We are a family of four, living and working on a small piece of land that has been in our family for two generations. After COVID, we made the decision to leave our previous careers and return to San Gabriel to create a slow, more connected way of life that is rooted in family and guided by the seasons.
San Gabriel is more than a guest farm, it is our home. We are raising our children here, surrounded by animals, gardens and an ever-growing list of projects. On any given day, we might be building a chicken coop, planting trees in our food forest, cooking over the fire or adding another thoughtful detail to one of the cottages. Everything you see has been shaped by our own hands and by our hopes for the future of this special place.
Life here isn’t about perfection. It is about homegrown eggs, muddy gumboots, long breakfasts and time spent together. It is about sharing honest food, generous hospitality and peaceful spaces with guests who similarly want to pause and reconnect.
When you arrive, we hope you will feel the beauty, history and heart of San Gabriel.
Warmly,
Renier, Shané, Basson and De Wet
Life on the Farm
Young and grown-ups guests are invited to explore our homestead life. Join us in the early morning to greet our animals - Milly the milk goat, a paddock full of sheep, cheerful chickens and ducks, our miniature donkeys and of course, Olyf the pig!
The History Of The Homestead
San Gabriel’s story stretches back to the 1750s, when the farm was known as Hartog’s Klipheuvel.
The Manor House began as a traditional T-shaped Cape homestead. Its distinctive holbol gable, dating to 1756, originally featured a large heart and is one of the oldest surviving Cape gables. Over time, the heart was replaced with the vine leaves and grapes you see today.
Nearby, Bickerton’s Cottage dates to around 1754 and is the oldest building on the farm. It was home to the original owner while the Manor House was being built.
Like many of the old homesteads of the Cape Winelands, San Gabriel was created not simply as a home, but as a place to farm, work and raise a family. As the family and farm grew, so did the homestead, with additional wings added to create the Manor House that stands today.
More than 270 years later, San Gabriel is still a place centred around family, food, farming and life shared together.
How many guests can San Gabriel accommodate?
Exclusive use of the Homestead allows a maximum of 26 guests staying in the various cottages.