Taste the soft spring water and allow the peace and serenity to refresh you. Listen to the Jackal calling from the hills and the hum of the bees deep in the forest.

In the forest, life moves at a gentler pace. Generations of visitors have experienced the soul-restoring reassurance that comes with being surrounded by the beauty of creation. It is filled with ancient trees and abundant birds and animals including Porcupine, Caracal, Bushbuck, Bush Pigs, Blue Duiker and Genets. Over 250 bird species are recorded in the Dargle and it teems with insect life, with 30 butterflies recorded in our valley.

Samango Monkeys are rare and gentle creatures and a delight to watch in the trees. They are herbivores, so cannot resist helping themselves to the contents of your fruit bowl. We have named the leader of the resident troop Rafiki.

You may be alarmed to hear a strange knocking and screeching sound from the forest at night. These are the nocturnal and seldom seen dassies (Tree Hyrax) calling – a rare treat. We are also a summer stopover spot for a pair of Yellow Billed Kites who migrate annually from Central Africa.


On the first Thursday of each month is the Kilgobbin Forest Walk from 9h00 to 11h00. Come and explore the mist-belt forest and adjacent grasslands. A donation of R20 goes to the Dargle Conservancy. Contact Barend on 082 787 0797 to book.



enjoy birding with us


kayak on midmar dam