Description
Adventure means different things to different people. For us, an adventure is about finding a beautiful and unique space that inspires every sacred part of your spirit, a place where you are able to become one with the rest of the natural world, enjoy the beauty of the trees and the majesty of the wind; yet still not feel as if you are some wildlife explorer who has gone head first into a “Do or Die” challenge.
Our quest for this sense of adventure brought us to Buffalo Drift.
Nestled neatly in gorgeous rolling hills, just off of the Route 44. We found ourselves with a car laden with bags and camera stands, venturing on a long straight road past the quaint little village of Gouda. By this time the sun had already slipped gently behind the mountain and in the faint red blinking lights of the windmills could be seen in the distance. As we passed the road alongside these colossal structures, little did we know they would stand as a symbol, ushering in the excitement that awaited us.
We made our way up to the Ruigtevlei farm on which the Buffalo Drift Lodge can be found. From what we had read, on this sizeable piece of land, hugging the banks of the Berg River, the Buffalo Drift Lodge was said to boast a series of Luxury tents and cabins, as well as the famous Buffalo Fort; providing ample space to roam free. Excited to set out and start exploring, we reached the gates of the farm with the sun now having altogether faded away and the flickering lights of the stars gently emerging as the sky grew to a deeper and darker shade of blue.
After a somewhat lengthy drive along the gravel farm roads, we reached the luxury tent, masked in darkness, we looked up, utterly bewildered as a myriad of stars and constellations appeared before us – to this city dweller, this is sight that never seems to get old. After a brief stop to take a quick glance at some sheep who were on their midnight stroll through the fields, we finally arrived.
Stepping out of the car and rushing over to our tent, we found a beautifully crafted, rustic and comfortable dwelling baring an old world charm.
Our senses were further overwhelmed only by the sweet scent of the naartjie blossoms from the orchard nearby, the sweet scent gently wafted through the warm night air. We unpacked and got settled in for the night; our heads melting like creamy butter into the warm pillows.
The next morning we awoke to what sounded like a thousand tiny birds all singing in harmony as the sun trickled in gently through the door of the tent. After a good old fry up and a chat to some of the exceptionally friendly staff, we set about exploring. Making our way past the river onto which our tent faced, any nature lover would be at home, watching the beautifully colourful birds dart across the water and in and out of their nests, strung delicately onto hanging branches and reeds.
We made our way down the gravel road and towards the fort where a group of young guys were enjoying a round of clay pigeon shooting. The farm boasts plenty activities from canoeing to various sporting activities like soccer and volleyball and even paintball for those who seek to let go of some frustration. We opted to spend the day hiking through the farm, landing up at the lush wheat fields and enjoying the calming view of windmills in the distance.p>
Next, we set off on a quick venture to the nearby town of Tulbagh to stock up on supplies, and then made our way back to the farm. With dusk looming, we started a fire in our own little braai pit with the wood kindly provide. The flames were roared and as the day grew to a close, we could think of nothing better than to huddle around the fire with glass of wine in hand. We gazed up at the sky; once again filled with the pinpoint lights of a billion beautiful stars.p>
Our last day at Buffalo Drift was met with a bittersweet end. Although there is nothing like returning home from ones travels, we were sad to leave behind the sense of adventure and peace that we had found during our time on the farm. These two adventurers eagerly await their return to Ruigtevlei. No matter if you are in search of a romantic getaway, a place to bond with the family or a little splash of adventure, remember that your connection to yourself and to everything around you, can be found in the land where the buffalo roam.
* We rely on Google's mapping service, and the location information supplied to
us to show street view images. Please use street view as a guide only as we cannot
guarantee its accuracy.
*Distances are shown as the crow flies and not necessarily the actual travelling
distance.