To join Peter on a Flower tour such as described in this Blog
Contact Peter
peter.giddy@gmail.com
7 DAY FLOWER / NAMAQUALAND / HISTORICAL / CULTURAL TOUR
- Port Elizabeth to Carnarvon (Jansenville; Graaff Reinet) -- Noorsveld.
- Carnarvon to Vanrhynsdorp (Calvinia; Niewoudsville)
- Vanrhynsdorp to Springbok (Garies; Kamieskroon; Namakwa Nature Reserve; Nababeep; Goegap)
- Springbok to Citrusdal (Garies; Clanwilliam)
- Citrusdal to Darling (Warmbaths; Cardoesie; Paternoster; Vredenburg; West Coast Nature Reserve) Renosterveld of the Swartland.
- Darling to Matjiesfontein (Ceres; Aquila; Touwsrivier)
- Matjiesfontein to Port Elizabeth (Prince Alfred; Uniondale; Langkloof)
Day One -- Friday 14th September 2018
Peter Joseph and I take five people for a Tour of the Namaqualand Flowers.
On tour with us -- Alta who I met through Hiking; Yvonne; Des; Cheryl and Liz who are from East London and came through for this tour.
We leave at 7.00am on Friday 14th from Port Elizabeth and drive though Uitenhage where Peter gives us some interesting information of the local affairs and history. We are driving in my VW T5 Microbus so everyone is comfortable and the luggage fits nicely into the vehicle.
We continue on the R75 to Jansenville where we stop for tea and a bite to eat. We drive on to Graaff Reinet where we look at the Jewish Memorial; the Succulent Nursery; Historical buildings and the Drosdy Hotel. As we start this tour we begin to realise how fortunate we are. The flowers on the road side are already looking good.
Graaff Reinet is the 4th Oldest Town in SA.
Spandua Koppie keeps watch over the town.
Tandjies mountain on the south side. Part of Samara reserve. Anglo Boer war history. Some kind of regional peace treaty signed here?
Gothic inspired Dutch Reformed Church.
Noah's Arc Animal interactive center. Zebra and Birds plus many other animal sorts.
Obesa succulent or Cactus Nursery -- Johan Bouwer in town and son on the south side of town.
As we drive past Graaff Reinet, Peter points out the old Tequila Distillery. For five years between 2003 and 2008, Tequila was produced in this distillery. It was called Agave Gold as the word Tequila may only be used by the Mexicans. The Agave plant could be used for a number of uses including fodder for animals during drought. However it must be chopped up. Another use, found by the Murray family is Pickled Buds. The Agave produces a tall pole and this pole has buds which appear to be good to eat if pickled.
We find the monument to Kmdt Gideon Scheepers. 4.4.1878 to 18.01.1902 -- Just 24 years old.
In December 1900 Scheepers was a member of commandant Kritzinger's commando that invaded the Cape Colony. Within eight weeks their ways parted when Kritzinger returned to the Free State. After recruiting many Cape rebels, he was promoted to commandant of 150 men, marauding in the Cape. Kritzinger's commando sabotaged British rail and telegraph lines. They executed blacks accused of spying for the British. They burnt houses, shops and public buildings. In September 1900 Scheepers started getting ill. By 10 October, when they were close to the Prince Albert Road station, he was too ill to stay with his commando and he had to be left behind. The British captured him on 12 October and he was given the necessary medical treatment. By December 1901 he had recovered sufficiently to be taken to the gaol in Graaff-Reinet
Court martialled and shot
Scheepers faced 16 charges in a court martial: 7 of murder, 1 of attempted murder, 1 that he placed a prisoner in the enemy's line of fire, 1 of maltreatment of a POW, 3 of assault, 2 of malicious injury to property and 1 of arson (15 incidents). 54 witnesses were called to testify for the prosecution. Scheepers appointed his own attorney Carl Auret to defend him.
Scheepers was convicted on all counts except one of the murder charges. He was sentenced to death. On 18 January 1902 he was executed by firing squad. He was reburied during the night in an unknown grave, and to this day his place of burial is unknown.
Our next stop is Victoria West for lunch. We find a Spur Like restaurant and the find the Appolo Theatre which appears to be on the go for future shows.
