Head out to the West Coast to rejuvinate while the kids safely roam free. Luxuriate in the comforts and treats on offer at Draaihoek Lodge while the kids run wild on our private beach or explore the surrounding strandveld on their bikes or strike up a soccer match in the gardens – our exclusive setting in the [...]
Draaihoek Lodge Private Nature Reserve
The private Nature Reserve reaches from the Atlantic ocean inland to Sandveld’s mountain range and across to the Verlorenvlei, a RAMSAR classified site, south of Elands Bay.
The coastal border of the Reserve stretches along an undisturbed sandy beach, hugged by rugged dunes and favoured by flocks of birds typical to the West Coast. The uninhabited bay area is frequented by whales, seals and playing Heaviside dolphins.
Wildlife
The wildlife reintroduction programme undertaken in the reserve has seen the return of the magnificent Eland, Bontebok, Red Hartebeest, Black Wildebeest, Kudu, Gemsbok, Impala, Cape Mountain Zebra and Ostrich.
A huge diversity of birdlife is thriving in the Reserve, both in the unspoiled, deserted veld and beach as well as closer to the Lodge. Keen birders are welcome to the Bird Hide, erected at one of the dams close to the Lodge, frequented by resident waterfowl.
Vegetation
The vegetation is particularly specie rich, with the reserve being situated in a vegetative transition area – between the Cape Peninsula and the Namaqua floral kingdoms. Untouched stretches of veld and vlei are home to a huge variety of flowering plants and bulbs, providing an annual Spring spectacle exclusive to the West Coast from August to October.
Rock Art
The Reserve also boasts rock art sites, a living portrayal of stone-age culture.
These ancient simplistic, extraordinary artworks are found in caves which housed the hunter-gatherer Bushman artists responsible for these works of art and are well preserved.



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