Skilderkrantz - A Legacy Project

We hope to create a haven of tranquillity far from the madding crowd, where you too can come to replenish your spiritual and physical health, and to think your thoughts and dream your dreams.

It is our belief that sound zoning and planning on a bio-regional and national level ought to ensure that commercial farming takes place only in those areas that can sustain it without damage to the very resources that underpin it.

From an agricultural perspective, most of Skilderkrantz land is extremely marginal and is of much more value as an extension of the Baviaanskloof Mega-reserve. As with much of the land in South Africa, it should never have been disturbed in the first place.

In days gone by, the old timers, man and wife, would accompany the sheep to the back-country to protect them against danger. They would camp in the wilds for weeks on end, until the next couple from the community would come to relieve them. This humble existence was more or less sustainable. Now modern sheep farming methods in mountainous areas such as this means damaging pressure on the land and conflict between man and predators.

In recent years at Skilderkrantz, agriculture has been expanded exponentially without regard for resources such as water. The crystal mountain waters are abundant enough in this dry land, but citrus is notoriously thirsty. Over ambitious expansion of orchards in recent years has put the mountain streams and their ecologies under unsustainable pressure. We plan to scale down the farming activities dramatically, and shift the emphasis to Wilderness expansion, eco-system restoration and non-harmful leisure activities.

Our vision is to bring back the natural balance to this special place. We will restore the river systems, re-establish the yellowwoods, wild olives and other flora and recreate habitat for the leopards and many other creatures that belong here.

In restoring and preserving critical ecosystems and biological processes in this unique area, we strive towards expansion of Wilderness, harmonious living at the interface with Wilderness, and the wise and thoughtful use and enjoyment of our natural resources. We will also work towards linking the Kouga section of the Baviaanskloof to the Tsitsikamma protected areas.

It is the wild places such as Skilderkrantz that supply our life essentials such as water, as well as our spiritual succour. Realizing the precious fragility of these systems, we wish to become part of the solution. Fresh ways must be found to enjoy and utilize them while restoring rather than degrading them.

A maximum of 5% of the total land area will be retained as fruit orchards, grazing and small vegetable gardens, which will be systematically converted to ecological / organic management methods. This fits in with our philosophy that enhanced food security , health and reduction of ‘food miles”can be achieved by many more people growing their own food right where they live. Small scale Honey and Honeybush Tea operations are also being developed. The rest of the almost 8500 ha, much of which is wild and rugged, will be managed up the Wilderness Scale to the most pristine state achievable.