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Host rating
85 %
Last replied
6 Oct 2025
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Details
Description
I am a 58 year old woman living on my own with three dogs and two cats, in a tiny village of less than a 1000 people in the arid Namaqualand region of the Northern Cape Province, South Africa.
I work for a conservation NGO and sell books as a sideline. I also run a small self-catering accommodation facility.
I almost exclusively need a house sitter from time to time, as I sometimes travel for work and I need a responsible person to take care of my dogs and cats, as well as water the garden in my absence. The moment I know when I will be travelling, I indicate that month in green on my Workaway calendar. I prefer a house sitter to arrive a few days in advance of my departure.
Other than that I need help with my garden and house for planting and tidying up or maintenance from time to time, for a few days, usually a week or so.
A volunteer housesitting for me, will have my cottage to themselves, enough food in stock for breakfast and dinner, access to natural areas for scenic walks, plenty of books and introductions to my friends in and around town. If it coincides, a volunteer will be able to attend the local monthly market. If I myself am here, the house is shared.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
Animal Care
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
General Maintenance
House sitting
Interests
Sustainability
Self development
Pets
Writing
Plant care
Music
History
Gardening
Cooking & food
Books
Animals
Nature
Mountain
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
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
In my absence I need a volunteer simply to:
-feed the cats and dogs
-walk the dogs at least every day
-water the garden twice a week
-keep the house in reasonable order
-check guests in, if needed (a cleaner comes in to clean when guests check out and my friend just down the road assists with check-ins when needed too, so support is available)
When I am present, it is usually to help with a garden or home project.
It really comes to less than 4 hours' tasks daily, but it is really important to me that these tasks are performed without omission and by a person who has a responsible attitude.
Languages spoken
Afrikaans: Fluent
English: Fluent
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 ...
The village, Kamieskroon, has an agricultural shop which also stocks basic foodstuffs, a butchery, a small grocery shop, a cafe and two liquor stores, as well as two coffee shops.
While I am here, we can share cooking duties, and the grocery cupboards, fridge and freezer will be stocked to provide you with food for breakfast and dinner, 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. There is also 2 bus companies, both have a service from Cape Town , and one from Johannesburg too.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Ralph
Millie
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