Aardvark Bioreserve

We look forward to welcome you on Aardvark Bioreserve!

See our Frequently Asked Questions, Accommodation Guidelines, and information on our MTB and hiking trails below. Our list of available organic farm produce will be sent separately. Please review the below information carefully to ensure you have an amazing stay!

Frequently Asked Questions:
* Do you provide meals? – No, Aardvark is self-catering. Your kitchen is fully equipped including a microwave, ice machine and air fryer.

* What should we bring? – We provide quality ground coffee (for plunger, Nespresso and Italian Stove Top Expresso Machine), fresh and dry herbs, spices and olive oil. Bring your own milk, bread, coffee pods and condiments.

* Will someone welcome us on arrival? - Yes - please contact and confirm time of arrival with Annetjie to avoid waiting in front of a closed gate. See details below.

* Do you provide free wood? - Yes - we supply wood for your wood-fired hot tub, indoor fireplace and barbecue for the first evening. You can bring additional wood or buy wood on the farm.

* Are children allowed? – Yes, we love children and they are welcome in the Gemsbok and Zebra Cottages as well as the Opstal (Farm House). No children are allowed in the Berghuisie or Springbok Cottage.

* Do you offer Nature Game Drives? - Yes - nature/game/sundowner drives are available at a cost of R1 000 per cottage when sharing the vehicle with other guests. You might book your own game vehicle at a cost of R2 000. You are welcome to bring your own drinks. No child under age 2 are allowed on a nature/game drive. Children under age 6 can join if no other guests are on the vehicle. No private drives are permitted. Proceeds from our nature/game drives are used for conservation – currently we are focused on erosion control.

* When do I pay? 100% payment required at reservation. For a direct booking via our website we require immediate Proof of Payment (POP) with your details in order to confirm your reservation (when done via EFT).

For non-verified (normally international) credit card payments via our website we require the cardholder with his or her ID/Passport to be present at check-in. The credit card used for the online payment must also be present at check-in. We reserve the right to not refund card fees (transaction costs) in the case of any cancellation or situation where funds need to be reversed back to a credit card.

Arriving at Aardvark

Your host on the farm is Annetjie Meyer Tel no. +27 (84) 839-3996 (Please use WhatsApp as cell phone reception can be intermittent). Let her know when you reach Riversdale (on the N2), Barrydale (on the R62 from Cape Town) or Ladismith on the R62 (from Oudtshoorn). It will allow us to be on the lookout for you.

Your Wifi code is in you cottage as well as your own gate opener.

The Cottages

Our cottages and “Die Opstal” (Farm House) are on the Western Section of Aardvark Bioreserve, which is a game reserve but also home to our farming operations. Except for the Berguisie (Mountain Cottage), farm buildings are therefore visible but your cottage is still very private. This Western Section has an electric fence to keep baboons out. Please take care not to touch the fence when you go hiking or cycling.

All rates are per cottage with a maximum of two people per room. All cottages are self-catering. Our kitchens are fully equipped including spices and olive oil. You have a coffee plunger, Nespresso Machine and Italian Stove Top Expresso Machine. We supply quality coffee but please bring your own Nespresso pods. Riversdale is 30 minutes away if you need to do shopping but it is best to stock up before you arrive.

We supply wood for your wood-fired hot tub, indoor fireplace and barbecue for the first evening. You can bring additional wood or buy wood on the farm.

Please treat our cottages and the environment with care and respect – no different from how you would treat your own home. Yes, and leaving them clean and neat when you depart will be much appreciated.

A “cottage day” starts at 2 pm on the day of arrival and ends at 11 am at the day of your departure. The cottages are only for registered guests. Please do arrive before 5pm. After 5 pm there will be a R500 late check-in fee. (Farmers go to bed early).

Wi Fi is available in all the cottages but 3G reception is intermittent and available at the main stone gate.

All cottages are on solar power and water is purified through a reverse osmosis system and is safe to drink. It actually tastes great!

