The Old School House

The Old School House is a free-standing house which can accommodate up to six people. It has three bedrooms, two of which have a double bed, with the third room having two single beds. There is one bathroom with both a shower and a bath, and a large open-plan lounge, kitchen and dining room. The kitchen is fully-equipped for self-catering. We only take one booking at a time, so guests have use of the entire building.You can take leisurely walks on the farm roads, along the river's edge and to explore the Karoo Koppies. If you feel inclined towards more exertion, there are a variety of challenging hikes which take you into the pristine wilderness of the area.You can swim in the farm dam, fed by fresh mountain water and you can also swim or canoe in the Gamka River. The yellowfish in the Gamka River provide many passionate fishermen with their favourite fly-fishing. There are also black bass, mogga, and eel for those who prefer stationary fishing. The area is a bird watcher's paradise with over 118 different species spotted. The resident pair of fish eagles share a view of the river with you. The Grey heron, hamerkop, cormorant and various kingfishers also favour the elevated vantage point above the river. Smaller birds like weavers, bee-eaters and swallows are always active between the river and the vegetation. The region also boasts the highest concentration of Pale Chanting Goshawk in the southern hemisphere. High over the Swartberg, the black eagle can be spotted gliding in search of prey. Also for those who appreciate the micro level, a wide variety of succulents abound in the area. Succulent enthusiasts come from far and wide to observe the tiny, the small, and also the larger succulents of the area. The veld, even when dry, is perpetually green, because of the abundance of Spekbos, and Guarrie. During autumn the Aloe Ferrox flowers dominate. Spring is ushered in by a diverse array of flowering veld bulbs. The Old School House is situated in the heart of a World Biodiversity Hotspot. This means that we are situated in one of the most biologically rich and most endangered areas on earth. There are 35 such areas in the world and three of them ? Succulent Karoo, Fynbos and Subtropical Thicket ? intersect in this area. For an area to be declared a Biodiversity Hotspot, it must contain at least 1500 species of endemic plants or animals and have lost at least 70% of it's original habitat. This is what gives it it's special conservation status and makes it especially interesting. Eco-tourism, and the interested involvement of as many concerned visitors as possible, is an essential part of Biodiversity Hotspot conservation.