ACTIVITIES

Archery, Canoes and Nine Holes Before Lunch

Archery, Canoes and Nine Holes Before Lunch

Everything here is on the property, which means no driving, no planning and no reason for anyone to be bored.

Everything here is on the property, which means no driving, no planning and no reason for anyone to be bored.

Book Your Stay

2 Adult, 0 Children
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1 Room
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ON THE PROPERTY

A Full Day's Worth, and No Obligation to Use It

The valley gives you room to do a lot or very little. There are longbows and air rifles for the competitive, canoes and fishing rods for the water, a hiking trail that climbs into the hills above the river, and a jumping pillow and a giant chessboard for the children. Several activities run on a small refundable deposit collected at Gramadoelas or reception, so check in there first.

Enquire
  • ON-SITE

Laser Clay Pigeon

A variation on traditional clay pigeon shooting. Real shotguns are disabled and fitted with harmless infra-red laser equipment that registers hits on modified reflective clays. Up to five people can shoot at the same clay at once, and it works after dark too.
  • ON-SITE

Archery

Traditional archery with longbows, taught from scratch in a compact but thorough lesson covering handling and aiming. Groups compete against each other for the highest score, and it is usually the person nobody expected who turns out to have the eye for it.
  • ON-SITE

Air Rifle

Air rifle shooting is run on the property alongside the archery and laser clay pigeon range.
  • ON-SITE

9-Hole Mini Golf

The nine-hole course is a hit with children and adults alike and a good excuse to get out into the sunshine. Add it to a team build or split the family into teams and let some healthy competition take care of the afternoon.
  • ON-SITE

Canoe Hire

Canoes are available for hire on the Olifants River, which runs along the foot of the property.
  • ON-SITE

Fishing and Rod Hire

The river is open to anglers and rods can be hired on the property, though most regulars bring their own tackle. Bird watching along the same banks turns up a good deal while you are waiting for something to bite.
  • ON-SITE

Laser Clay Pigeon

A variation on traditional clay pigeon shooting. Real shotguns are disabled and fitted with harmless infra-red laser equipment that registers hits on modified reflective clays. Up to five people can shoot at the same clay at once, and it works after dark too.
  • ON-SITE

Archery

Traditional archery with longbows, taught from scratch in a compact but thorough lesson covering handling and aiming. Groups compete against each other for the highest score, and it is usually the person nobody expected who turns out to have the eye for it.
  • ON-SITE

Air Rifle

Air rifle shooting is run on the property alongside the archery and laser clay pigeon range.
  • ON-SITE

9-Hole Mini Golf

The nine-hole course is a hit with children and adults alike and a good excuse to get out into the sunshine. Add it to a team build or split the family into teams and let some healthy competition take care of the afternoon.
  • ON-SITE

Canoe Hire

Canoes are available for hire on the Olifants River, which runs along the foot of the property.
  • ON-SITE

Fishing and Rod Hire

The river is open to anglers and rods can be hired on the property, though most regulars bring their own tackle. Bird watching along the same banks turns up a good deal while you are waiting for something to bite.
  • ON-SITE

Jumping Pillow

A jumping pillow on the lawns, set up for younger children.
  • ON-SITE

Electric Scooters

Electric scooters are available for hire on the property.
  • ON-SITE

Hiking Trail

A marked trail climbs from the lawns into the hills above the river, with the gorge opening up behind you as you go. Sign out at reception on a refundable deposit before you set off, and take water with you.
  • ON-SITE

Jukskei

Jukskei is an old Afrikaans sport pioneered in South Africa, and considerably harder than the people playing it make it look. The pitch sits near the lawns, and equipment is signed out at reception on a refundable deposit.
  • ON-SITE

Volleyball and Cricket Nets

The volleyball court and cricket nets are often built into team builds, and they get plenty of use from guests in between. Both sit on the open ground near the accommodation.
  • ON-SITE

Pool Table

The pool table sits in the games room and runs on a refundable deposit plus a small charge per game, arranged at Gramadoelas.
  • ON-SITE

Table Tennis and Darts

Table tennis and darts are both set up in the games room, each signed out at Gramadoelas on a refundable deposit. Between them they cover most of an afternoon when the weather closes in.
  • ON-SITE

Giant Chessboard

An oversized outdoor chessboard on the lawns, free to use.
  • ON-SITE

Giant Snooker Table

An outsized snooker table run on a refundable deposit plus a charge per person, arranged at Gramadoelas.
  • ON-SITE

Ollie’s Playpen and Jungle Gym

Ollie's Playpen and the outdoor jungle gym give the smallest guests somewhere of their own, in sight of the lawns and the pools. The Dream Xplorers programme runs alongside with creative activities through the day.
  • ON-SITE

Bird Watching

The river, the bush and the gorge draw a good spread of birdlife, and the quiet early hours along the water are the best of it.

