Majeka House is the perfect getaway in Stellenbosch

This little piggy went to Stellenbosch, this little piggy stayed at home. This little piggy had a 2013 Circumstance by Waterkloof merlot, this little piggy had none.

There are a lot of “little piggies” at Majeka House and one thing they have in common is that none of them has none. They’re all plump little porkers, demonstrating an excess of winelands charm and bonhomie.

Piggy figurines have become something of a trademark for this five-star boutique hotel on the verdant southern outskirts of the Eikestad, with numbers growing as repeat visitors pander to owner Karine Dequeker’s quirky passion for pigs.

Majeka House, is run by Dequeker and her husband Lloyd van der Merwe (both of whom have been in the hotel business for decades), and was voted bestdesigned hotel by Condé Nast Johansens in 2017.

“My father used to own a house one street away from here,” says Karine, “but this was the property he really wanted. He eventually bought it but, because it housed two families, it was too big and expensive. Nobody wanted to buy the other half, so Lloyd and I put together a business plan for a five-room B&B.”

Karine and Lloyd. Picture: Jim Freeman

The couple met on the property in 2000, soon after the Dequeker family moved in. They married four years later.

Karine’s father liked their idea but insisted – forgive the pun – they go the whole hog and create a five-star establishment.

Majeka House, which gets its name from the first two letters of Karine and her parents’ names, opened in November 2008 but underwent radical refurbishment in mid-2011.

Decor was entrusted to Etienne Hanekom, now a renowned Western Cape interior designer but at the time, an art director for Visi magazine. He consulted privately on the side and was given carte blanche to create something spectacular with the public areas.

“Karine has collected pigs since she was a child,” says Van der Merwe, who jokingly claims to be the prize of her collection, “and when Etienne put the big one in reception, she brought some of her own from home. That’s when the display began to take on a life of its own…”

Karine grew up in West Africa but returned regularly to the Burgundy region of France from where her parents came.

Room in Majeka House. Karine and Lloyd. Picture: Jim Freeman

“I was quite young when my mum told me I needed to start a collection of some sort so friends, who always brought little gifts when they came to visit, would have an idea of what to buy.

“A few days later, I walked into a shop and saw the cutest little pig,” she recalls. “That was it. I have about 200 pigs of all sizes and shapes but now I prefer antiques and figurines made by recognised artists.”

As in any good art gallery, items on display are rotated although some – like the life-sized one in reception, iron boar in the garden and a golden figurine in the lounge bar – are permanent fixtures.

The pigs don’t make it to the hotel’s 23 individually decorated rooms which are grouped into four categories: premier, garden, poolside and mountain-view.

As one would expect, great attention has been paid to the fine details that turn a comfortable stay into a memorable one.

Many small hotels aspire to being funky but end up parading a discordant jumble of expensive gewgaws. Not so Majeka House; the intimate M Lounge is probably the perfect balance of modern and antique eclecticism in which to relax with a book, enjoy a tapas meal or sip a brandy from the hotel’s extensive selection of South African brands.

Makaron. Picture: Jim Freeman

The formal restaurant, Makaron, with executive head chef Lucas Carstens at the helm, is one of the most talked-about eating spots in Stellenbosch.

Visitor numbers, says Dequeker, “have traditionally been dominated by foreign guests. However, Brexit and other happenings in Europe have affected business from abroad and we’ve made a conscious effort to grow our local clientele.

“Accordingly, we’ve put together some attractive packages that include accommodation, spa treatments and dining in Makaron.

“Majeka House is the perfect place if you’re exploring the local wine estates, recharging your batteries or treating yourself to a romantic break,” she says.

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