Environment-Friendly Farming
The Karkloof Conservancy itself dates back to 1998, when a core group of local farmers, foresters and landowners made the call to protect the wonderful biodiversity in the Karkloof.
The extent of the protected area covers an impressive 40 000 ha, including wetlands, mist-belt grasslands and huge tracts of mist-belt forest, all protected biomes.
Some of the farmers are registered ‘crane custodians’ with the Wildlands Conservation Trust, and actively protect the three species of crane (including the critically endangered Wattled crane) found in the Karkloof area. They also adhere to a variety of environmentally friendly farming practices, ensuring that they contain alien invasive species, maintain their soil, the fauna and flora and the environment as a whole.
Ecotourism
There has been a substantial boom in ecotourism in the Karkloof area. It has become the go-to destination for mountain biking (not only from KwaZulu-Natal, but from all over South Africa), setting a gold standard as far as trails go for one of the world’s fastest-growing outdoor sports.
This is far from the only adventure option on offer, though, and more and more hikers, trail runners, bird-watchers and other outdoor enthusiasts are now flocking to Karkloof to get their kicks.
The only question now, really, is whether the word ‘kar’ should be removed from the name of a destination where a vehicle is probably the last thing you want to be in! Accommodation options range from farmhouse, lodges, self-catering chalets and camping.