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Activities offered at Elandsfontein
Quad Bike Fossil Safari
Guest are invited to explore Elandsfontein's fossil heritage on a guided quad bike safari. The dunes on Elandsfontein are the final resting place of early humans and animals that date back to the early Stone Age. The safari includes a rest stop where light refreshments are served. All quad bikes have fully automatic gearboxes to ensure that even novice riders can enjoy this unique experience. To manage the impact on the dunes the number of quad bikes is limited to eight, but each quad bike is big enough for two passengers.
4x4 Nature Drives
Some of the species which guests may expect to see on the 3 hour nature drive include Eland, Hartebeest, Zebra, Wildebeest, Oryx, Kudu, Bontebuck, Springbuck and Cape Buffalo, the first of the big five to be reintroduced into the reserve. Unspoilt nature and rich and diverse birdlife complete the experience. The safari includes a rest stop where light refreshments are served.
4x4 Nature Drive and Candlelight Dinner
After the Nature Drive, enjoy an exquisite 3 course candlelight dinner while the sun disappears over the horizon only the be replaced by thousands of stars in the African sky. Depending on weather conditions the dinner will be hosted either at The Sonqua Manor, on the wooden deck next to the swimming pool or in the outdoor boma.
Scenic Air Charters
The scenic air charters are to be combined with one of the previous activities, it is not available separately. Enjoy a scenic flight of between ½ and 2 hours over the West Coast. Different route options are available. As this service is rendered by a third party all prices are subject to change. Bookings minimum 2 passengers, maximum nine. All flights subject to aircraft availability and weather conditions.
Location / Direction to Elandsfontein Sonqua Manor
Traveling from Cape Town:
Traveling north on the R27 (West Coast Road) from Cape Town in the direction of Langebaan / Veldrif. Elandsfontein is on your right, 30 km after the Yzerfontein Turnoff and 9 km before the Langebaan turnoff.
After turning into the Elandsfontein access road follow the road for about 2km until you reach the 4X4 sign. You will be met by an Elandsfontein employee for your transfer to Sonqua Manor.
Traveling towards Cape Town:
Traveling south on the R27 (West Coast Road) from Veldrif in the direction of Cape Town. Elandsfontein is on your left, 9 km after the Langebaan Turnoff.
After turning into the Elandsfontein access road follow the road for about 2km until you reach the 4X4 sign. You will be met by an Elandsfontein employee for your transfer to Sonqua Manor.
Elandsfontein accommodation: The 5 star Sonqua Manor
In 2008 Elandsfontein opened its first safari villa, The Sonqua Manor. The luxury manor offers guests four spacious ensuite bedrooms, an interactive kitchen as well as a butler, ranger and chef. Sonqua Manor received a 5-star grading from the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa which makes it the only 5-star safari lodge on the West Coast as well as the only 5-star lodge within one hour's drive from Cape Town.
Set in a beautiful location with sweeping views of fynbos surrounded by gently rolling hills, Sonqua Manor's four spacious and luxurious suites feature unique sliding panel windows with sweeping views of the surrounding fynbos. A beautiful combination of timber, thatch and screeded cement, airy free flowing spaces, breathtakingly stylish and sophisticated, yet refreshingly simple. Natural fibers and textures characterize the elegant interiors.
Sonqua Manor at Elandsfontein is suitable for families accommodating up to 8 guests. An interactive kitchen allows for intimate, informal dining and a beautiful pool provides respite from the heat of the day.
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ELANDSFONTEIN NATURE RESERVE /
WESTERN CAPE GAME RESERVE |
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The Elandsfontein Private Nature Reserve is a 6000 hectare nature reserve located on the Cape West Coast which is approximately a one hour's drive on the R27 from Cape Town away, adjacent to the West Coast National Park, Western Cape Province, South Africa.
The game and fynbos Elandsfontein nature reserve is home to the largest inward relocation of game in the history of the Western Cape in South Africa. Today more than 600 animals, including the Cape Buffalo, Eland, Gemsbok (Oryx), Hartebeest, Vaal Ribbok, Bontebok, Kudu, Springbok, Cape Grey Buck, Black Wildebeest and Zebra freely roam within the Elandsfontein reserve. World renowned fossil deposits located on the reserve, the rich birdlife, the unique flora and fauna as well as the luxurious accommodation make the Elandsfontein Private Nature Reserve on South Africa's West Coast a truly memorable safari destination.
