Karoo Ridge Conservancy

Conservation, eco-tourism and farming for biodiversity

Karoo Ridge Conservancy is a 10 000-hectare eco-rangeland in the Great Karoo, restored and managed as a working wilderness. Genuine nature conservation is the purpose and “farming for biodiversity” is the mechanism — land, game and livestock managed together, as sustainably and responsibly as the landscape allows. Guests who stay here play a part in protecting it.

Two solar-powered eco-lodges welcome visitors. The Mountain Lodge sits in the foothills of the Suurberg with Karoo landscapes and big-sky views all round, sleeping four in two en-suite bedrooms, with a plunge pool, hammocks and an outdoor fire area with boma — well suited to couples and small families. The River Lodge is tucked into a scenic valley overlooking the Groot-Brak River, sleeping eight across four bedrooms and three bathrooms, which makes it a natural choice for larger families, families with small children, or groups of friends travelling together.

For the more adventurous there is the Star Bed, set out in a secluded private valley with a bush bathroom, where you can count shooting stars and watch the Milky Way stretch right across the sky.

Both lodges are deliberately WiFi and mobile free, so you really can leave the hustle behind. Days are given to guided walks, night drives, Bushman paintings and half-day activities across the reserve.

Karoo Ridge lies 50km north-east of Middelburg and 100km south-east of Colesberg — an ideal halfway stop between Johannesburg and Cape Town, or between Bloemfontein and Gqeberha.