Harkerville Forest Lodge |
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| Country |
| South Africa |
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| Province/State |
| WESTERN CAPE |
| City |
| Harkerville |
| Physical Address |
| Off the N2 on Harkerville Road between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay |
| Postal Address |
| P.O. Box 1, Harkerville, 6604, South Africa |
| Telephone Number |
Backpack Africa call centre telephone no:
+27 (0)11 880 5108 |
| Fax Number |
Backpack Africa call centre fax no:
+27 (0)11 880 5655 |
| Cell Number |
Backpack Africa after hours no:
+27 (0)82 490 1229
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Location
 Harkerville Lodge is situated on the "Golden Mile" of the GARDEN ROUTE, 15 km from Plettenberg Bay, known as the French Riviera of South Africa and 23 km from Knysna - the capital of the timber industry of South Africa and the heart of the Garden Route. Follow the N2, take the Harkerville turn-off, follow the signs for approximately 1 kilometer.
South Africa, especially the Garden Route is blessed with exceptional natural beauty, pristine coastlines, indigenous forest and sweeping mountain ranges and the Harkerville Backpackers Lodge is situated in the heart of all of this.
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Accommodation and tarrifs
 Harkerville Lodge offers two eight-bed and nine four-bed dormitories, with full use of the fully equipped kitchen. Tent-camping facilities next to the Backpackers is also available. To top this, we offer a two-bed tree house for that breakaway with a difference! A fully equipped four-bed self-catering flat for those who prefer a little more privacy is also available. A tea garden on the deck with adjacent swimming pool enhances the lodge.
The Lodge is also wheelchair friendly. Self-catering and restaurant facilities are available. Telephone, fax and Internet facilities are available for the use of backpackers.
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Adventure and other activities
 Within walking distance we offer scenic hiking trails, mountain biking and horse riding. The mountain biking offers one to five day trails, varying in difficulty. Hiking trails in the forest enable you to explore the forest in all its aspects. Trails differ from less than a kilometer to a two-day trail. On this scenic trail you might just spot leopard, caracul, bushbuck, Knysna loerie and numerous other indigenous animal and birdlife. Adrenalin adventures include a staggering 220m bungi jump from a bridge, blackwater tubing on the Keurbooms river, scuba diving, canoe trips down the Bitou river, golf and shark-cage diving. Whale watching in season - from the beach, a boat or even from an aeroplane! Ferry trips on the Keurboom river are done by Keurboom River Ferries.In Knysna the John Benn, Rivercats and Knysna Ferries take you on the Knysna estuary from where you have spectacular views of the famous and notorious Knysna Heads.Fishing opportunities for the eager angler are also a popular past time for locals and tourists alike. Visit Harry, Sally and Duma - three adorable little African elephants at the Elephant park. This is your chance to get real close to one of Africa's big five.The Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe takes you on a nostalgic trip on this 1896 class 24 or class 19 steam locomotive. See the best of the picturesque coastline while you travel through the enchanting scenery. Go on a boat trip through Ocean Adventures and swim with the dolphins in the bay.
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Abseil Africa
 We start the day at 09:00 at HARKERVILLE FOREST LODGE and depart for Kranshoek Forest, a majestic world of ancient trees, colourful birds, scratchy baboons and the odd rambling elephant.
On arrival, we practice abseiling on a 20m drop, giving you confidence to enjoy the thrilling beauty of 'The Big Slippery', a 90m waterfall abseil. You are going down....... to a wonderland of bright green ferns, mossy pebbles and crystal clear streams. We meander down the stream’s course, ‘foefie-slide’ over the ‘three dwarfs’, three fun baby waterfalls. The final hike home offers panoramic views of the indigenous forest and waterfalls.
Experience the forest ecology first-hand with our knowledgeable instructors. No experience needed, just reasonable fitness, sturdy walking shoes, and a passion for adventure and the outdoors. Other adrenaline adventures include a staggering 220 metre bungi jump from a bridge, blackwater tubing on the Storms River, scuba diving, canoe trips down the Bitou and Bitou and Keurbooms rivers, and golf.
