Skeiding Guest Farm Heidelberg

is a working ostrich, sheep, Nguni cattle, wheat and canola farm close to the N2 and halfway (250 km) between Cape Town and Knysna.

This makes us the ideal stopover or getaway for a longer, relaxing break. A friendly family farm, an education for city slickers, a place to relax and enjoy panoramic mountain views as the farm is situated on high, open rolling terrain.

We, Neels and Anné-Lize, are two energetic people who love life … you need to be to run a farm, family (Anné and Pieter), two dogs (Asterix and Jessie) and a guesthouse in the same lifetime.

Rooms and Cottages at – Skeiding

Our rooms and cottages have all you need to feel pampered: Honesty Bar, Tea and Coffee making facilities.  En suite bathrooms with strong showers. We provide personal toiletries and fluffy bath sheets to complete the luxury experience. The beds are dressed in percale and mattresses are of the highest hospitality standards to ensure an excellent night’s rest.  Bathrobes, Swimming Pool towels, Heater and also Ceiling fan with Electric blankets, Ostrich leather slippers, hair dryers and  finally good South African Port. On the house to enjoy on the patio as a sundowner. Six of our rooms and cottages have fireplaces for that extra cosiness in winter. The rooms and cottages are named after plants and animals commonly found in our area – which is a real birders’s paradise.

The Farm

Skeiding is a 1200 hectare working farm. We farm 1500 free range Ostriches, 1500 Dohne Merino sheep, a small herd of Nguni beef cattle (a very hardy African breed) and we plant 500 hectare of Canola, Wheat, Barley, Coriander and Peas.

Our natural method of ostrich farming is distinctive – we allow the birds to range freely and raise their young themselves, nurturing them under their big wings. Free-range ostrich farms are a totally different experience to the more commercial, smaller, full-fed farms in the Oudtshoorn district.

Guests are involved are far as possible in the workings of the farm. This could mean watching the ostriches being supplement fed in the morning at 07:30.  This is before breakfast , because this is a farm, we do get up early!  Come on a “hands on” farmtour with Neels. You might even be lucky and see our sheepdogs Flink (an Australian Kelpie) and Fiela (a Border Kollie) in action.  Herding some sheep or ostriches. Having grown up in the area, Neels offer a lot of information.  Eitheron the vegetation or other interesting points that make the area so fascinating….

Neels & Anné-Lize Uys