I stayed with my next host family at their Carrie B Farm in Brakkefontein, an ostrich nursery where they care for one-day-old chicks until they’re about four months old.
My second morning in Bredasdorp started when Pierce woke me up with a cup of coffee around 9 a.m. After a shower, I had a relaxed morning ahead. While Pierce ran errands for his carpet cleaning business, I used his computer to do some writing.
Pierce is building a website to showcase the kitchen magnets from their craft shop, and he asked for my input. Though I’m not usually a fan of frame-based websites, it worked well for their extensive collection of blanks and magnets. We brainstormed ways to improve the site and streamline the online ordering process. Pierce seemed pleased with my suggestions.
With a quiet afternoon ahead and the weather turning to light showers, Pierce kindly offered to drive me to my next destination. He wasn’t comfortable with the idea of leaving me to hitchhike the 90 km to Brakkefontein, a tiny hamlet near Vleesbaai (which translates to Meat Bay), south of Mosselbaai.
Around 3 p.m., I packed my backpack into the car, and we set off through rain and mist. Along the way, we passed the 65-meter bridge jump station, but unfortunately, no one was there to facilitate a jump, sponsored or otherwise. Pierce is quite fearful of bungee jumping, but I would have done it in a heartbeat!
At a petrol station, I said my goodbyes to Pierce, thanking him for the warm hospitality and the wonderful two days in Bredasdorp. He had shown me the entire area, and I felt like I had truly experienced it. Pierce said I was always welcome to return.
After just a short wait, I met my new host Anthony, the brother of Wendy, who had invited me. He drove me to their farm in Brakkefontein, and we chatted about my travels and his own adventures. Anthony used to work as a chef on luxury yachts, which took him all over the world, sailing past some of the most luxurious resorts—a fascinating way to see the world!
Wendy and Anthony are the children of James, whose great-great-grandparents came from Germany. Wendy’s surname, Nillson, comes from a previous marriage. James was very interested in my way of traveling, something that wasn’t possible back in his day.
Their Carrie B Farm is an ostrich nursery where the family raises fragile one-day-old ostrich chicks. These birds need constant care in their first few months as they’re susceptible to illness from even a slight cold or poor hygiene. Anthony gave me a tour of the farm, explaining how they nurture the chicks until they’re strong enough to move on.
Ostriches, the world’s largest birds, cannot fly. Male ostriches can reach up to 2.4 meters in height and weigh up to 135 kilograms. They can sprint at speeds of up to 50 km/h over short distances. This area is known for its large ostrich population—70% of the world’s ostriches are raised here, and many towns in the region rely on ostrich farming.
After about three months, the family sells the young birds to larger farms, where they’re raised until they’re fully grown at 12 months. Ostrich meat and leather are highly prized in this region.
Aside from ostrich farming, Wendy runs a side business producing promotional materials, including the Back-2-Back bag — a popular corporate gift that can hold 12 cans of beer and two bottles of wine. Business is booming!
While Wendy prepared dinner, I used the Internet in their office. On a clear day, I would have been able to see the ocean from the farm, but today thick clouds limited visibility to just 30 meters.
For dinner, Wendy treated me to Indonesian nasi goreng with Thai ingredients and satay — a real delight, as it had been ages since I’d last eaten nasi (fried rice). Over dinner, James regaled us with stories of his recent trip through Europe, where he enjoyed Italy and Holland. It was his first time “overseas,” and it was interesting to hear his thoughts on the highly organized tour he had taken.
After dinner, James indulged in his usual glass of whisky while the rest of us enjoyed South African red wine. Once the family headed to bed, I spent another hour on the computer finishing my report before retiring to Anthony’s two-story house at the back of the farm.
The family lived in KwaZulu Natal for many years, and Anthony even picked up some Zulu, having been immersed in the local culture. His self-built house reflects this, with Zulu-style decor and even a leopard skin on the living room floor.
I climbed into bed on the second floor, listening to the wind howl around the house, with the sound of water dripping off the roof onto the corrugated iron plates below. Somewhere amidst the wind and the rain, I drifted off to sleep.
Good night, Brakkefontein!
—Ramon
