Stay with our young family by the sea in Hermanus, South Africa

Details

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  Description

  We are a young family living in Hermanus, South Africa - a beautiful coastal town known for its whales, mountains, and nature. Our household is made up of myself (Kirsten), my husband Sam, and our two little boys, Heath (born 2023) and Oliver (born 2025). Life with two small children is busy and full of energy, but we love the rhythm of family life here by the sea.
  
  We both work remotely for international tech companies, and we’re passionate about creating a warm, welcoming home. We enjoy good vegetarian food, time in nature, and exploring the local community.
  
  We’re registering on Workaway because we love the idea of cultural exchange and the chance to welcome an extra pair of hands around the house or with the kids. In the past, Kirst has also been on the other side of the experience as a Workawayer - from working at a hostel in Australia, to helping at a language school in Vietnam, to supporting a digital nomad in Bali (and living in their office!).
  
  In return, we’re excited to share genuine South African hospitality, our knowledge of the local area, and the slower-paced lifestyle that Hermanus has to offer.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Babysitting and creative play

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  Help around the house
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  Interests

  

  Technology

  

  Vegetarian or vegan

  

  Pets

  

  Culture

  

  Self development

  

  Music

  

  DIY & crafts

  

  Books

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Astronomy

  

  Camping

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Nature

  

  Mountain

  

  Beach

  

  Hiking
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Hermanus is a quieter town, but also vibrant in its own way - full of people who’ve chosen to settle here from all walks of life. It’s just two hours from Cape Town, making it a perfect balance between small-town charm and access to a big city. There’s a thriving Saturday market, incredible whale-watching opportunities, and plenty of conversation and community life to be part of.
  
  For us, hosting Workawayers is about connection. I (Kirsten) did Workaways abroad after my studies, and it deeply shaped my outlook on the world. Now, I’d love to give my children the chance to meet people from around the world, hear different stories, and experience a variety of cultures from our own home.
  
  Sam has German heritage, and we are both local South Africans. We speak Afrikaans and can help with learning some of the language, while our wonderful nanny from Zimbabwe is part of our family and can share Shona. In return, we’d love to learn about your culture, your traditions, your experiences and your food!
  
  Beyond our home, there are many opportunities to connect with the local community. Hermanus has several grassroots outreach projects in the nearby township, as well as an active animal shelter, for those who would like to volunteer or get involved during their stay.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  We don’t have one big project in mind - more just an extra pair of hands to help with the flow of family life. We have full-time childcare during working hours, but support during the day is still welcome - for example, preparing wholesome vegetarian meals (no need to be a chef, we have plenty of recipe books, but we’d also love to try dishes from your own culture). Help is also appreciated in the evenings, and definitely over some weekends, whether that’s joining in on family activities, helping with bathtimes, or keeping an eye on the kids if Mom and Dad sneak out for a rare date night.
  
  Other support could include assisting with creative household projects like arranging and displaying our many printed family photos, or lending a hand in our fynbos garden on our second adjacent plot.
  
  It is critical to us that you genuinely love children and have experience with young kids, since our boys are still very little.

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Afrikaans: Intermediate

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  Accommodation

  Workawayers will have a spacious private and modern room with a beautiful view of the mountain, which is just a stone’s throw away. The room has a comfortable double bed with all bedding provided, and an ensuite bathroom that includes a toilet, shower, bath, and double basins. It’s tucked away in a far corner of the house, giving you plenty of privacy and distance from the kids’ bedrooms and the usual family noise.
  
  We also have strong, reliable Wi-Fi, making this a great option for digital nomads who may need to work remotely during their stay.
  
  Regarding meals, we haven’t set a strict system yet. We’re happy to provide plenty of ingredients and often cook ourselves, but it’s important that our Workawayers are also open to cooking meals regularly as part of the exchange. We love sharing food and would really enjoy trying dishes from your culture too.

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  What else ...

  Hermanus is best enjoyed with some independence, so the ideal setup is for Workawayers to rent a car. Uber is sporadic in the area and can’t be relied on as it would be in bigger cities, though there are local taxi services you can pre-book (we have the details of a reliable one). We also have a bicycle you are welcome to use, as well as a second family car (manual transmission) which Workawayers may be able to borrow, provided you meet the license requirements to drive here and are a confident driver.
  
  Workaway is not a well-known concept in Hermanus yet, but people here are open-minded and welcoming, and we think it will work really well in the community. This is not a city, so there isn’t a huge nightlife scene, but there are some vibrant bars, cafés, and plenty of opportunities to enjoy a slower, easy-going lifestyle. If you’re looking to “go out on the town” regularly, this probably isn’t the right fit.
  
  We live in a modern but eco-conscious home: we’re vegetarian, recycle, compost, and run our house largely on solar power. If you share an interest in living sustainably, you’ll feel very at home here.
  
  The experience here is about slotting into family life, enjoying the beauty of the area, and embracing a more relaxed pace. We live adjacent to a mountain nature reserve with heaps of hiking trails right on our doorstep, and just a one-minute drive to the flagship beaches of Hermanus - so we’re truly sandwiched between mountain and sea! On top of that, the surrounding region is famous for its incredible, affordable wines.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  One

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  My animals / pets

  Fluff

  Jazz

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