Things To Do 

For the young at heart there are horse trails in the mountains and game viewing on horseback.  Horse lovers, we breed Connemara ponies here, ponies that come from the green hills of Ireland.  Christine is a qualified riding instructor who will teach you to enjoy your riding.

Visit the Boer war graves and the San paintings.  Listen to the ground woodpeckers and the francolins

Bring with:  Riding clothes, Binoculars, Mountain bikes, Hiking boots, Warm clothes and hats.

For the more adventurous there are walks on the high mountains of the farm where one may see the black eagles and lammergeyers, watch the black wildebeest and zebra play and photograph the blesbuck as they stream across the mountains.
 
Schaapplaats is very family orientated - the farm has a variety of ducks, geese, chickens, goats, cows, dogs, cats and horses just to mention a few.  Some hiking trails are gentle enough for the kids to enjoy and there are rock pools for swimming in the summer. 

HIKING AT SCHAAPPLAATS

Hike in our mountain wilderness high above the farmhouse where you will see the Black Wildebeest streaming across the mountains, their white tails flying and you will also come across the Blesbuck, Springbuck and Zebra at play.  There are mountain flowers and different trees and grasses all rejoicing at the change of the season and the warmth.  In the winter, the grass is gold in the rays of the sun.  Here the light and the colours are forever changing, an artist’s and photographer’s paradise.  There are strange lichens on the rocks, fossils and stone-age implements in this magical mountain basin.

The Bushmen PaintingsSchaappplaats is on the San Bushmen painting route which stretches from Natal along the Eastern border of Lesotho as far south as Zastron, Aliwal Norht and Lady Grey.

Schaapplaats cave itself is special, situated on a tributary of the Little Caledon river, with steep and beautiful sandstone cliffs rising on either side.  Further on from the cave is a large mountain basin – a magic wilderness on its own.  It was in this paradise that the Bushmen found food, shelter and inspiration.  Evidence of this is in the cave in the form of 60 delicate paintings.  There are 3 different panels which is described under “Rock Art”.

For more information on Rock Art click here

Game Viewing

A longer hike is to the Game basin where there are Black Wildebeest, Zebra, Springbuck and Blesbuck and sometimes Eland.
 
It is also possible to go up to the game with a 4x4.  You can use your own 4x4 or you can arrange with us to take you up to view the game at and additional cost.
 
Hunting of Black Wildebeest and Blesbuck can be arranged in the season only.  Prices of the Wildebeest and Blesbuck will be given on request.

Birding

On the farm Schaapplaats we have some “specials” endemic to this area. The Southern Bald Ibis is often seen here, as are the Ground Woodpeckers. The Summer visitors, the Horus swifts are seen here December to February. The Gynogenes nest in the clifs behind the house, sometimes the Drakensberg Siskin is evident. 

On the electricity cables between here and Bethlehem there are hundreds of Amur Falcons in the summer months, the Steppe Eagles visit us in the summer and we have a resident long crested eagle.

Cycling

Cycling for the mountain bike enthusiasts is a must. We have arduous mountain bike tracks, some flatter rides and ride for children. There is a mountain bike track up the mountain to the game area. You may also have a picnic on the crowpoint over the dam and watch the water birds and wildebeest below you.