Nature Reserve

 

Fynbos Estate nestles between Dragon Ridge and Sonkop Peak, both of which form part of the Paardeberg Mountain. The Paardeberg is a granite mountain with an extraordinary mix of unique vegetation, which is a botanist’s heaven. The plants on the mountain include strandveld (‘beach plants’), Cape Mountain fynbos (‘fine bush’, which is found only in the Western Cape), and renosterveld (‘rhinoceros field’, whose dark appearance gives the region its name,Swartland or ‘black land’).

Dragonridge, running along one side of the farm, is readily accessible by high-clearance vehicles, by mountain bikes or on foot. Should you prefer your hiking a little rougher, you can take the more direct, scrambling route from the house to the top of Dragonridge, or you can climb the beautiful – and wilder – Sonkop. Along the top of both mountains there is easy walking, with spectacular views of the Winterberge, the Franschoek Mountains and Table Mountain.  Shorter, walks will take you to any number of lovely spots such as‘Cathedral Rocks’ and ‘The Big Cactus’, on the slopes of Dragonridge.o:p>

  Wherever you are on the mountain, you are likely to see eagles soaring, and many other varieties of birds and small game. During much of the year, various types of wild protea will be in flower, as will other types of fynbos, with an extraordinary variety of exquisite, often delicate, flowers. Nature lovers may be lucky enough to see buck, dassie, mongoose and suricate, or you may come upon a large leopard tortoise, colourful lizard or prickly porcupine.

 

Conservation

       

The Paardeberg is a natural paradise, which we feel passionate about protecting and conserving. To this end, the farm not only forms part of the Paardeberg Conservancy, an initiative set up by some landowners in the area, but is at the concluding stages of becoming a fully fledged Nature Reserve. This is part of the Stewardship initiative spearheaded by Cape Nature Conservation.

  As part of our conservation commitment, there are a number of ongoing conservations projects on the farm. These include the clearing of alien vegetation, the laying of walking and climbing trails, and bird and plant spotting for our bird and plant lists. A long term project is to returning indigenous game to the mountain. The farm is also frequently used for research projects on insects, and plants.

   People who wish to participate in any of the farm’s conservation projects are more than welcome to do so, and if they would like, they can stay, for free, in our small wooden hut. Students wanting to use the farm for appropriate projects are more than welcome.

For campers, the small wooden hut at the base of the mountain is a wonderful place to stay, and only a six-minute walk from the Farm House.

  
Read more about Conservation on our Blog and see the Facebook photo album.