Escape with Justin Bonello

‘There are no bad cooks just friends who aren’t hungry enough’

A unique hosted and guided 3 night / 4-day Escape at Onderhuis on the farm Keurbosfontein in the Red Cedeberg.

Keurbosfontein is about as deep as you can get in the Cederberg without a 4×4. There’s no mobile signal. No interruptions. No light or noise pollution. The dining space in Justin’s Waenhuis Kombuis is intimate and designed for guests to see each other. All meals are made from scratch with good ingredients. The bread’s baked daily in a wood burning oven. The food is humble and is supposed to invite us to break bread with each other. It’s intimate. Large enough that we connect, small enough that there’s time to fall asleep reading a book…

If you’d like to join Justin on a food-inspired Escape where you deep dive into his favourite dishes and break bread in his Waenhuis Kombuis, get your hands dirty and harvest your own food (optional of course), walk up to the Wolfberg Arch for sunrise, lose yourself under the stars or immerse yourself in the daily life of the farm, this unique and authentic Escape is for you.

Hosted by Justin, South Africa’s Bush Cook and Ultimate Braai Master, this deeply personal food journey focuses on seasonal fire-inspired food.

The Experience

An old-world traditional culinary experience with a twist at the Onderhuis on Keurbosfontein in the Red Cederberg.

Interactive fire and food experiences with Justin.
Sunset Appreciation.
Ensuite Accommodation
Hikes in and around Keurbosfontein.
Rock Art Excursion.
Wine Tasting at Cederberg Wines.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (Justin’s cooking).
Selection of local wines and beers.

Limited to 5 couples sharing OR 4 couples and two singles.

Dates

2024

19 – 22 DECEMBER

Space left for 1 Couple.

2025

23 – 26 JANUARY

Fully Booked

06 – 09 FEBRUARY

Space left for 3 Couples and Two Singles.

13 – 16 FEBRUARY

Fully Booked.

27 FEBRUARY to 2 MARCH

Space left for 2 couples

16 – 19 MARCH

Space left for 5 Couples and Two Singles.

20 – 23 MARCH

Fully Booked.

LADIES ONLY ESCAPE

03 – 06 APRIL

Space left for 2 Ladies.

AUTUMN

08 – 11 MAY

Space left for 4 Couples and 2 Singles.

WINTER STARTS

05 – 08 JUNE
Space left for 4 Couples and 2 Singles.

Alternatively, enquire about your own dates directly with Justin by clicking here

RATES

R8800 PPS Ex Vat (2024)
R9500 PPS Ex Vat (2025)

Incredible Escape!

A really truly incredible escape from the city. Amazing food, authentic charm & hospitality combined with unique experiences. I cannot recommend this enough...

Neil Mclaren

Break into Nature

A unique experience, to be hosted by our famous Justin Bonello, an awesome cook making real "kos" on the fire. Humble, knowledgeable, a people person without pretenses. Awesome accommodation, Hot showers and baths,lekker "kuier" around the non stop fireplace kaggel where people get together and leave as friends. The Red Cederberg is all and more as a break into nature. The fresh pure air, beautiful valley, the river, the hikes, the unique rock art on the farm, you leave with a soul restored and earthed. Highly recommended unique experience.

Shaun van der Merwe

Wonderful Food & Good Conversations!

It was a privilege to be able to share your special place. I so appreciated the head space and quiet.... not to mention the wonderful food and good conversations! Thanks, too, for sharing your knowledge and insights. You have a wonderful place and an awesome team.

Janet S | Cape Town, South Africa

Our cup runneth over...

Truth be told, you had us at Wolfberg Arch, but upon reflection we received so much more. The food journey aroused all our senses. "Afterall, one cannot think well, love well, sleep well if one has not dined well." Justin - your food is authentic, wholesome, medicine for the body and soul, "gesondheid uit die grond uit" with a huge splash of love. Hiking up to the Wolfberg Arch was not only breathtakingly beautiful, but a wonderful sense of achievement for both of us. The best views really do come after the hardest climb.✔️ Then the waterfall....an eat, pray, love moment. Finding peace, restoring balance, letting go, having a conversation with God.🙏 The crackling fires, the crazy plunge into the icy cold pool, the stories told were fascinating and funny 🤭(you girls are truly diep mooi). 😄 Emmy, Paul such salt of the earth people. Cory, you rock! 🌱(no pun intended). Justin thank you for sharing your sacred space with us. It is a very special place indeed. ❤ 🇿🇦 Life is beautiful!

