Henry White’s – en upplevelse för sinnena på Fancourt

 About Fancourt

Fancourt, South Africa’s premier lifestyle resort, is nestled in the heart of South Africa’s Garden Route, 7 km from George Airport. The resort lies on 613 hectares of pristine countryside sheltered by the Outeniqua Mountains. The Fancourt Hotel offers the discerning visitor 115 luxurious rooms and suites.

 

Our History

The history of Fancourt, its families and people, begins in 1860. British engineer, Henry Fancourt White, settled with this wife, son and daughter at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains near George. Here, he built an elegant family home, known as Blanco House. It was designed in the style of an old Cotswold mansion.

Henry White played a vital role in the development of the commercial infrastructure around the area’s Montagu Pass. Shortly after his passing, the property was auctioned and sold to his son, Ernest Montagu White. He renamed the house “Fancourt” in honour of his father and made extensive restorations. Montagu passed away in a tragic incident of wild mushroom poisoning, which saw the property fall into a state of disrepair.

In 1960, after almost 30 years of neglect, Dr. Roland Anthony Krynauw, a South African brain surgeon, purchased the property. He began to restore it to its former glory. Today, the refined Manor House is a national monument and a testament to his dedication.

In 1989 the estate passed hands again and was transformed into a top-class hotel and golfing destination under the direction of Andre and Helene Pieterse.

Today, the extensive Fancourt estate is owned by Dr Hasso and Sabine Plattner. Fancourt offers a luxurious, contemporary and relaxed environment, perfectly blending the charms of its family origins and rich heritage with modern convenience. With award-winning golf courses, fine dining, wellness and family-friendly facilities, all Fancourt guests, from the youngest to the oldest, are assured that they will feel at home.

 

Giving Back

Family has always been important at Fancourt. Driven by the passion, spirit and warmth of our guests, staff and partners, the Fancourt Foundation is proud to support:

1. George Child and Family Welfare

Initiated by Fancourt’s owner Sabine Plattner in 2000, our patronage of George Child and Family Welfare Society (GCFW) remains Fancourt’s key focus. This local NGO is a lifeline for thousands of people living in disadvantaged areas in and around George. Focused on offering relief to traumatised families, GCFW runs safe houses for children, tackling child abuse and provides welfare support for those in need. Services include family therapy, play therapy, crisis support, recreational and educational groups. Over the last 3 years, generous Fancourt Members, hotel guests, staff and suppliers have partaken in the annual Stationery drive, an initiative providing complete stationery supplies for hundreds of local school children for their upcoming school year. To date, over 1000 bags of stationery have been sponsored, giving the same amount of children the physical tools to learn and thereby breaking down another barrier to learning.

2. Blanco Creché

Our love of the littlest in the community on our immediate doorstep continues by supporting the Blanco Crèche with a monthly visit to serve warm soup and freshly baked rolls to their 60 children. We encourage other businesses to reach out to us in partnership to help feed deserving little tummies.

3. Rosemoor Old Age Home

In celebration of the annual Mandela Day on 18 July 2022, Fancourt’s staff and suppliers reach out to the approximately 130 residents and staff of the Rosemoor Home for the Aged and provide them with a hearty meal, a form of entertainment, and quality time together over lunch. We endeavor to also assist with maintenance projects which will improve the lives of the elderly. To date, 100 m² of vinyl flooring has been replaced in residential corridors and in residents rooms, 26 light bulbs in critical areas have been replaced with rechargeable versions to aid during loadshedding, 10 toilets and 18 double vanity units from a rooms upgrade project were donated, amongst other initiatives.

4. Ikamva Lethu Golf Development Programme

Montagu and Outeniqua caddy master, Joe Mathikge and Duval Lalaphantsi of The Links are the brains behind the Ikamva Lethu Golf Development programme. This is a registered non-profit organisation working in the local community of Thembalethu. The name ‘Ikamva Lethu’ translates as “our future” in isiXhosa. The organisation equips primary school children in the founders’ residential areas with golf skills. They also provide mentorship and support the mental, physical and emotional health of the youth through the great game of golf. Guests can support this initiative by providing junior golf equipment, for children between the ages of 5 and 11. Golf apparel is also welcome.