good for you

No ordinary farm stay, this historic South African farm and its private nature reserve provides a taste of elegant country living combined with the excitement of African game viewing and the rigours of a working sheep farm.

You can make yourself at home in one of five guest rooms in the homestead, or set up house in the separate family-style cottage. The elegantly restored Victorian homestead, which overlooks the farm and nature reserve, has just four en suite bedrooms plus a private suite, comfortable reading room, a large lounge with a fireplace, an intimate bar, a welcoming dining room and spacious verandas to sit on whilst you gulp down all that country air. Eating is a highlight that comes around frequently, with a huge buffet brunch, picnic lunches to take out for walks, a lavish afternoon tea and a three-course dinner preceded by cocktails and snacks. The cooks use as much fresh farm produce as the farm provides, complimented by excellent wines from the local estates.

With its wonderful food and gracious, un-crowded accommodations, all surrounded by 4000 hectares of unspoilt nature and 2,500 hectares of wheat fields - and only one hour from Capetown's international airport – Bartholomeus Klip makes an easy, great-value African escape.

good for south africa

Bartholomeus Klip includes a working sheep farm as well as a nature reserve that includes a section of rare vegetation that forms part of a National Heritage Site, due to its importance as the last major habitat of the geometric tortoise, one of the world's rarest reptiles, while the reserve also forms part of the smallest and richest of the world's six floral kingdoms.

Beyond these important conservation features, Bartholomeus Klip has invested in a number of eco-projects, including a fascinating project to re-breed the extinct zebra-like quagga, and the buffalo project, which rids buffalo of disease in order to re-introduce it into this part of the country – the first buffalo to be seen in the Western Cape for 300 years.

Almost all the staff are local women and energy and water are conserved at the guesthouse.

In the kitchen, what the farm doesn't provide is sourced from local growers and suppliers.

Rooms

Food

Food is a serious affair at Bartholomeus Klip.

Early risers are advised to go light on the breakfast, which includes fruit platters and freshly baked muffins with tea and coffee. It's best to hold out for brunch, which is served at ten, after early morning game drivers and sleepers-in have worked up an appetite. The buffet is spread out at the boathouse on the dam, and includes platters of fresh, dried and preserved fruits; stewed fruit with fresh granola and muesli; cheeses and cold meats; smoked salmon; as well as the full cooked breakfast.

While lunch is not served, picnic lunches can be packed for you if you're off on an excursion.

The farmhouse is famous for its lavish afternoon tea, which is a grand affair of homemade scones, cream and jams, delicious cakes, pastries and meringues, all regally served with the heirloom family silver.

In case you're still hungry at dusk, there are post-safari sundowners served with home-made cheese crackers and dips.

The elegant three-course dinner is taken among your fellow guests in the dining room, with wine suggestions for each course. A typical summer meal may begin with chilled tomato gazpacho with a cucumber salad and a parmesan crisp, followed by braised rack of lamb with a butternut timbale and onion marmalade. Deserts include a vanilla crème caramel served with rhubarb compote and praline ice cream and biscotti.

Features & Facilities

• Full board or self catering accommodation available.
• Childminding
• Saltwater swimming pool
• Freshwater dam, suitable for boating and windsurfing
• Canoes, mountain bikes and windsurfers are all available for guests' use
• Satellite TV in the homestead's sitting room
• Laundry service, fax and telephone all available
• English, German and Afrikaans all spoken
• Gift shop selling local arts and crafts, as well as local wines and olive oils.

Local Info & Activities

Early morning guided walks set out at 8:30, where guests can catch a glimpse of the rare geometric tortoise and many of the other exotic species that roam the reserve.

The afternoon game drives begin at 5pm in an open-topped Land Rover and end with sundowners in the veld. The animals are easy to spot in the low-growing fynbos, especially since there are more than 1000 head of game.

The nature reserve, with its characteristic rare native vegetation, forms part of the Cape Floral Kingdom – the smallest and richest of the world's six floral kingdoms. It has been declared a National Heritage Site in recognition of its importance as the last major habitat of the geometric tortoise, one of the world's rarest reptiles.

The reserve in the springtime is blanketed in colour, with a range of exotic wildflowers to be discovered on close inspection.

The many animal species living at Bartholomeus Klip – some more easily seen than others – include eland, springbuck, bontebok, wildebeest (both blue and black), gemsbok, red hartebeest, baboon, bat-eared fox, jackal, lynx, Cape fox and leopard.

More than 160 species of birds have been identified at Bartholomeus Klip, among them the endangered blue crane and the African fish eagle as well as the ostrich, frequently seen in the reserve.

Energetic visitors can enjoy a range of activities, including hikes through the reserve; mountain bike riding through the wheatfields; or windsurfing, birdwatching or boating on the dam.

Guests can also observe and take part in a range of farming operations. Daily guided excursions expose guests to the variety of features associated with a large and diverse farming operation. Watch the sheep dogs working with a flock of over 5000 Merino sheep, observe the skill and speed employed in the shearing of the sheep, or visit the lambing pastures where, if you wait a while, you may see lambs being born. Walk in the fields and experience first hand the cycles of ploughing, fertilising, sowing, harvesting and spraying of the various grain crops grown on the farm. In addition, guests gain an understanding of how large scale commercial farming and long-term conservation work together for mutual benefit.

Futher afield, Bartholomeus Klip is only 75 minutes drive from Cape Town and half an hour from the winelands of Paarl and Stellenbosch.

