Embrace nature at Kogelberg’s eco-cabins
The new eco-cabins in Kogelberg Nature Reserve put the Overberg’s wild beauty on your doorstep. Situated in the Palmiet River valley, at the foot of imposing mountains, the eight wooden cabins feel a world removed from the city. But at only 90 minutes from Cape Town, this self-catering hideaway in the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom is an accessible haven for nature lovers.
A natural treasure
Declared a World Heritage Site for its botanical riches, Kogelberg is a treasure trove of rare and beautiful plants. The reserve is home to an astounding 1,800 plant species, 77 of which occur nowhere else on earth. Plants like the Kogelberg blue stars, with its clusters of periwinkle blue flowers, which blooms in summer.
If you’re a fan of forests, make time for the all-day Kogelberg Trail, one of 10 easy to moderate trails. This hike leads through three patches of indigenous forest, relics of an earlier time and reminiscent of the Knysna forests. Here you can walk among the region’s last real yellowwood, stinkwood and boekenhout trees. Keep your eyes peeled for grey rhebuck, klipspringer, mongoose and hare, as well as peregrine falcon, Verreaux’s eagle, waterbirds and species associated with fynbos. While you probably won’t be lucky enough to see a Cape leopard, it’s enough to know they roam these parts. And that down by the coast, whales are regularly spotted.
The power of nature
This is a place where birdsong is more commonplace than tweets and Facebook makes way for face time. Once you turn off onto the gravel road into the reserve, you’ll be leaving behind cellphone signal – as well as the stresses of being permanently connected.
Time at Kogelberg’s cabins is ideal for a digital detox. Without the distraction of TV and technology, you can focus wholly on the bounty of nature and reconnecting with your loved ones. All the spaces are made for unwinding in nature’s embrace: kick back on the deck or open the stackable doors to let the great outdoors inside. On balmy days, there’s no better place to relax than poolside, the water as clear and natural as the Palmiet River thanks to reed filtration.
Touching the earth lightly
The eco-pool is just one of several eco-friendly solutions to ensure Kogeberg’s new cabins are kind to the environment. For starters, they are constructed from wood so they can perch on small concrete pad foundations. Because the cabins are raised off the ground, they allow groundwater and all manner of critters to pass below. The roof garden, which is planted with indigenous grasses, is more than a pretty touch. It not only helps the lodgings blend in with the surrounds, it actually also moderates the temperature inside.
Solar water heating, LED lighting, a gas stove and a fireplace in each unit keep the use of energy low, while water-saving devices and composting toilets reduce water use. What’s more, the cabins have been designed to make use of the sun and cross ventilation to keep the indoors pleasantly mild – no air-con required. They’re also cleverly orientated to offer protection against the prevailing summer wind and make the most of the sweeping views.
Whereas most of modern life moves you away from nature, Kogelberg brings you closer to living in harmony with the planet. From the moment you wake to sun on the mountain peaks until you fall asleep to Mother Nature’s soundtrack, you’ll be rewarded with moments to remember. With all the required Covid-19 measures in place, Kogelberg is just the place to feed your soul.
Book for Kogelberg eco-cabins
The award-winning Kogelberg Nature Reserve's new modern eco-cabins and eco pods called the Mbali collection is now open. Be the first to book at Kogelberg and enjoy the season’s beauty in a spectacular setting. Click here to book.
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