Described as one of the most beautiful destinations in the Eastern Cape, the self catering accommodation at Oribi Haven on Kasouga Farm offers true tranquillity, a taste of farm and country living, undisturbed game viewing and the most spectacular beach in the world.

Kasouga Farm was granted to Robert Bovey in 1825. The farm changed hands a few times untilin 1881, James Ford bought it from Mr John Henry Finaughty. He built the present homestead when he married Ann Manley Palmer in 1885. In 1910 James had a fine herd of cattle and 600 ostriches.

James had seven children of who only two married – George Vernon moved to the neighboring farm, Glen Dower (still in the family) and Nora married Walter Currie who farmed in the Eastern Cape. Bert died at the age of 22 to the Flu in 1918. Jim lived on the neighboring farm Elmhurst (still in the family)and died from pneumonia at young age in 1936. James’ youngest son, Frederick (Unkie) owned Kasouga with his two spinster sisters (Milly &Dorthy) until his death in 1988 when Nora’s son, Jeffery Currie, inherited it. In November 1992 Jeffery and Joan(nee Peterson) moved to their house in the Kasouga Village and his eldest son Walter &Jenny (nee Birch) with their sons Warren Jeffrey (1988) and Christopher John (1990) moved into top house.

During the Great War (1914) much of the farm was ploughed up to supply oats to feed the horses. From then until Jeffery inherited the farm its main income was derived from cattle and ostriches.

Kasouga Farm was declared a Natural Heritage Site in 1989 as a result of the thriving Oribi population inhabiting the area. For the past few years we have moved over to the Holistic farming practices and seen a great improvement in our whole ecological situation.

In 2000 Kasouga farm won the Mangold Conservation Trophy in the Bathurst area, for the best conserved and utilized farm using both cattle and game.

The original name for the farm was ‘Gonawouga’ - “the place of leopards” and there have been. References to other names such as Gwa Souga, Gasougu and Guawouwga from as early as 1784. The present spelling Kasouga has been in use since 1830.

Kasouga Farm (1500ha) is in the Bathurst District/Ndlamabe Municipality in the Eastern Cape within the Kowie Kariega Conservancy. The local habitat is characterized by long parallel ridges of open grassland to the north, and the coastal thicket to the south of the farm. The vegetation type of the area is described as coastal grassland, characterized by patches of forest and thicket.

Being coastal the farm receives coastal mist and extreme conditions of wind occur. Maximum air temperatures can exceed 40 C and winter temperatures fall as low as 2 C. Average rainfall is 600mm with 60% fall in the summer months. The farm is managed for cattle ranching, with a total of 800 cattle, &plenty small game. The farm comprises of 80 camps varying in size from 8-10 ha to 50 ha and the Oribi and other game have free movement on the farm since large stock fences and electric fences separating camps do not serve as barriers.

In 1981 when Jeff Currie took over the running of Kasouga, Kasouga had 14 Oribi left. Today 2011 we have 140 Oribi. To date we have relocated 120 Oribi to game reserves &farms.

800 ha of grassland of the 1500 ha is available for the Oribi. We believe it is close to it’s carrying capacity not from shortage of food, but rather a shortage of space. The success of Kasouga Farm is probably due to the way in which the cattle are managed and the anti-predator strategy that has been adopted.