Africa Inn

May 24, 2022

OUDTSHOORN ACCOMMODATION

(Out of Town)

AFRICA INN

Africa Inn is situated only 10km from Oudtshoorn on the scenic R328 en route to the famous Cango Caves. They offer 4 fully equipped self-catering chalets each with its own private splash pool as well as braai facilities and 1 family rondavel with a covered stoop with a braai area.

The patio overlooks the beautiful landscape of Schoemanshoek Valley and the spectacular Swartberg Mountains.

Enjoy 12km of various hiking trails for the whole family to enjoy.

From R1100 per night per chalet.

Get in Touch

Email Enquiry
Contact Details
Telephone: +27 83 234 2294
Email: info@africainn.co.za
Website: www.africainn.co.za
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Check in / Check out

Check In: From 14:00
Check Out: At 10:00

ADDRESS

Decimal Degrees (WGS84)
Latitude: -33.5192
Longitude: 22.241972

Degrees, Minutes & Seconds
Latitude: S33 31 09
Longitude: E22 14 31

GPS
Latitude: S 33 31.152
Longitude: E 22 14.518

Appelsfontein Game Lodge

Mar 5, 2020

OUDTSHOORN ACCOMMODATION

APPELSFONTEIN GAME LODGE

OVERVIEW

OUDTSHOORN GUEST LODGE: Situated in the heart of the Klein Karoo, Appelsfontein Guest Lodge is an eco-friendly safari tented camp. Surrounded by the Gamkaberg mountain range with characteristic red stone hills and mountainous sandveld fynbos.

Appelsfontein Game Lodge is located 31km from Oudtshoorn, well-known for ostrich farming, crocodile ranch and the famous Cango Caves. Also the famous Swartberg Mountain pass that snows over in winter. Calitzdorp, famous for its wine, port & vineyards, is only a 45km drive away.

Appelsfontein is located 95km from George Airport.

OUR ACCOMMODATION

Appelsfontein Game Lodge is a self catering, tented safari camp built with canvas tents.

Two tents are available, each sleeping 2 people. Each tent has its own private lookout deck catching the morning sunrise, with an uninterrupted view of the veld.

The entire camp was built to be as eco-friendly as possible with as little impact to the natural surrounding as possible.

The lapa/kitchen area is located between the tents. It has both an inside and outside braai area, a gas- operated fridge and wash-up area.

The lapa is fully furbished with utensils, crockery and cutlery. Including a gas stove.

It has an open floor plan and very few walls as to let you really immerse yourself in nature. Also kept in mind are the cold winter evenings, thus canvas blinds are installed to close the lapa, ensuring warmth and comfort.

Bathroom facilities include a spacious shower with a gas-operated geyser. An eco-friendly toilet was installed as to minimise water usage and installation of plumbing.

OUR ACTIVITIES

Mountain biking
Various roads over flats, valleys and mountains make for very exciting biking trails. These routes & roads lead deep into the veld with untouched beauty and breathtaking views.

Hiking & Day hiking
Along these routes one can truly lose yourself and be at peace with nature. Forget about the stress of everyday life and take in what mother nature has to offer.

Bird Watching
Some truly wonderful birds do occur here and lots pass by over the changing seasons. Verreaux’s Eagles, Martial eagles, Kori Bustard and Bee-eaters. Come and see which you can spot at Appelsfontein Game Lodge.

Game Viewing
Game drives available, Where you will be taking to every highlight on the farm, to truly explore and uncover the hidden beauties that Appelsfontein has to offer. Along the way plentiful game species can be sighted, eland, black backed jackel, baboon, klipspringer, springbuck to name a few.

4×4 Trails
Our 4×4 trails offers a great experience for both the enthusiast and the experienced 4×4 drivers with slopes ranging from easy to very steep. You will also enjoy breathtaking views of the mountains and plateaus.

Hunting
We currently have 5 species to hunt. These include the Eland, Red hartebees, Springbok, Steenbok and Grysbok.
For more information or our pricelist, contact us

 

OUR RATES

Please send us an email for our rates.

