Mzanzitravel Magazine - Issue 9

Country Travel
Many city dwellers worn out by the stresses
of daily life have long ago discovered the
revitalising secret of spending a few days on a
guest or holiday farm out in the countryside, far
from the proverbial maddening crowd.
Getting away and staying on a farm is a trend
that has fast caught on around the world, and
South Africa, with its vast outdoors and almost
endless countryside offers a wide range of
such options. A stay out in the countryside is not only refreshing, enjoyable and
educational, but it also provides an idyllic retreat at very economical rates. It
has also become very popular with families as their children can enjoy farming
activities in the fresh outdoors where it is safe and their parents can also relax.
Guests get to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the South African platteland
(countryside); the warm hospitality of farmers, their families and workers; rising
with the sun and a steaming cup of coffee in hand; wholesome healthy food that
usually starts with a heart, early morning country breakfast; and learning all about
the operations of a working farm, from milking the cows, to feeding the pigs, riding
horses, pruning fruit trees or picking grapes. In winter the evenings are spent
around a crackling fire, hearing the sounds of nature and the farm settling down
outside.
Accommodation on farms range
from basic self-catering cottages
to catered stays in a traditional
farm homestead, to luxury
accommodation. Some are on
working farms, others on farms
that have been turned into private
nature reserves. And some are close to, or even within cities, while others are
very isolated and far away from any urban life. Packages are tailored to meet any
budget.
MZANZITRAVEL| www.mzanzitravel.co.za|ISSUE 9 | 79