Magic Hills are a geographical phenomenon that have puzzled and amazed people for centuries. These hills, also known as gravity hills or mystery spots, are found in various parts of the world and have become popular tourist destinations. What makes these hills magical is the optical illusion they create. When you stand at the bottom of a magic hill and look up, it appears as if the slope is going uphill, defying the laws of gravity. However, if you were to pour water or roll a ball on the slope, it would actually roll downhill. Scientists explain this phenomenon through the concept of visual perception.
Magic hills
“We are merely custodians of this landscape and we have made it our responsibility to protect it and guard it for future generations – we want this to become our legacy and to ensure that we leave this incredible piece of Africa in a better way than we found it.”
Owners Erik and Alexandra Kovacs have a very special connection to the magical Karoo. Years ago, a long way from his home country of Slovakia, Erik visited the Eastern Cape on holiday – and the irresistible beckoning of the area has kept him returning. Although he went on to travel the world, he never again experienced the beguiling energy of the Great Karoo, with its harsh beauty and hidden secrets.
After many serendipitous coincidences, spanning 25 years, Erik became the sole owner of what is now the 21 100-hectare Magic Hills Private Game Reserve. Together with his extraordinary wife Alexandra, the couple have spent more than a decade acquiring the overgrazed and degraded farmland in the Great Karoo at a cost of more than R200 million, with the goal to restore the landscape to its former splendour as a protected area.
The story comes full circle – what was once a hunting concession, and then a borderline farming area, will now become an example to others of landscape restoration and wildlife rehabilitation. In helping nature to return to her authentic state of balance, the Magic Hills team facilitates the rebirth of a thriving and sustainable ecosystem.
The owners’ investment and personal commitment to conservation is admirable. While this venture started with the objective to one day offer a unique and one-of-a-kind hospitality experience in breath-taking surrounds, Erik and Alexandra’s core purpose has evolved to place conservation at the forefront of everything that they do. Magic Hills is first and foremost dedicated to the rehabilitation of the land that Erik and Alexandra have acquired.
This is only the beginning of this magical, unraveling story of serendipity, revival and dedication, and we implore you to join us on this journey, and become a part of our philanthropic adventure.
This Eco-Villa in Bali Is the Epitome of Jungle Luxury
We hope you love Magic Hills Villa! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.
Bali’s magic is undeniable, no matter where you stay. But the Indonesian island also has some of the coolest accommodations you’re ever going to see, from a luxury hotel in Uluwatu with an infinity pool perched 300 feet above the ocean, to an equally luxurious Airbnb with a water slide that drops into a private swimming pool, to a mountainous Airbnb in the remote village of Munduk that feels like it’s floating above the clouds.
Of course, Bali is also famous for its jungles, which means epic treehouses and treehouse Airbnbs like the Bird Hills Bamboo House in Amlapura and Scorpio House near Ubud. If you’re traveling around eastern Bali, there’s another bamboo-style eco-lodge in the Selat village that you should absolutely have on your radar — the Magic Hills Villa.
The Magic Hills Villa is a two-bedroom, two-bath Airbnb in a remote and verdant area that comes with 360-degree views of the Balinese jungle, including natural landmarks like Mount Agung and Bali’s iconic rice terraces. Guests get the entire property to themselves, including amenities such as beautifully appointed bedrooms with king-sized beds, hammocks, a private pool and hot tub, and an outdoor shower. The villa has no full kitchen but comes with a minibar, and there’s a restaurant on the premises where you can eat or have meals delivered to you.)
Despite being wonderfully remote, Magic Hills Villa is also a good base camp for touring the rest of Bali. It’s 90 minutes from the Bali Airport and two hours from Ubud. The superhost, a local villager, can also help arrange excursions to sites such as Besakih (Mother Temple), Lempuyang Temple (Gate to Heaven), Tirta Gangga Water Palace, and Taman Ujung Sukasada Kingdom Palace, as well as activities like trekking up Mount Batur at sunrise, scuba diving in Amed, river rafting on the Telaga Waja river, hiking through rice fields, chasing waterfalls, observing hindu ceremonies, taking yoga lessons, arranging photo shoots during golden hour, ATVing, zip-lining, and just about anything else on your Bali bucket list.
Price: $308 per night
Building the Community: Tracie Moore & Magic Hills Artists
We are back with Building the Community Series and the spotlight shines on Tracie Moore who runs Magic Hills Artists. She describes it as "a songwriter's night and we now have started a full band showcase. Overall, I think it has been going very well. We put these rounds and shows on to try and help people meet each other and find others to write with." Tracie is well connected in Nashville and has done an amazing job amplifying songwriters and giving them a place to get started and connect with others. I sat down with Tracie and talked about moving from Alabama, how she started Magic Hills Artists and some cool things she's working on for the future.
Get To Know Tracie
"I'm from Alabama and have lived there all of my life. I was a substitute teacher for the last 10 years and loved it. My daughter is a musician but didn't want to move up here. I brought her up here for 4 or 5 years to work with Precious Harris. She graduated, my son was already out of school and I told them "I'm moving to Nashville y'all". I was married at the time, so I packed up and left. I love it here and I'm hoping one day to have my daughter in Nashville with me. When I first moved to Nashville, I helped a lot of people find other people to write with. Then I started the round at Live Oak, which has been happening for over three years now. I absolutely love to put those on. I loved helping my daughter meet new people, but when she didn't want to move, I still wanted to be able to help people in Nashville. At one point I thought I wanted to be a manager, but I don't think I want to do that anymore."
