When we started planning our Namaqua flower trip someone said, ‘You have to visit the Bidouw Valley – it’s the perfect place to see the Cape’s wildflowers between August and September. And you have to stay at Canvas Collective Africa’s pop-up camp’. So we did!
Driving through the old farm gates of Enjo Nature Farm you just know you are in for a treat. There are the cutest signs all along the dirt road to Canvas Collective Africa’s pop-up field camp. We were welcomed by the friendly face of Duwayne, one of the amazing Canvas Collective Africa’s team, who handed us a very welcome cold face cloth and even colder glass of bubbles. While we sipped our bubbles Duwayne gave us a tour of the camp. When we arrived at our tent Paddington had already delivered our bags to our home for the evening. At that moment I knew I was going to love this type of camping.
I love sleeping in a tent – I always feel so much closer to nature. But sometimes, just the thought of struggling with a tent and poles is enough to put me off camping completely. And this is what makes Canvas Collective Africa’s offering so great. You get to sleep amongst the flowers in a stunning tent that has all the bells and whistles.
Getting there
The camp is located near Clanwilliam and the Tankwa Karoo National Park in the heart of the Cederberg’s Bidouw Valley. Only a three-hour drive from Cape Town. And you don’t need a 4×4 to get there (although low clearance vehicles will have to take it slow towards the end of the drive).
Accommodation
Stepping into our tent took my breath away. It’s difficult to believe that so much luxury can be crammed into a pop-up tent. Each one of the ten tents is stylishly furnished with everything from a king-sized bed and Nespresso machine to a fan for hot days and electric blankets for those cold nights. Each tent also has their own flushable, portable toilet and shower with hot water. As the sun dipped behind the surrounding mountains, we dragged ourselves from our tent and made our way to the communal campfire. The pathways between the tents are illuminated by small lanterns and fairy lights giving the whole camp a romantic glow. Because of the remoteness of the camp, electricity is generator powered. When the team leave the camp at 22:00 the generator is switched off blanketing the camp in moonlight and a quietness you will struggle to find anywhere else.
Gastronomes’ delight
The Field Kitchen is the hub around which the camp revolves and with good reason. In this full-on restaurant with its professional kitchen chef Meshell and Sous-chef Rafiq create the type of fine dining meals you would expect to eat at some of the best restaurants in our country, and not in a mobile field kitchen. Each dish is meticulously prepared using locally-sourced ingredients.
We started off with a cup of Butternut soup next to the roaring campfire. This soup was so good I happily would have eaten just that for dinner. We were then ushered into the stunning mobile glass, steel, and canvas restaurant to enjoy the next two courses. While we sipped Lamotte wine we could see Meshell do her magic in the open plan kitchen. The next course blew my mind! I couldn’t get enough of the deep-fried risotto balls, seared cauliflower and cauliflower puree. Then came deconstructed fish and chips with a carrot and coriander puree – yum! Curious about dessert we followed our host, Duwayne, to the campfire where the team had set up a smores station for us. We sat around the fire toasting marshmallows, building some seriously good smores and feeling like kids again.
When the short walk to the Field kitchen is just too far a butler service is on offer. The team also are happy to bring you breakfast in bed, which definitely was one of the highlights of our stay.
When the weather is good, meals can be enjoyed next to the river. Picnics at Canvas Collective Africa can only be described as glamorous. Imagine enjoying a buffet-style lunch while lounging on a plush blanket and pillows under gorgeous little umbrellas. Pure bliss. If, like me, you are a foodie who loves gastronomic getaways Canvas Collective Africa has to be on your gourmet bucket-list.
Things to do
There’s plenty to do in and around the camp. In addition to enjoying the beautiful scenery around your tent you can go mountain biking or hiking in the area. For those feeling less adventurous Sam’s introduction to baking Challah bread is a must.
The camp is on the banks of the Doring River, which is not only great for splashing around in, it’s also home to the only sandfish species of its kind in the world and they are threatened! Dez and Sam are passionate about conservation and plan to do all they can to raise awareness. Read all about the Saving Sandfish project here.
For me early evenings at Canvas Collective were the best. Unwinding around a campfire on the most comfortable camping chairs I have ever sat on, while Duwayne kept our glasses full – what more can a girl ask for? The only thing better than relaxing next to the campfire was slipping into the wood-fired hot tub after dinner.
This is 5-star glamping, and then some! Owners Samara Stern and Dez Lundy really have out-done themselves with this pop-up experience. It is crazy to think that at the end of September the team pack all this up and move to other beautiful locations in the Western Cape. Their next stop is Witzenberg in Tulbach. Watch this space for more on their other locations.
To book your little piece of pop-up paradise contact the team at: stars@canvascollectiveafrica.com or follow them on Instragram at @canvascollectiveafrica
Thank you for hosting and spoiling us Sam and Dez. We had the most amazing time.
xxx
