Thembalitsha | Guest House base in Somerset West

Thembalitsha, which means “new hope,” reaches out to the poorest of the poor in South Africa.
In a nation that has the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS in the world, ThembaCare cares for infants and children who have been diagnosed as terminally ill with AIDS.

Somerset West is the closest large towns near Grabouw (Themba Care) and volunteers working on the Thembalitsha Project in Grabouw can consider Mooring House Guest Lodge as their base for accommodation purposes whilst assisting with the project. With affordable rates the guest house offer 8 rooms all with own entrance and private en-suite bathrooms and is therefore suitable for teams or small groups helping at ThembaCare Grabouw.

During June 2008, Mooring House Guest Lodge in Somerset West hosted 2 teams from the Dallas Trinty Church in Texas (USA). The 1st team stayed for 2 weeks and the 2nd team for a week, both teams consisting of 7 volunteers each who assisted with the outreach programmes in the Thembalitsha Project. Mooring House offers reduced rates for groups involved in volunteer mission work offering suitable and spacious accommodation for the volunteers during their stay. By offering reduced rates, the guest house ensures it's contribution to the programme ensuring more funds are available for the actual cause rather than spent on accomodation.

What the team had to say:


"Our team of 7 ladies spent 2 weeks at Mooring House. The rooms were so spacious and daily cleaned excellently. We had plenty of hot water for all of us to shower at once. The view and grounds are beautiful and located very conveniently to sites, mall, etc. Garry and Miriam prepared wonderful breakfasts for us and coordinated with our schedule just as we needed. The hosts also gave us excellent recommendations for shopping, laundry, eating out and they personally aided us when two of our group became ill. Their service to us went beyond the "call of duty". They provided help and answers for our every need. I hesitate making this review only because I hope Mooring House won't become so popular that I won't be able to get a reservation in the future. I would not stay anywhere else when visiting the Cape Town area. We all hope to return."

Accommodation in Somerset West for Cape Epic mountain bike riders

5th May 2008, Mooring House again provided accommodation to 5 Cape Epic Mountain Bikers, (and their families) after the off track race from Knysna which finishined at Lourensford Estate in Somerset West. Mooring House Guest House is roughly 6 minutes away from the entrance to the Lourensford Estate and provides tasteful accommodation and tranquility mixed with smiling hospitality - a much needed therepy after the grueling and tiresom race. Although the weather conditions during the first 2 days were hot, the final day was a lot cooler and the competitors seemed to arrive at the Guest House later than the previous year - last year they were all lounging by the pool. This year when they left the guest house around 8am, the heavens opened and water cascaded from above and bikes were being loaded on vehicles in the pouring rain.

A nice thing about the guest house is that there is adequate on-site parking for vehicles, bikes and trailers and the rooms are spacious so equipment (bikes) can be taken into the room for safe keeping and there is still more than enough space to enjoy relaxing accommodation.

Email Feedback received from Kevin Record - Cape Epic Mountain Biker 2008
"Just a quick note to thank you for making our very brief stay such a nice and pleasant one."

Mooring House Guest Lodge on outing to Robertson and the Kolgans River Restaurant

We left the Guest House in Somerset West on Tuesday (01/03/2008) shortly after morning breakfast was finished, taking Barclay and Kathleen (our Scottish guests) on an outing to the Kolgans River Restaurant in Robertson. We had never done this before so it would be a new experience for all - not to mention, the weather was not the best, it was a wet and rainy day we had chosen for this outdoor South African experience. Nevertheless, we (our Scottish guests or should I say friends, my wife, my parents and myself ) and off we headed along the N2 over Sir Lowry's Pass. The route we were taking would be along the N2 from Somerset West, driving through the apple orchards in Elgin and then past the Theewaterskloof dam (the largest dam in the region and main source of water to Cape Town), through Villiersdorp and on into Robertson.

After roughly just under an hours drive we reached the town of Villiersdorp and on the outer outskirts of the town we stopped at the Kelkiewyn coffee shop and enjoyed a quick cup of coffee and scones.

The remainder of our drive was spent hoping for the skies to clear but on reaching Robertson it seemed to get progressively worse. It took a little time finding the right turn off to the River Restaurant as the road markings were not particularly clear, but eventually landed up at Nerina Guest Farm in Robertson, the entrance to the Kolgans River Restaurant.

