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House-sitter welcome for my lovely cottage and animals in sunny Kamieskroon, South Africa

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: 1 week or less

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
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Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Details

  • Description

    Description

    Housesit my lovely cottage, cats, dogs and goats for a week.

    I am a 55 year old woman, living in a tiny village in the deep rural area of the semi-arid Namaqualand, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. I share my space with 3 cats and 4 dogs, and the property is home to three milking goats as well. I work for a conservation NGO, which keeps me busy during the week. I also run a small tourism accommodation facility. I practice slow-living, reading a lot, sourcing a lot of food locally, the goats provide me with milk and the hens with eggs. I like cooking meals from scratch and baking my own bread. Once a month I have a stand at the local market, selling second hand books, which I also sell online. In September the landscape is transformed by masses of spring flowers. I love my cottage, which leans to Bohemian and to have a glass of wine on the porch which has a spectacular view of the Kamiesberg mountains.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Gardening
    Animal Care
    Help around the house
    House sitting
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    There is no big cultural experience that I can offer, but you will be staying in a comfortable home, enjoying peace and quiet in a safe and beautiful environment. There is a small home library, an outdoor cooking area on the porch and access to natural areas within a five minute walk from the house.

    If your stay dates coincide with the market day, you can visit and sample local and homemade goods

    You can experience the unique atmosphere in a small rural village in Namaqualand.

  • Help

    Help

    I work full-time for a conservation ngo and live alone, with a house, animals and a garden to take care of. In January 2025, I will be travelling and need a housesitter to look after my animals,the house and garden. I will leave on the 26th, so can show you the ropes first. The cupboards and fridge will be stocked, but you need to cook for yourselve.

    I can teach you to milk goats and how go take care of goats. A cleaner comes once a week, but I expect volunteers to keep the house in a reasonable state.
    There is farmland close to the house where you an walk.

    It is really important to me that I can entrust the animals and plants to a responsible person who will perform feeding, walking and watering as indicated.

    Your total time spent on duties will likely not be more than 3 hours a day

    There is very little in terms of entertainment, and you would need to be self-contained and able to function in a slow-paced environment.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    Afrikaans: Fluent
    English: Fluent

    This host offers a language exchange
    I would love to learn some Spanish.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    You will have your own bedroom in my cottage. The bathroom will be shared.

    You have to be comfortable with animals in the house.

    I have no television, but I have entered the online second hand book business, so there is plenty to read. There is farmland at the end of my street where you can go for walks, the dogs will love walking with you.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    The village, Kamieskroon, has an agricultural shop which also stocks basic foodstuffs, a small grocery shop, a cafe and two liquor stores, as well as a coffee shop.

    There is a clinic and in my absence, I will arrange with a friend for any trips to the closest bigger centre, Springbok, including for healthcare needs, and grocery shopping.

    While I am here, we can share cooking duties, and the grocery cupboards, fridge and freezer will be stocked to provide you with food, which you will have to cook yourself, in my absence. Otherwise cooking (and dishes) duties are shared.

    I don't smoke, but smokers are welcome, you can indulge on the porch or the deck.

    IMPORTANT: Volunteers need to get to Kamieskroon under their own steam. Several minibus taxi companies run taxis daily from Cape Town to Kamieskroon and will drop you right at our door.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    Campervans and motor homes welcome, I have a large yard. Preferably no more than two people and provision of own food for the second person

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    One

Host ref number: 821141888622

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