Loxton is a tiny village where we find the future route to the Castle Building which is on a private farm; We drive through the village and find the church in the centre as well as the Tractor Museum. Now something really amazing happened later in the tour. This evening while walking in the Village, We spot a group of three Harley Davidson Bikers and start up a conversation. Ron, it turns out is the owner of the Tractor Museum and he invites us to Please! visit the museum next time we are here. He also introduces us to his business partner from Langebaan, Kevin. So here is the really amazing thing..... Three days later, when in Langebaan we stop at the Spar for a snack, And Kevin is also in the Spar and remembers me from that encounter.
From Loxton we drive to Carnarvon where we stay at the Lord Carnarvon Hotel. Our supper is at the Carnarvon restaurant. It is a bit overpriced and the servings are much more than we can eat. Today we have driven for over 600km.
Day Two. Saturday 15th September 2018
We leave Carnarvon at 7am on a negative note as I break the car key in the ignition. So for the rest of the day we cannot turn the vehicle off and have to make sure that we do not stall the engine.
Our first stop is Calvinia named after Calvin who was protestant priest. The Jewish Museum is closed so we cannot visit that.
The Pen is Greater than the Rifle (sword) statue which is found about 30k from Calvinia on the way to Niewoudville.
The last true laying down (surrendering) of Rifles of the 2nd fight for freedom of 1899 to 1902 took place in this area close to the Oorlogskloof Rivier. The Rifles were no longer used in the war. However the Pen played a big part in the fight for a Republic. This monument was unveiled by the Prime Minister of the Republic of South Africa; B J Voster, on Saturday 30th March 1968.
Niewoudville. We stop at the church for tea. I unfortunately have to remain with the Combi which has to be running all the time until we can find a locksmith. After tea we find the Botanical Gardens and walk around enjoying this wide array of flowers.
We find the Hantam Huis Restaurant opposite the giant Post Box. I try to find a locksmith without success but manage to find a locksmith in Vredendal which is about 25km from Van Rhynsdorp where we plan to spend the night.
So now I know that all I have to do is to make sure that the engine continues to run until I can get to Vredendal.
During this section we receive regular updates on the Springbok Rugby game being played against New Zealands All Blacks. We start off with a deficit but slowly we start to take the lead. In a nail biting finish where the final kick taken by the All Blacks hits the center pole and is deflected; SA win the game in Wellington, New Zealand; 36 -34. This breaks a winning streak of the All Blacks of 16 games in a row and is the first time in a long while that SA has beaten this mighty team. A bit later, much to our delight, the Argentina Pumas beat the Australian team in Australia.
We visit Niewoudville for the Church (tea), the Botanical Gardens which are totally amazing; The Waterfall on the other side of the R63; Kokerboomwoud Forest which is about 20km on this road. Both the Waterfall and the Kokerboom Forest are worth the visit. The waterfall is quite spectacular with the Canyon and the water that appears from nowhere.
Niewoudsville is on the Bokkeveld Plateau. Matjiesfontein is a private flower reserve a few km from the Niewoudsville.
We visit the newly formed Nature reserve which is just before Niewoudsville on the R63. This is a flower reserve which has extraordinary displays and colours.
The nature reserve is our last stop for the day. We miss the Maatjiesfontein as we have agreed that fixing the key is imperative. So we continue on to Van Rhynsdorp down the Matizama pass with the amazing views of the valley below. I drop the group at Lombards Guest House and I drive through to Renendal. I meet Rowallan who is the Locksmith and he soon has me up and running with a new key which works perfectly.
Back to Van Rhynsdorp where I fill the car and meet up with the group who have had a late lunch.
Day three ... Sunday 16th.
In 1845 the land was given to the Church by the owner of the farm Goedverwagting. It is built on the banks of the Garies river. The Nama People gave the river the name Th' aries after the Grass that grows along the banks of the river. The name was later changed to Garies.
