Old Mill Nature Lodge, Hotel & Restaurant

You stay at Old Mill Nature Lodge on a working ostrich farm fourteen kilometres from Oudtshoorn, under the Swartberg Mountains. The farm operates seasonally, so you may see ostrich chicks being raised or the full-grown birds in the fields. The lodge has rooms, riverfront tents, and family units spread across the property, all with mountain views.

The rooms range from standard doubles to self-catering family units with granite-topped bathrooms. Some have private verandas; others share a pool area. The riverfront tents sit close to the water, with decks facing the mountains. Three swimming pools are scattered through the grounds, along with a children's play area and hiking trails that start at the lodge.

Breakfast is served buffet-style in the restaurant, which also offers lunch and dinner. The kitchen sources some produce from the farm. The lodge is three kilometres from Cango Ostrich Farm and eight from the Cango Caves, with horse riding available nearby.

The original farm buildings include a horse stable from the 1700s, still standing with its mud walls and yellowwood beams. Guests can walk to see it from the lodge.