Groenfontein Couples Retreat
Date & Time: 2-5 June 2022
Venue: The Retreat at Groenfontein, Calitzdorp
Theme: Me, you and us
Cost: R8 800 - R9 520 per couple, including 3 nights accommodation, all material, sessions, meals, soft drinks
THIS WEEKEND IS NOW CLOSED FOR BOOKINGS
About this weekend:
The Enneagram offers a deeply meaningful way for couples to re-connect. We hurt in relationship, and we heal in relationship. The starting point is always inside - to see my own worldviews and motivations. Once we understand that, we have the capacity to look at our partner with curiosity and openness for a new understanding. The knowledge we gain from ourselves and our partners bring about fascinating insights about how we connect, how we hurt and how we heal.
This retreat is a journey for couples; it's not a "group thing"! Your boundaries are honoured at all times. You'll receive the information and the tools in the group, but all the work and exploration will be either alone or with your partner. There will be no formal group sharing or compulsory group engagement, apart from eating and checking in with each other.
Location:
The Retreat at Groenfontein is a Victorian farmhouse set in 560ha of the beautiful Groenfontein Valley Conservancy, bordering on the 129 000ha Swartberg Nature Reserve. The house overlooks the sweeping gardens and majestic Swartberg mountains. You can hike to what feels like the the top of the world, with breathtaking views. Or you can marvel at the sparkling pools in the mountain stream, which eventually feeds into the Gouritz river. Visit The Retreat at Groenfontein website here for more about the space.
Food:
The meals at Groenfontein have a health emphasis, vegetarians are welcome and we cater for problem diets. Our Guests can enjoy Karoo lamb dishes and local Cape specialties. Meals are served in the beautiful dining room, with a crackling fire, during the cold winter evenings.
The Retreat has a full liquor licence and carries a selection of fine wines of the region.
This retreat is for you if...
- You want a stronger, more supportive and healthy relationship
- You want to feel more compassion for yourself and your partner
- You want to connect more deeply to bring the best out in each other
- You want to reduce miscommunication and hear each other more clearly
- You feel stuck in your relationship and unable to move forward
- You want to be more happy and free, together
What's included:
Everything is catered for from the moment you arrive on Thursday afternoon, until you depart on Sunday. You only need to bring your own clothes. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided, plus snacks, soft drinks, and facilitated sessions and activities. There is a cash bar for alcoholic drinks.
Programme:
The Enneagram is a map to help us explore our own and our partner's beauty, and why, where and how we fail to see and hear each other. Before the retreat, you'll complete a questionnaire to see which type you resonate with most. You'll receive information about your type, so that by the time we meet up, we can jump right into the work of understanding our relationship dynamics. After exploring our own types in more detail on Thursday, we'll zoom in on what happens when your two types come together - the joys and the challenges that your specific connection brings. You'll have the opportunity to talk about relationship patterns you've never identified or considered before, bringing new options and freedom into your relationship, while creating a shelter of kindness for each other.
During the weekend, you can expect:
Group information sessions
Me-time
Couple's exercises
Hiking
Optional meditation
Group feedback and discussions (optional participation)
48-page Couples Enneagram report
Arrival at The Retreat at Groenfontein is from 12h00 - 13h30 on Thursday. Finishing time is Sunday 12h00.
Accommodation:
Groenfontein offers Garden Suites consisting of a room with a king-sized or twin beds, and lounge area with fireplace. The suite has an extra bedroom with 2 single beds, for those who need a snoring-escape! There's a bathroom with Victorian bath & shower and separate toilet. The private verandah has magnificent mountain views. All-inclusive price (except alcoholic drinks) for a Garden Suite is R9520 per couple for the whole programme from Thursday to Sunday.
The Garden Rooms are situated in a converted weaving shed, with king-size or twin beds with en-suite Victorian bath/shower or shower. They have a sitting area with a fireplace. One garden room has a small study/alcove room with a 3rd bed. The Garden Rooms have verandahs with magnificent views of Swartberg mountains. All-inclusive price (except alcoholic drinks) for a Garden Room is R8800 per couple for the whole programme from Thursday to Sunday.
Here, there is no cellphone reception and no TV sets. We operate on solar power plus generator backup, so no inconvenient power-outs! It does mean there are no fridges or kettles in the rooms but we supply ice, cold drinks, tea and coffee on request.
Getting there:
The easiest way to get to Groenfontein from Cape Town, Johannesburg or Durban is to fly to George. Groenfontein is 1 hr 50 mins drive from George airport. There are car rentals available at the airport. To save costs, once bookings are finalised, we can put couples in touch with each other to share car rentals from George to Groenfontein.
If you feel like a road trip, Groenfontein is a 4 hr 50 mins drive from Cape Town.
If you feel a little bit uncomfortable about going away by yourself for the weekend, know this: most women feel that way! Read here: 
