Scenic Sneeuberg Farm

This spectacular 4,000 ha property comprises predominantly mountainous country characterised by sweeping landscapes, natural waters and expansive vistas. One of the property’s most remarkable features is the dramatic waterfall which plunges ±50 m into the scenic cliff-rimmed Wilgerhoutkloof. The landscape and natural features create excellent potential for adventure tourism activities, with established 4x4 routes already in place. The kloof offers further potential for camping sites and accommodation. The property is ideally suited to game farming, mixed livestock enterprises, lifestyle farming, or tourism development and is offered as a going concern.

LOCATION: ± 90 km north-west of Graaff-Reinet and under 60 km from the N1.

SIZE: ± 4,093.8748 hectares

GRAZING CAPACITY: ± 18 ha/LSU (Gov. Assess. 2018) for a total of 227 LSU’s

RAINFALL: ± 333 mm per annum. Predominantly summer rainfall with peaks in early summer and autumn, although useful winter rainfall and occasional snowfall can also occur.

TOPOGRAPHY & GEOLOGY: The property comprises predominantly north-facing mountain slopes with adjacent plains and dramatic elevation changes ranging from approximately 1,265 m to 1,822 m ASL. Numerous drainage lines dissect the mountains, supporting natural springs, deeper soils and natural watercourses. A substantial ± 15 m high concrete arch dam is situated between two dolerite koppies at an elevation of ± 1,530 m ASL on the dominant drainage line, with the stream below cascading into the Wilgerhoutkloof ravine. At the mouth of the kloof an earth dam captures runoff before old irrigation lands give way to open plains towards the north-east. Extensive anti-erosion berms occur on the lower elevations of the plains. The geology of the property consists predominantly of Balfour sandstone, shale and mudstone sediments with dolerite intrusions and alluvial deposits along drainage lines and at the base of the mountains.

VEGETATION: The property falls within the Nama-Karoo Biome and is a mixture of shrubs and grass veld with more palatable species on the more gradual north facing slopes and deeper fertile soils along the drainage lines and on the lower plains.

Common dwarf Karoo shrubs include Anchor Karoo Bush (Pentzia incana), Bitter Karoobush (Chrysocoma ciliata) Fine-Leaved Felicia (Felicia filifolia), Ganna Bush (Salsola aphylla), Grootbloublommetjie (Felicia ovata), Karoo Violet (Aptosimum indivisum), Karoo Bushman Candle (Monsonia camdeboensis), Karoo Ice Plant (Delosperma karooicum), Koggelmander-voet (Limeum aethiopicum), Persaarbos ((Selago geniculate), Pleisterbos (Hermannia multiflora), Spekbos (Zygophyllum gilfillanii), Wild Asparagus (Asparagus africanus) and Wild Rosemary (Eriocephalus ericoides).

Common grass species include Blue Love Grass (Eragrostis chloromelas), Blue Buffalo Grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), Buffalo Grass (Panicum maximum), Carrot-seed Grass (Tragus berteronianus), Common Bristle Grass (Setaria sphacelata), Common Ehrharta (Ehrharta calycina), Common Reed (Phragmites australis), Common Thatching Grass (Hyparrhenia hirta), Dew Grass (Eragrostis obtusa), Dropseed Grass (Sporobolus fimbriatus), Kikuyu (Cenchrus clandestinus), Lehmann’s Love Grass (Eragrostis lehmanniana), Old Land Grass (Chloris virgate), Red grass (Themeda triandra), Quick Grass (Cynodon dactylon), Silky Bushman Grass (Stipagrostis uniplumis), South African Cocksfoot (Tetrachne dregei), Smuts Finger Grass (Digitaria eriantha), Sourgrass (Tenaxia / Merxmuellera disticha), Spear Grass (Heteropogon contortus), Speckled Vlei Grass (Eragrostis bicolor), Brachypodium bolusii, Staggers Grass (Melica decumbens), Tassle Three Awn (Aristida congesta), and Turpentine Grass (Cymbopogon pospischilii) amongst others.

