Touwsberg Private Nature Reserve
The Touwsberg Private Game and Nature Reserve is the perfect weekend getaway - it offers endless adventuring and activities for the whole family to enjoy.
The 7 000 ha reserve has spectacular panoramas of the vast Karoo landscapes, unspoilt flora, a large variety of game, such as giraffe, Cape mountain zebra, red hartebeest, kudu, eland and gemsbok. The unique combination of mountain fynbos and Karoo veld houses a rich diversity of flowers, succulents and a variety of proteas.
Activities in the reserve include game watching, 4x4 drives, bird watching, mountain biking trails, interaction with wild and free-roaming game, hiking trails and walks and dams for water sports.
Anysberg Nature Reserve
The Anysberg Nature Reserve is a Little Karoo gem near Ladismith. It was established in 1990 to conserve the veld vegetation and reintroduce a variety of game species, and encompasses 79 629 hectares. Anysberg is made up of deep gorges, steep mountain faces of the Cape Fold Mountains, rivers and rolling hills. Animals found in the reserve include gemsbok, steenbok, red hartebeest and jackal. Bird-watchers will be delighted to know there are around 180 bird species to watch. The flora is made up of succulents, mountain fynbos and Karoo veld.
The reserve is a great spot for hikers who want to explore the landscape without having to stick to formal trails. Other adventurous activities include guided horse trails and 4x4 routes.
Buffelspoort
Buffelspoort Resort is a beautiful wilderness area near Ladismith that has been proclaimed a formal Natural Heritage site. It offers some amazing mountain biking and 4x4 trails. The trails are set within the panoramic scenery of the Klein Swartberg Mountains. The idyllic Buffels River gorge forms the central feature of the resort, with the twin pinnacles of Towerkop creating a magnificent backdrop.
In September, water from the nearby dam is released, which makes for great canoeing along the river. Add to this a number of other day hikes, game-viewing, star gazing and mountain-biking along hundreds of kilometres of gravel roads.
Buffelspoort Rubicon 4x4 trail is the main attraction of the resort. It is a challenging terrain that consists of mud, water, rocks and sand. It is a strictly guided route, meaning that drivers may not tackle it without the aid of one of the experienced, trained guides. There are a number of stunning mountain passes, which make for breathtaking routes and memorable vistas.
Rooiberg Nature Reserve
The Rooiberg Nature Reserve is situated between Ladismith and Calitzdorp and is surrounded by unspoiled, natural landscapes. It boasts with a diversity of wildlife and birdlife, as well as an exceptional floral kingdom.
The reserve is also part of the internationally recognised Gouritz Initiative Conservation Program, which is a voluntary citizens' initiative dedicated to the conservation of its region's biodiversity, tied to the socio-economic development for the wellbeing of its peoples.
The reserve offers a variety of nature-based activities, including a leisurely 4x4 route through the reserve and mountain biking trails.