Get in Touch

Email Enquiry
Contact Details
Telephone: +27 76 168 7421
Email: info@appelsfontein.co.za
Website: www.appelsfontein.co.za
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Check in / Check out

Check In: From 14:00
Check Out: At 10:00

ADDRESS

Decimal Degrees (WGS84)
Latitude: 33.633611
Longitude: 5.365556

Degrees, Minutes & Seconds
Latitude: N33 38 01
Longitude: E5 21 56

GPS
Latitude: N 33 38.017
Longitude: E 5 21.933

Axe Hill Winery

May 31, 2024

CALITZDORP ACTIVITIES

AXE HILL WINERY

The Axe Hill vineyard will be 30 years old in 2024! Planted in 1994 by Tony & Lyn Mossop, Mike Neebe took over the property in 2007. Mike has enjoyed 17 harvests on the farm, as well as a harvest stint working in Portugal in the Douro valley in 2010.

Calitzdorp is affectionately known as “the Port Capital of South Africa”. The unique micro-climate prevalent in the region is characterized by dry, arid conditions which add to the overall concentration of Portuguese varieties grown there. The name of the vineyard originates from the stone hand tools found on the farm and possibly used by prehistoric man over a quarter of a million years ago.

In exceptional years one vintage port is made from a blend of traditional Portuguese varieties; Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz and Souzão. The wine is matured in old French oak barrels after hand sorting and foot crushing in lagares for maximum extraction of flavours and colour. This method closely resembles traditional Portuguese port wine making techniques which have been in use for centuries.

From early experimentation with a small range of white wine grapes, the cellar now produces various dry white wines and or blends, including: Ambientem – barrel fermented Chenin Blanc, Tant Lenie – an unusual barrel fermented Viognier from a neighbouring farm. More recently a Klein Karoo White Blend, featuring Chenin Blanc, Viognier and Palomino from a very old Calitzdorp block! Barrel fermented Colombard is a new addition!

Chenin Blanc grapes are also used to produce a White Port – a drier style fortified wine. The wine is barrel-aged by the fractional blending of old to young wine so that each bottling is a fusion of ages, with the average age gradually increasing over the years. Axe Hill Cape White has its origins with the first vintage in 2003. It continues to grow in complexity each year in the barrels.

Apart from Cape Ruby Port, Cape Vintage Port and LBV, a periodic Shiraz Red – as well as some other unique dry reds, the cellar will soon release its eighth vintage of its flagship Machado (meaning axe in Portuguese) – (2021) a unique Dry Red blend made from Portuguese varietals; Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz & Tinta Barroca.

A new label, GATOS – meaning cats in Portuguese – named after the farm cats, has become a new experimental range.

  • Cellar visits
  • Sales
  • Tastings hosted by the winemaker

Watch this space for new offerings in the pipeline!

Get in Touch

Email Enquiry
Contact Details
Telephone: +27 83 676 3000
Email: info@axehill.co.za
Website: www.axehill.co.za
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Check in / Check out

By Appointment

ADDRESS

Axe Hill Winery
Wesoewer
Calitzdorp
South Africa

GPS Coordinates:
33.30’59° S
21.41’22° E

Bella de Karoo

May 16, 2024

OUDTSHOORN SELF CATERING

BELLA DE KAROO

Bella de Karoo farm stall, restaurant, guest accommodation and eco-reserve are situated on Andrieskraal, one of the most historical farms in the Klein Karoo. Most of the buildings date from the late 1700s and the nearby graveyard (available on Google) bears testimony to the many generations who lived here.
 
Take a leisurely walk and savour the beauty of the architecture of days gone by. An old barn has been converted into guest accommodation, retaining its vintage character, and the manor house (available for guests too) is also a must-see for its grandeur and beautiful surroundings, adorned with centuries-old trees.
 
