The Continent of Sulina

Swellendam’s faerie sanctuary

In a grove of green leaves a faerie with pale blue hair sits with her arms folded and her head down. Across from her a wizened pixie strokes his beard leaning on a toadstool by a bubbling brook.

On the outskirts of Swellendam, the Continent of Sulina is truly an enchanting place and has become a staple attraction associated with the town.

We ring the bell strung on a gate made from woven tree branches. Ian Sulina opens up and ushers us inside. The cool, mossy atmosphere is an instant reprieve from the mid-morning heat outside. The faerie sanctuary is home to Ian and his wife Minky, who are adamant that it’s not a ‘business’ or a ‘tourist attraction’, but a place of belief, passion, and positivity.

Minky has always been a believer in angels and faeries. When she was a little girl she made a promise that she would create a place where humans and these spirits could connect. That promise is now a labyrinth garden filled with sculptures of faeries, trolls, angels, mermaids, pixies and gnomes–strung from trees, peeping over rocks…in every nook and cranny.

There’s also a healing and meditation centre, as well as a shop selling faeriefriends should one of them want to come home with you.

Words and photographs by Malu Lambert

The Continent of Sulina
Opening times: Wednesdays to Sundays, and every day during school holidays from 9am to 4:30pm.
Entrance fee:

37 Buitekant Street | Swellendam | +27 (0)28 514 1786

Plan on visiting soon? Check out our Swellendam overview for all you need to know.