Graafwater
25°C

Details

At our Red Cederberg accommodation destinations, you don’t share your facilities, space or privacy with any other guests. When you or your group visit any of our Escape destinations, it is allocated to you exclusively.

15% discount for stays of 4 nights and more out of season. Prices exclude VAT.

Onderhuis at Keurbosfontein – Exclusive Farm Stay

Self-Catering

The farm can only be booked exclusively, i.e. you don’t share the farm with any other guests and there is a minimum stay policy of two nights over weekends and school holidays for a maximum of 10 guests in 5 double beds and 4 single beds.

Guests would cater for themselves in the Waenhuis Kombuis, Justin’s purpose built fire kitchen, with Lucinda and Valerie on hand to assist with cooking and cleaning.

Mark, our local hiking guide is available at R500 a day to guide you on the various walks and trails in the area.

There are plenty of outdoor areas to relax and breathe on the farm, as well as two pools for a cool respite in Summer (although one of them might be home to weavers…) and for the brave at heart in Winter.

Tariffs

2024 Rates – R7 250 per night for the entire farm including accommodation excluding VAT.

2025 Rates – R8 000 per night for the entire farm including accommodation excluding VAT.

For Midweek stays, the rate and number of nights booked are negotiable.

Includes

Exclusive use of Justin Bonello’s purpose-built WaenhuisKombuis (fire-based kitchen) and entertainment area suited to guests who like to prepare food and break bread together.

  • Two gas Fridges / Freezers.
  • Gas stove for chore cooking.
  • 10 seater dining table.
  • Large preparation area.
  • All crockery and cutlery.
  • Selection of herbs and spices.
  • Harvest from the vegetable garden to complement meals.
  • Potjie Pots and pans.

Although enough wood is provided, we suggest bringing extra wood and charcoal.

Facilities

  • The main house has three ensuite rooms with double beds and 4 single beds suited to a family with small children. The Stal (stable) and Meulhuis (mill house) offer a further two ensuite rooms. All linen and towels are provided.
  • An outside entertainment area overlooking the spring-fed pool. Towels are provided.
  • Exclusive shorter hiking route (5 hours up and down) to the iconic Wolfberg Arch.
  • Justin Bonello’s Waenhuis Kombuis Kitchen.
  • Multiple fire / braai areas.
  • Limited solar electricity to charge devices.
  • Limited Wifi for emergencies.
  • NO network connectivity.

To Do Nearby

  • Visit award winning Cederberg Wines for a wine tasting (Monday to Saturday – 13 kilometer drive)
  • Visit Award Driehoek Wines (30 kilometers).
  • Visit Stadsaal, famous rock art and rock formations (6 kilometer drive).
  • Vist TruitjiesKraal, rock formations and rock climbing (20 kilometer drive).
  • Drive to the local communites of Langkloof, Eselbank, Wuppertal or the Biedouw valley.
  • Visit Oasis to watch the rugby (8 kilometer drive for those who can’t miss a game).
  • Visit Kromrivier for lunch.

Klipwerf Stone Cottages

The Klip Werf self-catering veld cottages are ideal for the fully-equipped traveller.

Accommodation is limited to a maximum of 12 guests in three traditional Sederberg veldhuisies on the road to Voelvlei.

Tariffs

R1300 a night for 4 people, please add R100 per person up to a maximum of 12. Weekends and school holidays, minimum stay of 2 nights. Long weekends, minimum stay of 3 nights. On Weekdays, please feel free to enquire about special rates.

The Rondavel

We like to use the Rondavel as a central storage area when staying at Klipwerf, but if you are a large group and want additional sleeping space, the Rondavel can sleep up to 2 guests, more if you feel like squeezing in.

Oom Arries se Veldhuisie:4-6 guests
Large thatched veldhuisie that is both cool in summer and cool in winter.

Johan se Veldhuisie: 4-6 guests
As above. A large thatched veldhuisie.

Facilities

  • There are 2 houses with 3 single beds (= 6 beds with mattresses) and a rondavel that can also be used for accommodation.
  • Although we provide only 6 beds and mattresses, the houses have ample space to accommodate up to 12 persons comfortably if you bring your own camping mattresses or stretchers.
  • Each house is supplied with a paraffin lantern for light.
  • There are two sets of bathroom facilities, each equipped with a hot water shower, a washbasin and a flush toilet. We supply the gas for the bathroom facilities.
  • There are 2 separate thatched (3×5 meter) braai areas, spacious enough for comfortable seating. Each braai area has an outside water tap.
  • Klip Werf is for the fully equipped traveller. Visitors bring their own cutlery & crockery, utensils, cooking appliances, fridges, braai equipment, gas supply, bedding, bathroom requisites, chairs, tables, etc.
  • Firewood can be purchased at Keurbosfontein farmstead.
  • Any rubbish must be separated, removed, and bought down to Keurbosfontein.

Visitors often travel the road to Klip Werf in ordinary sedan cars, but the last section is in parts uneven and not ideal for motor vehicles with a low clearance.

Bakkrans Private Wilderness Concession

This exclusive 6000ha concession is in a largely undiscovered part of the Cederberg Wilderness Area, nestled in the rugged Rooi Cederberg Karoo Park and falls within both the Cape Floral Region and a World Heritage Site and is internationally recognised as one of the most unique regions in the World.

The accommodation is limited to a maximum of 8 guests in four traditional thatched, stone-walled veld cottages on top of the mountain overlooking the tan qua Karoo. The accommodation at the reserve has been carefully renovated to offer a bespoke 5-star experience. Each cottage has its own hot shower and toilet built into clefts in the sandstone cliffs behind the cottages.

