What I love about Cape Nature reserves are their principles of conservation and ecotourism. Conservation comes first, but they recognise that ecotourism is an excellent way to introduce visitors to the amazement of nature that deserves to be conserved, and to bring in much-needed funds. Here are some of my favourites, from Cederberg to Kogelberg and more.
By Roxanne Reid
What I love about Cape Nature reserves are their principles of conservation and ecotourism. Conservation comes first, but they recognise that ecotourism is an excellent way to introduce visitors to the amazement of nature that deserves to be conserved, and to bring in much-needed funds. Here are some of my favourites, from Cederberg to Kogelberg and more.
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By Roxanne Reid Imagine the foresight it must take to see a bare patch of Karoo veld and dream up a fully fledged village and health spa in the middle of nowhere. This is what happened when Scottish railwayman James Logan founded Matjiesfontein in South Africa back in 1884. Discover why to visit Lord Milner Hotel and Matjiesfontein in the Karoo. By Roxanne Reid Wondering what your Baviaanskloof accommodation options are when you visit this part of South Africa’s Eastern Cape? Would you like to sleep in a cave? Forget notions of dank, dark caves filled with smelly bats and sign up to sleep in the Makkedaat Caves in the Baviaanskloof. By Roxanne Reid Here, in the dry heartland of South Africa, a wealth of geology, fossils, animals and sweeping landscapes lie waiting to be explored. You’ll find the entrance to this park just off the N1 highway, about 6km south of Beaufort West in the Karoo. Here’s my pick of 17 things to do in the Karoo National Park. By Roxanne Reid South Africa’s Tankwa Karoo is remote, way out in the sticks between nowhere and nothing. But that doesn’t mean you can’t drink in the open spaces, the big blue skies and the booming silence. It also doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do. Here are things to do in the Tankwa Karoo from Gannaga Lodge. By Roxanne Reid The dusty little village of Nieu Bethesda is 55km from Graaff-Reinet in the Karoo. It's a detour off the N9 so not a place you ‘pass through’, but a destination. Most people who make the trip are lured here by The Owl House Nieu Bethesda, a world Helen Martins created. Using glass and cement she crafted something strange, sometimes disturbing, but always riveting. By Roxanne Reid Visit the Drostdy Hotel in Graaff-Reinet to relax and explore luxurious historic spaces in South Africa’s Karoo heartland. Uncover a secret weapon of socially responsible tourism that is changing lives through hospitality training and you'll realise why your holiday here makes a difference. By Roxanne Reid For many of us who live in the city, there’s nothing more exciting than spending time in nature. When I go on a road trip, I’d much rather stay in a nature reserve or on a farm than in any city hotel. Ganora Guest Farm, Nieu Bethesda, ticks all the boxes by adding historical interest in the form of Bushman rock art and fossils. By Roxanne Reid Clouds of dust whirl across a brown and khaki landscape, the air sucked dry of moisture. This is the Tankwa Karoo National Park in the grips of a four-and-a-half-year drought. We’re here to stay at Gannaga Lodge at the top of Gannaga Pass, Tankwa Karoo, to explore this stony desert-like vastness on the way to nowhere. By Roxanne Reid There are thousands of wonderful places to stay in Southern Africa, but many are variations on the same theme - hotel, safari lodge, etc. But sometimes they offer something different and intriguing, whether it’s a boat, a train, notable architecture or historic value. Here, in random order, are 10 unique stays and quirky accommodation in Southern Africa I’ve enjoyed over the years. |
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AboutI'm an independent travel writer and book editor with a passion for Africa - anything from African travel, people, safari and wildlife to adventure, heritage, road-tripping and slow travel. Categories
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