De Zeekoe Guest Farm

Garden Route

Rating: Mid-range

De Zeekoe Guest Farm overview

De Zeekoe Guest Farm is a working farm of 2,000 hectares on the banks of the Olifants River in the Klein Karoo region near Oudtshoorn. Animals here include cattle, sheep, ostriches, springbok and other antelope.

There are luxury ensuite rooms in the main house all of which are well equipped with air conditioning, bar fridge, satellite TV and tea and coffee making facilities. The rooms offer lovely mountain views. There are also self-catering log cabins by the lake, a 5 minute drive from the farmhouse, offering spacious, open plan accommodation and large private decks and providing seclusion and privacy.

Guest activities include private farm tours, small game viewing, fishing, canoeing, mountain biking and hiking. Alternatively guests can take it easy by the swimming pool or wander down to the river for some bird watching.

Local attractions within easy driving distance include the famous Cango Caves, ostrich show farms and the scenic Swartberg Mountain Pass.

Meerkat Adventures is a unique attraction offered at De Zeekoe. The tour lasts between 2 and 3 hours and includes an early start. You meet your guide early in the morning and are taken to the field and seated and given some coffee while you wait. In a little while the meerkats will emerge from their burrows to go about their daily activities. These habituated wild animals are never fed or handled by humans. Sightings cannot be guaranteed and are weather dependent. Meerkats are less lightly to appear in cloudy or damp weather. However, this is a great way to get close to meerkats in the wild. This tour needs to be booked.

details

Open: De Zeekoe Guest Farm is open all year.

Location: De Zeekoe Guest Farm is 7kms from Oudtshoorn, surrounded by the Swartberg and Outeniqua mountains. The main farm building is near the Olifants riverbed. It is a 40 minute drive from Mossel Bay and 90 minutes from Knysna. It is a privately owned alfalfa farm set in 2,000 hectares.

Rooms: There are several categories of room including 16 rooms in the main house and 4 self-catering chalets by the lake. The rooms have en-suite bathrooms and superior rooms also have an outdoor shower. Bedrooms are sumptuously decorated and feature ostrich feather cushions and Persian carpets. All rooms are air conditioned, have TV, tea and coffee makers and minibar. Rooms look out onto to riverbed and mountains. The chalets are 2kms from the main house, a 5 minute drive. Each has 2 bedrooms, a shower room, lounge, kitchenette with fridge, microwave, crockery and cutlery and a deck with views of the lake.

Activities: You can participate in farm activities and take a tour of the farm and animals, explore the farm grounds on foot or by bike. Bird watching is good here with 162 species having been seen including Fish Eagles. There are many wild animals on the farm such as monkeys and springbok. You can visit the private game reserve nearby. Other activities include wild meerkat tours (the most popular tour offered here), canoeing on the Oliphant River and bird watching. Staff can arrange local tours and excursions.

Facilities: The guest farm has a restaurant, lounge bar and wine cellar. Fresh produce is harvested daily and includes organic vegetables, fruit and herbs. Local specialities include ostrich, venison and vegetarian dishes, all with a distinct Karoo twist. There is an outdoor swimming pool in the gardens. You can shop for gifts and souvenirs in the curio shop. Beauty treatments can be booked at reception. There is a laundry service. There is free and secure car parking and a free car washing service.

Dining: Meals are eaten at separate tables.

Children: Children of all ages are welcome. Babysitting can be arranged. Children under the age of 10 years cannot take part in the wild meerkat tours.

Health: This is not a malarial area.

Communication: There main lodge has free Wi-Fi internet access. There is no Wi-Fi signal at the lakeside chalets.