DESTINATION
There's a time and place for everything. Sometimes, it's great to spoil the kids and check into a resort with towering water slides, intriguing minigolf courses and heated pools. Other times, you're just not in the mood for such exuberance; instead, your heart yearns for a hideaway deep in the bush. It's the perfect remedy, especially when everyday life starts to chip away at you bit by bit.
That's the kind of healing you get when you camp on a farm. It's the tranquillity of nature you crave the most, and if there's anything to be done, you do it with your loved ones. At both places we visited, some campers knew each other, and it was clear that spending quality time together was the top priority.
Goudkop is nestled between Citrusdal and Elands Bay, in the heart of Sandveld – potato country – and we took a wide berth around a tractor towing a trailer full of potatoes as we turned into Goudkop. Lylius, on the other hand, is in buchu territory, set in a mountainous landscape between Citrusdal and Clanwilliam. Both farms cultivate rooibos tea, and each offer a unique camping experience.
GOUDKOP
There's a hole in the hill
Goudkop's camping site is almost atop a ridge, and one might assume the name has something to do with this hill, but that's not the case. The actual hill is across the main road, with an interesting history.
During World War II, two guys reportedly hid here to avoid the war. They dug a tunnel at the foot of the hill to conceal themselves but then discovered gold! Apparently, it wasn't nearly enough to be worth mining, but the tunnel entrance is still visible today. The
