Photo: Supplied
Space, silence, and absolute privacy – the luxuries of an era in which the frenetic pace of life never eases – are rarely available to those of us not able to afford holidaying on private islands. Never mind the lengthy travel time necessary to achieve such seclusion.
But Tussenklip Honeymoon Suite on the outskirts of Nelspruit offers a chance to unplug that is rarely so complete, and seldom so nearby.
Perched between two gigantic granite boulders on a nature conservancy and citrus and macadamia nut farm, the three-storey honeymoon suite offers views from multiple angles of a valley of untouched Lowveld bush and mountains of stacked boulders.
The interior itself offers up plenty of visual stimulation, as the sheer size of the boulders, making up the entire north and south walls of the suite, never ceases to impress.
A deck with a view
The options for enjoying the space in a new way continue to unfold over our weekend: sundowners on the uppermost deck, a mid-afternoon nap on the loungers on the middle deck, a jetted bath under the stars on the lowest deck.
Then there is even a sunrise extravaganza on offer from the swing chair on an east-facing deck. The space is tranquil and sublimely quiet except for the birdsong and occasional restless troop of monkeys. After just two days, we’ve achieved the kind of inner serenity usually only realised after an abnormally long holiday.
Theunis du Plessis and his wife, Marique, are the owners of the property. Explaining the reasoning behind creating the space, Theunis says it is to offer couples an opportunity to spend quality time together.
“We are blessed to stay in this beautiful area, and it brings us joy to share it. To create the ultimate space for couples to reconnect, we therefore went for a more luxury route than rustic, so that the best of both worlds is on offer: the beautiful natural surrounds and all the indulgent comforts.”
Do not disturb
Marique adds that the decision not to provide Wi-Fi in the suite was a deliberate one so that couples could reconnect without distraction, and it has proved immensely popular.
“We get an unbelievable amount of people who ask us to keep the suite signal-free!”
Opened at the start of 2023, the honeymoon suite is the second of two accommodation options on the farm. The first, The Fig Tree House, is a family-orientated option with an open-plan design built around a majestic wild fig tree.
The two-level treehouse has open-air beds nestled between the branches, with a lounge and dining area in the centre. The couple, however, realised over time that there were visitors wanting a more private option, and they thought of the boulders where Theunis had once suggested a hideaway be built.
Growing up on the farm, Theunis and his brother explored every nook and cranny. They dubbed the rocks that would become Tussenklip ‘Elephant Hill’, because they looked like elephant heads. As an adult, he realised the potential of the space and decided to present the idea to Marique.
She explains that building projects have always been “their thing”.
“When we got married, my aunt told me that we should find something we could do together as a couple as it would strengthen our bond. Taking on renovation and construction projects somehow became that thing. We can spend hours debating how something should be designed, changed or decorated. We’ve had a few projects over the years, and they’ve always been such rewarding undertakings.”
Since the area was completely overgrown with natural vegetation, Theunis had the section cleared and stacked four large citrus bins on top of each other between the two boulders to give Marique an idea of what it would be like to be perched between the rocks. They were sold on the idea.
They brought in help from among their friends, brainstorming and dreaming with their friend and architect, the late Josef Fourie. Gert Meyer, also a friend and architect, played a huge role in the whole project, and Jan Hendrik de Lange did an exceptional job building the structure.
Two levels were decided on – an upper area for the kitchen, lounge and patio, and a lower area for the bedroom and bathroom, leading out to a larger deck with loungers.
They were just about done with construction when Theunis stood below, looking up at the suite, and realised they could add a third level to capitalise on that space. This is where the jetted bath now stands.
Taking a more luxurious route was a natural progression of wanting to create a couple’s retreat. Marique has a good eye for design and selected individual pieces suited to the space. Some of the wooden tables were even made on the farm using local wood.
The result is a clever use of space, where everything you could want for a luxurious, romantic getaway is snugly contained without feeling squeezed in. Floor-to-ceiling windows at both the east and west sides of the suite maximise light and bring in a fresh breeze.
The boulders are excellent at maintaining a near-constant temperature. Care was taken to install sufficient cladding in the floor and roof to prevent extreme heat and cold from entering.
Finding a name
Naming the retreat was another process that involved family and friends.
“We played around with names for ages. Then Theunis’s father suggested ‘knus tussen klip’ (snug between rock) – it sounded so cosy and warm so we decided on Tussenklip,” says Marique.
The novelty factor has aided marketing. “It’s not something you find every day, and it’s not something you can replicate since it depends on finding two boulders adjacent to each other, with very specific dimensions,” she says.
Having a well-designed website with photos and videos that perfectly capture the space has also helped, but that is mostly where marketing efforts have ended.
“Word-of-mouth has been incredible. Someone will share the website or photos on social media, and it just gets reposted and reposted. We have maintained a high occupancy rate. Initially it was mostly weekends, but now even weekdays are booked well in advance,” says Marique.
Having a team in place to diligently manage the accommodation has been key to their success. Theunis says: “Lizette Leverington manages the bookings for us, and she and Gert play an important role in overall management and maintenance of the accommodation.
“Having a good team in place is really important to maintain a standard.”
Tussenklip has perfectly merged luxury with nature to create a space that calls for a pause, an indulgence in staring at the stars, and a renewed appreciation for creation. As a couple’s retreat, it provides ample opportunity to recharge and ignite. It is a true gem, both architecturally and as an antidote to a hurried life.
Email Tussenklip at [email protected].
