Karoo Plains Farm With Strong Fountain Water

At 4,520 ha this is a viable economic unit with the additional benefit of a strong fountain which is a very unusual feature on a Karoo plains farm. It also has good proportions of river veld to Karoo veld and is ideal for the breeding and finishing off of sheep and goats. A small herd of cattle may also be kept to take advantage of the abundant grass in the Moordenaar’s and Sunday’s River-courses and on the low hills. During the last five years the fencing and water infrastructure has been extensively upgraded and developed, and together with the open terrain, makes for easy farm management.

With a diversity of veld types and blessed with a strong fountain, borehole and river water in season, this farm has significant potential.

LOCATION: ± 24 km south west of Graaff Reinet

SIZE: ± 4,522.5335 ha
ANNUAL RAINFALL: ± 340 mm

CARRYING CAPACITY: ± 18 ha/LSU – Govt. Assessment 1990 (Total: ± 260 LSU’s)


TOPOGRAPHY: In the north there are open Karoo plains at ± 680 m ASL where the easterly flowing non-perennial Swart River falls just within the boundary. Southwards the plains gradually rise to ± 720 m ASL where they bordered by a low SE to NW running ridge with the highest hill reaching ± 836 m ASL beyond which is the south-western boundary. To the south-east of the ridges open plains again fall away to the banks of the south flowing non-perennial Moordenaar’s and Sunday’s Rivers. The Sunday’s River flows for 4 km through the property with the lowest elevation of ± 630 m ASL to be found on the southern boundary. To the east of the Moordenaar’s and Sunday’s River there is ± 700 ha of open Karoo plains containing a portion of irrigable land. The central hills are stony with adjoining gravels to the south while the northern and south-eastern part of the property nearer to the rivers have very deep and fertile soils.

VEGETATION: There are three distinct veld types:

1. A ± 8.5 km portion of very valuable river veld alongside the Swart, Moordenaar’s and Sunday’s Rivers with Sweet Thorn Trees (Vachellia karroo) and River Ganna (Salsola aphylla) dominating the river banks and adjoining veld respectively. Other flora includes Karee (Searsia lancea), dwarf and succulents shrubs, and Bur Bristle Grass (Setaria verticillata), Blue Buffalo Grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), Guinea Grass (Panicum maximum), and Quick Grass (Cynodon dactylon) under the taller shrubs and trees and in the river beds.
2. The broken Karoo veld on the ridges and hills is made up of typical dwarf and succulent shrubs including Anchor Karoo Bush (Pentzia incana), and legumes with taller shrubs and trees including Spike Thorn (Maytenus heterophylla), Guarri (Euclea undulata), Jacket Plum (Pappea capensis), Karoo Shepherd’s Tree (Boscia oleoides), with some Spekboom (Portulacaria afra), and a few Bitter Aloe (Aloe ferox). Dominant grass species include Klipgras (Aristida diffusa), Spear Grass (Heteropogon contortus) Quick Grass (Cynodon dactylon), Weeping love grass (Eragrostis curvula), Lehmann’s Love Grass (Eragrostis lehmanniana) and Red grass (Themeda triandra).
3. Open Karoo plains typical of the Lower Karoo Biome with dwarf and succulent Karoo shrubs including Anchor Karoo Bush (Pentzia incana), legumes, Wilde Aster (Felicia filifolia) etc. Grasses to be found include Lehmann’s Love Grass (Eragrostis lehmanniana) interspersed with Tassle Three-awn (Aristida congesta), Quick Grass (Cynodon dactylon), and some Blue Buffalo Grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) and Guinea Grass (Panicum maximum) under the taller shrubs and trees.

FARM INFRASTRUCTURE: The number of camps have been more than doubled in the last five years and the farm is currently divided into ± 57 camps, not including 7 smaller camps near the homestead. All the fencing is in a good to very good condition with just over 9 km of the ± 40 km perimeter jackal proof netting fence having been upgraded to a ± 2.4 m high game fence by the neighbour on the north-eastern boundary. At the homestead there are both small stock and cattle handing facilities, and in the veld there are two additional sets of kraals.

WATER SUPPLY: The strong fountain currently (23 Nov 20) produces 4,232 litres of water per hour. This flow rate is remarkable considering that the rainfall for the entire 2020 year to date is below average at 199 mm. This water is piped to a ± 950 000 litre cement reservoir at the homestead and is utilised for domestic, irrigation and livestock watering purposes and is gravity-fed to most of the lower half of the farm. All the livestock watering points in the central and northern part of the farm are more than adequately supplied by a strong borehole fitted with a submersible pump powered by 8 solar panels. In the south-east three boreholes are fitted with submersible pumps and powered by municipal electricity and supply all the livestock watering points east of the Sunday’s River as well as the centre-pivot and adjoining drip-irrigation. In good seasons abundant water is also available from all three rivers on the property. In addition there are ± 9 strong boreholes (drilled by the municipality many years ago) dotted over the northern plains but not currently utilised. All ± 64 camps on the farm are supplied by fountain and borehole water except for one camp which is reliant on water from the Moordenaar’s River. No windmills are currently operated on the property.

IRRIGATION: A total of ± 10 ha is currently utilised with ± 2 ha of house lands under drip and drag-line irrigation, a 5 ha centre pivot planted with lucerne, and an adjoining 3 ha of drip irrigation planted with onion seed in the south-east of the farm. Historically a further ± 15 ha of lands were developed near the homestead and sufficient fountain water from the reservoir is available to redevelop a portion thereof. Potential also exists to develop additional irrigation in the north of the property as there is strong borehole water and deep soil with a neighbour having developed over 60 ha of irrigation against the boundary of the farm.

POWER SUPPLY: Municipal electricity

BUILDINGS: The ± 400 m² historic Karoo style homestead has 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, office, lounge, dining room, and kitchen and contains many attractive Victorian features and fittings with Oregon pine floors, ceilings, and sash windows while the older part of the house has yellowwood floors. The north-facing veranda has an adjacent lawn and garden with a 24 m x 8 m swimming pool and the homestead is surrounded by large mature shade trees. Close by are situated numerous outbuildings including an ± 850 m² shearing shed, workshop, storerooms, garages, meat-room, and adjoining walk-in cold-room. An open-sided 120 m² lucerne shed is situated at the 5 ha centre pivot. The farm has four staff cottages supplied with electricity and water.

LIVESTOCK & GAME: The farm is currently (November 2020) carrying ± 600 Merino ewes and followers, and ± 20 Tuli cattle. Naturally occurring game includes Kudu, Springbok, Mountain Reedbuck, Steenbok, and Duiker with a number of Impala also to be found on the property.

In 2014 the farm became a birding hot-spot when a pair of Green-winged Pytilia (a sought after species among Eastern Cape birders) were identified on the farm; the first time they have ever been recorded in the Eastern Cape.

MOVEABLE ASSETS: Vehicles, implements, equipment, materials and tools etc.

MOVEABLE ASSETS & LIVESTOCK PRICE: Availability & price by negotiation.

FARM PRICE: R 24 m + VAT if applicable