Karoo Wildlife Centre - a place untouched by time

The Karoo Wildlife Centre Retreat A place untouched by time

The ideal destination for a couple of days away from civilisation Vast landscapes, dramatic skies and mountains traversed by idyllic passes give the Klein Karoo its unequivocal beauty. The Karoo Wildlife Centre is a great destination for everyone interested in nature, local wildlife and great food. Comfortable rooms and hospitable hosts will make your stay unforgettable!

Early mornings are a magic time to walk among the hills and valleys. Feed the horses. Visit the bee hives in south valley and learn a little about bee keeping.

Pictures by Dirk Palfalusi

In the cool of the late afternoon, go down to the camps in order to feed the bat-eared foxes. Enjoy a glass of wine on the deck as you gaze out over our private valley, watching the sun sink behind the mountains in a spectacular blaze of colours.

Listen to the cries of the jackals at dusk.

Enjoy the quiet of long, slow evenings as dusk turns to night. Turn your head to the stars as the Milky Way cuts a swathe through the clear night air. Star gazers come from all over the world to experience the unique clarity of the Karoo night.

Meet the hosts The Karoo Wildlife Centre was established in 2015 by Chris Mercer and his late partner Bev Pervan, founders of CACH (Campaign Against Canned Hunting). It consists of 175 hectare about 15 kilometres outside of Ladismith in the Western Province in South Africa. Together with his partner Lesley‘s adjacent horse rescue centre, the consolidated property measures 260 hectares.

Chris, his son Andrew, Lesley and Macavity the cat, will be happy to welcome you for your stay at the Karoo Wildlife Centre retreat and make you as comfortable as possible.

Wildlife In this scenic slice of wilderness, there is an interesting variety of naturally occurring wildlife, such as antbears, black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox, steenbuck, duiker, porcupine, honey badgers, baboons, vervet monkeys, caracals and even leopard. Endemic birdlife includes eagles, owls, goshawk, buzzards, and one of the largest flying birds in the world, the beautiful Stanley’s bustard.

Nature Abounds The climate in the Klein Karoo is semi-arid, but in comparison to the Groot Karoo, the Klein Karoo receives much more rain, which falls almost exclusively in winter.

The summers are hot and dry, daytime temperatures of more than 40 degrees are not uncommon. In winter, however, night frosts are possible.

The regional geology is an important factor for the fragile Karoo ecosystem. In large parts of the Karoo, sandstones are found. Sandstones are generally porous and therefore extremely permeable to water. Rainwater can quickly seep in and this increases the drought in this already low-precipitation region. In addition to the Fynbos, the Karoo also hosts a variety of succulent species, especially the midday flower plants. With sufficient winter rain, the plains cover themselves with flowers.

The Karoo Wildlife Centre is situated in one of the most beautiful parts of South Africa. It consists of 260 ha of pristine fynbos and is surrounded by wildlife conservancies stocked with animals such as giraffe, zebra and eland.

Picture by Faye Peeters

What is Fynbos? Fynbos is a type of vegetation or veld. The name comes from the old Dutch word ‘fijnbosch’, meaning ‘fine bush’, and refers to how the plants look. Most fynbos plants have small (or fine) leaves and are shrubs (or bushes) rather than trees.

Our rooms The Karoo Wildlife Centre is ideally located if you want to pursue a (partial) digital detox.

Free wifi is available, but there is no cellphone signal at the house. In some parts of the sanctuary you might be able to get a signal.

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This area is malaria-free Whirlpool available for guests Shared living area Breakfast and dinner available at a surcharge. We cater for vegans and vegetarians Pets are permitted on the property (please contact your host before arrival) Guests are welcome to use the sun terrace and garden Picnic area Business services such as fax/photocopying available upon request Laundry services available upon request​​

Our double rooms come with a private bathroom.

Amenities include: towels, linen, electric kettle, free wifi and free private parking.

Pictures by Charles Mercer

Aloe cottage Apart from our double bedrooms in the main house, we also offer self-catering accomodation in our cottage.

It is there for volunteers and self catering farmstay nature lovers who want to experience the magic of the Klein Karoo.

Pictures by Charles Mercer, Faye Peeters and Dipesh Gurav

The cottage sleeps four: there is one double bedroom, and two single beds in the second bedroom.

The Food The Karoo Wildlife Centre offers a healthy breakfast and dinner (upon request) to guests. ​ Lesley, who has a wealth of experience in gastronomy and until recently ran the well-known „Post House“ in Ladismith, will be happy to cater to your needs. The Karoo Wildlife Centre especially welcomes vegans and vegetarians.

Ladismith town is a twenty minute drive away from the Karoo Wildlife Centre, and has all necessary facilities: chemist, shops, supermarket, restaurants, doctors and hospital. Ladismith is also the starting point for hikes in the Swartberg, round trips to Zoar, Amalienstein and the breathtaking Seweweekspoort.

The Karoo Wildlife Centre comprises a 260 ha nature reserve, which you can discover at your own pace.

If you would like to venture further out and see what else the Klein Karoo has to offer, there are various options for hiking, mountain biking, horse riding, game drives and wine tasting. For more information, please visit our website or the tourism office at Ladismith. The tourism office occupies one of the most stylish buildings of the Karoo, the Neo-Gothic Otto Hager church, now decommissioned and declared a national monument in 1979. It shares its space with a mini museum, showcasing local artefacts.

Pictures by Dirk Palfalusi and Faye Peeters

Around and about

PO Box 54 Ladismith, 6655 South Africa Chris Mercer E-Mail: info@cannedlion.org ​Phone: +27 87 809 0071 www.karoo62.co.za

Farm 71 Buffelsdrift 103 Ladismith 6655 South Africa GPS co-ordinates: -33.555744, 21.168468

Picture by Charles Mercer

KAROO WILDLIFE CENTRE RETREAT