We begin the day with Coffee on the stoep of the Lombards Guest house. We leave at 7.30 for the N7 and Garries where we find the Padstal / Restaurant and shop. We order our breakfasts and there is time for a bit of shopping at the same time. We are fortunate to have beaten the busload of about 40 passengers which arrives shortly after us. The breakfast is more than adequate. This appears to be the format of our meals.... A late breakfast at about 9.30 to 10.00am and then a late lunch at about 3.30 to 4pm.
Douse - the - Glim -- Lookout for this sign as you leave
As you drive along the N7 road from Cape Town towards Namaqualand in the Bitterfontein district of the Western Cape, you’ll come across a quaint farmstead known as Douse the Glim. A Scottish regiment was encamped here in 1902 during the Anglo-Boer War. To keep their location a secret, at dusk the sergeants would tell the troops to ‘douse the glim’, or extinguish their lights.
After breakfast we continue on the N7 enjoying the flowers on the roadside. We pass the longest straight Rail Line from Sishen to Saldanha Bay where Iron Ore is carried.
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| This rail line crosses the N7. On this line we were fortunate to see the train crossing. This train runs from Sishen Iron Ore Mines to Saldanha Bay. The train can be as long as 3.8km long with 342 coaches and five locomotive engines. |
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| Ragelgat is the name given to the Griqua monument / building / area which was given to the Griekwa (Afriakaans) people. The Griqua are a band of people descended from the local Nama / Khoi or Khoisan / also known as Bushman who had liaisons with Dutch and other settlers. |
The length of the train can be as long as 342 wagons and 3.8km pulled by 5 Electric Locomotives with a total weight of 41 000 ton. The line is 861km and is the longest production train in the world.
The town is set in the Granite Rock formation of the Kamiesberg Range. During the Flower Season the Kamieskroon Hotel is a hive of excitement. The Hotel is run by Colla Swart.
At Kamieskroon (Kamies was a famous Bushman Chief and there is a mountain top named after him)
we turn off to the Namaqua (Namakwa) National Park -- Previously known as Die Skilpad Reserve and confirmed by the number of Tortoises we find on the road. To reach this reserve one has a 21km dirt road in poor condition which should be driven with care. In the reserve we do a bit of driving and walking to explore the flowers which, once again, are breathtaking. More than anything the exploring and finding of these places makes the morning quite exciting. Stop at Die Dak van Namakwaland where there are boulders to climb and explore.
We return to do a short drive though the village of Kamieskroon. On the road an unusual sighting are some Woolly Black Sheep. There are also White Sheep but they all look completely different to the sheep we have been seeing on the roadside.
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Nababeep. A strange name.The name combines two Nama words Naba meaning hump of an animal and Beep meaning small spring. Mining began in 1850 and 25 years later Copper Ore was exported through Port Nolloth. 1919 saw a Copper slump and the mine closed. In 1937 it was re opened by the Okiep Copper Company.
Nababeep provided a wonderful experience to see the flowers and boulders. This is an extremely poor town of people who were probably reasonably well employed by the Copper Mine at one time. The mine is all but completely shut down and the people have little or no commercial activity.
Past Springbok and on to Nababeep which is a mining village of a now defunct Copper Mine in the valley. We visit the Mine Museum and then the Glory Hole of Nababeep.
We drive back to Springbok and past on to the N14 road just to see the flowers in this area. Then it is lunch time (15.30) and we have a really substantial meal before finding the Goegap National Park. Here we take a look at the Restaurant area which is closed and then do the short Game Drive where we find a good showing of Kookerboom; some delightful picnic spots; a few Springbok and then to top it all we see two Gemsbok with their magnificent straight horns.
In between we see more flower displays made even more spectacular by the setting sun and the huge rocks and boulders surrounding us.
Back to the Hotel in Springbok we settle in for the evening. We are staying in Die Anker Huis of the Springbok Lodge. Nobody wants anything more to eat.
Day Four. Monday 17th September 2018
Springbok Lodge. Die Anker Huis. I have not had a good nights rest. The pillow was really hard and uncomfortable. And I had cramps in the night. So at 4.30am I am awake.
