Berluda Farmhouse & Cottages

The Berluda Farmhouse, home to the Schoeman family for over fifty years, is a typical Karoo farmhouse with wooden floors, plenty of character and lots of antiques. It's located in the semi-arid Little Karoo, just north of the Garden Route, in the heart of ostrich country and is family-run, with emphasis on good hospitality.

En-suite rooms

The Farmhouse has seven en-suite rooms and a beautifully decorated lounge and reading room, with satellite TV and air-conditioning. A patio overlooking the lush gardens offers the perfect spot to read a book, or just sit and listen to the birds in the serenity of the Karoo.

The seven rooms in the main house – each named after a member of the Schoeman family – all offer en-suite bathrooms, air-conditioning and WiFi access. Some have king or queen sized beds and others offer twin beds. Breakfast is included.

Cottages

Eight cottages offer private, self-catering accommodation for between two and five people. All are fully equipped with air-conditioning, WiFi and patios with braai facilities and beautiful views over the Schoemanshoek Valley or mountains.

Some of the cottages are suitable for families with young children, others are only suitable for families with children over 12. A luxury garden cottage, especially for honeymooners, offers a perfectly private, spacious suite which has a fireplace, kitchen and patio with braai facilities overlooking the gardens and mountains.

Meals

The old tobacco barn was converted into a cosy dining room in 2007 where, depending on the season, dinner and breakfast are served. Expect farm fresh produce and granny’s recipes. The breakfasts at Berluda are known to be delicious! The restaurant isn't open for dinner on Sunday evenings but they do offer meals in the cottages. If guests prefer to go out for dinner, the staff are more than happy to recommend and book one of the excellent restaurants in the area.

Local area attractions

• On the farm - Two swimming pools, a children's playground and plenty of places to cycle or walk in the hills
• Berluda is situated between Oudtshoorn and the world-famous Cango Caves
• Within easy reach of hiking, cycling, quad biking and 4x4 trails
• Horseback riding, abseiling and canoeing are offered nearby
• For self-drive tourists, the area offers plenty of scenic views and drives, including the Swartberg Mountain Pass, Meiringspoort Valley and Waterfall and Rust-en-Vrede Waterfall.

Farm tours

Farm tours of Buffelsdrift, a private working ostrich farm, can also be organised. Learn about these fantastical-looking birds, watch babies hatch (if you're in the right season) and feel the weight of an ostrich egg. This is an animal-friendly tour that doesn't offer ostrich riding. A definite highlight is the chance to observe the Berluda meerkat family getting ready for the day. Guests wake before sunrise and are taken to the meerkat burrow where coffee and tea are served. One by one, as the sun rises, the meerkats pop out of their underground home.

Getting there

By road - Oudtshoorn is 60 km north of George on the Garden Route and can be reached via a number of scenic routes. From Cape Town, it's approximately a 5-hour drive, depending on the route you take (they're all equally beautiful, scenic drives). From Port Elizabeth, along the spectacular Garden Route, it'll take about 5 hours (386 km). The roads are all tarred.

By air - Daily flights are offered to George from both Johannesburg (2 hours) and Cape Town (1 hour). From George, it is a panoramic 60 km drive to Oudtshoorn.

Our take on Berluda Farmhouse & Cottages

The perfect spot to experience true Karoo hospitality in an area that offers numerous activities. Whether you're travelling alone or as a family, Berluda Farmhouse & Cottages has something for everyone in beautiful, relaxed surroundings.