Group Educational Outings while staying with Harkerville Forest Lodge

The following activities are available in our area:
We are located within the boundaries of the Garden Route National Park, and therefore 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. Below you will find a sample itinerary, from where you can make various choices for your specific needs.

When staying with us, you will be able to visit some of the best activities to dream about in our immediate surroundings, especially for school groups.  We are also working close together with Keith Cretchley of Sport At Backward Point, situated in Knysna.  They offer tours to sporting festivals as well as educational tours in our region.  Contact Keith for Tailormade Sport Tours and training, while staying with us at Harkerville.

Click on the above highlighted links to contact them to give you more specific information regarding their establishments.

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 or HIGHGATE 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
The OUTENIQUA CHOO-CHOO is not running at the moment from Knysna, due to huge landslides, but hopefully will be open soon. At the moment they only operate The Power Van up and down the Outeniqua mountain, for the best views imaginable. You can then travel to Mossel Bay by road, and visit the Old Post Office Tree, and the full size replica of the Caravel. See the best of the picturesque coastline while you travel through the enchanting scenery.

3. Knysna 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.

4. Circles in The Forest
This day will offer you THE KNYSNA FOREST in its glory, from small trees to "The Big Tree" a giant yellowwood tree, estimated to be over 600 years old, is another sight worth seeing. GARDEN of EDEN, a convenient stop with a short walk in the forest, where SanParks 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. Whach out for the elusive KNYSNA ELEPHANTS. Here you will be met by Tony Cook of KNYSNA FOREST TOURS, who can take you on a tour of the Gold Mines and introduce you to Circles in the Forest, and Fiela's Child, both written by Dalene Matthee. If you want the adrenalin to flow in the forest, go on a guided mountain bike trail with Tony.

5. Tsitsikamma / The Crags
Here you travel east and visit NATURES VALLEY while traveling through the BLAAUWKRANS and GROOTRIVIER passes, both built by Thomas Bain in the 1800's. You stop at the world's highest bungi at the Blaauwkrans bridge, a staggering 221m, no stings 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 and BIRDS of EDEN, both in natural forest, is a living experience that will stay with you forever. Close you can also visit the ELEPHANT SANCTUARY, TENIKWA Wildlife Awareness Centre, and LAWNWOOD SNAKE SANCTUARY. Optional extras are BUNGI JUMPING with Face Adrenalin from Blaauwkrans Bridge, the highest Bridge in South Africa, and Blackwater tubing with STORMS RIVER ADVENTURES at the Storms River town.

6. Harkerville Experience
KNYSNA ELEPHANT PARK: This tribute to the African Elephant is not to be missed. This is your chance to get real close to one of Africa's big five. KRANSHOEK view point & coastal hike: 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 2 day 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. At BLUE HILLS BIRD FARM our special passion is breeding exotic birds.   EAGLE ENCOUNTERS, is a rehabilitation centre for birds of prey, and is a non-profit organisation.  They offer daily flying displays.  Close to us is NOAH'S WOLF SANCTUARY  where you can feed the wolves, and ADVENTURE LAND, where you can en joy a day of fun on their waterslides or in their swimming pools, or go on a quad ride.

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 TIMBERSHED near the Main Beach was used to store timber before it was exported to other countries. The Beacon Island Hotel is built 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.
A visit to PLETTENBERG BAY GAME PARK, on a 2000 hectare indigenous beauty is a must where you can see, from an open vehicle, Buffalo, Hippo, Lions, Giraffe, Crocodiles, and numerous other antelope species, total of 35 species.

Please Contact Us for Group Bookings