We leave at 7.30am and drive straight through to Garies where we have a substantial breakfast. Peter remembers something about a Letter Box but what Sonja, the owner of the padstal tells us is that there is a Letterklip on a farm not far from the restaurant. We drive up the road for 1km and then into the farm for about 1.5km and the dirt road, which is not an easy drive, takes us directly to the rocks called Letterklip. They are huge boulders with rocks forming a kind of fort. There is a lot of Grafiti and probably some original writings of the British who were fighting the boers in 1899 to 1902. This is a really worthwhile stop if you are in the area.
We continue on the N7 in a southerly direction until we arrive at Clanwilliam. Here we drive to the Rooibos Tea factory where we sample some teas and watch a video where they explain the history and process of making Rooibos Tea. I buy some tins of tea, mainly for the tin rather than the tea.
We find the Wild Flower reserve. This is not spectacular but has an interesting display and overlooks the Clanwilliam Dam below.
From here we drive the Pakhuis Pass into the Cederberg. This alone makes the whole day successful. This is something so special that it cannot be described. You simply must do this drive up into rock formations and spectacular views that have to be seen to be appreciated. We go all the way along the tar road to the Englishmans Grave. Graham Winchester Clowes Died 1904 near to this place. The inscription is that he was Brave and True.
Clowes of the Gordon Highlanders survived defeats at the major battles of Majuba and Magersfontein, only to be killed in a chance skirmish with a Boer patrol up here, in one of the most breath-taking geological formations South Africa has on offer.
His mother came out all the way from England after hearing the news, tracked the site down and had a memorial erected
I point out some of the Rock Art under one of the overhanging rocks.
We turn around back the way we came and in the Bushmans Kloof Resort game reserve we find some Mountain Zebra in the distance. Not easy to see so quite a find.
Continuing down we find our lunch spot ....... and Alta and I decide to do the Sevilla Trail to the bushmans Art. It is a 2.5km out and 2.5km back walk which will take you about 1.5 to 2 hours to see all nine sights. We find the first 4 and then turn around to avoid the group having to wait for us. Lunch is really substantial
When you are here -- look carefully above the grave and you may see bushman artwork. We did not see it as I only learned later of its existence.
On our return from lunch in the Pakhuis Pass in the Cederberg we visit the grave site of Doctgor Louis Christian Leipoldt. He studied Medicine in London. He was the personal physician to Joseph Pulitzer; American newspaper magnate. He was the grandson of the Rhenish preacher who founded Wupperthal in the Cedarberg. Directly above his grave; although we did not find them, are faint remains of bushmen drawings made long before his time. He was a prolific author and poet; writing in Afrikaans about the suffering of the Boer War; Childrens books; Novels; Plays and Stories.
Continuing back down to Clanwilliam, see the Clanwilliam Dam which is being improved with raising the dam wall to increase the amount of water that can be stored. We get back, once more, onto the south bound N7 for Citrusdal and our overnight stay at By Di Dam. Three chalets overlooking the dam of Citrusdal.
Day five. Tuesday 18th September
It had rained throughout the night. The morning was misty and there were heavy rain clouds in the sky. Coffee at 7am in one of the bungalos and then we set off for the Warm baths for which this area is well known.
What strikes me is the orderliness of the Agriculture in this valley under the Cederberg mountain range. The dams; the water control as wide canals are built to serve the farmers and towns of the area. The rows and rows of citrus trees and vines. And the road systems. These all are attributed to an amazing engineering ability; Foresight and investment in the future, and the hard work of the people of South Africa.
The warm baths have accommodation and camping facilities and there are a number of hot springs; pools and showers to heal the body.
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| The Piekenierskloof is on the N7 as you leave Citrusdal and approach Kardoesie. |
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After leaving Bydidam in Citrusdal and visiting the Warmbaths we drive on the Piekenierskloof and have breakfast at a well known tourist stop called Cardousie on the N7.
We continue on the N7 to Vredenberg and then head in a westerly direction to St Helena Bay which we realise that we will not be able to make time for. So we visit Paternoster and attempt to visit Tittiesbaai but the terrible corrugated dirt road puts us off, even though we hear that the flowers are excellent in this area.
We exit Paternoster which is a perfect example of how people; Rich and poor; all races and cultures; can live side by side.
