Haute Grandeur Global Rewards

“From Mexico to Australia, Dubai to Hong Kong the Haute Grandeur Global Hotel & Spa Awards have gone to great lengths to bring the world’s hotel industry together as all hotels have one thing in common, well travelled spoilt guests. After many decades of catering to an ever demanding industry hotels and spas have now realised the importance of unsurpassed excellence. Haute Grandeur has been constituted to promote a solid foundation for budget, luxury and premium hotel & spa brands to excel by means of recognition.”

Sweetfontein Boutique Farm Lodge is privileged to be associated with such an amazing brand and is looking forward to the road ahead, delivering excellence and surpassing all expectations.

 

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Sustainable Travel

Sustainable tourism is a concept that covers the complete tourism experience, including concern for economic, social and especially environmental issues to improve a tourists’ experience. At Sauer Collection our aim is to increase the benefits to travellers and reduce the negative impacts, like protecting the natural environment, wildlife and natural recourses when managing tourism activities. With the recent load shedding hitting South Africa again, sooner or later all tourism destinations in South Africa will have to implement ways of generating electricity to paying clientele and doing so in a more sustainable matter. Slowly but surely we are getting there and we are proud to say that we are recognised by an international travel agency as a sustainable travel destination.

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Introducing: The Sauer Collection

Ten years ago a young man started a small business in the Karoo and since then this small business has grown into multiple properties providing luxury accommodation & service all over the Karoo.

With persistence, a vigorous work ethic and a certain sense of style, his brand was developing and we can now say with much pride that we have amalgamated these properties under the new name: Sauer Collection.

Crossing towns all over the Upper Karoo and offering a tailormade service, it has reached the ears of not only the most leading of interior designers and trend setters but also of various publications and TV programmes.

Sweetfontein Boutique Farm Lodge, Britstown

Twyfelberg Karoo Hideaway, Britstown

Boutique Guesthouse Hanover

Kliphuijs Richmond

Seisoen Richmond

Please feel free to follow us on all social platforms and watch this space!

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Flower Glory

 Travelling is picking up again and we could not be happier. South Africans are taking advantage of the splendid sites locally and the Namaqualand Flowers are in bloom! With over 3500 flora species found nowhere else in the world, it truly is worth a peek.

August to September is ideally the best time to visit the region and almost 80% of our guests are travelling to witness this majestic display of natural phenomena. One of the most popular places to visit during this time is Nieuwoudtville, Biedouw Valley, Namaqua National Park, Clanwilliam and the Hantam National Botanical Gardens.

Driving from Johannesburg to Namaqualand will take approximately 12 hours and 40 minutes, but stopping half way in the Karoo is what almost all travelling guests are doing these days, and Sweetfontein is definitely the perfect stop to take the much needed rest for your journey to this magical show of flowers in South Africa’s outback.

If this is your first time traveling to see the flowers, take the time to read up about all the remote, quaint towns and accommodations provided, activities available in the region or follow the advice of previous visitors. Book your stay early, travel north quickly and do most of your flower-viewing in a southerly direction so that the flowers are always facing you.

But the most important thing of all is to get out of the car and smell the flowers!

   

 

 

 

 

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Free Range Karoo Lamb

The reason why Karoo Lamb is considered by many as the best lamb in South Africa is because of its unique flavour. Karoo sheep mainly feed on the indigenous flora, which is not only palatable to the sheep but also very nutritious. These unique shrubs have a very herby aroma, so the meat itself does not need to be marinated or pre treated in advance. Most of our guests prefer Lamb Chops for dinner which is grilled on the fire with only pepper, lemon juice and salt afterwards. Our shanks that’s slow roasted is also very popular.
  
Keeping up with new trends and a new season we have adapted our menu, but of course being in the Karoo and promoting the use of local produce, Lamb still remains the hero on the menu at Sweetfontein.
A cut that surely is synonymous with beef is the rump steak. And low and behold the Lamb rump is just as good, maybe even better and like the chop it’s easily prepared with no marinating requirements.
 
Breaking way of tradition we’ve decided to share one of our most sacred lamb recipes!
Red Wine, Balsamic & Rosemary Braised Lamb Shank
Serves 4
4 Lamb Shanks, trimmed
8 shallots, peeled
1 Cup of good red wine
2 Cups of beef stock
1/4 Cup balsamic vinegar
2 long sprigs rosemary
Creamy Garlic Mash and Broccoli, to serve
Preheat the oven to 160°C. Place a heavy based casserole over a moderately high heat. Rub some olive oil over the lamb and season with salt and pepper. Sear for 8 minutes or until browned all over. Remove the shanks and set aside.
Place the shallots in the pan and cook for 4 minutes or until coloured. Add the wine, stock, vinegar and rosemary along with the lamb. Bring up to the boil, cover completely and place in the oven for 3 hours or until very tender. Remove the lid and cook for a further 30 minutes. Turn them over once or twice if they are colouring to much.
Use a spoon to skim off any fat that has risen to the surface and reduce the sauce over a high heat if necessary.
Serve with mashed potatoes and broccoli and enjoy with a good glass of red wine!
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Destination: Karoo

