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Diepkowe
Private Nature Reserve was created in the 1980's to preserve
both the vegetation and the wildlife. Common residents include
klipspringer, greysbok, bontebok, bat-eared fox, cape fox,
caracul, mongoose, polecat, genet, baboon, cape hare, and
of, course, porcupines.
The rolling hills and mountains of the farm are covered with
a rich diversity of indigenous vegetation, including Fynbos
and Renosterbos. Fynbos includes shrubs such as heaths and
ericas, proteas and leafless reedy plants such as restios.
The non-fynbos vegetation occuring on the farm is the Renosterveld.
Botanists from Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens are currently
doing research on the Renosterveld on the farm as there is
major concern to protect the remaining Renosterveld in the
Cape. Much of this vegetation has been turned to farmland
and very little remains. |
| The farm has a large
olive grove and the first fruit was harvested in 2004. Four
varieties of olives were planted: frantoio, lecciano, coratino,
and FS17. The result is a lovely and piquant oil that has received
myriad praise in South Africa and abroad. Olive farming is a
relatively young industry in South Africa, but the climate has
proven to be ideal and the cultivation of both table olives
and oil olives is gaining notoriety throughout the international
market.
2008 saw the olive production reach 900 litres of oil and
the first 500kg of table olives produced.
Over the years more olives have been planted and to date
there are roughly 3000 trees.
Plans are to increase this number steadily over the next few
years. |