Back onto the N7 heading south we find Langebaan where we enter the West Coast Nature reserve. We spend a large part of the day in the reserve where we see a variety of flowers as well as wild life. In particular we find the Mountain Zebra; Bontebok; many ostriches and a variety of bird life. We have a picnic lunch and drive to the end of the peninsular at the Postberg flower reserve. Here is a strange "Stonehedge" looking rock formation. The whole reserve surrounds an enormous lagoon. Wonderful views and a good tar road make this a must see on the flower tour.
We exit the West Coast Nature reserve on the south side and make our way to Darling where we find our Disa BnB in Lang street. Pat and Bobby are our hosts. We have a dinner at the Bistro Seven. This town is known for Darling Brewery; A sweet Factory and most importantly is Pieter Dirk Uys who is a political satirist and stand up comedy show. Darling is in the Swartland which also includes towns such as Riebeek West; Riebeek Kasteel and Wellington. It is said that the Renosterveld found in the area was Black and so the name Swartland came about.
Day Six.....Wednesday 19th September
Our morning starts with Breakfast in the Disa BnB with Pat and Bobby. It has been raining in the night and this morning there are heavy showers including hail. We pile into the Combi and drive down the road to the Darling Sweet Factory. Their main product is Toffees with different flavours. They are generous and allow us to help ourselves to samples. Of course we cannot resist buying sweets for ourselves and family.
It is still pouring with rain when we pass by Evita se Peron (The theater of Evita Bezuidenhout or Pieter Dirk Uys). We are fortunate as they open the restaurant and museum which display the history of this well known actor and satirist.
We leave Darling for Malmsbury and Riebeek Kasteel. It was near to Riebeek Kasteel that both DF Malan and Jan Smuts were born and schooled. Both went on to become Prime Minister of South Africa. We do a short tour of Riebeek and then continue on to Tulbach. Unfortunately it is still raining in Tulbach so we don't get to do the walking tour of Kerk Straat but we do stop for a coffee. And Peter explains to us about the earthquake of 1969 and how the buildings that were destroyed have been rebuilt and are now important historical and tourist attractions.
From Tulbach we find our way to Wolseley where we are fortunate to have a break in the rain and find the Water Shed where the river runs in both an Easterly and Westerly direction. This is one of a few in the world that does this. At varying points in Wolseley the Brede River will run towards the West Coast and the Atlantic Ocean as well as towards the East and into the Indian Ocean.
From Wolseley we continue over the mountains to Ceres. We drive through Ceres and admire the wonderful waterfalls which are running strongly with all the rain that has been falling this week. We continue our day with a visit to the Aquila Game Reserve where we are welcomed to take a look around. This is a first class resort and game reserve with a fleet of vehicles and well trained staff.
Our next stop is for lunch at Touws River at the Steers restaurant. Alta meets her brother David there as an extra treat. It is extremely cold with a biting wind making it even worse. So walking around outdoors is really not an option. Peter shows us where the Lagonda Telescope used to be situated. This town was a junction for the passing rail traffic. It is now a derelict town with no sense of purpose or any income producing activities. So unemployment is near to 100% with the local people living on social grants and the few pitiful jobs that .are available. The train station has burnt down and is completely abandoned. The school, which was clearly a good facility at one time is run down with no maintenance and completely abandoned.
On the way to Matjiesfontein we stop to see the British Graves and monument. In this area the British Soldiers fought the Boers during the SA (Anglo Boer War) and many of them died and were buried here.
195 miles to Cape Town
This tiny village on the fringe of the Great Karoo was founded by legendary Scottish railwayman James Douglas Logan who was shipwrecked on his way to Australia1. Life here is a Tribute to the Pioneers of the Early Karoo, The Anglo Boer War and Queen Victoria.
According to some, Matjiesfontein is the most haunted town in South Africa. This tiny Karoo town is said to be home to a number of embattled apparitions, two of whom have found shelter in the Lord Milner Hotel.
Meet ghost number one, Lucy. Lucy is, by all accounts, a timid ghost who has never checked out of her hotel room on the first floor. Patrons who have encountered the spirit say she is not at all frightening, although quarrels can be heard coming from her room late at night. Naturally, when visitors enter the room to investigate the source of the disturbances, nothing and no one can be found.
