Meditation

Our Meditation Room offers a quiet place, immersed in nature, in which to let go of all distractions and connect with your inner self, returning to your everyday life with more passion and purpose.

Nature Walks

From the moment you step into the unspoilt landscape surrounding Bodhi Khaya you will experience tranquility as you become far removed from man made concerns.  Here, nature reigns supreme, undisturbed for centuries.

The varying habitats from fynbos and ancient forest to wetland provides a home for various antelope species as well as baboons and numerous small predators such as mongoose and caracal.  The meandering rivers and beautiful dams provide rich hunting grounds for the Cape Clawless Otter.  

Birdwatching

Several bird-species are strictly confined to the small area of the fynbos-biome of the Western Cape. The Cape Rockjumper, Cape Sugarbird, Orange-breasted Sunbird, Cape Siskin, Protea Canary and Victorin's Warbler are all endemic to the cape floral kingdom.

On the rural roads surrounding Bodhi Khaya, one may encounter a pair of Cape Francolin or Helmeted Guinea Fowl grazing for seeds.

Bodhi Khaya's location in the Overberg region boasts many different habitat types from escarpments to mountain fynbos, riverine thicket to wetlands and attracts more than 300 bird species. During the day, the shadow of the enormous Black Eagle appears over the koppies searching for Dassies (Rock Hyrax). It is joined by other raptors notably the Jackal Buzzard, African Fish Eagle, Black Harrier, Kestrels, Kites and Falcons.   Paradise Flycatcher, Cape Robin, Brown Hooded Kingfisher, Southern Boubou, Fiscal Flycatcher, Bokmakierie, Cape Batis, Black Saw-wing Swallow, Yellow-rumped Widow, and Burchell's Coucal are some of our residents.

At night, the Cape Eagle Owls and Spotted Eagle Owls emerge to hunt on silent wings and the ubiquitous call of the Fiery-necked Nightjar echoes through the valley.

In the many ponds and pools Egyptian Geese, ducks and teals often rest in between the bullrushes. Giant Kingfishers perch on overhanging branches while Grey Heron, Black-headed Heron stand immobile in the shallows.  South Africa's national bird, the endangered Blue Crane is resident in the area.

Walking the Labyrinth

Labyrinths can be thought of as symbolic forms of pilgrimage.

They are used by modern mystics to help achieve a contemplative state. Walking among the turnings, one loses track of direction and of the outside world, and thus quiets the mind. 

So it is a form of walking meditation which has spiritual as well as health benefits.

There are 3 stages of the walk:
Releasing: A letting go of the details of your life, shedding thoughts and distractions, opening the heart and quietening the mind.
Receiving: When you reach the centre, you stay there as long as you wish. It is a place of meditation and prayer, receiving what is there for you to receive.
Returning: Following the same path out of the centre, we enter the third stage which is 'union'. Each time you walk the labyrinth you become more empowered to do the work you feel called to do.

The labyrinth has only one path so there are no tricks to it and no dead ends! The path winds throughout and becomes a mirror for where we are in our lives. It touches our sorrows and releases our joys. Come and walk it with an open mind and an open heart!

Whale Watching

Our location at the Southern tip of Africa allows our guests some of the best land based whale watching opportunities in the world.  These magnificent mammals, often mere metres from the shore, provide unsurpassed whale watching opportunities between June and November. Humpbacks migrate through the region between May and December each year, while Bryde's whales are found slightly further offshore all year round.