Seven Fountains Farm

What Seven Fountains Farm does

Seven Fountains Farm is a privately held boutique guesthouse and restaurant operating on an 11-hectare heritage farm in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, between Makhanda (Grahamstown) and the Indian Ocean. The property comprises five individually furnished double rooms and three self-catering cottages — The Cottage, The Barn, The Homestead, and The Farmhouse — set within century-old buildings originally constructed by Dutch settlers in 1717 and restored by successive owners between 2014 and 2017. An on-site restaurant seating 40 indoors plus 12 on the terrace serves international cuisine with South African game-meat and vegan influences, complemented by wellness amenities (swimming pool, walking trails, hammocks, library) and curated day excursions to nearby Big Five game reserves including Pumba, Addo Elephant National Park, Shamwari, and Kariega.

The business is owned and operated by Arnoud van der Klis, Marjanne Riemens, and their daughter Anne, who acquired the property on December 1, 2018. Core technology consists of off-grid eco-friendly infrastructure — solar power for water pumping and energy generation, plus rainwater collection systems — which insulates operations from South African grid loadshedding. The revenue model is direct-to-consumer with two principal streams: nightly accommodation across eight units with breakfast included, and restaurant and event dining (dinners by reservation, Sunday lunches, private events). Distribution runs through a RoomRaccoon-powered direct booking engine, complemented by listings on Booking.com, Airbnb (Superhost status), and Afristay (Best Value recognition), with social media marketing via Facebook and Instagram and owner-authored blog content covering regional attractions.

Customers are primarily individual international safari travelers (notably from Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, and Austria) drawn to the malaria-free location and proximity to Big Five reserves, alongside South African regional leisure travelers from Makhanda, Port Alfred, Kenton-on-Sea, and Port Elizabeth seeking weekend escapes and the National Arts Festival. Headcount sits in the 1-10 range, consistent with a small family-operated hospitality business; no revenue figures, funding history, or valuation are publicly disclosed.

Name

Seven Fountains Farm

Legal name

Seven Fountains Farm

Website

https://sevenfountainsfarm.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1717

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Seven Fountains Farm is a privately owned boutique guesthouse and restaurant on an 11-hectare heritage farm in South Africa's malaria-free Eastern Cape, offering eight accommodation units, an on-site restaurant, and curated Big Five safari excursions to international and regional leisure travelers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Boutique Guesthouse & Restaurant Hospitality

NAICS

RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Farmstay Rooms (Working Farms/Ranches) (THAMABAG)

Keywords

• Guesthouse accommodation
• Farm restaurant dining
• Safari lodge services
• Self-catering cottages
• Private event venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Makhanda (Grahamstown)

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Guesthouse Accommodation: Five double individually furnished rooms and three self-catering cottages (The Cottage, The Barn, The Homestead, The Farmhouse, The Stoeps rooms) accommodating various group sizes. Breakfast included with overnight stays. Some units are pet-friendly.
2. Restaurant and Dining: On-site restaurant serving international cuisine with South African influences. Dinner by reservation (closed Monday and Tuesday), Sunday lunches, special event catering. Seats 40 indoors plus terrace. Menu includes game meats (kudu, springbok), vegan options, and local dishes like Chakalaka.
3. Customized Venue Events: Private event hosting including birthdays, anniversaries, wedding receptions, business meetings, and writing retreats. Full venue customization available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Seven Fountains Farm is a boutique guesthouse and on-site restaurant set on an 11-hectare historical farm estate in the malaria-free Eastern Cape of South Africa, offering five double guesthouse rooms and three self-catering cottages with breakfast included, a restaurant serving international cuisine with South African influences, outdoor leisure facilities (swimming pool, walking trails, hammocks, boma), and organized day excursions to nearby Big Five game reserves.