Lucy is joined at the Lord Milner Hotel by Kate, the ghost of a 19-year-old nurse who enjoyed playing cards with British soldiers garrisoned in the old turret room. Nobody knows how Kate died, but patrons and hotel staff have reported strange happenings in and below the old turret room.
According to eyewitnesses, Kate is a restless soul who makes her presence known in strange ways; brushing against people’s shoulders, shuffling cards in the old recreation room and walking the narrow hallways in her old nurse uniform.
Finally our last night is at the Lord Milner Hotel in Matjiesfontein. This is a village that is 100% owned by the Hotel Group. There are 300 residents (No vagrants says Johnny the guide on the bus). There is a rail station where the Blue Train and the Pride of Africa -- Rovos rail -- stops. There are museums and other interesting places to visit. The most fun is when Johnny takes us for a bus ride in the double decker Beefeater bus and gives us a 10 minute tour of the village with all kinds of amusing anecdotes.He then takes us into the home of Lord Milner and tells us the stories of the family before ending the tour in the bar with a bit of a sing song and piano playing.
We have supper in the main restaurant.
C J Langenhoven; Afrikaans writer; protagonist of the Afrikaans Language and author of the South African National Anthem before 1994, Chiselled the name of the well known elephant "Herrie" from the book "Sonde met die Bure" in July 1929. With his characteristic sense of humour he referred to it in jest as a monument to himself. In 1973 the site was declared a National Monument to commemorate the Centenary of Langenhoven's birth.
Day Seven Thursday 20th September
We are up and about early on this cold morning. The car is full of frost and it takes a while before we warm the windscreen enough to drive.
We set the GPS for Prince Alfred which is about 150km drive. On the N1 there are many trucks and overtaking is not always easy. Eventually we turn off the N1 and reach the Lazy Lizzard where I have been before. I order Soup for my breakfast. Their soup is a real treat and Yvonne also gives me some of her Fruit Salad and Yogurt. I leave the restaurant well fed and ready for the final leg of this Tour. We drive the most magnificent Poort in South Africa -- The Meiringspoort with it's over 20 river crossings before you reach De Rust. This is the venue of the Meiringspoort 21kay and 12kay events held annually in October. Alta has taken part in the 10kay as it was at the time. I will be running this event in a few weeks. Our next stop is Uniondale and then onto the Langkloof road to the N2 and back home non stop.
The Spook of Uniondale. 1968 -- Maria Roux from Willowmore, together with her Fiance, was on her way to her mother in Uniondale. They were to finalise wedding arrangements.
In the Uniondale Poort there was a terrible storm and this caused the car in which they were travelling to overturn into the Ravine.
The vehicle was later seen by passersby and an ambulance recovered her Fiance but did not realise that there was a second person in the accident. Later, in the hospital, when the Fiance recovered, he asked about Maria and so the authorities went back and found her body. But by that time Maria had passed away from the cold.
Since then there have been reports of a strange Woman standing on the side of the road trying to get to Uniondale. But this woman appears to be an apparition. She has not spoken nor has anyone been able to get her into their vehicle.
Reports have been investigated by the Uniondale Police who now believe that this is the spook of Maria Roux who is still trying to get home to her mother in Uniondale and that she still longs to be married to her Fiance.
Other reports of motorists sensing a bump on their cars at night and the theory is that Maria is trying to jump onto passing vehicles.
According to urban legend, Marie Charlotte Roux had recently become engaged to Giel Oberholzer in 1968. Over the Easter Weekend of that year, the loving couple embarked on what was to become a hellride on the outskirts of Uniondale in the Karoo.
Roux was asleep on the backseat of Oberholzer’s Volkswagen Beetle when her fiancé lost control of the vehicle in stormy weather. The car rolled on the Barandas-Willowmore road, roughly 20 kilometres from the Uniondale, killing Roux.
Yet, according to some motorists, Roux can still be seen waiting on the side of the road, ostensibly, for the return of her fiancé or a lift to her final destination.
According to several reports, motorists driving along the desolate stretch of road at night come across a woman hitchhiking. This woman, who apparently fits the description of Roux, asks for a lift, and most motorists oblige.
