One of Grahamstown’s hidden gems is Fairewood Nature Reserve, situated just four kilometres from the city centre, on the road to Port Alfred.
One of Grahamstown’s hidden gems is Fairewood Nature Reserve, situated just four kilometres from the city centre, on the road to Port Alfred.
Fairewood is four years old and boasts ten different animal species with more than 200 game on a hundred hectares of forested land. It has a small lake, which is also the reserve’s drinking hole.
Although the reserve does not have the Big Five, it has a variety of medium game which includes impala, springbok, waterbuck, ostrich and zebra. Game guide Andy Soper said that you never visit Fairewood without seeing animals.
Cost effective
For R100 you get a 90 minute game walk that allows you to see different animals at close range. Along the walking trail there is a gazebo with camp chairs and a table for resting and enjoying the natural scenery.
“Other reserves cost more, but Fairewood is small scale and cheaper,” said Soper. Proceeds of the game reserve go to the Hobbiton organisation, which teaches disadvantaged children about outdoor education. The reserve is also sustained by the nine houses situated on the farm, which are rented out to the public.
Most Grahamstownians don’t know about the reserve, and most visitors come from other parts of the country or from overseas. Soper said he gets an average of three groups of visitors a month, mostly from guest houses that bring their visitors for game viewing.
However, Soper hopes to receive more local visitors in the future. Assisting him in this endeavour is the recently opened Makana Edutourism centre at the 1820 Settlers Monument, which recommends the reserve to its visitors.
For more information on Fairewood Game Reserve and bookings please visit their website: www.fairewood-nature-reserve.com or phone 0793296211.
