Olive Tree Farm

Ashleigh, the farm owner, was warm and helpful, giving us maps, water, and useful details for the hike. The 10 km Olive Tree Farm trail was beautiful, with plenty of birds and mammals, no litter or obvious soil erosion, and we felt completely safe. After our morning hike, we had lunch at the Black Horse Restaurant, about 6 km away. The farmstead was beautifully kept, with neat lawns and clear firebreaks around the edges. The entrance was easy to find, the roads to the farmstead were paved and in good condition, and we parked safely beneath shady trees on the front lawn. I took three friends along and would have no hesitation recommending the experience.

The trail was easy enough that kids could manage it, as long as they can stay quiet enough not to scare the animals. It was pristine and well marked, the cleanest hike I’ve done in a while, and the two lookout points had spectacular views. We booked a day hike and Ashleigh greeted us early, cheerful and friendly. She’d been helpful throughout our earlier messages and gave us a thorough briefing on the routes and animals we might see. I’ll definitely return.

We enjoyed the peaceful location, roomy units, and decent beds, and Kenny the caretaker was friendly and helpful. But the stay felt pricey for what we got, especially compared with the service at other places in the area. Getting in was frustrating: the main gate was locked and we hadn’t been told how to let anyone know we’d arrived. It took several tries to reach Ash. We were also told the generator would start during load shedding, but it didn’t on the first night, leaving us in the dark. It did come on the second night, when the owners were at the main house. Our two units were missing some utensils and cutlery. We could share between them, but it would be frustrating if you were staying in just one.

We enjoyed the hike, and even saw a few animals along the way. The trails were manageable even for people who aren’t fit. Ash, our friendly and engaging host, made us feel welcome. We’ll definitely go back.