“Look at it, it's right there, on the right side of the mastic tree!” says Alex Hohne, owner of the El Encinarejo farm, north of Andújar (Jaén). Three days had to pass before he wanted to appear, but when he did, his appearance was tremendous. As if he were a mythological being, somewhere between the real and the fantastic world, a specimen of Iberian lynx walks majestically among the bushes in the north of the estate. It is seven in the morning, but the ardor that runs through the body the first time a lynx is sighted makes the cold and sleep that were beginning to take their toll disappear in one fell swoop as the wait lengthens.
This hidden enclave, located in the heart of Sierra Morena, transports the traveler to a place that is perceived as even further away. The farm, managed by Alex and Jessica Hohne, offers the services of a rural house – especially focused on naturalistic tourism – and a hunting place.
With luxury facilities, guests can enjoy the peace and silence typical of the interior of the mountains, while enjoying unique catering and accommodation services. This South African couple, who arrived in Spain in 2019, wanted to fulfill their dream of finding a place in the middle of nature to contribute to the maintenance of threatened species and promote sustainable tourism closely linked to respect for the environment.
Many of the guests are attracted by the lynx – there are between three and four adults, who have one litter per year – and the bison – there are a total of 18, and they come from northern Poland. However, the enormous variety of activities that can be carried out is also one of its main assets.
From hiking trails to mountain bike excursions, including horseback riding, the more than one thousand hectares of El Encinarejo are the perfect terrain for practicing any sporting activity in rural areas. If you are attentive enough – and in silence, of course –, during your rest periods you can take a detour and see all kinds of animals, such as mongoose, wild boars, badgers, foxes, genets and, in the river , even specimens of otter.
The complex has four very spacious double rooms with their own balcony. The views of the estate are spectacular, and the adjoining bar is open twenty-four hours so that customers can help themselves whenever they want. Reservations also guarantee the exclusivity of the facilities. Even if it is a couple, the integrity of the complex will be reserved only for them. The price -450 euros per night- includes all meals and activities.
One of its most precious treasures is the gastronomic offer. With a menu made mostly from kilometer zero products, game meat is the jewel in the crown. Deer, fallow deer and roe deer are three of the deer that can be tasted in your kitchen. Furthermore, these are almost always specimens hunted there.
The curious thing is that only bow hunting is allowed on the farm. There are only three in Spain, and El Encinarejo is among them. “It is a method that is more respectful of the environment and the rest of the animals. In addition, the number of animals hunted is much smaller, making it more sustainable.”
In summer, there is a small private beach on the river bank to soak in – it is an ideal way to withstand the hours of maximum heat – and they will soon open a swimming pool that will be accessible from the rooms. Furthermore, projects to introduce more animal species do not stop. “The objective is to continue caring for the lynx and the bison, which coexist perfectly, and at the beginning of next year bring some specimens of Przewalski, a species of wild horse of Mongolian origin that is also threatened,” concludes Hohn.
