Over its 1100 hectares, Eagle Rock has an extraordinary diversity of animal, bird and plant life due to the variety of microclimates and ecosystems on the Estate
Owners, their families, guests and visitors have the freedom to explore Eagle Rock and experience first-hand this protected and unspoilt environment. A variety of plants, birds and wildlife, including some rare and endangered species, are found on the estate. Eland, kudu, warthog and klipspringer and other antelope live side by side with bats, shrews and other smaller species. Although leopard are present, there are no lion, rhino, buffalo, hippos or crocodiles, providing a safe environment for children and adults to safely experience nature while exploring Eagle Rock on foot, on mountain bike or by vehicle.
Leopards are the apex predator on the Estate, and other larger predator species that have been spotted are caracal, serval, brown hyena and black-backed jackal. Honey badger, chacma baboon, warthog, bushpig, vervet monkey, aardvark, rock hyrax (dassies), suricate (meerkat), various mongoose species, Cape hare, clawless otter and porcupine are also found on Eagle Rock Estate. Reptile species include water monitor, rock python, and several snake species.
Over 200 species of birds have been sighted at Eagle Rock Estate (full list here). A breeding pair of Verreaux’s Eagles (black eagles) are resident on the Estate. Their nest is visible from an easily accessible viewpoint on the cliffs of the Olifants River Gorge, allowing an unique opportunity to watch them raise their chick, and to view them gliding past you. This viewpoint and the high cliffs of the Olifants River Gorge provide great opportunities to photograph these eagles cruising nearby in the gorge below you, or soaring in the sky above – something very few other locations can offer. Some of the rarer birds spotted on the Estate are Southern Bald Ibis that roost on nearby cliffs, and African Finfoot in the pools of the Olifants River.
The vegetation on the Estate is diverse, with an abundance edible fruit plants which attracts prolific bird life. Eagle Rock Estate is home to many indigenous tree species, as well as several rare plant species including succulents and cycads endemic to the area. These species are one of the jewels in the crown of Eagle Rock, and owners are proud of their role as custodians of these species for future generations. Highveld grasslands, rocky plateaus, wetlands, more than 10 km of the Olifants River Gorge with its sheer krantzes, and wooded ravines are part of the terrain on the Estate, providing a variety of ecosystems and a range of biodiversity.
The unspoilt natural environment and the topography of the area bring home a feeling of remoteness and solitude.
Photos taken at Eagle Rock Estate can be viewed on our Flickr page. Below are a few photos taken at the estate:
