Great pictures John. And it looks like a very pleasant place to stay when in the Cape Town area.

I too have enjoyed studying how various thatched roofs are made. If you decide to not build a big rondavel at home, you might consider a small opensided thatched hut to sit under if it rains when having a braai with some of your homemade boerewors. Just to get a bit of the African feeling while at home.

Here's a small and simpley made thatched roof from southern Tanzania:

Erik