Quick Facts
E 20°26'35''
Budget Getaways Review
Ever dreamt of having your own game reserve? A vast wilderness where you and your friends and family can kick back, armed with G&T’s, and watch the herds pass by under an orange sun dipping over the Karoo's horizon.
Dream no more, Captain Getaway has found the spot.
Eighteen kays from Laingsburg and neighbour to Anysberg Nature Reserve, Black Eagle Farm - all pristine 2400ha of it - lies tucked away in the harsh-but-gorgeous Witteberge.
This self-catering Karoo venue slots ever so nicely into the 'great group getaway' category - a place where you and nine favourite friends or family can be comfortably accommodated under one roof.
In this case it's a sweet-smelling thatch roof, with stone walls below and a full length covered voortstoep - another G&T anybody?
Upstairs there's a loft with three double bedrooms (one ensuit), while back on ground level you've got a further double ensuite and a kiddies room with bunk beds. A further two single camping stretchers are available if you can russle up more troops.
The kitchen is well equipped and open-plan to the dining room and lounge with wood-burning stove - in winter the latter will be working overtime as it gets bitterly cold in these remote parts.
Besides that ever-so inviting stoep and outside dining area, outdoor living is pushed a step further with a gesellig stone-walled fire-pit (wood provided), and an open-air veld shower and bath tub.
The farm is exclusively yours to explore at leisure, with a long to-do list. Such as…. Endless tracks and dirt road to explore by vehicle, foot or mountain bike; a host of wildlife to observe, gemsbok, kudu, zebra and springbok to list a few; koppies and waterfalls for picnics and sundowners, as well as two farm dams to plunge into during the baking summer months - and winter if you happen to be of Finnish descent.
We're still waiting for guest feedback but Black Eagle Farm gets our provisional nod for that annual Great Karoo Group Escape: an easy three hours from Cape Town, a nice balance of big African skies, raw nature and comfortable lodgings, plus enough to keep you busy.
But whatever you do, don't forget the tonic and lemon for those G&Ts.
"A wonderful getaway in the heart of the Karoo. It was freezing but thank goodness for the fire place and the gas heaters. The house is very well equipped and we also appreciated the trust bestowed on us by the owners as all their personal supplies were on full display and I am sure that if one needed something that they would not have a problem if it was used, on condition that it was replaced or paid for. We were told that the "farm cat " who's name is Cooking Fat would visit and he did together with a friend so we were unsure who was who. These two beauties kept us entertained the whole weekend with their constant demand for love and attention, which they got in abundance! The farm itself is lovely and caters to those who love to walk and 4x4. We scouted for game and saw, Eland, Zebra, Springbok, Gemsbok, Rheebok and more and for bird lovers there is an abundance of bird life including the Black Eagle. It may be a little far for a weekend away and we could have done with an extra day but for us it was worth it. All the solar and water equipment works like a bomb ensuring your comfort and enjoyment . We will return."
(visited August 2013)
"Thank you for a wonderful time. We were blown away by the amazing hospitality even before we got there with perfect directions, suggestions even menu plans. Upon arrival, we were greeted with a cozy fire (it was only 2 degrees) and a lovely warm house. Everything is provided in terms of excellent appliances, glasses, equipment, including games and extra blankets . We saw lots of Oryx on our game drive which is also a great way to see the farm and enjoyed the red wine on the stoep and the early morning runs and cycles. Thank you again, we will be back."
(visited July 2013)
"Awesome, beautiful, surreal, amazing are just a few words to describe this wonderful place. We had an amazing time there, great for kids and adults and perfect for a get away in complete privacy and awesome surrounds. Definitely recommend this without hesitation. We would have liked to see more animals but they were in hiding. You do need a reliable car to get there. Perfection like nothing you can imagine and will visit here again. Thanks for the amazing time and memories."
(visited June 2013)
"We had a wonderful family time away at Black Eagle Lodge. The verandah was definitely the hub for our stay and you could find us relaxing with a book, enjoying a meal at the outside table or sitting with a glass of wine around the firepit gazing at the stars. We were lucky enough to spot a variety of animals, the highlight being the zebras right in front of the house! The house was stocked with everything we needed including quality duvets & linen (and extra blankets for those chilly nights!). By the end of our stay our batteries were recharged, but we weren't ready to leave! We look forward to visiting again in the future."
(visited April 2013)
"We truly loved this getaway in a most tranquil, mesmerizing spot. The setting is quite remarkable with an awesome panoramic view from the �Ja Boet Stoep�, where we spent lazy afternoons in hammocks, with G&T�s in-hand, watching the Zebra and Springbok pass by. The house is well-kept, spacious and immaculately clean with everything you could need for a great stay, from comfortable beds & good pillows to nice linen & towels. The outside hot shower is a treat and the inside one was not used at all in the time we were there. The fire-pit is wonderful with loads of firewood provided - a lovely spot to �chew the fat�. Our early morning games rides were rewarded with sightings of Eland, Springbok, Zebra and Gemsbok. The perfectly clear evenings provided us with the opportunity for some great stargazing and night photography. This is truly a hidden gem and we would highly recommend it to anyone that loves the rugged mountains & wide open spaces."
(visited April 2013)
"If you're looking for a peaceful, quiet, in-the-middle-of-nowhere getaway, then look no further, Black Eagle Farm is for you! For fast-paced city dwellers it takes some getting used to but by the end of the weekend the slow-paced lifestyle takes over and you will wonder where the time went. The house has everything you will need for a comfortable stay, while rustic and farm-like it has all the comforts of home, a fabulous outdoor bathroom lets you spot animals while lying in the bath with a glass of wine, an inviting stoep to gather for meal times or read a book while curled up in the sun and in winter there are plenty of warm duvets and blankets on the beds for those chilly nights. The fire-pit became a favorite gathering place for us in the evenings, a place to relax around the fire, listen to the stillness and watch the endless stars that fill the sky! The stoep overlooks the vast beauty of nature, on the morning of our last day we ate our breakfast while watching zebras in the veld. There is lots to do on the farm, we explored on foot and went on little walks spotting "fluffy tails", Gemsbok and Eland, you need a sharp eye and some binoculars for those outings! All in all we had a great time away and will definitely be returning in the future."
(visited April 2013)
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Where You'll Also Find Us
Arniston (Waenhuiskrans) • Barrydale • Beaufort West • Betty's Bay • Bonnievale • Bot River • Bredasdorp • Caledon • Calitzdorp • Cape Agulhas and Struisbaai • Cape Town area • Ceres • Citrusdal • Clanwilliam & Cederberg • Darling • De Rust • Franschhoek • Gansbaai • George • Grabouw & Elgin Valley • Greyton • Heidelberg • Hermanus • Knysna • Ladismith • Laingsburg • Lamberts Bay • Langebaan • Malgas • Matjiesfontein • McGregor • Montagu • Mossel Bay • Napier • Oudtshoorn • Paarl • Paternoster • Plettenberg Bay • Prince Albert • Pringle Bay, Betty's Bay and Kleinmond • Riebeek West and Riebeek-Kasteel • Riversdale • Riviersonderend • Robertson • St Helena Bay • Stanford • Stilbaai • Strand, Gordon's Bay and Somerset West • Swellendam • Tulbagh • Velddrif • Vermaaklikheid • Wilderness • Witsand • Worcester & Hex Valley • Yzerfontein • Baviaanskloof • Cape St Francis & St Francis Bay • East London • Graaff-Reinet • Hogsback • Jeffreys Bay • Makhanda (Grahamstown) • Middelburg • Nieu-Bethesda • Rhodes • Sutherland