Tag: Trail Run

Blog post: AfriCamps at Ingwe

There are few places in South Africa that could be called paradise. One springs to mind, especially for those who are familiar with the popular resort of Plettenberg Bay. Conveniently situated only within half an hour from this town is a gem of a destination, The Crags.

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(Click here to go to our camp page  in the Crags or continue reading this blog post below)

You will be almost overwhelmed with the plethora of activities, adventures and places to visit. A definite favourite for locals and tourists alike is the boutique wine estate, Bramon Wine Estate.As the first wine estate in The Crags, they pioneered vineyards with their first vines, Sauvignon Blanc, resulting in Plettenberg Bay being classified as a Wine of origin region.

Winning awards both nationally and internationally (most recently double gold in 2015), this family run estate lead to the birth of Plettenberg Bay’s own Bubbly and Wine Route

The aspiring owners Peter and Caroline Thorpe hope to create a ‘Sparkling Wine Route’ in the near future. Enjoy the restaurant uniquely set in the vineyards and gardens overlooking the Elephant Sanctuary and Tsitsikamma Mountains; or the cathedral-like cellar.

For the more adventurous, the pristine indigenous forest of AfriCamps at Ingwe offers a haven for plant, bird and animal life and is a very special location to restore your soul. Relish in a pre-hike breakfast or lunch picnic as you are guided along a hiking trail in the natural forest, hearing about the flora and fauna of the region. Or savor celebratory sundowners as part of your hike.

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The Eden to Addo Corridor, being the most bio-diverse corridor in the world, passes through a portion of the farm where AfriCamps at Ingwe is situated.

For the intrepid adventurer, the family hike with the Eco Warriors is guaranteed to quench your thirst for adventure and exploration and is also for a good cause, namely the Green Ticket

Orienteering, trail running, mountain biking and horse riding are also among the numerous activities on offer. Or plant a tree in support of the local NPO. For those wanting a restful time, soak up the tranquil sounds of nature, breath in the fresh air and enjoy the spectacular forest, mountains and calm surroundings.Discover delightful water adventures with the Keurbooms River Gorge, Bitou River & Wetland and Keurbooms Lagoon; all offering guided canoeing eco adventures. The Keurbooms River Nature Reserve is a world heritage site with sightings of ververt monkeys, blue duiker, mongoose, grysbok and the elusive leopard. This is best suited for the active traveller who loves the outdoors while having fun on the water. Each of these canoeing adventures offers something distinctive.

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Paddle on the lagoon, venture to the other side to visit Keurbooms beach or canoe to either the Bitou or Keurbooms River. In and around the lagoon there is lots of wildlife to be seen, such as flamingos, spoonbills and oyster catchers.

The Keurbooms River Gorge is one of the most beautiful in the world, with numerous secluded beaches amidst the natural forest and high gorge solid with vegetation in an untouched atmosphere

Along the way, settle on white beaches with picnic baskets, a good book and a bottle of wine; while the kids safely explore. The Bitou River section winds along a channel through a wetland system, with plenty of birdlife including South Africa’s national bird, the Blue Crane; and the African Fish Eagle. Enjoy the Keurbooms Lagoon with the beauty of Bird Island and the largest breeding colony of Kelp Gulls, amongst other bird species.

One can easily understand now why this region is named the ‘Jewel of the Garden Route’, with its splendid natural selection of beauty in its forests, beaches, lagoons and magnificent mountains.

Top 7 Things To Do in Stanford

We are opening a new AfriCamps glamping location in Stanford! It’s a great place and there are a lot of things that you can do in this area. We’ve made a selection for you, of our highlights of things you must do during your stay in Stanford.

1. Whale Watching

From June until November, Southern Right whales are highly visible along the Cape south coast, making this the perfect time of year for a whale-watching trip. You can do these trips at several companies near Stanford but you don’t even have to go out on a boat to see them because Hermanus, overlooking Walker Bay, is considered to be the best land-based whale watching spot in the world. Southern Rights often come in close to the shoreline, sometimes appearing only metres from the shore. Hermanus’ cliffs offer an incomparable viewing point.

