Location
The farm is situated approximately 25km NW of Kareedouw between the Kouga River and the Baviaanskloof. It was a comfortable 70 minute drive from Jeffreys Bay, which would put it well within the magical 2 hour radius of Port Elizabeth.

Size
Made up of 7 titles, the property is approximately 1622h in extent. This incorporates 3340m of Kouga

Description
The topography is severe and dramatic, but for most, therein lies the appeal. The farm is dominated by a series of fynbos covered ridges, bisected by very deep wooded gorges and floodplains. I am an enormous fan of this particular stretch of the Kouga River. Lying midway between the impressive Tsitsikamma Mountains in the south and the towering Baviaans range to the North, this region encompasses some of the most breathtakingly beautiful vistas in the Central Cape. The almost 3.5km of river frontage is some of the most scenic I have encountered along the river, with towering, vertical cliffs interspersed with no less than 5, heavily wooded, lateral drainage lines. These deep kloofs, perpendicular to the main canyon, each have a stunningly beautiful fresh water source that cascades down in a series of mini falls and pools to nurture the superb indigenous forest and the wealth of both fauna and flora that thrives in under the impressive canopy. The river itself is equally diverse along this stretch with deep, swiftly flowing, heavily shaded, narrow straights that open up into large lazy pools before rushing on again through boulder strewn rapids. As most of this section is only currently accessible by canoe, one gets the impression one is truly pioneering along this stretch, a sentiment born out by the apparent lack of concern exhibited by the numerous creatures encountered along the way. As a lifestyle opportunity or adventure destination, this property is tough to top with all the ingredients that any adrenaline junky or outdoors man could want.

Veld types
The elevated areas outside of the immediate river canyon and floodplain areas is almost exclusively false fynbos. This particular farm has been conservatively farmed and as such, the vegetation is as close to climax as one gets in this region. From a grazing perspective, there is a good covering of Themeda and aristida and some dense patches of hetrapogon. The diversity of flowering plants is also indicative of the fact that the area has been lightly utilized as opposed to the almost monoculture common to some areas within the same region that have been repeatedly burned in an effort to improve the quality of available grazing. In the drainage lines there is some spectacular indigenous forest. Tree species encountered include some truly majestic yellow woods, white stinkwoods, forest elder and forest pear to name but a few. Two of the 5 drainage lines are quite unique in that they have an almost solid, polished slab running up the centre for almost their entire length. While the canopy often closes over the top of this, where it does not and light is allowed through, it almost looks like a landscaper has spent hours making terraced gardens of agapanthus, flowering aloes, wild cliveas and wild geraniums.
The valley floors however are considerably sweeter. The large river bed of the Joubertskraal River that traverses the entire width of the property from West to East, is heavily wooded with a combination of Cape valley bushveld and forest species. Towering white stinkwoods dominate the canopy top and make one lean towards the latter biome, while some of the more impressive wild olive specimens I have encountered in the Cape, being reminiscent of the bushveld biome. Add to this some magnificent Milkwoods and you have a thicket and forest area, probably more diverse than either classification. The higher elevations house an astonishing array of ornamental and medicinal plants and succulents as well as all the climax fynbos plants previously mentioned. Plus one of the long gorges apparently boasts an unprecedented volume of the indigenous cycad species, encephalartos longifolius. The valley floor and riverine edge are also covered with a better density and quality of sweet grass species than I would have expected to find here. Pannicums are evident in the shadier riverine margins, while the eragrostis species appear to dominate the multiple clearings. The result is a considerably higher grazing and browse potential than most of the surrounding properties, all laid out in a landscape that an artist would battle to better.

Rainfall
The farm falls in a transition summer / winter rainfall area with an annual average of 480mm.

Game species
Game species currently on the property include both mountain reedbuck and grey (vaal) rhebuck, bushbuck, kudu, cape grysbok, klipspringer, bushpig as well as a number of smaller critters. I saw fresh sign of honey badger and given its location would imagine that it probably has both resident and transient leopard.

Improvements
The infrastructure on the farm is well developed and adequately maintained. The spacious main house has 4 bedrooms (main en-suite with walk in closet), 1 study, 2 bathrooms, large kitchen, games/braai room and open plan lounge/dining room plus undercover patio overlooking the pool with large viewing deck. There is also a large attached garage behind the house. Outbuildings include: a shed (208m2) with adjoining garage/storeroom (178m2) and a large carport with cool room and flatlet at opposite ends. Near the main house is a very neat and novel little 2 bedroom stone cottage with 2 bathrooms and open plan kitchen and living area. Similarly there is a nearby staff cottage. There is stock handling facilities and the fencing, in the main, is intact. There is no Eskom power, with power to the house being supplied via solar (5 kW inverter with 48 volt batteries and 24 panels). Water for the main house is drawn higher up in the Ragel’s rivier, from where is gravitates to the house, ensuring a constant supply of natures absolute finest. There is ample water to irrigate the garden, small citrus orchard and approximately 7ha of pastures using 24 low pressure sprinklers (4 bar pressure via gravity feed).
Overlooking the confluence of the Joubertskraal and Ragel’s rivers, is another cottage with 3 bedrooms and nicely fitted bathroom and kitchen with large adjoining scullery area, open plan dining room and lounge area. There is a double garage structure adjacent to this cottage. There are 2 well laid out camp sites alongside the Joubertskraal River with both having all the applicable amenities such as fire pit, bush kitchen and rustic bathrooms etc.
The Kouga River low-level bridge on the access road actually falls onto this property. On both sides of the road above the bridge, the current owner has developed some day trip and camping orientated infrastructure. On the Eastern side there is a bush lapa with kitchen and braai facility, while on the western side, an impressive timber walkway links the user with an undercover kitchen area with men and woman’s toilets, abseiling platform and a boat house catering for canoe trips up river. Water for this facility is piped from one of the nearby natural cascades.

Conclusion
If you are a lover of the great outdoors, as a lifestyle and/or Eco-tourism opportunity, it simply does not get better than this. The sheer beauty of the river itself is breathtaking, while the dramatic topography and natural forests combine to offer one some of the best climbing, hiking and abseiling opportunities available. Add to this some superb fishing opportunities with bass in abundance and some magnificent wildlife and birding and you have a package that would be tough to beat. For someone wanting the ultimate in “off the grid living” this constitutes the most complete package I have yet to encounter. Unlike some other mountainous properties on the market, this one has the ability to sustain more than simply a subsistence farm, while still affording one the absolute best nature has.
There are very few of these properties in existence and of these, even fewer on the market. With all it has to offer, I believe it must be the pinnacle of lifestyle opportunities and if taken, would prove one of the most rewarding acquisitions out there.

Price
R 12.5 million plus Vat if applicable.