What to do during your stay
Zandrivier is the third highest farm in the western Cape. With the highest peak in the Western Cape, towering above the farm. Zandrivier is an excellent base camp and offers easy access for an expedition to Seweweekspoort Peak, which, weather- and fitness-permitting, you can summit and return in a day. Zandrivier Farm is also an excellent locale for exploring the Klein Swartberg, offering a base for trips into remote areas and small Karoo towns of Ladismith and the Towerkop peak, Zoar, Calitzdorp and the famous Route 62.
From hiking trails on the farm and into the Elandsberg mountains, to the famous Seweweekspoort peak which towers the farm, there is plenty to explore and discover. There are lovely scenic views and interesting rock formations and a wide variety of Karoo fauna and flora. Seweweekspoort Peak is at 2325m the highest peak in the Western Cape and situated in the Klein Swartberg mountain range.
From hiking trails on the farm and into the Elandsberg mountains, to the famous Seweweekspoort peak which towers the farm, there is plenty to explore and discover. There are lovely scenic views and interesting rock formations and a wide variety of Karoo fauna and flora. Seweweekspoort Peak is at 2325m the highest peak in the Western Cape and situated in the Klein Swartberg mountain range.
Experience farm life
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The farm offers a variety of activities or guests can simply relax and enjoy the surrounds. Zandrivier is located about 2200 m above sea level and enjoys snowfall during most winters. Guests can explore the walking trails on the farm or tackle the farm roads and various trails on mountain bikes.
There are many activities for the whole family to enjoy at Zandrivier Farm: hiking, birding, cycling, mountain biking, star gazing, or take a picnic and a book to the dam for a swim or simply relax around the fire at night. This is a working farm where you will encounter moving tractors and loose animals (tame and wild and some in between). Guests are free to roam around the farm, along pathways and farm roads. You will meet the many sheep and newborn lambs, resident horses, Habakuk (Kuki), a thoroughbred and Dyzneyland Sebastian (Dyzzie), a Falabella. They are accompanied by the five hand-reared orphaned sheep, Donald, Baabetjie, Red, Red’s-Friend and H (yes, these are real names!) There are dams to walk to and swim in, and along the way you will discover stone ruins from the 1800s that have been preserved on the farm. Our guests are free to walk around the farm and swim in the dams. However, please exercise caution - children must always be supervised. |
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Hiking trails
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From hiking trails on the farm and into the Elandsberg mountains, to the famous Seweweekspoort peak which towers the farm, there is plenty to explore and discover. There are lovely scenic views and interesting rock formations and a wide variety of Karoo fauna and flora.
Seweweekspoort Peak (2325m) is the highest peak in the Western Cape and situated in the Klein Swartberg mountain range. Towerkop (2189m) is one of the five major peaks in the Klein Swartberg range, Towerkop’s famous split divides its summit into two almost identical pinnacles. The name Towerkop is derived from the Afrikaans words “Tower” (meaning Magic) and “kop” (meaning Peak). Legend has it that this name was given after a witch was trying to fly home one evening, but the mountain kept looming higher in front of her. Out of frustration and anger she thwacked it with her broomstick, and it split into two! A more realistic origin of the name is probably from the fact that the mountain seems to change its appearance when seen from different angles. There are many hiking trails around the Ladismith area, including the Klein-Swartberg Traverse (strenuous) and day trips such as Towersig Hiking Trail and the hike to Stanley's Light Find some local trails to explore here |
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Hike to the waterfalls and cave
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There is also a gentler hike (+-30 minute) up the Swartberg mountain, just opposite the main entrance to the farm. You will be surrounded by many variants of protea until you arrive at a refreshing waterfall cascading into a crystal-clear pool. A further hour or so, and some strenuous scrambling, you can ascend to some caves. It sure is worth the effort, to look down onto the whole farm below. Inside the caves you will find some beautiful examples of Stone Age San rock art.
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Cycling and mountain biking
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Bring your bike along. The pristine and quiet Seweweekspoort pass starts only 4 kilometres from the farm and is amazing to cycle through.
