Mount Anderson Ranch

Set in Mpumalanga near the Kruger National Park, Mount Anderson Ranch is a solace from the madding crowd, a refuge within the Drakensberg, where memories of city life are as ethereal as wind rushing through tall grass, or a rainbow trout rupturing a smooth, glassy sheet of water. No more than six pampered guests enjoy exclusive use of Golden Cottage – the ranch’s single homestead – its 8 000 ha (20 000 acres) of African bushveld and 2 500 m (7 500 ft) Mount Anderson Peak. Golden Cottage is a rambling farmhouse with graceful rooms, tall ceilings and airy windows. Proclaimed in 1990 as South Africa’s first ever private water catchment reserve, Mount Anderson Ranch is also a classic conservation success story. Today it protects not only the major river catchments that are the lifeblood of the Kruger National Park but also conserves unusual antelope such as eland and black wildebeest and charismatic predators like leopard, brown hyena and aardwolf too. Activities include viewing rare wildlife on horseback or in a 4x4, mountain bike with a personal ranger. trout fishing, exploring the 19th century miners’ village and a San Bushmen rock art site and ancient Indian ruins built to mirror the heavenly constellations.