The scope of activities is of the kind that will bring peace to the mind and restoration to the soul. It starts with the immediate terrain which offers a beautiful mineral water filled swimming pool surrounded by majestic views of the surrounding mountains which then overflow into our fynbos rich gardens established over many years. King Proteas, Sugarbirds, and Honeybush blossoms are all around while draped in a pine needle mulch making for unmanicured greenery, but as found in nature’s design.
The 480-hectare farm presents guests with different options of hiking trails, some being designed for the serious trail runner reaching altitudes of over 1150 meters above sea level, and others for more leisurely strolls suitable for the entire family.
The “Meander Trail” snakes along the main mountain stream carving through the farm and is the least challenging of our trails. No need for water bottles!! Dip your hand in the cold stream and have a taste of fresh clean mountain water uncontaminated as millennia before.
The “Owl Trail” makes for stunning views of the Hops Valley and the Klein Karoo with the Swartberg Mountain Range toward the North and the Indian Ocean on the South. It is a more challenging hike with an elevation of 480 meters over a distance of 4km reaching the summit at 1155 meters above sea level. Along this trail you closely pass by the Cape Eagle Owl breeding pair with Klipspringer and Mountain Duiker frequently seen as you progress up the mountain. At a distance of 1.25km you have reached the first “summit “and viewpoint with a pull-up bar for those keen to show off their skill and stamina.
The farm with its abundance of water, fertile soil, and rich seed deposits over the years has the potential to sustain life and new plant growth for generations to come. The Fynbos cycles in the Outeniqua Mountains are between 10 and 20 years whereafter it is interrupted by veldfires ripping through the hills and valleys. These fires are a force of nature that bring devastation and destruction to fynbos plants, but such a necessary component igniting germination of the seed bed and so sustaining the fynbos cycle. We have such a healthy collection of fynbos species aided by our effort to remove alien and invasive plants. Over the past years in our attempt to halt the spread of invasive plants, we can see the improvement and establishment of fynbos that was last seen in the 1970’s.
We have picnic baskets available for all our guests as well as our day visitors. Baskets can be assembled from our variety of home-made sourdough focaccia sandwiches, cheesecakes, artisan croissants, barista coffees, and other cold beverages found in Te-piK Cafe. Once packed, the options are vast to where you want to experience your picnic out in nature. Our hiking trails and terrain have beautiful views and areas to sit while enjoying quality snacks prepared with love and attention to detail. For those who prefer the swimming pool, or the tented deck, they can settle around the provided benches and relax in a mesmerizing mountain cradle.
Birding is one of our richest attractions having over 60 registered species on the property with life-timers such as a breeding pair of the Cape Eagle Owl with frequent sightings and heard from the cabins on an evening basis thanks to the natural amphitheater design of the mountain. Throughout the fynbos gardens you will find a multitude of fynbos birds that can be viewed and photographed from the balcony of your cabin with Sugarbirds fluttering around the proteas and different Canarie species darting about the pine tree canopy above. Red Necked Spurfowls roost along the fringes of the fynbos gardens scratching the fertile soil for nutritious snacks.
The farm where Highlands Lodge Mountain Retreat is located on is the source of all the water that feeds the Hops and Fruit Valley known as Waboomskraal. The mountain is saturated with misty water deposits from clouds hugging the 4 mountain peaks depositing minerals and nutrients that truly sustains abundant life. The entire terrain including Te-eeT Restaurant, Te-piK Café, all 16 log cabins and the swimming pool get its water from two mineral water fountains that have never run dry in possibly thousands of years. The underground water cistern is ancient and estimated to be the cleanest and purest water known to man with no access for contamination from external forces. The water is sweet-tasting and crystal clear, a true blessing from our Creator.