Onse Rus Guest House

Surround yourself with the nothingness - The Great Karoo is in the middle of nowhere but is the heart of everything. Prins Albert is situated at the foot of the majestic Swartberg Mountain Range. Here time is suspended in the dry crisp Karoo air. It is the place of silence, vast open spaces, and a night sky so full of stars that you can almost reach out and touch them?

You will immediately feel at home as you slow down to the relaxed pace of country life and take time to experience simple beauty, the attention to detail, the small unexplained things, the dogs the cat the ducks and the horses ? the odd shaped rooms - the garden with quirky stone men - the warm and inviting lounge leading onto a large shaded garden with swimming pool, bedrooms with French doors and shutters opening into the garden - the harshness of the Karoo that gives you grace in the evening and gentleness in the morning. Our guest accommodation and facilities are separate from our own, affording our guests a level of privacy not normally associated with a guesthouse.

Accommodation Each of the 5 air conditioned guest rooms has its own special character with en-suite bathrooms. After breathing the fresh country air, you'll sleep soundly in the comfortable beds with crisp percale linen.

Breakfast and other meals Breakfast is served in the garden under the trees in summer weather permitting and in winter in the main guest lounge with fire place. The generous Onse Rus farmhouse breakfast is a real treat: homemade muesli, fresh farm dairy products, fruit juice, bacon and eggs with mouth-watering local preserves... and just wait until you taste the cream! We are fully licensed and cater for large tour groups. Dinner is served upon request with a minimum of 4 guests booking - you might fancy a simple omelette or a three course Karoo dinner - chat to Lisa. If you prefer to eat out, we can recommend a number of excellent restaurants all within walking distance from the guesthouse.

Facilities We serve tea and cake on arrival. In summer you might choose to sit in the gazebo next to the swimming pool or in winter the guest lounge with fireplace which doubles as an art gallery. The inviting sparkling pool provides a sanctuary on hot summer days. The shady garden has braai facilities and a bar. The dining room has a large ceramic fireplace for winter, and our library in the guest lounge offers books to suit every taste.

Activities and Attractions:

MyShire Farm The journey to MyShire will delight your senses... Situated in the Weltevrede Valley 30 kms from Prins Albert, it is an untarred road taking you through breath taking scenery - past one of the largest fruit production farms in the region, take note of the sign asking you to slow down due to "dust on the fruit trees", then onto the Rooinek pass where you must stop and experience ?our valley of 1000 hills? with the multi shades of greys and a dirt road that goes on for ever. Continue onto the T Junction here you will discover Weltevrede Fig Farm which is one of the first fig farms in South Africa, turn right and continue for a further 2 kms you will see the sign MyShire Farm, bare to the right cross over the Lei water sluit. You will reach MyShire gate with a sign that says ?Please keep the gate closed horses at play' - cross the Huisrivier sometimes it is flooding so please contact Lisa regarding the condition of the road and river...

Day Trips Something for everyone... MyShire Labyrinth is based on the Chartres Cathedral labyrinth in France which dates back to 1201. Walk the magical 11-circuit Medieval Labyrinth surrounded by Mountains and wide open spaces. It is a one kilometre walk to the centre, large enough for our horses, disabled and abled bodied people to enjoy. It is made from the local stone collected from the Huisrivier (we used 4800 stones) The secret of the Labyrinth lies at the centre of the Rose, that you will have to discover and experience for yourself. Allow the silence of the Great Karoo to resonate within you, experience a moment that lasts a life time.