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Waterfall nature

the wide paths through the grass- some knowledgeable visitor will one disposal – three chutes with covers
covered hills with great all-round day work out what happened there. labelled ‘paper’, ‘plastic and tins’ and
views, including the blue ridge of ‘compost’. There’s also a powerful
the Magaliesberg that stretches Apart from the exhilarating walks and rechargeable wall light and another
towards Hartbeespoort. wayside benches, it was the design portable light for when Eskom fails.
of the cottages that intrigued me.
I was not surprised to find, scattered Caroline put a lot of thought into it. Caroline (who owns several dogs
in the veld, hundreds of pieces of and cats) can arrange a dog-sitter
Stone Age tools – broken scrapers and Each timber-built cottage has a for those who want to go out.
discarded cutting tools, left over the large, separate braai facility with a There’s even a mobile dog spa
past million years and more by the sheltered inglenook – and an elaborate that will come to one’s cottage.
world’s first humans. Some scientists outside shower with a facility for
now believe our predecessors, washing dogs, muddy perhaps from Although we did not have time to
the ‘man-apes’ (Australopithecus rolling in the river which is some visit it, there is an adjacent farm –
africana) which abounded in distance below the cottages. Happy Acres Old Mill – which has
this region, used stone tools. 12km of dog-friendly walking trails
Each cottage’s amenities include a and an environmental centre with a
Not far away are the fossil-rich, solar geyser, DSTV, electric blankets, fungi house, a butterfly house and
world famous caves of The Cradle of air conditioning and a fireplace. an educational zoological exhibit.
Humankind where our ancestors lived The kitchen has everything one can
and developed their skills and tools. think of, including many thoughtful When we paid for our Stone Hill
little touches – a welcoming sherry accommodation, I was pleasantly
There’s a mysterious group of 10 and, in a small box, a souvenir surprised how affordable it was.
overgrown mounds near the crest piece of quartzite from the hills.
of Stone Hill – unmarked Boer War Sunken into the kitchen wall is a For more information, contact Stone
graves. Mark and Caroline are hoping brilliant arrangement for waste- Hill on www.stone-hill.co.za.

34 Waterfall Issue 11 2020