However, a few kilometres down the road, Roux vanishes. Some shook motorists have described the woman’s laughter and a sudden cold chill in the air
Alta invites us to her home where she makes some really delicious pancakes and coffee to end off the tour. Moyna meets us there.
Parting ways is sad but we know that we have made some real friends on this tour. Our learning and experiences together have been something to remember.
MEIRINGSPOORT -- Stories and history
s we run this event we cross the poort 21 times. Each crossing has a name and each name has a history. The following information is in the information center next to the waterfall in the Poort.
From De Rust:
1.Spookdrif: A supernatural light in the form of a ball of fire has been seen at this point.
2.Skansdrif: Stone Ramparts were built here to prevent flooding.
3.Damdrif: There was a very large water-hole here that was deceptive particularly to strangers who would often become bogged down in the mud.
4.Boesmansdrif: here there are deep clefts in the rock face where San people used to live.
5.Skelmkloof Drif: here there is a hidden ravine where water trickles into the Groot Rivier.
6.Aalwyndrif: Named after the beautiful aloes that over look this drift. Aloes are sought after for their medicinal uses.
7.Nooiensboomdrif: A Nooiensboom is a Cabbage Tree and two of these trees used to grow on either side of the road.
8.Stewelsdrif: A “stewel” is translated as a Boot. A wagoner of farmer Petrus Meiring lost his boots here and had to return home for a new pair. Here the name Dubbledrif can also be seen. This does not appear to be an official name of a drift as it does not appear on the list of Drifts in the information center.
9.Perskeboomdrif: so named from the peach trees that used to grow close to this Drift.
10.Sanddrif: Sandbanks would cause obstructions here. The first Concrete causeway was built here in 1948
11.Herrie se drif: first known as Nagas drif it later took on the name Herrie. C J Langenhoven (1873 – 1932) poet and afrikaans writer, is best known for composing the South African National Anthem: “Uit die Blou van onse hemel” which was later adapted to our present anthem incorporating Nkosi Siki Lele in 1995 when Nelson Mandela become president. Langenhoven carved out the name Herrie which was the name of his fictional Elephant in his book: “Sonde met die Bure”. This is one of the few cases of Graffiti becoming a National Heritage site. It was proclaimed in 1973 to celebrate the birth date of Langenhoven.
12.Witperdedrif: a Rabbi and his horses were washed away at this site. His remains were never found.
13.Ou Tol drif: named after the Old Toll house which has been gone for many years
14.Wadrif: Legend has it that a number of wagons were washed away here.
15.Witfonteindrif: there is a steam of crystal clear water that flows from kranses to the west of this crossing.
16.Uitspandrif: there is sufficient area for the wagoners to allow the oxen to turn and to graze in this area.
17.Waterfaldrif: so called after a nearby waterfall.
18.Ontploffingsdrif: a wagon loaded with explosives traveling along the Boer Road exploded close by here. The Anglo Boer war / South African war (1899 – 1902) saw the British Soldiers build a fort with walls of stone here.
19.Derdetoldrif: to the West of this crossing two more Toll Houses were built. The ruins of these houses can still be seen here.
20.Rooiuitspanningsdrif: here there was sufficient space for a number of ox wagons to outspan. The red comes from the red soil in the area.
21.Pereboom se drif. As you approach this drift you go through a horse shoe bend. A saffron pear tree grew here making this a popular place for wagons to outspan
22.Bloupunt drif: wagons would frequently become stuck in the loose gravel here. The name is derived from that of a nearby farm.
23.Wasgatdrif: Entering Meiringspoort from the North, travelers could fill their barrels and could wash off the Karoo dust in the first really deep pools in many miles.
24.Opmetingsdrif: in 1912 measurements were taken to decide upon building a dam in this possibly suitable position.
25.Laaste Drif: traveling from the South this would have been the last drift that you would cross.
Petrus Meiring owned the farm where De Rust is now situated. It was he who loved to explore and discovered the route through the Swartberg mountain range, we now refer to as Meirings Poort. He was the son of a Pastor Meiring who arrived in South Africa in 1743.
