Nature drives on a 4×4 during day or night

We use a powerful Land Cruiser game viewer vehicle with 9 comfortable passenger seats for scenic nature drives. Our guests are provided with cosy blankets, soft drinks and snacks, which are included in the tariff. We encourage guests to take their photographic equipment and binoculars with them for those once in a lifetime moments which has to be captured. Apart from the spectacular wildflowers in springtime, we have a variety of small game of which the meerkat colonies are very popular. And among the 68 identified bird species, you’ll find a majestic pair of African Black Eagle (Aquila verreauxii – Witkruisarend) hunting on the rocky hills in the area.

During game drives at night, we’ll be looking for aardvark, porcupine, caracal (rooikat), aardwolf (striped hyenalike insectivorous mammal), hare, different species of jackal, and a variety of nocturnal birds. Driving at night, the lights of the vehicle and handheld spotlights add a whole new exciting perspective to our nature drives.

Sundowners

On windless afternoons, a bit before sunset and on short notice, our guests can hop on a custom-built trailer pulled by our red vintage Massey Ferguson tractor. We’ll drive up the rocky hill to a spot overlooking the village, make us a cosy wood fire and follow the ritual of a South African sundowner, a drinking tradition that originated in South Africa during British Colonial rule, which marks the transition from day to evening. The drink of choice was, and remains, the gin and tonic, but for the sake of good friendship, any other available appetizing beverage will gladly be served.

Walking trails

We’ve done some exciting trailblazing here during the past few years and we realised that due to the widespread farm infrastructure with roads and trails in every direction, enthusiastic guests can hike as far as they like, stay out as long as they want, carry their own backpack, or have it brought to them, walk for an hour or walk for a day. Hiking guests, whether in an organized group or not, can enjoy nature on foot in complete serenity and with the knowledge of our support vehicle in the back of their minds, be assured of our interest in their safety and wellness on the trail.

Cycling

For guests who would like to bring their mountain bikes along, we have numerous options in all directions. All gravel roads at Kotzesrus are really safe and once again, if anyone would like the back-up of a support vehicle, we can provide it with prior arrangement.

Tractor trips on a jeep track

Flower season

Usually from the end of July until October, our area is indulged in natural flower beds – perfectly showcasing what Namaqualand is all about. Customised drives can be arranged.

“Kookskerm” Cuisine

Just a few metres outside the kitchen of our main building, is a structure, designed and built according to a long tradition of our region. What you’ll be looking at is a ‘kookskerm’ or cooking shelter which comprises a framework made of branches and fencing and then packed with ‘Kraalbos’ to form an enclosure, sheltered from the wind. Here, weather permitting, we prepare food on an open fire, and our guests can relax and enjoy their meal and the cosy fire under the bright stars of the Milky Way.

Exploring Kotzesrus village on foot

Our village is really…  small. We have seventeen houses, one shop and a church hall here. We have no proper streets and for that reason also no pavements. The nearest tarred road or street is the N7 national highway, 60km to the east. We have no traffic lights, not a single stop sign, almost no traffic, definitely no traffic noise and not a single streetlight. But we do have a peaceful and safe village with an interesting history, and if you care to walk about on a leisurely stroll, our friendly residents will love to show you around and share all the tales of the past.