There is a central entertainment area with wooden decks, a beautiful kaggel kitchen, lounge and dining area and a natural pool. Ozzy Yerlikhaya, Ree Treweek and Justin Bonello tailor-make and host unique experiences at Bakkrans.

Incredible Escape!

A really truly incredible escape from the city. Amazing food, authentic charm & hospitality combined with unique experiences. I cannot recommend this enough...

Neil Mclaren

Break into Nature

A unique experience, to be hosted by our famous Justin Bonello, an awesome cook making real "kos" on the fire. Humble, knowledgeable, a people person without pretenses. Awesome accommodation, Hot showers and baths,lekker "kuier" around the non stop fireplace kaggel where people get together and leave as friends. The Red Cederberg is all and more as a break into nature. The fresh pure air, beautiful valley, the river, the hikes, the unique rock art on the farm, you leave with a soul restored and earthed. Highly recommended unique experience.

Shaun van der Merwe

Wonderful Food & Good Conversations!

It was a privilege to be able to share your special place. I so appreciated the head space and quiet.... not to mention the wonderful food and good conversations! Thanks, too, for sharing your knowledge and insights. You have a wonderful place and an awesome team.

Janet S | Cape Town, South Africa

Our cup runneth over...

Truth be told, you had us at Wolfberg Arch, but upon reflection we received so much more. The food journey aroused all our senses. "Afterall, one cannot think well, love well, sleep well if one has not dined well." Justin - your food is authentic, wholesome, medicine for the body and soul, "gesondheid uit die grond uit" with a huge splash of love. Hiking up to the Wolfberg Arch was not only breathtakingly beautiful, but a wonderful sense of achievement for both of us. The best views really do come after the hardest climb.✔️ Then the waterfall....an eat, pray, love moment. Finding peace, restoring balance, letting go, having a conversation with God.🙏 The crackling fires, the crazy plunge into the icy cold pool, the stories told were fascinating and funny 🤭(you girls are truly diep mooi). 😄 Emmy, Paul such salt of the earth people. Cory, you rock! 🌱(no pun intended). Justin thank you for sharing your sacred space with us. It is a very special place indeed. ❤ 🇿🇦 Life is beautiful!

Hayley | July 2023

"Natural Beauty"

Over many years I have travelled more than 200 000 kilometres in and around Africa. I was stunned to find a place like Bakkrans, hidden right here on my doorstep in the Cederberg Karoo – a place with truly spectacular natural beauty and unspoilt serenity, unsurpassed anywhere else around here. My stay at Bakkrans was filled with an overwhelming sense of spirituality and appreciation for the greatness of our creation. Thank you for making it possible for me to share this wonderful place with my family.

From Cape Town, a seasoned traveller writes

"Freedom"

We have just returned from our third visit to Bakkrans. Thanks again, for sharing this very special place with us. We so much enjoy the freedom and clean air. What we find most pleasant, is that there is no need at all for us to get into our vehicles at any time to explore this beautifully sculptured landscape. The klipspringer family spent a lot of time amongst the houses and we were amazed at how nonchalant they were. The youngster can only be a few weeks old but is already an expert on the rocks. Please let us know when next the black eagles are nesting in the waterfall as we would love to witness that.

From Camps Bay, Cape Town

"Fantasties!"

Ons ry al vir jare deur die Cederberg en kon nie glo dat ‘n plek soos Bakkrans al die tyd daar weggesteek is nie. Die aardsheid en eenvoud is fantasties om te ervaar. Komende vanaf Springbok, was ons aangenaam verras om al die blomme op Bakkrans te sien. Wat ‘n fonds! Ons kom definitief weer!

Vanaf Springbok

"Spectacular Views"

Thank you, we had a lovely time at Klipwerf. We cycled on the back road right up to Groot Swartkrans, as well as the Wupperthal road and were amazed by the abundance of spring flowers along these routes. One morning we hiked up the Tierhoksberg and encountered a group of six ribboks lower down and then later two groups of klipspringers near the Keurbosfontein beacon. We found some spoor of the Bakkrans mountain zebras at this border fence where it runs along the plateau. The views from the top towards the Roggeveld mountains in the Karoo are spectacular. We took some unusual pictures of the Cederberg from up there.

A letter from Cape Town

"Karoo-Plaas"

Ek het op ‘n Karoo-plaas met ‘n watervoor grootgeword. Die afgelope naweek toe dit so warm was, het ek my skoene uitgetrek en met my voete in Keurbosfontein se koel watervoor onder die akkerbome gaan sit. Vir ‘n oomblik het ek weer soos ‘n kind gevoel. Oom Arrie-hulle het lusern ingery toe ons daar was. Ai, hoe wens ek, ek kon ‘n bietjie van daardie lusern-reuk in ‘n botteltjie opvang en met my saamneem stad toe”. (Translated into English: A woman from Cape Town writes: “I grew up on a Karoo farm, which had a water furrow. This past weekend when it was very warm, I took off my shoes and sat under the oak trees with my feet in Keurbosfontein’s cool water furrow. For a moment I felt like a kid again. Oom Arrie and his men were harvesting lucerne while we were there. Oh, how I wish I could put a little bit of that lucerne smell into a bottle and take with me to the city”).

n Vrou vanaf Kaapstad skryf

"Peace & Quiet"

Thank you, we have enjoyed our stay at Keurbosfontein very much. Just as promised on your website, the cottage is spacious and was spotlessly clean. And the farmyard and gardens are neat and beautiful. I was glad to learn that you use only organic fertilizer in your gardens and also no pesticides - very important if you do not want to kill essential insects such as bees, moths, butterflies and so many others! We appreciated the peace and quiet, which made our visit extra special. Please thank Paul and Emmie from us for their care and friendliness.

A letter from from Switzerland