Sometimes, travel plans don’t unfold the way we intend — a road detour here, a last-minute change there — yet the places we don’t stay at can leave just as strong an impression.
Berluda Farmhouse & Cottages, just outside Oudtshoorn, is one of those places that, for a variety of reasons, we had to miss out on during the homeward-bound leg of our recent road trip.
But as I had interviewed the owner a few months earlier, I felt that I knew the property well enough to include a Blog post about where my wife and I should have stayed.
It is tucked into the Schoemanshoek Valley, and is far more than an ostrich farm with guest accommodation. It’s a celebration of heritage, hospitality, and the hardy beauty of the Klein Karoo.
The farm has belonged to the same family for generations, and that sense of continuity shows — in the way the land is cared for, in the warmth of the welcome, and in the feathered residents that strut about like they own the place (which, in a way, they do)
What sets Berluda apart isn’t just the beauty of the farm or the comfort of the stay — it’s the people. The team behind Berluda are passionate ambassadors of the region, eager to share stories about ostriches, the land, and the resilience required to farm in one of South Africa’s most challenging environments. Their enthusiasm is infectious, and their hospitality genuine — the kind that makes you feel like a friend, not just a guest.
It’s also worth noting Berluda’s commitment to conservation and community upliftment. The farm has initiatives that promote sustainable farming and provide local employment, ensuring that the legacy of Oudtshoorn’s ostrich industry continues to benefit the people who live there.
Berluda is a working ostrich farm — not a showpiece, but a genuine agricultural enterprise where the rhythm of the day follows the pace of the Karoo sun and the needs of its long-legged inhabitants. Visitors can join farm tours that peel back the curtain on this iconic industry, one that put Oudtshoorn on the world map more than a century ago.
Here, you’ll learn that ostriches are not only farm animals but fascinating characters. The males, in their tuxedo-like plumage, are the divas of the veld — dramatic, territorial, and full of attitude. The females, in a more drab grey, are the sensible ones, keeping an eye on the chicks and the weather with equal diligence.
Guests who join the guided tours can feed the birds, collect eggs, and learn about the entire process — from incubation to feather sorting. It’s an educational experience, but also a reminder that farming in the Karoo is equal parts science, sweat, and soul.
Not to be outdone, why not include a Meerkat Safari while you are at Beluda?
“Paying a sunrise visit to our local meerkat family is not to be missed when staying with us. The minibus departs from Berluda parking, and 8km down the road, guests will change over to an open game viewer. Venture into our private game reserve with an accredited and experienced field guide to visit our local meerkat family. Watch them emerge from their cosy bunkers to bask in the morning sun and learn more about these fascinating little creatures from your guide“. To quote from their website.
The on-site restaurant serves farm-to-table dishes that celebrate local produce — think Karoo lamb, freshly baked bread, and preserves made from fruit grown right on the property.
Breakfasts are hearty and unhurried, designed to fuel long days of exploring nearby attractions like the Cango Caves, Swartberg Pass, and Meiringspoort. And when the day’s heat gives way to the evening cool, the pool becomes a perfect vantage point for watching the mountains turn gold.
Although our journey didn’t include an overnight stay at Berluda this time, it’s firmly on the list for the next visit.
Here comfort isn’t an afterthought — it’s a priority. The accommodation options range from elegant farmhouse rooms to self-catering cottages nestled among vineyards and orchards. Each space blends rustic charm with understated luxury: cool tiled floors, crisp linens, and that unmistakable Karoo quiet that seems to amplify the rustle of the breeze and the chirp of the weaver birds outside.
Sometimes, travel is about intuition — that quiet certainty that a place has more to reveal. Berluda feels like one of those places: a blend of authenticity and comfort, of old-fashioned farming grit and modern hospitality.
I had the opportunity to chat with Laura Schoeman about their property…
If you find yourself heading towards Oudtshoorn, detour into the Schoemanshoek Valley and spend a few nights here. Feed an ostrich, listen to the cicadas, and let the Karoo sky remind you how vast and beautiful the world still is. Berluda isn’t just a stopover — it’s a small, proud piece of South African history that continues to strut confidently into the future.
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Travel & Things is the proud winner of these prestigious awards from the digital British lifestyle magazine Luxlife.
The awards are in the categories:
Best Travel & Experiences Blog 2024 – South Africa
Best African Game Reserves & Lodges Travel Review Site 2025.
Best African Resorts and Retreats Award 2025.
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