HOME TO THE STARS
LOCATION
In the little village of Merweville, 41km north up a tarred road off the N1 from Prince Albert Road, and 350km from Cape Town.
STYLE
A rustic platteland hotel that feels more like someone’s house than the standard country hotel that you once found in every town. Rooms are small and basic but comfortable and most have en suite bathrooms. There is a small dining room with a sitting room off to one side as well as a courtyard where you can take the cool evening Karoo air. Out back is the windpump without which no Karoo home is complete, plus a playful resident kitten called Fiela.
SERVICE
Your hosts are Mary-Anne and Johan van Heerden. Johan is the concierge and storyteller, Mary-Anne is what bigger hotels like to call the F&B manager. They are attentive, friendly and kind-hearted — the epitome of Karoo hospitality.
HOW’S THE GRUB?
Classic “boerekos” on a plate heaped high with comfort food. On the night we were there, dinner was bobotie with creamed spinach, rice and sambals, with sweet pumpkin on the side because boerekos is never complete without it.
ACTIVITIES
Merweville is a preternaturally quiet place, lit at night by a blanket of brilliant stars. If you find it difficult to just kick back and listen to the windpump creak in the breeze, there are plenty of easy hikes into the surrounding hills, from which there are superb views of the Swartberg, Nuweveldsberg and the Roggeveld mountains. If you feel the need for a miniexpedition, Sutherland and its famous observatory are just 110km away on a lovely drive — all good gravel — up and over the Koms mountain pass.
BEST TIME TO GO
Any time between March and October — but autumn and spring in the Karoo are best.
FACILITIES
Eight double rooms, six with en suite bathrooms. There is a lapa and braai area for long evenings under the stars, a caravan and camping site next to the lodge and a farmstyle swimming pool fed by the windpump pulling cold, clear water out of the depths.
RATES
R480 per person per night. Dinner R150, breakfast (full English with locally sourced sausage and eggs) R80.
CONTACT
Visit springboklodgemerweville.yolasite.com.