Glamping in the Hemel en Aarde Valley, Overberg

By Roxanne Reid
Yearning for a weekend glamping somewhere in the country where you can enjoy panoramic views, gourmet meals, and romantic hot tubbing, even active mountain biking or hiking? Canvas Collective Africa in the greater Hemel en Aarde Valley between Caledon and Stanford in the Western Cape might be just the place. 

​​Everything in this off-the-grid posh tenting destination is intended to touch the earth lightly. They can pull up sticks from one venue and relocate the whole shebang to another without leaving a permanent imprint. And they’ve done exactly that – more than once. The Canvas Collective Africa luxury tented camp was originally set up in Bot River, then spent a while at a spot in the Cederberg. Now owners Dez Lundy and Samara Stern have a five-year contract at Glen Oakes Farm in the Hemel en Aarde Valley. Find it off the R320 in the Overberg, just a two-hour drive from Cape Town. 

Glamping tents on Glen Oakes Farm in the greater Hemel en Aarde Valley

​The setting in a pine grove is rustic, as are the mulched paths and the area to congregate around a fire pit. But it’s dubbed a luxury camp and it is: there’s luxury in the furnishings of the tent, the restaurant, the bar and deck area, the pool, the hot tub and the food.

Relax on the deck with views of farmland and mountains

You’ll be welcomed with pink bubbly and a light snack. The staff are all charming, ready to chat and help with ideas about activities you might like to do (see below). The main area consists of a glass-walled restaurant, open-plan kitchen so you can watch your food being prepped, a bar with local wines, beers and spirits, and a deck with couches to lounge on under large shade umbrellas. The deck has an expansive view out over farmland towards the mountains. Expect to see some pine trees, fynbos and perhaps a sprinkling of cows or sheep in the distance.

Pink bubbly and a small snack to welcome you and set the tone

Luxury tents
You’ll stay in one of ten tents accessed down mulched paths lined by rocks. Although the walls and roof of your tent are canvas and this is billed as luxury camping, or glamping, the facilities are what you might expect to find in a boutique hotel.

Inside you’ll find wall-to-wall carpeting, a king-sized bed, a coffee station with snacks and a Nespresso machine, a mini fridge, cotton towelling robes and slippers, and aromatic eco-friendly toiletries in the en suite bathroom. There are double basins with hot and cold running water, a rain shower, and flushing loo. 

Luxury furnishings are perfect for a posh tenting experience worthy of a boutique hotel

​The tents do get hot at midday in summer, so sit on a chair in the shade outside to take in the cooling effect of the breeze. There are a few hanging chairs under the trees too. Listen to the sound of wind rustling in the pine trees and the call of turtle doves, smell the scent of the pines. There are strong standing fans in the tents for hot summer days, and thick duvets and blankets for much cooler nights.

Take a book and relax in one of the hanging chairs while the breeze rustles in the trees

Fine food
I can promise you won’t go hungry at Canvas Collective Africa, with its Field Kitchen claimed to be ‘South Africa’s first truly mobile fine dining restaurant’. As far as possible, ingredients are sourced locally.

Start the day with fruit, yoghurt and muesli, as well as croissants, muffins (I made a pig of myself on moist bite-sized lemon poppyseed muffins), and cheeses. Keep space for a cooked breakfast afterwards, with eggs Benedict featuring on the menu.

The Field Kitchen restaurant presents delicious food with an artistic touch

​For a light lunch we had bagels, cold meats, chicken mayo, tomato and cucumber salad, and pasta salad. With its floor-to-ceiling glass walls, the Field Kitchen was hot at lunchtime in mid-summer so a cold meal was just the right touch.

Mushroom arancini with biltong shavings and cauliflower puree infused with truffle oil

Crispy hake with potato cakes, green beans and a beetroot puree

​It’s the gourmet four-course dinner menu that you’ll probably remember the longest. On the two nights we were there, highlights included a creamy tomato soup served in small enamel mugs, seared tuna rolled in sesame seeds, with pineapple salsa and mild chilli sauce, and rack of lamb with carrot puree and red wine jus. We love desserts and enjoyed the banana bread soaked in rum syrup with a side of tempura banana.

Rack of lamb with carrot puree and red wine jus

Watching the chef is part of the Field Kitchen restaurant's appeal. Here, she puts the finishing touches to one of her desserts

Complement your meal with a small but fine selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, which are included in the price of your accommodation. The rates also include three meals a day for two people.

It might be of interest to know that the kitchen is equipped to cook kosher food for groups. One of the owners is Jewish, so she knows what she’s doing and has put in a lot of work with the chef and kitchen staff to get the finer details of kashrut and food preparation right.

​Romantic weekend, anyone?
Just two hours from Cape Town, Canvas Collective Africa makes a super weekend getaway. Celebrate a birthday or other special occasion, or take a romantic weekend with your significant other. While we were there, the staff pulled out all the stops with bubbly and breakfast at the hot tub for a marriage proposal that went really well. For Valentine’s Day, there’s a special menu too.

This couple chose the hot tub for a romantic breakfast and proposal

Here are some of the romantic activities couples can do.

• Have a slap-up breakfast delivered to your tent for breakfast in bed.
• Sip a cocktail on the deck at sunset, or end the day with some bubbly at the dam’s jetty.
• Ask for a private picnic lunch set out somewhere on the farm just for you.
• Spend time in the hot tub with a view over farmland, fynbos and mountains, perhaps with some snacks and cocktails if it’s a special occasion.
• Relax on the double sunbed under a canopy near the hot tub.
• Lounge around the fire pit after supper to enjoy the flickering flames while sipping a glass of brandy or cup of after-dinner coffee. Admire the prickle of stars through the trees.
• Finish a fabulous evening with a Lindt chocolate left on your pillow after turn-down.

The fire pit is a good place to relax after dinner

Other activities
If it’s not a romantic weekend (see above for romantic activities), what else can you do here other than relax and recharge in attractive surroundings? All the activities below are included in the price of your tented accommodation.

Strike out on a walking trail through fynbos and pines

• Swim or go stand-up paddle boarding on the dam.
• Go fishing at the dam.
• Swim in the pool.
• Bring your mountain bike and ride to your heart’s content along the farm tracks and surrounding gravel roads.
• Set out on a walking trail with a guide. Depending on your energy level, choose from a 30min, 45min or 110min walk.
• Enjoy a hands-on afternoon activity with the chef in the open-plan kitchen. Depending on what she has planned, it might be gnocchi making or bread making.
• Eat to your heart’s content. See more above about the delicious food you can expect.

Relax on the jetty at the dam, or get more active with stand-up paddle boarding, swimming or fishing

Canvas Collective Africa runs accommodation specials now and again, so check for those here, then go and make your own magic in the Overberg.

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