GOOD LIFE
I should have left it there but something was niggling at me . So , when I got home I did a bit more sleuthing , and found that the Pieter Lourens Cloete who had sold the farm in 1849 had married in 1825 and fathered a slew of daughters , and just one son – Josias Gordon Cloete , who was seven years old when his dad sold the farm . A bit too young to be married , and – anyway – he lived for another 60 years .
64 O F I N T E R E S T
So , sadly , if I want to find out the truth I ’ ll have to do some more digging . And perhaps even some literal digging – there are two unmarked graves right near the manor house . They ’ re placed side by side almost as if they ’ re holding hands , or lying in a marriage bed . Eish – my imagination is running riot and I ’ m getting far too emotional . And , really , if I go to De Hoop again soon – and I plan to – there are much better things to do than dig up graves . Another route , of course , would be to try to contact the ghost who is said to haunt the manor house . I ’ ll bet it ’ s the dead bride , but it may be almost anyone who lived there during the last couple of hundred years and , anyway , no one has actually seen her . Also – it would be hard to get her to talk with a huge oyster stuck in her throat .
Perhaps the real lesson is that , if you make the sensible call to visit De Hoop , you should focus on the fabulous nature walks , MTB trails , fynbos , birds , whales and small game . And I should probably save my sleuthing adventures for rainy nights with Deon Meyer , Alexander McCall Smith or even – let ’ s go retro – Agatha Christie .
See for yourself
If you think you can do better , pack your Sherlock Holmes hat and go give it a try . But , even if you ’ re not really into mysteries and ghosts , De Hoop is worth a visit . You can take a long or short walk , check out loads of birds , including the vultures , join a scenic cruise on the vlei , do a game drive ( on your own or escorted ), go mountain biking or just rent a bike for a leisurely pedal around the fynbos , explore fascinating rock pools , and – of course – watch whales . The De Hoop Collection is offering a 40 % off winter special from 2 May to the end of July . And if you ’ re one of those people who think that going anywhere near the Cape in winter is crazy , think again . It ’ s prime whale-viewing season , and De Hoop is one of the best – if not the best – land-based whale-viewing destinations . Even better , those cold winter nights give you an excuse to pick a fine red wine from the very special wine cellar and snuggle up to a cosy wood fire with your favourite person .
De Hoop Collection is a Cape Country Routes member . Ts & Cs apply . Booking is essential . Phone 021 422 4522 , email res @ dehoopcollection . co . za , or visit www . dehoopcollection . com
Jen Stern