Aardvark Bioreserve: Die Opstal

In an off-the-beaten track corner of the Klein Karoo, between the parallel peaks of the Langeberg and Swartberg mountains, this once-desolate property has been nurtured back to life. Today, it’s half farm and half game reserve – and 100% off the grid and organic. There’s plenty of space in which to reconnect with nature, including an exclusive network of mountain-biking trails that follow the tracks of zebras, giraffes, antelope, ostriches, caracals and elusive aardvarks.

There are four modern cottages dotted around the wilder section of the property, decorated in a sophisticated white and neutral palette: the one-bedroomed Berghuisie (on a hilltop) and Springbok (overlooking the dam) cottages, and the two-bedroomed Gemsbok (overlooking a watering hole) and Zebra (nearest the trails) cottages. For larger groups seeking a more “country-style” getaway, there’s Die Opstal: a stylishly renovated four-bedroom farmhouse surrounded by fields, fruit trees, sheep, chickens and ducks.

Wherever you choose to spend your stay, you’ll have everything you need to make the most of it, from a fully equipped kitchen to an indoor fireplace, a furnished verandah with a braai and (of course) your own private wood-fired hot tub.

THE LODGINGS

Bedrooms + bathrooms

• 4 bedrooms
• 3 bathrooms (bath and shower)
• Bathroom amenities

Indoor living

• Fully equipped kitchen with a pizza oven
• Spacious living area with fireplace
• Dining table with fireplace
• TV room
• Dedicated workspace
• Air-conditioning
• Complimentary basket of seasonal produce
• Complimentary WiFi
• Coffee and tea facilities

Outdoor living

• Furnished verandah with a braai
• Outdoor dining area
• Wood-fired hot tub
• Boma and fire pit
• Garden
• Bike shed
• Splash pool

THINGS TO DO

On the property

• Three hiking trails through the reserve
• Four mountain-biking routes, from beginner to advanced
• Sundowner drives
• Visit the succulent nursery
• Picnicking or paddling at the dam
• Stargazing in the hot tub
• Bird-watching

In the area

• Explore the towns of Ladismith and Riversdale
• Ladismith Golf Club
• Various nature reserves
• Gouritz Biodiversity Meander
• Klein Karoo wine estates
• Various hikes, walks and scenic drives