03 HOOPOE CABIN
KYNSNA, WESTERN CAPE
We switched off the music. Our world, wallpapered green, was flooded by the songs of insects and birds and the rustling of eucalyptus leaves. We were sitting on the deck of secluded Hoopoe, one of Fern Gully’s wooden cabins nestled among stinkwoods, yellowwoods, wild pomegranates and towering gums, home to turacos and vervet monkeys. The cabin, built by owners Michelle and Rob Legg, is basic with an old-world charm: there’s a small box TV, a couple of DVDs to choose from, a queen-size bed and kitchenette, and outside a braai place and shower.
A flock of hadedas flew overhead and cawed noisily.
‘Oh well. It can’t all be good.’ I sighed. There’s no signal here, and part of the allure is the lack of cellular distraction. You feel like you’re tucked away in your own microcosm of reality.
‘Michelle said the fireflies are out ... do you want to go look for them?’ he asked after we’d eaten dinner. My eyes lit up – I love fireflies. So like two children in search of fairies, we disappeared down the darkened forest paths looking for their faint, magical flickers.
ROMANTIC ELEMENT The outdoor shower looking onto the green canopy.
DO IT Pet-friendly Fern Gully is about 16 kilometres from Knysna, off the Rheenendal road, en route to Goudveld forest. There’s a convenience store up the road for last-minute supplies, and Michelle raves about the salads at Totties Farm Kitchen nearby. From R750 (sleeps two). 082-306-4513, fern-gully.com getaway.co.za