Big Foot Safaris

May 16, 2024

OUDTSHOORN SELF CATERING

BIG FOOT SAFARIS

Big Foot Safaris 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 44 213 3081
Reception: +27 60 413 8310
Email: belladekaroo@scwireless.co.za
Website: www.belladekaroo.co.za

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Business hours

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

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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

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

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

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

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!

Blue Lily Retreat

Mar 2, 2020

OUDTSHOORN BED & BREAKFAST

BLUE LILY RETREAT

Overview

Blue Lily Retreat is a tranquil haven at the foot of the Swartberg World Heritage site, situated in the Matjiesriver Valley near Oudtshoorn. We offer comfortable accommodation and a breath of fresh air in beautiful natural surroundings.

Your hosts, Juan and Lieschen Lategan invite you to experience the healing environment and abundance of nature to rest, relax, restore and rejuvenate mind, body and soul.

Our Rooms

Room 1

Experience the elegance and romance of an old farmhouse in modern comfort. This room has a double bed, en-suite bathroom with a shower and sleeps 2 adults.

Room 2

Crisp decoration and a breathtaking view of the Swartberg Mountain. This room has a Queen bed, en-suite bathroom with a shower and sleeps 2 adults.

Room 3

Our family unit with a seperate “room in a room” with views on the magnificient Swartberg Mountains. The room has Twin beds (which can be converted into a King bed), a Double bed and a 3/4 bunk bed in the other room. En-suite bathroom with a shower and a bath. Sleeps 5.

The Farmhouse (Self Catering)

The farmhouse can be booked as one unit, giving you access to all 3 rooms as described above. Perfect for large families or a group of friends.

The Farm Cottage (Self Catering)

A comfortable cottage, ideal for a couple or a family. Room with twin beds that can be converted to a King bed, a separate room with a two bunk beds, a kitchenette and a lounge with a sleeper couch. A bathroom with a shower.

Our Activities:

Early morning or sunset country walks
Walking trails on the farm where you can view the diverse fauna and flora of the Klein Karoo veld.
Experience the atmosphere of a Klein Karoo Farm