Destination

Distance and drive

Highlight

Kruger National Park

Pilgrim’s Rest

Blyde River Canyon

Bourke’s Luck Potholes

God’s Window

Sudwala Caves

Echo Caves

Available at an additional cost

  • Extended horse riding
  • Spa treatments
  • Premium beverages
  • Babysitting
  • Additional scheduled activities beyond inclusions
  • Beverages outside 10am to 10pm are excluded.

Good to Know

  • Booking activities: Fishing guides and tuition can be arranged on request, and rods and flies can be hired. Arrange both when you book.
  • Equipment: Three to four weight rods are most suitable, depending on weather conditions. The stream is renowned for dry fly fishing, though there are times when nymphs are more successful. Bring your own mountain bike if you plan to ride.
  • Catch and release: Catch and release is encouraged at Highland Run, although fishing for the table is acceptable.
  • Guiding: Walking, riding and wildlife watching in the reserve are unguided and taken at your own pace.
  • Mobile reception: There is no cellphone reception anywhere on the property. Tell someone your plans before you set out, and note that the reserve gate closes in the evening.
  • Getting around: A vehicle with good ground clearance is needed on the reserve roads, and every off-site outing listed above is a drive out through the Mount Anderson gate, not a walk from the cottage.
  • Own risk
  • Malaria status
  • Weather and seasons

ARTS AND CULTURE

A century of mountain hospitality on the Oliviershoek Pass

Relics of a Romantic Past

The Spekboom Valley still bears relics of its romantic gold-rush days, and the reserve around Highland Run carries the hidden stories of that era among the antelope and the birdlife. Walkers and riders come across them without looking very hard.

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How a Man Called Oom Barrie Found This Valley

In 1985 a prepared gravel road ran over the hill to Presidentsrus, and Oom Barrie took it. He came over the rise, saw the valley from a distance and fell for it, which is how most good ideas about this place have started since.

What began as an inn with a caravan and camping site grew into Olifants River Lodge. The valley took the name God’s Valley, and the indigenous bush that hugs the property still runs right up to the accommodation, from the rough camping to the apartments on the manicured lawns.

Demonstrating a commitment to evolving with modern travel preferences, the resort shifted to a fully all-inclusive model in 2024 to provide guests with seamless cost transparency and enhanced value.

Early 1900s Tea Garden

The resort originally began humble operations as a remote tea garden. It catered to early travellers negotiating the rugged mountain passes of the Drakensberg range.

Alpine Transformation

Over the decades, the property evolved from a simple rest stop into a fully fledged mountain lodge. It features authentic thatched roofing, local wood furnishings, and iconic, Swiss-alpine-style self-catering chalets designed to complement the dramatic mountain terrain.

The 2012 to 2014 Road Closure Crisis

The resort faced severe financial and operational hardships when the main access road leading past the property was completely closed for two years. This cut off the lifeblood of the business, forcing a temporary shutdown before its eventual revival.

Community Integration

Following its reopening, the resort established an extensive on-site hydroponics program. The system grows fresh spinach, lettuce, and tomatoes used for guest meals and directly sustains the nearby Langkloof school and orphanage.

2026 Shift to All-Inclusive

In March 2026, Little Switzerland completed a major strategic repositioning by transitioning into a fully all-inclusive resort model. The modern format bundles all meals, high teas, select beverages, and on-site adventure activities into standard stays.

A FEW SUGGESTIONS

More Information On These Activities

Archery

Laser Clay Pigeon

Canoe Hire

Mini Golf

Hiking Trail

Archery

Laser Clay Pigeon

Canoe Hire

Mini Golf

Hiking Trail

FAQ

Most on-site activities at Olifants River Lodge are arranged at reception or at Gramadoelas once you arrive. A few are run by an outside operator and are best arranged when you book, particularly for a group.

Several run on a small refundable deposit, and some carry a per-game or per-person charge on top. Ask at reception for the current arrangement, since it varies by activity.

Yes. The river runs along the foot of the property and is open to guests who want to fish. Rods can be hired on site, though most anglers prefer to bring their own tackle.

Ollie’s Playpen, the jungle gym, the jumping pillow, the kiddies pool and the water slides are all aimed at younger guests, and the Dream Xplorers programme runs creative activities alongside them.

Day visitors are welcome at Olifants River Lodge by booking only. Note that day visitors may not bring their own food or drink onto the property, as the restaurant, kiosk and bar cover all of it.

There is. A marked trail climbs from the lawns into the hills above the Olifants River. Sign out at reception on a refundable deposit before you go, and take water with you.

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info@olifantsriverlodge.co.za

+27 (0)13 243 9401/2

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