Laid-back, comfortable accommodation for carefree days with a fully fenced pet friendly garden.
Festina Lente in Onrus is a Latin oxymoron: 'hasten slowly'. This house offers solace in a quiet residential cul-de-sac in a countryside town. Rustic-chic décor with cottage-core charm.
Onrus Beach is 4 min by car, Hemel and Aarde Valley wineries 10 min.
The gas hob and geyser guarantee hot water. The inverter/battery keeps the lights on.
Perimeter security beams. Camera over outside entrance.
The space
Guests rent the whole house in this quiet old-world cul-de-sac with friendly, retired neigbours.
No need to worry about power outages because it has a gas hob to cook on, a gas geyser for hot showers, and an inverter-battery system to provide electricity for TV, WiFi, lights, fridges, and charging phones and laptops.
ENTRANCE AND DOWNSTAIRS AREA
In summer, the double front doors open up onto the large entertainment area with a fire pit outside. The sassy red drinks fridge is conveniently placed to avoid congestion in the galley kitchen.
The modern soundbar has Bluetooth capabilities for you to stream your favourite background music, and the complimentary Wi-Fi covers the whole house (although load shedding can interfere).
In winter, you can laze in the cosy lounge nook with a hot water bottle and a book while watching the birds in the garden from the large windowpanes overlooking the garden.
The kitchen is compact yet completely equipped for light holiday cooking. It has a four-plate Bosch gas hob, a large fridge, a 5,5 L Kenwood air fryer, a 19 L microwave and glassware, crockery, cutlery and cooking utensils.
The downstairs powder room is cleverly hidden behind a large, mirrored door.
• Mountain bedroom
This bedroom leads off the lounge/dining area and has an en-suite shower with painted bare-brick walls. The queen-sized bed is very comfortable. Two windows overlook the garden, which makes this the quietest, most private bedroom in the house.
The room is decorated with African-themed original art with a table for your laptop or suitcase, a coat-stand with hangers, and A-frame shelves for clothes.
• Garden bedroom
Next to the kitchen, you step into the largest bedroom with windows and a double sliding door onto the garden. The ultra-comfortable queen-sized mattress with a pillow top offers a good night's sleep. The en suite shower has frosted windows that open up onto the garden alley for a unique outdoor feel.
This room has a desk overlooking the garden, a coat-stand with hangers and a shelf for clothes.
There is a 32" smart TV mounted against a wall to watch your favourite series from bed. Guests have to use their own logins to access content providers like Netflix.
UPSTAIRS
The loft area is open plan with screens that separate areas and provide privacy. The atrium adds to the airy openness and the creaking floors attest to the built-by-hand legacy that shaped this home.
• Bedroom with a view
The loft has another queen-sized bed positioned next to windows covered by sheer white sheets that billow in the breeze when the doors are open to give an Out-of-Africa feel to the space. These can be tied to the side to open up the view of trees outside and the garden below. This bed also has a mosquito net to add to the romance.
The table opposite the bed can be used as a desk. The coat-stand and a cabinet with shelves provide space for clothes.
The laptop safe is opposite the bed. The code is 7075.
• Bath with a view
One of the luxurious features of this house is the deep Victorian bathtub positioned under the roof skylight. It’s perfect for soaking away the cares of life while dreaming of the next day’s adventures.
The WC is conveniently positioned next to it.
• Views near the TV
Although most guests visit the Overberg for outdoor activities, the 43" smart TV offers YouTube and Netflix with your own login. There is also a large collection of DVDs in many genres, including animations for the little ones.
There is enough seating on two settees and directors’ chairs around a glass table. The double doors open inwards to give a breath-taking view of the mountain ridges above Onrus.
If it gets a little chilly in winter, the gas heater will warm you up while you get lost in a work of fiction or poetry or while paging through any of the interesting books from the well-stocked library.
OUTSIDE AREA
Sit outside around the fire pit (or as locals call it, the ‘braai’) with your friends and family – even the furry ones as the large yard is completely enclosed to offer a safe space for kids and dogs to play.
Breathe in the early morning champagne air as you sit on the garden bench crafted from wattle battens (intrusive foreign vegetation cleared from the area to re-invigorate indigenous fynbos). Watch dragonflies, butterflies, birds, and frogs as they visit the garden and small lotus pond.
Enjoy the view of the nearby Cape Fold Mountain ridge and look out for the African Harrier-hawk pair as they circle in the blue skies above. If you’re lucky, you may even spot the local Eagle-owl that frequents this countryside suburb.
For security, a camera has been installed over the front entrance and yard.
Guest access
Guests will have exclusive use of the whole house and yard during their stay.
Storage cupboards and boxes that are private are clearly marked and locked.
Other things to note
Guests must agree to the house rules and may be required to submit a signed Reservation Form, along with a valid identification document, before arrival.
The gas hob means you can make coffee or breakfast even if Eskom cuts the power during load shedding. The gas geyser also makes sure you'll always have hot water.
The inverter system keeps essential appliances like lights, TV and fridges running, and you will be able to charge phones and laptops, although not any device with a motor or heating element like hair dryer, vacuum, electric heater or microwave. These can be operated when the municipal power is on.
For stays longer than 7 days, a weekly cleaning service is compulsory, and guests will be charged separately.
