Get away from it all in this slice of (almost) untouched paradise in Hekpoort.
I’ve been lucky enough to gather some of my closest friends for our annual off-the-grid girls’ weekend at Sima Kade for almost five years. Honestly, we’ve never thought of holding it anywhere else–it ticks all the boxes. An hour from Joburg,affordable and just jaw-droppingly beautiful. Fortwo nights, we’re immersed in nature, with the space and peace we need to reconnect and recharge our batteries–whether we’re sitting by the bonfire, wallowing in the gorgeous natural pool or hanging around the table, slinging back G&Ts.
One of the coolest aspects of Sima Kade (which means Tree of Life in Setswana) is how its thoughtful, low-impact accommodation highlights the nature around you, rather than detracting from it. At Sky Terrace,one of the two large camps used for retreats, the bulk of our group sleep in converted grain silos set under the trees,looking down through the valley.With an outdoor kitchen (including a sink with a view), showers under the sky and a yoga room with walls that open almost completely to the elements, you’re always connected to your surroundings. Basically, it’s like camping, but much more comfortable.
And that’s just the group accommodation! Sima Kade’s smaller cabins are dreamy boltholesthat areset deep in the valley and make the absolute most of their privacy with outdoor bath sand daybeds.I thought it was high time that I found out more about one of my favourite places in Joburg and shared this magical spot with the readers of Purely Local Jozi (although, judging by Sima Kade’s packed bookings for the year ahead, many of you have clearly heard of this hidden gem!).
The Inception
“The creation of Sima Kade has been an incredibly organic process,” says Melissa from Sima Kade. “When the owners of the valley first purchased it there wasn’t even a footpath…let alone a road. It was their secret haven!”Soon they began camping with friends at an immersive spot in the forest, and slowly added conveniences such as bathrooms and a kitchen. This became known as the Bush Camp and soon,through word of mouth, friends of friends began to camp there. “Consequently, the Sima Kade valley gradually opened up to the rest of the world as a space to reconnect with nature and self.
”Today, the Sima Kade crew comprises Laurence, the architectural wizard behind the cabin designs,who is supported by a team of artisans who do all the woodwork, steelwork, stone masonry,electrics, plumbing and glasswork in the Sima Kade workshop. The housekeeping staff drive up and down, in and around the valley to keep all the venues spick and span, while Ivan handles the website, Deborah the administration, and Melissa the general management as well as in-house vegetarian catering. “We’re a tight team where everyone plays an invaluable role–and we’re grateful for each and every person!” says Melissa.
Immersed in the Environment
The hiking paths within Sima Kade allow guests to fully take it all in. And there’s a lot to absorb! The area is rich in history, with 800-year-old settlement ruins found on the neighbouring property and ancient artefacts discovered within Sime Kade. A grandmother fig tree grows in the amphitheatre at the top of the valley and the forest holds huge stinkwoods, bush willows and acacias, not to mention abundant bird life. The area, its camps and cabins are fed by a spring, which flows all the way from above the rock pool down through the valley.
“We think the seclusion that our guests feel is a big factor in Sima Kade’s popularity,” says Melissa.“Having a vast open nature experience seemingly all to yourselves really allows you to switch off. Nature truly is medicine, and our guests leave feeling replenished.
”Enhancing that seclusion is the accommodation – rustic-comfort structures that integrate harmoniously with the environment. “The designs of the cabins and lodgings are unique, practical and well-crafted – each venue has its own feel, but are always minimalistic and functional, giving you exactly what you need and emphasising how nature is the true artist at play.
Unique Accommodation
Creating each new cabin is a process. Taking between 4–6 months, the first step is to locate a newspot that’s a fair distance from the other venues. “We’ll explore the land on foot to find the perfect location, after which Laurence begins the creative process, spending time on the new site at various times of the day to observe the path of the sun and how it will interact with the new cabin through the seasons and focusing on the structure’s placement to see how it will blend in with and interplay with its surroundings.”
The stones (sourced from the valley, of course) are then set for the foundation before the welded steel frames are transported from the workshop at the entrance to Sima Kade. From there the rest of the building takes place using largely repurposed materials, and finally the furniture (also made in the workshop and available through Donga Design) is placed inside.
While Sima Kade is remarkably self-sufficient, the team still tap into resources from the surrounding community – from yoghurt and eggs from a local farmer, to helping hands for their annual invasive-plant hack week, and even pampering massages for guests. “After the Pandemic forced many lodges and hotels to cut down on staff, a community of retrenched massage therapists came together to create the Paradise Mobile Spa to offer treatments to smaller lodges in the area,” says Melissa. “It is such a pleasure for us to be able to offer their services to our guests. The beds get set up beautifully at guests’ respective venues and the treatments are professional – we hear such rave reviews!”
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