A River Runs Through It

A beautiful river flows through our farm – ancient, powerful, and alive. The Eerste River – the name means “first” in Dutch or Afrikaans – was the reason settlers chose the Stellenbosch valley centuries ago. Today, it remains at the heart of everything that happens on the farm, shaping not just the landscape, but our regenerative philosophy.In a new short film about the Eerste River, we share an intimate portrait of this extraordinary waterway and why restoring it has become central to Spier’s vision. It’s a story about connection – between people and place, between past and future, and between the health of the river and our own wellbeing.

Over the past years, our gardening team has planted thousands of indigenous trees along the riverbanks, creating corridors for wildlife to return. We’ve seen evidence of porcupines, snakes and tortoises, and spotted little duikers, a family of bat-eared foxes, and even a jackal. And the birdlife is incredible. But the work goes deeper than rewilding. It’s about understanding rivers as “the arteries and veins of our planet,” as Mariota Enthoven describes them, and recognising that how we care for water is ultimately how we care for ourselves.The film invites us to see the Eerste River not just as a focal point on the farm, but as a teacher, showing us what’s possible when we give nature time, space, and reverence to regenerate and heal.

Experience the River

At Spier, the Eerste River is woven into many of the special experiences we offer:

Riverstone Massage at the Spa – enjoy a massage using smooth stones handpicked by our therapists from the Eerste River
Stay in the Waterlily Suite – or the four-bedroom Riverside Villa, or any of our riverside suites, all with serene river views
Riverside Picnic – find a quiet spot along the river and settle in for a restorative afternoon in nature
Cycle Along the River – explore one of the farm’s cycle trails, weaving between fynbos, vineyards, pastures and the river
River Walk – meander along the river and into the wild part of our farm, beautiful in every season, especially springtime
Sip a Glass of Wine by the River – perfect for quality time with friends or family in a beautiful setting
Relax by the Pool – our striking mosaic-tiled hotel pool is surrounded by wild Cape gardens and has the gentle energy of the river running past it
Rooftop Drinks – enjoy views of the riverine forest and the mountains beyond from the elevated perspective of the hotel’s rooftop bar with its easy, low-slung seating and fire pit
Riverside Runs – active hotel guests take note: whether in the early morning or late afternoon, there is nothing nicer than running along the river path
River Bench Moments – all along the river, there are benches – places to pause – for conversation or quiet time, perhaps reading or meditation
Our favourite way to experience the river? From one of our three bridges, including our new suspension bridge linking the hotel to the farm
Don’t miss Hanien Conradie’s new exhibition – The connection between water and consciousness finds perfect expression in ‘Water-Verse: Traces of the Traceless’. Hanien’s decade-long dialogue with rivers, droughts, and floods resonates beautifully with our own river story – understanding water as teacher, spirit, and mirror of our deepest selves.