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| ethical accommodation |
rosedale organic farm bed and breakfast
description: Rosedale Organic Farm is situated 45 minutes north of Port Elizabeth and 10 minutes from the Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape Province. A visit to the Addo area is a natural extension of a trip along the Garden Route, and offers a great opportunity to see the ‘big 5’ or even the ‘big 7’ if one includes the Great White sharks and whales in the Bird Island Marine Reserve. Guided tours, night drives, a visit to a reptile and raptor centre are a few of the interesting activities that are on offer in the valley. The Addo Elephant National Park is a wonderful conservation success story. In 1921 there were only 15 elephants left from a herd that had been ruthlessly hunted. These elephants became protected, and the Park has grown to over 160000ha, and the elephants number in excess of 400. The Park offers some of the best elephant viewing on the planet.
But Addo is a lot more than just wildlife adventures. Horseback rides are offered at the Park, and there are Elephant back rides in the Zuurberg mountains. Walks in the mountains or through the Alexandria forests and dunefields offer varied and interesting day trips. For visitors with an interest in flora, the Addo Park and surrounding areas show a huge range of vegetation types, as a result , primarily, of our all year round, but low, rainfall. Species diversity is large, and flowers range from insignificant to large and showy. The area has some of the most easterly pockets of ‘fynbos’ in the country. The Park itself comprises 5 of South Africa’s 7 biomes. This wide range of habitats supports many bird species – more than 250 in the valley. In the Addo area 3 great economic activities come together – conservation, tourism and farming. Although in many areas of the world these are in conflict with one another, we are developing a way to integrate them in a way that is mutually supportive and beneficial. By farming organically, we combine natures ancient processes and modern techniques in ways that show our respect for nature, while at the same time, make a living in a sustainable way. Our farming practices try to maintain biodiversity and complexity as is seen in natural systems.
accommodation: We are able to offer our guests the opportunity of staying on this peaceful and safe farm, surrounded by citrus orchards, and, in addition, can offer a guided walking tour of the farm to demonstrate our farming practices. Our
guest rooms are built in the ‘Cape Fisherman Cottage’ style, with
thatch roofs. Hi tech solar
heaters provide hot water, and low energy lighting reduces electricity
demand. Air conditioners are not needed – we make use of cooling evening
breezes and the insulating properties of thatch to keep the cottages cool.
Drinking water is harvested from the main farmhouse, and grey water is
treated naturally and used for watering the windbreak trees. We use a
range of ‘soft’ formulations for cleaning and washing. We have been
granted 3 star status by TGCSA and 'Highly Reccommended' by the AA. We offer our guests as much organic food as we can source or grow. Home made organic bread, made from freshly ground wheat and smothered in farm marmalade or honey will give you a great nutritional start for the day. We welcome you to stay with us for a fun filled, educational and low impact holiday.
farm worker John Muku stands next to a Euphorbia which flowers one day a year
contact
details: Tel +27 (0)42 2330404 Mobile 083 3298775 Post: Rosedale Farm PO Box 117 Addo 6105 South Africa
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