Helen and Owen Jarman first came to Witsand by chance while on holiday in 2016. They stayed overnight en route from Cape Town and loved it so much that they bought a house on the spur of the moment. Since then, they've been living the dream.
 
Helen grew up in the UK and attained a Master's degree in Sustainable Tourism Development. After university, she took a gap year and never went back, spending 20 years traveling, volunteering and working around the world. This included visiting 17 African countries and starting a backpackers' lodge in Mozambique - The Pink Papaya in faraway Chimoio. Owen was farming in Zimbabwe when he met Helen. They found they had much in common, Cupid's arrow found it mark, and they were married in 2012.

Shortly after moving to Witsand, they converted their boatshed into an upmarket backpackers' lodge - a "poshpackers". It caters mainly to kite surfers (Owen is himself a kitesurfer) and international backpackers exploring South Africa's lovely Garden Route. One thing has led to another and they now also manage self-catering holiday rentals for many other properties, ranging from luxury to budget.

They absolutely love living in Witsand and are passionately involved in conservation efforts to keep Witsand in its pristine condition. Visitors can expect a warm welcome and friendly, professional service as Helen and Owen share this beautiful place with them.