IN Philippolis in the southern Free State you can switch off completely and forget about rush-hour traffic and deadlines. The tree-lined dirt roads, simple Karoo-style cottages and pomegranate and quince trees heavy with fruit take you back to childhood pleasures, grandma's roast lamb and thick soup served in enamel bowls.
Former school principal Jens Friis taught at the local school for years. He owned a few properties on the edge of town which stood empty for years. But after retiring he called in the help of his sons Jens and Nico and renovated the cottages, converting them into guest-houses.
`We wanted to retain the stripped, bare look that's in keeping with the simplicity of the Karoo and took great care not to introduce Victorian influences for instance,'' Jens says. The look works well with old-fashioned as well as modern pieces.
Nestled on the edge of the town, it reminds one often of a farm. On surrounding erven are the springbokkies of Mr. George de Vos, the horses of Mr. Johan Lamprechts, the succulent garden of the Funcks, and Caf Khooa where one can take a horse-and-carriage tour. Diverse birdlife with owls in the cypress-trees. This is all besides some peacocks, the cows of Tiekie Pienaar and a footpath that leads to an old ammunitions storage house.
The team behind the guesthouses:
Jens Friis and his sons Nico, a graphic designer in London, and Jens, a journalist, travel writer and computer lecturer. They live two houses down the street from the old stable.
This charming house, circa 1890, offers an ambience of yesteryear. Authentic ceilings, floors, ...
Worth knowing:
- Private entrances
- Self-catering facilities
- Restaurant nearby (licensed)
- Pets allowed by arrangement
- Children welcome
