Red Cederberg’s Escapes are based in the central Cederberg at Onderhuis, Keurboschfontein, a rare remaining example of an original Cederberg Farm just 3 km past Matjiesrivier on the back road to Wuppertal. The 2800 hectare farm is owned by Johan van de Westehuisen, a founding member of both the Cape Leopard Trust and the Cederberg Conservancy. Justin Bonello and his son have been the current custodians of Keurboschfontein since 2022.
Originally their focus was on escapes based at Keurboschfontein, but have grown to include the Bokpad Multiday Slackpacking Trail, an old world experience at Klipwerf Veldhuisies and a mentored tourism initiative with the Langkloof community.
Sitting in the heart of the Cederberg Wilderness Area, the farm encompasses an area of the eastern Cederberg that is largely unexplored and does not suffer the pressures of the Greater Cederberg’s popularity.
Things to do nearby
Enjoy wine routes, hiking, the wilderness and stargazing while escaping with us at our Red Cederberg Escapes.
Justin Bonello
Red Cederberg Custodian
Custodian of Keurbosfontein, Filmmaker, father, cook, traveller, urban farmer, author Justin Bonello has produced, presented and created over 28 television series and delivered more than 240 hours of programming across various genres to broadcasters as diverse as Netflix, BBC International, Sky Network, National Geographic, Discovery, Food Network, Travel Channel and local South African broadcasters MNET, ETV and SABC – to name but a few and has published 7 books with Penguin.
Known as South Africa’s bush cook, he created and presented 7 seasons of South Africa’s award-winning reality show, the Ultimate Braai Master, which aired locally on ETV and internationally on Netflix.
He is passionate about wild nature and is in the tentative stages of pre-production for two new series: Ghost focuses on leopards of the Cape Fold Mountains and Bush Cook is an extremely personal deep dive into why we cook.
He is the CEO and founder of Neighbourhood Farms NPC, an urban farming Not for Profit that is sowing seeds to fix a broken food system by providing children and community members with real edible education.
Married to Eugenie, father of three children, Daniel, Samuel and Gabriella. He loves his 3 dogs, 3 chickens and two ducks (especially the organic eggs they produce) and is a passionate gardener that believes we can grow a lot of what we eat if we just apply our minds.
He is happiest when he is in the great outdoors travelling through Southern Africa and is thrilled to be the custodian of Keurbosfontein, Klipwerf and Bakkrans.
He says, ’becoming the custodian of this historic farm was such a privilege. Little did I know how important it would be for all of us to disconnect from the city and break bread under a million stars.’
Daniel Sprenger
Keurbosfontein Farm Custodian
Using his BSc in Environmental Sciences from the University of Cape Town, Daniel has spent the last three years implementing Regenerative Agriculture and Landscape Management projects at Keurbosfontein. He also manages the logistics behind the Bokpad hiking trail, helping create an experience that connects people more deeply with the Cederberg landscape. Having made the Cederberg his home, he is committed to caring for the mountains, rivers, and communities that define the region.
He says, “The responsibility of being at source means that whatever we do at the farm will be felt downstream long past our lives…”
Johan Van Der Westhuizen
Owner
The Onderhuis belongs to Johan van der Westhuizen, who was born and grew up on Keurbosfontein. At a still carefree age of 14, his grandfather informed him that he might inherit the property one day, and if so, asked him to preserve and care for the farm.
Fulfilling his promise, Johan restored and renovated the Onderhuis farmstead to ensure its future sustainability, whilst preserving and honouring its earlier history. Many new trees were also planted to retain the serenity for which Keurbosfontein is so well-known.
In Johan’s words: “Keurbosfontein started off as a Cape pioneer farm, carved out of the barren soil by hardworking people with calloused hands. They arrived on horseback, with their ox wagons. They didn’t have much and demanded little, except the opportunity to be self-sufficient.
They are built with handmade clay and straw bricks, hand-carved wood and handmade nails and latches. Nothing was bought readymade. They cultivated the straw for their thatched roofs. They were subsistence farmers who cleared the lands and initially planted vegetables and fruit trees, mostly for their own use only. Oak trees were planted for acorns and fodder for livestock. During times when grain was in short supply, acorns were even milled to bake bread from. Even finely made jackets and trousers from animal skins were not uncommon.
Keurbosfontein and the Onderhuis farmstead have inevitably changed much from their earlier beginnings, but it is still standing solidly on its pioneer foundations. While some of the old ways and traditions might have disappeared over time, it still is an old-world place where we can celebrate the simple things in life.”
Johan’s wish is that Keurbosfontein will withstand the next 300 years and centuries well beyond. He says: “It is a great sense of comfort to have Justin Bonello, together with his son Dan, fulfilling a custodian role at Keurbosfontein. His respect for our history and his vision for our future will ensure that Keurbosfontein can go forward with optimism”.