We drove down a short dirt road, my parents car in the lead resulting in my mother having to get out of the their car to open the farm access gate. With rain drops still falling she was not impressed with this exercise and we all had a good chuckle at her expense - the looks say it all.

Nevertheless, we got to the river, parked our cars and boarded the somewhat primitive resmblance of a river raft - it was floating and offered a canopy to shelter us from the rain and that was all that mattered so on we climbed.

The engine started, the rain was pouring and off we set for a river cruise. The table was already set so it wasn't long before we started eating - we first tucked into the home baked bread with butter whilst sipping our wine and enjoying the scenary (despite the rain). The remainder of the luncheon consisted of pumkin soup (which I found a little sweet bit the others all loved it) chicken pie, spinach quiche, roast potato's, pumpkin pie, salad and chocolate pudding with custard was served on the way back. The cruise lasted for roughly 2 hours and despite the weather it still proved to be an enjoyable experience - well. taking the weather into account, it definitely beat spending time in a shopping mall.

With the river trip over and having paid our fare for the event, we thanked our "Captain" and decided to visit van Louvern wine estate (also situated in Robertson), their rose bottled under the Four Cousins label is an all time favourite of my wife. So the slight back-tracking through the town of Robertson was more to satisfy her curiosity. The wine tasting area was humming with people tasting wines but we found a spot a sampled a few of their wines. With wine tasting over, it was back in the car and time to depart for home, stopping briefly in at the Affie Plaas farm stall (a shop on hte road-side selling odds and sods and curios, small gifts and food. The weatehr was still miserable and so as a last stop we decided to have a coffee break at the Rooiberg Winery (Bodega de Vinho restaurant) just outside Robertson.

We left after coffee and took the wrong turnoff and landed up driving through Worcester and then backtracking a little.

It was another long, but enjoyable day.

MOORING HOUSE GUEST LODGE | B&B or Selfcatering Guest House in Somerset West

Whether it`s a Golfing Holiday in Somerset West, touring the numerous wine estates, visiting historical sites at Vergelegen, a time by the beach or just business in the Helderberg region - Just 20 minutes from Cape Town International Airport and 30 minutes from Cape Town Centre, Mooring House Guest Lodge is the perfect base for your stay in the Western Cape area of South Africa.

Set on over 4000sqm of property on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain, and more personal than a Holiday Inn, the Guest House offers spacious and tasteful bed and breakfast or self catering accomodation in Somerset West. With views of the Mountain as a backdrop and sea views in the foreground the setting is both pleasant and tranquil.

In total the Guest House can accommodate a maximum of 20 guests. Each room has own private entrance and en-suite bathroom, TV reception (satellite option for certain rooms or bring your own card), sitting area and our garden facing units have private outside patio’s. Apart from additional equipment in the Self Catering units, all rooms have coffee/tea hospitality trays, fridges and microwaves for acomodation convenience. Breakfast is served either on the individual private patio`s, around the pool or brought to your room if the weather is poor.

We are situated at the gateway to the numerous wine estate, are in close proximity to various golf courses (Erinvale Golf Estate, Somerset West Country Club, Helderberg Village, de Zalza and Stellenbosch) and the Historical sites found at Vergelegen wine estate. The Whale Coast drive up to Hermanus starts from Gordon's Bay which is roughly 15 minutes away.

The Strand Beach front and the Somerset Mall (for all your shopping requirements) is only a few minutes drive away as well as recreational activities such as hiking trails. A supermarket, hair salon, dry-cleaner and restaurant is within an even closer proximity.Adequate and on-site parking is available within the premises, behind electronic gates.A sparkling and refreshing pool is also available to our guests who would prefer to "cool-off " rather than go sight-seeing.Light meals can be arranged for lunch or supper.

The Lord Charles Hotel is only minutes away for those businemen/ladies attending conferences there. 24hr ADSL connection or laptop / internet access is available as well as faxing facilities. We can also arrange a shuttle service to and from Cape Town International airport, assistance with car hire, restaurant reservations and Golf T-off times , all just part of the hospitality services we offer. Mooring House Guest Lodge – your acommodation provider in South Africa (Western Cape). We are here to ensure that you have both a memorable and enjoyable stay.

For more information visit the Mooring House Guest Lodge website and pop off an email to Garry by using the "CONTACT US" form on the webpage.

consider Mooring House Guest Lodge as your accommodation provider in Somerset West with private entrance, en-suite bathroom, daily house-keeping, WiFi and on-site parking.