In February we spent almost a month in South Africa and found the most beautiful Airbnb place in Nordhook, nearby Cape Town, with adorable hots, Madelein and Guy. We felt a connection right away and had great talks. Madelein was so inspiring. Not often in life you meet a person with such a distinguished personality! For us she is a window into South Africa and while staying with her at their beautiful Airbnb we got to know the authentic side of Africa.

MyRiveGauche: Where were you born and where did you grow up?

Madelein: I was born in Pretoria, a place where many Afrikaners come from. My ancestors were mostly Dutch but also English and Scottish people who had to make a life for themselves in a very wild landscape. I feel like that there is a toughness in the people who live on this continent. There is a saying that the woman of the Voortrekkers crossed the Drakensberg with bare feet. Guy is from Boksburg, a mining Town of Johannesburg with British ancestry. We moved to Cape Town when I was of school going age and it is the best city in the world for us.    

MyRiveGauche: What is important for you and what were your greatest personal findings that changed and influenced your life? 

Madelein: Traveling by myself after high school was the ignition to the flame that is my personality. During my time at school I was trying to understand my identity through my peers. Although I had a great time with friends, it did curb my personality subtly. Every time I got money for my birthday, I put it away but I didn't know what for. When I turned seventeen, they started asking us what we wanted to be. All I knew was, there is no way I can know what job to do as I have not seen anything. The money I had saved up, afforded me a oneway ticket to London all by myself. During this solitary exploration, I redefined myself in many different landscapes, stories, meetings and adventures. There I saw the diversity of life, and that life is much grander than just our own perception, There is great joy in expanding and growing and this is an attitude. So it started with traveling, then it turned into a view of life and now I am a very happy person for I have seen the abundance of this world's beauty, its people and our own souls.  

MyRiveGauche: When meeting you we felt a connection right away and it was so inspiring to listen to you. What is the source of your spirituality?

Madelein: It's a hard question because it feels like the source of spirituality just...comes. I noticed a feeling when I was little, walking alone at night in a forest when the full moon was making shadows of fallen leaves. The sense was that I am not alone, that the moon and life is aware of me, with me. Throughout life there was a gentle unfolding of this sentiment, from being overwhelmed with love before falling asleep to starting to cry when we would sing deep songs in school. It has been an interest, so I have also actively looked in that direction by the music, film and travels I have done. I have visited nuns who live in silence in Spain, learnt about Meditation from a couch surfing host in Granada, gotten into Yoga, Vippassana, visited holy sites in South America and Africa. I like being moved, and everyone has a different thing that moves them. This is special, this is life and creating your soul's journey. 

MyRiveGauche: Where have you lived before coming to Noordhoek and what are your future plans? 

Madelein: After Europe, I was inspired to go into tourism and studied in Stellenbosch for two years, great carefree life! Then I had a chance to 'be free' again and went to Canada for a year to gain some experience in the Rocky Mountains. Getting back to South Africa I found myself in the great little village of Kalk Bay and managed a guesthouse there for 7 years. When it started to became more busy, I wanted to change to a quieter area. Noordhoek is a very sought after and expensive piece of heaven. It is right underneath Chapmans Peak drive and it is quite cheeky for us 'regular folks' to try and rent in this part of the world. We plan to have our own business, myself in property management and Guy still deciding, his interests being bee keeping and community work. If it goes to plan, we can have a little family and have a simple life, close to nature, with chickens and time.

MyRiveGauche: How would you describe South Africa and what makes this country so special for you?

Madelein: It is a very unique place. It has an edge due to its history of colonization and liberation. There is a struggle which is social and economical and is the reason for making it a very vibrant and interesting place. Strong people find happiness in expressing themselves in unique ways. In South Africa you have to be on your tippy toes or you will miss out. You must be able to shift and submerge yourself with the people to truly understand. The landscape is stunning and there is so much to offer, from dessert to mountain to forrest. I LOVE IT because of the local people, so happy and helpful even when life is tough. Resourceful and eager, we have a long way to go with a lot of potential. 

MyRiveGauche: Which places in Africa have you traveled to and which one did inspire you most?

Madelein: The South Peninsula in Cape Town seems magical. The West Coast for wildness. The Garden Route for easy tripping. The Transkei for rural hiking and back to roots experience. Hogback, Amatohole mountains, retreat village. Drakensberg, the last frontier where the Khoi San could still live. Kruger for the life changing experience of seeing real wild life. Within South Africa but not of it: Swaziland is high, other worldly with rolling hills and storms.

MyRiveGauche: What is so special about the place you live in currently and how did you find it?

Madelein: The South Peninsula, slowly unveils her mysteries. First you visit Cape Point and all the regular good spots. But in time you go deeper, find caves, and trails that go into ravines and around bays that you had no idea were there. In the mid of a bustling fun city where you find pockets of peace wide open spaces. I was driving over Kaapse Weg one day and a voice just said: Noordhoek. I have been wanting to stay somewhere with trees and grass, a place where kids still ride bikes on the street, a place where you can talk to the stars. 

MyRiveGauche: Why did you name your Airbnb place Bee Hive?

Madelein: Guy is a bee keeper and he had carved a sign saying Bee Hive, many years ago. When we moved in he just called it our Bee Hive. He has been keeping bees in the back forest and the space we rent on AirBnB is called Bee Hive Loft. When we have harvest the honey is for sale at the local market or to our guests. 

MyRiveGauche: What do you enjoy most about hosting and meeting different guests from all over the world?

Madelein: You tighten your chances of meeting a person who you can connect with in a special way. It can not be forced, it is a natural thing, like chemistry. Within this connections conversations inspire, ideas form and we become better people as we grow with others who are on the same wave length.  

MyRiveGauche: What can you recommend doing in the area around Cape Town/Noordhoek?

Madelein: Hiking in Silvermine resort. Full moon lions head hike. Zeit Mocca gallery at waterfront. Walking tour in city. Snorkeling with seals in Houtbay. Cano trip around the penguins in Simons Town. Bicycle trips around Cape Point. Vintage car hire along Chapman's peak drive to cape point vineyard market on a Thursday night. Organise a group Hike from Noordhoek to sleep over at the tented camp in Kommetjie, then to hike to Scarborough and sleep at the backpacker there. A night out in Kalk Bay with cocktail drinks at Cape to Cuba, dinner at Cafe Olympia and a show at the theatre. Surfing in Muizenberg. Kirstenbosch botanical gardens for a concert. There is so much!

MyRiveGauche: How would you describe Bee Hive to your guests? 

Madelein: A fairy tail cottage in a wild garden retreat, where you sleep well and hear the trees and birds remind you of the joy of life.

MyRiveGauche: How would you recommend people to discover South Africa?

Madelein: By driving you are the most mobile and try hard to meet locals so that you can be sucked into the flow.

MyRiveGauche: Which destination would you like to travel next? 

Madelein: Kruger to Mapumgubwe.

Many thanks, Madelein, for taking the time and sharing your story with us. We're looking forward to meeting you again, either in Cape Town or in Berlin!