Located high in the Cedarberg Mountains of the western cape, Bushman’s Kloof is an unusual wilderness reserve. Situated in what is generally a harsh and inhospitable place, it is an island of greenery, and offers the kind of comforts one would associate with a Relais & Chateaux accreditation. The accommodation was handpicked by the National Geographic for exceptional guest experience and strong commitment to sustainable practices and is consequently a member of the National Geographic’s Unique Lodge of the World.
Overview
A single story building, and set in botanical gardens, near a large pond, the main building has white washed exteriors, slate roofing and looks very much like an enormous cottage. Other significant buildings include the Manor House, Makana, Kadoro and Koro Lodge. A wellness centre, business conference centre and tourist destination, Bushman’s Kloof caters for a mixed clientele. Large, sprawling, it has in total 16 rooms and suites, a number of bars, a wine cellar, TV lounge, sitting rooms, libraries, multiple restaurants, swimming pools, conference rooms, business facilities, a heritage centre, spa, shop and stone boma.
Food & service
Voted No. 3 in the Top Resorts in Africa by Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2016, its food – complimented by a Diamond Award winning wine list – is top drawer, as is the service. In 2017 Bushman’s Kloof was voted number 16 in the top 40 resorts in Africa.
Rooms
There are 4 classes of room: luxury (7), deluxe (6), suite (2) and the supreme suite. Each luxury room comes with a wrought iron double bed, seating, a balcony and separate bathroom. Characterised by sisal carpeting, curtains, exposed beams, cavernous ceilings, handmade furniture and high density mattresses, the rooms are simply and stylishly furnished, and the bathrooms include a bath, shower, sinks and flush toilet. As they go up in class, the rooms get bigger, offer more amenities, and hold extra lounges. Particular favourites are the Cedar Falls and Rock Pools deluxe rooms situated at the bottom end of the property, both of which have access to their own private swimming pool. Free Wi-Fi is available, but please be advised it can be unreliable at times.
Activities
The reserve is probably most famous for its early rock art, of which there are well over 100 sites. Only 12 of these are accessible to the public. Daily guided tours of the rock painting sites are conducted by experienced guides. The San roamed this region between two and ten thousand years ago, during the late Stone Age period, and are recognised as one of mankind’s oldest civilizations. These ancient sites, invariably located just above the waterline of a lake or river, and under rocky outcrops, have been meticulously preserved and recorded, making them some of the finest examples of rock art painting in all of southern Africa.
“On one of my morning runs I came across a small cave with a set of cave paintings depicting women (identified by their large bottoms) fishing by the lake at which I was standing. Our origins are fascinating and Bushman’s Kloof helps us picture a snapshot in the process of our development as modern humans.” – Will Jones, 2008.
Wildlife drives on the reserve are also an important feature of a stay at Bushman’s Kloof, although the harshness of the terrain tends to limit the range of wildlife one is likely to find. There are however 35 species of mammal with eland, oryx, aardwolf and some smaller gazelle. The reserve is also home to 29 of the endangered Cape Mountain Zebra. All the same, Kloof is not known for its wildlife. It is, rather, an exceptional all round stay, an ideal retreat for those looking for a one off destination, and one in which there is ample time to rest and recuperate.
Other activities include walking, mountain biking, river walks, canoeing, swimming in crystal clear natural rock pools and bird watching. It is the perfect environment for painting, photography, stargazing, picnics and reading. Wonderful for relaxing and well combined in September with the advent the Namaqualand flowers and the sight of calving whales off Hermanus.
Impact
Conservation
Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat is the proud Global Winner of Wildlife Conservations Programs in the Condé Nast World Savers Awards (2009), and was awarded Gold for Best Contribution to Cultural Heritage Conservation by African Responsible Tourism Awards in 2016.
Its entire operation is based on sound environmental conservation practices. This covers a wide spectrum: from the implementation of a comprehensive reserve management plan, ongoing monitoring of water quality, rainfall, soil erosion, vegetation cover and wildlife to prevent degradation, to environmentally friendly solid waste disposal and an advanced Biolytix waste water processing system.
Bushmans Kloof today protects one of the largest private herds of Cape Mountain Zebra in the world – an animal saved from the brink of extinction in the wild. The wildlife reintroduction programme has also seen the return of the magnificent Bontebok, Red Hartebeest, Grey Rhebok and Ostrich. A huge diversity of birdlife is thriving once more, with 150 species from the great African Fish eagle to the jewel-like Sunbird.