Above the R62 is an eco-reserve, formally registered with Cape Nature, where you will find an abundance of indigenous plant species, some of them more than a thousand years old. Wildlife also roams freely and unhindered. Take a walk or cycle along the marked paths, and commune with nature.
 
There is also overnight accommodation available, pitched on a hill, where you can relax in peace and tranquillity, with a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape.
Accommodation consists of:
  • 6 Guest Rooms
  • 1 Manor House (max 8 people)

 

Accommodation

A 200-year old Barn has been converted into guest rooms, retaining the original character of the building, with thick walls, wooden floors and reed ceilings. It offers 4 units of different sizes, which can accommodate from 2 to 4 individuals.

The Farm House, dating back to the early 1800s – it was the first house next to the Vlei River – offers 3 units, each with a character of its own, and which can accommodate from 2 to 4 people.

If you wish to really spoil yourself, there is the Manor House, a Cape Dutch building, also dating back to early 1800s, which offers you 3 bedrooms, and is furnished with hand-picked/inherited pieces of furniture. In all, it offers a one-off experience! It can accommodate up to 6 people.

There is a communal braai/barbeque area, overlooked by a huge pepper tree, as well as two other braai facilities, equally beautiful. We also provide our guests with “braai packs” consisting of meat, salads and farm bread. The accommodation is child-friendly, with green lawns and farm animals, and for those hot summer days, there is also a cement dam, our version of a splash pool! Laundry facilities and Wi-Fi are available upon request, and we are pet-friendly.

The Mountain Lodge is positioned in the eco-reserve and offers bush-like accommodation and a lovely entertainment area. From here you have a breathtaking panoramic view over the Lategan’s Valley. 4 people can be accommodated and the Lodge can be reached only by a 4×4 vehicle or per special arrangement.

Restaurant & Farm Stall

The farm stall, housed in an old labourer’s cottage, stocks a sumptuous variety of locally produced products – jams, home-made rusks/cookies, canned fruit, flavoured olive oils, vinegars, biltong/dried sausage, and freshly baked roosterkoek and farm bread. The roosterkoek has become so popular that it attracts people from neighbouring towns who purchase it in bulk for their own outlets. There is also a petite cellar room, stocked with locally produced wines, sparkling wine, port and a large selection of beer.

Extending from the farm stall along the veranda, the restaurant presents you with a captivating view wherever you are seated, with farm animals such as ducks, fowl, turkeys and peacocks surrounding you. It is a picturesque setting with an ambience unique to Bella de Karoo. If you are looking to taste real farm food, you have most certainly come to the right place! The menu complements the setting – the fare is home-made, fresh, original and quite simply out of this world.  The restaurant has earned various accolades for the quality of experience it offers diners. Guests staying overnight may place an order for dinner in advance, which can be served either inside their room or outside on the veranda (weather permitting), where they are able to take in the beauty of the surroundings.

Bella’s Restaurant will accept bookings for groups of 10 or more after 16h00 until late​.

Get in Touch

Email Enquiry
Contact Details
Telephone: +27 62 694 2727 / +27 44 213 3081
Email: belladekaroo@scwireless.co.za
Website: www.belladekaroo.co.za
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Check in / Check out

FARM STALL

Open from: 08:00 – 14:00
December school holidays open from: 08:00 – 16:00

ACCOMMODATION

Check in: 14:00 – 18:00
Check out: 10:00

ADDRESS

GPS COORDINATES
Click here

Bird watching

Aug 6, 2024

BIRDS OF THE SWARTBERG CIRCLE ROUTE

Avitourism (aka bird-watching tourism, birding, or even twitching) is considered to be one of the fastest growing areas of eco-tourism internationally and, with the wonderful diversity we have, South Africa is a haven for casual and hardcore bird-watchers.

With well over 900 species recorded in Southern Africa, it’s no wonder this is a desirable location for those pursuing our feathered friends. And the Klein Karoo has hosted a surprising number of those.

