Cheval Vapeur
Cheval Vapeur Farm is situated in the seasonal wetlands of Agricultural Philippi, project objectives being Job Creation for the indigent, Wetland Restoration, Horse Rehabilitation/Rescue and Tourism. The small-holding, size 7.2 hectares, a derelict racing stable yard had previously been used as a rubbish-dump.

Job creation: The area is one of very low employment and mostly illiterate shack dwellers. There is an on-going desperate need for jobs & the lack of skills perpetuates the problems.
We have taken on workers and trained them as grooms or groundsmen or domestic workers for the self-catering cottages, as the demands on the property grow. Each employee in his/her own right, supports an extended family of several, who themselves are unemployed, elderly or disabled. The continuity and future plan for the farm is essential to ensure their job security.

Wetland restoration: The Seasonal Wetlands, of which Cheval forms a part (as does the Edith Stephens Nature Conservation Park very close to our farm), is an increasingly diminishing area due to on-going pressure and encroachment of industrial development and housing. This creates increasing & continuing threats to the precious Biodiversity and Bird life of these seasonal wetlands.
Cape Town is located within a CI Biodiversity hotspot. 19 different and distinct vegetation types are mostly restricted to unusually small areas, and several are completely endemic to the city – occurring nowhere else in the world.
Having cleared the site of all products of dumping – plastic, barbed wire, broken glass, tins, plastic string etc., we developed the grounds by installing boreholes, planting grass, trees, flowers and shrubs (with reference to advisors at Edith Stephens). We established a nursery and re-established the dam, clearing much of the invasive reeds therein (although, with the ongoing drought some of this needs to be done again). We have managed to attract the return and successful nesting of many of the wetland and other birds, in the last 5 years – there are now over 50 species of birds on the farm.
There is also a substantial community of endangered Western Leopard Toads on the farm.

Horse rescue/rehabilitation: To enable this we:
• Restored the run-down and dilapidated stables.
• Erected horse paddocks and shelters.
• Laid sub-bases & built a dressage arena, a jumping arena and something of a cross-country course.
• Erected storage facilities for feed & bedding & equipment
• Built a wooden barn for 10 more stables
• Rehabilitated several ex-race thorough-bred horses and some others
• Provided vehicles and other necessary working equipment
• Erected staff living quarters
• Set up joinery/woodwork workshop and sewing workroom (both fully equipped)
• We have taken on several ex-race and other horses, rehabilitated (physically & emotionally) and retrained (on-going, by means of the method of Natural Horsemanship/Monty Roberts) into the disciplines of Dressage and Jumping. These horses have come on beautifully and are now a pleasure to work with. We have used these horses in therapy for patients in addiction recovery, and have had phenomenal results. They are also leased out (to anyone willing to follow natural horsemanship methods).
• Selected staff are trained in these refined methods of horsemanship and are making good progress.


Tourism: Being in the heart of Cape Town’s seasonal wetlands, Cheval is now a wonderfully tranquil oasis and a nature haven for those who still need to be close to all Cape Town’s attractions. We aim to enable guests to experience the beauty of the wetlands, nature, bird and horse life at minimal cost. Eco- and Avi-tourism is significantly attractive in the tourist industry and Cheval has the added advantage of being very economical and central (10 minutes to the airport, 15 to 20 minutes to Royal Cape Golf Club, Muizenberg beach, Rondebosch, Newlands, Kenilworth, Wynberg and Plumstead, 20 to 30 minutes to Kirstenbosch, Groot Constantia and the Waterfront) BUT far from crowds and large groups.
The rustic wooden cottages that we have provided mainly overlook the dam with flourishing bird life alongside serene paddocked horses. The cottages can sleep between two and five people and are comprehensively & cosily equipped (each with a barbecue). Available at the very low charge of R120 to R140 per person per night, they have proved a niche market and have been enormously popular.
There is a more luxurious Mews Apartment for those needing greater luxury: DSTV, Antique Brass Beds, private bath & shower etc. and also fully equipped.
Cheval is fully secured with private 24 hour armed response, electric fencing, night security guards & dogs. We are members of Cape Town Tourism and are listed on several internet accommodation sites viewable on SafariNow, TravelGround, SleepingOut, RoomsforAfrica etc.

The food places all over.