Larger shrubs include Old Man Saltbush (Atriplex nummularia), Mountain Aloe (Aloe broomii), Milkweed (Gomphocarpus fruticosus) Wild Camphor (Tarchonanthus camphoratus), Transvaal sumach (Osyris lanceolate), Broom Karee (Searsia erosa), Cancer Bush (Sutherlandia frutescens), Cape Honey-Thorn (Lycium oxycarpum), Cross-Berry (Grewia occidentalis), Blue Agave (Agave americana), Karoo Sagewood (Buddleja glomerata), Kruidjie-roer-my-nie (Melianthus comosus), Pencil Milkbush, (Euphorbia mauritanica), Resin Bush (Euryops petraeus / exudans), Rhinoceros bush (Dicerothamnus rhinocerotis), Spike Thorn (Maytenus heterophylla), and Swartstorm (Cadaba aphylla).

Common tree species include Green-hair Thorn (Parkinsonia Africana), Karee (Searsia lancea), Wild Willow (Salix mucronata), Silver Poplar (Populus canescens), Kuni Bush (Searsia undulata), Small-Leaved Guarri (Euclea undulata), and Sweet Thorn (Vachellia karoo).

WATER SUPPLY: Livestock waters are supplied by numerous springs and streams, three windmills, and three boreholes equipped with solar-powered submersible pumps. The farm also features a substantial concrete arch dam and three additional earth dams.

INFRASTRUCTURE: The property has an extensive internal road network, portions of which require maintenance. The farm is fully enclosed with predominantly netting fences and is divided into approximately 35 camps together with four dryland fields. Approximately 18 ha of lands were formerly flood irrigated from the irrigation dam below the homestead. A historic ±3.5 km cement and stone furrow formerly conveyed water directly from the concrete arch dam to the earth dam and irrigation lands.

HOMESTEAD: The ±340 m² homestead with a corrugated-iron roof dates from the mid-1800s and presents an exciting restoration opportunity. Positioned to capture exceptional views over the dam and plains to the distant mountains beyond, the house offers considerable character and historical appeal. The homestead features three bedrooms (one en suite), a second bathroom, sunroom, lounge, dining room and living room. A large kitchen contains a vintage four-oven Aga anthracite stove and water boiler beneath a yellowwood mantel beam. The house retains many Victorian features and fittings including Oregon pine floors and ceilings, moulded skirtings, a half-glazed double door, a mantled fireplace with cast-iron firebox, and four-panelled doors with moulded architraves. The attractive façade features three-panel double entrance doors, a pair of twelve-pane
sash windows with louvre shutters, and a generous stoep with a five-step perron, both finished in attractive square-cut sandstone.

OTHER BUILDINGS: At the rear of the homestead is a characterful ±55 m² stone outbuilding consisting of three rooms with original rustic timber beams and timber ceilings. The farmyard includes a ±320 m² shed with two double corrugated iron sliding doors together with an adjoining ±30 m² workshop and ±10 m² generator room. There are four staff cottages situated near the homestead with a further cottage positioned in the mountains below the concrete arch dam. The outbuildings and staff cottages are generally structurally sound and present further renovation opportunities.

ENERGY SUPPLY: No electricity supply currently exists.

LIVESTOCK: The property is currently farmed commercially with cattle and sheep.

WILDLIFE: Naturally occurring game include Kudu, Mountain Reedbuck, Grey Rhebok, Klipspringer, Duiker and Steenbok. The diverse terrain supports a wide variety of other wildlife including Chacma Baboon, Porcupine, Aardvark, Leopard Tortoise and Ground Squirrel etc. The diverse birdlife includes a number of raptor species and an abundance of bustard, korhaan, waterfowl, guineafowl, Greywing Francolin and pigeon. Secretary birds breed on the farm and the endemic Cinnamon-breasted Warbler is also to be found.

GOING CONCERN OPPORTUNITY: Price includes approximately 1,000 Merino ewes and 100 Poenskop Sussex cows.