Book your bird watching tour with Minwater Eco Adventures at louis@minwater.co.za. On request, guided birding excursions at Minwater or elsewhere can be arranged.

A few bird species to look out for

Cape Bunting

(Emberiza capensis)

Afrikaans: Rooivlerkstreepkoppie
Size: 16cm
Colour: Grey brown with dark streaks and chestnut wing coverts. Adults have a black crown, white supercilium (plumage on the head) and white ear coverts with black borders.
Distribution & Habitat: Southern Africa, including Angola, Malawi and parts of Zimbabwe. Most commonly found in South Africa and Lesotho. Preferred habitat is dry shrubland, rocky mountain slopes and dry watercourses.

*Emberiza capensis
aka Cape Bunting

Cape Bunting - Bird Watching
Orange-breasted sunbird

(Anthobaphes violacea)

Afrikaans: Oranjeborssuikerbekkie
Size: 13cm (female) | 17cm (male)
Colour: Male’s head and mantle are a vibrant metallic green and its upper breast is a metallic violet. The lower breast is a fiery orange fading to a paler yellow belly. Females are dull olive green with paler underparts.
Distribution & Habitat: Endemic to South Africa, these birds occur within the Western Cape region’s fynbos biome as well as coastal scrublands. During summer, they migrate to higher altitudes in search of nectar-rich plants.

*Anthobaphes violacea
aka Orange-breasted sunbird

Swartberg Circle Route - Orange Breasted Sunbird
Blue Crane

(Anthropoides paradiseus)

Afrikaans: Bloukraanvoël
Size: 110cm – 120cm
Colour: A pale blue-grey body that turns darker towards the neck and head. The lores (between the eyes and bill) and the crown are much lighter, almost white, while the long tertial wing feathers that trail to the ground are dark to blackish grey.
Distribution & Habitat: Endemic to South Africa, they occur in the southern and eastern parts and prefer dry grassy plains, hills and valleys with access to both uplands and wetlands — especially during breeding season. These altitudinal migrants nest in the lower grasslands and move down to lower altitudes for winter.

*Anthropoides paradiseus
aka Blue Crane

Swartberg Circle Route - Blue Crane
CARDINAL WOODPECKER

(Dendropicos fuscescens)

Afrikaans: Kardinaalspeg
Size: 14cm – 15cm
Colour: Its back is dull olive green with paler flecks, while its underparts are white with short black streaks. The head has an olive-brown crown and a prominent black malar stripe that separates the white face and throat. Males also have a distinct red hind crown.
Distribution & Habitat: Widespread across Sub-Saharan Africa, they have a wide range of habitats across western and central Africa and are commonly found in woodland, savannah and riverine forest.

*Dendropicos fuscescens
aka Cardinal Woodpecker

Swartberg Circle Route - Bird Watching
Cape Rock Thrush

(Monticola rupestris)

Afrikaans: Kaapse kliplyster
Size: 19cm – 21cm
Colour: The male bird has a blue-grey head and throat with orange breast and dark-brown back. The female has duller underparts and her head is mainly brown with lighter specks.
Distribution & Habitat: This endemic species occurs across eastern and southern parts of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Their preferred habitat is rocky areas like cliffs, ravines, steep hillsides and scree slopes, but they’re also often found in towns bordering their natural habitat.

*Monticola rupestris
aka Cape Rock Thrush

Swartberg Circle Route - Bird Watching
Southern black korhaan

(Afrotis afra)

Afrikaans: Swartvlerkkorhaan
Size: 25cm – 28cm
Colour: The male bird has a black underbelly and neck while the main body plumage is of a checkered black and white pattern. The female’s head, neck and breast is the same colour as her body, the checkered brown and white pattern.
Distribution & Habitat:The Southern black korhaan is endemic to southwestern South Africa and prefers open, semi-arid habitats such as shrub-lands and savannahs.

*Afrotis afra
aka Southern black korhaan

Swartberg Circle Route - Southern Black Korhaan
A birding list will be ready soon for you to use on your next expedition!