VERSATILE LIFESTYLE FARM NESTLED IN FISANTHOEK'S TRANQUIL COUNTRYSIDE

TRI-MANDATE

Over the hills and through the woods to Raven’s Rest we go.

Winding farm roads guide you through the idyllic countryside of Fisanthoek, where lush forests give way to hilltop prairies — fertile, green, and endlessly serene. Finally, you arrive at Raven’s Rest, where a two-spoor track carries you between wide-open pastures with tall grass billowing softly in the breeze. It’s easy to imagine your preferred animals there — cows, sheep, horses, or perhaps even alpacas that glance up at you before returning to their grazing. Tall oaks and forest groves frame the outer edges of the property, lending the landscape a charming English-countryside feel. At its heart stands a traditional Cape farmhouse, pretty as a postcard, nestled among flowering gardens and fenced paddocks.

The home forms a graceful L-shape, with walls enclosing a gorgeous sun-washed courtyard edged by doors that open to every room. Though it truly shines as a wholesome family home, it was once run as a quaint B&B and could easily serve that purpose again. The living space, consisting of a dining area and lounge, gathers around a flickering fireplace as sunlight spills through broad windows, beautifully frosted by time, onto original parquet floors. The space flows to a northwest-facing porch where you can bask in the warm sun throughout the day, breathing in the fresh country air as you enjoy the tranquil farm view. The kitchen, cottage-style and tasteful, features wood countertops with quaint grey cabinetry, a gas hob and oven, a walk-in pantry, and windows that gaze over the courtyard. Three bedrooms complete the home: the master boasts an en-suite bathroom and walk-in closet, while the other two are served by detached bathrooms across the hall — along with a small, versatile room that could easily serve as a study, storage, or studio. Across the yard, a delightful pool shimmers, inviting you for a refreshing plunge.

Beside the main house stands a versatile outbuilding, thoughtfully arranged with covered parking, a tack room, a large guest bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, laundry provisions, and a workshop. Upstairs, a vast unfinished A-frame space stretches the full length of the building, its exposed beams lending a sense of character and scale. With a bathroom already in place, it could be beautifully transformed into a self-contained studio apartment or creative loft.

A leisurely stroll across a field brings you to the farm’s second home — a modern countryside cottage built in 2022. The open-plan living space unfolds with a lounge, dining area, office nook, and kitchen beneath white gabled ceilings with exposed trusses, grounded by real wood floors. Sliding stacking doors draw you forward to a covered porch where you can sit back and savour the rolling countryside where the distant slopes of Packwood Wine Estate are backdropped by misty mountains. The kitchen pairs pretty blue cabinetry with white faux-granite countertops, a gas hob and oven, and a two-phase scullery — the first dedicated to dishes, the second for laundry, with an exterior door for easy access to the drying yard. Two beautiful bedrooms enjoy pastoral views and share a detached bathroom fitted with both a bath and a shower.

Between the homes lies the working heart of the farm, with a cattle crush, sheep dip, four rainwater tanks, and a large tractor shed where equipment and machinery are neatly kept under cover. A rustic yet practical labourer’s cottage sits independently across the prairie, with four bedrooms, two living spaces, and an ablution block.

Enchanting walking trails weave through the property’s forty-nine hectares, each one beckoning you into a unique wonderland of trees. Meander beneath tall pines or gums where you can forage for mushrooms, wind through groves of dragon bamboo — graceful, non-invasive, and harvestable once fully grown — or drift through pockets of indigenous forest, alive with birdsong and dappled light. Bushbuck sometimes flicker between the trees, and if you’re lucky, you might glimpse a porcupine at dusk. Eventually, a path leads to a tranquil lily-filled dam, where ducks glide across mirrored water — a scene of serene beauty and also a vital water source for the farm. It feels like a private park, where the beauty of the trees holds immeasurable value — yet they’ve also been economically valued at R500,000, a reflection of their abundance and care.

Perfectly positioned between Plettenberg Bay and Knysna, two of South Africa’s most coveted coastal towns, Raven’s Rest enjoys rural seclusion with effortless access to the coast. Just fifteen minutes in either direction brings you to beaches, shops, schools, and restaurants. The nearby Harkerville Market offers a beloved weekend ritual of local produce, art, and friendly conversation, and provides a lucrative opportunity to share your own home-grown goods or farm-crafted creations.

Raven’s Rest is a farm of infinite possibility — a place where your imagination is the only limit. Ideal for equestrian pursuits, livestock, or small-scale farming, it could just as easily become a rural guest retreat, artist’s estate, or a self-sustaining family homestead. Whatever your vision, there’s space for it here — among the forests, fields, and peaceful expanse of Harkerville’s tranquil countryside.