YOUR HOSTS BRIAN & GERDA WHITEHORN:
We speak English. Ons praat Afrikaans. Nous parlons Français.
Brian is a retired land surveyor and is passionate about food. As owner of Die Tonteldoos Bistro, Dullstroom’s first and only official restaurant, in the early 1990’s, he was awarded as one of MNet’s Top ten country eateries and also received a blazon and platter from the international gourmet society, the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. His motivation and aim is honest, unpretentious food and the importance of ambience around the table. Since his retirement to elegant simplicity at Paardeplaats Nature Retreat, he has become a master at wood stove and outdoor cooking, with flair. Gerda is a freelance journalist with a passion for people and their stories and is available to accompany guests on any of the multiple hiking trails on the farm.
YOUR HOSTS BRIAN & GERDA IN THE MINERS CANTEEN KITCHEN:
We speak English. Ons praat Afrikaans. Nous parlons français.
Brian is a retired land surveyor and passionate about food. As owner of Die Tonteldoos Bistro, Dullstroom’s first official restaurant, he was awarded as one of MNet’s Top ten country eateries and received a blason and platter from the international gourmet society, the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. His motivation and aim is honest food and the importance of ambience around the table. Since his retirement to elegant simplicity at Paardeplaats Nature Retreat, he has become a master at wood stove and outdoor cooking, with flair. (Which is a throwback to his Land Surveying days). Gerda is a freelance journalist with a passion for people and their stories and is available to accompany guests on any of the multiple hiking trails on the farm.
THE FARM – PAARDEPLAATS:
Paardeplaats being 500ha in extent, and situated at 2000 meters above sea level, was proclaimed a Nature Reserve, in 1956. We are a haven for a host of sub-alpine fauna and flora species, and we are the breading ground for the Gurneys sugar bird. We have a variety of small game (oribi, grey rheebuck, mountain reed buck, duiker, klipspringers, blesbuck and often elande and kudus. There are also baboons, porcupines, honey badgers, brown hyenas, black-backed jackals, rooikatte and at times, sometimes frequently, even servals and leopards). We boarder on the Gustav Klingbiel Nature Reserve on our western boundary.
THE FARM – PAARDEPLAATS:
Paardeplaats being 500ha in extent, and situated at 2000 meters above sea level, was proclaimed as a Nature Reserve, in 1956. We are a haven for a host of sub-alpine fauna and flora species, and we are the breading ground for the Gurneys sugar bird. We have a variety of small game (oribi, grey rheebuck, mountain reed buck, duiker, klipspringers, blesbuck and often elande and kudus. There are also baboons, porcupines, honey badgers, brown hyenas, black-backed jackals, rooikatte and at times, sometimes frequently, even servals and leopards). We boarder on the Gustav Klingbiel Nature Reserve on our western boundry.
OUR DEAR PETS:
Shaka the Great Dane, and Bono the Labrador, love people and going for hikes. Animal lovers adore them.
OUR DEAR PETS:
Shaka the Great Dane, and Bono the Labrador, love people and going for hikes. Animal lovers adore them.
OUR FRIENDLY PAARDEPLAATS STAFF:
Lucas, Veli and Lungi speak Seswati and English and are at your service, always with a smile to keep you warm.
OUR FRIENDLY PAARDEPLAATS STAFF:
Our Staff, Lucas, Lungisile, and Velli are here to help make your stay as relaxed and enjoyable as possible. They will wash the previous nights dishes, clean and repack the fires at the hearth and the wood-stove each day, and clean the bathrooms. Please discuss with Lucas, at what time you would like them to arrive in the mornings – the normal time on weekends and holidays is 08h00
THE CATERING FACILITIES IN THE MINERS CANTEEN:
There is sufficient crockery and cutlery in the kitchen, for about 20 people. We have two large Bosch fridge / freezers, for all your meat, dairy and drinks, and an interesting, old, antique, evaporative cooler on the veranda for your vegetables and fruit. For cooking we have a 3 burner gas stove and a “Union Number 8”, wood burning stove, in the kitchen. The staff will light the stove for you and show you how the oven works, if you need it. If you want to have a braai, the fire at the cooking hearth, outside in the lapa, is always stacked and ready for you to use. We do have a few 3 legged pots, if you would like to cook a “potjie”, ask the staff member on duty to clean and have them ready for you.
THE CATERING FACILITIES IN THE MINERS CANTEEN:
There is sufficient crockery and cutlery in the kitchen, for about 20 people. We have two large fridge / freezers, for all your meat, dairy and drinks, and an old, antique, evaporative cooler on the veranda for your vegetables and fruit. For cooking we have a 3 burner gas stove and a “Union Number 8”, wood burning stove, in the kitchen. The staff will light the stove for you and show you how the oven works, if you need it. If you want to have a braai, the fire at the cooking hearth, outside in the lapa, is always stacked and ready for you to use. We do have a few 3 legged pots, if you would like to cook a “potjie”, ask the staff member on duty to clean and have them ready for you.
Photo Credit: Des Jacobs
