Situated in between Hartbeespoort Dam and the Magaliesberg, the B’sorah Luxury Tented Camp provides guests with a picturesque and relaxing weekend getaway under an hour from Gauteng. This destination is ideal for people who enjoy activities such as hiking, mountain biking, and watching birds.
The name B’sorah means “The Good News,” and in this case, the great news is that this destination for a weekend getaway, which is also an operating farm, is easily accessible for people who live in Gauteng.
“On this 1,600-acre cattle farm, we are the fifth generation of our family to raise cattle. According to Natalie Durr, who lives in the house with her family, “the home was built more than a hundred years ago after my ancestors purchased the farm toward the end of the 19th century.”
The conflicts that were fought on these mountains in the past are attested to by the wrecks of an old house that was destroyed by fire during the Second Boer War. Presently, Natalie, her husband Alex, and their son Nicholas are in charge of the many operations that take place on the farm. Whilst Natalie and Nicholas are managing the hospitality and tourism, Alex sees to it that the farming operations run smoothly.
Luxury Lodging
While upscale camping, also known as glamping or glamorous camping, is the primary draw at the farm, guests also have the option of staying in more traditional accommodations. Nicholas says, “We offer a luxury honeymoon tent that starts at R1 600/unit/night, 4 luxury tents that start at R1 400/unit/night, and 3 rustic bush campgrounds that start at R250/unit/night for 2; extra visitors are an additional charge.”
Every one of the four discreetly located luxury tents has a bed that is the size of a queen and can accommodate two people at a time. There is a limited amount of solar power available here, but it is sufficient to power the lamps and a small refrigerator. It is possible to charge mobile phones, but blow dryers and other electrical devices that draw a lot of current are not permitted.
The kitchen comes fully equipped with cutlery, crockery, and a two-burner gas stovetop, and each of the units has an attached bathroom with a spacious shower. There is a fire pit and a braai grid located outside; this area provides the perfect setting for enjoying a cup of coffee in the early hours while listening to the birdsong. Donkey boilers are used to produce hot water, and visitors are requested not to “feed the donkeys” because the night watch is in charge of managing the boilers.
Regrettably, the luxury tents do not permit guests to bring their pets with them. Swempie, also known as the honeymoon tent, provides sleeping accommodations for two people and is located on a hill separate from the other four luxury tents. Its amenities are comparable to those found in the luxury tents, with the exception that it is completely wired for electricity and includes a bathroom as well as a Weber braai. In addition to that, it provides the best outlook of the farm from above.
Guests are welcome to bring their canine companions along as long as they keep them on a lead at all times. At a distance of at least 500 meters from one another, the three private bush camps are ideal for those who are enthusiastic about 4×4 vehicles. Each of the camps has space for up to eight people.
One of the campsites even has a shower that is warmed by a donkey, in addition to the fire pit and the pit toilet that are provided at each location. Campers who wish to make use of these amenities will need to bring all of their own supplies, as there is neither electricity nor running water at this location.
However, there is an additional charge involved when filling a donkey. You are welcome to bring your canine or feline companion with you. The location of the event features a hall for holding meetings in addition to a sizable shaded area where guests can pitch their own tents.
Trekking And Biking On the Nearby Trails
The hiking and mountain biking trails, in addition to the available lodging, are the primary attractions for tourists who come to the area. Walking trails are labeled and vary from 4km to 15km. The first one is the one that follows the Skeerpoot River and provides hikers with entry to a rock pool in which they can relax and cool off. There is to be no fishing permitted.
The mountain biking trails, which can be anywhere from 7 to 30 kilometers in length, are treated separately from the hiking trails. Day visitors can experience the trails from Sunday through Friday for a fee of R50 per adult and R30 per child under the age of 12; there is no fee for dogs. In addition, there are two picnic areas, each with its own barbecue. Free trail exploration is available to overnight guests at this campground.
The Surrounding Vegetation
On the farm, there are several invasive plant species, including syringa and firethorn, both of which, when removed, is used as a source of wood for the donkey boilers. There is a small section of the farm that is home to the black monkey orange tree, which is an extremely rare find in this part of the country.
Although raptors are frequently spotted in this area, there is no formal bird list that has been compiled. There have been sightings of animals such as the brown hyena, the jackal, the impala, the kudu, the waterbuck, the eland, the nyala, the reedbuck, the blesbok, the steenbok, the genet, the serval, the caracal, and the warthog. The brown hyena is seen very infrequently.
There is a good chance of spotting at least a few of the antelope species noted within the vicinity of the luxury tents and 4×4 campsites.
Agriculture-Related Activities
Alex says that they have a Brahman stud as well as a Beefmaster stud on the farm. The studs are only utilized for sexual activity during the breeding process. In addition, there are 12 hectares (ha) planted with Rhodes grass on the farm. These hectares receive irrigation and are used to replenish the livestock’s natural pastures.
Although there are no farm tours available, visitors who go hiking or biking may run into cattle in the area. Alex assures me that despite the fact that these curious animals frequently approach hikers, there is no reason to be concerned because the cattle have calm dispositions.
However, visitors are cautioned not to get too close to the cows while they are nursing their young. About half of the farm’s annual total revenue comes from farming, and the other half comes from hospitality operations. The fact that the national COVID-19 lockdown took place, as stated by the Durrs, “affirmed that we can’t put all of our eggs in one basket and must broaden our business.”