Five Assegais Country Estate

Francis Darvall

Francis is deeply committed to rescuing the beauty of Mpumalanga's indigenous land from alien plants - and spares nothing to achieve his vision.  He explains that when he bought Five Assegais in 1997 it was overgrown with old gum plantations and wild wattle groves that had completely obscured the views and filled the gullies with inappropriate trees. "It was obvious", he says  "that a programme to eradicate these alien trees was our first priority."

After years of cutting, burning and clearing alien plants, Francis opened the Five Assegais Country Estate as a guest lodge in 2003. 

Slowly, slowly, the vacuum left after all the alien plants were removed is being filled by indigenous trees, flowers, birds and animals, including  klipspringers, rhebok and porcupines.  “And”, says Francis with excitement, "I am sure that I saw leopard spoor by the dam the other day, very exciting! "

This accommodation provider has taken action to address one or more issues (whether environmental, social or cultural) which will contribute positively to the long term viability of the destination and hence their site displays a Caring for the destination rating.

Main area of focus in Caring for the Destination:
Re-habilitation of the fauna and flora over an extensive part of the land which had been over-run by blue gum and wattle trees. 

Detailed description of the Caring for the Destination Initiative:
For many years the vast Five Assegais' property was neglected, infested with Black Wattle and Eucalyptus plantations, both highly destructive alien invaders that devastated the native grassland and gorge habitats. Now, after eight years of ferocious battling by a dedicated team of 'Wattle Warriors' the area is virtually free from these nasty interlopers, allowing hikers along the Green Flag accredited trails, a glimpse into the region's majestic past. 

Skull Rock can again be seen from the property and smiles over the lodge and all of the Skurwerand.  The natural Stonehenge of ancient weathered rocks that gives the mountaintop its name of Scaly Back, is again pristine. And with this clearance, so has nature returned.  Many more bird and animal species are returning to their original home. In addition, the water table has risen dramatically and the purest water, once again gushes from previously dry springs.