The 10 best Ranches in South Africa, South Africa

Oaksrest Vineyards Guest Farm is 3 Star Graded and nestled in the fertile valley of Dwarsriver,10 minutes’ drive from Ladismith at the foot of the legendary Towerkop, the second highest mountain peak in the Western Cape, and surrounded by spectacular fruit orchards and wine and table grape vineyards.Oaksrest Vineyards Guest Farm welcomes the tired soul of the travelling guest. The unhurried pace of country life, splendour and natural beauty of the Klein Karoo, great hospitality and the crisp feel of fresh air will again invigorate and awaken the fire inside.Oaksrest Vineyards is a working wine and table grape guest farm and is a versatile venue. It doesn’t only cater as accommodation, but is also a superb venue for different functions; from weddings, birthdays and reunions to seminars and year-end functions.The farm has also played host to several successful school leadership and youth camps, and offers a choice of bed and breakfast , self-catering and back packers accommodation which caters for up to a group of 42.

Dragon Peaks Mountain Resort is a family resort situated in the heart of the Champagne Valley, Central Drakensberg. The resort offers a variety of accommodation types to suit the whole family. Our accommodation ranges from camping and caravan sites through to numerous self-catering options. We offer from our most affordable Drakensberg Park Homes which are 2* through to our newly built 4* Lakeside Suites.

St Ives Lodge & Venue is situated in the heart of the Midlands Meander & close to most wedding venues, our Lodge accomodation is suited for all types of Travellers, Families & Romatics. The accredited 4 star accomodation comes with aircon, Fireplace and Bathroom on suite in all our rooms & use of our large pool area with braais. Boasting 3 Bass fishing dams for our guests as well as Running Trails, BOMA Pizza Bar with Kiddies Play area, Rholands Dining Room casual restaurant Shopping accross the road & picturesque views. Staying at St Ives will for ever change your travels through the Midlands Meander KZN.

Located en route to the Cango Caves, De Oude Meul Country Lodge lies nestled at the foothills of the majestic Swartberg Mountains, in Oudtshoorn, Garden Route. The Lodge is situated in the beautiful Schoemanspoort, halfway between Oudtshoorn and the world famous Cango Caves on the R328. To overnight on this beautiful farm is an unforgettable experience. The lodge is surrounded by mountains, which together with the exotic plants of the Klein Karoo create a quiet serene atmosphere.

Luxury self-catering units in the heart of the Kruger National Park region. Each lodge has two bedrooms (1 double and 1 twin) with en-suite bathrooms and outside shower, lounge with satellite TV, a fully equipped kitchen and a terrace with separate bbq area. The Lodge has a small swimming pool with sun beds and the small but lively town of Hoedspruit is but a stone throw away.

Only 7km outside Oudtshoorn, in the Garden Route, surrounded by the famous Swartberg and Outeniqua mountains, is one of the world's 17 "hot spots" with 3 overlapping flower zones. Surrounded by variety attractions like ostrich farms, longest wine route in the world (R 62), Cango caves, Wildlife ranch, waterfalls and museums, makes this the ideal destination for a visit or a stay over in the Klein Karoo. This owner managed, 3000 hectare working lusern farm, is malaria free, and child friendly. De Zeekoe offers a unique in the world opportunity to walk with Wild Meerkats (Meerkat adventures) and to be part of the shy 5 experience!From self catering to luxurious accommodation. De Zeekoe offers the following:• Wild Meerkat tours, home to the "shy five"• Accommodation: From Standard to Superior rooms ( 21 ) Rooms with views of mountains and gardens; 4 Waterfront cabins ; 3 x Private cottages with own pool. Wheelchair friendly rooms• Restaurant with fresh farm produce and free range meat• Cocktail Bar * Biking - bikes to rent• Community project with local school• Fishing - own equipment• Hiking• Going green with recycling , solar panels etc• Birding ( 162 species ) - private bird tours• Canoeing• Self guided walks• Massage relax zone - pre book• Swimming pool

Set in the picturesque Tulbagh valley lies a "little piece of heaven" on this family owner fruit farm. Spoil the one you love in a luxury tree house complete with spa bath, breakfast in bed and endless mountain views.If you would like to spoil the family try the deluxe self catering tree lodge. All you need for a home away from home, sleeping up to 8 people. Complete with private swimming pool and garden.If you are on a budget try the fully equipped self catering cottages for a simply farm retreat.Onsite spoils include a Day Spa offering a wide range of therapies including couples massage, a licensed deli filled with homemade treats and eats, wedding and conference venue, swimming pool, fishing, cycle hire and game viewing.

