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Activities

In the Valley:

• Birding – The Schoemanskloof Valley boasts a diverse range of interesting birds. (243 Species recorded by Southern African Bird
  Atlas Project)
  Some of our special sightings: African Finfoot, Narina Trogon, Blue-mantled Flycatcher, Gorgeous Bush Shrike, Orange-breasted Bush Shrike, Giant Kingfisher, Long-crested Eagle, Collared Kingfisher, Tambourine Dove, Purple-crested and Knysna Touraco (Loerie), etc.Birdlist (Eng)   Birdlist (Afr)   
  
  

  Pre-book your Birding Walk
  Take an early morning walk (breakfast in your backpack) with our own qualified birding guide, Appreciate. Follow The Finfoot trail along the Crocodile River, cross the river using a swing bridge and head for a small private game farm where you may see antelope, various small game and a large variety of birds. Remember to bring your walking shoes and binoculars!
  Cost is R100.00 per person – prior booking is essential. The walk is easy and normally takes between 3 to 5 hours. Total distance including the return journey is approx 10KM but you may choose to return earlier for a cold beer!
  The Finfoot trail can also be self guided (no charge) but access to the game farm is not possible without a guide.

• The Labyrinth - spend your time in the forest at the bottom of the garden and revive your soul in the peace and tranquility of this special space.
• Trees – A wide-ranging list of trees have been compiled of the trees in our garden. Many more can be identified in the valley. A wide variety of wild flowers can also be identified on the mountain during spring.
• Hiking – Schoemanskloof Valley offers many beautiful hikes with various difficulty levels. Walk up the mountain, over the swing bridge or simply along the river or in our garden.
  
        
  
• Picnics – order a picnic basket or backpack from the kitchen and enjoy your meal in your own time and your own space in the beautiful surroundings.
• Mountain Biking -  Explore the beautiful Schoemanskloof Valley while meandering along the Crocodile River. This easy trail can take you 9 kms into the kloof, but ride as far as you feel fit, unpack your picnic gear (R125.00 per person for a sumptuous meal in the bush) and recharge your soul in the beauty of it all. 
  
  Pre-book your Mountain Biking
  We have 4 mountain bikes available at a cost of R50.00 per bicycle per morning or afternoon.  

• Quad Biking – 10kms from Old Joe’s Kaia
  
  Pre-book your Quad Biking
  Enjoy a scenic ride and experience picturesque views from carefully laid-out trails with the emphasis on responsible eco-quading.
  The rides are suitable for beginners and pros alike. All riders are given a brief introductory course before their departure to assess their level of experience and to provide peace of mind for those who haven't done a nature trail before or are newcomers to quad biking. The trail itself provides plenty of technical riding, although there is also enough time to relax and enjoy the tranquil surroundings.
  
  The following 2-hour trips are available:
  Saturday, 9h00 or 14h00
  Sunday, 10h00 or 14h30
  The cost is R375.00 per person per trip – prior booking is essential. 4 bikes are available.
  
  Book your trip here 

Other attractions:

• Sudwala Caves – the oldest and also the largest dolomite caves in the southern hemisphere, also includes a dinosaur park for children. Offers regular guided tours suitable for everybody. The Crystal Tour is more challenging and geared for the adventurous every first Saturday of the month.
• Kaapsehoop – an old quiet gold mining town (before the Johannesburg gold rush in 1897) offers an interesting walk to the edge of the escarpment, overlooking South Africa’s largest valley, the Barberton crater. Many wild horses roam here as the ‘remains’ of the gold diggers who abandoned the town in the late 1800’s.
• Nelspruit Botanical Gardens – situated on the banks of the Crocodile and Nel Rivers and boasting the largest man-made rain forest in the world. It is also home to more than 650 species of trees.
• The Panorama – a day’s outing. Sabie is approximately ¾ of an hour away.

 

STAFF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT