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Mossel Bay – Calitzdorp – Ladismith – Van Wyksdorp – Herbertsdale

From Mossel Bay, take the R328 over the Robinson Pass to Oudtshoorn. At the Volmoed turn-off, turn left to visit Grundheim Wines. Things to do: taste the local Ruby Port, traditional witblits and liqueur. Follow the old cement road to Calitzdorp. The cellars of Boplaas, De Krans, Calitzdorp, Peter Bayly, Withoek, Axe Hill, Du’SwaRoo and TTT Cellar are known for their Port and the full-bodied, dry red wines made with traditional Portuguese varietals such as Touriga Naçional and Tempranillo. Things to do: hot springs; Sophia’s Mustard; mountain biking; canoeing; fishing; hiking; 4X4 routes; birding; passes; Karoo succulents.

From here, travel over the Huisrivier Pass to Ladismith. Visit the distillery at Ladismith Cellar and taste some of the local wines. On the Dwarsrivier road towards Laingsburg, 9 km from town, lays Hillock Wines. Taste some wine in these tranquil surroundings or stay over in the 4-star Mymering Guest House. Things to do: abseiling; mountain biking; kloof swimming; game reserve; mountaineering routes; 4X4 routes; guided day tours; hiking; nature reserves; bird watching; archaeology sites; geology sites; museums; Karoo succulents; cheese tasting.

From Ladismith, take the R327 past Van Wyksdorp and follow the gravel road in the shadow of the Langeberg Mountains over the spectacular Cloetes Pass to Herbertsdale and then back to Mossel Bay.

Spend an unforgettable day in the Klein Karoo

Distances: Mossel Bay to Grundheim (66 km) - Grundheim to Calitzdorp (37 km) – Calitzdorp to Ladismith (49 km) – Ladismith to Van Wyksdorp (43 km) – Van Wyksdorp to Herbertsdale (68 km) - Herbertsdale to Mossel Bay (51 km). Round trip is 314 km.

Reasons to visit Calitzdorp

Calitzdorp is a quaint little town on Route 62, nestled in the heart of the Klein Karoo. It is the fruit-bowl of Kannaland, the source of the country's finest port wines and it is here where you will find that the authentic character of a Klein Karoo community and the unique architecture of the region are well preserved. In the spectacular mountains that shelter Calitzdorp on three sides, Nature too, seems unspoiled by the twentieth century, awaiting the ecology-minded explorer is a wealth of flora, fauna and geological fascination.


1. Culture and history

Calitzdorp Museum       Local history                            Tel: +27 44 2133414
Marinda Combrinck       Studio & Art Gallery                  Tel: +27 79 968 1588
Organ Recital                  Noel Jean Criell                        Tel: +27 73 670 0947

2. Nature

Cape Nature is responsible for the management of two of the Klein Karoo's largest wilderness areas, namely the Swartberg Nature Reserve, which includes the remote Gamkaskloof, or "The Hell" and the Gamkaberg Nature Reserve - a succulent botanist's dream destination in the Red Mountain Range.
E-mail: info@capenature.co.za 
Website: www.capenature.co.za

Passes
Huisrivier (West)     8 km tar road towards Ladismith with breathtaking views.
Rooiberg (South)     16 km gravel road towards Van Wyksdorp - succulents and fynbos.
Swartberg               45 km gravel road via Groenfontein/Kruisrivier and a 15 km tar road with
                                spectacular views.

3. Wildlife Activities

Birding Best time for birders to visit is after substantial rains in spring and early summer. Most important habitats for birds include: the open karroid veldt dominated by stunted trees, mainly Gwarrie and low succulent shrubs; the denser vegetation on the hillsides; the fynbos (Waboom Protea nitida); several permanent streams providing a habitat for birds that are not typical of this dry environment; man made habitat.
Tel: +27 44 213 3775
E-mail: calitzdorpinfo@kannaland.co.za 
Website: www.calitzdorp.co.za

4. Adventure Activities

4X4 Routes The Klein Karoo is criss-crossed with secondary roads (dirt or gravel) which provide a large variety of interesting and scenic drives as well as the highest concentration of 4x4 routes in the country. Several options exist with differently graded routes suitable for all types of off-road vehicles and drivers with different levels of experience.

Gamkaberg           Tel: +27 44 213 3367           1-2 hours
Redstone Hills       Tel: +27 44 213 3783           30-45 min
Bôjaankop             Tel: +27 44 213 3756           3-5 hours

Canoeing and Fishing
The Fish Eagle                            Tel: +27 82 956 7777           Yellow Fish; Eels
Gamka River at Matjiesvlei        Tel: +27 44 213 3756           Bass; Yellow Fish; Carp; Eels

Donkey Trails The Donkey Trail is an authentic heritage experience that takes you on an extraordinary hike over the Swartberg Mountain.
Tel: +27 44 213 3990
E-mail: calbitz@mweb.co.za
Website: www.donkeytrail.com

Hiking Some people just love the wide open spaces of the Klein Karoo, others appreciate the fact that they are hiking a world heritage site, still others appreciate the beauty of walking through an ecological hotspot where three plant biomes (succulent karoo, cape thicket and fynbos) converge.
Tel: +27 21 659 3500
E-mail: bookings@capenature.co.za 
Website: www.capenature.co.za

Gamkaberg Nature Reserve         Tel: +27 44 213 3367         1-2 Days
Redstone Hills                               Tel: +27 44 213 3783         2-5 hours
Matjiesvlei                                    Tel: +27 44 213 3756         2-4hours
Retreat at Groenfontein                Tel: +27 44 213 3880        1-4 hours
Succulent garden                          Tel: +27 44 213 3383         1 hour

Horse Riding and Trails Red Stone Hills invites you to come and experience the unspoiled natural beauty of the Klein Karoo's wide open spaces on horseback.
Tel: +27 44 213 3783

Mountain Biking
Kruisrivier                       Tel: +27 44 213 3783
Matjiesvlei                       Tel: +27 44 213 3756         E- mail: matjiesvlei@telkomsa.net 

Scenic Drives
Groenfontein 50km circular gravel road passing the Nelsrivier Dam.
Kruisrivier 50km circular gravel road passing the spectacular Redstone Hills and regional architecture.
Matjiesvlei 5km on the tar road towards Ladismith and then 16km gravel road with secluded farms among aloe-clad hills.
Amalienstein 27km on the tar road towards Ladismith - historical mission stations and a Lutheran church 150 years old.
Tel: +27 44 213 3775
E-mail: calitzdorpinfo@kannaland.co.za 
Website: www.calitzdorp.co.za

5. Local tour operatours

Swartberg Eco Explore provides you with unique opportunities to explore the historical, geological and natural treasures offered by the Swartberg Mountains and the Little Karoo. They do specialised Eco Tours focusing on among others hiking trails in the Swartberg Mountains.
Tel: +27 82 461 8253
E-mail: info@swartbergexplore.co.za  
Website: www.swartbergexplore.co.za

Tractor Tours Vredelus Tractor Tours 1 hour
Tel: +27 44 213 3717

6. More activities...

ABSA Calitzdorp Port & Wine Festival
Website: www.portwinefestival.co.za

Calitzdorp Spa Relax in the natural hot spring baths.
Tel: +27 44 213 3371
E-mail: info@calitzdorpspa.co.za
Website: www.calitzdorpspa.co.za

7. Local tourism information

To find out more about Calitzdorp and its surround, places to stay, where to eat or to get the contact details of the activities mentioned, please contact the Calitzdorp Tourism Bureau.

Calitzdorp Tourism Bureau
Telephone: +27 44 213 3775
E-mail: calitzdorpinfo@kannaland.co.za 
Website: www.calitzdorp.org.za

Reasons to visit Ladismith

Ladismith, as with the rest of the Klein Karoo, benefited from the ostrich feather boom at the turn of the previous century. There are still many attractive houses dating from the Victorian era. Today Ladismith serves an extensive farming area with an ideal climate for the production of quality fruit – apricots, peaches, plums, nectarines and grapes.


1. Culture and history

Chocolate making @ 34 on Albert Street Its called 'Ladismith Artisan chocolate' and its made from bean to bar. The chocolate factory produces mini and maxi bars in a range of flavours and textures and even caters for corporate orders. You must taste our chocolate. It's the real thing.
E-mail: elise@savongroupe.com 
Website: www.34onalbert.co.za

Ladismith Eyes Art gallery, gifts, coffee shop and nursery. The name "Ladismith Eyes" is derived from the round cast iron ventilation grilles which adorn the building and which are a typical Ladismith feature. The art gallery features artists from Kannaland and the Eden area, offering a wide selection of works - from fine art, ceramics, glass art, sculpture and wood to metal work. The coffee shop opens onto a small nursery, focussing on indigenous and drought resistant plants.
Tel: +27 28 551 2531
E-mail: earth@axxess.co.za 
Website: anjali@axxess.co.za

Soaps, lotions, handcreams @ 34 on Albert Street Situated on the premisis is a mini Soap making factory that makes soap to order. So whether its lavander mixed with an exfoliant or a gentle rose soap, just place your order and it will be waiting for you when you arrive home.
E-mail: elise@savongroupe.com
Website: www.34onalbert.co.za

Take an architectural tour Ladismith boasts of some beautiful old buildings in and around town. Most of them have been restored and are well-cared for. Several buildings have been declared National Monuments. Start at the Otto Hager Church (Tourism Bureau) in South Street for a short talk on the history of this beautiful neo-Gothic church, designed and built by the German architect Carl Otto Hager in 1874. Proceed from here through the town to view the different building styles. The town boasts with at least 6 different building style, e.g. Victorian (ranging from lavish to simple), neo-Gothic, Karoo, Cape Revival, the Ladismith style (simplified Georgian), Regency and most probably the only Lithuanian style in the country (the old synagogue). Guided tours by appointment.
Tel: +27 28 551 1378
E-mail: visit@ladismith.org.za 
Website: www.ladismith.org.za


2. Cheese

Parmalat Cheese Factory The original Towerkop cheese factory was taken over in 1998 by Parmelat. A variety of cheese, yoghurt, ice cream and other diary products are available at their local cheese shop.
Tel: +27 28 551 1030
E-mail: info@parmalat.co.za

Ladismith Cheese Company came into being in 1998 and over the next couple or years has extended their factory to include a powdered milk plant. Their cheeses are sold at various shops in town, i.e. Route62 Cafe, Spar and OK Grocer. Contact Anna-Marié Cameron for organised tours.
Tel: +27 28 551 1613
E-mail: ldskaas@cyber-tel.co.za 

3. Nature

Cape Nature is responsible for the management of two of the Klein Karoo's largest wilderness areas, namely the Swartberg Nature Reserve, which includes the remote Gamkaskloof, or "The Hell". The area around the Gamkapoort Dam is a treasure of fossils. Among the numerous fossilized species discovered are trilobites, ancient arthropods which lived in the beginning of the Cambrian period 570 million years ago. They flourished as scavengers for 350 million years before becoming extinct. Fossilized brachiopods (lampshells) also abound, superficially resembling mollusks such as clams. Buffelspoort is an absolute pristine wilderness area and has been declared a Nature Heritage area. The impressive S-shaped poort with 600m high spectacular folded rock formations, was formed by the Buffelsrivier carving its way through the mountain. It is said that leopard still roams there, as well as the fish and black eagle. Nature's amazing healing ability has seen to it that the vegetation has reinstated itself after the devastating 1981 flood - stripping it completely of its vegetation.
E-mail: info@capenature.co.za 
Website: www.capenature.co.za


4. Wildlife Activities

Aardvark Nature College Situated on the R323 on the way to Riversdale. Trained guides will take you on an ecological discovery event. Explore tracks and signs of a wide variety of animals, including the elusive aardwolf, aardvark and honey badger. By appointment only.
Tel: +27 28 551 2562
E-mail: jane@naturecollege.co.za 
Website: www.naturecollege.co.za

5. Adventure Activities

4X4 Routes The Klein Karoo is criss-crossed with secondary roads (dirt or gravel) which provide a large variety of interesting and scenic drives as well as the highest concentration of 4x4 routes in the country. Several options exist with differently graded routes suitable for all types of off-road vehicles and drivers with different levels of experience.
Aardvark Nature Reserve
Tel: +27 28 551 2562
E-mail: jane@naturecollege.co.za 
Website: www.naturecollege.co.za
Buffelspoort
Tel: +27 28 551 2114
E-mail: buffelspoort@gmail.com
Die Eike
Tel: +27 28 551 2014
E-mail: johanvdv@hilbert.co.za 