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Garden Route & Little Karoo Tours
 Exciting tours to Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of the world where you can visit the mysterious Cango Caves, Cango Wildlife Ranch with cheetahs and crocodiles, Cango Ostrich and Butterfly farm - where you can even try staying on top of an ostrich! Spectacular architecture from the feather boom many years ago can be seen all over the Oudtshoorn-area.
The spectacular Swartberg Pass, built by Thomas Bain, with magnificent views was declared a national monument and is another must on your tour.
Other trips take you to Tsitsikamma National Park, a marine reserve with isolated coastline with a unique underwater trail for divers and scuba freaks. In Robberg Nature Reserve you can view remains of Bushmen-tradition and drawings in Nelson's Cave. Natures Valley, Kranshoek and Wittedrift - all offer outstanding hiking trails.
Day trips to see the famous big tree - a giant yellowwood tree in the heart of the forest, estimated to be 600 years old.
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Special Events
Arrange your visit to the Garden Route to coincide with one of the many festivals taking place in the area.
In July, one of five worldwide Oyster Festivals takes place in Knysna and annually attracts thousands of visitors. This includes a Forest Marathon and a Cycle Tour, with regular foreign entries, even teams of up to 350 participants!
A Knysna Art and Cultural festival at the end of September with some of South Africa's best artists, visual and performing come together.
Plettfest, also in September, an annual festival in Plettenberg Bay combines art, culture and craft to everyone's delight.
An eco-festival in George during August and a Tsitsikamma Festival is to name but a few of this festivities.
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What to do at night
Night life shuttles to Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. Knysna and Plettenberg Bay both offer movie houses with a variety of releases to be seen. Various pubs and restaurants offer live music every night and provide night-life alternatives.
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How do I get there?
The resident shuttle service, BIG FOOT EXPRESS, offers a shuttle service to take you to all the exciting destinations and tours at reasonable prices.
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Braai/Barbeque,Swimming Pool,Table Tennis,Games Room,Television,Pay phone
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ACTIVITIES |
| On-site Activities |
| Abseiling,Bird - Watching,Day Tours,Hiking |
| Off-site Activities |
| Abseiling,Angling,Bird - Watching,Budget Tours and Safaris,Canoeing,Clay Pigeon Shooting,Climbing,Diving,Game Drives,Game Walks,Golf,Hiking,Horse Riding,Kloofing,Micro-lighting,Parachuting / Sky Diving,Sand Boarding,Sight-seeing,Sunset Cruise |
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All prices quoted on this page are in the native currency of South Africa
To see these prices quoted in your currency, please select a currency from the list and wait for the amount to display! |
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ADDITIONAL INFO |
GROUP EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMMODATION
 Our “Backpacker” is ideal for school camps and outings. We offer group accommodation for 66 people, with full use of a small kitchen. Affordable rates on Dinner, Bed and Breakfast packages are available with reasonable tariffs.
BR>Tent-camping facilities next to the Lodge are also available. To top this, we offer a two-bed tree house for that breakaway with a difference!
A fully equipped licenced bar with pool table, satellite TV, a swimming pool and volley ball court, also enhance the Lodge.
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The following activities are available:
 Horse riding, Cycling, "Foefie slide" (115m long cable slide), and Forest walks. A highlight is our Night Forest Walk.
The Lodge is ideal for Eco-educational courses because of our close proximity to nature and an environment that creates good opportunities for learning and experiencing nature.
We offer some of the best activities to dream about in our immediate surroundings, especially for school groups, like:
1. Karoo Excursion
Here you will be able to visit the famous CANGO CAVES, this subterranean wonder is made up of five limestone caves, one which is 18 km long and was declared a national monument in 1938. Stalagmites and stalactites of over 9m long can be seen in this wonder of nature. SAFARI OSTRICH FARM will be our next stop as well as CANGO WILDLIFE RANCH. Spectacular architecture from the Ostrich Feather boom many years ago can be seen all over Oudtshoorn.
2. Choo-Choo / Railway-day
Take a ride on the OUTENIQUA CHOO- TJOE - The Garden Route’s very own steamtrain. It will takes you on a nostalgic trip from Knysna to George on this 1896 class 24 or class 19 steam locomotive. See the best of the picturesque coastline while you travel through the enchanting scenery.
