Your day is designed to be as exciting or relaxing as you wish. There is a variety of activities from which to choose - escorted bush walks, day and night game drives, sundowners, full days out with delicious picnic lunches into the very heart of the Karoo, bush dinners down by the farm dam, visiting the Karoo National Park- all tailor made to ensure a rewarding safari of a lifetime
Game Drives
Morning and evening game drives with field/game rangers in open 4x4 vehicles. Game drives range between two and three hours with sparkling wine, grape juice, water and snacks such as biltong, “droewors”, nuts and dried fruits served at various lookout points. GameWalks
Morning and evening game walks with field/game rangers can be booked daily. Game walks range between two and five hours with grape juice, water and snacks served at various lookout points. Horse-back Safaris
One of the best ways to see the animals on the Reserve is from horseback. You are accepted by the animals as one of their own and are able to get closer to most game on the Reserve. Limited experience is required. Minimum age requirement is 14 yrs old.
There is a maximum of 10 people per safari, they are guided by one of our rangers. Duration: 2 hours, 3 hours or 1-2 day trails. Matjiesfontein Village
This historic village has a rich background, dating back to its roots in the late nineteenth century. From its ties with the Boer War, to the pioneering spirit engendered by its founder, James Logan, it is steeped in the history of an era, the echoes of which still reverberate through the streets and buildings. A double-decker London Bus makes a daily tour of the Matjiesfontein Village. Karoo National Park
Large herds of antelope and abundant bird life. The Park offers a Fossil Trail, which has wide walkways for wheel chairs and Braille board inscriptions for the convenience of the blind and taped commentary is available for disabled visitors who have their own cassette players. Gondwanaland is explained, and along this 400m route, there are superb examples of fossilised mudstone, silified trees and a wide variety of fossils, most of which have been found in the Beaufort Series of rock formations. 4x4 Mountain trails
There are many mountain trails in the Karoo and on Bergplaats Game Lodge. Trails are graded between 2-5 & GPS points will be provided . Maximum of 10 vehicles per group allowed.
Mountain Biking Trails
This is a 4x4 trail that is also suitable for mountain-biking. The trail is in the foothills of the Nueweveld Mountains and offers a number of serious rock obstacles, rapid descents and steep climbs as well as flat areas . The mountain route is definitely not for the novice cyclist but there are many routes in the flatter areas for novice riders. Spectacular mountain scenery along the way provides the added bonus of game-viewing opportunities. Possible sightings include blue wildebeest, blesbuck,eland, springbok, red hartebeest, rhebok and zebra.
Hiking Trails
We have 1-3 day hiking trails at Bergplaats and can offer novices a slackpacker option (we transport all your bags, meals etc & you just carry your water) or we offer very strenuous mountain trails with some mountain climbing involved. We also have short 1-3 hour trails for clients just wanting to enjoy nature as well as children. Clay Pigeon Shooting
Clay pigeon shooting, formally known as Inanimate Bird Shooting, is the art of shooting at special flying targets, known as clay pigeons or clay targets, with a shotgun or any type of firearm.
Target Shooting:
Target Shooting is using either a Rifle, Pistol, Air Pistol or Shotgun to Shoot Pellets / Bullets at a Target. In a safe environment. The Target is either Paper, Card or Electronic for Rifle and Pistol, or for Shotgun the target is called a "bird".
Taxidermy
Taxidermy (from the Greek for classifying skins) is the act of mounting or reproducing dead animals for display (e.g. as hunting trophies) or for other sources of study. Taxidermy can be done on all species of animals including mammals, birds, nematodes, reptiles and amphibians.
Night Game Drives The Karoo is completely different in the dark.
With a spotter and a light we look and listen for the animals, it’s an amazing experience. Animal behavior is quite different at night so observing the animals in the dark is a big part of any safari.
Wildlife / Game / Sunset Drives
Game viewing can take place in our custom built game viewer
Traditional South African Food:
Potjiekos, is a stew prepared outdoors in a traditional round, cast iron, three-legged pot (the potjie). The pot is efficiently heated using small amounts of wood or charcoal. Potjiekos includes meat, vegetables, starches like rice or potatoes, all slow-cooked with Dutch-Malay spices
Bow Hunting:(available on request)
Bowhunting is the practice of taking game animals by archery. It has been a normal use of archery in every culture that had bows
Chartered Service
We offer a chartered service between George, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town International airports on our own private Citation Jet.
...and all the activities
below:
Fauna & Flora
Sports / Biltong Hunting Trips
Tours to neighbouring towns
Bird Watching
Guided Walking Safari’s
Photographic Safari’s
On-Site Meat Preparation (butchery)
Landing Strip
Religious getaways
Corporate Team Building/Conference
Stargazing
Trophy Hunting
Catering: (Typical menu includes the following)
•
Breakfast: (Before sunrise or early birds)
Coffee, tea, fruit juices, rusks and toast with butter, cheese and jam and cereals with yoghurt
•
Brunch: (11h00)
Consists out of a large Bushveld breakfast, that includes one or two meat types
•
Lunch:
Coffee or tea and biscuits
•
Sundowner:
Sundowner and snacks
•
Dinner:
Three course meal, includes three meat dishes
Quality Table wine
Coffee and biscuits
Indemnity: While every precaution will be taken to ensure the well-being of our clients, Bergplaats will not be responsible for any injury, loss or accident for the duration of your stay. (Click here to download Indemnity form)
Three things are important to remember:
•
you will not be in an area where you can purchase forgotten items, the climate and terrain can change drastically, laundry with a few exceptions is done every day, so please do not over pack. The weight and bulk of your luggage should be manageable as most international airlines allow only 20kg per person and overweight charges can be very unpleasant. Try to pack everything in one bag per person plus a small carry-on bag for your personal items.
•
Bush clothes should be comfortable and hard-wearing in cotton and in colours of khaki, sand or bush green. Delicate fabrics are not recommended. Footwear should be well worn in before you leave home.
•
Remember that your guides are a wealth of information, do not hesitate to extract all you can from them, it is their job. Forget home and enjoy the time you have in nature whatever you are doing.
Suggested clothing:
2 pairs of long trousers, 2 pairs of bush shorts, 1 leather belt, 3 T-shirts, 3 short sleeved shirts, 1 long sleeved shirt, underwear, 1 swimsuit, 3 pairs of light cotton socks, 1 pair of ankle height walking boots (MUST be worn-in - blisters can ruin a safari), 1 pair comfortable camp shoes and/or jogging shoes, 1 warm sweater, 1 wind-breaker type jacket, 1 broad-brimmed or baseball type hat.
All laundry and washing available on a daily basis.
Liability:
•
Aircraft and vehicles are maintained in the highest mechanical order and we regret that we cannot be held responsible for any breakdown which may occur.
•
We will maintain reasonable care and precaution for your safety, however, we accept no responsibility for any illness, loss, negligence, accidents by road or air, nor any expense arising from such illness, accident or loss.
TESTIMONIAL:
ANDRE NORTJE, Outfitter & Professional Hunter
A few days at Bergplaats lets you realize just how diverse South African landscapes really are. The big beautiful mountains and open plains of the Karoo together with the variety of game species found at Bergplaats certainly gives it a unique charm. The people and atmosphere makes Bergplaats a place definitely worth visiting.