Oak View Manor

I'm a former ballet dancer, theatre performer, and creative director, still working as a freelance copywriter. I love hosting and creating memorable settings and experiences for our guests and visitors. Our in-house team includes my life partner, Gavin (boyfriend, barman, barista, & bellboy), my sister-from-another-mother, Werna, an excellent foodie who keeps us all very well-fed. Our super-duper support services team includes Rachel (our housekeeping superwoman), Terry (maintenance dynamite in a small package), Jabu (our always-helpful -whatever-the-ask rasta), and Pauline, our trainee cook and all-round support. Our heads of security and the welcoming committee are Pippi Longstocking, our Staffie-Pitbull, and Haasdas, our Corgi-Dacshund. If you are fearful of dogs, I suggest you give us a skip. If you want to bring your own dog children to stay, then the Pink or Chocolate suites are suitable. Kindly give us a heads-up beforehand, and a reminder when you are at the gate. We all look forward to hosting you and to making your stay as pleasant and memorable as possible.

Dear guest, two friendly dogs live here. If you're fearful, then for your own comfort, please skip us. I grew up in this charming century-old Cape Dutch manor home, returning in 2016 to restore and repurpose it as a guest house and intimate function venue. Interior decor is Victorian-Bohemian, with a mix of beautiful old and new wallpapers, antiques and vintage decor, ideal for photo and film shoots. We have an intimate pop-up restaurant/venue with an old-school pub (open for dinners/functions by prior arrangement). Breakfast can be served in the parlour, under the Oak, or in your room. As this is also our home, we regularly invite overnight guests to enjoy our living areas and bar (provided we're available). We offer grid and solar power, and recycle extensively. The Chocolate Suite (queen bed) has a shower over a slipper bath and a sleeper couch in the kitchenette, making it ideal for family stays. There are also three comfortable, side-by-side, vintage-style suites, tucked away in the courtyard (Teal, Pink, and Blue). There is a private barbeque area for guests, or you can relax anywhere in the large garden or at the fire pit under the century-old oak. With our many large trees, we have a lot of bird life and bird song here. Our neighbourhood is largely peaceful and quiet. Spacious, gated on-site parking is free, and your room key ring has a gate remote. We have two friendly dogs. If you're travelling with a pet and staying in the Pink or Chocolate Suite, kindly give us a heads-up first so we can make suitable arrangements for supervised introductions. We can recommend several places nearby to explore/shop/dine, and our guests can enjoy these perks: 1) free 5km nature trail walk on a friend's beautiful farm just outside town (also book horseriding), 2) discounted day rate at Sionbergh campsite with lake, swimming pool, and more facilities (8km). 3) discounted rate for a professional massage therapy session ordered to your room (availability dependent).

Our town (a 45-minutes drive from OR Thambo International Airport) is quiet and pretty, with a river than runs through it and the Suikerbos Rand (hills) flank us. Where local government falls way short, community groups pull together to keep the town clean and maintained. There are privately operated local airport shuttle operators and a local tour guide with a wealth of heritage knowledge. Heidelberg may be a sleepy country-town, but we still boast coffee and gift shops, an antique shop, a vintage store and several decent, great-value restaurants. Shop at the Victorian Shopping Centre in town or the fair-sized mall next to the highway. Henly-On-Klip, a small village with several interesting restaurants is only 20 minutes away. You can take a 5km run or walk on our friend's beautiful farm (8 minutes away), at no charge. You can add/book an outride on rescue horses. Another farm in our area does beautiful riverside picnics by appointment, and the Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve (which you can drive through in an hour) also has three walking trails and is only 12km away. Remember that discounted day rate you can enjoy at Sionbergh as an OVM guest... midweek visits require an appointment though. It is truly pretty in summer, with a small lake, a pool, a kitchen for orders, and loads for the kids to do. Feel free to ask us anything while you are here, we are happy to share info or contact numbers. But we've listed our favourites on the back of the information sheet in your room.