Located in the foothills of Franschhoek’s mountains, just an hour’s drive from Cape Town, is a biodiverse farm – Sterrekopje Healing Farm.
Charismatic partners in love and life, Fleur and Nicole opened Sterrekopje Farm in 2022 with a vision of creating a place rooted in nature. A place where people could come to find rest, to regenerate, and to reconnect.
The Vibe
The joyful nature and playfulness of Sterrekopje Farm’s decor is designed to rouse up and nurture guests’ inner child, guiding them to re-engage with the feminine.
Each part of the Sterrekopje experience has been thoughtfully designed by Fleur and Nicole to create an intuitive experience. This is a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of modern-day living; there’s no rigid schedule for meals, for example, with Fleur telling us to “just turn up and the team will rustle something up.”
Nicole and Fleur in the Chakra Garden. Image by Emma Jude Jackson.
Within its 50-hectare expanse you’ll find 11 sanctuaries and suites, nestled within and amongst a main house, bath house, apothecary, atelier, yoga yurt and stables. Here, retreats are hosted throughout the year; their Wise Women Retreats, take place four times a year in alignment with the seasons. Every Sterrekopje stay is all-inclusive, with the vision to create a space where meaningful interaction replaces fleeting transactions.
The Rooms
Sanctuaries and suites are dotted around the farm and, just like the guests, no two rooms are the same – each room is created to be a retreat of its own, full of art and hand-made furniture, where rest and relaxation are encouraged. Design and decor take inspiration from Fleur and Nicole’s extensive travels: unique features range from open fireplaces to outdoor bathrooms for bathing beneath the stars. All rooms come with a bathtub, and you can ask the team to draw a bath for you – they’ll do so using herbal products foraged from the farm and formulated in the on-site apothecary.
The Food + Drink
Seasonal and locally-sourced produce is championed at Sterrekopje, and the menu changes daily, based on what’s available. The chef will deliver your dishes to your table, taking time to explain the fresh ingredients and delicious flavours, while also answering any questions you may have.
A beautiful breakfast spread includes locally-made cheeses, homemade breads, fruit, chia-seed puddings, homemade granolas – and much more. We ordered a spinach and mushroom omelette with a side of smoked trout, and it may just be the best omelette we’ve had the pleasure of eating. Come dinner, dishes are guided by the different fresh produce sourced by the chefs in their daily harvest at sun rise (which guests are welcome to join) from the biodiverse gardens. Across the menu, a vegetarian philosophy is foregrounded with the abundance of locally-sourced fruit and vegetables, however meat and fish are available too.
Alongside food, drinks are a big deal here and come in all manner of flavours. We recommend the mushroom hot chocolate; it’s mixed with tahini, cacao, cordyceps, sea salt, maple syrup, raw cacao paste and raw cacao butter. Or, post-dinner, opt for the Ashwagandha Sleep Tonic, made with Medjool dates, nutmeg, cinnamon, ashwagandha, vanilla and the milk of your choice. Homemade teas and cordials (we loved the lavender and juniper blend), plus alcoholic beverages are available too.
The Little Extras
Each room has a Sonos sound system, stationary for journaling, a Nespresso machine, milk frother, and many other thoughtful touches. Open a drawer under the kettle to find small tins filled with different bites. For us, these included raw brownies, raw chocolate tiffin and a sweet treat akin to a vanilla cake.
The To-Do List
The journey at Sterrekopje Farm is grounded by four pillars: Stay, Rest, Grow, and Play. The philosophy here is to be comfortable – and happy – to do nothing at all. But there are things to do should you wish to occupy your time. Spa treatments are referred to as ‘Rituals‘ and take place in the magnificent bathhouse, which backs out onto a crisp, detoxifying natural pool filled with spearmint and surrounded by jasmine flowers. The intuitive body and energy treatments are crafted to gently bring you back into your body; the Ritual of Cleanse is a Hammam experience; the Ritual of Soul is all about hypnotherapy; and the Ritual of Touch is an intuitive massage.
Image credit: Gary Van Wyk
Guests are also invited to participate in daily farm rhythms – activities range from yoga and hiking to sound baths, bonfires, and star-gazing. There’s also the options to swim laps in the saltwater pool flanked by olive trees or snooze on the floating jetty in the dam. Should you crave some movement, take the hotel’s canoe or stand-up paddle boards out for some time on water, hop on a bike, or make a trail through some of the nearby hiking routes. Once a week, there are games in the garden.
Creativity is cherished at Sterrekopje Farm, and you can ignite your creative spark with a visit to the atelier – a beautiful, lofty room for drawing, painting and sculpting. Spending time here (and away from our phone) was just the tonic we needed.
We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site.
Any Questions or Tips to add?