room) sleeping eight
• king-size beds (except in the Twin and Grey rooms), with mosquito nets and electric blankets
• en-suite bathrooms with a bath and shower
• fully equipped designer kitchen
• spacious living area and dining area with indoor fireplaces
• large outdoor terrace and dining area
• braai area and sun deck
• large private pool and garden
• complimentary tea and coffee
• complimentary wifi
• bluetooth speaker
• all linen, towels and toiletries provided

Sleeps 8 (exclusive-use only)
Cost From R 6 000 per night for the house (depending on season)

Stable Family Cottage

• three-bedroom en-suite cottage sleeping six
• king-size beds in all rooms (can be converted into two single beds)
• mosquito nets and electric blankets in the master bedroom
• bathrooms with showers
• large modern kitchen and living area with a dining table
• fireplace in lounge and a wood-burning stove in the kitchen
• two large outdoor terraces and a braai area
• private plunge pool
• complimentary tea and coffee
• complimentary wifi
• bluetooth speaker
• all linen, towels and toiletries provided

Sleeps 6
Cost From R4 200 per night for the cottage (depending on season)

Stable Studio Cottage

• spacious open-plan suite sleeping two adults
• king-size bed (can be converted into two single beds), with a mosquito net and electric blanket
• en-suite bathroom with a shower
• indoor living area with armchairs and a fireplace
• fully equipped kitchen
• two large outdoor terraces and a braai area
• private plunge pool
• complimentary tea and coffee
• complimentary wifi
• al linen, towels, shower soap and toilet paper provided

Sleeps 2
Cost From R2 100 per night for the cottage (depending on season)

Karoo cottage

• spacious one-bedroom honeymoon cottage sleeping two
• king-size bed with a mosquito net and electric blanket
• en-suite bathroom with a shower
• lounge with a couch, fireplace, coffee table and desk
• fully equipped kitchen with a dining table
• large outdoor terrace and fire pit
• wood-fired private plunge pool and hot tub
• complimentary tea and coffee
• complimentary wifi
• all linen, towels and toiletries

Sleeps 2
Cost From R2 100 per night for the cottage (depending on season)

While you’re there…

• Secret Garden with large oak trees, bubbling streams, flowers and sculptures
• hammocks
• outdoor wood-fired pizza oven
• swimming in the natural pool and two nearby dams
• rowboat at the dam
• catch-and-release fishing on request
• private waterfall
• Horse About horse-riding trails for beginners and up
• hiking and mountain-biking trails
• nearby Ceres Zipline
• birdwatching

Distance from CT 1.5 hours
Child friendly? Yes
Pet friendly? No
Where to find it Boontjiesrivier Road, Wolseley, Western Cape
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