Situated 50km from Willowmore, this is a completely different accommodation experience. This unique accommodation consists of a natural cave that has been enclosed with timber and rock and fitted to sleep ten people.
Facilities include running water, hot shower (heated by a traditional donkey system and built into the mountain rock), flush toilet (with a view!) and a small kitchen fitted with gas stove and sink. A braai (barbeque) place is situated outside the cave and there is also an open boma for those long evenings spent next to a crackling fire with friends and/or family. Paraffin lamps and candles provide light at night and create a relaxed atmosphere.
The accommodation is self catering, and bedding is not supplied. Meals can however be provided on request. Firewood and braai (barbeque) packs can be purchased at the farm. Please arrange all extras when booking.
The mouth of the cave faces east, resulting in spectacular views of the sunrise and romantic moons. At night the clear Karoo sky offers excellent opportunities for star gazers. Due to the fact that the cave forms part of the mountain, it is cool in the summer but warm during the winter. This makes the Makkedaat Grot/Cave a good choice throughout the year. For the young (and the young at heart) the ‘Lions Den’ was recently added as a second ‘bedroom‘. This extension is extremely popular with children.
The farm has numerous overhanging rocks (bakke), which have been cleaned for visitors to camp in. One, Dawid se Bak has been built in the form of a lapa and has a flush toilet and shower (donkey hot water system). There is also a campsite at the Populierbos with bush ablutions – flush toilet, electricity and a shower with water heated by a donkey system. Self-sufficient campers and hikers can overnight at any one of the Bakke on the farm and experience the silence of the Karoo.
Rietrivier also has an interesting collection of fossils. Various species can be seen, some being up to 380 million years old. Visitors are given the opportunity to learn more about marine invertebrate fossils unique to the Karoo. Many people aren’t aware that the entire Baviaanskloof region was once under the sea.
The farm offers a number of clearly marked hiking routes, which lead to some interesting sites, rock formations and fresh mountain fountain water. With some imagination the rock formations can resemble anything, such as the seven dwarfs, a pulpit and even a crocodile! The terrain is mountainous and hikes range from easy in the valleys to strenuous when climbing the mountain. There are also a large number of tracks suitable for mountain biking. After a long day’s hiking or cycling, a refreshing swim in the swimming-hole (swemgat) can be enjoyed. Unfortunately it dries up during the dry months.
Animal life in the area ranges from the black eagle (witkruis arend), klipspringer (buck) to the bloukopkoggelmander (type of lizard). The area is full of interesting Karoo flora such as succulents and the rare Willowmore Cedar tree. Outdoor activities include hiking, mountain biking, donkey cart rides, 4×4 tracks with overnight camping sites, bird-watching and mountain climbing.
Horses are available for experienced riders to explore the farm on horseback. Educational hikes where visitors are shown the different types of plants found in the area can be arranged upon request.
