EXCLUSIVE: Bakkrans Nature Reserve is a unique Cederberg offering. When you reserve accommodation at Bakkrans, we guarantee total exclusivity and privacy to you (and your friends), at no extra cost. We undertake not to take in any other visitors while you are staying with us, regardless of how many cottages you booked or occupy. The entire reserve and its facilities are therefore allocated to you exclusively, to explore and enjoy in total privacy. 

Bakkrans (±6000 ha in size) is a remote and little known wilderness area in the rugged Rooi Cederberg Karoo Park. It has magnificent mountain ranges and a great variety of plant species, indigenous game, birds and other wildlife. Its earlier human history is captured in rock paintings that are thousands of years old. Artefacts that are thought to be ±100 000 years old have been found here.

A visit to Bakkrans is very far removed from your everyday tourist fare. The houses are traditionally thatched, stone-walled veld cottages, built with materials that were mostly obtained from the reserve. We have furnished them to reflect the lifestyle of herders, who stayed in this area during a bygone Cape frontier era. In all, the accommodation here is unpretentious, but comfortable with crisp white linen. Continue below...

» Picture Gallery 

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Bakkrans stone cottage

Critically endangered “skurwejantjie”

This game drive vehicle seats 10 passengers

Braai area from top and cottage

Klipspringers are prolific at Bakkrans

Cottage at night

Dainty blue “sporrie” in spring

Morning view into the distant Tankwa-Karoo

Candle light at night inside cottage

Scene near the cottages

Mountain ranges, home to lots of wildlife

Mountain ranges, well frequented by leopards

Flowers are in abundance in spring, early summer

The stone cottages blend in with their surroundings

Mountain Zebra mares with youngsters

Magnificent Mountain Zebra herd stallion

Cape Mountain Zebra are a red data species

Gemsbok utilize the flatter parts of the reserve

A great variety of flowers can be seen in spring

Inside house at night

The cottages are cool in summer, snug in winter

Old style furniture in a Bakkrans cottage

Stone cottages, facing east from amongst the rocky outcrops

Enamel jugs inside a cottage

Old kettle against thatch inside a cottage

Flowers in early summer

Exquisite vygie, one of many varieties to be found here

Winter snow

Caracal, a highly persecuted cat, is safe at Bakkrans

Klipspringer, feeding at night

Leopards frequent Bakkrans Reserve

Leopard, collard by the Cape Leopard Trust for research purposes. These collared leopards are never tracked for commercial purposes.

Aardvark, active at night

Exquisite fine-line rock art

Leopard, posing for our logo

Little woman, on sandstone canvass

Bakkrans roads are handmade two wheel tracks

Arrie, following a spoor at Bakkrans

Arrie, the Bakkrans Reserve manager

The "bathrooms" for each house are designed in such a way that you can have a grand 100 kilometre open view across the greater Karoo and enjoy a real sense of freedom while taking a shower. We have taken great care to do the building work with a light footprint and not disturb the environment.

We use open fires and gas for cooking. You can therefore prepare food in the traditional way, using traditional methods, which is always a highlight for visitors. Lanterns and candles are used for light.

You can partake in various activities. Game and scenic drives can be taken during the day. There is also opportunity for photography, bird watching, game tracking, leisure walking, star gazing, plant and flower spotting - or simply just sitting somewhere quiet to soak up the silence and clean air. Night drives can be taken to track leopards and other nocturnal animals.

Our Geology & Rock Art Trail takes you to fossils of the very first tiny trees that grew in this area ±360 million years ago, as well as different sites with rock art that are thousands of years old.

When walking the Leopard Trail you can observe a research site (cameras) of the Cape Leopard Trust, as well as an old stone cage that was used in earlier years to capture leopards. The trail is well frequented by leopards. Bakkrans was the very first research site of the Cape Leopard Trust, where they also photographed their first leopard. Visit: www.capeleopard.org.za.

The whole infrastructure of the greater reserve, as well as all tourist facilities, is maintained by employing local workers and craftsmen exclusively, thereby ensuring that the employment benefits which flow from Bakkrans, always stay within our local communities.

Bakkrans is a founding member of the Cederberg Conservancy and the Rooi Cederberg Karoo Park. 

Facilities & Services Supplied

• 8 guests can be accommodated in 4 private cottages, each with 2 single beds.
• Each cottage has its own separate shower and toilet facilities.
• We supply full bedding and towels, if required.
• We supply all cookware, utensils, crockery, glasses, cutlery and braai grids.
• A kitchen facility with a fridge/freezer is available to store and prepare food.
• Firewood can be purchased at Bakkrans from the reserve manager.
• A reserve manager will be in attendance, who will do general guiding duties for you such as game spotting, tracking, trail walking, etc., as well as some camping activities such as the making of fires and doing barbecues, if so required.
• If you do not have your own 4x4, you can travel with our reserve manager in his Land Rover Defender.
• Please also read "Important Information".

Tariffs and Terms

• With bedding and towels supplied:
  Cost: R395 per person per night
  (with a minimum of R1 185 per night per visit).
• Without bedding and towels supplied:
  Cost: R345 per person per night
  (with a minimum of R1 035 per night per visit).
• We have different rates for children. Please contact us for more information.
• Cottages can be occupied as from 16h00 on date of arrival.
• Cottages & facilities must be vacated at 11h00 on date of departure. (Times flexible, when possible).

Reservations

• A 30% deposit is required to secure a reservation, payable to Red Cederberg Tours – Nedbank Acc 1186097973, Branch code 198 765.
• In case of a cancellation
  # 0 to 15 days before date of arrival, 100% of the deposit is forfeited.
  # 16 to 30 days before date to arrival, 75% of the deposit is forfeited.