"At first encounter the Karoo may seem arid, desolate and unforgiving, but to those who know it, it is a land of secret beauty and infinite variety." Eve Palmer

Leeurivier Karoo Farm is located 50 km outside Beaufort West, South Africa. A property that expands 14 000 ha, Leeurivier is a family owned farm offering holistic lifestyle and ecotourism. The van der Berg family combines their passion for sheep and goat farming with operating as an eco-destination boasting many wildlife species. 

Leeurivier farms extensively with Dorper sheep, Boerbok and a bit of other species. The family wants to conserve their unique area and open up their farm for guests to enjoy the simplicity of life here.

The entire farm is about 14000 ha and they have a dedicated game camp of 1314 ha with 17 game species including Giraffe, Zebra, Kudu, Eland, Oryx, Black and Blue Wildebees, Red Hartebees, Blesbok, Springbuck, Duiker, Steenbok, Ostrich. Equally exciting are the smaller veld inhabitants like hare and mongoose, many tortoise species and an abundant bird life. Leeurivier's remote location truly makes it a corner of unspoilt Karoo. Guests will wake to the call of guinea fowl before spotting birds of prey such as Black eagle or Kori bustard.

Leeurivier offers a rustic experience at their two accommodation options. The farm stay allows guests to engage in activities such as hiking, cycling and wildlife viewing as well as engaging with every-day farm life, especially for children.

Conservation & Community Highlights:

1. There has been a sighting of Riverine rabbit on the property
2. Conservation of many large game species
3. Countless plant species; one that has only been named two years ago
4. Protection of local veld species, such as a variety of tortoises and birds

Future Aims:

1. To implement best practices and conservation action for the area, specifically for plants and rabbits
2. To reduce hunting majorly, which has been done to manage game numbers, to ethical hunting practices only
3. Develop the family reserve feel further, with offering more accommodation options for guests such as camping
4. Expand into more nature-based activities such as nature walks, volunteering
5. Introduce vultures in collaboration with Endangered Wildlife Trust
6. Offering the farm as prospective research site
7. Building partnerships for conservation, education and research

Images provided.