I don’t know who needs to hear this, but the journey is just as important as the destination.
Who knew Gauteng had so many (little) nature reserves that we could escape to? I used to jump over into Limpopo to get my “wild fix” – but now I am forced to make do with what’s inside a provincial border… and it’s not that bad.
Last weekend we decided to check out Groenkloof Nature Reserve by Pretoria.
- Pros
- It is a hikers’ paradise with little footpaths up and down hills
- There are herbivores like wildebeest and rooibokkies – and ostriches (we didn’t see anything else)
- There are horses
- You don’t need to pay for your car if you are just going for a hike
- Cons
- Not much to see and takes about 20 minutes to drive around once (including to stop and watch animals)
- You can however get out of your car and hike to a viewpoint for some fresh air
- They don’t let you know how far you will wander to a viewpoint
- It costs R120 for a vehicle plus then some per person
The horse pictured was surrounded by grazing wildebeest. Suddenly it neighed wildly and the wildebeest scattered over the road. A few minutes later they were right back next to the horse. I wonder what that was about?
While driving you’ll even catch a glimpse of the Voortrekker Monument and if you walk the first viewpoint route up the koppie, a view of Pretoria.
There is also a 4×4 track, but obviously we gave this a skip. I’m not really a bundu basher.
What to do with kids while in Gauteng
Perched atop a mountain above the Kudu River Valley, lies Graceland Eco Retreat. A place where you will find quiet, endless views and a free-roaming family of giraffes.
Graceland Eco Retreat is where your hosts, Anders and Douglas, have created a farm-style eco-friendly retreat in a beautiful setting.
Stay a while
The accommodation at Graceland Eco Retreat was designed to take advantage of it’s beautiful location. At sunrise you can watch the valley wake up while the sun slowly rises over the mountain – but if you sleep in, you might just find a curious giraffe staring at you through a window.
Enjoying your morning coffee or sundowners on one of the terraces, pergolas or at the splash pool with a view of the valley may just be one of the highlights of any stay here.
Wildlife
At Graceland Eco Retreat you will meet giraffes named Elvis, Priscilla, Lisa Marie and their children born on the farm named, Tennessee, Nashville and Phoenix. There are also Kudu, Impala, Klipspringer, Mountain Reedbuck, Bushbuck and more that you may catch a glimpse of whilst hiking.
Birding enthusiasts will be spoilt with sightings of birds such as the Verreaux, Crowned and Long-Crested Eagle, Lanner Falcon, Alpine, Purple Crested Turaco, African Black Swift as well as the famous African Fish Eagle. Since they also border the forests and plantations of Magoebaskloof and the Woodbush Forest Reserve, you might even spot Cape Parrot, Narina Trogon and Black-fronted Bush Shrike and the rare Samango monkey.
Off the grid and just 50km North-East of Polokwane
Graceland Eco Estate is totally off the grid and the sun is responsible for pumping their water, clean the pool, run their fridges and keep you connected.
The retreat is perched on the side of the mountain with the sunlit Olyfberg to one side and the fertile Kudu River Valley to the other side.
What else can you do while staying at Graceland Eco Retreat?
- Walk through the Modjadji Rain Forest
- Visit the Pioneer House (just a kilometre or 2 away)
- Stroll through Haenertsburg
- Snack on cheese at Wegraakbosch Organic Cheese Dairy
- Magoebaskloof Canopy Tours
- See the cherry blossoms at Cheerio during September
- Picnic at the Debegeni Falls and take a dip in the cold mountain water
PAUSE to eat
Pause, a new addition to the offering at Graceland, is a converted steel barn enclosed in glass panels with views overlooking the Kudu River Valley. The restaurant has a large fire-place in the dining area with a collection of art created by a variety of well-known South African artists.
The kitchen at PAUSE aims to create meals through a fusion of flavours, aromas and impressions with strong influences from the Scandinavian, Asian and Mediterranean palates, creating a bold taste fusion to tease your senses.
Pause is not open for walk-ins, but they do open up the venue once a month for their Table D’hôte (The Host’s Table) during which guests can feast on a 5-course luncheon. The menu is advertised 2 weeks in advance and bookings are essential.
Covid-19 may have an impact on Pause restaurant’s service. Please contact Graceland Eco Retreat for more information.
Add Graceland Eco Retreat to your Limpopo bucketlist
- 23°47.212 S, 29°55.875 E Portion 9, Escatre Farm, Kudu’s River Valley road going from Houtbosdorp to Mooketsi, Magoebaskloof, Limpopo
- www.gracelandeco.co.za
- info@gracelandeco.co.za
- +27 (0) 83 277 5553
- www.facebook.com/gracelandeco
- www.instagram.com/gracelandeco
Walk through almost 100 statues of icons from South Africa’s past at Maropeng. The Long March to Freedom public art exhibition is a must-see with its life-sized bronze statues. This exhibition was previously housed at the Fountains Valley Resort in Pretoria but thanks to an agreement with the National Heritage Project Company it found a temporary home at Maropeng.
It is rumoured to be the largest outdoor exhibition anywhere in the world – and with an estimated value of around R100-million! The statues will eventually grow into a procession of over 400 bronze statues over time.
You can walk through the loosely spaced statues and snap selfies with chiefs, missionaries and freedom fighters like Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela. The statues depict figures dating back as far as the 1700s. The details on the statues are spectacular – so pay attention.
How much does it cost to visit The Long March to Freedom exhibition:
The Long March to Freedom exhibition is absolutely free to visit currently. You can opt to visit the Maropeng exhibition while you are here – this however does have a price tag.