While the rest of South Africa is still reeling from the social and economic effects in the aftermath of strict levels of lockdown, things are slowly turning back to normal and we can say with certainty that the Karoo is booming with travelers as provincial borders have opened and leisure travel is allowed.
While South Africa is still in the midst of a pandemic, the Karoo with vast open spaces and slow, safe living has become the perfect destination for travel.
I’m sure that any South African will tell you that the specific part which they inhabit, where they were raised hold some form of magic for each and everyone, but the Karoo truly has the ability to regenerate a person’s wellbeing.
Health retreats are becoming more and more popular in the Karoo due to that very fact. Society has become completely urbanized and it’s especially those that are unable to switch off from the fast moving pace that finds the slow, easy living of the Karoo tempting, even if it is just for a week.
To inhale the clean, fragrant air of the Karoo should be considered a privilege to all that lives here. Drinking fresh, unspoiled water from a Karoo wind pump is something very few people will ever get to experience.
Enjoying the Milky Way and clear starry nights together with your loved ones seems to be on everyone’s bucket list these days.
Exploring the natural semi desert habitat where you can walk for miles without encountering any people will obviously have an effect on your body, but mostly an effect on your mind.
Amid the stressful time we find ourselves in at the moment, we heartily invite you to visit and explore Sweetfontein with its magical charm and all the activities we have on offer for your annual rejuvenation.
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Sweetfontein’s New Dawn is here!

The success of Sweetfontein can mostly be attributed the the great team we have assembled over the years. It’s truly a privilege to be working with such a humble group of people that shares their fearless leader’s vision for her in such an uncertain time. No task is ever too big or too small to accomplish to ensure fulfilment of Jan Sauer’s dream. Their friendly faces will welcome and make you feel right at home after a long journey.
Sweetfontein’s Farm Manager, Pikkie Louw was born in the Karoo and has been with the Lambrechts Family for 7 years. With his quirky sayings he can lighten even the most of dreadful moods.
Andries is the epitome of a Karoo child. You can ask him anything about the Karoo Field or animals and he will in a very fascinating way start telling stories with humorous detail of specific encounters with every species.
Together these two men handle the farming portion on Sweetfontein.
David (lovingly known to most of our guests as Mannetjie) is our caretaker, and it can be said that he can do almost anything, even forming part of the kitchen brigade when we start plating mains for 160 wedding guests!
Marie and Sophie, is the two soft spoken better halves of Mannetjie and Andries. Taking care of the rooms, laundry, kitchen and even the venue, these two women know how to do almost everything.
Then Sweetfontein would like to introduce you to our very own Rat Pack!
These four men, Ishmail, Ruben, Christo and Jacobus are all bachelors working (and also entertaining!) everyday to make sure that your stay is even more enjoyable. (Christo was on leave while taking the photo)
Lastly, our Guest Liaison Officer, Issebel Swanepoel have been a part of Sweetfontein’s team from the very beginning. Receiving and entertaining guests for 6 years, she knows the in’s and out’s of every part of the business.
After the announcement later today by Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, individuals are now allowed to leave their homes for leisure travel, and curfews for restaurants has been moved to 22h00, within you province. Luckily with the Northern Cape being the biggest province, we are EXTREMELY excited to say, “Sweetfontein and her staff can’t wait to welcome you back!”
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The Boutique Group Welcomes You

So we finally decided to give blogging a go! We hope that you will derive as much joy from the Karoo as we do.
Having a passion for something in life is certainly something all of us aspire to, not many can find it but what we are hoping for is that you will start to see and come to love the Karoo as a place where you can stop, go back to your routes and appreciate all the little gifts that we overlook day to day.
The Boutique Group prides itself with the fact that we keep on growing, with now three establishments up and running. Sweetfontein Boutique Farm Lodge, Boutique Guesthouse Hanover and Seisoen Retreat Richmond.
This blog will be about day to day living in the Karoo, what we do weekly, how to overcome certain obstacles in the Karoo, how to extract the best out of local produce, to work with what you have and just to take a step back and appreciate quality.
It will become your guide for just about everything that you find interesting in the Karoo.
Sweetfontein Farm has been known to the locals for quite some time but it was only as little as 7 years ago that it truly started to establish itself among the holiday travellers and thrill seekers as the place to be in the Karoo. Luxurious accommodation, exquisite scenery and euphoric activities that will leave you wanting for more.
The current national lock down and economic state has been difficult to deal with on every level. We cannot wait to share with the public and all our loyal guests what we have been up to during lock down. As every farmer and especially the Karoo women can attest to, one cannot simply sit down and wait for opportunity to come and knock on your door again. Life goes on and we have definitely been busy!
So please join us on this journey through daily life in the Karoo!
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Get In Touch

Off the N10, 15 km east of Britstown, 35 km west of De Aar
+27 60 381 8753
info.sweetfontein@gmail.com

Seisoen Karoo
Retreat

22 Loop Street, Richmond
Northern Cape
+27 (0)81 077 0151
bookings.kliphuijs@gmail.com

Boutique Guesthouse
Hanover

22 Darling Street, Hanover, 7005
Northern Cape
+27 (0)81 077 0151
boutiqueguesthouse.hanover@gmail.com

Kliphuijs
Richmond

18 Spring Street, Richmond
Northern Cape
+27 (0)81 077 0151
bookings.kliphuijs@gmail.com

Twyfelberg Karoo Hideaway
Britstown

Twyfelberg Farm, Britstown
Northern Cape
+27 (0)60 381 8753
info.twyfelberg@gmail.com

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