Description accommodation :

BUFFELSDRIFT Game Lodge is a sprawling game farm in the fertile Cango Valley at the foot of the Swartberg Mountains – South Africa’s 6th World Heritage Site. Lush Succulent Karoo vegetation and a 5 ha waterhole create a haven for a variety of game species including: elephants, rhino and cape buffalo (3 of the Big Five); giraffe; hippo; cape mountain zebra; eland; kudu and springbok. Enthusiastic bird watcher’s will enjoy trying to identify the more than 217 bird species to be found in the area, the ostrich of course being the easiest. Situated 6.5 km outside Oudtshoorn, the Lodge is in the heart of ostrich country, half-an-hour’s drive from the Swartberg Mountain Nature Reserve and the isolated valley of Gamkaskloof (“Die Hell”). It lies just off the famous Route 62 and is part of the scenic circle route – Oudtshoorn – the Swartberg Mountain Pass – via the historic village of Prince Albert – through the spectacular Meiringspoort gorge which you exit just before the quaint village of De Rust, after which you return to Oudtshoorn. Accommodation is in luxury en-suite tents with air conditioning, which, like the conference venue, restaurant and wedding chapel are on the edge of the waterhole and offer breathtaking views of the Klein Karoo. Trained guides will escort guests on an early morning or late afternoon game drive (bush safari) in an open game viewing vehicle, with a pitstop at one of the lookout points – presenting the perfect opportunity for spectacular photographs and a chance to relax and enjoy the views. Ice-cold sundowners served on the lookout deck next to the open-air bar mark the end of a perfect day with the sun setting over the mountains.

Description surroundings:

About 400 km east of Cape Town, across a semi-arid stretch of country known as the Klein Karoo, lies Oudtshoorn, the principal centre and ‘capital’ of ostrich country, a town synonymous with feathers, fame, art, culture and the Cango Caves. The farm Hartebeesrivier was the original site of the town and when the farm owner, CP Rademeyer, donated 4 ha of ground a church was built and completed in April 1839, as an addition to the existing community centre. Around 1839 the place was named Oudtshoorn after the grand daughter of Baron van Reede van Oudtshoorn, newly-appointed governor of the Cape. She was the wife of the Civil Commissioner of George. The people of George looked down their noses at this new neighbour and dubbed it ‘Velskoendorp’ – after the raw hide shoes worn by the inhabitants. Oudtshoorn became a magistracy in 1855 and a municipality on 1 September 1863. Oudtshoorn is linked to the Garden Route by means of the Robinson Pass to Mossel Bay (R328) – and the Outeniqua Pass to George (N12). Route 62 (R62) is an interesting, scenic route connecting Cape Town to Oudtshoorn.