we’ve been wanting to visit River View for a long time, and so really had no better excuse to go than to celebrate our anniversary weekend. not being hotel types, we much prefer to find chilled out (and budget friendly) self-catering joints where you can just relax, read, cook, eat and sleep for a few days. luckily you can find so many places that tick those boxes within a few hours from Cape Town.

River View is just outside Calitzdorp, a town in the Klein Karoo that’s a leisurely 4 hour drive from Cape Town along Route 62 (depending on how many stops you make along the way). owners Colin & Bronwyn left the city to set up home in the Matjiesvlei valley, and as every day passed we became more & more envious of their slice of paradise.

if you manage to stay there (and I urge you do) then you’ll no doubt be paid a visit by Jock – the doe-eyed jack russell terrier who strangely always pitches up around eating time… as well as Jessie, the beautiful boer greyhound, who has a bit more style and finesse than old Jock – but i think that’s part of her clever ploy to get doggie treats. we were more than happy to oblige, in exchange for having temporary pets for 3 days.

and now we’re home again, missing it already.

ps: many of you asked in my Kruger Park post what camera and filters I use. those & these were shot with a Canon 5D mark III and edited in Lightroom, making use of VSCO filters when I’m feeling fancy.