You can also do a whale-watching from the sky! It’s a unique experience to see the whales from the air.

2. Shark Diving

Go shark cage diving close to Stanford to see these amazing creatures. The area around Stanford is known for the numerous sharks who visit this area. You can go on a half day tour with a shark diving company, where you will go into a cage and see sharks up close!

3. Wine Tasting – Stanford Wine Route

The Stanford Wine Route officially launched late 2015 and is seen as one of the up and coming wine routes in South Africa. This close-knit group of wine farms with their cooler temperatures have produced outstanding wines over recent years. This wine route meanders through the Stanford valley and each wine farm welcomes you into their tasting room. The Stanford Wine Route encompasses Springfontein Wine Estate, Raka (try the Biography Shiraz), Brunia, Boschrivier, Sir Robert Stanford, Stanford Hills, and Lomond Wines.

As with the other wine routes, this one holds a number of smaller wine festivals throughout the year with the Stanford Stumble being one of the known favourites.

 4. River cruising

River cruises are a relaxing way to spend the day. These cruises will take you through the Klein River and will offer you breathtaking views of the Klein River Mountains. Relax on the boat, braai, jump in the river or get pulled along in a tube. These cruises cater for everyone. If you are lucky you can spot 129 species of birds who make this area their home. There are a few companies in this area who arrange these river cruises. Platanna: www.platanna.com or African Queen: www.africanqueenstanford.co.za and River Rat www.riverratstanford.wordpress.com

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5. Horse Riding

One of the best and most highly recommended ways to explore this beautiful area is by horseback. These horse riding tours will allow you to escape into nature for one, two or three-hour tours.

6. Hiking & mountain biking

Fancy a bit of adventure, why not go into the mountains for a nice hike or a mountain bike ride. This is an incredibly beautiful area and you will not get bored for a second. You will find these hiking and mountain bike trails all around Stanford.

Stanford is home to beautiful indigenous flora and fauna which make this area a delight to explore. For all the mountain bike enthusiasts this area covers part of a few famous mountain bike races, the most famous being the Cape EPIC.

7. Cape Agulhas

You are spoilt for beauty when you head through to Stanford as the surrounding areas are all spectacular. Cape Agulhas being one of them. This is the southern-most tip of Africa, perfect for a day trip to see the point where the Atlantic ocean and the Indian ocean meet.

Our fourth camp, AfriCamps at Stanford Hills Estate is set to open later on this year. Check into our Facebook page for more info on bookings and launch dates.

Keep fit at AfriCamps Klein Karoo

While some of us need our weekends away to relax with a glass of wine in hand on the deck of a beautiful tent, there are those who are will gladly wake up at 6 am to keep fit. We have two trails at AfriCamps Klein Karoo which will give you the beautiful backdrop of nature while you run through a field of succulents and pass by buck lazily grazing on the property or use the deck to create your perfect yogi space.

Kaaimans Trail

Named after the dam on the property, the Kaaimans Trail is one for the whole family. Whether it’s an evening stroll that you are after, your morning jog or a quick mountain bike fix, you will get it all from this quaint trail.

This trail starts at Tent 5 and is approximately 700m. Perfect for taking young children on a nature walk. Use it as the perfect time to teach them about the Karoo plants and animals, as they double up on exercise and exploring.

The rest of the family can use this trail as a substitute for their gym time. Add in some of these workouts, Trail Fit: Full Body, No Equipment Necessary, Outdoor Workouts, to ensure you get your full exercise experience.

Springbuck Trail

The Springbuck trail is our more advanced trail that covers the whole farm. This one is for the more advanced mountain bikers who want to see and explore the farm. Set off on through the rocky land as you pass the breeding grounds for the springbuck to find out just how this trail got its’ name.  The Springbuck Trail is about 6.5KM, ask Esti-Mari for more details on the exact route.

Yoga on the deck

Take your home or studio practice to the next level and take your yoga mat on holiday with you. Imagine waking up to the calming sounds of the Karoo and working through a few sun salutations on the deck at sunrise. Get one of your travel mates to snap a picture for that ultimate Instagram yogi experience.

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