Hayley | July 2023

"Natural Beauty"

Over many years I have travelled more than 200 000 kilometres in and around Africa. I was stunned to find a place like Bakkrans, hidden right here on my doorstep in the Cederberg Karoo – a place with truly spectacular natural beauty and unspoilt serenity, unsurpassed anywhere else around here. My stay at Bakkrans was filled with an overwhelming sense of spirituality and appreciation for the greatness of our creation. Thank you for making it possible for me to share this wonderful place with my family.

From Cape Town, a seasoned traveller writes

"Freedom"

We have just returned from our third visit to Bakkrans. Thanks again, for sharing this very special place with us. We so much enjoy the freedom and clean air. What we find most pleasant, is that there is no need at all for us to get into our vehicles at any time to explore this beautifully sculptured landscape. The klipspringer family spent a lot of time amongst the houses and we were amazed at how nonchalant they were. The youngster can only be a few weeks old but is already an expert on the rocks. Please let us know when next the black eagles are nesting in the waterfall as we would love to witness that.

From Camps Bay, Cape Town

"Fantasties!"

Ons ry al vir jare deur die Cederberg en kon nie glo dat ‘n plek soos Bakkrans al die tyd daar weggesteek is nie. Die aardsheid en eenvoud is fantasties om te ervaar. Komende vanaf Springbok, was ons aangenaam verras om al die blomme op Bakkrans te sien. Wat ‘n fonds! Ons kom definitief weer!

Vanaf Springbok

"Spectacular Views"

Thank you, we had a lovely time at Klipwerf. We cycled on the back road right up to Groot Swartkrans, as well as the Wupperthal road and were amazed by the abundance of spring flowers along these routes. One morning we hiked up the Tierhoksberg and encountered a group of six ribboks lower down and then later two groups of klipspringers near the Keurbosfontein beacon. We found some spoor of the Bakkrans mountain zebras at this border fence where it runs along the plateau. The views from the top towards the Roggeveld mountains in the Karoo are spectacular. We took some unusual pictures of the Cederberg from up there.

A letter from Cape Town

"Karoo-Plaas"

Ek het op ‘n Karoo-plaas met ‘n watervoor grootgeword. Die afgelope naweek toe dit so warm was, het ek my skoene uitgetrek en met my voete in Keurbosfontein se koel watervoor onder die akkerbome gaan sit. Vir ‘n oomblik het ek weer soos ‘n kind gevoel. Oom Arrie-hulle het lusern ingery toe ons daar was. Ai, hoe wens ek, ek kon ‘n bietjie van daardie lusern-reuk in ‘n botteltjie opvang en met my saamneem stad toe”. (Translated into English: A woman from Cape Town writes: “I grew up on a Karoo farm, which had a water furrow. This past weekend when it was very warm, I took off my shoes and sat under the oak trees with my feet in Keurbosfontein’s cool water furrow. For a moment I felt like a kid again. Oom Arrie and his men were harvesting lucerne while we were there. Oh, how I wish I could put a little bit of that lucerne smell into a bottle and take with me to the city”).

n Vrou vanaf Kaapstad skryf

"Peace & Quiet"

Thank you, we have enjoyed our stay at Keurbosfontein very much. Just as promised on your website, the cottage is spacious and was spotlessly clean. And the farmyard and gardens are neat and beautiful. I was glad to learn that you use only organic fertilizer in your gardens and also no pesticides - very important if you do not want to kill essential insects such as bees, moths, butterflies and so many others! We appreciated the peace and quiet, which made our visit extra special. Please thank Paul and Emmie from us for their care and friendliness.

A letter from from Switzerland