The Concept of De Oude Kraal
De Oude Kraal Country Estate is a Bloemfontein Accommodation Guest House, based on a 3000Ha working sheep farm, owned by a 6th Generation family where dedication and excellence is a way of life. A Bloemfontein Accommodation with a difference. De Oude Kraal – Lombard Family!
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The concept of De Oude Kraal comes from the native Koi Tribe. They used the natural rocks from the area to build the “kraal” (animal enclosure) that kept their livestock safe from predators.
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This Free State Historical guest house is a natural extension from the “kraal” concept, in that the guests experience the tranquillity, security and serenity of De Oude Kraal Country Estate & Spa. The Main House has its historical origin in 1885, where the restaurant is now located.
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Recently, we had severe veld fires in August 2021 which was very challenging, and we are all standing together as a farming community to curb the spread of the fires to save the farm and those of our community.
History of De Oude Kraal
Originally known as Wilhelmshöhe, it was part of a farm called Bruidegomspruit, belonging to the Griqua tribe. The captain of the tribe, Adam Kok III, gave the farm to Johannes Witvoet as a wedding present — hence the name Bruidegomspruit, which literally means “Bridegroom’s creek”. A missionary named Friedrich Wilhelm Salzmann bought Bruidegomspruit from Witvoet. Friedrich divided the farm between his sons Carel and Martin, and thus, part of Bruidegomspruit became Wilhelmshöhe. The original house was built in 1885 by Martin Salzmann. The south wing was added in 1945 by Judge A.J. Smit, the grandfather of Marie Lombard (nee Bührmann), thus completing the traditional H-plan of the house. The farm has been passed from mother to daughter: Salzmann to Smit to Bührmann to Lombard.
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Gerhard and Marie Lombard renovated the grand old house in 1992 to be used as a Guest House and Restaurant. The name De Oude Kraal is derived from the stone kraals that were build by M.J. Salzmann(snr.), as well as the stone ruins built by the Khoi people who had lived here.
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The concept of De Oude Kraal has its origin from the native Khoi tribe using the natural rocks from the area to build the kraal (enclosure).
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The reason for the kraal was to keep their live-stock safe from predators like black-back jackal and lynx.
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Our Guest House is a natural extension from the Kraal concept in that our guests immediately feel and enjoy the tranquility, security and serenity of De Oude Kraal.
