Marlu Farm Stays

Some might call Steytlerville a village, but it packs a lot in, such as fishing and swimming in the Groot River or following the signs in town to the Suikerkop Hiking Trail for a two to three hour trek through the nearby wilderness. Another top pick is a visit to the Valley of Flags: begun by a local farmer some decades ago, these mountainside paintings bear witness to every flag adopted throughout South Africa's colourful history. You can explore more history 50 minutes' drive away in Willowmore, touring the Boer Cemetery and taking in the array of historic and brightly-hued buildings; this is also a top spot for mountain biking trails and 4x4 drives. Three renowned parks and nature reserves are just over an hour's drive from Marlu: the Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve contains seven of South Africa's eight biomes, such as fynbos, succulent Karoo, nama-karoo and bushveld, and a similarly staggering quantity of wildlife. Its name means Valley of the Baboons in Dutch and they're here in great numbers, along with kudu, mountain zebras, leopards and fish eagles. No translation is needed to explain the main attraction at Eddo Elephant Park, but like the Swartberg East Nature Reserve, also within an hour, it combines lush scenery with endless opportunities for birdwatching and the spotting of creatures great and small. For a contrast, head to Port Elizabeth two hours away, for surfing, diving, self-sunning on the beaches and all the attractions of a small but smart seaside city.