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House sitting for cottage, garden & animals in sunny Kamieskroon, South Africa

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: 1 week or less

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Details

  • Description

    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.

    A volunteer house sitting 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

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Gardening
    Animal Care
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    Hospitality/Tourism
    General Maintenance
    House sitting
  • Interests

    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

    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

    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)

    It really comes to less than 4hours' 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

    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 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

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

  • My animals / pets

    My animals / pets

    Ralph

    Millie

Host ref number: 821141888622

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