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ENJOY THE TRANQUILITY OF THE KAROO

Rooiheuwel Holiday Farm sits in the foothills of the Nuweveld Mountains in the Karoo somewhere between Beaufort West and Prince Albert. You can’t get more rugged than this. This farm is sometimes used as a training ground for participants in the annual Endurance Horse Ride taking place at Smithfield in the Free State. So obviously horse-riding is number one choice of sport.

However, if you aren’t born to the saddle, you can also don those hiking boots and look for the anteaters.  The owners are proud proponents of ecotourism and as such they want visitors to gain an insight into the wonders of the Karoo. You will get handed articles on the history and farming in the area.

Of interest is the most southerly recorded corbelled hut in SA which is located on the farm Vlieëfontein and built by the Kruger family in 1850. The Kruger’s were part of a group of 9 families who migrated from the Cape via Ceres and whose ambition it was to settle in the Karoo. The hut has been declared a national monument but was built then as an overnight stop for the families trekking their herds.

There are 3 accommodation options: Boplaas, Kliphuis and Middelplaas. Kliphuis – once a cottage for shepherds and built high in the hills is the most unusual of all of them and is definitely not for those seeking 5-star comforts. Entrance is through a low door into the sleeping quarters under an even lower lintel and a narrow passage. The furniture is simple – but the views are special.

At Middelplaas – a half hour drive to an adjoining farm – the accommodations are set deep into the mountains. This enormous comfortable farmhouse was once a family residence and the water is still heated in a “donkey”. The hiking trails are all clearly marked with ant bears painted on the rocks. Two of the trails go along riverbeds and three into the mountains.

Mountain bikers and birders are also catered for. It’s a beautiful time of the year to visit with black springbok abounding and the wild flowers in full bloom. So head off into the rugged but tranquil Karoo for a different kind of holiday experience.

At Blaauwbosch Lodge you are treated to the highest peak in the Eastern Cape – the Cockscomb – which does indeed resemble the comb of a mighty fine rooster. The chalets at this reserve in the Karoo are rustic on the outside and warm and cosy on the inside. What’s more there are comfortable bed-sized loungers on the verandahs designed for guests to take a siesta in the heat of the afternoon.

The grazing gemsbok gleam with good health thanks to the succulent vegetation and are so laid back they barely move out of the way of vehicles. On the game drive we climbed even higher into the rocky mountains above the lodge and the views were spectacular. At sunset we spotted a fine caracal, three rhinos foraging just a stone’s throw from our vehicle, spring hares bounding along, a spotted eagle owl sitting sleepily in the tree and
a genet. On our return to the main lodge we were welcomed back with a glass of hot chocolate laced with Nachtmusik – yum yum!

The dining room can be transformed according to the seasons. In summer it is left completely open to catch the tiniest of breezes that prevail and in the evening tables are even set on the lawns. In winter a heavy tarpaulin is lowed and the tables placed beside the fireplace.

Breakfast in the boma warmed by an open fire is a lazy affair. We started with oats cooked with honey and whisky, an omlette plumped out with summer vegetables and camembert and a basket of fresh bread.

The owners are planning a facelift for both the main lodge and Kaai’s Camp – deep in the mountains – is already closed for renovations. With all of this at your disposal, you will quickly chill out and we can only hope that the petroleum companies don’t go ahead with fracking for gas which would obviously ruin it all.