Q & A With Tracie Moore
Q: How did you come up with the idea for Magic Hills Artists and how did this journey start for you?
"I really wanted songwriters to have a place to meet each other. A lot of people move to Nashville and don't know anyone and it's a lot different for them in Nashville than it is back at home. Just because you aren't a hit songwriter doesn't mean that your music shouldn't be heard."
Q: Most memorable moment so far with Magic Hills Artists?
"I think the most memorable was my first full band showcase. It was amazing and packed. It was one of the most fun things we have ever done. I probably won't do another one until fall. I want it to be exciting and something that people look forward to. Everyone comes together that night and the people playing all support each other. That's one of the things I love. All the guys and girls involved come and support each other. You don't always find that here in Nashville or anywhere.
Something that I'm really excited for hasn't happened yet. Magic Hills is doing takeovers at two venues at the Key West Songwriters Festival. We are hosting some full bands and songwriters."
Q:What is your vision for Magic Hills Artists?
"I might end up doing an acoustic band set at a venue somewhere. And I've heard that at the Country Music Hall of Fame, they have kids write songs or poems. Then they have musicians come in and make a song out of it and sing the song. I want to get a coffee shop and get the kids and their parents and the people singing these songs and have a writer's night for kids. Like I said, I've started to work on booking writer's retreats and think that could be a big thing. I'll see how it goes. I really want to keep writers working together because I feel that a lot of the time, everyone in Nashville is in competition with each other. By doing these retreats, you put the writers together and let them get to know one another and allow them an opportunity to become friends."
Q: What advice do you have for anyone who's trying to become an entrepreneur and start their own podcast, business, service, etc.?
"One thing is to get out and meet as many people as you can. By doing that you can figure out who you want to work with. Also, never give up. That's one of the worst things people do; they give up and don't give their project enough time. I've had issues with parents who bring their kid to town and think their performer is going to get famous immediately, simply because they were so good in their hometown. It doesn't work like that. You have to work for it. I always have an extra job. I probably won't make enough money off of the Magic Hills thing, so I have a full-time job. Sticking with it, being a good person and being honest goes a long way. I had a guy message me because he saw I was hosting a songwriters night. I told him “you can help me”, he asked me about pay and I told him "there is no pay right now". I haven't heard another word from him or seen him around. Those are the kinds of people I don't want to work with."
If you are just discovering Magic Hills Artists follow now on Instagram & Facebook
Scientists explain this phenomenon through the concept of visual perception. The landscape surrounding the hill plays tricks on our eyes, making us believe that what we see is not what is actually happening. The combination of the hill's peculiar shape and the surrounding terrain creates an optical illusion that challenges our sense of direction and gravity.
One popular theory is that the hills are situated near a magnetic force, which distorts the perception of gravity. Another theory suggests that the hills are located along fault lines, causing variations in the Earth's gravitational field. Regardless of the scientific explanations, the magic of these hills lies in the mystery they create. People visit these hills to experience the disorienting feeling and to challenge their understanding of the world. It is a reminder that our perception of reality is not always accurate, and there is still much we do not understand about the natural world. In addition to their mysterious nature, these hills often have fascinating legends and folklore associated with them. Some believe that these hills have supernatural powers or are connected to otherworldly forces. These stories add to the allure and sense of wonder surrounding magic hills. Whether you are a believer in the supernatural or a skeptic, visiting a magic hill is an experience like no other. It is a chance to witness firsthand the power of illusion and to question the limits of our understanding. So if you ever come across a magic hill, do not hesitate to defy gravity and explore the enchanting world of optical illusions..
Reviews for "Into the Unknown: Adventure and Discovery in the Magic Hills"
1. Emily - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Magic Hills". The story was lacking depth and the characters felt one-dimensional. The world-building was also quite weak, and I found it hard to connect with the setting. The plot was predictable and didn't offer any surprises. Overall, it felt like a generic fantasy novel with nothing unique or gripping to offer.
2. John - 1 star - "Magic Hills" was a complete waste of time for me. The writing style was dull, and the pacing was all over the place. I couldn't bring myself to care about any of the characters, as they were poorly developed and lacked any real motivation. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The story had potential, but it fell flat due to the lackluster execution. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating fantasy read.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Magic Hills", but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The plot felt disjointed and poorly constructed, with loose ends left unresolved. The pacing was slow, and the action scenes were lackluster. The world-building was lacking detail and failed to immerse me in the story. The character interactions were unrealistic and lacked depth. Overall, I found "Magic Hills" to be a forgettable and underwhelming read.
4. Michael - 1 star - "Magic Hills" was a major disappointment. The writing lacked sophistication and the story was filled with clichés. The characters were flat and uninteresting, making it difficult to invest in their journeys. The plot felt contrived and lacked originality. The author's attempts at humor fell completely flat. I found myself skipping through pages, hoping that something would redeem this book, but unfortunately, it never happened. I would not recommend "Magic Hills" to anyone looking for an engaging and well-written fantasy novel.
5. Rachel - 2 stars - I was expecting so much more from "Magic Hills", but it failed to deliver. The pacing was inconsistent, with moments of unnecessary detail followed by rushed plot points. The characters felt underdeveloped and lacked depth. The world-building was weak, leaving me unclear about the setting and the rules of the magic system. I struggled to stay invested in the story and found myself losing interest. Overall, "Magic Hills" left me feeling unsatisfied and disappointed.