DAISY DE MELKER was the first convicted serial killer in South Africa.
She killed two of her husbands and her only son by poisoning them in the 1920's. In 1932 she was hanged. It is said that her ghost is still wondering the Old Fort jail were she was hanged. Many guards claim to have seen her.
She still haunts the Old Childrens hospital, Constitutional Hill, were she used to work.
Many nurses have seen her over the years.
Her spirit is also haunting her old house, that is still standing after all these years. Many bypassers claim to see the curtains upstairs moving, and they also can see a hand. It is claimed that Daisy's spirit is till waiting for one of her husbands to retun, so she can murder him for his money..
Bainskloof Pass was build by Andrew Bain about 150 years ago. Convicts were used for the construction. Today you can find 23 graves at 1st Tol were Bain's office stood that time. This is of the convicts that died during the construction period, though only three died while busy with construction. The others died of illnesses. The memorial next to the road says the convicts that died there were nameless and unknown, although there was records with all the convicts names..
While busy with the road, Const. George Murray fell of a cliff after his own pistol went off, hitting him in the head. A John Williams was crushed by a rock. In 1888 a Mr Bodendyk, a local officer, was brutally murdered there.
No wonder they say that today you can still hear ghostly echoes of creaking wagon wheels and cracking whips, together with other ghostly occurences.
Anneliese Michel was a normal teenager when she began to suffer from convultions in 1968. The doctors believed she suffered from epilepsy, and treated her for this. But the Bishop ordered Father Arnold and Pastor Alt to look into the case. They believed she was possessed. She refused to walk past images of Christ, and refused to drink water from the holy spring. She also began to eat flies and spiders, bit off the head of a bird, and barked like a dog for days. She began to starve herself, believing that it would rid her of the demons. She and her parents believed that she was possessed.
They did the exorcism, witch is still on record till this day. They say it 'chills to the bone'.
Anneliese Michel died through the excorcism.
The autopsy revealed she died of dehydration and mulnutrition,
and Father Arnold, Pastor Alt and her parents was found guilty of homicide.
In the movie it was only Father Arnold that was convicted though
According to some, Matjiesfontein is the most haunted town in South Africa. This tiny Karoo town is said to be home to a number of embattled apparitions, two of whom have found shelter in the Lord Milner Hotel.
Meet ghost number one, Lucy. Lucy is, by all accounts, a timid ghost who has never checked out of her hotel room on the first floor. Patrons who have encountered the spirit say she is not at all frightening, although quarrels can be heard coming from her room late at night. Naturally, when visitors enter the room to investigate the source of the disturbances, nothing and no one can be found.
Lucy is joined at the Lord Milner Hotel by Kate, the ghost of a 19-year-old nurse who enjoyed playing cards with British soldiers garrisoned in the old turret room. Nobody knows how Kate died, but patrons and hotel staff have reported strange happenings in and below the old turret room.
According to eyewitnesses, Kate is a restless soul who makes her presence known in strange ways; brushing against people’s shoulders, shuffling cards in the old recreation room and walking the narrow hallways in her old nurse uniform.
Prince Albert and the Swartberg Pass.
Anyone who has driven the Swartberg Pass between Prince Albert and Oudtshoorn knows how steep it is. In the days of donkey carts, people used to get out and walk uphill to lighten the load. One day Chrisjan Swanepoel and the other passengers were walking alongside the donkey cart when they met a constable taking a prisoner to Prince Albert for trial. ‘Aren’t you worried he’ll make a break for it?’ they asked. ‘No,’ said the constable, I’ll just shoot him dead.’ He waved his gun in the air – and it went off and killed poor Chrisjan Swanepoel. Today his lonely ghost still haunts the mountain.
Meiringspoort. Skelm Waterfall. Skelmkloof Drif.
Karoo Mermaids
Stories of a beautiful dark-haired, blue-eyed mermaid living in the Klein Karoo near De Rust have been murmured about in local circles for the last few centuries. Legend has it that she lives in the bottomless pool below Skelm waterfall in the Meiringspoort.
drive though the iconic Meiringspoort, with a stop at the Skelm waterfall will lead you right to her
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