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The Three Valleys Story
The Three Valleys Farm is one of the original Settler allocations and has been farmed for over 180 years. Prior to the arrival of the British Settlers in this area, a Boer farmer called Piet Retief started farming near Grahamstown from 1817.
The historic Weymouth Mill, an old steam-powered grain mill, has endured the test of time. This foundation of the Mill is believed to have been built by the likes of Retief, and pre-dates the Grahamstown records, thus making it over 200 years old. This lovely piece of history was converted into the farm’s first guest house in 2010.
“Plans to protect air and water, wilderness and wildlife are in fact plans to protect man."
STEWART UDALL
Settlers are credited with a road which can still be seen to this day during our game drives. This land was farmed for years and since the early 1900s has been used to cultivate citrus, pineapples, proteas, and graze cattle. Franklin Staples, the then owner, was known to be a very progressive farmer for his time. He was one of the first farmers to put pumps into the farm’s cliff face in order to pump water from the river.
The Harris family planted pastures in 2007, setting the scene for a wildlife sanctuary, and the first giraffes were introduced during 2008. In 2015, at the renowned Bathurst Agricultural Show, the current owners reached an agreement and began their endeavours to create what is today known as Three Valleys Wildlife and Nature Reserve.
The new owners initially established a hedge of Proteas during 2018, after which a fully-fledged Protea farm developed. During the Covid pandemic, specifically from 2021, an animal sanctuary was established at Three Valleys. This has become a forever home for a number of predators such as lions, cheetah, serval and many others.
Thus, pineapple farming made way for proteas as well as game which is seen in abundance today. The first giraffes were introduced during 2008. In 2015, at the renowned Bathurst Agricultural Show, the current owners reached an agreement and began their endeavours to create what is today known as Three Valleys Wildlife and Nature Reserve.
Power of the Sun
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Three Valleys has been entirely powered by solar energy since 2020.
All of our electric fencing, our cold storage and all buildings use solar to ensure sustainable energy consumption on the farm.
The Beginning of a Sanctuary
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Three Valleys has taken great effort to restore the land to become a haven for all wildlife. During their endeavours to
create a beautiful, lush environment they were met with a new challenge in May 2019. Two orphaned small spotted genets needed help because Scarlett, the female had suffered a broken back and was in need of a safe space to be rehabilitated. Through extensive therapy, she has regained good mobility and together with her brother (Gizmo), they now call Three Valleys their home.
This was merely the beginning of an amazing journey to provide desperate animals with a safe environment to happily live out their golden years.
“Wilderness without wildlife is just scenery.”
LOIS CRISLER
