Chandelier Game Lodge & Ostrich Show Farm

The roads into the Klein Karoo cross spectacular mountain passes – and lead through the fantastic Cape fynbos. The Klein Karoo is described as a botanical hotspot. It is the only place in the world where fynbos (the Cape Floristic Kingdom) overlaps thicket and succulent vegetation – and the Swartberg Mountains are listed as part of the Cape Floral Kingdom World Heritage Site. Nowhere else in the world can you find so much floral diversity within such close proximity? Chandelier Game Lodge & Ostrich Show Farm is situated in the centre of this wonderful part of the world.

If you are lo...

The roads into the Klein Karoo cross spectacular mountain passes – and lead through the fantastic Cape fynbos. The Klein Karoo is described as a botanical hotspot. It is the only place in the world where fynbos (the Cape Floristic Kingdom) overlaps thicket and succulent vegetation – and the Swartberg Mountains are listed as part of the Cape Floral Kingdom World Heritage Site. Nowhere else in the world can you find so much floral diversity within such close proximity? Chandelier Game Lodge & Ostrich Show Farm is situated in the centre of this wonderful part of the world.

If you are looking for an oasis to get away from it all, Chandelier is the place to be. At Chandelier, the Ferreira family has created something special, in a malaria free environment, for those who yearn to spend some quality time close to nature.

Chandelier consists of 3500 ha of succulent Karoo, river bush veldt and Cape “fynbos”. The 122km of “land rover tracks” make game viewing safaris on Chandelier an unforgettable experience, creating timeless memories. Chandelier hosts 23 antelope species.

Large numbers of game, such as Sable Antelope, Lechwe, Waterbuck, Bontebok and Kudu are free roaming the rolling hills. Spot the giraffes from the comfort of the land rovers or come real close to the animals on either the quad bikes or on foot. If you are lucky, you may spot the elusive black backed jackal or even catch a glimpse of the rare, indigenous leopard.

The Chandelier Ostrich Show Farm & Community Craft Centre, offer the guests first hand experience on the world biggest bird. Well trained, multi-languid guides take you on a tour through the working ostrich farm, dates back to 1885. Riding the ostrich is permitted for the brave, while affordable ostrich by products, manufactured on Chandelier, are for sale in the curio shop.

Delicious ostrich dishes are on offer at the restaurant, overlooking a waterhole where the animals come to quench their thirst.

The tented chalets offer a unique bush experience – quality is in the detail. The chalets are placed on wooden decks in the bush and great care has been taken to assure privacy and unique views. Each en suite unit has a private observation deck from where guests can spot various game species on their way to the water hole. The lodge sleeps 16 people in eight private chalets equipped with white linen and velvet, as well as corner or spa baths and air conditioning or fans. The stylish décor creates superb luxury, under the canopy of the acacia trees. The showers, with only the stars as a roof, are something to experience. Guests are woken every morning with the beauty of birdsong. No wonder that the chalets have been approved as four stars (we have decided to go with three stars, though.) The accommodation has been rated as "HIGHLY RECOMMENDED" by the Drive Out magazine, recently. Children are welcome and up to two small kids may share with their parents. “Get wild in Style!”

Chandelier Game Ranch near Oudtshoorn is an ideal venue to see the rare Klein Karoo succulents by day. However, the real treat comes after a leisurely field drive when the high lapa is reached. There the world lies at your feet and you seem to be able to see forever as sweeping vistas to the Swartberg open up with hardly any evidence of human presence. For the privileged visitor the deep, red setting sun seems to be the pinnacle of a day of peace and beauty. However, this is not so. When darkness descends fully and one experiences the quietness of the Karoo night, you experience something close to perfection. Yet, perfection only really comes when the dark sky switches on its own magnificent Chandelier of Stars, so numerous and so bright that you can almost touch them. It is then that the Klein Karoo shows its true magic, one that invariably causes people to whisper so as not to intrude into the magnificence of this vast untrammeled wilderness.”

(Received from Prof. K du P Bothma from Pretoria University, after his first visit to Chandelier. Prof. Bothma is Internationally recognised as the world’s expert on Game & Game farming.)