Unfortunately pets are not allowed. Our Zebras are super jealous.

The cottages are smoke-free and please close the cottage doors when barbecuing to prevent smoke from entering. Please do not leave fires unattended and pack your wood at the back of the hearth in the outside fireplaces. Please also make sure it is doused before going to sleep. Do not use your fireplace or hot tub on the day that you check out.

Please turn of gas heaters at the bottle before going to bed.

Each cottage has its own private hot tub. We will show you how to use the wooden stove but remain very careful not to burn yourself. We will regrettably not be able to light the fire in your hot tub before arrival. Die Berghuisie or Mountain Cottage also has a cold splash pool.

All cottages have air conditioning and wood burning fireplaces.

Daily cleaning can be arranged at an additional cost of R180 per day – please arrange before arrival.

Please always keep the doors and window screens closed to prevent insects from entering. Gates to your cottage should also be kept closed to prevent the Zebras from feasting on our garden succulents.

Please do not approach or feed our Zebras, Eland, Kudu or Springbucks. They can be dangerous and unpredictable.

Cameras monitor our gates but do not cover the cottages.

Please leave your cottage neat on departure with all dirty dishes, cutlery etc. packed in your dishwasher.

No drones.

The Farm

We will give you an orientation of the farm i.e., where to hike and cycle (Routes available on Strava but best for us to email you GPX files)

The Klein Karoo is all about space, silence, and succulents. Please respect the privacy of others and keep noise levels down. Please refrain from playing loud music. We retain the right to refuse further hospitality services or cancel your stay if other guests are disturbed.

The Reserve is large (5 000 hectares) and many of our roads are 4x4 only. No driving will be permitted on the farm and no hiking after 6 pm or before 8 am as you will disturb guests, end up on dangerous roads, might encounter leopards or simply get lost.

The veld might look dry but hosts some of the most diverse and sensitive succulents in the world. Do not collect any succulents or rocks and stay on roads and hiking trails to help preserve our floral kingdom. We view gathering of plants or rocks as theft. Also, given the ongoing theft of succulents in the area there are regular roadblocks. If they discover succulents in your car, it might be confiscated.

We are proud of our mountain bike trails (both red and blue). Mtb trails on the Western Section are shared by both hikers and cyclists (with hikers having right of way). Strava maps are available and trials are well signposted. Our red trails are technical, so please take care.

No self-drive options are available on the Eastern Section. Only self-guided MTB trails.

Nature/game/sundowner drives are available at a cost of R1 000 per cottage. You might share the vehicle with other guests and you are welcome to bring your own drinks. Bespoke drives are available at R2 000 for your own group. Drives last approximately two hours. No child under age 2 are allowed on a nature/game drive. Children under age 6 can join if no other guests are on the vehicle. No private drives are permitted. Proceeds from our nature/game drives are used for conservation – currently we are focused on erosion control.

MTB Trails (well sign-posted and available on Strava)

Aardvark Gravel Circle Trail

Description: Gravel and tar road that circles the western section of Aardvark, DoringKloof Nature Reserve, and several neighboring farms. Be prepared to open a few farm gates on the way.
Distance: 44km
Elevation: 700m
Duration: 2.5-4 hours
Rating: Blue

Botterboom Trail

(“Tylecodon paniculatus is a stocky succulent that occurs over a wide area on Aardvark. It can reach heights of 2m with the yellowish-green, papery bark being a very attractive feature of this plant, and has given rise to the common name. In the past, the smooth, slippery stems were sometimes used to slide or ski at great speed down smooth rock faces or dam walls, adrenaline rushes before the days of bungy jumping.” - SANBI )

Description: This single track on Western Section is fast and furious with several steep accents and descents and is guaranteed to push your heart rate to the max. Trail is smooth with some rocky sections.
Distance: 13km,
Elevation: 470m
Duration: 60-90 min
Rating: Red

Marlienshoop Trail

(Marlien was the wife of the farmer many years ago – literally translates as “Marliens hope”)

