After watching that magical dance between Vianne and the handsome gypsy in the movie Chocolat, I seriously pondered becoming a gypsy for some time. Our recent stay in one of the Gypsy wagons at Treedom Villas and Vardos had me feeling all gypsy-ish once again.
A vardo (also wag(g)on, living wagon, van, and caravan) is a horse-drawn wagon traditional used by British Romanichal travellers as their home. A vardo must have four wheels, with two being used for steering. The vehicle is typically highly decorated, intricately carved, brightly painted, and even gilded
Wikipedia
Treedom’s Vardos have been designed to give you a real ‘kings of the road’ experience, but with a touch of luxury. Each quirky wagon has everything you need, from a super comfy, queen-sized bed with a unique feature headboard to an impressive kitchenette with a gas stove. The Vardos, of which there are currently two with another three on the way, each have their own theme that is dedicated to special loved ones in owners Marc and Debbie’s life.
We stayed in the Gypsy Vardo which is dedicated to Ellen, Marc’s mother, and her late husband Bernard. Subtle touches honouring them are present through-out the gypsy themed interior. Each Vardo has their own private garden and outdoor living area. As Wilderness was spoiling us with perfect weather, we kicked off our shoes, poured ourselves a glass of wine and settled in for a lazy afternoon. Peet quickly fell asleep in the large Moon Swing, especially designed and made for Treedom by local artist Gordon Ratty. I spent the afternoon curled up with a book on the comfy four-poster day bed. Pure bliss! After a late-afternoon swim in the communal pool, we headed back to make dinner in our Vardo’s well equipped kitchenette. Dinner in our own private greenhouse covered in fairy lights was the perfect ending to a magical day.
One of the highlights of our stay was the sauna. It is the perfect spot for couples to spend some quality time together. It heats up within an hour and boasts infra-red lights and hot stones with eucalyptus oil. There’s nothing like hopping between the sauna and the outdoor swimming pool to get the blood flowing.
We stayed at Treedom Villas & Vardos for two nights and really enjoyed exploring the area. On our first morning, on Debbie’s recommendation, we rented canoes and canoed up the Touw River to The Waterfall trail. A short hike along a board walk brought us to the most amazing waterfall and rock pools where we spent the whole day swimming and relaxing. Also on Debbie’s recommendation we ordered a picnic from The Wilderness Picnic to take along on the hike. The Wilderness Picnic specialize in Eco-friendly, pre-packed picnics which they deliver directly to you. When owner, Cecily, heard we were hiking up to the waterfall she packed our picnic in a pack-back which worked perfectly for the hike. Unpacking our rainbow Panini, Mediterranean salad, hummus and Gluten-free double chocolate brownies we were the envy of every hiker there.
Owners, Debbie and Marc, swapped their busy corporate lives in Cape Town for a quiet life in Wilderness, and after staying at Treedom I am so grateful they did. Debbie and Marc are generous hosts that not only share their beautiful property with visitors, but also interesting stories and fresh produce from their own vegetable garden. They have this wonderful way of being inclusive without being intrusive, and went to great lengths to make our stay unforgettable. On our last evening they even prepared our outdoor fourposter day bed for a romantic night beneath the stars.
Treedom Villas & Vardos is the perfect romantic destination for a unique honeymoon or a just a weekend away with your special person. Thank you Debbie and Marc for hosting us – it truly was a magical few days.
xxx