The safari villa at Elandsfontein is called Sonqua Manor. The luxury manor offers guests four spacious ensuite bedrooms, an interactive kitchen as well as a butler, ranger and chef. Sonqua Manor received a 5-star grading from the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa which makes it the only 5-star safari lodge on the West Coast as well as the only 5-star lodge within one hour's drive from Cape Town.
Sonqua Manor is ideal for family celebrations, teambuilding and special occasion safaris accommodating up to 8 guests. An interactive kitchen allows for intimate, informal dining and a beautiful pool provides respite from the heat of the day.
Elandsfontein offers exhilarating safaris. With its own dedicated ranger and private 4x4 safari vehicle, Sonqua Manor offers a range of exceptional safari activities at no extra cost as well as an exciting range of optional extras.
Habitat:
Flora at Elandsfontein
Elandsfontein Private Nature Reserve lies within a globally unique bio-region, known as the Cape Floristic Region It is an area of frontal winter rainfall and summer droughts. The Cape Floristic Region, one of six global Floral Kingdoms, is by far the smallest representing 0.01% only of the world's land surface. The entire Cape Floristic Region is a declared a World Heritage Site due to its importance to global biodiversity. The range of plants and animals found in this area is very vulnerable to extinction, particularly in the face of extensive habitat destruction.
Over 70% of the 9500 plant species found in the Cape Floristic Region occur nowhere else on earth. The Fynbos biome is universally recognized as a critical global biodiversity hotspot with extremely high levels of threatened species.
Mammals at the Elandsfontein Nature Reserve, West Coast
Elandsfontein's 6000 hectares of rich and diverse habitats support a large number of game species. The Elandsfontein Private Nature Reserve has reintroduced around 300 animals into the reserve which is the biggest single inward translocation of wildlife in Western Cape history.
Species introduced to the Elandsfontein Nature Reserve include Eland together with Gemsbok, Hartebeest, Vaal Ribbok, Bontebok, Kudu, Springbok, Cape Grey Buck, Black Wildebeest and Zebra. A herd of Cape Buffalo has also been introduced as part of a ongoing program to reintroduce the big 5 into the reserve. As a direct result of the sound game management programs of the reserve the population of species like Duiker and Steenbuck have also made a remarkable recovery. Today nearly 600 animals freely roam the reserve.
Elandsfontein's Fossils
In 1953 Professor M.R. Drennan published the first description of an early human skull cap found at the Elandsfontein Private Nature Reserve. Since then various other international researchers have visited this site in South Africa to further excavations and research.
During the early 1980's Dr Graham Avery of the then South African Museum conducted further surveys and excavated a number of areas, which he described variously as death sites where large predators had left the skull and vertebrae of a very large mammal like a rhinoceros or long-horned giant buffalo, and accumulations of bones that he ascribed to brown hyena nursery dens. More recently Professor Richard Klein of Stanford University has led studies on the antelope and other fossils in the Iziko South African Museum's collections with Professor Kathy Cruz-Uribe (Northern Arizona University), Dr Teresa Steele and Dr Graham Avery.
From January 2009 Dr David Braun of the University of Cape Town will continue to excavate and research the site. No-one can describe the importance of the fossils better than Dr Braun. Following the application of a Mining Company to prospect for minerals in the Reserve Dr Braun wrote a letter to the Department of Mineral and Energy affairs describing the importance of the site.
The prolific Bird life at the Elandsfontein Nature Reserve, South Africa
With a list of over 250 bird species, Elandsfontein Private Nature Reserve holds two main attractions for both local and visiting birders. The first is of the promise of finding, with relative ease, at least 45 of southern Africa's endemic or near-endemic species within its boundaries. The second is of huge numbers of migratory waders, sometimes numbering in excess of 50 000 individuals, arriving at the southernmost point of their journey and spending the austral summer on the Langebaan lagoon.
Other Wildlife at Elandsfontein
Striped Mouse, Bush Karoo Rat, Small Grey Mongoose, Scrub Hare and Caracal are amongst those that you might be lucky enough to see and also keep a look out for the hundreds of Angulated Tortoises that cross the road. Sightings of the common Mole Snake and a healthy populations of Cape Cobra and Puffadder have also been recorded at Elandsfontein.
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