‘Tis the season for world powers to be more Austin, and focus on getting groovy, baby. While closer to home, ‘tis the season to smell the flowers, make a change, get outdoors and admire mother nature once again.
Every year we’re rewarded for leaving nature’s West Coast fields untouched, when overnight our surroundings transform into a sea of colour. This spectacle is more than just a calling to welcome guests; it is something far deeper to us. It symbolises what could happen if we all gave peace a chance…
Blooming Wonderful, Isn’t It Just?
In a typical case of “photos don’t do it any justice”, this year’s flower season is exceptionally beautiful, albeit slightly later than usual according to SANParks. We are incredibly fortunate to be the last guesthouse along Bekbaai Beach that is located next to Cape Columbine Nature Reserve.
We also have a green belt located directly in front of our Guesthouse which we rehabilitated when we bought the property almost 3 years ago. During your stay we’d recommend taking a walk into the Cape Columbine Nature Reserve tucked behind the boulders you see on your left when standing on the balcony whether it be at our Guesthouse or Houses.
If you’d prefer to drive, the flowers in the nearby West Coast National Park are truly spectacular on sunny days when they open to catch all of the rays. From daisies to bulbs, the flower season is a time to indulge in nature.
Fynbos Flourishing at our NEW Gonana Houses
Showing off this Spring are our self-catering Gonana Houses, with their indigenous fynbos gardens doing their ‘thing’ and bursting at the seams. Pictured above is how our setting looked just after opening last year, and pictured below is how this space has transformed into a healing garden that basks in the sun.
These gardens have also been a firm favourite with families travelling with Fido, as we have been recognised in Afristay’s 2022 Pet-Friendly Destination Awards. Here’s what else you can expect during your stay at our self-catering Houses, in addition to the sustainable design allowing for an interruption-free getaway:
One- and two-bedroom options (sleeping 3 or 4 guests).
Minimalist Afro-Scandi interior in keeping with our Guesthouse aesthetics.
As women, we often associate our success with the team’s collective success. While this may sometimes be true, join us in giving credit where it’s due and raise your glass to the women of Gonana.
Pictured here is our lovely Jamia on the left who hails all the way from Malawi and who assists our Guesthouse Manager, Thandi, in preparing delicious breakfasts and ensuring that your time with us is nothing short of spectacular. To her right is Noxolo (Noxi) who ensures that our self-catering Houses are spotless and ready to welcome guests.
These two women, along with Joy, Onezwa, Zanele and Thandi are our greatest asset and we’re not being biased! Check out some of our latest reviews where you can see how guests sing them praises.
Manifesting is one thing, but having the patience to wait for your season is challenging. Just ask Jonas Sandström, who always wanted to use his talents to create a space that’s kinder to the environment but also a place where people from around the world can come to relax and behold the beauty of South Africa. Of course, the only way to get people interested in Gonana is through a website, which we have recently given a spring clean, so please do let us know your thoughts.
There are many Sandströms out there whose careers involve waiting for seasons, patience and hard work. The best example is within walking distance from Gonana would have to be Paternoster Wine Lounge whose ‘products’ all rely on patience, working with nature and giving visitors a taste of South Africa. When booking with us please let us know if you’d like to add a complimentary wine tasting here so that we can handle all arrangements on your behalf.
Lastly, we’d encourage you to get a taste of the season with WOW eBikes who we also exclusively work with and where international guests staying with Gonana get the best rates, and locals get preference when it comes to securing dates. For more information, kindly contact our reservations team who will be able to assist with adding this onto your stay with us.
Nature knows how much we need this symbolism of hope, peace and freedom, with the colours reminding us to accept all who live alongside us. As a proud LGBTQ establishment, we encourage you to protect your peace and enjoy an inclusive environment in Paternoster. Our accommodation is just the place for anyone wanting to celebrate their love and bask underneath the African sun as one. Take notes from nature and look for the beauty in coming together as one.
(SAVE UP TO R3 050) To celebrate Flower Season, enjoy 2 nights at Gonana Guesthouse or Houses during the month of September and get 1 night on us, equivalent to 50% off.
Guesthouse rooms available from R2550 (sleeps 2) for 2 nights with breakfast included.
I’ve recently returned to Paternoster after spending time in my birth city of Stockholm. I’ve come back feeling inspired but also driven by a renewed sense of urgency, in that something has to be done with this world. Yes, I try my best to promote sustainable tourism and “buying local, but thinking global,” but I also want to promote peace and acceptance.
A film I urge you to watch is Hair from the ‘70s (view the trailer here). Yes, I’m giving away my age, but it covers topics that sadly still need acceptance in 2022. It is also a beautiful film with incredible choreography, and what I really enjoy is how every cut and angle appears to have been carefully conceived, with the overall effect being spontaneous. I have tried to mimic this by creating a space with carefully considered pieces that feel spontaneously thrown together.
I also want you to be leaping like the dancers in the film at the chance to experience Gonana and venture up the West Coast – in all my years, I’ve realised that spontaneity is the key to a fulfilled life.
Join me today and the wonderful women I have been fortunate enough to work alongside for many years at Gonana. If you can’t visit now, then follow us for updates on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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