Field and Stream is 9 km on the Tonteldoos Road, outside of Dullstroom on the Mpumalanga Highland grasslands. The farm is ideal for couples, families or groups wanting to escape the business of city life. Whether you enjoy trout fishing in dams or on a river, walking, hiking, mountain biking, bird watching or just relaxing, the farm offers you the opportunity to relax and recharge. The farm also has a clay pigeon shooting range and the Wingers Bush Bar which is open every Saturday and on request (if more than four people) at other times of the week. The farm is also suitable for more informal corporate retreats. Field and Stream has a great diversity of Mpumalanga's grassland birds and plants, and for the more focussed, a plethora of dragonflies and other insects. Blesbuck, Grey Rhebuck, Mountain Reedbuck, Duikers, Fallow Deer, Cape Otters, Sidestriped and Blackbacked Jackals, Serval, Caracal, Brown Hyena, Aardvark, Bushpig, Warthog, monkeys and baboons are present on the farm and are regularly seen by guests. Field and Stream has five streams originating on the farm, all tributaries of the Witpoort River, The many pools along these streams, and the three waterfalls on the farm offer a guest great opportunities for picnics and cool swims. The three dams and Witpoort River are all stocked with Rainbow Trout and the farm is well known for its good fly fishing in the area. Note though that the River is closed to fishing between 1 May and 30 August. It has five self catering cottages in a farm setting. There are two six to eight sleepers - Cormorant Cove and Eagle Crest which overlook Meike's Meer. The Lodge is a 10 sleeper unit, within very close walking distance of William's Favourite, a weir. The Farmstead is a pet friendly six sleeper unit. The Nest is a pet friendly two sleeper unit. In total, the farm can accommodate up to 30 people. A high clearance vehicle is preferable, but if driven with care, normal cars can be used.

De Denne Country Guest House gives you tranquillity, spectacular views and soul touching moments. Sunsets you will never find elsewhere and hospitality to make you feel at home. Our accommodation comprises of 8 beautiful cottages and 5 ensuite bedrooms with views of the surrounding farmlands and majestic mountains.We also serve light meals in addition to our most popular BBQ Dinners.Perfect for romantic getaways or family fun time.Modern amenities with an old world charm – let the Little Karoo surround you!

Enjo Nature Farm is situated far from the main tourist tracks, within the unspoilt Biedouw Valley of the Cederberg mountains. The valley is known for its magnificent spring flowers from July till September and incredibly beautiful landscape. Enjoy the quiet beauty and millions of stars at night. There are also wonderful hiking trails on the farm to the Enjo Amphitheatre and to the spring which feeds our drinking water and a stunning swimming dam with wooden decks and sunbeds. Choose between exploring the area on your mountain bike or motorbike. A natural dam is also on our farm with paddle skis and a canoe. Close by you will find the Wupperthal Missionary Village with its hand-made shoe factory and rooibos tea shop, while a visit to the Sevilla rock art trail with its rock paintings and caves is a must. On Enjo Nature Farm you will find relaxing accommodation next to the river and enjoy complete privacy and great views of the Paardeberg mountains. The farm offers different accommodation options, from self-catering chalets to camping. Each self-catering chalet boasts great views, an indoor fireplace, a barbecue area and some have their very own jacuzzi. Our Lonely Planet Cottage is a special one as its positioned very remote and runs with Solar and Gas instead of Eskom. Due to its remoteness we do not clean it in between every booking and expect you to leave it as you find it. On arrival you are given a basket with bedding and all you need which you return with your check out. We have three nice camp sites with braai facilities, water and electricity points. There is a nice hot water ablution block and dish washing facility. Because the farm has been a sheep and goat farm for almost 200 years we decided to continue this tradition and started farming with the wild sheep breed called Damara. Every sheep has its own looks and colours. Some examples you will find in our padding zoo for kids during lambing season. We also started farming with a succulent plant called Hoodia. While the San bushmen used to eat that plant to survive in the desert it is now used as a appetite suppressant. The Hoodia is indigenous in the Biedouw Valley. The main farm house still has its original cedar wood doors and yellow wood ceilings. The one meter thick walls out of stone and clay where made to last forever.