ABOUT US
In 1994 we moved back to South Africa after a 13-year stay in Walvis Bay, Namibia. We bought Fairview and took up the challenge to restore this historic George landmark – always bearing in mind that the challenge in restoring and maintaining any old building remains staying true to the authenticity of the structure.
To help with the upkeep of the historic house, I undertook to start a B&B. Desmond is the gardener - a plant collector and passionate about his garden. Our children were all three still in primary school when we moved into Fairview. Within months I received my first paying guest and our children had to learn a new set of rules: ask before you take the fruit out of the fruit bowl, tell me when you finish the juice or milk, and no sports equipment lying around, no loud music, no loud shouting and the one that drove them to distraction - no telephone calls on my dedicated guest house telephone number!
I believe that growing up in a guest house taught Eckart, Alex, and Nelleke very important life lessons: to be considerate, mind their manners, be hospitable, and not shy away from chores, It also opened their minds to the big world out there where people have different accents, speak different languages, comes from different cultural backgrounds. All three love traveling, and cooking and are excellent hosts.
And then came Covid-19. When the lockdown was announced in March 2020, two of our children and their families moved in with us for the first six weeks of the pandemic. Three generations of Benkensteins at Fairview. We had contemplated selling Fairview in 2019 and looking back we are so thankful we did not follow through, as the precious time spent enjoying the house and garden during these trying times gave us a new appreciation of our piece of Eden.
We still welcome guests to share in our beautiful home and garden, just on a smaller scale, as I now only offer limited availability over weekends and fewer bedrooms are available for B&B guests.
To help with the upkeep of the historic house, I undertook to start a B&B. Desmond is the gardener - a plant collector and passionate about his garden. Our children were all three still in primary school when we moved into Fairview. Within months I received my first paying guest and our children had to learn a new set of rules: ask before you take the fruit out of the fruit bowl, tell me when you finish the juice or milk, and no sports equipment lying around, no loud music, no loud shouting and the one that drove them to distraction - no telephone calls on my dedicated guest house telephone number!
I believe that growing up in a guest house taught Eckart, Alex, and Nelleke very important life lessons: to be considerate, mind their manners, be hospitable, and not shy away from chores, It also opened their minds to the big world out there where people have different accents, speak different languages, comes from different cultural backgrounds. All three love traveling, and cooking and are excellent hosts.
And then came Covid-19. When the lockdown was announced in March 2020, two of our children and their families moved in with us for the first six weeks of the pandemic. Three generations of Benkensteins at Fairview. We had contemplated selling Fairview in 2019 and looking back we are so thankful we did not follow through, as the precious time spent enjoying the house and garden during these trying times gave us a new appreciation of our piece of Eden.
We still welcome guests to share in our beautiful home and garden, just on a smaller scale, as I now only offer limited availability over weekends and fewer bedrooms are available for B&B guests.
WHERE TO FIND US
-33.9567602,22.4747977
36 Stander Street, Bergsig, George, Western Cape. South Africa.
We are centrally situated in George, just 8 km from Victoria Bay Beach, 4.6 km from the Garden Route Mall, and 16 km from George Airport. We have excellent restaurants, all within a 5-minute drive from our house. George is situated on a low plateau between the sea 8km to the south and nestled at the base of the George and Cradock peaks, both of which are higher than Table Mountain The small city makes an excellent base from which to explore the Garden Route, famous for its scenic beauty, fynbos, long sandy beaches and some of the finest golf courses. Take a day trip to Knysna (60 minutes drive away), Oudtshoorn | Cango Caves (1 hour’s drive), or Mossel Bay | White Shark cage diving (60 minutes drive).
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36 Stander Street, Bergsig, George, Western Cape. South Africa.
We are centrally situated in George, just 8 km from Victoria Bay Beach, 4.6 km from the Garden Route Mall, and 16 km from George Airport. We have excellent restaurants, all within a 5-minute drive from our house. George is situated on a low plateau between the sea 8km to the south and nestled at the base of the George and Cradock peaks, both of which are higher than Table Mountain The small city makes an excellent base from which to explore the Garden Route, famous for its scenic beauty, fynbos, long sandy beaches and some of the finest golf courses. Take a day trip to Knysna (60 minutes drive away), Oudtshoorn | Cango Caves (1 hour’s drive), or Mossel Bay | White Shark cage diving (60 minutes drive).
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