3. Boat Cruise
In Knysna the JOHN BENN, RIVER CATS or KNYSNA FERRIES take you on the Knysna estuary, from where you have spectacular views of the famous and notorious Knysna Heads. Enjoy a 4 X 4-drawn trailer ride that takes you to the top of The Western Head and hike back along the Bushbuck trail. This is your chance to meet William Smith, maths fanatic and producer of A Word or 2, and the Learning Channel on SABC TV.
4. Circles in The Forest
This day will offer you The Knysna Forest in its glory, from small trees to"The Big Tree" a yellowwood tree, estimated to be over 600 years old,is another sight worth seeing. GARDEN of EDEN, a convenient stop with a shortwalk in the forest, where Forestry officials have attached ID tags on various species of indigenous trees. At MILLWOOD HOUSE MUSEUM, in Knysna, unique old photographs of Millwood in bygone days and scenes of old Knysna bring history to life. You can even visit the actual MILLWOOD GOLDMINES deep in the heart of the forest, where you can see the mine shaft and old mining equipment. You can even visit a Furniture factory in town to see how handy craftsmen enjoy their trade.
5. Tsitsikamma
Today we travel east and visit NATURES VALLEY while traveling through the BLAAUWKRANS and GROOTRIVIER passes, both built by Thomas Bain in the 1800's. We stop at the world's highest bungy at the Blaauwkrans bridge, a staggering 221m,no strings attached. TSITSIKAMMA NATIONAL PARK, a 80 km marine reserve with isolated coastline and a unique underwater trail for divers and scuba freaks as well as MONKEYLAND, a primate sanctuary which is a living experience that will stay with you forever. Optional extra, the Blackwater tubing with Storms River Adventures.
6. Harkerville Experience
ELEPHANT PARK: This tribute to the African Elephant is not to be missed, Harry, Sally and Duma, our 3 African Elephants, want to meet you. This is your chance to get real close to one of Africa's big five. KRANSHOEK view point: where you can drive through unspoilt forest for 6 km that reaches down to the rugged cliff-bound coast, where there are delightful places to picnic and an excellent vantage point for rock anglers.
You can also do the HARKERVILLE COASTAL HIKING TRAIL, a 4 - 5 hour hike with views of the ocean, "fynbos" and indigenous forest. The PERDEKOP TRAIL is also there for those who are not so fit, a 9.5km easy trail, mostly under the forest canopy.
7. Plettenberg Bay
Close to Plettenberg Bay you will find ROBBERG NATURE RESERVE where you have a choice of three different hikes around the Robberg Peninsula, with a stop-over at Nelson’s Cave where you can view remains of Bushmen-tradition and drawings.OCEAN SAFARIS will help you discover the world of whales, dolphins, seals,sharks and marine birds around Plettenberg Bay. The old TIMBER SHED near the Main Beach was used to store timber before it was exported to other countries.The Beacon Island Hotel is build on the site of the old WHALING STATION where whales were brought and slaughtered for their blubber. Once Plettenberg Bay had a large industry in whale hunting.
8. Big Foot Express
Our own BIG FOOT EXPRESS, resident Taxi Shuttle to HARKERVILLE FOREST LODGE offers a transport solution to all your transport needs in our area. We have from 16 to 64-seater busses available to do the transport in our area, if needed. Jump on Inter Cape, Greyhound or Translux. We will pick you up in Knysna or Plettenberg Bay, at one of the bus stops. You are welcome to make use of your own transport.
If you need any more information, either send us an email, or phone or fax us,and we will gladly assist you and your school to arrange a suitable package to meet your needs.
Our Group Prices are as follows for groups more than 30 people:
Prices valid till end November 2003.
High Schools and Adult Groups In Season Out of Season
Accommodation only R35.00 pp R25.00 pp
Bed & Breakfast R55.00 pp R45.00 pp
Dinner, Bed & Breakfast R85.00 pp R75.00 pp
Primary Schools
Accommodation only R35.00 pp R25.00 pp
Bed & Breakfast R50.00 pp R40.00 pp
Dinner, Bed & Breakfast R75.00 pp R65.00 pp
Out of Season - From 1 May to 31 August
In Season - From 1 September to 30 April (Excluding December holidays)
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Location
We are located Off the N2 on Harkerville Road between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. Follow the N2, take the Harkerville turnoff, follow the signs for approximately 1 kilometre.
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