PHI | Watershed Farm

WATERSHED FARM

TWEE RIVIEREN NATURE RESERVE, SOUTHERN CEDERBERG

Life in the wilderness!

There’s something undeniably riveting about the raw, rugged terrain of the Cederberg. It summons the curious wanderer in us, eager to explore those parts unknown – both within the wilderness and within ourselves. Revered as an area of outstanding natural beauty – with her rocky valleys, flowing rivers, rare indigenous vegetation, diverse wildlife and enigmatic mountain ranges – the Cederberg puts us on a quest to go out and seek and discover. Perhaps to discover a vestige of the life once lived on an ancient land, in unity with the life we’d like to live for ourselves.

Serenely settled on over 35 hectares of land within the Twee Rivieren Private Nature Reserve, less than three hours drive from Cape Town, Watershed Farm beckons the intrepid voyager, to come, seek, discover and lay their hat. Neighbouring six other farms in the reserve, near Citrusdal, in a little valley resting between the Cedarberg and Groot Winterhoek Mountains, this hideaway is the idyllic escape into the abounding remoteness of nature, with the surety of a likeminded pioneer residing a few kilometres away, down the dirt road.

Contact David Untiedt at david@perfecthideaways.co.za +27 82 888 1734 Price R8.9 million R8,9 MILLION

WATERSHED FARM

Twee Rivieren Nature Reserve, Southern Cederberg

Emerging from the earth as if it’s an integral part of the rich red soil it occupies, the property spreads itself open-plan in the living, dining, cooking and reclining spaces. Contemporary essentials for life off-the-grid are seamlessly married with the natural elements of timber, stone and glass. Letting the magnificent landscape do all of the talking. Wood-burning stoves and solar panels temper the home perfectly. Whatever the weather, so as the seasons go, sun, wind or snow – the home cools and cocoons respectively. Its three bedrooms and accompanying bathrooms all maximise on the views of the valley, the mountains and the rivers. The long-decked verandah, looking out to the fire-pit and plunge pool is where you’ll be inclined to spend the majority of your time. With your hat, your binoculars, a hot morning brew or a chilled evening tipple.

For all of the other moments of the day you’ll be out on the hiking trails, traversing the mountain routes, exploring the caves, swimming in the rivers and natural pools. Contemplative moments of awe arrive in each activity. As you wade about in the perennial waters of the Twee Rivier, witnessing the Malachite Kingfisher dart through the reeds. As you gather around the fire-pit in the evenings and the flames mimic the tips of the mountains, transforming in the changing hour’s light. Admiring the Khoi San rock art in the shallow caves, as you look out over the land from a vantage point that remains as it did thousands of years ago. When the stars come out and dance across the vastness of darkness. The indelible moments of pondering the life you’ve discovered in this pristine pocket of wilderness.

As the current owner’s sentiment echoes, “We wanted our own piece of wilderness. There are so many beautiful places in the world, but so few of them have that feeling of remoteness. To have your own piece of unspoiled natural beauty, that’s yours and yours only, is what we dreamed of.”

Above all of its attributes, Watershed Farm is an opportunity for you to harness what you might have already discovered. A place to finely attune your clock with nature’s, entirely. Walk with the klipspringers, the grey reebok, the porcupines, the larger spotted genets and the mongooses. Spot the black eagles, the kingfishers, the occasional bat-eared foxes, the caracals, African wild cat and rare Cape leopard. Swim amongst the exceptionally rare and endangered Twee Rivier redfin fish and live amidst an ecosystem so complex and diverse you’ll be honoured to be a custodian of its land. As your children’s children will, too.