Check out MTB Routes here Gamkaskloof Dam is also a worthy explore (it used to be the through-road to Die Hel) and there are numerous trails into the back of the farmlands and into the range beyond. Check out the Gamkapoort trail here |
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Explore Seweweekspoort and surrounds
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Seweweekspoort, a UNESCO World Heritage site under the protection of Cape Nature Conservation, did not always have a road. The pass that now allows cars to experience its beauty, was an engineering feat that involved Thomas Bains, a team of convicts and a lot of time to achieve. Drive through here in December and you might catch sight of the Protea aristata, a very rare protea that was thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered here during the 1950s. Many years ago this route was less known for its view and more for the notorious people that traversed its curves. Better known as Smugger’s Route, Seweweekspoort was once the main route for brandy smugglers, runaways, slaves and outlaws. In an attempt to combat the criminal use of this route a toll house was built in the 1800s, demanding that all the people passing through pay a fee. At the northern end of the poort you can still find what remains of the original toll-house, along with the ghost of the first toll-keeper….
Seweweekspoort is by far the anchor attraction for most visitors on Route 62 as the road winds through the mountains and the cliffs on either side of the road rise to 1 500 to 2 000 metres above sea level. It is one of the best examples of the Cape Fold mountains as the folded layers of rock are clearly seen from the road. The road is narrow, for obvious reasons, winding for roughly 17 km through incredible mountain scenery, crossing the little river that follows the poort floor no fewer than 23 times. On the poort's western flank is the huge Seven Weeks Poort peak, which dominates the Klein Swartberge at 2325 metres. Whilst the road was initially used by farmers to enter the Great Karoo region, today the sheer magic of the scenery, and the wildness of the slopes mean that you are completely encased in nature throughout the 17-kilometre drive. Its beauty continues to captivate with bare walls of vertical rock, and a path that twists and turns spectacularly. |
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Visit Zoar
At the entrance to Seweweekspoort from Ladismith/exit from Zandrivier Farm side, Zoar was founded in 1817 on the farm Elandsfontein by the South African Missionary Society and was named after the biblical Zoar on the Red Sea.
Tourists who are following Route 62 can stop at Zoar as it is part of the world-famous route. There are delightful buildings and quaint shops to stroll through.
Tourists who are following Route 62 can stop at Zoar as it is part of the world-famous route. There are delightful buildings and quaint shops to stroll through.
Star gazing
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Although we are not Sutherland, Zandrivier's starry skies are beautiful and super clear on moonless nights. Bring your telescope and cameras, or simply sit on the stoep and count the shooting stars.
Wine optional, but recommended! |
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Birding
A quick list compiled by a birding enthusiast recently included the following birds:
Olive thrush, Cape canary, red-eye dove, slanghals voel, southern double collared sunbird, malachite sunbird, orange-breasted sunbird, pied starling, rock kestrel, white necked raven, wit hals kraai, rooibos jevals, jackal buzzard, house sparrow, Cape sparrow, grey-backed cistiola (grysrug tintinkie), Karoo scrub robin, slangverklipper, Cape siskia, Kaapse pietjie kanarie, amethyst sunbird, bokmakiri, neddicky, three-banded plover, fish eagle, brown-headed kingfisher, fork-tailed drongo, Egyptian goose, red-knobbed coot, yellow-billed duck, red bishop, Southern masked weaver, blacksmith lapwing, Cape weaver, African paradise flycatcher, fiscal shrike, hadeda ibis, Cape wagtail, Cape robin chat, Cape turtle dove, speckled pigeon, suidelike fiskaal, spekvreter, farm chat, Cape bunting, Cape reed warbler, rooibekkie.
Olive thrush, Cape canary, red-eye dove, slanghals voel, southern double collared sunbird, malachite sunbird, orange-breasted sunbird, pied starling, rock kestrel, white necked raven, wit hals kraai, rooibos jevals, jackal buzzard, house sparrow, Cape sparrow, grey-backed cistiola (grysrug tintinkie), Karoo scrub robin, slangverklipper, Cape siskia, Kaapse pietjie kanarie, amethyst sunbird, bokmakiri, neddicky, three-banded plover, fish eagle, brown-headed kingfisher, fork-tailed drongo, Egyptian goose, red-knobbed coot, yellow-billed duck, red bishop, Southern masked weaver, blacksmith lapwing, Cape weaver, African paradise flycatcher, fiscal shrike, hadeda ibis, Cape wagtail, Cape robin chat, Cape turtle dove, speckled pigeon, suidelike fiskaal, spekvreter, farm chat, Cape bunting, Cape reed warbler, rooibekkie.