Scenic Drives
The Valleys Travel west on the Laingsburg road and visit the picturesque Voorbaat, Van Zylsdamme, Buffelspoort and Dwarsrivier where you can meander through the vineyards and orchards or visit a unique private chapel on a private farm. Proceed along the Knuyswagendsdrift road past the water monument to Hoeko valley and then onto Amalienstein and the magnificent Seweweekspoort with its breathtaking rock formations. Visit Winkelplaas and Vensterkrans on the western side of town to see the awesome damage that was inflicted by the Laingsburg flood in 1981, when the railway line was washed away.
Seweweekspoort, Bosluiskloof Pass and Gamkapoort Dam Drive through the magnificent Seweweekspoort (turn-off 23km from town), turn right at the end of the poort to proceed down Bosluiskloof Pass to the dam (25km from the turn-off). The pass has a beauty of its own and the roads drops down to the Gamkapoort Dam which cuts off the continuation of the road to Prince Albert. From a point about 5 km west of the dam a narrow footpath to Gamkaskloof ("The Hell") takes off.

Hiking Some people just love the wide open spaces of the Klein Karoo, others appreciate the fact that they are hiking a world heritage site, still others appreciate the beauty of walking through an ecological hotspot where three plant biomes (succulent karoo, cape thicket and fynbos) converge.
Tel: +27 21 659 3500
E-mail: bookings@capenature.co.za 
Website: www.capenature.co.za
Buffelskloof                                Tel: +27 44 2133786            1-2 hours
Die Eike                                      Tel: +27 28 551 2014           4½-5 hours
Elandsberg - "Liggie" trail         Tel: +27 28 551 1378           5-8 hours
Springvale                                  Tel: +27 28 551 2014           1½ hours
Towersig                                     Tel: +27 28 551 1378           1-5 hours

Horse riding A two-day, horse-back trip with tented overnight facilities is another option of exploring the eco wonder world of the Klein Karoo.
Tel: +27 28 551 2562
E-mail: jane@naturecollege.co.za
Website: www.naturecollege.co.za

Mountain biking
Seweweekspoort is home to the annual Mountain Bike Challenge.
Tel: +27 28 55 123 55
E-mail: info@7weeks.co.za 
Website: www.7weeks.co.za
Slanggat - 15km. The first 2,5km are relatively easy through Karooveld passing through 4 gates and climbing from about 420m to about 500m above sealevel. The actual climb starts after this when the route climbs about 540m in the next 2 km to reach a high spot above the Buffelspoort Canyon from where one has a fantastic view over the canyon. From there the road drops about 100m to a turnabout point about 2km further. The same route is taken back.
Mountain bikes for hire
E-mail: elise@savongroupe.com
Website: www.34onalbert.co.za

Stargazing
Blessed with still, crisp nights, low humidity and very low levels of light polution Ladismith ranks right up there with the best locations in South Africa for amature stae gazing. Gaze throught our 8 inch Dobsonian Telescope and you are transported into another world where Star clusters and Nebuli fill the night sky. See Orions belt like never befor and trace out the constillations under Tony's expert guidance. An interesting lecture on the age of our universe and the current theories of creation will educate and fascinate old and young alike.
E-mail: elise@savongroupe.com
Website: www.34onalbert.co.za
 

6. More activities...

Canoeing; abseiling; mountain biking; kloof swimming; game reserve; mountaineering routes; daytrips; 4X4 trails; hiking; nature reserves; bird watching; sport activities; archaeology sites; geology sites; museums; fauna and flora

7. Local tourism information

To find out more about Ladismith and its surround, places to stay, where to eat or to get the contact details of the activities mentioned, please contact the Ladismith Tourism Bureau.

Ladismith Tourism Bureau
Telephone / Fax: + 27 28 551 1378
E-mail: visit@ladismith.org.za 
Website: www.ladismith.org.za 

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