Although farming activities continue on a section of Minwater, all livestock have been withdrawn from the veld a number of years ago. As a result the veld is in an excellent condition.

As mentioned previously, Minwater and Oudtshoorn are situated in the Klein Karoo and to be more precise, the Eastern Klein Karoo which spans the area between Calitzdorp in the west to Uniondale in the east and between the Swartberg Range in the north and the Outeniqua Range in the south. It is a transition area between the western rainfall area and the eastern summer rainfall area. Furthermore three biomes which are international hot spots of biodiversity viz. the succulent karoo, fynbos and subtropical thicket biomes converge in the Eastern Klein Karoo. Elements of the Nama Karoo (Great Karoo) vegetation occur here as well. The result is an astonishing diversity of plantlife in the area (almost 2500 species).

Minwater boasts about 550 of these plant species and your host will point out (on request) many species with interesting names such as toes, concertina bush, buttons, ostrich eye and lizard's tail.

If one is observant, many species of mammal or signs of their presence can be detected. The following species have been sighted here: klipspringer, common duiker, grysbok, steenbok, grey rhebok, eland, kudu, scrub hare, Smith's rock rabbit, rock dassie, baboon, striped polecat, small grey mongoose, yellow mongoose, honey badger, antbear ("aardvark"), black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox, aardwolf, caracal, African wild cat, small-spotted genet, porcupine, several species of mouse and last, but not least, leopard.

"To the uninitiated, the Succulent Karoo can appear a bit drab; a scrubby, barren landscape of unremarkable brown bushes. But once Louis has opened your eyes to the tiny miracles under your feet, it's suddenly transformed into a wonderland of fantastical life forms." and "I could have spent a whole week at Minwater with Louis as my guide to show me his secret world of wonderful plants."
(Dale R. Morris in South African Country Life of June 2008)

"And believe me, if you thought for a second that the succulent karoo was boring, then this is the tonic you need. This man brings the veld to life; in fact this is, without doubt, the best interpretive floral tour that I came across in all my travels for this book." and "Louis is an absolute fundi with a contagious passion for the Karoo."
Fiona McIntosh in Southbound Guide to South Africa's World Heritage Sites: Cape Floral Region Protected Areas