Description: The trail is on the Western Section and is a “mini version” of the Botterboom Trail - but don’t let the distance fool you. The trail is smooth with some rocky sections. For a nice first day ride a combination of the Botterboom and Marlienshoop Trails are great.
Distance: 7.5km,
Elevation: 580m
Duration: 54-60 min
Rating: Red

Boerboon Trail –

(“The trees often occur along our banks of dry streams and small rivers. The genus Schotia was named in honour of Richard van der Schot, chief gardener of the Imperial Garden at Schönbrun. The Afrikaans common name boerboon was given to certain indigenous seeds that are edible. The word huil ("cry" in English) is due to the nectar that drips or weeps from the flowers.”- Sanbi)

Description: Boerboon is our flagship trail. It consists of gravel roads, jeep tracks, and several regular and “green” single-track sections on the Eastern section. The views are amazing, and you could encounter Springbuck, Eland, Kudu, Giraffes, Blesbok, Roans, Aardvark, Jackals.
Distance: 40km. Total distance can be extended to 65 km with Spitskop or Eastern Fence loops (gravel). Any extension is guided and subject to guide availability.
Elevation: 439m
Duration: 3-4 hours
Rating: Red

The Huilboerboon trail is also unique in that it includes 3 single track sections (marked with a green square) that follow existing game tracks rather than traditional mtb trails – the vision is to minimize the impact on the veld (erosion) and on our precious succulents. Animals don’t walk using exiting curves – so the trails are less windy and narrower. Please take care on the final “Huis Toe” section – it has spectacular views but is not for the faint hearted.

Scholtsbos Trail

(“The Scholtzbos" or "Aasvoëlbos / Witbas" is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, indigenous to Aardvark. It is a small shrub with pale woody stem. The leaves are slender, blunt-ended, channeled and green. The plant is not edible and often associated with historical overgrazing.” (SANBI))
Description: Easy gravel road route with spectacular views on the Eastern section. There are however a few steep climbs and rocky sections.
Distance: 27.19 km Total distance can be extended to 65- 80km with Spitzkop or Eastern Fence loops (gravel). Any extension is guided and subject to guide availability.
Elevation: 308m
Duration: 2 hours
Rating: Blue

Spitzkop Trail

(Spitzkop refers to the shape of a mountain peak that is visible and sunset.)

Description: The trail is the only one on Spitzkop – a 1000 hectares game reserve section on the Western side of Aardvark Bioreserve. The trail is unique in that it climbs to the top of a large plateau where there is an abundance of wildlife. The trail consists of jeep tracks and stunning single tracks with steep descents and rocky sections, but you are rewarded with spectacular vistas. The trail starts at the Main Aardvark Gate and continues on the R323 for about 4km before entering the Spitzkop Section. The trail is borderline blue and should not be cycled if you are not a comfortable rider.
Distance: 26 km
Elevation: 520m
Duration: 2 hours
Rating: Blue/Red

Hiking Trails

Eland Trail

Description: The trail is on the Eastern Section above the cottages. It follows the Marlienshoop Mtb trail but clockwise. Please be on the lookout for approaching mountain bikers. The trail is not that long but have several steep accents and descents. The view is stunning, and you could encounter Zebra, Springbuck, Eland and Kudu.
Distance; 5.2km
Max Elevation: 269m
Duration: 60-90 min.
Rating: Blue

Springbuck Trail

Description: The trail is on the Eastern Section above the cottages. While short, there are still a few hills and some rocky sections. The view is stunning, and you could encounter Zebra, Springbuck, Eland and Kudu. Distance: 2.6km,
Max Elevation: 384m
Duration: 60min
Rating: Blue

If cancelling 7 days before arrival, forfeit 100% of the booking total.
If cancelling 14 days before arrival, forfeit 100% of the deposit.
If cancelling 21 days before arrival, forfeit 50% of the deposit.
If cancelling 30 days before arrival, forfeit 25% of the deposit.