Apart from the fact that New Holme Guest Farm comes with breath-taking Karoo scenery, the experience here runs far deeper than just the view. Based in the Karoo Gariep Nature Reserve, Cape Country Routes’ New Holme (which also forms part of the Khoisan Karoo Conservancy) is one of those places that grounds you and reminds you of the important things in life. Here, heritage and conservation are the driving forces behind everything the owners decide to embark on.
New Holme, owned by PC and Marisca Ferreira, boasts various activities for young and old, offering them the opportunity to explore the Karoo in an out-of-the-ordinary way. During a recent stay, we got to take in the Karoo’s early autumn extravagance while partaking in minor, yet important and grounding farm activities like feeding little lambs.
Apart from the day-to-day things guests can experience on the reserve, there are numerous other ways to truly submerge yourself in the essence of the Karoo while staying at New Holme:
New Holme offers a sunset drive to the Hippo pool (yes, they have hippo and buffalo on the farm). The last remaining hippos of the Karoo and the Northern Cape were shot and killed in 1778. 200 years later, PC has made it his mission to bring them back. Now, you can watch the only hippos in the Northern Cape here, while indulging in sundowners and sunsets like you’ve never experienced before.
If you’ve never spotted an Aardvark, Aardwolf, Porcupine, Bat-Eared Fox or Black Footed Cat, chances are that you might just spot them here. While you rarely see these animals in the larger nature reserves, New Holme claims to offer this activity at the best South African rate. In addition, they also claim to have an 80% hit rate on seeing these animals within a matter of two days!
We were amazed at the birdlife at New Holme during our stay. Bring your birding list and tick them off one by one during the early morning birding drives. Since the Karoo Gariep Nature Reserve is known for its diverse range of habitats, they have a list of 229 birds to be spotted. These include the Blue Korhaan, Ludwig’s Bustard, Blue Crane, Burchell’s courser and the Cape Penduline Tit.
The reserve also has a rich Khoisan heritage attached to it. During a two-hour outing into the Karoo ‘koppies’ you’ll be able to explore the unique and special site, where PC will take you on an educational walk along the ‘koppies’. In 1775, up to 166 Khoisan people were shot in this area and there are many Khoi tools and artifacts from the Boer War to be seen here.
There is an unexpected, park-like gem just 20km away from New Holme, where you can enjoy late afternoon sundowners. Elma from Mieliefontein spent 60 years developing this 1ha work of art – a garden that has become a must-visit attraction in the area.
PC recently started a new project and now includes guests in the experience too. Suit up and join PC for an hour, learning about bees and helping to harvest the honey. In addition, you will assist in bottling the honey and you will then get to take a bottle of honey home with you.
Learn more about the medicinal value of certain Karoo plants on a two-hour outing just after breakfast. From plants that help for toothache, to plants that serve as appetite suppressants – you’re bound to learn a lot from nature in this expedition.
Overnight guests can go fishing (catch and release) at any time. The Seekoei River is a mere 100m from the lodge and guests can either bring their own fishing gear or rent a fishing rod from New Holme.
It might not be a luxury safari or a glamourous hotel stay, but this three-star farm stay offers much more than glitz and glam. It offers you the opportunity to submerge yourself in nature, explore history, bond with likeminded travellers, dine farm to table and appreciate the small things in life.
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