Product overview

Seven Fountains Farm is a guesthouse and restaurant offering five double rooms, three self-catering cottages, and group accommodations across century-old buildings. The property features The Cottage (2 persons), The Barn (2 persons), The Homestead (4 persons), The Farmhouse (up to 6 persons), and The Stoeps (four double rooms). On-site amenities include a restaurant serving international cuisine with local South African influences, swimming pool, walking trails, library, and outdoor relaxation areas. The farm also organizes game reserve excursions to nearby wildlife parks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Cottage Detached, self-catering cottage of approximately 35 square meters with a king-size double bed, vintage and design furniture, private terrace, and braai facilities; breakfast included. Sleeps two guests.
• The Barn Spacious, bright room of approximately 36 square meters adjacent to the restaurant, featuring a king-size bed, authentic stone walls, and wheelchair accessibility; breakfast included. Sleeps two guests.
• The Homestead Self-catering house of approximately 55 square meters with two bedrooms (one king-size, two single beds), a living room, and veranda access; breakfast included and braai facilities available. Sleeps up to four guests.
• The Farmhouse Largest accommodation at approximately 140 square meters featuring three bedrooms with king-size beds (convertible to singles), two bathrooms, terrace with lounge sofa, and braai facilities. Sleeps up to six guests; breakfast included.
• The Stoeps Rooms Four individually furnished double rooms of approximately 30 square meters each, connected through a veranda, available individually or together. Stoep 4 features a private terrace. Breakfast included; double occupancy with crisp French cotton bedding.
• Restaurant On-site restaurant located in a 300-year-old building serving high-quality food with international influences, homemade bread, and local South African cuisine including game meats (kudu, springbok), vegan options, and Chakalaka. Offers dinner by reservation (except Monday and Tuesday), Sunday lunch, and breakfast for overnight guests; seats 40 indoors plus 12+ on the terrace.
• Breathe and Relax Experiences On-site outdoor leisure activities including swimming pool, 1km walking trail to the dam, library with fireplace, hammocks, deck areas, picnic spots, and lookout post. Set on 11 hectares of gardens with diverse flora, birdlife, and Old Men's Beard moss growth evidencing pure air quality.
• Game Reserve Excursions Organized day safaris and excursions to nearby wildlife reserves including Pumba Private Game Reserve, Addo Elephant National Park, Shamwari Game Reserve, and other regional game parks for Big Five viewing; arranged from the malaria-free Eastern Cape base.
• Customized Venue Events Private event hosting including birthdays, anniversaries, wedding receptions, business meetings, and writing retreats, with full venue customization, on-site catering, and accommodation combined for groups.

Quantifiable outcome

• Guests report not having slept so well in years due to pure air quality and quiet surroundings

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Dutch African BadgercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial responsibility initiative founded by the owners Arnoud van der Klis and Marjanne Riemens. Provides opportunities for children living in townships in Cape Town to explore and experience nature. Reflects the owners' commitment to community engagement and environmental education beyond the farm operations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kariega Game Reserve: Family-friendly malaria-free Big Five reserve on the Eastern Cape with multi-lodge accommodations; competes directly for the same European family safari market as Seven Fountains Farm.
• Amakhala Game Reserve: Malaria-free Big Five reserve in the Eastern Cape offering a range of lodge tiers; competes for safari travelers in the same regional corridor as Seven Fountains Farm.
• Boschendal Wine Estate: Heritage Cape wine estate offering farm-style luxury accommodation, dining, and curated experiences; runs the same heritage-estate hospitality model that Seven Fountains Farm operates.
• Pumba Private Game Reserve: Eastern Cape malaria-free Big Five reserve with multiple lodge options; located adjacent to Seven Fountains Farm and explicitly named as a partner attraction, competing for the same international safari traveler.
• Lalibela Game Reserve: Malaria-free Big Five reserve in the Eastern Cape offering multiple self-catering and luxury lodges; competes for the same safari traveler segment and is listed by Seven Fountains Farm as a nearby attraction.
• Shamwari Game Reserve: Premier malaria-free Eastern Cape Big Five reserve with a portfolio of luxury lodges; competes for high-end safari travelers in the same geography and is referenced by Seven Fountains Farm as a nearby reserve.
• Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: Private malaria-free Eastern Cape reserve with multiple lodge styles including private homesteads; comparable to Seven Fountains Farm on luxury accommodation in a remote, nature-immersive setting.
• Babylonstoren: Historic Cape Dutch farm with boutique garden cottages, farm-to-table dining, and curated experiences; mirrors Seven Fountains Farm's heritage farm-stay + restaurant positioning.

Broad incumbents

• &Beyond: Large multi-country safari and luxury lodge operator; broad incumbent with a portfolio of safari lodges that competes for international high-end travelers considering Eastern Cape options.
• Singita: Pan-African operator of ultra-luxury safari lodges across multiple countries; broad incumbent in the high-end safari space that sets the upper benchmark for premium safari pricing and service.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sevenfountainsfarm
• Instagraminstagram.com/sevenfountainsfarm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-old-farmhouse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Seven Fountains Farm