At least regarding our short-term goal. Yes, behind our own schedule, but everything takes longer than expected. I’m sure you can relate 🙂
Our very first Airbnb will open to the public soon. The renovation of the two storey house is complete, and Robert is now busily furnishing and decorating it with the help of family and friends who visited over the holidays.
The second rental is making steady progress toward becoming a cozy home for our future guests. And the best part: with Thomas returning in late January, escaping the cold and dark European winter, we’ll have full manpower to finish it off. Stay tuned for photo updates on our socials (you’ll find the links in the footer) until the next update comes out.
Further Developments
Landscaping has been one of the big topics in the last months of 2025.
First things first: we massively improved the road/servitude that leads down to the Kaaimans and passes our buildings. The old road used to be full of small potholes and bumps, and behind the gate the steep slope caused poor traction. Cars spun and dug into the surface. It was noisy, annoying, and even dangerous for heavier vehicles.
Our landscaper once slid backwards with his truck and nearly ended up parked in the bushes. Luckily, Robert’s quick reaction and some determined grip improvement tactics saved the day!
So, what did we do about it?
The section behind the gate was leveled out, neatly laid with cement grass blocks, and topped with G7 material – a mix of stones and gravel that compacts beautifully. The result: a very smooth and sturdy surface.
The rest of the servitude was leveled and received a fresh G7 layer too, complete with rain drains to prevent water from splashing during heavy rains.
Lastly, the gardens around the houses got some well deserved TLC (tender love & care). They’re now framing the houses in a natural yet beautiful way. It’s still a work in progress and likely always will be, because, well, caring for a 21 hectare property is a full time affair in itself.
Mobility and Utility
Our fun little electric dirt bike has become an important asset for getting around the farm. But for all the renovation work, we needed something with cargo space. Enter our new four wheeled friend, the Hilux (It’s not a bakkie, it’s a hilux).
In mid November, we got the happy news that our vehicle was finally ready for pickup, with all the paperwork sorted. Full of excitement, we drove to Mossel Bay and picked up our pickup (ba dum tss). From then on, hardware store trips became far more productive since we could finally transport all the bulky, heavy items ourselves. Also, we finally got rid a big pile of trash that accumulated during the renovations.
What else?
Thomas received some great news too; his business visa was approved and recommended by the Department of Trade and Industry. One huge hurdle down! He’s now waiting for his appointment at the South African Embassy in Bern on March 23rd to submit his full application dossier. Unfortunately, that means a bit of back and forth flying now, but will allow for unlimited stays and therefore less flying in the future.
Wrapping up 2025
Even though we’re behind our own expectations, we’re very happy with what we’ve achieved so far. Progress was made on many fronts, and our new approach seems to be “slow and steady.” There’s really no need to rush.
At the end of 2025, we spent precious time with our families. Robert hosted his loved ones from all around the world, Stephie celebrated with hers in Germany, and Thomas spent the holidays between Zurich and Prague.
Hello 2026
Now it’s time to look ahead again.
We have lots of near finished projects, especially the rentals and our first incoming guests, which truly excites us. But the big milestone early this year is the subdivision and rezoning application. Our land surveyors will begin soon, and with their results, our town planner and architect can prepare the formal submission.
This will be a long process, but it’s an important foundation for our long term development vision for the property.
Thank you for following along, we’re so happy to have you with us on this journey.
Here’s to an exciting and, most importantly, prosperous 2026, filled with success, love, and maybe a little less road dust.
Much love,
Team Farm21