Those who just want to relax have the lovely gardens of the homestead and the sunny pool deck to enjoy.

insider tips

• At least two nights is recommended to fully enjoy what's on offer.
• Children under 16 are restricted to the Wild Olive House.
• May days are long and not too hot, and this is the time the lambs are born on the farm.
• August and September is wildflower season and can be a little rainy, while December to February are the hottest and driest months, when birding and game viewing is at its best.
• The hotel is closed in June.

Sustainability

At Bartholomeus Klip, conservation co-exists with farming. Agriculture in the Cape has destroyed most of the original renosterveld. Renosterveld is a type of "fynbos," Afrikaans for "fine bush", which refers to the vegetation that naturally occurs in this part of the South Cape – of the world's six floral kingdoms, this is the smallest and richest per area unit. The large area of renosterveld conserved here forms the last remaining viable habitat of the geometric tortoise, one of the world's most endangered reptiles.

Nearly 800 plant species have so far been identified as part of an ongoing project. Many are rare and unusual, and some occur only here in this private reserve.

Animals from two fascinating eco-projects can also be seen. The revolutionary attempt to re-breed the extinct quagga, a zebra-like animal with no stripes on its rump and legs but identical DNA to the plains zebra, has aroused significant interest around the world. Recently there was much excitement when a foal with the fewest markings on rump and legs to date was born at Bartholomeus Klip.

The buffalo project is vitally important in a different way. Most buffalo in Africa are found in places where various diseases highly dangerous to cattle occur, and may not be moved to disease-free areas such as the Western Cape. However, a recent breeding project next to the Kruger Park has successfully produced healthy buffalo calves, reared by Jersey ‘mother' cows in strict quarantine conditions. Their arrival at Bartholomeus Klip was cause for celebration – the first buffalo to be seen in the Western Cape for 300 years.

The farm uses its own water supply – sparingly – and they purify the water themselves. Conventional energy is used, but energy-saving bulbs are used throughout the guesthouse.

The farm and guesthouse take care of their own rubbish. Glass is collected and donated to a local school, which has sold them to raise funds for computers and other school equipment. Cans are also recycled.

The guesthouse was established to offer employment to local women whose husbands work on farms in the area. 95% of the staff is female.

Getting There

Bartholomeus Klip is situated 115km from Cape Town, an hour and a quarter's drive in a north-easterly direction towards Wellington, which is 30km from the farm. Paarl is 35km, Franschhoek 75km and Stellenbosch 85km away.

Cape Town international Airport is just an hour away, and the hotel can arrange a transfer. Depending on how long you plan to stay, hiring a car can be a good idea, especially if you plan to explore further afield.

Visit our Transport section for flights, hybrid car rentals and train bookings.

Rates & Bookings

farmhouse

1 may – 31 august 2007 (mid season)

Luxury room: R1090/US$155 p/per/p/ngt

Orchid Suite: R1335/US$189 p/per/p/ngt

1 sep – 30 april 2008 (high season)

Luxury room: R1610 US$228 p/per/p/ngt

Orchid Suite: R1760 US$249 p/per/p/ngt

1 may – 31 august 2008 (mid season)

Luxury room: R1250 US$177 p/per/p/ngt

Orchid Suite: R1535 US$217 p/per/p/ngt

1 sep – 30 april 2009 (high season)

Luxury room: R1850 US$262 p/per/p/ngt

Orchid Suite: R286 US$286 p/per/p/ngt

***rates include 3 meals a day

what's included / excluded?

• Rates are per person per night.
• Rates include 14% VAT.
• All rates include 3 meals a day, morning & afternoon teas.
• Include morning and evening game drives, bird watching, use of mountain bikes, windsurfers, canoes and all other facilities.
• Children under 16 are not accommodated at the main house. See Wild Olive house below.

wild olive house & guest cottage

1 may – 31 august 07 (mid season)

Adults: R770 US$110 p/per/per night

Children (3-15yrs): R385 US$55 p/night

1 sep – 30 april 08 (high season)

Adults: R935 US$133 p/per/p/night

Children (3-15yrs): R468 US$66 p/night

1 may – 31 august 08 (mid season)

Adults: R885 US$125 p/per/p/night

Children (3-15yrs): R443 US$63 p/night

1 sep – 30 april 09 (high season)

Adults: R1075 US$152 p/per/p/night

Children (3-15yrs): R538 $76 per/night

what's included / excluded?

• Rates are per person per night on a self catering basis.
• 14% VAT is included.
• Children under 16 are welcome and child minders can be arranged at a fee.
• Rates include morning game drive, use of mountain bikes, canoes, fishing equipment and daily serving of house.
• Rates do not include meals and are on a self-catering basis.
• Full board can be added at a cost of R320 p/person (includes 3 meals)

check in/out

Check in time is 3pm and check out time 12noon.

booking & cancellation policies

• Full payment of accommodation is required in order to secure a booking.
• If booking is cancelled up until 45 days before date of arrival, 10% of total cost of booking is charged as a cancellation fee.
• If the booking is cancelled 45-30 days before arrival date then 35% of total cost of booking is charged as a cancellation fee.
• If a booking is cancelled 30-21 days before arrival date then 60% of total cost of booking will be charged as a cancellation fee.
• If a cancellation is made between 21 and 14 days, a 85% cancellation fee is taken.
• If a cancellation is made within 14 days of arrival, 100% of total cost of booking will be forfeited.
• All refunds are subject to a 15% administration fee.

**US$ rates are for July 07 and will change according to exchange rate.

Want to avoid cancellation fees? Visit our Insurance section for information on travel insurance.