We recommend staying at Buffeldrift Game Lodge, but for family accommodation be sure to check out Wilgewandel.
Adley House Bed & Breakfast |
209 Jan van Riebeeck Road |
Tel : 044 272 4533 Fax: 044 272 4554 |
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Cango Caves Road |
Tel : 044 272 0108
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"The beauty of Buffelsdrift is our accessibility. We're only 6.5km from the centre of Oudtshoorn right against the toll road going to the Cango Caves. Once you turn in the gate into the reserve, we're only 300m from the toll road. At Buffelsdrift we have that personal touch. We don't use porters to collect our guests. Once they're in the parking area I use my rangers - they collect the people in the parking lot with a golf cart, bring them to reception, (where) we have a lovely lookout lounge which overlooks the dam and the Swartberg Mountains and the guests get their welcoming drink in the lookout lounge. Once they've finished with registration then they get taken to their tents with our rangers on the golf cart. We've got 25 luxurious tents - we call 9 of them the waterfront tents and the other 16 the luxury tents, because the waterfront tents have got a deck into the water so that you can literally sit on the decks - that's how close you can get to the wild here at Buffelsdrift. But the luxury of the tents is exactly the same. Inside they're fitted with air conditioning, an en-suite bathroom and a lovely outdoor shower as well. A very popular activity is our 3 little babies, our elephants. We do an elephant feeding experience, an elephant walking experience and obviously what is also very popular is the elephant ride. We offer a wide variety of activities like a game drive, we call it a bush safari because my rangers are trained to tell the people about the birds and the plants and the animals, not just the animals. But we have 22 different species of animals ranging from the normal springbok, kudo eland right up to giraffe, buffalo and hippo. We also offer a horseback safari into the reserve and even there a novice can go because the horses are very tame". Andries van Schalkwyk, Managing Director of Buffelsdrift. "Buffelsdrift Game Lodge offers the perfect conference facility for your function, production launch or corporate function. We have underfloor heating, air conditioning, white boards, free wifi. We also offer lovely catering facilities by our chef...Buffelsdrift Game Lodge offers the unique setting and atmosphere for your perfect day (weddings). We offer an all-inclusive package which is the venue, the chapel and the accommodation as well. We also have lovely elephant weddings that we offer, then you have the opportunity to take photos with the elephant." Steph-Mari Harmse, Marketing Manager. "Our restaurant offers some of the best local cuisine in the area. Our menu consists of a diverse range of dishes. We truly cater for everyone. Our waterfront wooden deck is the perfect place to enjoy a meal or just have a drink. It's the perfect place to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery and wildlife." Daniella Fourie, Food & Beverage Manager. View Larger Map |
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De Zeekoe Guest Farm |
R62 Wine Route |
Tel : 044 272 6721 Fax: 044 272 8534 |
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Hlangana Lodge Guest Farm |
51 North Street |
Tel : 044 272 2299 Fax: 044 279 1271 |
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Kleinplas Holiday Resort |
171 Baron van Reede street |
Tel : 044 272 5811 Fax: 044 279 2019 |
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Miles Guest House |
104 Church Street |
Tel : 044 272 4311 Fax: 044 272 4843 |
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Mooiplaas Guest House |
Volmoed |
Tel : 044 279 4019 Fax: 044 272 0803 |
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N A Smith Family Resort |
Park Road North |
Tel : 044 272 2313 Fax: 044 279 1915 |
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Oakdene Guest House |
99 Baron van Reede St |
Tel : 044 272 3018 Fax: 044 272 3014 |
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One o one Guest House |
161 Jan van Riebeeckroad |
Tel : 044 272 8723 Fax: 044 272 3962 |
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Cnr of Baron van Reede and Van Der Riet Street |
Tel : 044 272 2201 Fax: 044 272 3003 |
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Protea Hotel Riempie Estate |
Baron Van Reede Street |
Tel : 044 272 6161 Fax: 044 272 6772 |
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Queens Hotel |
Baron van Reede Street |
Tel : 044 272 2101 Fax: 044 272 2104 |
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Rosenhof Country House Hotel |
Baron van Reede Street and North Street |
Tel : 04 4272 2232 Fax :044 272 3021 |
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Swartberg Country Manor |
Farm Voorbedacht |
Tel : 044 279 3188
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Thylitshya Guest House |
Volmoed |
Tel : 044 272 7814 Fax: 086 685 7681 |
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Villa Rustique Guest House |
2 Raubenheimerstreet |
www.villarustique.co.za |
Tel : 044 279 3141 Fax: 086 603 2616 |
Wilgewande Holiday Farm |
Cango Caves Road |
Tel : 044 272 0878 Fax: 086 617 7036 |
by Victor
My trip to George had been an over-night trip, and so had been greatly prejudiced in terms of scenery.
As such, it was no wonder that l was suddenly gripped with lots of anxiety for the next leg of our trip, being from my hotel in George to Oudtshoorn.
I longed to see the lush greenery, of the abundant forests and rows-upon-rows of vineyards accompanied by lovely, Dutch-style farmhouses that had been told to me like folk-stories by my friends back in Cape Town.
The trip looked very promising, the road ahead was a winding one, going up a series of mountains. It was almost like a trip to the heavens, as we drove through beautiful lush forest on either side. The higher we went up towards the top of the mountain range, the closer we got to the low lying clouds.
We wound our way up and soon found ourselves in an almost all white atmosphere, it was just mesmerising.
"Just like heaven", I quietly thought to myself, as l struggled to hold back the excitement that had engulfed me now.
When we cleared the apex of the cloud-covered mountain range, down below lay the grape farms. Countless rows of grape vines, and the patterns which the numerous fields made seemed to have been a deliberate intent to mesmerise the eyes and at the same time fascinate the minds of those who dared journey on this road.
Soon, the mountains gave way to flat lands, and the vineyards to dusty, copper-red pleins. Ostriches soon became the dominance of my attraction.
Next stop, the Ostrich Capital?