Where Eagles Soar

Eagle Falls Country Lodge, Uniondale, Western Cape

- Nicholas Yell

One of the bonuses of visiting Eagle Falls Country Lodge was the road we took to get there. The scenic and engaging dirt track from Dysseldorp (off the N12 between Oudtshoorn and De Rust) is one I’ve done many times on my adventure motorbike, but I wanted to show my better half, Annette, this cross-section of pristine mountainous countryside.

Yet, if long rambles on dirt tracks are not your thing, or suitable for your rig, don’t despair, there is a much shorter and less bumpy way to get there off the N9, about 45km west of Uniondale. But however you get there, I urge you to give this well-cared for and well thought out resort a try. It’s that special.

Of course, we were fortunate enough to have the whole place to ourselves. It was a relaxing way to ease into our 10-day camping and 4x4 foray into the southern and central parts of the Eastern Cape. And, stopping over here allowed us to cover more than half the distance we needed to make up the next day to get to Patensie.

After Annette disentangled herself from a pair of gorgeous terrier puppies tying knots in her legs, we met the affable resort manager, Wayne, who was conjuring up a delicious smelling potjie over an open fire outside the restaurant. Having booked us in and given us a quick run through of the resort’s many facilities and attractions, Wayne suggested we take a walk down to the falls after which the establishment is named.